How to correctly back up your computer system

I think of all subjects in the computer world this is the most important and the most neglected. People never think about the results of "What Could Happen," till it actually does and believe me, it sucks. Being in the computer industry and working on different systems daily I have heard some horror stories about people not backing up their systems. The worst is when someone "thinks" they are backing up their system but aren't... or are not staying on top of it, just to find out that they lost everything! So here is an inexpensive and VERY effective way to keep your computer backed up.

What you need.

1. 2 external Hard Drives ( both should be at least 80 gigs, but just figure on how much stuff your going to back up on a regular basis.

2. EZ Back it up

The reason you need 2 really only applies to business' or people with 2 separate locations that they go to on a regular basis. The idea is that you will switch the external HDD's every other day or week or when ever. This will protect you in case you are robbed, or there is a fire, or what ever.

So what you do is this. Ez Back it up is a free back up program that will back up your information every night on a regular basis. You simply install the program, drag and drop the files you want backed up onto the program, save it, and create a schedule.

Also make sure to add a shortcut of EZ back it up into the start up file under the start menu.
To do this, go to start, programs, and start up on your task bar. Find the short cut and drag it into that file and your set. Then swap out the external hard drives on a regular basis and you are good.

For any other techs reading this who would care to expand on this topic, feel free to add your thoughts and wisdom.

God Bless,
David Shay
Computer Guys
david@computerguys.cc

Make Your Computer Start Up Faster

In my line of work, I deal with other people's computer all day long and the first thing I see is how long it takes for the darn thing to turn on. From what I have experienced, I would say that everyone who is reading this blog should start following these steps because it will dramatically improve the speed of your system and how fast it starts up.

Clean up the start reg.

This will work with Windows XP, 98, and 96. It will also work with windows 2000 but you have to download msconfig from this site: http://www.perfectdrivers.com/howto/msconfig.html

(For 2000 users... ignore steps 1 and 2.)

To do this...

1. go to the start menu, and click on run

2. Type: "msconfig" and click OK

3. A window should pop up that says System Configuration Utility.

4. Go to the far right tab where it says start up

5. Ok, you have two options here. You can either click "Disable all" or manually un-check the boxes one by one. I understand that most of you will have no idea what all this stuff is. So... just think of this...

6. You will want almost everything unchecked except for the following... antivirus (Norton, AVG, McAfee, etc...), and If you have a pda, your active sync program, any specialty programs like backup programs, or objectdock. Those should be the only ones checked. Everything else like adobe stuff, or AOL, or this or that. Just un-check it.

7. Reboot your computer

8. When it starts up you will see a window explaining that your start up has been changed yata yata yata, blah blah blah. Check the box that says "Don't show this again," and click ok.

And your done

Feel free to expand on this info if you have anything to add.

God Bless,
David Shay
Computer Guys
david@computerguys.cc

If it aint broke, fix it before it is.

In today's world, computer problems have simply become dismissed as an expectation. It doesn't have to be that way. Don' t get me wrong... there will always be spyware and viruses. There will always be some little bug in there trying to make your computer life less then perfect. But consider this.

Consider the idea of enjoying your computer, and feeling free to have a
fast computer that runs the way you want it to, doing what you want it to.
How is this possible?!? Short of having us take care of your computer/s monthly
there are a few different ways to help keep your computer running the way
it was intended to.

1. Go to google and look up these three "free" programs and have them run
at least once a week

a) AVG Free Edition

b) Spyware Blaster

c) Spybot

2. Don't click on "Free Offers!" While online you will see all these free offers to get a FREE IPOD!, or FREE PS3, or what ever. All those links are going to send you to is trouble!

3. Don't go to porn sites. Ok... put it this way... if you do want your computer messed up, go to porn sites. It is the quickest way to needing to call us and fork out the dow to get us to fix the darn thing.

4. Don't download free music. Im sure you all have heard the term "There is no such thing as a free lunch." RIGHT? That statement is so true when it comes to the internet. When downloading free music, games, programs, warez, etc... you could be doing a few things.

a) The industry doesn't like when you steal programs and music, so they put out "fake" downloads that will bring your computer to a point where you can't even turn it on.

b) When using Bearshare, limewire, etc... all of those (P2P) programs, you are litterally downloading someone elses problems. Its like having unprotected sex with alot of people, eventually you will pick up something. So the moral of the story is... pay for your music.

Here is the good news about music, there is a site called http://www.allofmp3.com

Its a russian site that will sell you music for like 3 bucks an album. It is so cheap, totally legal, and completly safe. Check it out.

5. Follow steps 1 through 4 and you will ge in good hands. This is no guerentee that your computer will stay perfect forever, but it will be WAY better off.

OH!!! one last thing, stay away from free online games as well. Better yet, stay away from anything free on the internet. Don't download anything unless you are totally sure it is ok.

Just remember this one rule: "There is no such thing as a free lunch"

God Bless,

David Shay

Owner

Computer Guys

I have chosen a new icon

If you haven't already noticed, I have chosen a new icon to represent my company. Its a dragon fly. Why a dragon fly you may ask. The answer is... I don't know. I guess I like dragon flys. They are fast, they look cool, and people generally don't try and kill them. I guess that makes since for our company. Computer Guys are fast, they look cool, and people generally don't try and kill us! There... thats why I chose a dragon fly as Computer Guys new company icon.

How To Break A Computer

Welcome to my new blog "How To Break A Computer." Its kinda funny that I would name my blog that considering this is a blog posted by the owner of a computer repair company right? Well, it all depends on how you look at it. Im talking about breaking your computer in. Making your computer do what you want, when you want it to, and how you want it to. Its kinda like breaking in a baseball glove. You have to use it, bend it, learn about it. The glove needs to almost conform to your hand in order for it to work right. If not, your going to drop the ball.

That is what I mean... so with that said, I am in no way responisble for the actions taken against your computer when its not working right.