Hard Drive Diagnostics

Keep One Step Ahead of Your Hard Drive

Hard drive failure can be devastating, particularly if it’s been a while since you backed up your data. It can lead to costly data retrieval or worse, loss of data if your drive becomes completely corrupted. Don’t be caught by surprise: make it a habit to regularly run a hard drive diagnostics software tool or at least know what to do if your drive begins to show signs of imminent failure.

A traditional hard drive is similar to a DVD or (for those of us that remember them) a record player. Data is written to one or more “hard” disks that spin really fast; there’s a read/write spindle that accesses and records data on the disk. Physical drive failure is sometimes precluded by an audible clicking that indicates that the spindle isn’t properly moving over the disk or that the disk itself is no longer spinning smoothly. In other cases, a failing drive will lead to reported errors upon boot up, intermittent system crashes, or unexplained “glitches.”


The first step if you suspect that your drive may be failing is to back up your data as soon as possible. The more you use a failing drive the more you risk the data that’s stored on it becoming completely inaccessible. For more info on backing up your data, see my article here: http://www.callnerds.com/data-backup-basics/

Even if your drive isn’t showing signs of imminent death, it’s a good idea to get forewarned of potential problems before they affect your productivity. Integrate a hard drive diagnostics test into your routine maintenance and aim to scan your disk at least a couple of times a year. The process can take several hours, so plan to run the scan after hours.

Windows XP, Vista or 7 users should run the disk check application integrated into Windows to scan for bad sectors and run basic reliability tests. Open “My Computer” or access “Computer” via the start menu and right click on the drive that you want to test. Typically you’re going to select “C:” though if you have data stored on a secondary drive you should run the check on all drives, one at a time. Click on “Properties” and choose the “Tools” tab from the options that appear. Select “Check Now.”

There are two optional check boxes: “Automatically fix file system errors” allows Windows to fix software errors found during the scan. “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” allows the software to identify and partition off sectors of the drive that aren’t functioning properly, and then instruct your system not to write data to those sectors in the future.

If you don’t have access to the tool integrated into Windows or if it doesn’t give you the information you need, consider installing the free version of HD Tune (www.hdtune.com), designed for home users looking to scan a single drive. It will scan your disk for errors and give you access to the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) information that your hard drive maintains. This data can give you a reasonable idea of the health of your hard drive. Access to additional tests, monitoring and support for scanning external drives is available to those who opt for the Pro version ($34.95).

Most hard drive manufacturers offer free diagnostic tools that you can download and use to test the viability of your drive. Under the same Properties menu box you accessed to run Windows’ disk check program, select the Hardware tab. Your hard drive’s manufacturer and model will be listed among “All Drives.” Use this info to search online for your hard drive manufacturer’s diagnostic tool.

The ZeroAccess Rootkit Trojan

ZeroAccess Rootkit: Doomsday and Armageddon all-in-one?

The ZeroAccess Rootkit Trojan is the latest rootkit virus to gain widespread infiltration into a huge number of computers. While traditional viruses attempt to infect and destroy as many computers in their path before they're stopped by anti-virus software, rootkits aim to keep your system working but under the control of an outside party. They typically give a remote user administrative power, allowing them to manipulate files and maintain control of your system.

Once your system is controlled by the administrator of the rootkit, he can cause it to execute actions. Your system becomes a “botnet,” or “zombie” computer, assisting the culprits to perform fraudulent acts, downloading additional malware and opening software back doors for hackers to enter. Since rootkits execute at the same privilege level as anti-malware software, they’re harder to remove – your computer can’t decide which program should have greater authority to shut down the other.

According to James Wyke, Senior Threat Researcher for SophosLabs, The ZeroAccess Rootkit Trojan and its nine known variants has been installed over 9 million times. Its resultant “botnet” is comprised of approximately 1 million zombie machines, generating huge profits for their masters. In his Technical Paper, “The Zero Access Botnet – Mining and Fraud for Massive Financial Gain,” Mr. Wyke calls ZeroAccess “one of the biggest threats on the Internet.”
There are two primary ways this virus is distributed. The first is through something called a Blackhole exploit kit. Through a compromised website or a spammed email, the victim is directed to the hacker's landing page. Ad servers are prime targets for this type of corruption because their high traffic leads to widespread infection. The bad web page contains a JavaScript that scans your computer for vulnerabilities. If they're found, the virus silently downloads into the background workings of the computer and begins to take over.

The second method of distribution is through social engineering. The victim is convinced to run an executable file because they're attempting to obtain a piece of illicit software, bypass copyright protections, etc. For example, one lure the ZeroAccess creators have used in the past is an illegal copy of a popular game called Skyrim. The user attempts to download it, is prompted to open a Zip file, and the virus is installed, essentially with the user's permission.

Initially, victims notice that computer processing slows to a crawl. Internet searches are re-directed to unrelated sites and pop-ups appear much more frequently during web browsing. Advanced forms of the virus have even been linked to information mining and financial fraud, with hackers gaining access to your personal information and performing identity theft.

According to SophosLab’s research, hackers will pay up to $500 for every 1000 infected U.S. systems that a rootkit administrator can prove they’ve added to their botnet.

Defend yourself before you're infected. Make sure all your browsers, plug-ins and operating systems are updated with the latest version of software. Out-of-date Firefox, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome, in addition to Adobe Flash, Acrobat and Java are prime targets of Blackhole exploit kits. Don't give in to the temptation of downloading illegal software through sharing and torrent sites. Keep your anti-malware software current and run it often. Regular backups of your data and applications will allow you to more easily perform a re-format/re-install of your operating system if you become infected and are unable to remove the virus through conventional methods.

If you suspect you may be infected, contact a computer repair professional as quickly as possible. Not only does this virus open doors for other malware to enter your system un-detected, but removal is extremely difficult. It is known to leave behind portions of itself and continue to haunt your computer if not removed properly.

Photo used by permission: Brett Jordan

Stop Using Internet Explorer, Right Now!

Internet Explorer Glitch Opens The Door To Hackers

A bug in all versions of Internet Explorer leaves anyone using IE in conjunction with the Windows Operating System (more than 40% of Internet users in North America according to StatCounter) vulnerable to infection by Trojan horse viruses. In a Security Advisory released by Microsoft on September 17, 2012, Microsoft explains that “an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user,” meaning the hacker could control your system remotely.

While Microsoft promises that they’re working to develop a patch to close the browser vulnerability, I urge Internet Explorer users to immediately switch to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, at least until a fix is released. This could be as soon as a few days, or it may take several weeks.

IT Security Advisor Eric Romang detailed the security hole in a blog he posted over the weekend of September 15th. He came upon the flaw while researching a hole in the software code of Java exploited by the hacker group “Nitro Gang” to execute a series of targeted malware attacks against chemical and defense industry companies.

The bug allows hackers to infect a compromised computer with malware that makes Windows vulnerable to “drive-by” attacks. These allow viruses and malware to infiltrate your system by simply visiting a malicious or infected website. Once infected, the usual advice of “don’t run any executable files or install any programs” isn’t sufficient – your browser is, in essence, re-programmed to welcome malware.

While hackers have already used the browser vulnerability to launch attacks (most notably the “Poison Ivy” Trojan found embedded in emails masquerading as meeting requests and software updates) the public release of the code as well as widespread acknowledgement of the hole is sure to spur increased activity by virus and malware writers. Simply running an up to date anti-virus program isn’t enough to keep your system protected.


Microsoft recommends that users run a “Fix It” solution entitled “Prevent Memory Corruption via ExecCommand in Internet Explorer” that re-configures browser settings to prevent exploitation of the hole. It can be found via their support site. This is a workaround, not a patch.

Alternatively, Microsoft suggests installing their Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) 3.0, a program that adds protections against software vulnerabilities. Information and download links are posted to their support forum.

The EMET 3.0 software is designed for enterprise IT professionals, so basic users may encounter difficulty when attempting to manually configure protections. An easier solution is to stop using Internet Explorer until Microsoft has produced and distributed a patch. Download and install an alternate browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

Chrome has some notable advantages over Firefox. It utilizes “sandboxing,” a protocol that isolates tabs from the rest of your system. If you encounter an infection or piece of malicious code in a tab it simply closes the affected tab and kills the process, leaving your system and remaining tabs unmolested. Chrome also blocks plug-ins from installing software or running scripts without user interaction. Users that visit websites that run active code (such as online games or payment calculator sites) will also benefit from Chrome’s integrated “Just-in-time” (JIT) hardening. JIT blocks malicious code hosted on web pages from running on your system.

