If you’re having serious computer issues, you’re probably going to have to take your PC in to a professional. And while it would be nice to be able to trust everyone, the sad truth is you can’t. That said, you should take measures to protect your privacy before you take your computer in. You don’t want someone snooping around on your computer and uncovering personal information. Here are a few steps you can take just in case:

• Remove your saved passwords—Can you imagine if you got your computer back and someone was able to log in to your email or Facebook accounts? How about your Amazon account? What a disaster that would be. With that in mind, if you have your passwords saved on your computer, get rid of them before you get computer repair!
• Delete all financial information—No eyes other than your own need to see your financial information. So don’t have it on your computer where a repairman can look through it. Clear it off before taking your computer in.
• Save your personal photos elsewhere—You never know what someone would do if they got their hands on your personal photos. Imagine if you saw a picture of your son used online somewhere on a random blog post. Or what if you had pictures of your wife and someone decided to save them for their own viewing pleasure? You don’t want to compromise or objectify your family. Save your photos on an external hard drive and remove them from your PC before you obtain PC repair.
• Logout of all websites—Have you ever accidentally left your Facebook account logged in and one of your friends decided to mess with you by posting sill stuff on your wall? Now imagine if you took your laptop in for laptop repair and you accidentally leave it logged in. You could possibly have someone reading through all of your message or even contacting your friends and relatives.
• Backup your hard drive—You never know if something important on your computer might get accidentally deleted during the repair process. With that in mind, make sure you back up your hard drive before you take it in. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing important information.
• Clear history and cookies—What you do online is your own business. And sure you may have nothing to hide, but still, do you want someone analyzing your web surfing habits? Of course not. So take the simple steps to clear your history and delete your cookies before you take your computer in. It’s an easy way to protect your privacy.

Sure you’d like to trust your computer repair company. And choosing the right one certainly increases the chances that you’ll be able to. But regardless, take these simple steps to ensure your information is safe.

If you’re like most people, you replace your computer every few years. Whenever you get a new computer, you need to find something to do with your old one. You can either sell it to a friend or online, donate it, recycle it, or throw it away.

Regardless of what you decide to do with your old computer, there are some important steps you have to take to make sure your personal information is protected. You don’t want your credit card numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information getting into the hands of a stranger.

So what can you do to make sure your computer is wiped completely clean?

First, you need to transfer any files you wish to save to your new computer. Things like music, pictures, work documents, etc. can be either loaded onto an external hard drive or a USB drive so you can transfer them to your new computer. Make sure you thoroughly check your entire computer because this will be your last chance to get all of the files you need.

After that, it’s time to wipe your computer totally clean of all information. Simply manually deleting files isn’t enough. Your best bet it to wipe the drive clean, format it, and reinstall Windows. This essentially gets your computer back to how it was when you first bought it new.

However, this is not always a simple task. Reinstalling an operating system takes time, and you have to pay attention to make sure you do it absolutely right. Any mistakes could cause serious issues.

If you need help, you could enlist the services of a Houston computer repair company. With the right Houston PC repair company, you can let them wipe your computer clean for you. This way, you don’t have to worry about dealing with the hassle, and you can be certain that the job was done right the first time.

But now all Houston laptop repair companies are the same. You need to make sure you choose a company you can count on to do the job right and to do it at a price you can afford.

Spend time researching your options. Stay away from large corporate computer repair companies, like the ones that operate out of major electronics stores. They tend to overcharge and upsell their services.

Instead, find a small, locally owned computer repair company with a positive reputation. They should have a track record of doing great work at low prices that fit your budget.

You also want to make sure all work is performed in a timely manner. Before you take your computer in for service, ask how long it will take for the job to be completed. If they quote you a long time line, you may consider taking your business elsewhere.

Follow these tips closely when selling or discarding an old computer.

There are con artists everywhere. And these days, one of their favorite means of attack is your email’s inbox. Here are a few you should keep an eye out for.

