IT Support Services for Startups: Maximize Return on Investment

Startup owners who invest in managed IT support services and receive comprehensive consultation from experts are more likely to thrive than those who don’t. When you outsource IT services, managing your IT solutions and keeping up with the latest technology becomes the responsibility of the service provider. Also, you receive consultation services from time to time offering your business enough flexibility to endure pressing business challenges. 

What to Expect
When starting a new business, controlling all operational problems in-house can result in a real set back at the productivity front. Partnering with a professional IT support service provider instead, ensures all IT related issues of your new business resolved on time while your employees do the job they are hired for. Here is what you can expect from a managed IT support service provider:

• Strategic IT consulting
• Remote support
• Hardware support
• PC workstation support
• Wireless Network Support
• Data Recovery
• Server Administration
• Network support
• Real time support
• Backup and disaster recovery 

Benefits of Outsourcing

Security is a major concern for many startups, mostly because hackers are aware of the fact that small size startups can’t afford to invest too much money on the security measures. No matter what size is your company, free-floating internet bots (automated hacking programs), if by chance get hold of your server can prove to be heavy on your pocket, and the issue may reach beyond repair. Implementing a secure IT solution is therefore an indispensable measure for start-ups. Unless you are in the IT industry, you need to keep up with latest security propositions as well and by outsourcing your security you don’t need to stress on these matters and can put your efforts on other core issues that need your attention . Other benefits of outsourcing include:

• Reduced operational and capital expenses with advanced managed services capabilities
• Industry specific compliance solutions
• Maximized performance through an advanced IT architecture
• Manage your expenses as you know how much you have to pay for the services

Conclusion
Existing IT infrastructure of various companies is getting complex every passing day. Outsourcing IT support services streamlines your IT infrastructure and keeps your employees engaged in their respective work without having to struggle to fix a malfunctioning printer, fax or some other software issues during their valuable working hours.

Common Problems While Using Windows 10

Windows 10 released by Microsoft is a personal operating system and officially unveiled in September 2014. Windows 10 shares a lot of similarities with Windows 7. It is reliable and easy to use, but still somehow faces certain issues related to performance, storage and others. There are certain tools and techniques used for troubleshooting common problems with Windows 10. Before knowing about the troubleshooting process, you must know the common problems that usually Windows 10 users face.

 

Slow Performance

The most frustrating part is the slowdowns and hangs in the system. The cause behind the slowdowns is due to various applications running in the background responsible for slow performance. Task manager is the most useful tool and works in closing such applications that makes your system slow.

 

Windows Store Issues

People face various issues regarding the accessibility of apps in the windows store. Issues include various apps that display in the update and store section are unable to update properly. Some of the issues may be solved by using reset command as it resets the windows store and other issues are resolved by installing the updates of Microsoft.

 

Issues with the Sound Woes

The most common and widespread problem faced by the users of Windows 10 is the sound woes. After upgrading your PC with Windows 10, people face audio issues where the driver is installed but, the audio still doesn’t work.

 

Problems with Individual Apps

The similar issues that cause store issues also plague the new windows apps. These apps refuse to open or crash with no reason shortly after opening. Sometimes, uninstalling and reinstalling the app works. A full window reset might be necessary for global problems.

 

Conclusion

For troubleshooting, that’s often worth to create a new user account. If a windows app or a feature is not working properly in your existing account and runs well in the new user account, the problem is with the account profile and the full reset is unnecessary. Windows 10 is reliable with advanced features in it. Perhaps, there are certain issues users face, but if the basic troubleshooting doesn’t work, taking the services of computer repair centres in your locality is the best option to bring back your system into a good working condition.

4 Essential Tips to Make Your First PC that Runs Perfectly

Building a computer is nothing like decoding a treasure hunt map that people usually perceive it to be. In fact, all it takes to make custom built desktop computers is to follow a few steps. Doing this will save you a significant amount of money besides meeting your technology needs. You may buy the computer parts from the market, and customize it based on the benefits you want to get such as performance, storage, memory, speed, and so son. Read the four tips below to build your first PC in a hassle-free way. These tips are likely to make things easier for you.  

1. Test all the Parts First

Avoid making the common mistake of building your computer first and testing the parts later. Often there are instances of getting Dead On Arrival (DOA) parts. After doing all the hard work of making the computer, you may find that a part is malfunctioning, which is quite frustrating. The best way is perhaps to install all the parts at first, including RAM, CPU, CPU coolers and plug in your power cables. Thereafter, you need to test the computer. If it runs fine, put them in the cabinet and go ahead building your PC.

2. Plan the Installation Process in Advance

Once you complete the testing, plan out how you will go about making the PC, which ensures that you don’t have to start everything from the scratch. Arrange all the parts to build and check them what fits where. Check all the essential parts such as the backplate of the CPU cooler, graphics card, and others before putting the motherboard into the case. Also, take a look at the power supply to the motherboard. If you have large graphic cards such as the AMD R9 285, you should install the hard drives first, or else you’ll have problems installing them later.

3. Ensure Right Airflow

There is a possibility that you may forget about maintaining the optimum airflow when building your first computer. Ensuring the proper air flow is imperative to prevent your PC from overheating and getting dust. Usually, most pre-built computers have more exhaust fans than intake fans, which create a negative pressure inside the case. Due to this, the air flows restrict to one direction and don't enter all the corners, which leads to gathering more dust in the case.

