If you have a computer issue, it is okay to search on the internet for answers and resolutions.  But, if you feel uncomfortable, you should surely take your laptop or desktop to a computer professional.  We have seen users take their computers to levels that are unsafe, such as opening up their laptops and shorting the motherboard or trying to remove a virus and mistakenly removing some operating system files.

The next time you have a computer issue, just make sure you’re comfortable with your actions.  Otherwise, seek professional computer help before you possibly damage your computer.

When you buy a new computer, you should pay close attention to the LCD screen options.  You may usually see the following  2 options:

1. VGA or DVI
2. Regular or Ultra-sharp resolution

In terms of VGA or DVI, the DVI provides better video output since it is digital format.  VGA is the old video format.  And obviously ultra-sharp is better than the regular resolution.  Ultra-sharp means you’ll have more pixels which relays better resolution and a sharp picture.

It is smart to buy the best screen possible for your desktop or laptop.  This will allow your eyes not to strain and your good posture will surely follow.

A typical e-mail issue is being able to receive e-mails, but not being able to send.  When you think about it, it doesn’t make sense that your e-mails are half working.  But, when you break it down in terms of how the e-mail flow works, you’ll be able to better troubleshoot and fix your computer issue.

When you set up your e-mail account, you have to set up the incoming (POP3) and outgoing (SMTP) server information.  For Windows, you may set up an e-mail account within Outlook or Outlook Express.  For Mac, you may configure the pop3 and smtp settings within Entourage, Mail, and Thunderbird.  These settings define how you will receive and send e-mails.  In terms of receiving e-mails, it’s pretty simple - you just need to input the information your e-mail provider gives you.  If you have gmail, it is pop.gmail.com.  For TimeWarner’s Roadrunner, it is pop-server.nyc.rr.com.  So, you would just enter this pop3 or incoming info where the field is requested.

For outgoing e-mail or smtp info, it could be a little trickier.  It is recommended to stick with the e-mail provider’s info first (i.e. gmail: smtp.gmail.com).  However, within the last couple of years, some of the Internet Providers (i.e. TimeWarner, Verizon) require for you to enter their settings for outgoing e-mail.  For instance, although you have gmail for your e-mail account, your Verizon DSL might require inputting its settings to send e-mails. 

How do you know that you need to enter your Internet Providers smtp settings instead of your e-mail provider’s outgoing information?  If sending e-mails works fine at home, but you have trouble when visiting elsewhere, then that could be the sure case of needing to switch the SMTP setting to you ISP (Internet Service Provider).  This If you’re still having trouble resolving your SMTP issue, then you probably need to call an NYC computer technician to help.

Having a 64bit server operating system will greatly enhance your server and network performance.  64bit means you can install more than 4GB on your machine.  In contrast, 32bit only allows you to install up to 4GB as a maximum.  Keep in mind that with 64 bit, you’ll need to make sure all of your server software is compatible with the 64bit operating system.

If you’re running a Windows 2003 Standard Edition Server that is 64bit, then your Exchange software must also be running 64bit.  This means that you cannot run Microsoft Exchange 2003 since it is only 32bit.  You will need to purchase Microsoft Exchange 2007 which is 64bit and can run with Windows 2003 Server 64bit.

This is helpful information if you’re planning to buy or upgrade your server.

Windows XP SP3 has introduced a little bug with its service pack.  But, luckily for Microsoft, Windows can point the blame elsewhere. 

In the last month, some Windows users have experienced an issue after downloading Service Pack 3 for Windows XP.  Some folks noticed that the device manager didn’t show any devices.  Other PC users noticed that either the network adapter, wireless connection, or shared network drives didn’t work.

So, what caused this SP3 snafu? 

Symantec took responsbility by explaining that SP3 caused its Symantec product to load the Windows registry with corrupted keys.  These corrupted keys could cause intermittent or permanent non-functionality of a direct network connection or wireless connection.  In short, Symantec’s security feature wasn’t able to mesh well with SP3.

What can you do to prevent this?

1. Make sure to disable and stop Symantec from running in the background when you install Service Pack 3.  It is a good rule of thumb to do this for all anti-virus software when installing software.
2. If you’ve already installed SP3 and are experiencing issues with connecting on the Internet or with your network drives/connections, download the Microsoft fix.

