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Archives for November 2013

GEEKNOTE: Disposable Computers?

November 5, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE:  We subscribe to a service that advises us of folks in our service area who are looking for computer repairs.  I’ve noticed a growing trend of folks looking for someone to replace the broken screen on their tablet or their notebook.  I don’t suppose I should be surprised, given all the hype about how the desktop computer is dead and everyone is going to be using a tablet in a year or two.

Don’t believe it.

What you CAN believe is that quite a few computers, especially tablets and notebooks are being built with absolutely no thought to common repairs.

It used to be that you could get to the hard drive on pretty much any notebook by unscrewing one or two screws on the bottom of the box and popping the drive out.  Starting with some of the little netbooks that came out a few years ago, you frequently need to remove the keyboard and other components to get to drive.

Things that spin break.  Get over it.  That includes hard drives and cooling fans.  A cooling fan is typically less than $20 and held in place with a few screws.  The rub comes in trying to get TO the cooling fan on some notebooks.  We had one come in this past week.  The instructions for replacing the cooling fan involved:  removing a dozen screws on the bottom of the notebook, prying off a cover plate at the top of the keyboard, unscrewing four more screws holding the keyboard in place, removing the keyboard, removing the bezel that surrounds the keyboard, removing the power plug on the side of the computer, removing the motherboard, flipping it over, and THEN AND ONLY THEN removing the heat sink assemply that contains the fan.

Think about the sequence above.  If you figured out that the fan is on the bottom of the motherboard, right next to the bottom of the notebook, give youself a gold star.  If the motherboard manufacturer had installed an access panel on the bottom of the notebook, the heat sink and cooling fan would have been easy to reach and replace.

The same goes for hard drives, which fail even more often than cooling fans.   It is now fairly common to have to remove the keyboard to get to the drive.

Why are these machines assembled this way?  My guess is that the manufacturer expects you to simply trash the old computer and buy a new one when something breaks.  If it is an expensive hardware failure, that is one thing.  If it is a viral infection that prevents you from booting the system and requiring a perfectly good drive to be pulled and slaved to a bench machine for decontamination, that is another matter entirely.

Desktop systems vary in how difficult they are to service, but even the most difficult ones are LIGHTYEARS ahead of tablets and the notebooks we are running into as far as ease of service goes.

Broken screens deserve special attention.  Even more so than smart phones, the screens on notebooks and tablets seem to get broken on an all too frequent basis.  They simply aren’t up for the manhandling that they get.  Depending on the model, replacing a broken screen may or may not be worth even thinking about.

If you need portability, then by all means get a notebook or a tablet.  Just recognize that it is going to need quite a bit of TLC if you expect it to last.  If you don’t need portability, go for a desktop system.

When looking at a notebook computer, make sure to ask what is involved if you decide to replace the hard drive.  If the sales person can flip the computer over and show you a well marked access panel, you are in good shape.

Have you had a portable computer that failed before its time?  Let us know.

Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek

Filed Under: GEEKNOTES

November 2013 Newsletter

November 2, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

With fall in full swing, we’ve assembled some valuable information to help you fully enjoy the season. Since getting scammed would certainly put a damper on any beautiful autumn day, we begin by sharing how to avoid the online bad guys’ latest trick — CryptoLocker ransomware.

You’ll find inspiration in this November issue for getting into seasonal crafts, decorating, and cooking in the Go Pinterest-ing! section. You’ll also learn about video buffering and Facebook privacy to take some of the trouble out of technology. For fun entertainment plus valuable advice, check out the amazing “bicycle band” and “money tree” videos and sites to help you beat the flu, stay safe when you shop online for the holidays, and much more.

We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.

Here’s what’s inside our November 2013 Newsletter:

SCAM ALERT – RANSOMWARE SENDERS DEMAND MONEY TO “FIX” FILES

GO PINTEREST-ING – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT CAUSES BUFFERING WHEN I WATCH VIDEOS?

SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN NOVEMBER

TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO HELP KEEP YOUR IMAGE OUT OF FACEBOOK ADS

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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SCAM ALERT – RANSOMWARE SENDERS DEMAND MONEY TO “FIX” FILES

One of the latest ways for cybercriminals to try and get money from you involves infecting your computer with a virus that encrypts your valuable files (making these files unusable) then demanding a payment to decrypt them. This type of virus, called ransomware, can be installed on your computer if you open an attachment from a malicious sender.

A recent version of ransomware, called CryptoLocker, is often distributed via email messages that appear to come from reputable organizations or companies such as the Better Business Bureau, FedEx, and UPS. CryptoLocker can also be installed along with infected downloaded software.

Security experts warn to NEVER PAY THE RANSOM; you’ll lose your money and probably get nothing in return. If you do fall prey to ransomware, call us.  We can generally clean up most of these infections for a fraction of what the ransom demand is.  Keep in mind that CryptoLocker encrypts your files and there is essentially NO way to unlock them.

