How Do You Know When You Need A New Computer?

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new computer old computer
As we all know, a computer can slow down over time. No matter how many tune ups you get, and how well your general maintenance is, no amount of regular upkeep will prevent the inevitable decay in performance. While all that caution certainly does help prolong the lives of our devices, at one point, you will want to replace your old computer with a newer model.

The real question is “when?” When should you stop bringing your computer to a repair shop and instead seek out something more “modern”? Well, there’s a lot to consider before making that decision.

Some experts suggest replacing your computer every few years or so – A desktop computer can be expected lo last anywhere from 5-7 years, and a laptop about 3-5. That might seem like a relatively short amount of time, but there’s a method to the madness – The technological climate is always rapidly evolving, and older computers simply aren’t built to adequately run newer software.

That isn’t to say you can’t use a computer that’s a decade old. One of the most important factors in deciding when it’s time to invest in a new computer is what you intend on using it for. Gaming for instance is a demanding hobby, as game developers are constantly improving on different aspects of the games they make – and by extension making games that are harder on our computers.

Alternatively, if you’re using your computer to complete everyday tasks, casually browsing the internet or working from home on applications that don’t have many system requirements, you might be fine to just keep that old computer going until you just can’t anymore.

Sometimes the cost of the parts needed to repair the computer simply exceeds the cost of the machine – in that case you’re better off just getting a new computer altogether. Often this happens with older models because there aren’t many companies manufacturing these parts anymore, and they’re not in high demand, so they can cost quite a bit.

Another thing to keep in mind s that when a computer has become so old that it begins rejecting updates completely, and when it doesn’t even meet the minimum system requirements needed to upgrade to the newest version of your operating system, it’s definitely time to start looking for something new.

If you’re unsure whether you old computer can last you just a little bit longer, or if you need to finally upgrade to something a little more “new and improved”, your friends at No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction can help you to determine which course of action would best fit your situation.

The Blue Screen of Death

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BSOD
If you’ve spent any amount of time around a computer, odds are you’ve heard about the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.” Though if you’ve never experienced it yourself, you might not know what it actually is – and might not be prepared for if and when it happens to you.

The “Blue Screen of Death” can sometimes be referred to as “BSOD” or a “stop error”, and there are a wide variety of reasons as to why it might happen to your computer, but that doesn’t mean your device will never work again. It’s not irreparable, it only means that your computer encountered an error that required it to completely stop in its tracks.

While stop errors are more prevalent with older versions of Windows, it still occasionally pops up, though it’s pretty rare to find on newer versions like Windows 10. One major cause of a stop error is a malfunctioning memory, or a failing Hard Drive. If either of these components happen to be defective or not compatible with the rest of the system, it could result in a blue screen.

Overclocking the CPU or RAM could also cause a blue screen. Increasing the performance of your hardware components past their factory settings in general probably isn’t the best idea, as they can easily become overworked which could lead to some serious damage.

Though of course these stop errors aren’t only caused by hardware disruptions. Faulty or missing drivers mean that the device it belongs to, like your graphics card, can’t communicate with the rest of the computer. So software errors, and even computer viruses can lead to blue screens as well.

While the “Blue Screen of Death” definitely isn’t as terrifying as it looks or sounds, it’s still a serious problem to come across and can be especially stress inducing to those who work from home or haven’t backed up their data in a while. If you ever have the misfortune of coming across a stop error, give your friends at No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction a call, we can get your computer back up and running in no time!

How and When You Should Be Doing Computer Maintenance

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Computer Maintenance
With every typical household comes a list of chores meant to keep everything in good working order. Things like cleaning the lint trap in the dryer, changing the water filter in the kitchen sink, and putting gas in the lawnmower are good examples of “basic maintenance” we all do around the house.

Of course, there are also a few things you should be doing every now and again to maintain your computer.

Every Day

It’s not a bad idea to give the computer a reboot at least once a day. This helps to clear the memory of any inconsistencies, and allows updates to be applied.

Every Week

Run a quick scan with your antivirus. This can usually be scheduled to occur automatically in the settings tab of most antivirus applications.

Run Disk Cleanup. This finds and deletes all temporary files, duplicate system files, and other nonsense, keeping your computer running smooth and clean.

Make sure that your Backup software is functioning properly. There’s nothing worse than losing your data.

Remember to discharge the battery on your laptop. A lot of us keep our laptops plugged in while we’re using them. This can actually be wearing on the battery, as it generates a constant flow of power to the battery. Best practice is to unplug it while you’re working until the battery reaches about 40% or so, then plug it back in. You never want to let the hit 0% – that could cause problems.

Every Month

Uninstall applications that are no longer in use. This frees up hard drive space, and helps things run more smoothly.

