Netstratix is Simply I.T.

So do you want a personal website or something to put a face to your business?  That is a very simple task and there are actually plenty of tools out there available to the public to make this possible.

Some options include:

Wordpress: A simple blog site that can be easily altered and modified to fit your custom needs.  For any standard operation I HIGHLY recommend this option.  It’s very easy to use, manage, and it’s very client/end-user friendly.  In less than an hour I can have you very comfortable in a Wordpress presence.  You can get more info on Wordpress at their site: http://www.wordpress.org

Standard HTML: This one requires you to build the site yourself, but a little guidance can make this very easy.  This I can do from the ground up if you need, or if you want to tackle it yourself check my website maintenance category posts, and they will offer a bit of insight into the world of HTML.  One thing on HTML building is you will probably need a program to help.  They offer free or low cost ones such as textpad online; however, I recommend Dreamweaver, or have someone set something like Joomla up for you first.

PHP: This is a much more advanced form of web presence that requires skills much higher than my own.  If you have PHP or need a PHP site, unfortunately I am not going to be the guy for you; however, I do know folks who do this, so give me a shout anyway and I will send you their way.

This is a short, brief section only because anyone working in this area usually has the know-how to get from place to place.  If you do require more assistance or just have questions feel free to contact me directly.

Until next time!

~Geoff

Web Design

So you have taken a look at all your hardware and it seems to be ok.  So what are the remaining options as to the cause of your situation?  Let’s start with the basics:

System Running Slow – Some options here would include the following:

• Getting more RAM for the machine
• Cleaning unnecessary programs off the machine
• Getting a faster HD
• Adding an external HD
• System registry cleaning (You need a program or serious professional for this)

Checking your browser – Sometimes it’s just the internet that runs slow.  Check these:

• Make sure your browser is updated.
• Make sure you are not running more than 10 tabs (more than 7 will slow almost any machine down)
• Check your cookies and temp files.
• Run an anti-virus scan to make sure you are not infected.

If those do not work and your computer is still running slower than you like, just bring it by and I will take a look to see if I can isolate the problem for you. As always please feel free to contact me directly for assistance on a project such as this.

Until next time!

~Geoff

Computer Maintenance

This post is going to be short and sweet.  At some point in a computers life it just requires some parts be changed.  If you know what you are doing at this point, then you will not need the help from a blog like this; however, if you do not know what you are doing, then a blog like this could possibly cause more damage than good.  That being the case I want to simply recommend if you need help in this area.  Give us a call or any other PC repair shop to have a “professional” take care of the install of your new parts.

If you just have a question feel free to call me and ask, or we can schedule a time to fix the computer at your leisure.

Sorry the details are lacking on this one, but better safe than sorry.

As always if you have something specific you want to see on the site, or if you have a question/comment please feel free to contact me directly.

Until next time!

~Geoff

Computer Repair

Ok so the computer is clean, but you are still experiencing some issues? Let’s do a full system check. This is going to be 2 parts. Program oriented, and Manual.
Let’s start by using some programs to tell us a little about our computer.
• HD Check

• Open “My Computer”
• Right Click on your primary partition (usually C:) and select the bottom option “properties”

• Click the “Tools” Tab

• Click the “Check Now” button to open the last menu

• Check both boxes and hit Start. This will run a simple test of your HD and give results that can be depended on to troubleshoot a HD problem.

• RAM Check

• This requires you to know how much RAM is in the machine. If you don’t know you need to open it up, check and see, then do the following steps.

• Click Start > Control Panel

• Open the “System” item.

• This will open a display that will show all of your computer information.

• Reference the information at the bottom to make sure all your RAM is registering (the number shown here should match the amount of physical RAM you know is in the machine)

• If the numbers differ you should try to reseat your RAM, and if the problem persists you probably have a bad stick of RAM. It’s very easy to replace. I even have a post on that here.

• Updates Check

• This one is very easy, just need to make sure Windows is up to date on patches.

• Click Start > Windows Update

• Run the recommended updates. (I recommend updates be set to be done automatically)

Now if that does not identify the problem then we need to move on to a manual check.
• Start by opening the PC (Link to help).
• Do a visual check and see if anything is “obviously” out of place.
• If you know where the problem lies (in RAM, or in a video card maybe) then you can try reseating that part.