On the other hand, if you have more intake fans than exhaust fans, the positive air pressure along with filters don’t let much dust gather in the CPU and other parts in the case.

4. Apply the Thermal Paste Smartly

'How to use the thermal paste' may not even sound like a tip. Still the reason we talk about its application is because many people overdo things with it. The right way is to apply a small amount, and that’s it. The next step is to keep your heatsink over it and start screwing it. The type of thermal paste in use may matter as it determines how much of it is needed to apply. The reason behind this is that thermal pastes come in different viscosity levels such as low or very high. Though for the average pastes, the process is pretty simple.

Conclusion

Building your custom PC is exciting though it requires some practice and knowledge. A wrong step here and there may damage the parts such as the motherboard, graphic or memory cards. The ideal way, therefore, is to be patient and take one step at a time. If you are not sure about the process, and still want a custom built desktop computer, take the help of a professional PC services provider.  

MacBook Safety: All you Need to Know

When you own an Apple Macbook, you want to take utmost care of it due to the fact that you have already invested a good amount on its purchase -- thanks to high pricing from Apple. There is no denying the fact that Apple is a preferred choice in laptops among potential buyers for personal and professional use. Therefore, when you put your money in as costly a product as Apple Macbook, you won’t like to take any chance with its repair. Though there might be many local computer repair shops in close proximity to your place, care should be taken while looking for essential attributes required in a professional repair service provider.  Here are some important factors to consider to find the right repair shop from the clutter.

Proper Authorization

Authorization from the manufacturers, in this case Apple, is the first thing that you must consider when selecting a Mac repair shop in your area. Smart service seekers always look for an Apple authorized Mac repair shop, ask the service provider to show the service authorization from Apple.  Some shops make tall claims, but fail to produce the letter of authorization when asked for, in most of the cases.

Expertise and Services Offered

Always choose a shop that carries a wide spectrum of Mac repair services. A professional Mac repair service provider usually provides diagnostic and repair services for hard drives, old batteries and issues related to booting and operating, among others. Confirm that the shop has professionally trained staff skilled in repairing variety of issues related to slow booting and operating.

Reputation of the Service Provider

Reputation is another important factor to identify a reliable repair service provider from the clutter. Local or global presence of the repair shop ensures its quality services. Ask for referrals from your friends, family members, and peers, more often than not you find good services provider through referrals.

Cheap Charges aren’t Always the Best

Don’t get allured by the cheap rates offered by your local mac repair service provider. It is likely that behind the shield of cheap rates, you may compromise the quality repair. Compare the charges with other repair shops available. Furthermore, compare the years of experience each one has spent in the business. 

Conclusion

More often than not, people resort to local computer repair shops for the Apple Mac repair services. When looking for a local repair shop, attentioned should be paid on the proper authorization of the repair shop from Apple. This prevents you from hiring poor quality service provider. Last but not the least, shop you choose should be well reputed and equipped with professionally trained mechanics from the company itself.

5 Top Remote Desktop Tools for Tech Support

No matter whether you live in Fort Worth, Colleyville or other nearby areas, when up against a computer trouble, it is always advisable to get tech support from a professional; however, if you know someone who might be able to help you - or if you want to help someone - remote assistance is the way out. Though there is no dearth of options when it comes to remote tech support solutions, finding a suitable one can be a challenge. Therefore, to help in this article, we discuss 5 top remote desktop management software. Let’s begin.

TeamViewer

TeamViewer has become the most used alternative for remote desktop support; thanks to LogMeIn ending its free service. The primary advantage of TeamViewer is that it works on all OSs, including Windows, iOS, Linux and Android, and comes with an array of incredible features, all free of cost. Being both a remote support and management tool, TeamViewer does not need you set up the remote side before connecting to any PC.

Chrome Remote Desktop

Remote desktop tool - a Google plugin - is an app that users can install on their Chrome browser. Though it does not offer a lot of additional features, it is a useful tool for cross-platform troubleshooting, and accessing remote files. The app is a breeze to install, as well as fast and free. It also works on all OSs, including Windows and OS X.

Splashtop

Splashtop is a prominent tool common among people who love to stream audio and video files through remote access. Consequently, if you are a movie buff away from home who needs to access his collection of movies on his desktop’s hard drive, your answer is Splashtop. The desktop remote support tool operates on Windows, Linux, OS X, iOS and Android.

VNC

VNC, or Virtual Network Computing, works by sending keyboard and mouse actions to a remote computer through its existing protocols and sends the screen from that remote system to your viewer. More of a platform than a product, it provides features that move from clipboard syncing to file sync and transfer, however, this varies on the VNC client and the type of server software you use. RealVNC is the official VNC software that works on Windows, Linux, Android, OS X, and even Chrome.

Microsoft/Apple Remote Desktop

Both Microsoft’s RDC protocol and Apple’s own remote desktop platform provide a seamless remote desktop management experience when it comes to accessing files, and troubleshooting. These tools let users access your computer from a remote location as though you were working on the same device. Window’s RDC is much easier to set up over LAN, than downloading a third party tool. On the other hand, Apple’s desktop remote tool is a bit more complicated in terms of setting up, however, it provides both remote access management.

Conclusion

No matter the place you live, the need to access your computer back home or help a friend solve a computer issue by troubleshooting comes handy anytime. Depending on the type of computer and operating system in use, and based on your familiarity with the available remote desktop tools, you may be able to try your hand and provide a solution. When solving data security or other computer problems complex in nature better contact an experienced tech support in your area. Remember, when you seek the best, you get the best.

