Once upon a time if you wanted to update a computer program you had to wait until you got the Floppy Disk with the new program on it. Then you would install the new version, and replace the old version altogether. This worked at the time, and this is how you would get new features and bug fixes for the programs you use. Things are different today. [Read more…]
Fixing Your Computer Faster for Less | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB Computer Repair
Repairing Your Computer Quicker for Less
Have you started to notice your computer’s issues, flaws, and problems growing more severe and more frequent recently? These issues can irritate you daily, stop you from doing critical tasks, and even put your data in danger. It may be time to book in your computer for a brief service check or repair to get back on track.
When booking your PC in for a service, you can help your technician get straight to the root of the problem. A few simple notes are all it takes. Many people drop off their computers with, at best, a brief and vague description of the problem they experience.
Technicians have a wide range of diagnostic tools and years of experience to bring an aging computer back to health. Even with tools and knowledge, without a clear description of the problem, troubleshooting is far more time consuming and that means more expensive. The best physicians in the world couldn’t diagnose a medical condition without a clear explanation of the patient’s symptoms.
With just a few simple steps, you can save time and money while ensuring you get your computer back with every problem fixed.
Take Note of the Problem Every Time It Happens
Some computer problems only crop up every once in a while. A machine might freeze suddenly, or shut down unexpectedly. Intermittent issues like these can be frustrating and seemingly impossible to solve, but they may not be entirely random as we dig deeper.
When these events happen, you can help to resolve your issues by jotting down what you were doing and the applications running at the time they happen. Information about what you clicked on last, or settings you recently changed can reveal unexpected links to the computer’s behavior.
Detailed notes help technicians to reproduce the problem and see the crash or error for themselves. This can lead to faster fixes, more lasting solutions, and less time spent diagnosing issues in the dark. Simple notes scribbled down on a piece of paper or smartphone app can save you a surprising amount of money.
Keep an Eye on the Environment as Well as the Computer
It’s not just things within the computer we need to take note of. External factors can play a large role in how a computer operates. Hot and humid days have been known to limit cooling on devices already suffering from heat issues.
Even changing the time of day can raise different computer related issues. There have been occasions where users have reported problems connecting to the internet around lunchtime every day. A seemingly strange coincidence with no apparent cause, until technicians dig a little deeper.
Wi-Fi, which relies on radio waves to send and receive data, uses a frequency of 2.4ghz to communicate with devices. By coincidence, the same frequency is used in concentrated form inside of a microwave to heat food and beverages.
Microwaves, particularly when poorly positioned, or faulty, can cause Wi-Fi issues that disrupt communications every time they are used. Problems that come and go, seemingly randomly, have such a strange link to the computer’s environment that they can be very difficult to diagnose.
Take the Right Hardware at the Right Time
Bringing your computer in for repair, whatever the issue, is as simple as picking up the box itself. We don’t need the peripherals such as the mouse, screen, or keyboard unless those are the things causing the issue. Bringing in a laptop is as simple as carrying it to us, along with the charger.
If you have concerns about how to safely transport your computer, give us a call first and we can advise you what to bring and how best to pack it.
When deciding when to come in, sooner is always better than later. Computer issues often get worse over time. Vents gather more and more dust, fans run slower and slower. Heat issues in particular drastically lower the lifespan of a machine as time goes on.
A machine that gets less and less stable over time puts your programs and your critical data at risk. Updates applied over a shaky foundation can cause any number of software issues. With data, there’s often zero warning before it’s gone.
Can you afford to delay?
Click the button below to book an appointment and give your computer a clean bill of health.
Spring Cleaning for Your Computer | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
Spring has sprung in Lethbridge! Or it soon will. Hopefully… Anyway… When Spring is the air we often think of cleaning. So why not get a head start and do some Spring cleaning for your computer. In this post, we talk about how you can clean your computer both from a physical standpoint and virtually.
Don’t Fall for Webcam Blackmail | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB Computer Repair
Don’t Fall for Webcam Blackmail
Don’t Fall for Webcam BlackmailMany users have reported recent scam messages from individuals claiming to have intercepted their username and password. These messages often state they have been watching your screen activity and webcam while you have been unaware. They often claim to have recordings of you in compromising situations.
Typically, attackers threaten to send footage to your contacts, colleagues, or social media channels. Demanding payment in Bitcoin, malicious hackers blackmail their victims to keep confidential data private. [Read more…]
SSD: Make Your Old Computer Your New Computer | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
SSD: Make Your Old Computer Your New Computer
The solid-state drive (SSD) has swiftly become the go-to upgrade to breathe new life into an ageing computer, and for good reason too. An SSD quickly brings an old laptop or desktop up to date with modern machines in just a single step. [Read more…]
What Is Ransomware? | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
If you’ve watched the news much over the last few years, you’ve probably heard of Ransomware like NotPetya, WannaCry, and CryptoLocker, but what do you REALLY know about Ransomware? How can you protect yourself against ransomware attacks? Y-Not Tech Services is here to shed light on this cyber tactic and help you protect yourself. [Read more…]
The Best Malware Protection Brands Available | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
It’s more important than ever to have adequate protection online. Viruses, malware, hackers, and thieves are everywhere online and if your devices aren’t secured you’ll be the perfect target. To keep your devices protected, let’s look at the Best Malware Protection for each of your devices. [Read more…]
What Problems Can Be Solved With Remote Support | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
Y-Not Tech Services offers Remote Support as part of our service. With the increased internet speeds we enjoy, remote support has become a viable option for solving many IT and computer issues. We are happy to offer remote support to our clients in Lethbridge, AB and even beyond that. Our clients enjoy remote house calls because it saves them time, money and inconvenience. Plus we can even help them while traveling. As long as they have an internet connection remote support is just a few keystrokes away. While many issues can be fixed with Remote Support, there are some that cannot. Let’s take a look at what can and can’t be addressed remotely. [Read more…]
The 10 Reasons You Need a Backup | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
If you’re one of my clients or you read my website regularly you probably have heard me preach about data backup a hundred times. And it’s for good reason too! We keep some of our most precious possessions on these devices. Whether it’s photos and videos of our loved ones, important business documents, our taxes… the list goes on and on. In this post, we’ll look at the top 10 reasons you need to have a backup of your data. [Read more…]
Why Has My Computer Slowed Down? | Y-Not Tech Services – Lethbridge, AB
Do you remember bringing your new computer home from the store? It was shiny, sleek and oh- so fast! But now? Well, the years haven’t been so kind to it, have they? It’s slow, sluggish and sometimes you want to throw it out the window. So, what happened? Why did you go from Hare to Tortoise?
Let’s look at some of the reasons your computer might have slowed down over time. [Read more…]
