It's time to cut AOL loose...

AOL??

Lately I've seen a number of computer users still using AOL for email.  A few are STILL PAYING AOL.  Here are some facts:

AOL used to provide dial up access to their website and email servers.  They charged for  this service.  While AOL may still provide dial up services, most users have long since changed their computer access to FIOS or cable companies.  These users do not need the services AOL bills for.  However they still dutifully pay their monthly AOL bill.  There is no need to pay that bill.  AOL has become an News/lifestyle website like Yahoo or MSN.  Anyone who has FIOS, Comcast, Time Warner, AT&T, or others for high speed internet access do not need AOL's internet access.  AND, if you choose to continue using AOL email, you don't have to pay for it either.  It's free and has been for a long time.

There are a few options other than AOL email.  Google's Gmail is an excellent option, as is Microsoft's outlook.com email system.  Both are free and provide excellent service.  Changing email systems is also very easy.  Simply send messages to your most frequent contacts stating that you are changing email providers and give them the new email address.  You may also put an "intercept" message (using the away / vacation function) stating that this current email id is no longer used.  Do not include your new email address.  Instead, put a sentence similar to "if you know me, call me for the new email address".  This may cut down on spammers following you to your new email. 

Please give consideration to changing to an email other than AOL, and definitely call them and get them to stop charging you for free services.

Have a great Holiday Season!

Peace,


Dave

Summer and Autumn in the rear view mirror!

December Already

Yep, it COLD, wet, cloudy weather!  Ah, New Jersey Living!  To those who left for Florida, take me with you, please!

Ok, so no takers, so I move on.

Phishing Messages

I have a friend who MAY have inadvertently replied to a Phishing message, and compromised her Banking information.  Of course, this brought up all kinds of account closings/openings, password changes and much more FUN activity.   If you receive a message from "your bank" or "your credit card company", don't click on any links.  Get out of the message and log into your institution from their own website.  If the message said your account was suspended or locked and you can get on, then the message was a false attempt to get you to give out your account information.  Be careful out there

XP Once Again

Anybody running computers with Microsoft Windows XP should buy a new computer immediately.  XP is not supported and is vulnerable to hacking attacks.  Microsoft is no longer fixing XP security issues, so it's a hackers dream to get access to all those XP computers out there.  Don't be a casualty!!  New PC's are inexpensive, PLUS there are deals out there for the holidays.  I can help.  Just call me at 732-568-4943 for recomendations.

Remember Pearl Harbor

Oh, and remember that our nation was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the Empire of Japan on December 7, 1941.  Take time from your day tomorrow to remember those who passed in the defense of our freedom.

All for now,

Have a Merry, Happy and a Happy New Year.

Peace,

Dave

Autumn is Fast Approaching!!

Where's Summer??

Notice the Chill in the morning air lately?  It's almost September, and almost time to get out the light jackets.  And almost time to begin plotting escape to Florida.  While it's nice not to have to run the A/C in the evening, I'd rather have to run it instead of anticipating the freezing temperatures that will be here all too soon.

My Remote Service

I am using a new version of my remote control software called Teamviewer. This version is branded with my logo and contact information and is easier to use for my clients.  And while there are some things that just cannot be done by remote control, a majority of tasks can be.  This allows me to offer a reduced hourly rate over site visits (also known as house calls).  That's why I am going to offer a discount over my normal low Remote Rate from now until the end of the 2014.  Check my pricing page for the news.

All for now.  I'll write more later.


Peace,

Dave

More Trechery

My wife got a call today from someone from the "Windows Service Center".  She called me to the phone.  The guy clearly was from India, and started to say he was calling about my computer.  I said with a rather loud exclamation "Really?".  He then hung up.  And I was SOOO ready to ask him all those fun questions like "What is my computer doing again?" and "Where are you from?" and "Are you employed by Microsoft?". 

If you get such a call, you can either hang up or have some fun by tormenting them until they hang up.  Anybody who makes such calls is scamming you, trying to get control of your machine to infect it and make it a zombie that will proliferate it's virus across the internet using yours and many others' PC's.

Have a great day.

Dave

Another "Cleanup Post"

I had a client today who told me that a "company" called him and said  his PC was generating massive error messages and this needed to be stopped.  My client paid an unknown sum to have his PC "fixed".  Don't buy it.  It's a scam.

No reputable company will call you and offer to "fix" your pc, stopping it from generating traffic.  All they want is your financial information to charge you or distribute it on websites. My client's caller had an obvious overseas accent. 

So advise any callers that you are not interested, and hang up the phone.  Better be safe and keep your financial data secure.