• You’ve Got a Package—This scam involves an email from the UPS, or so you think. It will be titled something like “Packet Service” and will state that you have a package that was undeliverable due to an incorrect address. If you fall for it, you’ll follow the instructions and open the attachments. And then you’ll slap your palm to your forehead in agony because you just downloaded a virus! The result? You’re on the phone searching for PC repair services.
• Wire Transfer—Almost everyone has gotten one of these emails. Some generous person from a foreign land needs your help and will wire you thousands of dollars for it. All they need is your bank account information and they’ll get moving and you’ll be one step closer to wealth. Guess what? Not only are you going to be in the market for computer repair after this one, but probably reporting an identity theft case as well!
• Fake Order—After a bit of surfing and maybe even shopping, you get this email that confirms an order you don’t remember placing. You question yourself and think, “oh crap, did I accidentally click that buy button?” So you follow the cancel link from the email. And now you’ve given away your personal data and might have an infected computer. Better option? Delete it without even reading it.
• Lottery Winner—Do we need to even explain this one? Look, if you win the lottery, it’s safe to say you aren’t going to find out by email. And better yet, if you don’t even play the lottery, you surely are not going to win it. So any emails with subjects that imply otherwise, please disregard.
• Bank Update—These emails ask you to update your personal info. And we hate to say it, but they might even look totally legit. Of course, you’re going to need more than simple computer services to get you out of this one. But luckily it’s easy to avoid. Remember, your real bank will take great measures to protect your identity. You have to jump through quite a few hoops to gain online access to your accounts. If it seems too easy, then something is probably wrong.
• Unreal News—If you get an email announcing some groundbreaking, stop-the-presses type of news, be wary. Instead of clicking the link to go to the actual story, instead delete the email. You can always go to your favorite news site and see what’s happening in the world. That way, you won’t put yourself at risk and you’ll be aware if something big really went down.

Remember, your best bet is to not open emails from people you don’t know. This will keep you from destroying your computer and handing over your private information.

Computers fail. Maybe it hasn’t happened to you yet, but eventually you’re computer will let you down. Just like humans. Some of us get sick less often than others, but eventually we all come down with some sort of illness. And eventually we all have to go see a doctor. Such is the case with your PC. Eventually you’ll have to take it in to a computer repair company.

And not that this is some sort of revelation, but we have a little secret for you. Sometimes computer services will try to take advantage of you. Now not everyone will, but there are definitely a few bad apples out there who are threatening to spoil the entire bunch.

So the question here is, what can you do to make sure you don’t get ripped off? Say you take your laptop in for laptop repair… what will stop them from robbing you blind? Well, fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make sure things go smoothly and on the up and up.

• Check the company out beforehand—Before you take your computer to a company, do a bit of research. That means you need to hit the Better Business Bureau website and check out their rating. You also want to look on theirs site for customer testimonials. And finally, check out their pricing. How does it compare to other companies? Just don’t walk into a company blindly. That’s just asking for trouble.
• Educate yourself—Are you completely computer illiterate? If so, you might want to educate yourself before you take it in. That way when your computer tech is explaining to you your problems, you’ll have a good idea of what’s going on. This will cut down on the chances of them just throwing out a bunch of jargon at you to cover up what’s really going on.
• Get a second opinion—Got a serious problem that’s going to cost a bit to fix? Why not get a second opinion. Hey, we do it for illnesses by visiting second and third doctors, right? Who says you can’t do it with your computer too?
• Ask lots of questions—Many times you won’t know what’s going on unless you ask. So do it. Ask them to explain your problem and exactly what they’re going to do to fix it. Also ask for detailed billing. Know exactly what you’re paying for. Don’t just handover your credit card and smile and wave.

Luckily for all of us, good honest computer repair companies are all over. So don’t get hooked up with the wrong people. Be smart and you’ll get yourself a good deal.

At this point there are so many different ailments that can infect your PC that it’s difficult to keep up with them. Three of the most common enemies of your computer are Trojan horses, adware, and spyware. And they often get confused for one another.

So how do you know what’s what and when you should search for computer repair to help remedy the situation? Below we’ll break down some of these three most common computer ailments so you can better know what’s going on.