• To reseat carefully release the latches that hold the RAM down, or unscrew the screw holding in the expansion card (such as a video card). Lift the RAM or the card by touching only the corners of the stick. Once fully removed, push the RAM or card back into place and secure (with the flaps or the screw).

• Once you have reseated a piece, put the PC back together and test it out. If the problem persists, then something else is wrong.

• Lastly it is not recommended to just start pulling things, so if you get over your head please contact someone to give you a hand on the matter.
Ok so of course we can do all of this and there is still a problem. At this point I would recommend letting someone who knows the territory take a look, as it may be a simple problem, just an uncommon one. I can do this for you, or anyone else who does any kind of computer repair would suffice to take a look.
That sums up this section. If you have any issues, comments, or questions please feel free to contact me directly.
Until next time!
~Geoff

Computer Maintenance

That’s right ladies and gents. Even a computer needs a “bath” sometimes. *Please do not put any type of water or liquid in, on, around, or anything your computer* Computers are much more partial to “air” baths. This is a simple task really. Go down to your local IT store, or even convenience store such as Walmart or Target, and pick up a can of compressed air. The generic stuff works fine, but it’s all up to you.
Now that you have your compressed air, let’s start the cleaning. Look around the front, back, and sides of your computer. There should be multiple locations where there are ports in the case for air to flow in to and out of the PC. These locations are the trouble spots where dust, hair, and other debris get caught up and restrict air flow. This can cause serious heat issues, as well as other major problems. We are going to use this can of air to clean these spots right up.
• First we need to open the side of the PC. We are not actually working on anything so a simple screwdriver to remove the securing screws will do the hardware part for us. **Warning** Your motherboard is attached to one of the case sides. Look at the back of the PC and see which side all the plugs go in. That is the side where the Motherboard is. Open the other side.
• Once the Non-motherboard side is open then you will have a clear view of the inside of your PC. No need to touch anything just let it sit open.
• Now take your can of air and use it on the areas where dust and other debris has collected. Blow them as clean as you can. Get the fan and case holes as clean as possible.
• Once it is all clean. Just put the side back on and replace the screws.
That’s it! How simple is that? Pretty easy. Doing this once every few months will help your CPU and power unit fans greatly, and it is the first step in Preventative Hardware Maintenance. You can also used that canned air to clean out your keyboard! If you have any issues or need further help please feel free to contact me directly for assistance on a project such as this.
Until next time!
~Geoff

Computer Maintenance

So now we have the “system” side of things covered, but sometimes you just need to get your hands on the project to make it work. So in this post I am going to cover properly opening a computer. To do this task you are going to need a clean surface to work on, a screw driver (Philips) to open the case, and a grounding bracelet. That last one is a tricky one, as they are not too easy to find. You can do this without one (as I have for many years) but it is not best practice. All the things inside a PC are electrical, so one static shock to your RAM and its toast… so the bracelet helps prevent that.
To begin, let’s unplug everything from your PC starting with the power. Flip the power switch on your power unit to off, and unplug the power. Continue to unplug everything from the back of the PC. Don’t forget, the keyboard, mouse, USB, or anything you may have plugged into the front as well. Once you are free of cables, you can lift the box and move it to your work area.
Once you are in your work area, lay the computer on the table with the motherboard facing up. You may ask yourself, where is the motherboard? When you look at the rear side of the PC everything is going to plug into one side or the other. That side is where the motherboard is, so lay that side on the table flat. Now we need to open the other side. Use your screwdriver to remove the screws securing the box side. Once done you should be able to shift the box side a bit and remove it completely. If you have trouble, then there is probably something wrong. Make sure you are not trying to take off the motherboard side, and if the problem continues seek professional help.
Once you have the PC open, then it’s time to work. From here you can clean the PC, remove or add hardware, or even reseat a few cards to troubleshoot any areas of concern.
That’s it. Just put the computer back together the opposite way we took it apart. Plug everything back in, flip the power and you should be ready to go.
If you need any help with a project like this, or if you have a question or comment, please be sure to drop me a line or contact me directly.
Until next time!
~Geoff