If you are a loyal Firefox user, you are certainly safer in this regard than those using Internet Explorer. Increase your protection from malware by keeping your antivirus software up to date and installing the Firefox plug-in “HTTPS Everywhere.” It lets you browse over 1,000 websites securely by encrypting the information on the page, making it nearly impossible for a hacker to recreate passwords, emails or personal data you provide while online.

Update:

On Friday, September 21st, Microsoft issued an emergency patch to rectify the vulnerability in Internet Explorer. If you don’t have automatic updates enabled, download and install the Windows security update from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms12-063 before surfing the net with Internet Explorer.

Simple & Easy Computer Maintenance

Do It Yourself Computer Maintenance

You may think computer maintenance is only for the Nerds among us, but there are many easy things you can do to speed up your PC without investing a lot of time or money.

Whether you’re a Windows or Mac user, performing some basic computer maintenance can ensure your system stays in top form. First, the easiest tip: shut down and restart your computer regularly so that it can install all necessary software and operating system updates.

Next, ensure automatic update is turned on, both for your Operating System updates as well as your anti-malware programs. If you don’t have an up-to-date anti-virus program on your PC, Windows users can download the newest version of Microsoft Security Essentials for free. Make sure you take the time to run a full scan.

Uninstall unused programs to free up hard drive space and system resources. Be cautious! Don't delete anything you don't recognize in case it's a program file necessary for your computer to run. Windows users should consider Revo Uninstaller (free for 30 days, then $30). It performs basic maintenance and removes the pesky program remnants that Windows’ Add/Remove Programs Uninstaller can leave behind.


Mac users should check out OnyX (free, http://www.titanium.free.fr/download.php) for performing system maintenance and getting rid of extraneous files. AppCleaner (free) will help you safely delete unwanted programs.

Clean up temporary file folders on Windows or Mac systems with CCleaner (free). It can be customized to automatically remove unused files from your computer, freeing up hard drive space and potentially improving web page loading speed. Just make sure that you don’t delete anything you use. For example, if you like your username and password to pre-fill at sites you frequent, you may want to refrain from deleting your cookies.

There are several hardware upgrades that can significantly increase the speed of your PC. If you’re willing to try to a DIY project, there are some things to keep in mind:

First, track down a detailed, reliable walk through and review it in advance to make sure you’re comfortable with the process before you crack open your case. Lifehacker walks through installing all the hardware in your PC here.

If your computer slows to a crawl when you're running multiple programs, upgrading your RAM can help. In most cases, it’s one of the cheapest upgrades you can do. RAM manufacturers like Crucial and Corsair have memory finders on their websites. Enter the make and model of your computer and quickly see the number of slots your system has (so you know how many sticks of RAM it can hold) and the maximum amount (GB) of RAM it can support. Aim for at least 4GB of total RAM for best results.

A solid state drive (SSD) hard drive can make your system more responsive. Don't let the smaller storage space of SSDs deter you. Unless you're storing massive amounts of data you're not likely to miss it. If you do need more capacity, consider a hybrid drive that allows your OS to run on the SSD portion while your data is stored to a larger traditional hard disk. Replacing a hard drive is more ambitious, however. Backing up your data, installing the Operating System on the new drive and then reinstalling your data and programs is quite time consuming.

Finally, players of graphics-intensive video games may benefit from a new video card. The enhanced and/or additional graphics memory in a new card will likely make a noticeable difference in your speed and lack of latency. It’s not as hard to do as you may think – pop out the old card, put in a new compatible one and install any needed drivers.

Even relatively novice users can speed up their PC in less time than it takes to convince a cousin to come over and do it for you.

Photo used by permission: Sean MacEntee

Tech Bargains: Sites You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Tech Bargains at Your Fingertips

It seems summer gets shorter and shorter every year. How is it that back to school is already here? Whether you’re in the market for a PC, printer or router to get set up for the new academic year, or you’re just poised to take advantage of the season’s sales, you’ll be joining thousands of shoppers buying computers, peripherals and gadgets in the coming weeks. Before you walk into your local electronics store, there are many websites, some that you may have never heard of, that offer great tech bargains.

Newegg:

While the name may be a head scratcher, Newegg.com is one of the largest online retailers specializing in computer parts, networking supplies (like routers and wireless adapters), RAM, and external drives. Since they are frequented by Nerds like me, the reviews are a reliable tool to aid you in choosing between models if you’re not sure what to buy. Their extensive selection is easily whittled down with search modifiers. While they carry a huge selection of additional products, they shine in their top category: “Computer Hardware.”

TigerDirect:

Similar in their offerings to Newegg, Tigerdirect.com is a good source for price comparison. Be sure to factor in shipping costs and/or taxes as they can markedly change the final price of your selection. Luckily, both sites offer a well laid-out cart function that allows you to see final cost before requiring your credit card number.

TechBargains:

The real magic of Techbargains.com is in their “Top System Deals” and daily “Hottest Deals” that amass the best bargains on tech from across the net, saving you hours of scouring the web for what’s on sale where. “Top System Deals” shows the best bang for your buck at build-your-own PC sites like Dell and HP, offering up a selection of the best packages and the coupon codes to get the lowest price. The current deals section on the right of the webpage lists codes for Dell & HP sales so you can build your own system and still get a great price.

Monoprice:

My go-to site for cables and adapters, Monoprice.com, offers a dizzying selection of the less glamorous yet still necessary accessories to get your computer, peripherals and home theater working properly. Rock bottom prices makes it worth wading through the massive selection to buy network cables (i.e., CAT 5e or Ethernet), HDMI cables for your monitor, adapters for your portable electronics and much more.

Decide.com:

While limited in their product listings, Decide.com helps take some of the guess work out of when to buy the electronics on your list. It shows the going price of popular laptops, tablets, phones and cameras but takes it further by using up-to-date information to predict if there will be a price adjustment up or down in the near future. Considering a Kindle Fire? Decide.com suggests you wait to buy due to a new model rumored to be released soon.

NerdSecret:

If I’ve ever mentioned a product that you thought would be useful in your own home or office, I’ve compiled a site with links to the gadgets I’ve reviewed as well as some cool or goofy stuff that my fellow Nerds find appealing. Nerdsecret.com saves you scrolling through back articles to find tech bargains or that gem you meant to bookmark.

Small Business Data BackUp

Data BackUp - You Don't Even Need A Truck

Data backup is the flossing of the tech world: you know you should do it, but you just never get around to it. There’s something in human nature that makes us learn the hard way – cavities are no fun. Yet when it comes to risking the data that you need to run your business, the price of procrastination is too high.

For small and medium businesses, data backup is all about automation, redundancy, and reliability. The first step to reducing your exposure to hardware failure is consolidating your data in one more reliable and easier to backup location. Instead of saving files to each of your workstation computers, saving files on a shared server will mean that if Jane’s hard drive dies tomorrow you won’t lose the parts of the client presentation she was working on.

Small offices often designate one of the computers on the network to be a “server” that all other systems transfer files to. There are several limitations to this method. The hard drive in this system is just as vulnerable to crashing as those in your other computers. It will have to be left on all the time to allow others on the network to access data, and if you forget and power off the system while someone else is working on a file they will lose their work. Running constantly puts more stress on the system and drive.

If this is the method you’re utilizing, the easiest way to protect your data from loss is to set up a cloud based synching program. You may have an onsite backup hard drive; perhaps it’s even automated. When was the last time you checked that files written to your backup drive are readable? Users often discover that the backup drive has failed only when the primary drive dies and they try to restore files from their backup.


The main drawback to relying completely on a cloud-based backup system is that you have to be online for it to work. If your hard drive or server fails, you’ll have to download all your data to a new drive or have CrashPlan send it to you, which can be time consuming.

