Davcoh Computer Services Blog

To be a computer owner means at some point your hard drive will break down. Whether it’s the result of old age, early life failure, accidental dropping, sharp impact, viruses, or user error that causes the drive to go out, it is important  to keep in mind the steps to try and protect any data that may be retrievable as a proactive measure.

Also important, is to keep an eye on the symptoms of an imminent hard drive issue so you have a chance to back-up your data and get a professional to intervene. Some symptoms of a potential imminent fail are:

Symptom:

 Abnormal Noises Coming From the Hard Drive

• Clicking
• Clunking
• Thrashing
• Knocking
• Drilling

Missing Data

• Documents you saved are missing
• Programs suddenly stop working

Hard Drive Error Messages

• “Can Not Detect The Hard Drive”
• “Hard Drive Not Found”
• “Disk Read Error”
• “Drive Verify Failure”
• “Imminent Hard Disk Failure”
• “Serious Disk Error Writing Drive”

Computer Crashes

• Sudden automatic rebooting
• Windows “blue screen of death” a.k.a “Stop Error” (computer reverts to the blue screen after encountering a critical error.)
• Computer screen freezes, especially when trying to access files

Monitor Problems

•  Flickering
•  Dimming
•  Color Distortions
• Fails to refresh after closing a program
• Remains black after powering on

Lengthy Access Time

• Takes an exorbitant amount of time to access files or do simple tasks

Action:

• Never Open The Computer or Hard Disk Drive
  Hard Disk Drives tolerate very little mishandling. Even a 3 inch drop, or the smallest speck of dust or other contaminants can disrupt the balance of the drive’s ecosystem. This could eliminate the possibility of recovering the drive.

• If you are able to back up data at all, act very quickly—you probably don’t have much time.
• Contact your computer services technician immediately.

When you consider all of the important details you may have on your computer; confidential details, personal, or business related documents – it is vital to have a data backup system in place.

Today, the most popular trend is to use an online backup service, that not only automatically backs up your data in case of equipment failure, but backs up your data off-site in the event of a theft, fire, flood or other catastrophe at your house or business.

In the event of a drive failure where you do not have a backup system, it can be very costly to recover data.  Attempting to fix the hard drive yourself may lead to more damage, so it is best to leave the hard drive powered off and call a professional to assist.

So, what are ultrabooks, exactly?

A few months ago, an ultrabook was this: an 11 or 13-inch slim laptop, with SSD flash storage, with a sleek look, quick processor, and no optical drive.  But now, we are seeing 14 and even 15-inch ultrabooks. They are changing in that they are a bit thicker and heavier than their original counterparts.  These newer, larger ones may even have regular SATA hard drives, optical drives, or dedicated graphics from Nvidia.

Although they seem to be changing specs, they are still under an inch, most likely using a lower-voltage, more power-efficient processor, maybe with graphics, maybe with a DVD drive.  So, in this, what is being called the Year of the Ultrabooks, it seems as though Ultrabooks are really just thinner, more sleek-looking laptops.  They pack a lot of punch for a smaller, lighter product. This can be beneficial for people who travel, but need more than what an ipad or other tablet has to offer.

Available in the U.S. on January 8, the Omni 27 will start at $1,200. Configuration options will include Intel CPUs ranging from the Core i3 to the Core i7 series, with 4GB and 8GB memory variants discrete graphics chip options from both AMD and Nvidia, and up to 3TB of hard-drive capacity.

Respectable specs aside, the 27-inch display is the main attraction. HP is not using the same high-resolution, 2,560×1,440-pixel display as Apple. Instead, the Omni 27 will only hit 1,920×1,080 pixels. That lower resolution will put off design professionals, but the large display will make the Omni 27 enticing for those interested in a PC for home entertainment.

Next year is one of those years that can’t come soon enough for Microsoft. It’s not that 2011 was a particularly difficult year. The company posted record revenue for the fiscal year that ended June 30. And its 2-year-old PC operating system, Windows 7, hit 500 million copies sold, further embedding it as the most widely used operating system in the world. But 2011 had few big product launches at the company, Office 365 and Internet Explorer 9 notwithstanding. Next year will be altogether different. Microsoft is prepping the big kahuna of its product arsenal, Windows 8. The company hasn’t set a date, though most analysts expect the flagship operating system to debut before the end of the year, and perhaps in time for back-to-school shopping. From that product, much else from Redmond flows. Continue here to read about five things to look for from Microsoft in 2012.

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. Many people plan for disaster preparedness in their homes, creating an exit plan in case of a house fire, earthquake, and other casualties. Non-perishable meals, battery operated radios, and rebreather masks are often considered for potential long-term disasters. The threat of winter ice storms brings people out in droves for shovels, salt, and bottled water.

We all know that disaster preparedness is important in our homes to protect our families, but we must also be aware of the potential threat to our technological systems and files. If you are like most of us, your business is largely dependent upon your computer system. Thousands of businesses lose millions of dollars due to loss of computer systems and data. It is vital to complete all possible steps to be as prepared as possible in the event something disastrous happens.

• Document your inventory
• Document your office’s computers, phones, network equipment, and peripherals
• Document and photograph the pertinent information for insurance purposes
• make
• model
• serial number
• Review your network
• A computer network blueprint, of sorts, may be valuable for your computer service technician to recreate your current layout as quickly as possible.
• This is also a good time to notate potential problems with your current network such as heavy traffic or potential to overheating.

