How To Break A Computer

Supercharge Outlook with Xobni

2008-01-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just shot me over this email of a great app called Xobni. This program along with outlook is amazing! You guys have to watch this video! I am so excited to be able to present this software to all my clients. Its going to make me look like the coolest computer guy in the world. Thank you Xobni.
Currently they are in a closed beta mode right now, and the only way to get the software is to sign up with them. When they open the beta, you will receive an email with a access code to download the program.

Clear Your Cable Clutter with a Towel Rack

2007-09-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

Its amazing to see the ideas people come up with. I work with clients all the time who want a clean workstation where the cables in the back are organized. Just another idea to add to the list of cool things to know.

Things to Do!!! With a home PC

2007-08-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

This blog is inspired by a client of mine who wanted to know what a home pc was for besides solitaire. I thought it was a funny, but good idea for a blog. I know that alot of you readers have plenty to do on your computer, but this is for the person, who doesn't have a clue and would like to have one.

So... first things first. What you use your PERSONAL computer for is PERSONAL. I can't tell you what to do on it. I can provide ideas, give suggestions, and possibly spark some inspiration, but thats about it. So I will do my best to do just that.

1. It all depends on your hobbies. Your computer combined with the internet can provide a wealth of possibilities. If you like photography, you can start using different photo editing tools along with a digital camera, to create a photo liberary. Then you can upload those photos onto the internet to share with your friends and family

2. The internet is almost a must, but not always. Go to your local computer store and buy a video game. There are so many out there to choose from. Action, Adventure, Shoot em' up games, Stragity, etc.

3. Step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. The computer is so open to so many possibilities. You can use it to learn, to teach, to play, to discover. One good idea would be to subscribe to a computer magazine and gain ideas from there.

I guess, if I could sum all this up into a few simple ideas it would be this. Get high speed internet if you don't already have it, Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, try something new, and look into different resources for good ideas.

I hope this helps.

David Shay
Computer Guys

P.S. If you want to know a great place to get audio books to listen to, go to http://www.audible.com

Programs that are a must for any PC User!

2007-08-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, here is a list of programs you should have on your computer

AVG Free Edition

You can see in previous blogs how I am not a big fan of some of the more "main stream" anti virus programs like Norton, etc. This anti virus is FREE, works wonders, low maintenance, and Free

Click Here

Spy bot search and destroy

Some people like it, some don't. For the ones who don't, they don't know what they are talking about. Its a great program with a lot of add-ons in the advanced section that are a awesome

click below

Ad Aware

You know... I'll admit it, I didn't like this program at first, and I still don't use it too often, but I will say this, where spybot fails, ad aware normally cleans up the rest.

Click Here

Spyware Blaster

Spyware blaster isn't a program that will clean and scan your computer. What it will do is prevent Active-X based spyware, adware, dialers, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs from being installed in the first place. With its auto update feature, this program will stay up to date on its own as well. Everyone loves this program and why shouldn't they! Here is the download link for it

Click Here

Firefox

This is a web browser I will always love. Not only is it safe and secure, but it has all sorts of add-ons to it including an ftp program "fire ftp," themes, and other neat toys

Click Here

Object Docks

I love this little windows tool bar toy. You know hot on the macs, there is this tool bar at the bottom that expands and retracts when you move your mouse over it? This is the program. Install this and impress your friends with your extra cool computer!

Click Here!

There are a lot more programs then this, but these are some of my fav. More are to come!

Thanks,
David Shay
Computer Guys
(951) 743-3895
david@computerguys.cc

Looking for comments on my new website

2007-07-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys... My new website is live! After a few weeks of putting it together, its finally up. There are still a few tweaks and updates I will be doing to it, but its pretty much there! If any of you readers could take a look at it and give me your opinion, it would be of big help. Over all, I like it, but I am welcoming some thoughts and ideas on how to make it better. Here is the link...

http://www.computerguys.cc

So, yeah... give me some feed back, and it would be a huge help!

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

Norton Removal Tool

2007-07-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

By show of hands, how many of you hate Norton? ok ok... Now, how many of you still have Norton on your system and can't fully get it off. Well there is good news for you! There is a Norton Removal Tool out there just waiting to help get that terrible program off your system once and for all!

Click Here to get the tool.

Now... for those of you who are currently running Norton Anti Virus or Internet Security, here is a bit of info. SAVE YOUR MONEY, and allow your computer to work the way it should. I could write for days on this, but and stressed for time, so I will keep it as short as possible. Here are a few reasons why Norton sucks. (Side note... Norton for home users sucks, Norton Corp is great!)

1. Norton Internet Security is a software firewall that messes everything up. It causes retarded network issues and blocks a lot of stuff you need. You can change the settings on the program, but the normal user doesn't know the first thing about it. Plus, in my opinion... software firewalls are carp! There is the bottom line. You have to be online. You have to send out information and receive information in order to be online. So... in order for that to happen you have to have ports open. Un-wanted stuff will get through eventually in some way. You can then have a program like Zone Alarm block the incoming things, but if you don't know what they are you may be blocking everything including the things you need! So all of a sudden you can't receive email, or play your favorite online vid game, or what ever. So thats my thoughts on that. In conclusion, you don't want any internet security software that will block your access to the internet.

