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Author: wgid

Will Get IT Done Computer Self Help

Posted on by wgid

Diagnosing Computer Issues

If your computer is not working right, be prepared to call someone for help. It’s great to have an IT department but most of us don’t. Users often end up spending long hours on the phone with far away tech support not getting much fulfillment. That’s why you have Will Get I.T. Done

Before the steam whistles out of your ears, proactively give us a call. We want to help and we’re good at it. It costs more in time, frustration, and lost work to wait and hassle with the distant tech help.

  1. Check the connections. Are the cords ok? They can be damaged by being stepped on or vacuumed, or who knows what.
  2. Does the monitor say something like “The display is working, but no signal present?” If so make sure it’s plugged in.
  3. Is the computer on? Are lights on? Fans making noise? If it’s on and not responding, push and hold the power button until it turns off, or unplug it, wait a few seconds, plug it back in and try again.
  4. Did you just run a program you downloaded and might have infected your computer with a virus? If so, it might be better to get service, or you can try a online virus scanner at http://housecall.trendmicro.com
  5. No internet? Did you pay your bill? Look at the modem. Is the Internet light lit up? You might try unplugging and plugging back in your modem and router’s power cords to reset them.
  6. Do you get a blue screen with incomprehensible information on it? If so, 1st just reboot it, if it keeps coming back, it might be time for a new operating system. When I perform this service I generally replace the hard drive if the computer is 3 or more years old. It is a minor additional expense that prevents a bad hard drive from causing a quickly recurring problem.
    The computer may say to put the O/S disk in and reinstall Windows. Note however that that disk usually wipes the hard drive clean and will destroy any of your personal data. Make sure you understand what you’re doing and have backed up anything important to you. Once this has been done the chances of data recovery drop dramatically.
  7. Are you losing money hassling with your equipment, and what is the financial situation like? Computer Services cost money, and so does lost work.

Consider calling us. We’re committed to getting you back to your focus and minimizing the stresses of technology.

by William Small

 

 

 

Virus? Malware? Spyware?

Posted on by wgid

“Viruses are highly infectious and usually self replicating.  They usually use your computer try to infect other computers or send spam emails, possibly to your contacts or to other contact lists.   Once you get a virus your computer is compromised and more susceptible to other viruses..”

 

Virus? Malware? Spyware?

A subject of some confusion and a significant percentage of computer issues are Viruses, Malware and Spyware. Taxonomically,  These genres exist under the family of nuisance program but they are not the same genus.

Malware are programs that a user is typically tricked into getting on their computer, often when installing software they intentionally sought out.  Most malware is attached to free software and somehow might earn the vendor a few pennies.  Once installed, these nuisance programs create pop-up windows that confuse most computer users, possibly into installing new malware.  Some malware purports to make your computer run better and tells you about problems that it has, that it will fix when you buy the full version.  Some malware can be uninstalled easily in the Control Panel under Programs. Below is a screen shot where the user has the opportunity to decline to install the malware, but most users click Accept and become unwitting installers of their own problem programs.

Spyware is like malware in that it is often installed along with free programs.  This insidious software tracks your behaviors and tries to narrow your use of the internet to the sites and vendors that pay for it, one presumes.  There are a lot of different behaviors and this little guide is meant to be general, not comprehensive.  If your computer is behaving poorly and you think you have some or all of these, you are an ideal customer for us.

For the 3 genus of computer nuisance software, there are 4 types of nuisance software removal tools.  They are Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, Anti-Spyware, and last and least, software that purport to be great against all types of nuisance software.  We have not found one of the latter that that is as effective as specialized software.

We recommend and use BitDefender as a powerful antivirus software.  Malwarebytes anti-malware is a great program for removing Malware.  Spybot S&D or SuperAntiSpyware are some good spyware removal tools.

Dr. Mary Beth Steele, Greel Life Chiropractic

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Will Get I.T. Done is our go-to IT consultants for any issues/questions we have for our small business. Most recently they saved us after a hard drive crash on a computer that is pivotal to our business. They had us back up and running very quick and helped us do it in the most cost effective manner possible. We appreciate their extensive knowledge of both PC and Mac and availability to help us when we need them! We definitely recommend this company for both personal and business IT help!

David Humphreys, ARTMA

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www.artma.orgI have known Will for about 6 years.  His work as an IT guy is the best I’ve experienced.  He has worked toward my best interest in dealing with our computing needs.  Will uses analogies to explain complicated issues thus avoiding industry jargon.  I have never had problems reaching him or getting return phone calls or emails.

Gerald Winegrad, former MD Senator

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Will Get IT Done came in to help migrate us to two new laptops, one for me and one for my wife. Their help was critical to making the transition from the old to the new computer and Windows 8 system. Will helped me to more easily understand the new system and computer and assured I was comfortable with the changes that come with a new computer and operating system.   In the process we decided to have him help with a chronic Comcast internet issue when we had no access.  Comcast tech’s on the phone and on site were never able to resolve this issue but after Will’s analysis, he re-arranged our wiring and we have had a solid internet connection ever since.   I am amazed at how fast and well the new system works.  The in-home service is an added element of convenience.  I would recommend Will Get IT Done but be prepared to pay fairly for the expert services at $95 an hour as our work ran to more than 8 hours.

Joe Piette, Bicycle Safety Instructor

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Will helped save a file off my crashed hard drive that was the last recording of my Dad playing the piano just days before he lost his Battle with Cancer. Will recovered all my data but that was the one we needed for the funeral.

Will knows his stuff and not only is professional but engaged in our community. He is a tremendous resource of information about computer equipment and applications.

Keep your dollars working here in our community.

Let Will Get IT done!