• Trojan horse—Much like the ancient myth, a Trojan horse is an imposter file. You’ll think it’s something you want, and find out later that it could destroy your computer. You might get them from email attachments or other Internet downloads, but you had to do something to allow them onto your computer. Be wary, they’re sneaky! If your laptop picks up a Trojan horse, you might consider looking for a professional who specializes in laptop repair.
• Adware—Malicious programs that infect your computer with troublesome ads. You might find them to be annoying pop ups that just won’t go away. They can also change your homepage to something unwanted, or even change your search engine. You won’t necessarily need computer services to fix this for you, as you can probably find a free program online to fix it yourself. However, it doesn’t hurt to contact a professional.
• Spyware—Spyware is exactly what the name implies. Software that literally spies on you as you work online, recording information on you and your Internet browsing behaviors. Sometimes these programs come from installing other programs. And just as real life spies practice the art of secrecy, it’s rare that you’ll realize spyware has infected your computer. However, if you find that things are running slow, your computer just might be clogged up with spyware.

Now you know the differences between the three. However, just knowing about them is not enough to keep them safe. You need to take measures to block them from your computer. First of all, make sure you have a reputable antivirus program installed. Good programs will typically find and expel all of the above issues.

You can also take your computer to a computer repair specialist and see what they suggest for computer protection.  That way, you know that you pick the right software. Sometimes choosing from everything that is available can prove daunting.

Finally, stay away from sketchy looking sites. And that isn’t just limited to pornography. Sites with lots of pop ups often have spyware and other malware attached to them. Merely visiting these sites may place your computer in danger.

Remember, knowledge is power. Knowing how to spot Trojan horses and other forms of malware can help you keep your computer healthy.

Computers have become such an integral part of our everyday life that it’s no wonder there are so many movies that tie them in closely with their plots. With that in mind, here are 8 of the most interesting, albeit farfetched, computer related movies ever made.

1. The Matrix—Imagine if your entire life was a simulation. In real life, you were plugged into a super computer and rendered virtually useless. Such is the idea behind this groundbreaking movie. And yes, the sequels weren’t so hot, but the original was certainly awesome.
2. Tron (the original)—Virtual reality might not be the newest concept around these days, but back in 1982 it was pretty much unheard of. In this 80’s classic, a hacker is transported into a computer to fight evil villains. Chances are, if this movie had never been made, neither would number one.
3. The Social Network—Imagine being in college one day, and being a billionaire the next. Well, it didn’t happen quite that fast, but the founder of Facebook became a billionaire within five years of starting his business in college. This new, hip movie chronicles Facebook’s origins and rise to social networking power.
4. Mission Impossible (1996 version)—Okay so the entire movie didn’t have to do with computers necessarily, but there were plenty of hacking sequences. And where would a spy be without knowledge of computers anyway? Love or hate Tom Cruise, this one was a pure gem for computer geeks and novices alike.
5. The Italian Job—Where would heist movies be if it weren’t for computer hacking? Back in the pre 1980’s era, I suppose. Well this one is packed full of nearly 30 minutes of hacking. And there’s also a really cool car scene. Not that it has anything to do with computers.
6. Short Circuit—An independently functioning robot straight from the mind of a genius computer programmer. Johnny 5 is a would be do gooder who is on the run from the bad guys. Perhaps it’s a bit cheesy, but a novel concept. And pretty darn fun.
7. 2001: A Space Odyssey—Will the computers we’re creating eventually try to destroy us? If you’re the creator of this movie, you’re at least entertaining the idea that it could happen. Just look at HAL 9000. Sure it’s not happening yet, but at the rate computers and other technology is progressing… who knows?
8. <Johnny Mnemonic—Keanu Reeves stars in another computer heavy flick.  This time he’s a courier that carries data inside his head. More specifically, on a memory chip installed in his brain. The powerful data will kill him if he doesn’t get it to its destination quickly. And it just so happens, the information he carries includes a cure to a deadly disease known as NAS. And of course, the bad guys want it.

Will we ever travel inside a computer? Will they ever overtake us and turn us into slaves? Probably not. But you never know…

If you’re trying to save money, you might consider purchasing a used computer. However, doing so can be dangerous. You have no real way to find out the history of the computer you’re purchasing. It’s not like you can get a Car Fax on it. So make sure you consider the following before making a used purchase.