An even better solution is to set up a NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive with two or more hard drives in a RAID configuration. Data written to the backup device is replicated over multiple drives simultaneously. If one drive fails, you can pull it without downtime, running off the additional drive(s). I particularly like the hybrid solutions offered by Netgear Ready NAS as they work with Egnyte cloud file server software (www.egnyte.com) to create a system where data is stored locally for quick access over the local network, while automatically synching to a cloud file server. Data is not only automatically backed up, it’s accessible anywhere, eliminating the need for FTP and VPN systems to access shared files when you’re away from the office. You’ll pay a monthly fee to Egnyte (starting at $24.99/mo for up to 5 employees and 150GB of data), but many find it’s more cost effective in the long run than managing a file sharing network.

Small Business Network: Buy This Not That!

Small Business Network: Stability Trumps Budget

These days a business that can’t get online can’t go very far. From emailing appointment confirmations to processing credit cards, when the network goes down, business productivity grinds to a halt. Small business owners are stuck in a unique position: they need more reliability than a standard wireless firewall router can offer, but likely can’t afford the enterprise solutions offered by Cisco. In this, part two of my “Buy This, Not That” series for small businesses, I’ll explore a mid-range networking solution to bridge the gap.

When I started my company in 2004, I ran our call center out of a room in my house. Budgeting was tight and we used our DSL connection and a standard 4-port D-Link wireless router to maintain our customer database, appointment scheduling and webpage. What a headache! Every time the signal dropped (which was often), all of the systems would get disconnected from the server. If someone was partially through entering appointment notes or updating customer contact information, everything would be lost.

Luckily, moving to our first office location later that year afforded us the opportunity to set up a more reliable network. First, we invested in a Sonicwall router. Recently purchased by Dell, Sonicwall (www.sonicwall.com/us/) offers a wide range of networking solutions for small and medium size businesses with prices from around $400 for entry level routers to $2,000+ for units that support more users and integrate more security features.

What makes Sonicwall “security appliances” different from basic firewall routers is that they offer integrated anti-virus and anti-malware and the ability to control content access through the device. This means that instead of depending on your employees to police themselves – not go to adult content sites, download games or files, or open suspicious attachments – the Sonicwall can be configured to block content, viruses and spyware before it enters your network. This security extends to VPN client access. While this is incredibly important for any business that allows customers to access the Internet over their business network, I’m planning to invest in one for the house when the kids are old enough to surf the net.

They also offer additional levels of reliability. Their entry-level wireless router, the Sonic Wall Tz 100 Wireless-n Network Security Appliance (available through Amazon for around $380) includes automated failover to divert traffic (when needed) over alternate connections to ensure uninterrupted network access. Putting your business on hold while you wait through a modem-router-switch power cycle will be a thing of the past.

Because of the huge range of available options, consider consulting a computer or networking professional before deciding which version fits your needs. Many Sonicwall products require additional monthly or annual fees to continue phone support, VPN client access, and integrated anti-virus and anti-malware after the initial trial periods end. While I still believe that Sonicwall offers the best solutions for small and medium size businesses, it’s important that you research the ongoing costs to maintain the features you require, as with any networking solution. They’re also more complicated to configure so you’ll likely want to budget for professional installation.

I ran cable in our office to allow as many systems as possible to maintain a hard-wire connection to the router. While Sonicwall controls all access to the network, reducing exposure to hackers, my experience is that the more parts you count on to make a system work the harder it is to keep everything running smoothly. A wireless connection requires a wireless adapter on the computer to be functioning properly, as well as additional settings that can be inadvertently broken by the user. Connecting the majority of our office systems via Ethernet cable allows for more network stability.

Stay tuned next week for the “Buy This, Not That” recommendations for small office backup solutions.

Photo used by permission: dcmorton

DNSChanger: What you need to know

DNSChanger: How To See If You're Infected, How To Fix It If You Are.

On Monday, July 9th, the FBI will pull the plug on internet access to hundreds of thousands of computers infected with a malware Trojan known as DNSChanger. Even if your computer is clean, companies that have compromised systems in their network will be taken offline, hindering their ability to do business and possibly breaking their websites, in what many are referring to as “Internet Doomsday.”

In November 2011, the FBI (together with international cyber crime agencies) identified and located a ring of cyber criminals that had infected more than four million computers across the world with a Trojan virus known as DNSChanger. According to the FBI’s webpage about this malware (www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/november/malware_110911), “DNSChanger was used to redirect unsuspecting users to rogue servers controlled by the cyber thieves, allowing them to manipulate users’ web activity.”

Systems infected with DNSChanger were ultimately controlled by the crime ring that perpetrated the infections. The Trojan re-directed unsuspecting users to fraudulent websites which in many cases resulted in users providing personal information or credit card numbers to websites they thought were legitimate. It interfered with web browsing and in some cases prevented infected PCs from downloading anti-virus and operating system updates, leaving them vulnerable to viruses and spyware.

Once the rogue DNS servers were found and seized, the FBI faced a daunting challenge. Take them offline and millions of systems would lose all access to the internet causing widespread damage to online commerce and business functionality. Instead, they set up temporary replacement servers which allowed infected computers to remain functioning in the hopes that users would clean the Trojan off their system before the temporary servers go offline on July 9th.


Perhaps more troublesome, a report by IID (Internet Identity) indicates that machines at 12% of Fortune 500 companies and 4% of government agencies are still infected with the malware (http://internetidentity.com/news/blog/686-iid-finds-12-of-fortune-500-still-infected-with-dnschanger#). When their systems are taken offline on the 9th it will lead to loss of productivity and may make it harder to service their customers.

Facebook and Google are sending notices to users that browse to their sites from a DNSChanger-infected computer. However, even if you haven’t been notified of an infection you shouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief and consider yourself in the free and clear.

When the FBI disables the temporary servers it will break infected system’s access to the internet but it will not remove the malware from those systems. Take a few minutes to ensure that you’re not kicked offline on July 9th.

First, open your internet browser and go to www.dns-ok.us. If your system is infected you’ll see a red image with the words “DNS Resolution = RED.” Alternatively, a green image with “DNS Resolution = GREEN” means that your computer is looking up IP addresses correctly. Unfortunately, a green isn’t necessarily an all clear either. Some internet service providers have created their own mini-DNSChanger servers which allow infected systems to bypass the FBI servers to access the internet. This means that while you won’t lose access to the internet on the 9th you may still be infected.

Next, if you don’t have a reputable antivirus software program installed on your system, get one. I like Microsoft Security Essentials (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials) because it scans for and protects against malware and viruses in one step. The DCWG’s website, www.dcwg.org, also offers a list of links to download software to rid your system of the Trojan.

Finally, make sure your anti-virus is up to date. You’d be surprised how many users cripple their anti-virus by not downloading updates regularly. Once it’s up-to-date, run a scan to make sure you’re DNSChanger free before finding out the hard way.

Still worried that your system is part of a malware-infected bot net? Get in touch with us at www.callnerds.com/nerdchick

Check out the news coverage about the DNS Changer on KRCR News Channel 7 in Redding.

Data Backup Basics

Easy Steps to Get Started With Data Backup

There are certain things we all know we should do: change the oil every 3,000 miles, choose different passwords for every online login, and back up our computers. Though I know better, I sometimes get to 5,000 miles before changing the oil, I can’t remember 500 different passwords, and I rarely back up my computer. I am a bad person. While mom showed me how to balance a checkbook (thanks mom!), no one ever showed me how to back up my computer. Now I can return the favor and teach my mom, and you, how to back up your system.

Your computer’s hard drive has moving parts and all mechanisms with moving parts eventually break. Sometimes it takes years, or decades, but it’s usually when you’re in the middle of a doctoral thesis. Modern technology has created a new type of drive to combat this problem, a Solid State drive. While this type of drive doesn’t have any moving parts, it still runs on electricity. What all this means is simple: one day your hard drive will fail. The only thing you can do is prepare for that day with a regular and reliable backup system. There are two types of data backup methods and you can use one, or both. It depends on how badly you’ll miss the pictures of your kids’ first steps… hint, you should do both.

The Basic External Backup

The Cloud Backup

The second system is to create an off-site backup. If you’re as lazy as me (um, as busy as me…), this is the option for you. Crashplan works on both Windows and Apple computers. Choose to back up to another computer on your network, a friend’s computer, a local external drive, or to their servers. I recommend you use their servers for several reasons. First, it’s cheap. For a mere $3/month you can backup one computer, or for $6/month you can backup as many as 10 computers with unlimited storage. Second, it’s reliable.

