News and advice
Current issues affecting the home PC user.
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Back up / Recovery disks
The majority of new computers do not come with any sort of recovery disks, this is primarily to save money and is one of the reasons computers are now cheaper to buy than they ever have been. The downside is that should you ever need to have your computer reinstalled, either because of a major software problem, or because the harddrive has failed, it is not as straight-forward as it used to be. With Windows XP and earlier the important part was the sticker on the back/base of the unit that gave the activation key - when reinstalling it was nearly always possible to use a generic copy of the operating system which would activate with the key you had. However, with Windows 7, and also a high proportion of Vista machines, Microsoft changed the system and it is not always possible to use a generic disk for reinstallation - this would essentially mean that you would need to purchase a new copy of the software, should the worst happen.
The one thing that you can do to protect yourself and save the expense is to create a recovery disk as soon as possible after purchasing the machine. Most systems will give you the option, by flashing a pop-up, to create the disk(s) but most people just ignore it, and after a couple of times it gives up and you aren’t warned again. If there’s no pop-up then looking through the list of programs you may see something saying ‘recovery disk creator', or similar – this is what you want. You will generally need 2 or 3 blank DVDs and it’s a very simple process of starting the program, inserting the blank disk and clicking ‘next’, then just file them away in a drawer somewhere. You may never need them, but if you do then you’ll be glad of the bit of time you spent on them
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File
Sharing
The subject is always in the news, but there is a real danger from using many file-sharing sites. Because they are generally used to download music & video files illegally there is an increasing risk that the files being downloaded may also contain viruses, spyware & other nasties. There have also been instances of files containing serious pornography. These files are placed on-line to either cause nuisance, or sometimes just to deter - in my opinion the music industry themselves place corrupted or poor quality files on-line in the hope that users will get fed up of downloading rubbish. Should you not know if you child has file sharing on their computer, the programs to look out for are called things like 'Limewire'; 'BitTorrent'; 'Shareasa'; 'Kazaa'; Ares; 'Bearshare' and 'eMule'. There are others however, and the only way to stay safe is by educating the user to make sure that any files downloaded are scanned with your security program before opening and to use a bit of common sense.
In any event the things to remember are that filesharing is generally illegal and so there is no comeback should a file contain malware or pornography, also if you are downloading and sharing large amounts of music your computer is liable to come to the notice of the powers that be (every broadband connection has its own ip address when connected to the internet) and you may receive letters demanding payment - you have been warned!
If you want to have music on your PC there is a free streaming service called Spotify (the paid-for versions remove adverts and let you keep playlists etc.) or sites like Napster, Amazon, iTunes etc. let you download files cheaply and legally.
- Unsolicited Support Calls
There have been a number of recent cases locally where users have been contacted by a company supposedly accredited to Microsoft. They start off by saying that they have noticed that the user's pc is running slowly and they offer to check the system for free. They will either ask the user to check items like the Event Viewer and the user will see a number of errors displayed - this is quite normal and they will appear even on a brand new machine, but the caller then insists that they can help. At this point the caller will either direct the user to a company website where they can take advantage of the services offered - usually a 3 year maintenance contract at £180 or so, or they will be asked to download a tool to help the technician diagnose the problem. In either case it is a scam which, at best, ties you into a contract with a company that has no affiliation to Microsoft, or at worst they can then hack into your machine and steal any personal details they wish.
Essentially, it is impossible for someone else to be able to see how your machine is running unless you have installed a piece of software yourself, so if you get unsolicited calls, just hang up.
- Bogus Security Programs
There have also been a number of case of users inadvertently downloading bogus antivirus and security suites. The first indication is a warning telling you that your computer is infected by numerous viruses & suchlike. The user is generally unable to close the warning and often many important files become inaccessible. The one thing that will work will be a link to the perpetrator's website offering to remove the viruses etc. - all you need to do is pay $60 or more to activate their security program.
The important point is that the whole thing is a scam, the program may look very legitimate - often copying the layout of Windows' security, or having similar names to bona-fide programs - but your machine is not infected and the whole purpose is to get money out of you - even paying for the software will usually not 'cure' it.
