DIY: Top 3 Computer Fixes

As we all know, computers are not perfect devices, and they sometimes malfunction. And when they do, this can create frustration, wasted time, and unneeded expense – especially for those of us whose computers are as vital to our daily existence as oxygen. Luckily, many common computer issues can be resolved without professional help – and with excellent results and little or no hair-pulling involved. Here are a few of the problems you might encounter, and how to fix them (from HPs Website).

The problem: my computer is running slowly
Over time, you might notice that your computer’s performance is lagging – programs take longer to load, and booting up seems to take forever.
The fix: there are lots of them, since there are lots of reasons your computer might have slowed down. First, run a spyware and anti-virus software program (if you haven’t got one installed, you should, and you can download one free from the Internet) to see if your system is infected. If it is, follow the removal instructions provided by the software. If that doesn’t work, try removing unnecessary programs that might be taking up storage space on your computer – things like games you haven’t played in months or that accounting software you only installed for the tax season and haven’t used again. Finally, if you use Windows®, try running the Windows defragmentation utility, which can help boost your PC’s performance.

The problem: my PC started normally, but there’s nothing on the screen
If this happens, you should first check that all the cables and wires are attached to your monitor and that they’re all securely plugged in. Another idea: make sure the screen brightness isn’t turned down – this can easily happen to monitors with exposed dials.
You should also listen out for the sounds your PC makes when it boots up: if it beeps once, that’s a normal startup. However, one long beep followed by shorter beeps can mean your graphics/video card has a problem and might need to be “reseated” – this means manually removing it from the computer and then returning it to its slot. To do this, first power off your computer and unplug it. Take the case panel off, and locate the card in your machine. Before touching the card, touch one hand to the metal of the PC to ground yourself. Then, remove the screw holding the card in place, and gently rock the card back and forth until it is released. Finally, reinsert the card gently but firmly until it is completely seated in the slot, then replace the screw and PC cover and plug the machine in again.

The problem: my computer crashes and displays a blue screen
Congratulations, you’ve just encountered the famous Windows stop error, or Blue Screen of Death, as it’s lovingly known in the IT community. If this happens to you, it’s likely that you’ve recently added a new program, device, driver or application that your machine just doesn’t like. Sometimes, a simple reboot of the PC resolves the issue. But sometimes it doesn’t – you reboot, Windows loads, and the computer crashes again. System Restore is a tool in Windows XP and Vista® that takes snapshots of your computer's configuration over time, so if your system crashes due to an installation or bad configuration, the tool can roll Windows back to the state it was in before it stopped working without affecting any of your data. Microsoft® provides detailed instructions on when and how to use System Restore. Want to learn more do-it-yourself PC repair tips and tricks? Take a look at the HP Personal Computing Expertise Center, or review our selection of personal computing courses. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

These three tips will help battle some of the most common problems we face with our computers. If you or someone you know has tried these fixes to no avail, feel free to contact our computer repair department here at IOT, and we will find the right fixes and the right prices for you to get your computer up and running as soon as possible.

IOT is a Certified HP Business Partner, providing pc repair, printer repair, and networking support; as well as sales, service, and supplies to the Minneapolis, Saint Paul area; since 1995. Located in Eagan, MN, we proudly serve the entire Twin Cities metro area. Contact us at 651-605-2500, http://www.iotsolutions.com/ or email us at info@iotsolutions.com for more information.

This article can be found at HP's website.

How To Cut PC Energy Costs

There are now several new ways for a business to 'go green'. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Commercial IT can consume as much as 1.5 percent to 2 percent of American power." The article you are about to read is adapted from CRN Custom Systems Magazine, explaining the latest technology in making computer components more energy efficient.




Behold the power of the "Atom". Intel's newest addition to the processing family, the Atom, is the company's smallest processor; at a size smaller than the penny. This processor was originally intended for use in small, single-use devices that required a consistent internet connection. Eventually, the processor was adapted to the newest classification of computers, known as "netbooks". When PC manufacturers saw the success that these small netbooks created, they decided to explore desktop PC options with the Atom processor. Now, there are small desktop PCs with the Atom that use about one third of the power of regular desktops, only consuming 46 watts under normal loads. These computers can be find at a price tag of less than $300, too.




Atom processors might not win any performance contests, but for people seeking low-energy options involving high-performance processors, there are still other ways to cut energy costs. Quad-core computer processors are the latest craze in high performance computing. However, because the power going to the central processing unit (CPU) is multiplied by the number of cores in the computer, having two cores running at faster speeds can give similar performance with huge energy savings. Intel's Core 2 Duo includes two processor cores, which combined with more computer memory (known as RAM), they can produce almost identical performance two some of the latest quad-core processors.




Upgrading processors aren't the only way to save on energy costs either. Hitachi and Western Digital have found ways to make their hard drives more energy efficient. The Hitachi Deskstar P7K500 uses about half of the power normal desktop hard drvies consume when they are idling. It is considered the world's most energy-efficient desktop hard drive. Western Digital's GreenPower hard drives claim to not only save about 4 to 5 watts of power per hard drive in an organization, but they also claim to save data-intensive organizations up to $10 a year per drive in electricity costs.




Lastly, computer power supplies can cut costs too. Antec's TruePower Quattro power supplies consume about 33 percent less energy than other power supplies similar to their power output. The power supply is designed for maximum airflow, low heat generation, and the power supply fan even speeds up automatically for when the heat increases.

By upgrading systems with one or more of these components, consumers can realize significant energy cost savings and help battle rising energy costs that they are faced with in the future.

IOT is a Certified HP Business Partner, providing pc repair, printer repair, and networking support; as well as sales, service, and supplies to the Minneapolis, Saint Paul area; since 1995. Located in Eagan, MN, we proudly serve the entire Twin Cities metro area. Contact us at 651-605-2500, http://www.iotsolutions.com/ or email us at info@iotsolutions.com for more information.