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Current Tip Of The Week:
Currently Apple are having a bit of a nightmare. If you’re an iPad owner you might be having the same nightmare. Problems sending your email? It seems to be a global phenomenon. Until it resolves, I can help you use your iPad to get your email using another method...
Previously on “Tips of the Week”...
Get a Router:
Are you still using an old BT Voyager modem for your broadband? Switch to a wireless hub without hassle by giving me a call. I’ll supply and install a high speed, high quality, secure broadband hub and then every PC, laptop, X Box and Playstation in the home will be happy...
Clean Up Clutter:
Laptops and PCs generally come with lots of mini programs that run unnecessarily every time the computer starts. Does your new HP laptop really need to visit the HP registration server every time its booted? Does the DVD player really need to load up every time its booted. Remove unnecessary startup items to save memory and speed up your startup time...
Broadband Speed:
You can easily check your broadband speed by visiting www.speedtest.net. Your ISP might promise you 8 or 20Gb, but many different factors (which they don’t advertise) affect your “bandwidth” - the rate at which data from the internet can get to you. Speedtest is a good guide as to how fast your connection really is. You might be surprised to try it...
Bogus Support Calls:
Beware bogus callers. Scammers claiming to represent Microsoft have been making phone calls to people in the Gullane and East Linton area. The scammer claims that your PC has become infected with viruses and spyware. He kindly offers to log in to your PC remotely and repair the damage for you. Once you follow his instructions and hand him control of your PC he is free to install whatever he pleases - usually software that will allow him total control of your PC whenever you connect to the internet. Fortunately, the damage caused can be easily undone by my malware removal tools.
If you think that you might have fallen victim to someone using this scam, switch off your PC immediately and call me on 0755 735 3862.
Local Businesses:
When we moved to Dirleton in 2007 we needed a plumber, an electrician, a landscape gardner and a painter and decorater. It was hard work finding any of those online. In 2010 I still think the situation is largely the same. If you want your local business to get a low cost presense on the net, Contact Me and I’ll tell you what I can do to make sure your customers can find you.
Mobile Broadband Update:
Of all the providers out there, it seems that 3 is the best mobile broadband provider for this area. Though their coverage is not 100%, its better than any of the others. That being as it is, wifi coverage in Dirleton and beyond has grown considerably these past few years and I’m experimenting right now with BT Openzone / BT Fon and other wifi solutions to see if this is a viable solution for replacing mobile (dongle) broadband.
Windows XP and DVD Burning:
Microsoft Windows XP will not write to DVD by default? Confusing but true. In fact, this week alone I’ve spoken to three customers who thought this was a problem with their system.
You need to obtain a third party DVD burning solution to burn DVDs - even though you can write to CDs by dragging and dropping in the normal way.
I am more than happy to assist in installing and setting this up for anyone who wants to use their DVD writer for backing up files. And don’t worry about remembering how to do it after I’ve gone - I’ve written user instructions that are easy enough for anyone to understand (that’s one good thing about having worked as a technical author!).
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