Because the programs are often installed covertly - maybe by visiting an infected webpage where you click on an innocuous box - any existing security suite will probably not pick up anything as the programs tend to not be very invasive - they purely want to stop enough basic functions to get the user concerned enough to pay up.
Once infected then you will usually need expert help to get your system up & running again, it can often be done over the phone, but a complete clean-up usually requires a visit.
The only way to avoid getting compromised is to pay attention to any warnings that appear when you visit a webpage, especially if it is an unknown one.
- Basic Troubleshooting
Just to assist users should you experience problems with your computer/laptop, here's a short guide to things to check. I don't like doing myself out of business, but it's very embarrassing when I get a call-out and find that it's a very simple problem.
> If you are getting no lights or fans spinning - check the power cable is firmly plugged in. If there's a power switch at the rear of the case, is that 'on'?. Check the fuse in the plug. On a laptop try removing the battery and running it off of the power supply. If still nothing then call me.
> If the computer starts and then either keeps restarting, or gets stuck at a blue screen, disconnect all accessories - printers, scanners, cameras & suchlike, try again. For blue screens, make a rough note of the message and give me a call. Restart the computer and, if prompted with a menu, try the option of starting in 'Safe Mode' - when asked, choose the 'no' option to do a system restore to a previous time. If still no joy, call me.
> If the computer starts and some part isn't working, sound for example, check the connections to the item and check any settings on the screen, like the volume control in the system tray - bottom right.
> If you cannot connect to the internet, start by turning the modem/router off, leave it for 2 minutes, turn it on and try again. If the lights on the modem appear correct you need to contact your ISP before calling me, just in case it's a problem at their end.
> If you are having problems that have suddenly appeared then Windows has a very useful utility called 'System Restore' (not available in Windows 98) - it turns back the computer settings to a point prior to the problem occurring. Click 'start', (All) Programs, Accessories, then System Tools. click on 'System Restore. You don't lose any data and is very safe.
> If you get error messages, try & make a note of them - I can give a possible solution over the phone.
> Finally, make sure you take regular copies (back-ups) of your important data, especially photographs and letters - items that cannot be replaced should the computer fail, get stolen or whatever. You can use external drives, USB drives or CDs/DVDs for the purpose - contact me if you need further advice. Also make sure you know or write down any passwords you need for such things as email - don't rely on them being stored on the computer.
- What sort of security?
I am often asked what level of security programs are needed and there is no 'one size fits all' answer to this. There is a big choice of free or paid-for programs and your choice depends on a number of factors. If you do on-line banking, purchasing etc. then you really need a full, commercial program like Norton or Kaspersky. If, however, you just do a bit of browsing, send/receive emails & little else, then one of the free programs will suffice - I currently recommend Microsoft Security Essentials - a link can be found in the 'Tools' section on the 'Links' page. The current versions of both Norton and Kaspersky provide excellent protection with few problems, Norton has actually improved so much that I consider it better than Kaspersky at the moment. In my opinion, the one to currently avoid is McAfee as it has caused headaches for many users and slows down older computers.
Finally, when the subscription expires on your current version of Norton/Kaspersky, don't go through the on-line system to buy a new licence - check in places like PCWorld first as you will find that you can get the latest version, often at a cheaper price.
- Do I need a new PC?
A question I'm regularly asked is 'Do I need a new computer?'. This obviously depends on the state of your current system and whether it meets your needs, these are two separate things.
Any computer will eventually break down, generally it will be the moving parts - fans & hard drive being the favourites. If fans fail the system can overheat and other components will be damaged, if the hard drive fails then your data may be lost.
So for a computer in regular, daily use I would consider that anything over 5 years you would need to be making preparations for possible terminal breakdowns. This is primarily making sure you have copies of your important data - photographs, letters, other irreplaceable items, on an external medium - CD/DVD, external hard drive, USB memory, though I would hope you would have been doing this anyway, as computers can fail at any age.
So that covers the state of your system, now you need to decide if it's still meeting your needs.