Dave

Windows User Accounts

I had a client recently who had only one logon on the PC.  That logon became corrupt and the user could not log on at all.  All of the client's files were lost.  Luckily I was able to access the computer and add two more logon accounts.  What this did was give two more avenues into the computer so it is not a total loss and does not require a full re-install of the Windows operating system.

So I am sure there are many folks who would question configuring a computer with more than one logon account.  Think of what COULD happen if you don't have at least two accounts, at least one with administrator rights.  These accounts should be password protected with a "strong" password.

Something to think about.

Dave

Is Spring finally here?

NJ Spring?

We had some warm weather today after the torrential rain yesterday and last night.  Hopefully some WARM sunny weather to come.

PC "Tune Ups"

I recently heard a radio ad for a so called PC speed-up program, with a website that claims to rid your PC of junk files, viruses and overall speed up your pc.  Excuse me if I remain skeptical about such programs.  While some may be legitimate, there are some that are malware.  They scan your pc, display a frightening number of "errors" and ask you to "activate" their software for money.

First, you have tools included with Windows to take care of many of these issues.  Look under Accessories/System Tools on the start menu (Windows 8.1 users try right clicking on the window symbol where the start button used to be).  The tools we will look at are Disk Cleanup, and Disk Defregmenter. 

Disk Cleanup will remove "junk files" from your pc.  These files collect over time when you navigate the internet, or if your PC is configured to send deleted files to the "recycle bin"  before complete deletion.  Over time these files begin to take up space.  This becomes increasingly important when your hard drive approaches being filled up. 

Disk defragmenter will reorganize your hard drive so they get as close as possible to being stored in contiguous space on the hard drive.  Hard drives are formatted into sectors.  Picture a circle of pavers on the ground.  Each paver would be a sector.  If your file fits into one sector, great.  If not the computer must store the file in multiple sectors.  Early in your PC's life, these a file may be stored on consecutive sectors (or pavers for our illustration).  Once the disk has been operating for a while, it may not be possible to store the file in consecutive sectors.  Therefore, your file may be stored on one part of a sector, and another part all the way on the other side of the disk.  Having to retrieve these parts of the file located so far away from each other slows down the disk access time because the files are fragmented.  And over time, this becomes noticeable.  Defragmenting the disk will speed up access if the disk is severely fragmented.

So, want to tune up your PC?  First run disk cleanup to get rid of all the unnecessary files.  A window will pop up with a lot of check boxes for stuff like internet files, recycle bin, and others.  Make your selections and click OK.  It will then remove all the files.  There is no use in defragmenting files you are going to delete anyway.  Then run disk defragmenter.  If you do this once a week your PC will never be fragmented.  But this exercise can only do so much.

To make the most impact on your PC's speed, make sure you are not running programs you don't need.  Any program that runs in the background takes up memory.  Some programs need to run like antivirus programs, your mouse pad app for laptops, and others.  But do you REALLY need the weather bug, or a "rate a website" app?? Removing these unneeded programs will free up memory and system processing resources.  Your computer will run faster.  This removal should be done in an orderly fashion using Control Panel/Remove Programs, or an uninstall routine on the start menu under the offending program's selection.

I recommend against using these so-called miracle fixes for your pc.  If you feel comfortable running the windows tools I mentioned, then go ahead.  If not, give me a call.  We can discuss it or I can help either by house call or remote access.  Another thing to remember is that in most cases, these tools are scheduled to run automatically.  The default time for these to run is 3:00 am.  So it would be advisable to leave your computer on overnight once or twice a week.  Those who leave their computers on most of the time make sure to occasionally restart them.  Leaving your PC on will also allow windows update to run.  Any questions please call me at 732-568-4943.

A New Service

I have a new service to tell you about.  I will make custom instructions complete with illustrations on how to do certain tasks on your computer.  If I have the software or if your request is regarding Windows, I will type up instructions on how to do the tasks you want to get done.  For example, I can prepare instructions for you to check things like your Windows Update configuration (See next item below).  Call me at 732-568-4943 to discuss.

How to Check your Windows Update Settings

The model for this example is Windows 7.  It applies to all Windows versions, but may be accessed in a slightly different manner.  First, bring up the start menu, and select Control Panel.

If Control Panel comes up as categories, choose System Security, then Windows Update, then Change Settings in the upper left corner of the window.  Then select how and when you want to receive and install updates.

If Control Panel comes up as large or small icons, look toward to bottom (the icons are in alphabetical order) and click on Windows Update.  Then click on Change Settings in the upper left corner of the Window.