4 Ways to Enhance your Computer’s Life

It was not long ago when computer became the need of almost every household. From personal use to office use computer has become an indispensable item of technology man has ever gifted to himself. This little magic box, however, has its pros and cons— the machine inside the box can breakdown at any given point in time, if not handled with care. Here is how you can extend the life of your computer.

Keep your PC Clean

Unless you are working in vacuum, virtually every PC becomes loaded with dust, hairballs, and other intruding particles overtime. Left uncleaned for a long time, the dirt can cause enough damage to the hardware inside your PC, heating up the machines sooner than usual therefore putting lot of stress on the components. The cumulative effect of the dust and heat can result into reduced PC performance and sometimes premature death. In order to enhance the lifespan of your PC, it is important to clean it thoroughly in every 6-12 months. There are many computer cleaning equipment available in the market. Make sure you use the instructions written on the packaging before using them.

Allow your PC to Breathe

Proper ventilation is another crucial factor to maintain the longevity of your computer. No doubt fans and ACs help in cooling the machine, but they can be ineffective if your PC has stuffy surrounding. Ensure you PC gets proper ventilation and has access to cool air. Do not keep the computer inside a closed cabinet or near to any heater vent or space heater.

Protect your Hard Drive

Hard drives are easily prone to damage with a single software glitch.  It becomes corrupt with file system errors and bad sectors due to improper shutdowns, crashes, and other issues, which in turn damage files and causes system failure if things get bad. Nevertheless, if you are using Windows in your machine then the machine has an inbuilt Check Disk feature to repair corruption, all you need to do is run the Check Disk tool in your system. If still you are unable to fix the glitch, take assistance of a professional residential computer support service provider.

Protection PC Against Power Fluctuation

A computer has several sensitive circuits and machineries and any large fluctuation in power can damage them. Some people think that plugging the computer into a surge protector may fix the problem, but the fact is, the surge protector loses its protection mechanism with even a sudden rise in the power. It may still continue to power the device offering false sense of security. It is suggested to check the status of the protector at regular period, not to get fooled by it. Not only your computer, but other gadgets such as laptop and mobile phones are also sensitive to power fluctuation, make sure you have proper protection for them.

Conclusion

In addition to above mentioned propositions, there are many other things taking care of which can enhance the life of your machine. If, however, your machine breaks down, it is always advisable to take professional assistance. Hire only a reputed residential computer support service provider.

A Handy Guide to Find a Trusted Remote Support Service Provider

Thanks to advancement in the realm of technology, several computer glitches can now be fixed without taking the system anywhere. This type of advancement is called remote support which has already gained the momentum in the market. Here is everything you need to know about remote support service.

Remote Support: An Overview

Remote support is an advanced technology that allows a computer technician to service computer from a remote location. This way the user doesn’t have to travel to the repair shop, also the technicians don’t have to come where the computer is located. Also regardless of the location of the technician, he will be able to rectify your computer related problems in a secure manner. He can easily connect to your desktop, access your desktop screen in a manner as if he is sitting right there in your home or office. Most of the remote support service provider also provide custom built desktop computer services, you just need to look around a little to find a credible provider. Here is what you need to keep in mind when looking for a credible remote support provider.

Features of a Trusted Service Provider

As the service provider gets access to your computer for the repair, he may also get access to your personal information saved in the system. Therefore, you need to find a trustworthy remote support service provider.

Reliability

When looking for remote support services, it is important that you employee a reliable service provider. These days google has made it easy to identify the credibility of the service provider by looking for customer’s reviews for the same provider posted online. Also there are many websites available online that help customers find best remote support services in their area.

Caliber

Ensure that the service provider you choose employs trained and certified computer technicians and have considerable years of experience in offering remote computer services. All such information is easily available on the provider’s website.

Affordability

Affordability it the most critical factor in deciding the right service provider. However, before coming to any conclusion it is good to compare the services and their costs with at least 2-3 service providers.
Guarantee

Sometimes what may go wrong with your machine the next moment is quite unpredictable, sometimes the already fixed technical glitch can still go wrong after a couple of days, therefore it is important to employ a remote service provider who offers substantial guarantee for its services and also  promises comprehensive customer support services for future problems.

Conclusion

Remote support service is highly significant as it helps people as well as businesses save time and money. However, having said that, you may also be risking your confidential data stored in your computer as there are many scammers among genuine providers. It is for this reason and for your convenience consider these factors before hiring the services of a remote support provider and ensure the safety of your data.

Computer Repair Service: Online vs On Site

One fact that stands true in this technological age is the rigorous use of computers on a daily basis -- something you just cannot avoid. The accompanying computer glitches are no less unavoidable. No matter the kind of software or hardware problem, You may either go for the  DIY approach or call a desktop computers repair professional. It’s always advisable to call a repair professional as they are better equipped to solve any computer related problem at any point of time. Though many may prefer an onsite computer repair service, others would like to get online help. If you were to choose between online and on site option, ask yourself these questions and find the way out. 

How Major is the Hardware or Software Problem?

Finding how big your computer’s hardware or software problem is stands the first step to determine whether you need an onsite computer repair service or remote help. Remember, unless your computer’s screen has gone completely blank, it is not able to take the power supply completely or there is a blue screen of death, calling a remote support won’t make much sense. Again, if you have serious internet connectivity issues, any online computer professional won’t be able to connect to your computer and solve the problem.