I still come across customers using very old versions of Windows - Windows 95 and 98 - who do not want to change because they know how it works and it handles everything that they use it for. Generally speaking, as long as these systems are not used on broadband internet then there's no reason to change for change's sake. New software will not run on these systems but if you're happy with what you use then, with the hardware proviso, stay with it. I mention broadband because older systems cannot be adequately protected when on high-speed internet - malware can be downloaded in a moment, whereas with occasional dial-up internet, everything happens far more slowly.
Windows XP is still a very good operating system, but be aware that Microsoft have, essentially, abandoned it and do not, for all intents & purposes, support it any longer. Software is still written for it and components, by & large, will be supported by it. If the system is running more slowly then this is possibly due to the larger load that XP updates have put on the system, or it just needs a general cleanup - both of which can be cured to some extent, there is a separate article on this elsewhere in this section.
Windows Vista was always a problematic version - there's a valid argument that Windows 7, the latest version, is what Vista should have been in the first place. Vista requires a far more powerful machine to run it than XP (or Win7) do, and if you have such a machine then you are probably not having too many issues with it. However, many machines were sold with minimum specification which barely handled it when new, now there have been a couple of service packs and many updates added to fix problems, then many systems are almost grinding to a halt. These systems need to be sorted out. Adding extra memory is the easiest, & often cheapest, option that will give Vista a new lease of life, but after that the options are few.
The final point to mention is that, as with everything, the more you pay, the better you get, so getting rid of an old, but well specified, system and replacing it with a new, but cheap, system will only give you grief in the long run. If your system is running fine at the moment and handling everything you throw at it, then stick with it and keep saving your pennies so that should you eventually be forced into buying a new system you get the better quality one that you need.
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What sort of computer should I
buy?
There are a number of different options when you go and buy a computer these days, and the answer to the question depends on what you want to use the computer for. The days of just walking into a shop, handing over your money and walking out with a couple of large boxes have almost gone.
The first choice is whether you want to buy a Microsoft Windows PC or an Apple (Mac). Both are produced in different formats and the deciding factor, apart from cost (Apple computers are generally £1,000 plus), is whether you need the superior graphics capabilities of an Apple, if you don't then you are better off sticking to a Windows PC.
You can still buy a desktop PC, with a separate computer, screen, keyboard etc, and, if you have the space then this is still the most flexible and cheapest option - easier to upgrade, easier & cheaper to repair.
Laptops (also referred to as notebooks) used to be very expensive when compared to desktop computers, but now prices have dropped and you can get a basic one for about the same price. The obvious advantage is portability - you can hide it away when not using it. The downside is that they are often not powerful enough to run modern games, and are often useless for power-hungry processes like video editing, also you can rarely upgrade them, & if they get damaged or breakdown, repairs can be quite expensive.
Smaller laptops, called netbooks appeared a couple of years ago - as the name implies, these were primarily aimed at internet browsing - being small, they are cheaper, easier to carry, and the batteries last longer than a regular laptop. The disadvantages are that they were not very powerful, so could not run a lot of modern software, the screens are small - no good if you need to look at it for long periods, and they didn't have CD/DVD drives - everything had to be installed either using wifi or a USB memory stick.
More recently, tablet computers have appeared - they have no built-in keyboard but use a touch screen to access everything. Two competing types are available. The Apple IPad is extremely popular and has a lot of software available for it. Being Apple it is very restrictive on what you can and cannot do with it - relying on a host computer with iTunes, for example. The alternative is a tablet running Google's Android operating system. There are a number of manufacturers that offer Android tablets, and the latest version of Android is arguably better in many ways than Apple's iPad. No tablets can be used as a serious replacement for a desktop or laptop computer, but with the growing number of applications available to run on them, they will become more popular in the near future.
- Backing up your important files
You may have heard the phrase 'backing up data', or 'doing a backup' and may have thought that it was not something that would concern you, but it is a very important part of using a computer. If you think of some of the things you use your PC for, such as writing letters; sending and receiving emails; downloading photos from your digital camera, the one thing these processes have in common is that they are all things which cannot easily be replaced should your PC/laptop be stolen, damaged by fire, or just break down. The hard drive, where all of your documents, pictures etc. (otherwise known as 'data') is stored, is one of the few moving parts in a computer and, as such, is one of the parts more likely to eventually fail, often completely. It is then that you may wish you had copies of all of his data, and 'backing up' - essentially creating a copy - is the process that will keep your data safe.