Backing up your computer to another computer on the network or a friend’s computer has the same risks as backing up to an external drive - they will all eventually fail. Crashplan has redundant servers, so your data is backed up on multiple servers for safety. After running through their simple setup, access your files through the program installed on your computer or through their website.

Not sure if you’re protected from data loss disaster? Send me a note at www.callnerds.com/andrea for my list of most often neglected, but necessary, files to include in your backup.

[transcript]

Hi. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call. Today we're going to talk about data backup basics. There's certain things in life we should all do. Change our oil every 3000 miles, use different passwords for every website we go to, and, of course, backup our data. But not a lot of people know what to do when you say backup your data.

There's three main methods of backing up your data. One, you can back it up to another computer. You can back it up to an external hard drive, or you can back it up to the Cloud. One of the easiest ways to backup your data is using an external hard drive. We really like Seagate because it comes with software for free. It will allow you to go through your system, choose the files you want backed up, and then keep them backed up automatically. The second system is to create an off-site backup. We really like CrashPlan.com for this. What you can do is you can create a backup to another computer on your network, your computer at work or a friends computer. The best part is it's totally free.

The last method that we would use to do backup is to backup to the Cloud. Now, when you say that, basically the Cloud is just a series of servers that are hosted by somebody else. They handle all of the backup and redundancy for you, so you don't have to. Again, CrashPlan.com does a great job with this, and for most people it's only about $3 to $6 a month.

[/transcript]

Small Business Computers: Buy This Not That!

Small Business Computers: It's Important to Spend Wisely

According to a May 2012 report by the National Economic Council, there are 28 million small businesses in the U.S. employing 60 million Americans – roughly half of the private sector workforce. The balance between budgeting and productivity can be challenging to small firms, particularly those working to get (or maintain) a foothold in today’s economy.

As I travel for appearances on TV and radio, I am often asked what technology small business owners really need and what they can live without. With no further ado, here’s my “Buy This, Not That” series for the small office environment.

Buy Laptops, not Desktops (or Tablets)

The largest technology expense in a small office environment, especially one just starting out, is likely computers. Desktop computers are typically the most versatile, particularly to those who require a specialized configuration like dual monitors, upgraded graphics capability, or multiple peripheral attachments (like cameras, custom keyboards, or audio equipment). However, desktops lack mobility, often making it a hassle to work from home or on the road.

According to a Yankee Group report published in 2008, more than 50 million U.S. workers are considered mobile (i.e. away from their primary workspace more than 20% of the time). To a small business owner or executive, the ability to access a work project when away from the office is often pivotal to success and productivity.


Instead, consider equipping employees with laptops and docking stations. This will give you the best of both worlds at minimal additional cost. A docking station allows you to connect a laptop to a multitude of additional devices with one plug, typically via USB. Look for one that includes software to allow your system to function with the top closed, so that you can utilize external keyboards, mice and monitors. When deadlines loom (and, frankly, when don’t they?), the laptop has the portability to allow you to continue working from anywhere. No need to remotely access software or data from a secondary system – everything is exactly where you left off. Yet when you return to the office, one connection lets you work under optimal conditions to ensure your comfort and efficiency during your workday.

I like the Toshiba Dynadock U3.0 Universal USB Connect Docking Station which works with any Windows-based computer and is available for around $130. Its built-in video card supports two large monitors and the HDMI-out port allows you to view 1080p HD videos or games on an external display. It supports network data transfer over USB 3.0 and surround sound through either HDMI or 3.5mm audio. Compared to the two to four USB ports on many laptops, the six USB slots will increase the number of peripherals you can connect.

This is also a great option for allowing multiple users to share a specialized piece of equipment, like a large monitor or projector. Set up the docking station and whoever is hosting today’s sales conference can get going with a single connection.

A note about tablets: while their versatility is improving with every year, they are not yet functional enough to warrant outfitting your small office with them unless you need to fulfill a specific purpose. They certainly are not powerful enough to take the place of a standard desktop or laptop in an office environment.

Stay tuned next week for the “Buy This, Not That” recommendations for your small office network. If you have questions or would like more of my recomendations for small business computers drop me a note here.

Photo used by permission: cliff1066

Laptop Repair: Fix it or replace it?

Laptop Repair Can Be Costly, But Some Repairs Are Worth It.

When I made the switch from a desktop computer to a laptop, the idea that everything that previously took up my entire desk could now fit in such a small, portable device was revolutionary. However, the first time that my keyboard failed, I realized it wasn’t all wine and roses. With the smaller footprint comes the fact that parts and pieces often aren’t as easily interchangeable. I could no longer toss the old keyboard and plug in a new $30 generic version; this one was going to have to come from the manufacturer and was going to require a specifically skilled technician, in laptop repair, to replace. Before you resign yourself to the belief that any failure of a portable electronic device is going to warrant replacement, there are actually many things that are just as easy to fix on a laptop.

It’s no different to clean a virus or malware infection off a laptop than it is to repair a desktop. Software issues shouldn’t require that you spend any more than on a standard PC, or that you find a specialist. While laptop hard drives and RAM are different from the kinds found in desktop PCs, there are certain standard types and sizes, so you don’t have to get them through the manufacturer. This will allow any computer technician or even tech-savvy do-it-yourselfer to replace one. The power supply is actually external on a laptop (it’s the “brick” about half-way down the power cable), so replacing a dead power supply can be as easy as a Google search with the make and model number of your machine. However, if the connector where your cord plugs into your system has failed, that’s a different proposition that will require soldering and probably a specialist. While the card that gives newer laptops the ability to connect to a wireless network is often integrated into the motherboard, you can use an external adapter if your WiFi card fails. A wireless “dongle” plugs into a USB slot, and is about the size of a money clip.


Before you approve a laptop repair, be sure to ask if the parts will be new or refurbished, and what the warranty will be on the replaced part. It’s always best to have new parts, but sometimes older laptops no longer have new components available and require that replacements be from salvage. If your laptop is going to be shipped to a different facility, it’s best to make sure that you’ve backed up the data (if possible) before it leaves your hands. Many retailer-affiliated repair providers perform a system reformat and reinstall, effectively wiping your data, even if the repair doesn’t expressly require it. Some will even send you an entirely different machine to replace the one you sent in.

Drop me a note for more laptop repair tips if you’re still debating whether to get your portable device back up and running or check out our laptop repair services.

[transcript]
Hi, everybody. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call. Today we're going to be talking about laptop repair. When I got my first laptop, I was shocked at how much stuff they could fit inside this little, tiny container. So a lot of times, when it comes to getting your laptop repaired, you're not quite sure what to do. When it comes to viruses and spy-ware and most software issues, there's no difference fixing a laptop and fixing a desktop, so you don't have to look for a specialty service. However, when the keyboard breaks, the hard drive fails, or you get a crack in the screen, that's when you've got to find a good solution provider, who can fix it and who's reputable.

Once you choose a company to repair your laptop, you're going to want to find out where is it going to be repaired? Are they going to repair it in the local shop, or are they going to send it somewhere? If they're going to send it somewhere, you want to make sure you get a backup copy of everything on your hard drive before it goes away. There's a technician in Kentucky somewhere who's not going to care about your pictures as much as you are.

You want to make sure that you ask the shop that you use what kind of parts they're going to use to fix your computer. Are they going to be refurbished parts, manufacturer approved parts, or generic parts? These are things you're going to want to know because you don't want to spend top dollar on a used part that's going into your brand new machine. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call. Thanks for watching.
[/transcript]

How to Remove a Virus

How to Remove a Virus: The Best Anti-Virus Software

Do you remember back when your computer was shiny and new, it likely came with pre-installed Norton or McAfee antivirus software. It would periodically pop up little notices that it had downloaded the latest updates, and you felt snug and secure when you surfed online.

Then that trial membership expired. You may not have even noticed the lapse in coverage, assuming that the icon in your toolbar was a sign that all was well -- or, like many, you may have been wary to spend your hard-earned cash to subscribe. This story is so common that it's one reason why Panda Security reported in January that approximately 50 percent of the world's computers are compromised by some form of malware.