2. Norton anti virus is such a inflated program. It requires way to much memory for what it does. Plus, it over runs your system and bogs it down. In English, Norton anti virus makes your computer run slower, plus you have to pay an arm and a leg to have it, and when you need to renew it, it keeps popping up and bugging you ever 5 seconds. So its annoying, high maintenance, over priced, and slows down your system.

So now your saying DAVID!!! I have no protection. if you refer to one of my previous blogs, it will tell you how to keep your computer clean and what programs to use to help with that. There is an anti virus that is free and wonderful. Its called AVG Free Edition. I personally use it on all my companies computers, as well as all of my customers computers. So... Hope this helps guys

P.S. The name of the blog I was speaking of is called "If it ain't broke, Fix it before it is."

How to correctly back up your computer system

2007-07-15T23:45:00.001-07:00

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

Web Site Optimization website

2007-07-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is a cool website a came across... while trying to figure out how to make my site for friendly to users and guests. It tells you all sorts of info useful about your site. So if you have a blog, or website , check this out. Better yet, see how the pros are doing. Put in Google.com, or myspace.com and see how they are doing on this site. It may be pretty interesting. Anyways.... check it out.

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/

God Bless,

David Shay

Computer Guys

david@computerguys.cc

Make Your Computer Start Up Faster

2007-07-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

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

How to make your PC look like a mac.

2007-07-08T10:10:00.001-07:00

Ok, ok!!! to all those of you who may get mad at me for liking macs... I like PC's too. I personally own a mac, but run windows on it. I then make my pc look like a mac, but run like a pc. Yup... that sounds weird. Your probably asking... "David, why don't you just use your mac as a mac, and not a pc if you like it to look like a mac? Well its like I say about some of my friends, "looks aren't everything." j/k. The thing is, some of us like mac, but have so much software for windows that it would suck to have to give it all up, just to move to mac, if you have a few extra dollars to blow on one that is. So here it is... (How to make your PC look like a mac.)

1. Make sure your task bar at the bottom is unlocked. To check, right click on a blank part of the bar and see if "lock the task bar" is checked or not. If it is, un check it.

2. Click and hold onto the task bar and drag our mouse to the top of the screen. This will move the task bar up to the top, like a mac :)

3. Go to this website and download then install this object dock. Its that cool bar that is in mac that has the icons expand as you move your mouse across them.

http://www.download.com/3000-2341_4-10614600.html

4. Go to this website to get a cool OS X or Mac wallpaper

http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4326

5. Move your icons to the right side of the screen, because that is how the mac does it.

That would be it! Hope you like your new found mac!

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

How to get kicked out of radio shack

2007-07-06T20:47:00.002-07:00

Today, I got kicked out of Radio Shack. No I swear... I got kicked out for trying to be a good person and a good computer guy. So here's the story. I was in radio shack today looking for a part for something, when I over hear a women talking to a sales guy about buying a wireless router. I glance over and the guy is trying to sell her a netgear router.
Now... here is the problem with netgear routers... they are terrible! I work on networks all the time and I have never had more problems with a router then with a netgear router. There is actually a policy in my company to not work with those routers because I have so many problems with them. I either ask the person to return it or buy a new one. The reason is that I don't want someone to pay me all this money to set this thing up when a week later something is going to go wrong. So... instead of wasting my time and the customer's money, I simply insist on having the customer use either a D-Link, Linksys, or Belkin router.
Anyways... back to the story. So I am over hearing this guy who obviously knows nothing about what he is talking about and just trying to make a sale. So I step in hand her a card and recommend that she considers going with a Linksys instead of a netgear. Im not trying to make a sale my self or anything like that. I'm just trying to help the women make the better decision. So the sales guy goes off on me telling me how I shouldn't be here trying to take his sale, and messing things up for him. He tells me how I don't know that I'm talking about and netgear is a great product. So I said the only reason that they push the netgear routers is because they are the most over priced so it's a larger sale. He got upset that I said that in front of the customer and told me to leave the store now. I looked at the lady, and said, "Please excuse me, I was only trying to help you make the better decision. I hope that what ever you buy works out for you." and left.
That will be the last time I go to that radio shack! So... I guess you can get kicked out of radioshack for trying to be a good person. Oh Well.

Computer Repair Scam

2007-07-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

Check this out... very interesting

This is why it is so important to not go just anywhere to have your computer repaired. Yes, when you have a problem and have someone else fix it, it will cost because your not only paying for the persons time, but also there knowledge. BUT... Make sure you go somewhere you know isn't going to rip you off.

If it aint broke, fix it before it is.

2007-07-05T10:18:00.001-07:00

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

2007-07-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

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.