1. Why are they selling it? When you buy anything used, you open yourself up to the possibility of future problems. That said, see if you can find out why the person is selling the computer. The last thing you want is to get stuck with a lemon that will send you immediately searching for PC repair. Of course, not everyone will be honest when facing this question, so proceed with caution.
2. Can the operating system be upgraded? If you’re going used, you’re probably going old. Which isn’t a big deal if the computer can be upgraded to a new operating system. If it can, you can do it yourself or take it to a computer repair professional to do it for you. If it can’t be upgraded to a new operating system, you might want to pass.
3. Can you add memory? Buying a used computer might mean getting a computer with limited memory. In this case, make sure you can add memory to it. This shouldn’t be a problem, but there are some PCs and laptops out there that have a fixed memory limit. And others might be difficult to add, causing the need for you to take it to a PC repair company. Of course the best case scenario would be purchasing a computer you could easily add memory to yourself.
4. How does the price compare to similar computers? If you aren’t buying a brand new computer, chances are you’re trying to sniff out a good deal. If so, make sure you don’t just buy something because it sounds cheap. Do your homework. Look online at eBay, Craigslist, and other sites to see how much money similar models are going for. Also, don’t be afraid to try and bargain. Rarely is someone’s asking price for a used item actually their rock bottom price. Remember, you’re trying to save money!
5. Has the computer been cleared off? You don’t want a computer packed with someone’s personal files. This opens the door to all sorts of troubles. God only knows what they may have stored on that hard drive. And you certainly don’t want a computer infected with spyware or viruses. So make sure you know for sure that the computer you’re about to purchase has been cleared off. If it hasn’t, insist that the seller do so. And if there are any viruses present, demand that they have it professionally cleaned before you even consider buying it. You don’t want to pay to inherit someone else’s problems.

When you take the above advice, you lessen your chances of getting the short end of the stick on a used computer purchase. Remember, be cautious and you could save some money and get a good deal.

Many people talk about things they know nothing about. It’s human nature. And when it comes to computers, there are plenty of self-taught “professionals” who are spreading myths clothed as truths. Here we’ll bust some of the top computer myths.

Myth: As long as you have a virus protection program such as Norton, you don’t have to worry about acquiring viruses.

Truth: Of course it’s a good idea to get the latest and greatest virus protection programs. Doing so can save you a ton of money on PC repairs in the long run. However, the fact is, no program will protect you from all viruses. Bad people are constantly finding new ways to attack your computer. There’s no way any virus protection program can stay ahead of the game 100 percent of the time. Your best line of defense is to make sure that you keep your anti-virus software up to date at all times. However, don’t be naïve enough to think it still can’t happen to you.

Myth: The higher the price of a computer, the higher the quality.

Truth: Sometimes this is true, but not always. The fact is, you can get a really good computer at a decent price. You just have to know what you’re looking for in a computer and pay attention to sales. Sometimes you pay more for a mere brand name. And other times you pay extra for bells and whistles that you’ll never even use. Do your homework and perform some serious price comparisons before you purchase a new computer. And keep an open mind throughout the process to get a great deal.

Myth: Anytime you get a pop up saying you have a virus, you should do what the pop up tells you.

Truth: No, as stated before, sometimes malicious programs will trick you into thinking you have a virus. And when you follow their directions, you’ll actually download a virus. Or you might end up spending money on some bogus software that you don’t need. So before you follow the directions of a pop up, make sure the program is legitimate. If it’s not coming from a program you’ve previously installed, stop everything and contact a Houston PC repair consultant.

Myth: Obtaining Houston PC repairs is costs a lot of money,

Truth: When you find the right company, PC repairs are actually quite affordable. Whether you have a desktop, or you need Houston laptop repair, it shouldn’t cost you a small fortune to get your computer back up and running. And it sure beats the alternative—fixing it yourself. If you have a serious computer problem, trying to fix it yourself could result in you having to spend even money. Not to mention that you may put your personal information at risk.

There are plenty of other myths still floating around out there. Just make sure to check the facts when you come across suspicious information.

Maybe it has happened to you. You’re surfing the web and perhaps you fall across a semi-sketchy site. Or maybe the site doesn’t appear sketchy at all. Either way, you’re minding your own business when all of a sudden all hell breaks loose. A window pops up warning you that you’re computer has been infected by a Trojan virus and you need to perform a ThinkPoint scan immediately. And of course you’re going to perform the scan because it tells you ThinkPoint is part of the Microsoft Security Essentials pack. It was already installed on your computer, right?

