Common Questions
ABMS Has The Answer to Some of Your Most Common Computer Questions
Q. My computer's running slow, does that mean that it's time for a new computer?
A. Maybe. But there are problems with hardware and software, which can be resolved to restore the original performance. A limping hard drive, (which may be in the process of failing or "crashing") can cause all functions of your computer to be slow. If your hard drive is failing you may also get "Illegal Operation" messages, blue screens, and "freezing." A virus, Trojan or worm can also slow your system. Spyware is a major problem, and can make your Broadband seem like you are on a dial-up connection, (slow.) By removing viruses, adware and spyware, you can improve your performance substantially. Adding more RAM memory will also boost the system's performance and extend the life of your hard drive. If you have tried these approaches and your system is still too slow, you should seek professional help before you decide to replace the system. Don't replace the hardware because of a software problem. We can evaluate the problem for you and suggest a solution. In many cases we can bring the system's performance to an acceptable level, saving hundreds of dollars over replacement. But, in some cases a new system is the only way to resolve the problem.
Q. Several people have told me that I should leave my computer on all the time, is this true?
A. No, unless you have 24-hour tasks running, such as Faxing, scheduled backups, and the like. Leaving your computer on usually means you are connected to Internet all the time, and that leaves you more open to hackers. You can be subject to becoming a "Zombie," which is exploited by spammers. Your system's cooling fans will be drawing in air, which has dust. This dust will build up on internal components which reduce your system's ability to cool vital parts. Many problems are caused by overheating, and could lead to premature damage to expensive components. You will also be using more electricity unnecessarily, and causing your environment to be warmer, which means higher air conditioning costs. All the components in your system will be wearing out sooner, such as the hard drive, which will be constantly working. If you must have the system on 24/7, setup the Power Management in Windows to Hibernate or Sleep when not in active use. Most programs will "wake up" the system when needed.
Q. Is there anything I can do about the dropped connections on my wireless network?
A. If this network is for your business, I strongly recommend avoiding wireless. A wired network is faster, more secure, and never drops connections. If wiring is not an option, there are new, more powerful wireless Routers which are more advanced and provide more broadcast range. There are power line Ethernet adapters Range Extenders which can relay your connection much further, and/or overcome the signal loss through walls. There are larger, more powerful antennas available for transmitting a stronger signal. Spyware, viruses & Trojans can interfere with your connection, and cause long delays in response and/or dropped connections. If you have not secured your wireless Router with a WEP code, others may be using your network, causing slow bandwidth and/or dropped connections. A program which is scheduled to update itself periodically, such as virus protection, may be malfunctioning, and cause a dropped connection. Some viruses are designed to interrupt Internet and/or LAN communications. Be sure to update your virus software, and scan your hard disk for any sign of viruses.
Q. If I suspect that there's a virus on my computer, what should I do?
A. It is vital to keep your virus software up-to-date at all times, and periodically scan your hard disk for viruses and malware. Even the best virus software will not be able to help you if the virus database is not up-to-date. If your virus software is not functioning or is too far out of date, there are web sites which will allow you to download and run their software to clean an infected system. One such site is Trend Micro, and the direct link to their House Call feature is here. There are instructions on how to operate their programs, and much good information on their sites. There are some viruses, which can actually attack and disable virus software. The virus software will appear to be working, but is unable to detect or remove viruses. Even if you are updating the virus database regularly, the virus software is not functioning, and will not detect the presence of the viruses. If you suspect this situation, you can try the on-line services available. Or, bring your system to us to remove any Malware, and make sure you are protected in the future.
Q. How do I get rid of these pop-up ads?
A. Spyware or Adware (malware) usually causes pop-ups, and there are many programs available to remove these. Products like Malwarebytes, Ad-Aware, Spy Sweeper, Spybot, and the like are quite effective in removing these infestations. There are viruses which are designed to attract these pop-ups, and can be removed by most virus software. Keeping Windows updated will strengthen your security and reduce the need for additional pop-up blockers. Your Internet Service Providers should offer additional malware blocking. ABMS can perform a Software Tune-up which will improve your system's performance, while strengthening security against pop-ups and other invasions.
Q. I can't change my start page. What gives?
A. This is usually the result of a "Hijacker" virus. Some of these viruses are among the hardest to remove. If your virus software does not resolve the problem, try using an on-line virus removal procedure. Most of this type of malware is easily detected by good, up-to-date virus software. If necessary, we can usually resolve this type of infection with our Remote Support service.
Q. How do I back-up my files?
A. Most new computers come with CD-RW and DVD-RW Burners (recorders.) The software that is used to record to CD or DVD disks is usually pre-installed by the system builder or manufacturer. Most are similar to Windows Explorer in appearance, and usually has a "source" and "destination" layout, which allows you to click and drag what you want backed up. This is a good method to backup documents and files, such as pictures, music, word processing, spread sheets, etc. Floppy diskette drives (if you have one) are obsolete. The capacity is 1.44 MB (that's 0.000144 GB) in size, which is too small for most requirements. The most popular method is with with an USB external hard drive. Most computers will be able to access an external USB backup drive as easily as the internal hard drive. External drives come in almost any size, including over 1 TB (Terabyte, which is 1000 GB or Gigabytes.) Windows Explorer can be used to drag-and-drop important files to the destination drive. Windows backup software can be used to schedule unattended backups, if necessary. There are many brands of backup software, but Windows has backup software which will recognize external drives. It is always important to have current backups of current work, and a quick, easy method to backup such data is a flash drive, (sometimes called thumb drive.) Flash drives are not recommended for permanent or archival storage. Backing up is much less expensive than data recovery, or loss of data!