Run a deep antivirus scan. That could also possibly be scheduled to run automatically.

Check for and install Operating System updates. Most Operating System updates are security enhancements, so it’s always a good idea to makes sure your system is up-to-date.

Check for third-party software updates. The applications that you regularly use are generally updated on a regular basis to patch bugs and add features. Make sure that you have the current versions of these programs.

Every Few Months

De-clutter your email inbox by deleting unnecessary email and spam.

Clean your mouse and keyboard. These can get a little dirty over time.

Check wires and peripherals for wear and tear, and replace as needed.

Clean out the dust from your computer by blowing compressed air into any vents, nooks, and crannies.

Every Year

Remember to renew your antivirus or Computer Maintenance Plan. These will help you keep things working properly for the next year.

Get your computer a professional tune up. Just like your car needs a tuneup every year, so does your computer.

This is just a sort list of a few of the things you should be doing with your computer to keep it running as well as it can.

Of course, with one of our Maintenance Plans many of the things on this list will be done for you automatically as part of the service.

If you have any questions about how to get the most out of your computer, please feel free to give us a call at our office in Grand Junction at (970) 433-7454

Should I reboot my computer?

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off-and-on
The first thing any IT guy or gal will ask you when you call him with a computer problem is if you tried restarting. An infuriating question to be asked when you just lost three days worth of work, or that work just won’t save and you have a meeting in 5 minutes. However, a lot of computer problems can be solved by simply restarting the device.

When a computer goes without a reboot for an extended period it becomes prone to a bit of bugginess. These annoyances include programs running at a slower pace than usual, unexpected system freeze-ups, and lagging Internet speeds. That horrible call to the IT guys in the basement can be avoided with a simple daily restart. Here’s why:

Clearing the RAM

A program open and running on your screen stores much of the data required to do so in the memory, and sometimes not all the data is cleared out when the program is closed. This data can clog up your RAM causing “memory leaks”; meaning that there may not be room in the computers short term memory for a new program to open up. When this happens your computer will run slow, glitchy, and the blue-screen-of-death might make an appearance forcing a restart.

A preemptive “off and on again” can flush out all the random, unimportant, and temporary data bogging down your device. This will keep you computer running at the speedy pace you have come to expect.

Install Updates

Many program updates need reboots to complete. This includes your Operating System, whose updates don’t take effect until a reboot occurs. A fresh install or update tends to scatter data in several places, a restart will tidy up the mess and arrange it properly on the hard drive. Some programs won’t even run properly without a restart because the information isn’t where is is supposed to be.

Bug Fixes

Just like the RAM, a system’s processor can become overworked and overloaded by all the processes that are trying to run at the same time. A quick reboot can provide your CPU with a fresh start, and without all the nonsense filling up the procesor’s poor little cache.

So now you know why the phrase, “Have you tried turning it off and on again” has become a technological cliché. A quick restart will not only fix some annoying computer issues, and prolong the life of your machine.

Of course, if you’re having any problems that restarting you computer doesn’t solve, give your friends at No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction a call!

What is a “GPU”?

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If you’re like most people, you spend upwards of six hours a day looking at some kind of screen. Be it a phone, television, or a computer screen – our monitors take up a very significant amount of our day to day lives. Especially if you happen to work at an office job, you turn one on regularly, nine to five even, but have you ever wondered how exactly the monitor displays all those pictures?

A Graphics Processing Unit, or more commonly a graphics card or chip is a piece of computer hardware that communicates with the rest of the computer and converts data into signals transmitted to your monitor. It is solely responsible for the images that you see on your screen when you turn your computer on and the better your graphics card is, the better the resolution (how smooth a picture looks) will be.

There are two types of GPUs.

An integrated graphics chip is the most commonplace and is built into the motherboard, it’s cost effective and if you’re using your computer for the casual web surfing then it should work perfectly. However, the integrated graphics chip is difficult to upgrade in comparison to the alternative.
graphics chipFor those looking to branch out into video editing or gaming, you might want to consider the discrete graphics card. It’s installed onto the motherboard as an extra component, particularly ideal for those looking for an upgrade to the graphics quality altogether. It’s crucial in preventing those unwanted jitters and lag during game-play.

GPUs

There are also two major graphics card manufacturers in the industry. Many pledge their allegiances to one manufacturer, but both brands do their jobs efficiently, with little to no difference in quality. These companies are Nvidia and AMD. As with most inner components of a computer, the design and style of your graphics card can be important. With both brands, you can browse slimmer or shorter graphics cards to meet your specifications.

Of course there’s far more to delve into where graphics are concerned, and if we have your interest piqued but you’re still not certain what you should be investing in, don’t be afraid to swing by No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction or give us a call at (970) 433-7454!