The method you use for creating your backup depends on how much your data changes, what sort of data it is, and how simple, or complicated, you want the process to be. If the data is very important, and you want the process to be totally automatic, the best option is to use a remote back-up service - essentially a company that supplies you with software to automatically connect to your pc and take regular copies of your data. The process is totally secure, everything is encrypted before transmission, and the companies have procedures to keep copies on machines in different locations, should any of their individual systems fail. The downside is that you have to pay for these services, though some come as part of a security package, like Norton 360.
The next option is to keep a copy of your data locally, this time there are more choices to be made. Probably the easiest method is to use an external hard drive connected using a USB cable, or network cable if you have more than one PC connected through a router. The size needed depends on the amount of data you have - the size of external hard drives currently start at 250Gb and go up to 2Tb - far bigger than the average computer drive. However, if you have less than a couple of Gb of data then a couple of USB memory sticks will do the job very well and very cheaply. Windows comes with built-in software to set up an automatic back-up regime - you decide what you want saved, here you want it saved and when you to do the saving - the PC's need to be switched on when the back-up occurs, but it can happen when you are still using the computer for something else. With external drives you can also do manual back-ups whenever you want to - simply attach the drive, open 'My Computer' and drag & drop the files you want saving into the external drive, over-writing previous copies so you always have the latest version of your data.
Finally, if your data doesn't change very often you can use optical disks - CDs or DVDs - to make more permanent copies of your data. The majority of computers come with software built-in to let you copy your data to disks and though not quite as straightforward as using an external drive the disks are better for real security as you can store them away from the computer and optical disks are less liable to failure than external drives.
- Upgrading
to a new version of Windows
Upgrading from one edition of Windows to another initially seems a good idea but then it may occur to you just how much stuff you have on your old system and the idea of having to move it all suddenly appears very daunting. Don't worry, Microsoft has a tool to help you.
In Windows XP it was called 'Files & Settings transfer Wizard', however this version only works when moving from one XP machine to another. To go to Windows 7 you need to download the most recent version called 'Windows Easy transfer' which is available HERE. Install it on your XP (or Vista) machine and then run it. You can either use a direct cable connection, which requires both machines to be running, or my preferred method is to use an external harddrive (which can then be used to do your regular backups, as described elsewhere on this page). Plug in the drive, run the program and follow the prompts. You will end up with a single, possibly quite large, file - this has all of your documents and settings on it. Remove the drive (by using the 'safely remove hardware' icon), plug it into the new machine and run the program on that (it will already be installed under Programs/Accessories/SystemTools).
Once done, you will have all of your documents in their correct locations, all your emails, addresses etc, even your web favourites. All you need to do is to reinstall any programs you need (the system cannot do that for you I'm afraid).
- Service
Packs and updates
These are essential updates for your operating system and should not be ignored. Microsoft produces a new operating system every few years (well we have to keep Mr Gates's pension fund well-stocked don't we?), but once the software has been released to the world Microsoft then start getting feedback about things that have gone wrong or could have been done better and, as a result, they produce updates for repairing these 'errors and omissions'. As well as hopefully improving parts of the software, sometimes the updates are necessitated by someone finding a security hole in the system - as Microsoft Windows is the most used operating system in the world there are nefarious groups of people whose main aim in life is to try & break it's security and compromise your system. The end result is that Microsoft produces an update to plug a hole, or improve upon Windows and so you, the end-user, are the one that hopefully benefits.
Individual updates are sent out automatically, usually on the second Tuesday of every month, whilst Service Packs are produced very occasionally which include all current updates, and larger enhancements - hence they are usually waited for with great anticipation by the press and large users.
The important thing to bear in mind is that these updates are produced for a reason and before release they are thoroughly tested so they shouldn't cause problems, but will fix issues, so it is important to install them, especially if your computer is connected to the internet.
A final point, Windows XP is no longer being developed or supported by Microsoft so any updates that do come out are purely for security issues, they are not designed to make the system run better so, as a result, all XP machines are gradually getting slower.