How Soon You Need Help?

How quick you want your computer to get restored to a perfect running condition is, again, really important to decide whether you should go for online support or visit a computer repair shop physically. Needless to say, if you know that the problem is not major and can be taken care through remote support, get online help. On the other hand, getting the problem rectified by personally visiting a local shop would mean unplugging your computer, loading it to your car, and transporting it to the venue, which is both tedious and time-consuming.

How Fast Is Your Internet Connection?

Many professional desktop repair services offer remote support these days. The reason, many computer users have high speed internet connections, but not all. It is wise to go for online support if you have a fast and reliable internet connection, and though a slow connection can also do the job, it would be really time-consuming, and costly.

Conclusion

Regardless of the type and intensity of the computer issue, many people prefer to work face-to-face. They are, basically, ‘people person’, who like talking to the computer repair technician in person and explaining their problems in detail. No matter you take online support or visit your area’s local computer repair shop physically, it is imperative to only consult companies that are professionals in the business. Good desktop repair service providers have the right resources--people and tools--use the latest technologies, and offer cost-effective and customized solutions that tailor to your specific problems.

4 Healthy Habits to Keep Your Macbook Running for Years

Apple’s Macbooks are easy to maintain and highly durable. But that doesn’t mean you become complacent and completely ignore its maintenance. These simplest Macbook maintenance tips will help you keep your Macbook in best shape and running to its best capacity for longer than you have ever thought.

Run Disk Utility

Running disk utility every month is essential for repairing and most importantly for the verification and repair of the hard drive. Disk utility is available in all Macbooks and can be easily spotted in the Applications and then utilities folder. Both utilities options —Repairing Disk Permission and Verify Disk Permission are available under the ‘First Aid’ tab and can run one after another.

Keep Mac’s Software Up-to-date

Regular updating of Mac’s software is very essential. To ensure smooth run of your machine, it is important that you run software update regularly, let’s say after every 7 days. To do that click on Apple Menu and keep visiting Mac App Store for updates. There can be updates for various things:

●    General fixes
●    Feature enhancements
●    Security fixes

Updating your Macbook is very easy, you just have to click on the install button, if you find the update useful for your Mac. Though software updates check for the updates by default, Mac Apple store has to visit at least once a week for updates in OS X Lion. However, if you are not sure whether to install the update, contact a credible Apple Mac repair center.

Clean off the Desktop

Having too many files saved on your desktop slows down your Mac. Although slowdown is not that noticeable on the brand new Macbook it is still recommended to keep your desktop clean for best utility. Too many files and their icon previews take up the RAM and resources resulting in sluggishness of the Mac and also the desktop looks cluttered. The best practice is to fill scattered things in an appropriate folder.

Regular Back up

Make a habit of having regular backup of your Mac. It not only enables you to instantly recover from potential technical glitch, but having a backup is a good management practice to overcome your shortcomings. The simplest and easiest way to keep the backup is through time machine for which you will also require an external hard drive. Once you have set up Time Machine the machine runs automatic back up without any effort.

If in case you are having some issues with your Macbook do not try to fix it on your own, if you don’t have proper understanding of the machine. Consider contacting an authorized Mac repair service center in your area.

Learn How to Avoid Tech Support Computer Repair Scam

In recent years, tech scammers are making extensive use of phones to break into your computer. They make calls claiming to be PC support from renowned companies for example Microsoft. They take advantage of the vulnerability of non-technical people, and trick them into giving remote access or paying for software they don’t need.

More often than not, the calls are regarding the security threats to user’s computer due to virus or malwares. These scammers know that almost every computer user knows the importance of installing security software. But these calls are not really to fix the security issues of your PC, rather scammers have a devious objective behind their calls and it’s to make money. Businesses worldwide and residential computer owners in particular have fallen victim to such tech support computer repair scam.

To prevent these scammers taking advantage of your vulnerability here is how are some tips to keep in mind when you get any such calls.

Tech Support calls: Dos and Don’ts

 

If you get a call from someone claiming to be a tech support person, don’t confide in the person straight away. They may try to take you into confidence by any means, don’t come to any conclusion so soon, but yes you need to act smart. Hang up the call and call the company yourself. Look for a genuine number company’s website. A caller who is trying to persuade you creating a sense of urgency or you feel any sort of pressure from the caller probably you have received a call from a scam artist. In order to play safe keep these tips in mind.

• Don’t disclose any sort of information to a third party who calls you out of nowhere.
• Do not solely rely on the caller ID to conclude that you have got a genuine call. Scam artists spoof caller ID numbers. They may appear to be calling from local area or genuine company when in real they may not be even in the same country as you.
• Never commit a mistake of disclosing your financial information to someone who calls you randomly and claims to be calling from Tech Support Computer Repair.
• Never disclose your password on the phone. No authentic company calls you and asks for the password.
• Lastly, as they say safety is better than cure, if at all you require tech support computer repair services, whether for Hard Drive data recovery service or for any other purpose, call your service provider directly and ask for help.

Conclusion

Tech support computer repair scam has become a common phenomenon in digital world. Any computer user at any given point in time may fall victim to it. Nevertheless, a little homework can help you prevent the situation. Hope this brief read helps you stay clear of potential tech support computer scam forever.

