Setting up the Time Capsule from a Windows computer should be simple, but sometimes you could get into serious trouble if you don’t follow the right steps.  Here is a Time Capsule set-up guide to set up wireless, the hard drive, and a printer from a Windows computer:

1. Connect your Time Capsule device to your modem.  Make sure to turn off your modem first and then turn on the Time Capsule.
2. Install Airport Utility 5.4.2
3. Choose your Apple Airport from the Windows networks list
4. Open Airport Utility and select your Time Capsule
5. Choose broadband and if you’re using a static or DHCP client - usually it’s DHCP
6. Make sure to set up the password encryption to WPA/WPA2 Personal since Windows Vista or above is not a big fan of WEP.
7. Go into Manual Setup to click on the “Disks” in order to select yours and create a secure password.  You can also share a printer from this section.

That’s it!  This tech support guide should get you well on your way to setting up your Time Capsule from your Windows computer.

Firewall routers used to cost a fortune, typically in the thousands.  Now, Sonicwall has produced the Sonicwall TZ100 that is a little bit more expensive than a high-end router, at approximately $450.   So, do you need a firewall like this?  Does it act like a router also?

With the emerging threats of viruses, spyware, hackers, and other threats, the Sonicwall TZ200 Wireless-N prevents such security vulnerabilities.  Plus, it provides the industry-fast speed of Wireless N as well as providing 5-ports to connect desktops to.  You can VPN into your home office or computer network with this by using secure Sonicwall software.  Overall, this acts as a powerful wireless router with advanced security protection against the latest threats.  Depending on the vendor, you might also receive content filtering technology which will allow you to decide which kinds of websites are restricted.

You’ll receive 9AM - 5PM tech support from Sonicwall and the setup requires some tech expertise.

If your laptop can’t get sound, you’re not out of luck.  There a several steps to try before throwing your laptop out. 

Here are the laptop repair steps to try for lacking audio:

1. Check the volume!  Make sure it’s not on mute or down low.
2. Check any physical audio buttons on the side panel of your laptop. It might be set to very low.
3. Look for any sound programs that might be preventing audio
4. If that doesn’t work, your next decision is either changing the sound board or the motherboard.
5. Step 4 is pricey, so skip it and plug in a USB laptop speaker instead and get instant sound!

Replacing a sound board or motherboard could cost close to a new laptop.  Instead, you can buy a $40 portable USB laptop speaker that will perform a quick, cheap fix.  Plus, you don’t need a tech repair person to set it up for you.  You just plug it in, and as long as your USB port works, you’ll be listening to your favorite band in no time.

A common computer issue we’ve seen lately is an alert popping up from the bottom-right part of the screen that says “Local area connection unplugged.”  This will come up periodically.  You might still have Internet access or intermittent online access.

This “local area connection unplugged” error usually lies in the one of three causes:

1. Network cable is faulty between your computer and the port, router, or modem
2. Network interface card (NIC), or network jack, that the network cable connects to is failing; or
3. The router or modem port that the network cable is connected to is failing.

The first thing to do is call up your Internet Service Provider, such as Verizon or TimeWarner.  They’ll send a signal from their central office to your modem to make sure everything is okay from their end.  Once that checks out, replace your network cable to see if that fixes it.  If not, a quick work-around fix is to make your computer wireless by installing a wireless card and then you won’t have to worry about local area connection issues.  Otherwise, you can replace your network interface card by installing a network adapter. 

Then, you can run the network cable from that adapter to your modem or router.  Finally, if that doesn’t work, or if you’re just too lazy to try those steps,have your Internet Service Provider replace your modem, claiming that the network port from the modem is faulty which lately has been the case.

It is good judgement to replace your modem every once in a while anyway since its speed, like routers, degrade over time.  The one thing that your Internet Service Provider cannot test is the port on the modem that connects to your local network.  So, when all else fails, you should persuade them that is the problem.  They might need you to test it out with another computer or just take your word for it.

GoToMyPC has long been a great way to remote into your PC.  This comes in handy if you’re at home and you want to remote into your office computer, or vice versa.  Now, you can also remote into your Mac with GoToMyPC whether you are using a PC or Mac from your starting computer. 

In the past, remoting into a Mac was a mess.  You needed VPN, VNC, or another V-named program.  There was never a simple way to remote into a Mac.  The GoToMyPC makes it a piece of cake.  For your Mac to accept this computer remote solution, you’ll need to have at least Mac OS 10.4 or later and Java enabled for your browser. 

You can test it out first with a 30-day trial.  This is definitely a great way to avoid the commute and the tech support setup for this software is a breeze!

Computers are a work of science.  Since all computers require the same basic hardware and connections to be operational, any computer issues are “Elementary, my Dear Watson.”  If Sherlock Holmes were alive today, he would probably be a computer expert since all computers are built similar to cars to other machines that require the elementary, basic core to be up and running.  Thus, if the computer breaks down or crashes, it is pretty logical to determine where the issue lies and then the computer fix is straight-forward.

Well, if you still think computer repairs are not “elementary,” we’ve helped you out by providing the below hardware symptoms that are typical of PC computer issues, along with the specific hardware to check for fixing or replacing to get your computer working again.

