Restore Means Clean Sweep

Restoring software just means that Tech Support will get your system or programs back to working order. A lot of times you can do this yourself by just reinstalling the program, or updating the system. You just have to save your data first. But sometimes a virus or hardware failure will mess things up so badly that only a 'wipe and reinstall' will do the job.

Wipe and restore means to erase your hard disk and reinstall your operating system (Windows, usually). This costs around $150.00.

Another option is to add a new, larger hard drive and use the original drive as a backup. This costs about the same as a wipe and install, depending on the size and type of hard drive, but you end up with a bigger primary drive and one for data backups too. It helps to have to have your system disks (Windows) so we can use them to reinstall. We can't use Restore Points because they are usually infected by the virus that invaded the rest of the system.

We can sometimes increase the speed of a computer that's been getting slower by eliminating TSR's. A TSR is a program that Terminates but Stays Resident in your computer's working memory (RAM - random access memory). TSR's slow down the computer by taking up space, forcing other programs to operate with fewer resources. Most of the time the TSR doesn't need to be in the working memory.

You can do it yourself, or, you could just bring it in to Tech Support and we'll look at the TSR's and anything else that might be slowing things down.

We do everything with one eye on the budget. If we can do what you want less expensively we will. We are always on the lookout for solutions that will tame your machine and the checkbook at the same time.

Hunt and Kill Viruses

It's just plain fun to hunt and kill a computer virus. We love to take the best efforts of the black hat morons out there trying to disrupt your work and turn them into nothing. It's a comment on their whole lives.

Tech Support has software that is top notch at finding malicious software (malware for short) and digging it out where we can kill it. We also have some hardware techniques for surrounding them and choking them to death.

For instance, if you don't have a second hard drive, you're just asking for trouble. When you get a virus or a worm, we'll install a new hard drive and use the old one as a back up. You can remove data at your own pace, then format the second drive when you've gotten everything off of it you need.

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Virus Protection Software

ESET is one of the best virus-hunting software packages out there at the moment. They do the most thorough and non-destructive job possible. It updates itself three or four times a day or more depending on how often your computer is on. It runs in the background and doesn't slow down your computer. The price is pretty low, there's a 30-day money back guarantee, and it's cheap insurance for protecting your data and system software. The longer term you go for the better the deal.

There are two products called NOD32 and Smart Security. If you have a separate program for checking email (an email client like Outlook) then get the Smart Security version. If not, get the NOD32. If the ad isn't showing up and you have Ad Block Plus for Firefox, turn it off for this site.

They are both set up for ease of use for the average user, but there are a few tweaks for those who want a little more control. Uses heuristic technology (it means the program learns as it goes along) and something called the ThreatSense network (if your computer finds a virus they don't know about it tells the company) to make protection almost ironclad. ThreatSense is also their technology for identifying malware threats even if the program doesn't have a virus signature in its database.

Click here for virus self-help info, or just go to Tips, Tricks, Help for all kinds of tech tips.

Windows 8 and 10 Refresh

Even though most people do not like Windows 8 or 10 (including us) there are two features built in that are kind of nice. One is the Refresh procedure, and the other is the Restore procedure.

The Refresh procedure is found under Settings, Change PC Settings, Update and Recovery, then Recovery and Refresh your PC without affecting your files. This will refresh system files without harming your personal data such as pictures or word processing documents.

The Restore procedure will reinstall Windows, so you need to remove any personal data. Copy all your Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music or whatever you have to a flash drive or an external drive (you should have copies like this anyway). Then click on Settings, Change PC Settings, Update and Recovery, then Click on Recovery and under Remove Everything and reinstall Windows click Get Started.

Use the Refresh option if Windows is acting sluggish or otherwise not normal. Use the Restore option if you got severely infected with viruses or something else has really messed things up.

Click HERE for the Microsoft page for instructions for both procedures .