What is a Chromebook and is it Right for You?

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ChroebookChances are, you’ve come across a Chromebook at some point in your life, or at the very least heard of it from someone you know. Simple and easy to navigate, the Chromebook is essentially a laptop that runs on Google’s Chrome operating system – and if you regularly use Google Chrome web browser as it stands, then using a Chromebook should be an absolute breeze.

Though even if you aren’t all that familiar with Google Chrome, the device is still incredibly user friendly, offering a stripped down, simplistic experience with a very small learning curve. Not to mention that buying one probably won’t burn a hole in your wallet as most of them range from one hundred fifty to two hundred dollars, a budget friendly alternative to the more mainstream devices.

All this taken into mind, you might still be wondering whether or not a Chromebook is the right choice for you, and it honestly depends on your situation, as with most choices when it comes to technology. If you’re looking for a powerful piece of hardware for instance, built for gaming and the like, a Chromebook probably isn’t for you.

Chromebooks are designed to run web apps, so they make the perfect business or schoolwork companion, as they’re quite portable and they can take a few hits. If you spend a lot of your time in your browser already, then a Chromebook might be exactly what you’re looking for. Newer models even have the added feature of being able to run Android applications too, which is a bonus if you’re a fan of mobile gaming.

It’s important to also take into consideration where you’ll be using your device. If you’re on the go and have ready access to the internet, then sure it’s a great choice, as the Chromebook relies heavily on your connection, so computing and file storage happens in the cloud. Which means while it automatically saves your documents and has them readily available across multiple platforms through Google Drive and other apps, it also requires constant internet connection.

The verdict ultimately comes down to your preference as a user. Fast, intuitive and easy to maintain, if everything you need can be found on the internet, we highly recommend looking into a Chromebook.

Where did the DVD Drive go?

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DVD Drive
If you’ve bought a new laptop anytime within the past ten years you may have noticed something a little peculiar. Or maybe it seemed like something was missing.

We’re often asked the question, “Why don’t new laptops come with DVD drives anymore?” And though some still do come equipped with a DVD drive, they are few and far in between. Why is that?

Years ago it made sense for a computer to come with a DVD drive. CDs and DVDs were the cheapest way to back up your data, and the only way to install new software. Ten or fifteen years ago, it made sense to purchase a stack of those discs for a few dollars, with the potential to hold upwards of four or five gigabytes of data each – it was a hot deal back then. It’s important to note that at the time, flash drives were incredibly expensive, some costing nearly fifty bucks for a measly 128 MB of storage.

Nowadays you can pick up a 64 gigabyte flash drive for a little under fifteen dollars at your nearest hardware store. Files can be downloaded straight to your device within minutes, whereas they used to take a whole day, if not several, based on the size of the file. It’s a whole lot easier, and a whole lot more convenient for companies to offer their programs online rather than on a four to eight gigabyte disk. It’s cheaper and it saves a whole lot of vital resources in the process!

Not to mention that discs tend to scratch easily – which can mean a whole lot of lost data. Speaking of data, it’s now a thousand times simpler to backup your data using programs that offer cloud storage, online services like Google Drive and Dropbox are available at your fingertips, and allow you to access your files from virtually anywhere in the world on just about any device you can think of! It’s come to the point where even flash drives are becoming less and less commonplace.

In the end, DVD and CD drives just aren’t practical in our modern day computers any more. They’re expensive to produce, but more importantly, there are cheaper, faster, and more practical options available.

Keep in mind that if you do purchase a new laptop without a DVD drive, and run into one of those rare instances that you actually need one, an external DVD Drive can be picked up rather cheaply.

If you need help backing your data up, or have any questions about your computer, give the experts at No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction a call!

The different types of Computer Mice

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Nowadays, it seems like we’re just about surrounded by some form of technology at all times. Most jobs even require a little bit of a background with computers, especially desk jobs and the like. While the majority of us are pretty confident in our abilities to work around a desktop, there are small details in plain sight that we don’t always catch. Specifically, the different types of computer mice we work with.

The Mechanical Mouse

mechanical mouse

It used to be that the only type of computer mice was the mechanical mouse, which harbors a hard rubber ball within that translates its movements along a surface into information, which is then sent to the desktop and allows you to move the cursor around as you please. But, all good things must come to an end, as did this old tried and true mouse.

The Optical Mouse

optical mouse

The most common, and one you’re probably using right now is the optical mouse, which is far more convenient than the mechanical mouse because instead of using a ball that could become dislodged, it uses an LED sensor to detect movements along a tabletop, which is of course sent off into the computer like the former.