1. Symptom: No sound, no lights when turning on -> Check: power supply, motherboard, CPU
2. Symptom: Continuous beeps when turning on -> Check: keyboard, video card, memory, motherboard
3. Symptom: Screen is blank upon boot up -> Check: power on monitor, video card connection
4. Symptom: Operating system doesn’t load -> Check: hard drive, memory, motherboard, CPU
5. Symptom: Screeching noise -> Check: power supply, CPU, hard drive, floppy drive, speakers
6. Symptom: Shuts off by itself -> Check: BIOS power features, power supply, fans, dust
7. Symptom: Operating system freezes -> Check: Windows; probably not a hardware issue

These technical support scenarios should help you out during your next PC crash.

It’s not easy keeping up with which software can convert what file to another.  Whether you need to convert word or exel or pdfs, or excel or pdfs to pictures, there are a slew of programs that can convert these files for you.  It is a little difficult to keep up with all of the thousands of applications that do this.

Now, there is one program, Zamzar, albeit a wacky name, that is a powerful converter that can change just about any format you are looking for.  It works with images, documents, music, video, and lot of other formats.  You can use it for free if you want to convert one file at a time.  All you need to do is browse to your original file and then specify what file you’d like to convert it to.  Then, your newly converted file will be e-mailed to you.

Here’s the skinny.  Yes, Zamzar quickly converts files for you.  But, pictures come out a little fuzzy.  Hey, what can you expect for free?!  But, you can subscribe to the service for bulk file conversions and online storage space.  And hopefully the quality of images are better when you pay.  This is definitely a good website to keep in your tech support toolchest.

Viruses and spyware have spooked computers for decades.  But, which one is worse?  And can either one be prevented, 100%?

Viruses are the more obvious of the two.  If your anti-virus software is working, it will automatically pop up with a warning message of the virus.  However, if your anti-virus software is not up to date, it will quarantine the virus.  In the worse case, your anti-virus software will not pick up the rogue virus and your system could:

• get slow
• turn off unexpectedly
• e-mail the virus to other network computers and contacts
• incapacitate programs and functionality
• crash the computer

Spyware is typically in stealth mode while it infects the PC, then it will pop-up with a message, usually on the lower right, providing warnings of your infection.  Spyware is a little bit nastier than viruses since anti-spyware software is not typically updated to resolve the rapidly new instances of spyware that are released daily.  Plus, most users forget to protect their PCs from spyware, thinking that their anti-virus software will protect against everything.  Spyware has multiple effects such as:

• learning website navigation habits and spamming accordingly
• slowing down the PC
• providing fake spyware software for a fee

You should contact a local NYC spyware specialist or NYC virus technician if you don’t feel comfortable removing your own PC infections.

Not every computer network needs a full-fledged in-house Exchange server for e-mail support.  If you have a small office with 2 - 10 users, you can implement a solid cost-effective solution where you outsource your email.

Below are 2 options you may select:

Option 1:

GoDaddy Hosted Exchange E-mail – Group Plans - $56.99/month (another plan to compare: Intermedia - http://www.intermedia.net/exchange-hosting/small-business-exchange-hosting/pricing.asp )

http://www.godaddy.com/email/hosted-exchange.aspx?ci=15562

      -          20GB of pooled storage for 5 email accounts

-          You get free Outlook 2007

-          Shared access to calendar and contacts

-          Blackberry & iPhones can sync emails, contacts, and calendar wirelessly on the fly

Option 2:

GoDaddy Unlimiited Business Plan: $2.50/month

http://www.godaddy.com/email/email-hosting.aspx?ci=15558

-          Unlimited storage for 10 email accounts

-          Shared calendar (not shared contacts)

-          Can sync only e-mails with Outlook (by using IMAP service) with Blackberry & iPhones

Option 1 gives you all the features, but there’s an obvious price difference.  Option 2 should work fine as long as you don’t need to share contacts or sync with phones the calendar and contacts.  You can also set up your domain name and website host with Godaddy.

MobileMe was launched approximately 2 years ago.  At that time, the purpose was ideal: sharing e-mail, contacts, and calendar with your iPhone, PC, Mac, and iPod.  All went well until you needed to handle day-to-day simple operations like accessing e-mail or your calendar.  It was slow as molasses and buggy. 

Now, Apple has revamped MobileMe to clear the slowness and glitches.  For $99 a year, along with a 60-day free trial, you will enjoy seamless cloud computing, plus 20GB of online storage.  All works well except one issue with Outlook that brings up calendar and contacts in a non-navigational view when using a Mac and PC.  If you just use one platform: PC or Mac, there are no issues with Outlook.  Apple is looking into a tech fix for this Outlook issue.

The cool factor about MobileMe is that you can set it up for Outlook, Entourage, Thunderbird, or another e-mail software on your computer, and also access e-mail from a webmail view of MobileMe.  You’ll be able to access your files from any computer you use.  It’s almost like having your own company server, but instead you just pay MobileMe an annual subscription to host your files. 

Overall, MobileMe works well and is a quick and easy solution for sharing critical emails, contacts, calendars, and files in a small network or home.