Do not fear downloading SP3 in general as this is a necessary security safeguard and stability measure for your computer experience.  If you do not feel comfortable installing SP3 on your own, feel free to contact a Windows certified technician.

If you cannot burn (copy) a CD or DVD from your computer, don’t fret.  There are a few things to try before dumping your computer.  The following computer troubleshooting steps pertains to CD or DVD that stops recording in the middle of your burn session.  The error typically points to trying another media, cleaning your disc, or some other obscure error. 

Follow these steps to resolve your CD/DVD burning issue:

1. First try another CD or DVD, and possibly another manufacturer
2. Open your disc drive and wipe down the contacts 
3. Uninstall and reinstall your burning software (i.e. Roxio, Sonic, EasyMedia Creator)
4. Try burning directly from Windows by right-clicking your file and sending to the disc drive to copy
5. If all above don’t work, replace your optical drive.  They’re not too complicated to replace, but if not comfortable with this computer repair work, seek tech help.

If your laptop’s LCD screen is dim, you’re not out of luck.  When your computer monitor is dim on your laptop, you can still see Windows and your desktop icons, but the view is very dark and hardly legible.  If your laptop boots up and the picture is dim, there are 3 ways to troubleshoot this issue:

1. Hit the FN key and arrow up key.  You might have lucked out and your computer screen went dim by the dim key.
2. Hook up your laptop to an external monitor and press FN and the monitor F key (usually F8).  This will let you know if you have a screen or video problem.  If you see a good picture on an external monitor, then your LCD screen is the issue.  And you may work like this as a cost effective measure. 
3. If you can see your computer picture on an external monitor, then you’ll need to replace one of 2 computer parts: the inverter board or the LCD screen itself.  The inverter board controls the brightness of the screen while the LCD screen itself could have a bad bulb that is causing the dim view.

To determine if your computer needs a replacement interter board or LCD screen, you should see your nearest computer repair shop.

Many customers ask us the common question: Should I replace my laptop motherboard?  If your motherboard fails, should you replace it?  Typically, laptop motherboards range from $350 - $650 for the part alone.  Then, it takes 2-3 hours of labor to replace it.  So, is it worth it?

We feel it is worth it if the cost of your computer was at least double the cost of the motherboard replacement.  Additionally, if your installed software on the computer is expensive, and you cannot find the original disks or cannot reinstall them, then, replacing your motherboard might make sense.  However, if your computer is an entry level laptop that you paid less than $900 for, a new laptop would be a better bet instead of replacing your dead board.

So, if you happen to be an unlucky laptop motherboard victim, you should weigh the following questions:

1. Did you pay much for your laptop versus the motherboard replacement cost?
2. Can you replicate your software?
3. Is your computer 3+ years old and is worth the fix?
4. Will putting the computer repair cost into a new computer a better option?

If your laptop won’t turn on, it is not the end of the world.  There are a few easy things you can try to get your computer back on track.  Here’s what you can do:

1. Replace your AC Adapter.  You might have a bad one.
2. Replace your RAM.  Bad memory can prevent your computer from starting up.
3. Take out your battery and plug in your AC adapter.  Your laptop might have been in a power cycle that will be resolved by doing this.
4. Plug your laptop’s AC Adapter into another power plug or surge protector.  NYC apartments are known for bad power switches.

If the above doesn’t work, you could have a bad motherboard, hard drive, or other hardware failure.  Then, you’ll need to get your laptop repaired by an NYC computer repair company.

If your desktop doesn’t turn on because of a blinking yellow light, you’re not in trouble.  There are a couple of ways to troubleshoot this in order to repair your computer.  First, open up your desktop by taking off the side panel.  Then, test the RAM by removing the modules one by one to see if there is a bad RAM module.  After the RAM test, you’ll need to test the power supply by replacing it for another one.  9 times out of 10, this blinking amber light is the cause of a bad power supply.

Keep in mind that recovering your files is not a problem with this issue.  This issue typically pertains to a power issue so your hard drive which olds your files is not in jeopardy.  If you’re still experiencing an issue after testing out the RAM and swapping out the power supply, you should have your computer further diagnosed by a top computer repair service company.