Windows 7 Irritation Fix

I love Windows 7! That being said, I find it annoying every time I try to install a program or make a change on my computer that a box comes up with a warning and asks me if I want to continue. Well, I don’t know about you but at this point I have already made up my mind and I was “already” continuing. I have found with many customers that they find this confusing and scary. You then have to click continue to go on with what you have already decided you want to do.  Well that feature can be disabled, and here is how…

1.       Left click on Start button on the bottom left of the screen. Click on Control Panel. Double click on Action Center

2.       In the top left Click on Change User Account Control Settings.

3.       From here you can scroll that bar down to Never Notify and click OK.

You are done! Have a great day!

Got A New Computer?

So you have a new computer out of the box, ready to go? Not quite, slow down tiger! There are a few things you should do before you embark on your new PC adventure. These things will help ensure a more satisfying PC experience. Most computers that are straight out of the box are filled with programs that are actually trial programs. Usually you have a 30, 60, or 90 days to preview it before it turns off while leaving the remains “junk” of itself behind on your computer, for you to uninstall. The most harmful of these would be anti-virus programs. They give the user the false impression that they are protected when often they are not. Also, many anti-virus programs do not “play” well with other protection programs. If you go to install your own anti-virus on a new computer you need to make sure an existing trial program isn’t already installed on your PC. The consequences of not doing this are potentially devastating. My suggestion concerning preinstalled software on a new PC is to take it all off. Just because you were given a trial of software doesn’t mean it is a good one. My experience with preinstalled software is that it is not the best, in fact it is usually the most “commercial” and that is about it.

There are essential programs (basics) that a computer needs to ensure that programs run, e-mails open, and that you are able to view programs properly on your computer (online or offline). Interestingly enough, these are all free programs and they are not typically(that I have seen) preinstalled on a new PC.

·         Adobe Reader (opens PDF files)

·         Java (helps programs run)

·         WinRAR (unzips zipped files usually from e-mail)

·         Shockwave player (online video and some online applications)

·         Mozilla Firefox (safer web browsing)

·         Picasa (a fantastic simple photo organizing/viewing program)

To summarize, after buying a new PC, bring it home and take off all of the trial programs. Research reviews on anti-virus software before just buying the preinstalled one. Download and install all essential software. Finally, when you are finished, run a defrag (start button/programs/accessories/ system tools/ defragmentation) to put everything in order. There you have it, a new computer, as it should be, out of the box! 

AVG 2011 is out!

If any of you have decided to download this new version of AVG, you might want to disable the link scanner for now. So far it has not been real good at deciding the good links between the bad ones. Webkinz for one will not come up with the link scanner enabled, along with most other flash games. When I installed AVG I just clicked on custom install and disabled everything but the anti-virus, that way I didn’t have to dis-able anything once it was installed (if you wait to dis-able after it is installed it leaves an irritating msg all the time that you are not fully protected). Another thing you will want to do before using AVG 2011 is to go to “change your scan settings”. Once in there make sure to check the box next to tracking cookies, and then click on “Save settings”. AVG does great with eliminating spy-ware. I am not real happy with the route AVG seems to be going but I still believe it is the best free anti-virus out there. When I first downloaded AVG, I was irritated by how un-user friendly it was to install and setup compared to past versions, and the size of it has grown to over 100 MB. I have always recommended this software to users who could not afford to have an anti-virus on their system but needed protection. They were able to easily install and use it. Now, it is a little more complicated. Once you do the couple things I suggested above, it runs nice and clean. All this being said, and after going out there again and exploring other alternatives, I still believe AVG is the best free anti-virus out there. One final thing; I always use Spybot Search & Destroy and Malwarebytes alongside AVG. If one doesn’t get something the others will. They play well together.

Remote Service going well.

Well, we are Settled in Kingman, Arizona. Setting up shop in a new state has been pretty smooth. We have been able to provide service to our California customers using remote with no problems. We are working on the Website so our customers know where we are providing mobile services and giving it a little overhaul.We are really enjoying it.