In each case, choose to download and install updates automatically unless you have an overriding reason not to.  Also set the time at which you typically not be using the PC for updates to install.  If you leave your PC on all the time, then the default 3:00 am is ok.  If not then pick a time during the day or evening when the PC is most likely to be on but idle.



Have a great spring!!

Dave

XP Support HAS ENDED

MS Support for Windows XP ended April 8, 2014.   Any security flaws uncovered from this point forward will not be fixed by Microsoft.  If you have not purchased a new PC, the time is NOW  Call me at 732-568-4943 to discuss a new PC.

Dave

Remote Control

I use remote control programs extensively in my PC business.  I find it an easy and convenient way to fix issues.  Even if the client is in my development, it takes a minimum of 5-10 minutes to get to the closest locations, figuring in time to start the car, load my computer bag, etc.  With remote control, I can start fixing the problem or at least get an initial look in about 2 minutes.

I use two safe secure systems.  One installs a "client" program on the customer PC.  Then, if there is a problem, the customer calls me and I can take over control of the PC as if I were sitting in front of it.  The customer can see what I am doing and can drop the connection at any time.  The other system I use runs an "applet" which supports remote control without installing any software on the customer PC.  Once the connection is broken, the "applet" simply goes away, leaving nothing on the PC. 

The system that installs the client program is useful in that I do not have to guide the customer through the procedure to get the remote control system going.  Since it's installed, I only need to log in.  While the other system that does not install a client is not very difficult, it does take some explaining for the customer to start the applet.  Both of the systems are password protected and secure.

If you permitted me to use the system that installs the client program on your computer and you decide to remove it, please send me an email telling me you did.  One of the items the client based system tells me is how long it's been since you last logged into your computer.  If I see that it's been 20 or 40 days, I begin to believe you have removed the client program.  Again, it makes no difference to me.  I decided to write this post only so I can keep my client computer list updated and remove any computer name who's owner has removed the client program.  So if you have removed it, please send me an email at dave@davepickel.com and let me know.

Thanks, and brace yourself for the snow storm tonight.

Dave

PS-Comments Welcomed

Thanks,

Dave 

ANOTHER Snow Storm??

Yep they are predicting snow of 8"-10" Sunday into Monday 3/2-3/3/2014.  Unbelievable!!  Will this winter EVER be over?  Hang in there, Spring Training is underway in Florida. 


Please note:

I will be at a locally held conference from March 12 through March 19, 2014.  I will not available for on-site calls.  I will be returning calls when the opportunities present themselves.  Thank you for your patience.

Who Ordered this Weather??

Will Winter EVER End?

Hello again folks.  I cannot believe how much snow we have on the ground and right now in the air (Sunday, 2/9/2014).  I would guess everybody is as sick of this as I am.

Windows XP Support Expiring

As you might be aware, Microsoft is ending support for Windows XP effective April 8, 2014.  What that means is that there will be no more updates, patches, bug fixes and security updates.  Just as it was with Windows 95, 98, 98SE, Windows ME, and Windows 2000, XP is being retired.  XP is now over 10 years old.  That is a lifetime in terms of Personal Computer Operating systems. 

And computers now running XP may be viable PC's.  However they are too old and lack the "horsepower" to run XP's successors.  Windows Vista was a disappointment.  One of the main reasons XP lasted as long as it did is because few organizations and users migrated to Vista.  Windows 7 turned out to be a stable and worthy successor to XP.  And Windows 8/8.1 with all it's quirks and touch screen tendencies, seems to be a stable system that will get the job done.

So we determined that it makes the most technological and economic sense to buy a new computer.  Here's were I can assist.  I can help with what system to get, transfer files from your old system to the new one, configure anti-virus software, and more.  Computers are not as expensive as they were when XP was first released.  A perfectly adequate system can be purchased in the neighborhood of $ 500.00. (tax & select software are extra, as is installation fee).  There may be a small learning curve associated with the new PC.  I can help with that too.  So give me a call at 732-568-4943 to discuss options for your new system.  If I can't pick up, be sure to leave a message.

Prepare for Spring

Spring will eventually arrive.   It's a good time to clean up your computer as well as anything else you want to clean up.  I can assist with running your "tune up" programs; making sure your anti virus software is up to date, cleaning out temporary files and unused desktop icons, uninstalling any programs you don't use or don't know why they got installed on your computer.  I can do this via a safe, secure remote control session with remote control software that does not install itself.  When the session is over, the R/C software goes away.  Give me a call to arrange a Remote Session starting at the introductory fee of $ 20.00 (additional issues can be addressed for an additional fee).  732-568-4943, Leave a Message!

The Beatles

It was 50 years ago today (Sunday, 2/9) that the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan show.

Peace,

Dave