Of course, the best solution is to not become a victim of ransomware in the first place. Be extremely wary of email attachments, even if they appear to be sent by someone you know. (Viruses are often sent via one person’s email to others on their contact list.) Be particularly cautious about attachments other than typical office documents, especially ZIP or EXE files.

Finally, be sure to have up-to-date commercial antivirus software active at all times.   We recommend F-Secure Antivirus and F-Secure Internet Security.  Having current backups is also important for protecting your data (pictures and documents) from the likes of CryptoLocker and we recommend F-Secure Online Backup for our consumer clients.  We have somewhat more involved backup solutions available for business clients of all sizes.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

We have brand new Windows 7 machines available.  Come see us before visiting a big box store and springing for a Windows 8 machine you are going to hate.

We can help you choose between different notebooks and tablets on the market as well.  Keep in mind that the most common physical failure on a tablet is a broken screen.  We recommend sticking with a conventional desktop machine unless you need the portability provided by tablets and notebooks.
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GO PINTEREST-ING – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

Cute And Creative Idea For Pumpkin Decorating
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775849453893/

Chocolate + Espresso + Pumpkin + Caramel = Yum
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775849453907/

Dress Your Coffee Cup In Stylish Cashmere
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775849430599/

You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started? To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/

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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT CAUSES BUFFERING WHEN I WATCH VIDEOS?

Question: Sometimes when I’m watching a video on YouTube, it will stop and start or play in a choppy fashion. What could be causing this and what can I do about it?

Answer: What you’re describing is called buffering. This means that the part of the video you’re trying to watch is currently downloading. Buffering can be the result of many different factors including problems with the hosting site, the speed of your Internet connection, and the software and/or hardware of your computer.

YouTube suggests the following troubleshooting tips:

~Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.

~Pause the video. Allow the gray loading bar to load completely to the end of the player. Once the video has fully loaded, try playing the video again.

~Check your connection speed. You may want to increase it in order to have the best viewing experience.

Another possible reason for video difficulties is that the YouTube servers are experiencing high traffic. If this is the case, there’s not much you can do but try again later.

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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN NOVEMBER

Time To Talk Turkey
http://www.butterball.com
Enter the “turkeysphere” to learn everything you need to know about choosing, preparing, and serving your Thanksgiving turkey. Helpful videos and text walk you through thawing, stuffing, roasting, the ever-popular deep-frying, and, of course, carving. For post-holiday meals and snacks, check out the recipe section for ideas on using leftovers.

What To Do To Beat The Flu
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2013-2014.htm
Fall brings colder weather, the holidays … and unfortunately, the flu. But you don’t have to let flu get the best of you this year. Check out this website for valuable information including flu basics, how flu spreads, where to get a flu shot, and other things you can do to help avoid getting sick.

A-door-able Fall Adornments
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/seasonal/fall/fall-wreath-door-decorations/#page=1
Visit this gallery to get inspiration for decorating with wreaths and other fall décor for your door, gate, or mantel. You’ll find pretty and creative embellishments made with seeds, leaves, twigs, fruit, flowers, and much more. The site makes it easy to save, print, share, or pin your favorites!

Shop Safely Online During The Holidays
http://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/protect-your-personal-information/online-shopping
It’s always important to protect yourself online, and even more so during the holiday shopping season. The tips on this site may seem like common sense but you may not remember, for example, to print transaction details. It’s worth a visit so you can stay safe while getting your shopping done.

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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1311_VIDEO_A.htm

Behold A Bicycle Band
You’ve seen plenty of marching bands. But what about a bicycling band? This video captures some true multitasking as several marching band members play instruments (and do it well) while riding a tandem bike.

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1311_VIDEO_B.htm
Real-Life Money Tree
What happens when 100 one-dollar bills are pinned to a tree on a busy city sidewalk? Watch this video to see the various responses to this interesting social experiment. Spoiler alert: most people walk by without noticing the money!

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO HELP KEEP YOUR IMAGE OUT OF FACEBOOK ADS

Have you noticed how if a friend endorses a company or product, you’re more likely to make a similar purchase? Facebook certainly knows this and uses this bit of psychology to boost the effectiveness of what are known as social ads. The problem is that it does this without users’ permission. For example, in your news feed, you may see a paid ad for a sushi place, along with a note that says, “Jane Smith likes this.” If you don’t want Facebook using your name or likeness in this way, follow these easy steps:

~Within Facebook, click Settings (the gear icon in the upper-right corner of your Home page).

~From the dropdown list, select Privacy Settings.

~In the left column, click Ads.

~In the Ads & Friends section, click Edit.

~Next to the phrase, Pair my social actions with ads for, click the dropdown arrow and select No one.

~Click Save Changes.

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

Rob Marlowe
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-847-2424

(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)

©2013 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2013 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission.

Filed Under: Newsletter

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