PC Computer Guy - Tech Talk

A “Virtual PBX” is an internet based phone system that allows for tons of professional features often at a fraction of the cost of running your own PBX.

What does such a system get you? Think of all the fancy stuff that happens when you call a large company. For specifics, let’s look at what we’ve done at PcComputerGuy with our Virtual PBX hosted through Jive Communications.

First, you start off with a SIP based phone. These IP phones connect to your existing internet connection. Some of them are even wireless such as our Cisco SPA525G2 SIP phone.

Then you partner with a company that you plan on hosting your phone service. We again choose Jive. We tried Ring Central and were not pleased with the customer service or quality of the calls.

Each system has it’s own way of configuring the features of your phone system, but think of it very much like a corporate level phone system complete with extensions, call queues, forwarding to cell phones, custom music and more.

Continue reading at: http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Virtual-PBX-Phone-Systems 

Best Free Software

There are tons of things out there that are free. Some are good, while others – not so much. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite free software.

Continue reading at:  http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Best-Free-Software-2014

I have received several calls from clients asking what they need to replace their computer with, since Windows XP is “dead” as of April 8th, 2014. As a side note, Office 2003 support ceases the same day.

This however does not mean those with Windows XP computers will simply stop running on in April 2014. It doesn’t mean you will lose the data in it, or that it will burst into flames. Rather, when you turn your computer on, April 9th 2014, it will function the same as it did for the years before.

What Microsoft is saying is simply they will not provide tech support for it, nor will they provide any future updates. The majority of us have never called Microsoft for support anyways, so if you are in that boat, then all it means is you won’t get updates anymore. Continue reading at: http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Windows-XP-is-Dead

The computer is an enigma to a lot of people. You press some keys, and you get magic out of the screen, printer or speakers. But what is inside the computer and how does it all work together?

In this general education tech tip, we'll teach you about the parts that make your computer work. Don't worry you won't have to brush up on engineering or calculus to understand it.

Continue reading at:  http://pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Parts-of-a-Computer

I get asked this question at least once a week. The answer is pretty simple: it just means “on the internet”. That’s all it is, a fancy marketing term that means “on the internet”.

So when someone says they store their documents “on the cloud”, they mean simply that their documents are stored on the internet.

Music, Email, Documents, Backup – it doesn’t matter what it is, if it can be stored in your computer, it can be stored “in the cloud”.

Cloud backup solutions for example such as Carbonite and Mozy simply upload your information from your computer to their servers via the internet. The same is true for Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or iCloud.

Most cloud-based services provide software that make it easy to interact with that service. For example Dropbox loads software on your computer that allows you to view your documents and files just like any ‘ole folder on your computer. However anything in that folder automatically gets uploaded to Dropbox’s servers.

The next question is usually about security.

Continue reading at: http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-What-Is-The-Cloud 

So very often I am at a client’s home, and I run a speedtest on their internet. The results I get back are outstanding; but perhaps a bit overkill.

ISP’s try to up-sell their service, offering the more expensive internet services at premium rates. But is it really making any difference? Most of the time the answer is sadly: no, you are just paying them more money.

...continue reading

Backing up is critical if you have information you cannot lose. Kevin of Thomas Realestate Services contacted PcComputerGuy to setup a backup system on his 6 month old computer. Two months later, the hard drive crashed. Fortunately, due to Kevin’s precautions, getting him back up and running was quick and painless. Tune in to this PcComputerGuy tech talk with a happy ending!

If you have been infected with this, you should disconnect your computer from the internet immedeatly in an attempt to minimize damage, though it may already be too late.

The crypto virus is spread primarily via Email, usually as fake UPS or Fedex notifications with tracking numbers. Once you click on the tracking numbers, you can download and infect your system.

Once the system is infected, the virus encrypts files on your computer. These encrypted files are locked from you, and you are given time (usually 100 or 72 hours) to pay the ransom to get your files back. The ransom is typically $100 or $300. 

(continue reading) 

Typical viruses are more of a nuisance than a threat. They might cost you some money to get the virus cleaned up, but usually the worst that happens is windows needs to be reloaded – you may lose a program or two. That isn’t the case with these nasty guys. 

CryptoLocker and GameOver Zeus are both actually the work of the same Russian cyber-gang. Agencies across the world, including the FBI, are on the hut for them; including Evginiy Bogachev reported mastermind of the viruses.

Continue reading at: http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Protect-yourself-Online-Cyber-Threats 

Frequently these days I’m asked “should I replace my laptop with a tablet?” The answer is “That depends.”

The “depends” boils down to the question, “What do you want to use it for?” Your answer here determines if it would be suitable to replace a laptop with a tablet.

 Continue reading at:  http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Replace-Laptop-With-Tablet

Should I turn my computer off, or leave it on?