Did Flood or a Water Leakage Damage the Hard Drive? Here’s the way Forward

Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and pipe leaks are the last things you want in your life, but they do come uninvited damaging your personal property and causing loss of thousands of dollars. When this happens, you would not only want to repair your house, car and furniture, but also your computer and the data inside it. In fact, owing to the digitalized storage of every vital information these days, preventing your vital data from any water damage is more important than ever. However, what if your hard drive or solid state drive comes in contact with water. 

We show you the way forward to recovery. Follow these steps.

 Put the Unplugged Drive Inside an Airtight Bag

 
The road to data recovery shortens the moment you act fast. If the case is otherwise, these chances start fading, slowly making the possibility of data recovery become nil. Given this, as soon as you know that your computer or hard drive has come in contact with water, immediately unplug your computer from any outlets. Carefully remove the hard drive from your system, and place it inside an airtight plastic bag. Better contact your computer’s manufacturer for further help. If unsure of what to do, call your area’s hard drive data recovery service. 

Let the Hard Drive Stay wet 

 
When wet, cleaning your hard drive with a cloth or other agent sounds obvious. However, you should avoid this in every way, as all types of water, especially flood waters, contain minerals and particles that stick to platter’s of the hard drive once it is dried. Naturally, this makes the cleaning process complex than easing it. Not to forget that hard drive platters require special cleaning agents that are only effective in cleanroom environments. Using a household cleaning solution is, therefore, bound to turn data recovery impossible, and add to your worries. 

Never Open the Hard Drive 

 
DIY tips help you save money, but they are not effective at all times. The reason, you either lack the required tools or the expertise. In fact, many people take the detrimental step of removing the cover from a wet hard drive, without knowing or understanding that the hard drive is made of extremely sensitive platters easily susceptible to airborne particles. If not treated inside Class 100 Cleanrooms, the data on your hard drive may be lost forever. This is the reason taking the help of professional hard drive data recovery services makes a lot of sense. 

Conclusion

 
Besides observing these guidelines, there’s nothing much at your disposal in terms of recovering a wet drive’s data. As water usually contains contaminants that may scratch the platter if you run your hard drive, it is wise to call a professional instead of deploying DIY tips you are not sure of. A professional has the required tools, and the skill to manage such issues. Equipped with rich experience, he can do the job better than you in any condition.

IT Support Service: The Logical Solution to Your IT Problems

Irrespective of the size of the business, computer technology has become a prerequisite for almost every business. While computers offer ease-of-work and connectivity to streamline businesses, the challenges that follow are worth considering. There’s a lot that can go wrong with computers—the network, system updates, security, hardware, software and what not.

The challenge is more critical for start-ups and mid-size companies, which lack proper resources including IT specialists to handle the problem that arises with computer networks. In such scenario when system goes down, more often than not companies look out for local repair tech., who may or may not be available at the moment. Where some businesses may afford to wait for the technician others can’t. The need of the hour is to partner with managed IT support service provider that can offer 24/7 remote monitoring of your system, and a team of technical support on call. 

We give you 5 reasons to hire third party IT support services

Cost-effective
Having an in-house IT department increases company’s overhead. Outsourcing IT support service eliminates such overheads and you get 24/7 access to a team of IT technicians without the expense of full-time salaries and benefits.

Predictable
On hiring a third party IT support service provider, you have your advanced monthly expenses fixed and there are no more unplanned repair bills. You only pay for smoothly functioning system and not for labor inputs, such as time spent and repairs.

Flexible
Managed IT support services relieve business owners from the stress of staffing, power and space constraints. In addition, support services also include handling evolving complexities of technology offering flexibility to the business.

Available Round the clock
Managed It support services include 24/7 monitoring of your systems, watching for updates and fix problems remotely, often before even the problem actually arises. This enable businesses to have a reliable infrastructure.

Conclusion
Many businesses are already leveraging the mentioned benefits of managed IT support services. If you are still relying on ad hoc computer mechanics, it is about time you make a smart decision and hire managed IT support service provider. If you are looking for a reliable tech support in Fort Worth, make sure that you partner with a trustworthy name in the service.

3 Data Recovery Software that Computer Experts Recommend

In the current scenario, when technology is covering almost every aspect our life, ‘digital’ and ‘data’ are two words that you hear all the time. In fact, all data from the word files on your pc to those vital presentations and excel sheets in your office computer are digital. While there are several advantages of data in its digitalized form, the biggest fear is its susceptibility to attack, and the possibility to lose it forever. While a data recovery service center may be the only option when you don’t know the science of data recovery, there are tools that help you regain your lost data. We highlight 3 top-notch ones through this article. 

Recuva

Dedicated to Windows OS, Recuva recovers ‘permanently’ deleted files marked as free space by the operating system. It comes in a 3MB zip file, works well with both NTFS and FAT format drives and requires no installation, thereby allowing easy sharing and set up than those who require installation. Developed by Piriform, you may use the tool helps you recover deleted files from USB drives, MP3 players, and memory cards as well.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery

This tool comes with a feature that allows cloning important drives you want to backup. Its algorithms allow you to recover data from DVDs and CDs, computer drives, and even email messages from Outlook Express and MS Outlook. What’s more, the utility tool supports partition recovery from Windows Vista, 8, 8.1, besides a range of multimedia files.