While I fondly remember the days when viruses were primarily built to annoy their victims, today's viruses are far more dangerous. Infected computers attack other computers. Hackers use these vast networks of infected computers or "botnets" to send spam, break websites and infiltrate corporate networks to steal credit-card data and customer information. Before you decide to unplug your computer, rest assured that there are some easy ways to protect yourself.

The 4 Best Anti Virus Programs for removing a virus

#1 McAfee Anti-Virus:

If you're already running an anti-virus program and making sure that it is up to date, kudos! If you elected to shell out the dough to keep your Norton or McAfee running after the trial ended, keep in mind that these two programs dominate the consumer security space. This makes them the biggest targets for hackers and virus writers who study their code to find vulnerabilities. While I am not suggesting that you look for an unknown, untested antivirus for your computer's safety, there may be good reason to consider switching to one of the great free anti-virus options available.

McAfee Anti-Virus For Mac:

McAfee also has an antivirus solution for Mac Computers. I know people say that you can't get a virus on Macs and to a degree that is true. So far, Mac computers are not vulnerable to traditional viruses, however they can be targets of  malware, phishing scams, identity thieves and hackers. Anti virus software for Macs will help secure your data and keep malware off your computer. Another solution worth mentioning is Avira.  Avira anti-virus has a Mac virus protection program called MacKeeper.

#2 Microsoft Security Essentials:

One of my favorite anti-virus programs for the basic user is Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free, easy to use, updated frequently and provides great protection from most Internet-born parasites. The fact that it's made by Microsoft, the company that makes Windows, is a great benefit. Who is better equipped to know which Windows vulnerabilities hackers are targeting? Programers can then integrate the fix seamlessly into Windows.

#3 Avast!:

If you just can't get past the idea of trusting Microsoft to protect your Windows PC, or if you are running an alternate operating system, consider Avast! free antivirus. Avast is one of the highest-rated antivirus programs, according to AV Comparatives, an independent antivirus program reviewer. Avast offers both a free and a paid version, and boasts one of the fastest virus scans on the market. It also uses fewer system resources when scanning, so you can continue to use your computer normally while the scan runs in the background. Anyone who has been held hostage by a seemingly endless scan that makes everything else on your system slow to a useless crawl can appreciate this benefit. Fun side note: You can select different voices to proclaim, "Ding! Avast's virus definitions have been updated." I am quite partial to Pirate.

#4 Sandboxie:

Finally, if compromised or lost data would devastate your productivity, check out Sandboxie. Sandboxie is an applications that allows you to run certain programs "virtually," like putting them in quarantine. Essentially, you open your web browser or email in a "sandbox," so an infected website or virus-laced email attachment won't compromise the rest of your system. When you close the program, you destroy the sandbox's contents, including any infections. However, cookies and temp files go, too, so if you like to auto-login to websites you frequent, this solution will likely annoy you.

Don't surf naked -- get some protection. If you're already suffering from and nned help to remove a virus or for more ways to be safe on the scary wide web, visit www.callnerds.com/andrea. 

[transcript]
Hi, everybody. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call. Today we're going to be talking about how to remove a virus from your PC. Back in the day, when you first got your computer, it probably came pre-installed with something like Norton or McAfee. Those are great protection, but usually they expire after about a year. Then what do you do?

One of my favorite anti-virus is Microsoft Security Incentive. Just go to Microsoft.com and search for Microsoft Security Essentials, it's free, it's easy to use, it's frequently updated, and it's really fast. If you don't want to use the Microsoft product, you can always use a program called Avast, it's also a free anti-virus software. And one of the coolest parts of it is, when it's all done scanning your system, it will say "Hey, ding, we're all done looking for viruses." And you can change that voice to anything you want. So my favorite is "Pirate" It will go "Argh, no viruses found." Thanks for watching. I'm Ryan, from Nerds on Call.
[/transcript]

New MacBooks a $2,200 disposable computer?

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New MacBooks can't be upgraded

When it comes to portable electronics, bigger is not better. From the new line of UltraBooks announced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show to the highly anticipated MacBook Pro with Retina Display released by Apple this month, laptops are getting ever smaller and lighter to compete with the growing popularity of tablet PCs.

Yet with a smaller footprint comes limitations. When they’re impossible to upgrade and more costly to repair, is smaller truly superior?

If you are going to carry a device in your bag most everywhere you go, lightweight and durable is of paramount importance. To accommodate the increased demand for smaller, thinner, and lighter portable electronics, manufacturers are changing the way they construct laptops.

The MacBook Pro with Retina Display released to market this month by Apple has taken the trend to an extreme. To make it super thin and lightweight, most all of the components are built in to the machine making them either impossible or very expensive to replace. The RAM is soldered to the logic board. The battery is glued to the case. The display is fused to the glass.


Yet it’s important for consumers to understand the limitations these design changes impose on the ability to repair or upgrade their device. RAM is the hardware item most often upgraded after purchase to extend the usability of a computer. Attaching the RAM to the logic board makes it impossible to upgrade after purchase. If a RAM module fails (this is common), you’ll likely be shipping your laptop back to Apple for it to be rebuilt with a new chip. You’ll have to max out the RAM upon purchase (and therefore pay top dollar to Apple for the upgrade on the front end), since there’ll be no increasing your system memory in two years when it starts to feel sluggish.

Batteries in rechargeable electronics inevitably fail; luckily, most laptop batteries are easily replaced. Most major-manufacturer laptops have inexpensive, 3rd party batteries available that the average consumer can replace with a couple of turns of a screwdriver. When the battery is instead glued to the case, the average consumer will not be able to easily replace it. The new MacBook Pro’s battery is reported to last through 1,000 cycles of fully discharging and recharging. What happens when it inevitably dies? Replace your system, or mail it back to Apple for a new battery (estimated $200).

Cracked screens are another common laptop problem. By fusing the display to the glass, Apple is requiring that the entire (expensive) display assembly be replaced, instead of simply the LCD.

Before you shake your fist at Apple for selling a system that requires either regular replacement (a $2,200 “disposable” laptop?) or costly manufacturer repairs when components fail (as they inevitably do), it’s important to note that Apple is not alone in moving in this direction. Therefore it’s up to you, the consumer, to decide if it’s worth the trade off. Does size and weight reduction warrant cost-prohibitive repairs and upgrades?

The MacBook Pro with Retina Display starts at $2,199 so I am loath to treat it as expendable. If you’re in the market for this unquestionably beautiful, super lightweight machine, factor the true cost. Consider maxing out RAM and storage upon purchase and adding on extended Apple care to warranty against cost-prohibitive repairs.

Can An iPad Replace A Laptop

iPad vs. Laptop: Can an iPad replace a laptop?

As the new school year approaches, the question I get asked most often is, "Should I buy a laptop or a tablet?" Apple's Steve Jobs has asserted that we are living in a "post-PC world". can an iPad replace a laptop?

To test the theory, I traveled to Florida with my 2-year old, bearing my iPad 2 but no laptop. When an article needed editing, I realized that while it would be possible for the iPad to do everything I needed, it wasn't going to work for me straight out of the box. It needed modification.

If you are considering ditching your laptop, whether it's for a trip or for good, here's my guide to making it possible.

Touch screen vs keyboard

Microsoft Word vs iWork
With or without a keyboard, creating or editing a document or spreadsheet on your iPad isn't going to be easy unless you make an aftermarket modification. Microsoft Office isn't available on the iPad, but Apple's iWork suite will give you most of its functionality at a fraction of the cost. Pages, Numbers and Keynote handily replace Word, Excel and PowerPoint , and cost $5 each through the Apple app store. All the content you create in these programs is cross compatible, so if you edit a Word document on your iPad using Pages, you can open and edit it later in Word with no difficulty.

As much as we'd all love to be paper-free, there are inevitably times when you need to print something. You can search the iPad for a USB port, but to no avail. Printing something off your iPad will require accessing a printer wirelessly. To make the process as painless as possible, look for a printer that is compatible with Airplay, Apple's proprietary wireless application.

Universal Acsess
Finally, sometimes I need a particular program that isn't compatible with the iPad, or I need to transfer content to another device. The lack of a USB port or disk drive can make this challenging. But with Logmein Ignition ($30 in the app store), you can remotely access your home or office computer via the Internet. Install the companion app on your laptop or desktop and leave it running while you are away. Now you can access everything on your home or office system from your iPad, from World of Warcraft to your accounting software.