This is perhaps the most, if not one of the most questions we receive.

The reason so many people don’t know the answer to this question, is because there are so many different answers out there! And most of them are not wrong, they are just not entirely correct.

The full answer is this:

“It depends.”

Now that’s not much of an answer is it? Let’s take a closer look.

The computer can be broken up into 2 “types” of parts, electronic and mechanical.

http://www.pccomputerguy.com

How do you expand wireless coverage, to make it reach further in your home? How do you deal with low wifi signal strength?  This article will provide some possible solutions to improve the range of your wireless internet.

Continue reading at:  http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Increase-Wireless-Range

Google Chrome is the newest browser to the arena, and its main focus is on speed. It opens quickly, it loads pages in a snap and it’ll even grab you a cappuccino if you’d like. Quite frankly, it mops the floor with Internet Explorer.

You have that old computer, sitting in the closet (maybe even two or three of them). It sits there because there is a lot of very important, personal data that you don't want to fall into the wrong hands. So instead of trashing it, or even giving it to someone else, you keep it in the closet, taking up space, and only getting older.

In this episode, I describe how to absolutely erase all data from your computer... everything. There will be nothing left. That means no documents, no records, no programs, not even Windows. This is a sure-fire way to destroy all the data on your old computer systems, before sending them off to that electronic pie-in-the-sky.

Is your internet running slow? Or is it your computer running slow? Or is it the web site running slow? What's the difference?

Many people don't know that there even is a difference, but there is... and the remedy is different for each scenario. Listen to this PcComputerGuy podcast as I try to shed some light on what is really running slow - so that you may have a better idea on what needs to be fixed.

So often people intend on backing up but never get it done. Others think it's not important, until AFTER disaster happens. Truly ask yourself, are there priceless memories stored in your computer? If so, are they backed up? If not, you are playing a game of chance that you will lose sooner or later. 

I cannot stress this enough, back up now, back up before it's too late. You will save money compared to having disaster recovery work, and will certainly thank me down the road. It's not a matter of if your hard drive fails, it's a matter of when. 

This new tactic is just another method of trying to hijack your credit card information, and take over your computer, usually to use it as a spamming machine or "bot". This is even a little more dangerous in that if the caller can convince you they are legitimate and you grant them access to your computer - they can then disable your internet security software that was doing it's job, keeping you protected from the internet baddies out there.

With black Friday coming in just a few days and Christmas around the corner – the yearly question is being asked: What should I buy?

I will provide some general computer recommendations to try and assist anyone looking for a new computer for the holiday shopping season. Obviously specifics are impossible as there are a wide range of different requirements, but the following recommendations should fit most people.

  It’s almost here. In fact you may be reading this after the officially launches on October 26th. You may have heard some things already, or may be completely in the dark as to what’s going on with this new Operating System. Let’s start there.

                Windows 8 is definitely the most radical change in the Windows operating system since Windows 95. For better or worse, that’s what it is.

                The main, radical difference is the removal of the “start” menu, a tool which I and many users have come to love. This has been replaced by the Windows “Metro” interface.  (Insert: Metro Picture).

 Continue reading at:  http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Windows-8-Detailed-Review

I get asked what I think about Mac often. So let me start by saying that I'm not writing this article because I have a chip on my shoulder. I am sure some of the mac fans out there will view what I have to say here as sacrilegious, which actually gets to one of the core points I will be making.

Continue Reading 

Many, if not most of us already have skype. But some people are still not too sure what it is, how it works, or if it will be useful for them.

Skype is an easy to use instant messaging program that delivers very good quality video calls as well with just a couple clicks.  This ease of use makes it particularly well suited for grandma or others who are not all that comfortable with computers.

Listen in to learn more!

The Olympics are on. Now if there is any sport I'm more likely to watch than Football, it's the Olympics. I'm an Olympic attic. If watching the Olympics was a sport, I'd definitely get the gold. Of course, I also have to somehow still get things done for the those two weeks. How do I cope? With Orb!

Orb is a great, FREE program that allows you to stream content on your home computer to you, anywhere. You can use it to stream videos, music files, access documents and of critical importance for the Olympics, TV.

Continue reading at http://www.pccomputerguy.com/Tech-Tips-Podcast-Stream-Media-With-Orb

Your computer is only as fast as it's weakest link. The primary components that determine the speed of your computer are simply your RAM, Processor and Hard Drive.

With modern day computers, most have plenty of RAM and Processing power. In fact many systems use about half the RAM and if you ever watch your processor, it's usually sitting around twittling it's thumbs waiting for something to do. The biggest "weak-link" in a more modern system is going to be the Hard Drive, the thing where everything sits when not in use.

Continue reading