The Wireless Mouse

wireless mouse

Wireless mice come in two types, the infrared and the radio frequency. Both mice relay signals to a base station wired to the computer’s mouse port. Considering they don’t have a cord to directly connect them to the computer or laptop, both types also require batteries or some form of charging. Even with the small disadvantage of occasionally dying on you, they are very easy to carry around on the go if you’re someone who travels a lot, and there’s the added benefit of not having to deal with messy cordage tangles. Good stuff!

The Trackball Mouse

ball mouse

Similar to the function of the track pad on laptops, a trackball mouse looks a lot like a mechanical mouse placed upside down with the ball facing upwards that you’d move manually with your thumb or index finger. While it definitely takes a while to get used to in comparison to its other mice mutations, but because it stays mostly stationary, it doesn’t need a lot of room, and it likely wont tangle as much as others might. You don’t really see many of these out in the wild any more.

That’s just a very very brief rundown of the different types of computer mice.

If you have any questions, or need any computer help, feel free to give your friends at No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction a call!

Matte or Glossy, What’s the Difference?

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matte vs glossy
If you work with computers on a daily basis, you’ve probably noticed that in some computers the monitor is shiny (glossy), and on others the monitor is not-so-shiny (matte). Like most, you probably didn’t think much of it, but it makes more of a difference than you might think!

In a stable environment, the two monitors don’t look much different, which is why there’s so much debate between manufacturers about which coating is best. Different people look for different things when buying their devices, so the question really isn’t “which one is better?” but rather, it’s “which one is better suited for your needs?”

Glossy screens are shinier and smoother than their matte counterpart, and though its colors are very visually pleasing in low light areas, because of their reflective surfaces they can become extremely difficult to look at in a bright environment, especially if they’re set in the sunlight or directly under florescent lighting.

However if used in a controlled setting, their graphics are very vivid and the contrast is sharp. If you primarily work with computers at home where you can easily access the lighting to whichever room you’re in, this might just be the perfect fit for you! If you take your laptop with you on the go however, where lighting might be volatile and unpredictable, you might want to consider a matte screen.

Matte screens have an anti glare coating applied to them in manufacturing, which makes them ideal for business travels or vacations and the like. Initially you might find yourself put off by them in the store – where lighting is dimmer and glossy displays generally look more pleasing, but matte screens are a life saver to the busy people who need to access files on the spot.

It’s important to keep in mind that while matte monitors do protect the screen from glare and make it easier to see what you’re looking at, that positive comes with a visual cost. Not to mention that despite how vivid the colors on a glossy screen might be, in conditions with stronger lighting you put more strain on your eyes, which could possibly effect your eyesight later on in life.

When weighing the pros and cons of matte vs. glossy it becomes clear that the real decision comes down to the individual seeking to buy the device and what their situation is.

Which screen is right for you? If you need help deciding, or have any questions, feel free to give your friends at No Ware Computer Repair a call. We’re always happy to help!

Secure Passwords

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Secure laptop
There were simpler times when passwords were only preventative measures to keep the people around you in the real world from accessing your personal devices. That was before the internet blew up, before we had to start worrying about the whole “hacking” thing.

Unfortunately, nowadays things are far more complicated. Some places online require that you change your password regularly, and that’s even becoming more commonplace than you might think.

Passwords can’t be something silly like qwerty or 1234. The reason being those are the easiest to guess, but even if you did use something random and virtually impossible to determine, hackers now have access to different software that they can use to easily crack not so strong passwords. To cyber-criminals it’s just a guessing game, they have software that can run through every possible combination of letters and numbers in no time. That said, the longer and more complex your password is, the longer it would take to crack.

Basically, all of this stuff has gotten really complicated and somewhat convoluted, but if you’ve read this far you’re probably interested in how to further secure your accounts from the likes of hackers – and we have a few tips for that!

A fun practice to integrate into your password creation is telling a story. For instance, “I live at 4122 Elm Drive have five children, a girl, two boys, and three dogs and a loving wife,” could look something like @4122C5gbd&W. Or for instance your dog Rex is twelve years old and your cat Fluffy only has three legs, your password could look like Re12Fluff3.

One of our favorite methods is using an old address of yours. It’s something you’ll always remember and it’s not the easiest to guess either. Something like @123AnyStreet, or 987Broadway! would work perfectly.

Another method of creating a strong password is to use a verse from your favorite song. For instance, “The wheels on the bus go round and round,” that you loved when you were six could be, Wotbgr&r6yo. Or say that the eighties hit “Africa” by Toto really gets your foot tapping, you can use something like 80sIbtrdiA! .

These are just a few simple strategies that will help you to create a secure password. If you need any help creating a password or have questions about computer security give your friends at No Ware Computer Repair a call at (970) 433-7454.

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