What do you think? Can an iPad replace a laptop? If you're still nervous about unplugging from your laptop or desktop, share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.


[transcript]
Hi, I'm Ryan from Nerds On Call and today we're going to talk about whether you can replace your laptop with your iPad. There's nothing cooler than an iPad, but when you start using it, after a while you start to think do I really need both a laptop and an iPad? Well, one of the first things you're going to notice is when you start using an iPad there's no keyboard, you tap on the screen. Well, that can be fantastic for short emails or Tweets or Facebook updates, but let's say you have to do a long email or a very long document. You'll find that tapping on the screen can get kind of tiresome and correcting is really difficult, but if you buy a keyboard like the one from Zagg.com, you could connect it to your iPad with Bluetooth and it turns it into a laptop.

With or without a keyboard, editing a document on an iPad is kind of difficult. While you get the touch screen so you can move around your cursor and decide exactly what you want to edit. It's not as intuitive or easy to use if you're used to a mouse and a keyboard. Another thing to keep in mind about the iPad is if you're used to using Microsoft Office for Word and Excel, you don't get those on an iPad, but what you do get is Apple's version called Pages or Numbers. So you'll have to learn a new kind of software just to get some of the basic stuff done that you're already used to.

As much as I'd like to live in a paper-free world and have everything go digital, I still have to print things every now and then. Well, with a laptop it's relatively easy, I don't even have to think about it anymore. But with an iPad only AirPlay enabled printers will work. One of the saving graces for the iPad though is a little piece of software called LogMeIn. For $50 in the app store you can use your iPad to access your computer or your Mac and do everything that they can do. So can you replace your laptop with your iPad? Yeah, it can be done, but you're going to have a lot of compromise and if you're willing to take that step, it could be kind of cool.
[/transcript]

Computer Upgrades: Hard Drives, Part 2

Hybrid or Solid State Drives can be an easy computer upgrade.

The most vulnerable part of a hard drive is its moving parts. The disk spins, the spindle arm moves to read data, all the while creating heat, friction, and an opportunity to break when the moving stops. The next generation of hard drives - solid state drives and hybrid drives -attempt to rectify this by eliminating the spinning and swinging. However there are some tradeoffs: less storage and higher price. Is it worth upgrading?

Solid state drives (SSDs) are a flash storage device, meaning they work like a USB flash drive, just without the USB part. While from the outside, they look very similar to traditional hard drives, there is no spinning disk and herein lies a huge advantage.

A traditional drive is like a CD or record player. Data is written to a specific part of the drive, so opening an application or file requires that the disk spin to the right storage location and the read/write spindle access the data off the disk. Typically, opening a program requires your hard disk to be read in multiple places. SSDs access data faster, leading to faster system boot up and quicker load times for applications and games. This performance improvement is what leads many “power-users” to upgrade. However, the rest of us can benefit as well.

No moving parts make SSDs more durable and shock resistant. This can be a huge benefit in a laptop which gets jostled and banged around in transit. Since they don’t have to power a spinning disk, or a moving spindle, SSDs require less power consumption to access data. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you’re reliant on your laptop battery to make it through a flight, every little bit helps.


If you’re thinking, “sold!” its time I mention the drawbacks. SSDs are significantly more expensive and have lower storage capacities than traditional hard drives. While you can get a 1TB traditional hard drive for around $125 these days, the same amount of cash will buy only about 128GBs of solid state storage.

It’s really important to stick with reliable manufacturers – Crucial, OCZ and Intel produce strong contenders. Since the technology is still new, there are higher failure rates than would be expected, particularly with drives from less reputable companies. Also, performance and speed can degrade over time dependant on how data is stored. Look for manufacturers that integrate tools that evenly distribute how the drive writes data across the flash memory cells. Unfortunately, cheaper often equates to slower.

Some users have found that installing the operating system and applications on a SSD while storing data to a secondary, traditional hard drive gives them the best of both worlds: the responsiveness of an SSD with the capacity of a hard disk. However, running two drives can be complicated for basic users.

In an attempt to increase capacity and reduce price, some manufacturers have introduced “hybrid” drives. “Hybrids” fuse flash memory cells (to cache boot files and frequently accessed data) onto a traditional spinning drive. The hard disk offers the capacity for storing photos, videos and large packets of data while the flash cells improve speed and boot times. These can be a good alternative for laptop users where space is at a premium.

If you’re ready to upgrade to the speed and reliability of a SSD, contact me for my picks to get the most drive for your dollar.

Online Computer Repair: Is It Safe?

Online Computer Repair: Is It The Force or Magic?

These days, we want everything fast, from food to computer repairs. If you've seen the TV ads for iYogi.net, you may have wondered, "How can a tech in India fix a computer in Nantucket?" I'm here to unravel some of the mystery of Internet-based tech support or online computer repair.

Whether you take a faulty computer to a repair shop or have a tech come to you, it can take days or even weeks to get your system back on its feet. The major benefit of online computer repair is that in many cases it's immediate. Answer a few questions, click a few buttons on your computer, and you can often have a tech working on your system while you make dinner or catch up on your scrap-booking. It can actually be quite fun watching a remote desktop session in progress.

Many companies, (including ours) offer extended hours for their online computer repair, allowing you to fit computer repair around your schedule. Besides, if you have to have your computer fixed, it's a slightly less distressing experience if you don't have to get out of your pajamas and bunny slippers.

But there are some drawbacks to having your computer fixed remotely. A tech working from afar can only fix software-related issues, involving viruses, spyware, program corruption and operating-system glitches. While these account for the majority of repair issues, lots of problems will require you to be a more active participant in the repair. If you suddenly can't print, for example, the tech probably will need you to check wires and do a manual restart before he or she can install drivers, etc. If you're unable to get online, expect to spend some time on the phone while the tech walks you through basic troubleshooting.

If your computer needs hardware replaced or upgraded, techs likely will be able to diagnose the issue. But to get it resolved, you'll need to have a tech put hands on your machine.


Choose wisely when contracting a company for online computer repair. Many companies require that you provide a credit card number up front, and they'll have virtually unfettered access to anything stored on your computer. To research companies, get recommendations from friends or family, use online review sites, and Google the company's name. For more computer-security tips, see the Federal Trade Commission's OnguardOnline website at OnGuardOnline.

The reality is that dropping off your computer at a repair shop isn't any safer than online computer repair. When you're in front of the machine, you can see exactly what the technician on the other end of the line is doing. This actually may give a little more comfort to those of us who like to retain a measure of control over the process. A remote desktop repair might be perfect solution to your next computer tune up.

Do you have any computer problems, you'd like to fix right now? We would love to look at your computer for free. Click here to get started with online computer repair today.


[transcript]Hi, I'm Ryan from nerds on call, and today we're going to be talking about online computer repair. These days we want everything fast. Fast food, fast computers, fast everything. So it's kind of a pain when you have to take your computer into a shop to get it repaired.

Well, that's the beauty of online computer repair. Now you can connect to somebody on the internet and have them fix it for you, while you make dinner, or finish your scrap-booking, or whatever you like to do. Just watch Star Wars again.

Despite the on-demand service that online support provides, the only problem is, they can't fix anything hardware related. So hard-drives, cracked screens, printers, all of that stuff can't be fixed online. But one of the cool parts is, if you got a virus, or spyware, or something like that, you can sit back and watch them as they control your computer while it's being fixed.

A lot of people are concerned that online computer repair isn't as safe as taking it to your local computer repair shop. Keep in mind, that a lot of major retailers are already using online repair to do the work for their people in the stores. So you don't have as much risk, because you can sit there and stare at the screen, as somebody is fixing your computer for you. Unlike when you take it into a repair shop and they take it into the back room.

I'm Ryan from nerds on call. Thanks for watching.[/transcript]

Want a New Computer? What You Need to Know Now!

Everything you need to know about buying a new computer.

Buying a new computer can be almost as stressful as buying a new car. How do you find the best fit for your needs without blowing your budget? If you sign on for all the bells and whistles, or have your heart set on a top-of-the-line Mac, that new computer could set you back more than a down payment on a Civic. Before you pull out your credit card, let’s review some options so you can pick the right machine.