Panda Recovery

Panda Recovery supports the recovery of various types of deleted files--songs, pictures, movies or documents--that exist on your NTFS and FAT-formatted hard drives. The software builds an index of deleted and existing files and directories (folders) on the logical hard drive of your computer with supported file format after scanning it. Providing comprehensive features, it gives you complete control over the files you want to recover, including the destination where you recovery to take place. Besides this, Panda Recovery also allows preview of deleted files of certain type before beginning the recovery process.

Conclusion

No matter the type, sensitive data might be at stake for permanent loss, if your data recovery methods are not working and you don’t know what steps to take. When this happens, better consult a computer repair professional, no matter you live in Grapevine, Arizona or any other part of US. In fact, good data recovery services are available everywhere. All you need is the right search.

5 Affordable Ways to Keep Data Safe

Hand written copies have long gone back, and unless you have access to a time machine it is not easy to find the ones that you’ve buried in history. Consequently, their benefits have vanished too. The reason, we dwell in an era where every word has become digital. The problem with digital content is that when hard drives, storing your word files, crash, you may lose your hard worked data forever, unless you have the right tools for data recovery. How to avoid such possibilities? Here’s the way forward, as we show you 5 affordable tips to prevent data loss.

Store Files, but not in the Operating System’s Drive

Remember your operating system--windows, mac or linux. Now remember its location and the location of your word files. The point is to never store them in the same area, as your operating system is easily susceptible to virus attacks, software failures and other computer problems. If your operating system fails due to such issues, you might have to either reinstall it or reformat the drive to rectify the problems. The result, you lose all your vital data on the drive.

Maintain Sound Backup in Place

Backing up your stuff is really important even when you have stored your files at a location different from the operating system. Use either free cloud apps like google drive, dropbox or clonezilla or spend in a paid software if you have huge chunks of vital data that needs storage. Using cd’s, other hard drives, and floppy disks for data backup is also an option, but remember these devices are susceptible to scratches, and breaks. Consequently, creating a second backup may help you beat the odds when the first backup fails.

At the same time, when all data recovery methods fail, consult a professional. If you have a Mac computer, always look for a Mac desktop support professional in your area--Southlake, Florida or Nevada, or wherever you live.

Mind Your Email Attachments

Receiving hundreds of emails on a daily basis is not a new thing, as are the accompanying virus that corrupt your data. Opening unknown email attachments in the absence of a robust anti-virus software that provides protection from email malware is never wise. Possibilities of data loss exist even when you receive an email attachment with the same file name that you already have on your computer, and your email software settings saves new files in the same location.

Use Safe Guarding Features

Many a time, it is the error on the end of the user that results in data loss. When using word documents, therefore, take advantage of its version and tracking-changes features that help you prevent data loss. This comes in handy when you accidentally delete portions of your data and save your file while editing a document. If you’ve enabled features that re-store the changes, you are able to access the data that is currently not visible in your document.

Maintain Hard Copies of Vital Documents

Though you may not feel like keeping hard copies of all your documents, it is one of the sure shot ways to backup pieces of data you’ve hard worked and are of paramount importance to you and your business. Maintaining hard copies though is not as feasible as editing a digital word document, it, at least, guarantees that you have access to your data when you need it.

Conclusion

Despite all such practices, there are chances you may face a situation when you have lost your vital data. The reason is that all machines, including hard drives have an expiry date, and they wear down over time. To ensure that you recover your data entirely and without much pain, it is wise to consult an IT consulting support firm, or a professional computer repair service, no matter you live in Southlake or Florida. Professionals have the right tools and understand that data recovery is a complex that requires precision and practice.

Possible Ways for Hospitals to Strengthen Data Recovery Plans in Natural Disasters

Hospitals gather a lot of data on daily basis which makes it is essential to adopt adequate measures to recover the data if there is any kind of data loss. The chances of data loss are higher during natural disasters as it is difficult to predict when a mishap may occur; hence, there’s a need to be proactive to safeguard data. According to a survey by Acronis Global Disaster Recovery Index in 2012, 55 percent of the technology practitioners from health care industry are not confident about their ability to recover the data after a disaster.

Data of all the patients, records, doctors, procedures etc. is crucial information for the hospitals, thus it is necessary to take adequate measures to safeguard the data.

Validate Third-party Data Recovery Service

 
It is advisable to cover all the data recovery strategies with a third-party service provider in a contract but it is also important to confirm the practicality of the plans and services. The data recovery plan needs to be tested regularly to ensure that it works as expected at the time of an emergency.

Offsite Backup of Data

 
Hospitals need to backup the data at a different geographical location, especially from the perspective to safeguard the information during an emergency situation. It is important to choose a different location because if you store that data at a nearby location there might be chances that the data storage location is impacted if any type of natural disaster hits the place.

Validate the Backup Power

 
Every hospital has a power backup for an emergency situation but not many validate it on a regular basis. Constant validation of power redundancy is important because hospitals need to be sure that no work is hampered or information is lost if there is a power cut. Hospitals require battery backup for short term requirements and multiple generators for long-term needs. The generators need to be checked at frequent intervals if the generators are too old.

It is, however, advisable to seek help of an IT professional for data recovery and backup related issues. When you tie up with a data recovery service provider, ensure that the company is willing to provide assistance during an emergency situation. Consider the industrial experience, price, proximity and customer feedback of an IT service provider before hiring a service professional.