Nope.

But that’s the way it looks. So rather than face taking your computer in for Houston laptop repair, many people decide to go ahead and run the ThinkPoint scan. The scan runs and, sure enough, it finds the culprit. Now what?

Well you need to pay to download ThinkPoint software to remove the virus. Or so it tells you. Don’t do it!

What it really is and what you should do

ThinkPoint is a crafty little scam. This rogue software infects your PC through various untrustworthy sites. Once it tells you that you’re basically screwed unless you download the fully functional version to clean your computer, your computer will stop functioning properly. ThinkPoint will actually produce fake symptoms by blocking other programs to make you think you really do have a virus. When all the time, ThinkPoint is the problem source.

So how do you get rid of it? Well you could take it into a computer repair service, where they could take care of all the hard work for you. It may cost you a few bucks, but it would definitely be worth the headache relief. Or if you don’t want to do that, you could go the DIY route. Just follow these instructions. And remember, since your infected computer will likely lock up, you should have another computer nearby that you can use for following directions and downloading any necessary files.

1. Restart your computer. Ctrl + alt + del may not work, so you may have to do a hard reset. No worries, just do it.
2. When your computer fires back up, you’ll be greeted by a ThinkPoint scan page. Lucky you! It may seem like you can’t get around running the scan, but you can. Hit ctrl + alt + del and bring up the task manager.
3. Click the processes tab and pick hotfix.exe. Close it and you’ll get a blank screen.
4. Under file select New Task (Run…). When the empty bar appears, type explorer.exe into it and click ok. At this point your desktop should return. But you’re not done yet!
5. To fix your registry, you need to download this file. Once you run it, your registry should be all fixed up.
6. At this point, you likely still have malicious files hiding out on your computer. Find yourself a reputable spyware removal program, download it, run it and you should be done.

Sound like too much work? Then call up a computer service to do it for you. And in the future, don’t fall victim to these scareware tactics. Keep track of what anti-spyware and other computer safety programs you actually have installed and if something else pops up, don’t click anything!

When it comes to maintaining our computers, we tend to spend lots of time and money on keeping the hard drive clean. That means anti-virus programs, deleting unused programs, clearing cache, and much more. While all of that is fine and dandy, have you ever considered the external threats to your computer? No we aren’t talking about people who might drop or steal it. We’re talking about your computer’s most secret, sneaky enemy—dust.

The problems dust causes for your computer

We know what you’re thinking. “Dust? Pfft! What’s the big deal?” Well not so fast. Hear us out. Dust can literally wreak havoc on your computer. It cuts down on the overall performance. In particular, your central processing unit may be affected. How? Well for one thing, dust can clog up your vents. If this happens, your computer won’t be able to keep itself cool. Which will eventually lead to overheating. And an overheating computer equals a failing computer.

Not to mention if your keyboard or mouse get stopped up with dust, they will stop functioning properly. As a result, you end up having to replace parts and eventually your entire computer. And who really wants to do that?

Killing off the dust enemy

The fact is, these problems with dust can easily be prevented. All it takes is a little external maintenance. Keep in mind it’s important to clean your computer carefully. It’s actually possible to damage your computer through static electricity if you use improper cleaning techniques.

The best solution? Good old fashioned canned air. Just fit the straw in place, aim, and blow the dust away. However, as you clean away the dust, be careful where you blow it. The object here is to remove the dust particles, not blow them deeper into your computer. Also take care not to turn the can upside down when in use.

You won’t find a simpler method of cleaning. And at only a few bucks for a can, you can easily buy a few and have them on standby, ensuring that you’re prepared for each and every cleaning time.

How often should you rid your computer of dust?

Dust builds up faster than you might think. If you don’t believe us, just take a closer look at the tables and shelves around your home. With that in mind, how often should you use compressed air to clean your computer? Every day? Every week?

Let’s not get overzealous here.

While there is no set limit for computer cleaning, as in all things in life, moderation is the key. You don’t want to go overboard and blow air into your computer fan every day because you might damage it. Your best bet is to clean your computer every couple of months. That’ll allow enough time for dust to build up but not get out of control.

Do you clean your computer? If not, when are you going to start?