New Computer: The Best PC:

Desktop: A desktop PC is usually the most appropriate PC option for a family in which more than one person will regularly use it. The good news is that desktop PCs are relatively inexpensive, endlessly customizable and will likely run just about any software program you throw at them. The bad news is that once you get the desktop home and set up, it’s not going anywhere (without you risking a lower back injury).If price and personalization are more important than portability, I’m a fan of Dell’s “build-to-suit” options. Dell Inspiron i570-9114BK Desktop ($399-$450) is a great bargain PC! Just keep in mind you’ll still need to budget for a monitor. If you aren’t sure that a Desktop computer is your best fit, continue reading. Our guide to buying a new computer has a lot of helpful tips.

Netbook: Often confused with a tablet (think iPad), this is more like a miniature, pared-down laptop. Netbooks are cheap, tiny and, well, cheap. They offer inexpensive, portable access to the Web, with the ability to do some word processing. The price point is alluring — typically $200 to $400 — which is certainly less than a tablet with a keyboard add-on. However, netbooks aren’t very powerful so programs tend to run very slowly, their screens are small (typically around 10 inches), and you won’t get the cool touch screen you would with a tablet. If price and portability trump functionality, consider Acer Aspire One ($270) we think it’s the best notebook for the price.

Laptop: If you need a fully functioning computer that can run a multitude of software programs and still travel with you from home to school or office, a laptop is likely your best bet. You can customize your options much like a desktop, which means that prices can vary greatly. Expect to pay around $500 for a basic, fully functioning laptop. The basic system I like is HP g7-1310us Laptop ($500).

New Computer: The Best Apple Computer:

The Mac vs. Windows debate rages in many households, even mine. While the Mac user’s “I don’t get viruses” claim is not entirely true (Mac computers can be infected with Malware), only a handful of infections have attacked Mac systems in the last decade. With prices starting as $1,000, Macs are certainly more expensive than Windows PCs, and they’re typically pre-built — so don’t plan on much customization. However, Apple commands a higher price because Mac hardware typically is superior to that of an entry-level PC; a similarly equipped Windows machine would cost around the same. And many argue that the Mac’s software better accommodates graphic design and video editing.

The 27-inch iMac Desktop Is an extremely powerful computer. This Mac is perfect if you are a graphic designer, Video Editor, other digital creative fields. The screen is so large, that it is perfect for people who work with multiple windows opened at once. Because Apple iMac 27-Inch Desktop ($1,900) is geared for graphics, it’s fast processor makes it a good gaming computer as well.

13-inch Apple Macbook is an awesome laptop computer, if your budget allows, this laptop will last for a long time and accommodate almost any project you will encounter. Apple iMac 27-Inch Desktop ($1,100) computers are even capable of running the Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. If you are looking for the best all-in-one laptop, consider a Mac Book.

WANT MORE HELP? If you’ve narrowed down your choices but still have some questions about upgrades, components or where to get the best deal, ask us a question in the comments, and I’ll spill all my insider secrets to help you buy the ABSOLUTE BEST COMPUTER for your needs and budget.

[transcript]Hi. I'm Ryan from Nerds On Call, and today we're going to be talking about how to buy a new computer. Well, these days, computers come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. From desktops to laptops to netbooks, and then there's that crazy Apple. So, what do you do when you're looking for a new computer?

Well, let's talk about desktops first. That's the main computer that's out there. When you buy a new desktop, you don't want to buy the highest, most expensive computer you can find because it'll out date quickly. So, what you want to do is look for a mid range PC, something that's affordable, around the $300-$500  range, because you can upgrade just about anything inside of a desktop tower fairly easily. Where you really want to spend some extra dough though, is probably on a monitor. That's what you're going to be looking at all day, so you want to make sure it's crisp and clear, and easy to see.

Another kind of computer is the netbook. Now, these are usually really small, about 11 inches or so, and they're nice because they're really portable and easy to use. Right now, tablets are starting to take over the market though, so a netbook is kind of becoming outdated. The keyboards are a little small, they're under powered, and their battery life isn't the greatest. These days, I would probably stay away from a netbook and look more at a tablet.

Laptop computers are probably the most dominant kind of computer to buy these days because they're so easy and portable and they're getting cheaper and cheaper. When you look at a laptop, generally what you want to do is buy is the highest end that you could afford. The reason why? You can't really upgrade them very easily. Sure, you can add some ram or hard drive if you know what you're doing, but usually it's going to take a specialist to fix things from the keyboard to the screen to just about anything else in it. So you want to spend a little extra money on a laptop to make sure that you get the best one that's going to last the longest.

So, one of the biggest arguments at my house is weather you go Apple, or weather you go PC. It doesn't really matter these days. It really depends on your support group. If you've got a lot of friends and family that are using Apple products, you should probably go Apple. But if everybody's using Windows that you know, use Windows. You're going to need some support  to make sure you get help when you need it.[/transcript]

Computer parts: CPU, Hard Drive, Giga...what?

Computer parts - do they have to name them such dorky names?

Going Back to school is a great time to take advantage of retailers competing for parent's dollars, and finally upgrade from that old Windows 98 machine limping along in your basement. In fact, please do yourself a favor, if you still have windows 98, please upgrade!

However, between gigabytes and megabytes, the component descriptions can be harder to decipher than your teenager's last six text messages. From RAM to hard drive to software, how does the non-nerd decide what's worth upgrading, and what to forego to save a few bucks? Allow me to demystify some of the tech terms so you can confidently tell that sales rep exactly what you want.

Tech Term #1 What is a CPU: The CPU is like your computer's brain. It controls every action your system performs, so spending some upgrade dollars here is a good way to ensure your new computer stays viable longer.

You are most likely to see the CPU described in terms that may look like gibberish to the average consumer. Intel or AMD will be your most common choices, and while I could make arguments for the benefits of both processors, for the sake of simplicity I like Intel because it is easier to decipher descriptions. Most Intel systems will come with the option of i3, i5, or i7 and speed and performance of your system will increase as you go up in number.

Tech Term #2 What is a Hard Drive: The size of hard drive you select determines how much data you can store on your computer. When deciding whether or not to pay more for a larger hard drive, think of your planned usage. The larger your hard drive, the more Gigabytes you can store.

Tech Term #3 What is a Gigabyte: To give you some perspective, you can store 150-200 high quality photos in 1 GB. Video files vary greatly based on length and quality, but storing an average standard definition DVD on your drive will take about 2-5GB. Documents and drivers don't take much space.


Tech Term #4 What is RAM: For most users, RAM will be the most noticeable upgrade. The amount of RAM in your system is the primary factor in how fast it can boot up, launch a program, navigate between them, and generally respond to your inputs.

If you have too little RAM for the amount of tasks you ask your system to perform, it will run slowly, freeze, or crash. Based on the demands of current operating systems and software, I would recommend aiming for 4GB of RAM and upgrading as your budget and system permits. Windows 7 32-bit can't recognize more than 4GB (more on that in a minute). It's cheaper to upgrade now than later, and while you may not need all that speed now, software upgrades you install in the future will require more RAM than that same program does today.

Tech Term #5 How Many "Bits" Do I Need: While the lion's share of new PCs will come pre-loaded with a Microsoft Windows operating system, you may be presented with the choice of Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit. If you don't have many programs to install after getting the new system home, we'd recommend selecting the 64-bit version of Windows as it's the newest architecture, what all computers will eventually run standard, and currently somewhat less attacked by virus writers.

If you need to run older software on your new system, they will likely run more smoothly on Windows 7 32-bit. While the 64-bit operating system has an emulator that promises to allow older software to run, there may be compatibility issues.
If the tag on the new computer you're considering still looks like it's written in a foreign language, send me a note at www.callnerds.com/andrea for help deciphering the code.

[transcript]Hi, I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call, and today we're going to be talking about decoding PC specs. One of the first things we want to talk about is the processor. It's usually made by Intel or AMD. Now when you buy a processor for your computer, or when you are looking at a processor for your computer, you want to make sure you get the fastest one available for your budget. This is the main part of your computer where all the thinking is done, so all of the things that you open or close or programs you run, they're all going to need a fast processor in order to do it, so you want to pay close attention to what that is.