All Need to Know About Repair Disk Permissions on Mac

Repairing permissions is one of the most frequently recommended course of action to troubleshoot and maintain Mac OSX. There are two types of tools to repair different types of disk permissions, one of which is hidden. The Apple Mac repair permissions are generally called "disk permissions" but are actually file and directory permissions. The Mac doesn't automatically repair permissions unless it is installing or upgrading the Mac OS X on its own. Let's take a closer look at the repair disk permissions.

What are repair permissions?

Every file and folder that you store on the hard drive of Mac has a set of permissions- settings to determine particular items that may be accessed by a user. Permissions also determine the items or specific parts in the OS that may be accessed or modified and the files that are accessible to different applications. The system files, for instance, on the Mac needs to be marked as executable; otherwise the system won't have the permission to run the files.

The database of permissions is stored in the "Bill of Materials" (BOM) files. When a user repairs permissions, the system searches the .bom files and checks for the actual files on the system. If the permission for a file or folder on the system doesn't match with the permission specified by .bom files, the OS will change the permissions accordingly. It is important to understand that the changes won't apply to all the files in the system.

When to Repair Permissions?

There is no need to repair permissions if the Mac is running fine. If you notice trouble in functioning of the system, repairing the permissions is a good way to handle the problem at the first place. There is a possibility that programs might change the file and folder permissions and the new permissions may lead to more problems. A program, for instance, might prevent an application from running by making its program file non-executable. Users are recommended to repair permissions in such scenarios.

How to Go About the Repair Process?

The user needs to go to the Disk Utility application to repair the Mac's permissions.

•         Press Command + Space < Spotlight search < type Disk Utility < press Enter key
•         Select the system's partition - which generally is Macintosh HD
•         Click on "Verify Disk Permissions" if you need to check the permissions for problems
•         Click on the "Repair Disk Permissions" button to check the problems and repair them automatically

It is normal for some permissions to automatically change even when you are using the system normally and this change is less likely to cause a problem. Repairing disk permissions is not a regular maintenance task but there's no harm in checking the permissions to ensure the safe operation of Mac. If the problem with the Mac pertains even after checking repair disk permissions, it is always better to turn to a professional Mac repair expert to avoid any data loss from the machine.

How to Cool Down an Overheating iMac?

iMac is known for its superior performance and eye-catchy design. It has been engineered to the very last detail with a brilliant on screen, Intel core processor, high speed graphic and in-built apps to give a powerful desktop experience. Many organizations prefer to install iMac for their employees because of its brilliant features. However, this doesn’t imply that you will never have any kind of problem with the device. There may be instances when iMac may go wrong and the problem may turn out to be unnerving especially when you are not sure how to overcome the issue.

Overheating is one of the problems that iMac users generally face. The system might not feel hot but if the iMac shuts down after making a blast of unusually loud fan activity, you need to get the machine checked. It is always better to consult a Mac desktop support in Southlake or an IT consultant near your area if you are not good with technology. If small PC repairs don't trouble you, here are a few steps that can help in stopping the iMac overheating.

Step 1

Download and install fan control software that will let you set a minimum speed for the iMac fan. There are some free software available on the Internet, however, it is advisable to read their reviews before you shortlist a software to avoid any other  problems. The software will only ensure that the speed of the fan doesn't go beyond the fixed limit but it won't stop the whirring sound if the system gets too hot. It is advised to set the minimum fan speed to 2800 rpm for the CPU.

Step 2

It is important to find out the reason that led to overheating of the iMac. Although, there are minimum chances of a virus attack but there is no harm in running a security program. Install a free Mac security program to scan the iMac. If the result is negative, you can uninstall the software.

Step 3

There's a possibility of an issue with the hardware of the system if the iMac hasn't encountered a virus attack. The fans of the device might be working harder to cover up a component that has crashed or isn't working properly. The problem may be tracked by running the Apple Hardware Test. The instructions to perform the test are available on Apple forums and at many other places on the Internet if you are doing it for the first time.

Hardware issues may be complicated as you might be required to repair or replace the troubled component. Seek advice of an IT repair company so that your PC is in safe hands and the problem is resolved quickly.

Services Covered in Technical Support Services

Technical Support is a mandatory service required by companies. Computers have become the backbone of every industry so much so that in absence of their proper upkeep and maintenance, productivity takes a plunge.

Outsourcing tech support has become a common trend and is advantageous too. It adds to cost efficiency and saves a lot of in-house man hours. There are numerous tech servicing companies that take contracts to maintain computers and network both onsite and offsite. There charges depend on no. of hours of maintenance and type of maintenance frequently required.

Here is a list of comprehensive support provided by tech companies for computers, network systems, peripherals and software installed on the systems.

Hardware Issues

Tech support team responds to all kind of hardware issues including PC crashes and server problems. Technical support teams are made up of professionals who can handle technical issues in fastest times and restore productivity. Having a dedicated team for technical support smoothens office functions and also improves turnaround time for troubleshooting.

Software Issues

Software issues such as crashes and errors are as common as hardware problems. There is no guarantee that an important software won’t backfire at an important time. Technical support companies know this and standby to fix bugs as and when required. 

Maintenance

Computer and Network maintenance includes tasks like upgrading antivirus, other software upgrades and hardware maintenance. Computers and all the peripherals connected to it require cleaning and on some occasions rewiring to improve efficiency.