• Be sure to have contact information on hand
• Your computer services technician’s contact details are critical to getting you back up and running. It would be detrimental to your business if you had to spend valuable time trying to find contact information.
• Now is the time to make decisions
• If you were not 100% happy with your technician, now is the time to reconsider the hire. If you are not satisfied now, during a non-emergency appointment, consider the job your company or their technician will likely do during stressful times.

• Be proactive
• Back up and store data
• One of the biggest errors companies make is failing to back up data often enough. If your business would suffer greatly by one day of downtime, it’s best to back up daily. At a minimum, back up weekly.
• Create backups off-site using online backup programs.
• Document and store all your settings and passwords online and not physically at your location.
• Protection
• Ensure all computers and phones are surge-protected and/or use UPS battery backup devices where needed.
• If your office is in a basement or ground level, make sure all computer equipment is on a table or shelf, and not on the floor to avoid damage from flooding.
• Install antivirus software and keep up to date
• In cases where the antivirus software is not automatically updated, be sure to schedule updates.

With the earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, ice storms, tornadoes, and other catastrophes in recent years, it is crucial that you follow these steps to protect your business. While there is no easy way to overcome a natural disaster, there are ways to reduce the potential impact it can have on your business’ functionality and finances.

Arizona State University researchers have created a new material that they say can be used to develop next-generation computers, improve the internet, increase the efficiency of silicon-based photovoltaic cells and improve solid-state lighting and sensor technology.

They’ve synthesized a single-crystal nanowire from a compound of erbium – used in doping optical fibers to amplify the signal.

Read more about this article by clicking here

It’s that time of year when one can get an amazing deal on a new computer. Not only are the deals aplenty, but it’s a great way to get a tax deduction for those purchasing computers for work.

With all great sales come various options from which to choose. How does one know which computer to buy? The first step is to determine your needs. Someone who is using the computer for social media and email correspondence is not going to require the same specifications as someone who uses their computer in a work-related capacity such as record keeping, data analysis, research, project management, data storage, and more.

Many people are left with numerous questions when they begin their computer shopping. With so many options to choose from, where does one begin?

The first step is to determine your needs. You may not realize the vastness of computer options available today. Gone are the days when you are glued to a desk using your computer. With the new products allowing for portability, mobile printing, and other features, the possibilities are endless. Don’t tie yourself to the same product out of familiarity; consider your options and make an informed decision as to what type of computer best suits your needs, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, handheld or tablet PC.

Make sure you get a computer with the right specifications.  Often advertisements have low priced computers with slow entry level processors, which will be disappointing.  We recommend the Intel i3, i5, and i7 processors for best performance.

Desktop Computers are named for their use — that is, they are designed for use at a desk or tabletop.

Desktop Pros

• Separate components
• Ease of upgrading computer
• Standard size keyboard and mouse
• Cheaper to replace by component
• Fastest processor, better performance for the money

Desktop Cons

• Larger, takes up more space
• Many wires
• No portability
• Lost data risk during power outage due to lack of battery, but you can buy an external UPS battery backup

Laptop Computers are lightweight, foldable PCs that allow use on the go.

Laptop Pros

• Portability
• Lightweight
• Easy to store
• Built-in power source
• Less wires
• Built-in webcam

Laptop Cons

• Costs more than an equivalent desktop
• Can negatively affect posture and cause discomfort
• Smaller keyboard
• Some smaller ones do not have a 10-key number pad
• Mouse track pad is not as easy to use as regular mouse, but you can buy an external regular mouse.
• Screens are smaller than desktop monitors
• Potential damage from dropping or spills
• Potential for loss/theft due to mobility

Smartphones are battery-powered computers. In the last few years, smart phones have replaced the PDA.

Smartphone Pros

• Small enough to fit in your pocket
• Ability to enable password protection
• Convenience to check e-mail and surf the web when on the go
• Access to contacts and calendar when on the go
• Smartphone versions of PDAs offer telephone, internet, and text message capabilities

Smartphone Cons

• More expensive than regular cell phone

Tablet PCs are probably one of the most sought after PCs in the last several years. With the release of the iPad, users realized the ease of portability, not only with the device itself, but also their entire office.

Tablet PC Pros

• Lightweight
• Less potential for breakage (when compared to laptop hinges, etc)
• Great for professionals who need to jot down a few quick notes
• Portability
• Not only can one send/receive emails, play games, read e-books, and surf the Internet, but these small PCs allow the user to create, store, and even print documents.
• Touch screen
• Apps for just about everything
• Boots faster than desktop, laptop, and PDAs
• Sleep button allows the tablet to hibernate, yet be instantly awakened when needed
• Battery life is usually longer than laptop, though this varies by make and model

Tablet PC Cons

• Risk of dropping, losing, theft
• Cost can approach a low end laptop computer
• Touch screen can be scratched
• No keyboard/mouse, which can be awkward to use
• Limited Ports
• User may struggle with a 10″ screen if they have been used to a larger monitor.

Don’t forget you need to transfer your data from your old computer to the new one.  Your data can be transferred, but all programs require installation with the original CDs and license codes. Regardless of the type of computer you choose, be sure to contact your professional computer service technician to ensure the job is done correctly.