The next part of your PC that we want to talk about is your hard drive. Now your hard drive is long-term storage, that's where everything is stored. From your pictures, to your movies, to your documents. So you want to make sure you have a nice large hard drive to store all your stuff. One of the most important but often overlooked specs on a machine, is the RAM. You want to make sure you get as much RAM as you can. Now RAM is your short- term memory, so every time you open a program, save a document, look at photos, all of it has to load into RAM first, as it's going to the processor. So, the more RAM you have the faster your machine will seem, so get as much RAM as you can possibly afford for your machine. These days when you buy a Windows machine you get a choice between a 32-bit operating system or a 64-bit operating system.

I usually recommend that people go to the 64-bit operating system, because that's sort of the wave of the future. It's where everything's going, so if you get something in a 32-bit, in a few years there's not going to be very many programs written for 32-bit. Plus, 64-bit is a little more secure. Not a lot of virus writers are writing 64-bit code just to infect your machine. Hey, thanks for watching. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call.[/transcript]

What To Do Before You Call Tech Support

Simple fixes could keep you away from tech support

I am clueless when it comes to appliances. More than once I have called out a repair person to fix my dishwasher or dryer, only to discover that the power cable is loose, or that the exhaust is clogged with lint. A little basic troubleshooting could have saved me $100 or so (luckily for you, Nerds On Call doesn't charge for estimates), if only I'd known what easy things to try before having someone out. Over the years at Nerds on Call I have discovered that there are some simple things that fix a surprising number of computer problems, and trying them before you call a computer repair company could save you time, money and frustration.

Shut Down your computer and Restart: Shutting down is a good first step for just about any electronic device that is frozen, has stopped functioning as it should, or has given you a cryptic error. From computers to printers, routers, even personal electronics like MP3 players and cell phones, you'd be surprised how often a random problem just never returns after a system re-boot. If your system is frozen, resist the urge to pull the plug. Pressing and holding the power button for five to seven seconds should cause your system to do a hard shut down. Make sure you restart the tower, not just the monitor.

Having Trouble With Your Internet Connection: When your internet network goes down, there's a specific order in which you should restart the various parts. If you have a high speed internet connection and more than one computer, you likely have a modem and a router. If one or all of the systems on your network can no longer get online, try a network 'power cycle' before you spend the next few hours on hold with your internet provider. Shut down all systems that can't get online, the modem and the router. Shutting off a modem or router often requires disconnecting the power cable. You'll know you've got it when the lights on the unit turn off. Turn them back on in the following order, allowing each device a few minutes to connect before moving on to the next: modem, router, and then computer(s).

Power Off: If restarting the system or device doesn't work, try shutting down and unplugging the tower from the wall before plugging it back in and restarting. If you have a laptop or other portable electronic device, remove the battery (if possible) to ensure that your system has fully re-booted.


Recreate the problem: This probably sounds counter-intuitive. Unfortunately, it's common for computers to encounter a rare series of circumstances that causes something to malfunction, and after restarting you may never see the error or behavior again. In order to fix a problem, any technician is going to need to be able to see it happen. If they can't recreate the problem, they won't be able to find the cause which will waste your time and possibly money, so make sure that you know how to show the tech exactly what's happening.

Google the error message: While this may result in an even more confusing wave of codes and cryptic information, some easy to fix problems result in really bizarre error messages. You may just need to change a printer cartridge or load more paper, or re-install a driver. If the solution to your problem seems to confusing, then at that point, you can call a computer repair company.

Run your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs: I know, I know, you hear this from me over and over. If you're encountering an odd error, pop-up, or slow system, updating and running your protection programs certainly isn't going to hurt.

If these tips don't keep you away from tech support, at least there's a good chance that it's worth calling a professional. If you (gasp!) are having trouble with your Mac computer, drop me a note for my list of what to try before calling Apple Care.

Video Transcription:

Hi everybody. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call and today we are going to be 
talking about what to do before you call tech support.

So, one of the first things you want to do is turn off the device, whether 
it be a computer, a phone or a tablet. Turn it off and get all the way 
powered down first and then restart it. See if the error or the problem still
 exists.

The next thing you want to do is check the cables, if it's a computer and you
r monitor suddenly turns off or for some reason a USB device is no longer
 working, just go into the back of the machine and make sure everything is
 still plugged in, make sure they are nice and tight. One little error every
 now and then isn't that big of a deal but if Windows consistent errors keep 
coming up, that tells you that something's wrong.

So, if you get an outlook error or if your hard-drive suddenly gives you
 some beep or noise, you want to see what you can do to try to get that happen
 again. That way when you hire a professional to come look at it, you can 
tell them exactly what's happening.

Figure out what the error code is and type that in Google. Often times, you 
will figure out really quickly what the problem is. Whether it is hardware 
or software like for example, Photoshop just crashed and you got a blue
screen, then maybe you just have to re-install Photoshop and not have the
 hire a professional to fix it for you.

Best Computer Repair: Secrets They Don't Want You To Know.

Best Computer Repair Company, How To Choose Wisely.

Computer repair is like taking your car to the mechanic, at least for most of us. As much as I depend on my car, it's a mystery how all the parts work together to get me down the road. This lack of fundamental understanding of the car's inner workings makes me feel vulnerable and out of control every time the mechanic tells me what's wrong, and what needs to be done to fix it. If he tells me it's the flux capacitor, how would I know if I was being taken for a ride? That makes it especially hard to find a mechanic and finding the best computer repair professional puts most people in the same uncomfortable position. Here's my guide to the questions you should ask to ensure your trusty PC is in good hands.


#2 Who will fix my computer? Many larger chains outsource repair work overseas to reduce their overhead. This can make it difficult to get questions answered after service. Anyone who has spent an hour searching for their music files after having Windows reinstalled can attest to how frustrating this can be. If you're considering an independent repair person, what happens if they encounter a question or problem they don't know the answer to?

#3 Can I get a free fixed estimate? It frustrates me to pay for an estimate. In know it's broken. I want to know how much it will cost to fix it, not pay someone else to confirm it's broken. When I started my company, it was rare to find a computer repair person willing to look at your computer without charging something, but these days there is so much competition in the industry that free estimates are much easier to come by. What happens if the technician's original estimate or what he/she thinks the computer will require isn't going to work? This is not uncommon. When will you be provided with a new or revised estimate and can you decline at that time without charge?

#4 Do you charge by the hour, or do you offer flat pricing? If you pay by the hour, a computer repair technician is inherently motivated to work slowly. If they aren't initially familiar with your problem and need to research or work through trial and error, you pay for their inexperience.

#5 What happens if I have a problem after service? This is especially important if you are considering a small or one-man operation. If there's only one person doing the work and they're likely to be busy with another customer when you call, how long are you going to have to wait to get help? What sort of guarantee or warranty do they offer on parts and service? Make sure that the company stands behind their work before you give them your trust.

If dropping your laptop off at the shop makes you as nervous as leaving your child at their first day of preschool, contact me for more tips to select the best computer repair professional!

[transcript]Hi, I'm Ryan from nerds on call, and today were going to be talking about how to hire a computer repair professional. We came up with a list of things to look for when you're when you're hiring a computer repair guy. Now if you take your entire computer apart and haul it into a shop you might think that they're going to fix it there. But not always, especially if you go to a large retailer. A lot of times they will take it in and they will either ship it out to someplace else to be fixed, especially if it's a laptop or they will connected to the Internet, and somebody from another country will fix it.

Well if you're like me, I'm going to be a little bit more leery about somebody else but I've never seen before touching the stuff inside my computer. Like my pictures and my documents and things that I don't everybody seeing. Always ask who's going to be fixing it, where is it going to be fixed and how is it going to be fixed It's really frustrating to have to pay for an estimate. You already know it's broken, so why pay some body for the details. Basically, you want to make sure that when you get your computer fixed, you find out up front how much it is going to cost before they even start work.

Next you want to find out what happens after service is there warranty or some kind of guarantee? You want to make sure that after your computer comes back to you 30 or 60 days later, if the same problem occurs. What is the computer repair shop going to do about it? You want to make sure that you get it in writing or at least speak to somebody like a manager and find out exactly what is going to happen, if something goes wrong in the future.[/transcript]