Extra Services

Computer tech support is not just about cleaning and maintenance. There are many other tasks such as:

• Email configuration
• Improving system performance through cleanup and defragmentation
• Software up gradation
• Printer servicing
• Antivirus installation and upgradation
• Finding and fixing virus
• Repairing damages caused by a virus attack

Tech support companies also design and develop custom built desktop computers based on the specific requirements of a company. They tweak the hardware capacities to boost the performance and produce expected results. So, if you want to increase the RAM capacity or install a graphics card, a tech team is what you need.

Conclusion

Computer technical support is a team dedicated to provide support and backup to their clients. Their sole purpose is to take care of computer related issues in the background while the companies go and perform in whatever they do best. Troubleshooting is their prerogative and hiring them by outsourcing the services can prove to be one of the most calculated management decision.

How to Handle a Hard Drive Crash?

While many people believe the believe OS and hard drive crash to be the same thing, there is a lot of difference between the two. If the operating system of the computer-whether it is Mac, Linux or Windows- crashes, it is called Logical Failure. On the other hand, if the hard drive crashes or malfunctions, it is called Physical Failure. In both the cases, though the data is still present in the system, it is not readily accessible for your use. A proactive approach to back up all the data stored in the drive may prevent any loss that you may otherwise encounter because of the hard disk crash. For individuals who are not familiar with hardware repair, it is always better to seek help of a desktop computers repair professional. If you are, however, well-versed with the technicalities, here's a step to step guide to handle a situation when your hard drive crashes.

Find Out the Cause of the Crash

The first step is to find out the cause of the failure, which may be logical or physical. In case your computer crashes, it will not boot to the OS. The same error will be reflected in case the crash was caused by logical or physical failure. If the computer doesn't boot and you hear clicking or whirring sound, this might be a sign of physical drive failure. It is advisable to avoid trying to boot the computer or reload the OS in case of physical drive failure.

Physical Hard Drive Failure

If the hard drive has crashed as a result of any kind of malfunctioning in the hard drive, chances are high that the data will be accessible and intact. You can try to boot the computer to get an image of the drive or clone the hard drive, though it is a risky process. However, don’t start the computer to copy the files to an external disk as it may add onto the stress and result hardware failure. The safest way to copy your data is to remove the hard drive, put it into a different system and fetch the important data through a Data Recovery Software. If the data is retrieved, you can buy a new hard drive and reinstall it in the computer.

Logical Hard Drive Failure

When the hard drive is in good condition but is unable to boot into the OS, it results in a logical failure. A human error, virus, system driver conflict or software malfunction may trigger the failure. The methods of imaging or cloning won't be of any help in this situation. You are also advised not to reinstall the OS or run any other tools such as CHKDSK. The data recovery software may help in dealing with the problem.

It is advised that you seek help of a home computer repair expert in case of logical failure so that the data can be retrieved safely. Hard drive crash is a common problem but may cause major damage, if you don't backup your data regularly.

Viruses that Rattled Microsoft Windows

Viruses are not new to the computer world. They have been around for as long as tech savvy people can remember and have caused irreparable damages from time to time. From initial day worms that corrupted data on the floppy dick, to current day viruses, which steal identity and are capable of causing losses in multimillion dollars, these smart programs have come a long way. A virus attack today is so damaging that companies usually have to resort to immediate damage control and need strong hard drive data recovery service.

Creating a virus is a challenging task and the people who manage that are nothing short of evil genius. The efforts and the eye to details is so meticulous, that viruses have successfully defeated IT giants like Microsoft on many occasions.

Melissa

Melissa took advantage of the porn fetish to spread itself and infect millions of computers in 1999. It was designed to take over Windows 98 and it managed to overload Microsoft servers, so much so that the company had to temporarily shut down its servers.

Melissa was named after a stripper and was designed by David L Smith with no intention to cause mass destruction in the computer world. The code and its planning was so successful, that it managed unimaginable reach and was on millions of computer within no time.

The mail containing the virus usually arrived from a known person and promised passwords of almost 80 pornographic websites. Once the file was opened, it mailed itself to the first 50 email ids on the computer and like that it was in and out with the blink of an eye.

Sasser

Sasser was developed by an 18 year old boy who managed to give big shots like Goldman Sachs sleepless nights. The worm was aimed at seizing Windows XP and Windows 2000. It targeted the LSAS function of windows and ensured that a computer cannot be turned off without switching it off from the socket.

IT industry was dumbfounded at the irony that LSAS is supposed to protect a computer by monitoring user logins and password changes and how easily an 18 year old school going lad could change the game. Many companies including Microsoft spent endless man hours, on virus removal services, to fix the problem and clean up the blot a kid had left on their reputation.

Concept

Concept Virus was created by Microsoft itself and is one of the few viruses known to have badly infected Microsoft word. It was circulated accidentally in the year 1995 through a CD rom and was widespread even before Microsoft took note of the issue. It is considered as one of the first macro worms to infect computers.

Conficker

Conficker is a virus of modern times. It was created in 2008, when world was at its peak of internet usage, so it managed to infect 15 million computers. This virus was one of the trickiest ones to handle in Microsoft’s history. Conficker was completely armed with the capabilities to crack administrator passwords and also knew how to copy itself to the USB drives and spread.

Conclusion

Computer viruses are created using the same codes that are used to develop software. Yet the difference in their utility is worlds apart. One is used to cause damage to other computers while the latter to improve life. They are like the two side of the same coin and will stay like that till they have the evil human mind supporting them. Computer Virus are the proof of the fact that our curious and careless nature will always land us in self-created technological doom.