Computer Repair

Ok so we finally made it to life saver number 1. That’s right. If it came down to it and you lost all your data one way or another, it’s a backup file that is going to keep you sane. We are going to cover 2 types of backup here today. First I am going to tell you about creating a backup disk. This will be the case if you ever have to reload the OS on the current drive, or even a new drive. And secondly I will talk about creating a system backup for system restore. This is incase you do something to the computer after a backup is made, that doesn’t kill the PC, but has undesirable effects. If that is the case we just want the computer to return to its “previous” state.
(I am doing this section based on Windows XP. Other OS may differ slightly but the concept is the same)
Creating a backup disk!
This is the diehard worst of the worst. If you need your backup disk then something bad happened, and this disk is going to make it more bearable.
After doing some reading, Microsoft recommends you do something like this once a week, I don’t think it’s that necessary, but to each their own.
First drop a black CD or DVD into the tray of your CD/DVD burner and let it close. This will open an explorer window that will be empty. This is where you will then drag and drop all your personal files you have saved to the computer. Anything you do not have elsewhere or you want saved in case your hard drive decides it doesn’t want to work anymore.
This is just a backup of personal files. I recommend you do this at least 2 times a year, just because the system restore doesn’t save files such as these, it is more… system oriented.
You may need a few CDs or even a few DVDs. To help with space issues I recommend an external hard drive to hold things such as photos, or music, as they can take up a lot of space. Maybe burn all your photos to CDs and store them somewhere. All up to you. Just remember to do it at some point.
Doing a system restore backup!
Now this is a cool feature that XP has and I believe the new versions of Windows share as well. It’s called system restore.
To start we need to create a restore point. So make sure your computer is in the state you want it in if it were ever to be “reset” and let’s begin.
• First we need to open the system restore window. Here is the easiest path:
o Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
• This will open up the following menu.

• Click “Create Restore Point” and click Next
• Type in a name for the restore point click Finish
Now should you do something to your PC that causes undesirable effects you can chose the same path and click “Restore my computer to an earlier time” and pick the restore point you want to backup to and click Finish.
So now that you have your lifeline in hand, venture forth knowing you are protected. Ok that was dorky, but really there is nothing bad about having frequent backups. At least once a month would be recommended for systems restore purposes (it can be automated from “Scheduled Tasks” inside your Control Panel), maybe twice a year to create a backup disk. Just think how long you would want to be backtracking if you ever lost all your current data on the PC. That’s how often you need to do a backup.
Whew… that was a doozy. If you need some help on this, or have a question or comment for the site please feel free to contact me directly.
Until next time!
~Geoff

Computer Maintenance

Ok so now we can get a bit more technical. This step is not the easiest to become accustom to so I will try to keep it short and simple. If you are running Windows then odds are you already have a firewall (and a pretty good one) turned on. You just need to do a few things to make sure it’s running at it’s best.
First we need to make sure it’s on.
• Go to Start >> Control Panel
• Click Windows Firewall
• It will open up this screen for you. (This is the XP firewall, Vista or others may differ)

• The primary concern is that it is turned “On”. The rest is technical and no need to dive in there unless you know what you’re doing.
Next we need to make sure it’s up to date.
• Run Windows Update: Start >> Windows Update
• Run the recommended updates as often as possible to keep your system as fresh as it can be.
• **I recommend always having automatic updates turned on **
Now that the firewall is taken care of let’s talk about antivirus software. Antivirus software comes in all shapes in sizes. If you are serious about it, do your homework; find what works best for you. However, if you just need something simple I would recommend McAfee, AVG (free), or Norton. These seem to be the most popular and each offer a variety of services. I personally use the free AVG and it keeps me safe (as long as I am safe).
Word of advice… If you have someone that uses the PC to surf less reputable locations on the internet a very good antivirus software may be necessary. Too many locations out there put your PC at risk, so if you can avoid them please do, if not I understand, but be ready to pay the consequences. Some things to remember on the subject: Adult sites are dangerous for your PC, Social networking applications are dangerous for your PC, and random link clicking can get you in over your head with pop-up ads.
Being said, we may cover pop-up protection later (or if you want me to write me), but these days most browsers do that for you.
As always if you have any questions, comments, or need some help with a project like this please feel free to contact me any time.
Until next time!
~Geoff

Computer Maintenance

So now it is time to get your hard drive in line, organize it a bit. You see when a computer writes data to the disk it does so in a circular motion. As the disk spins the computer writes the data where there is space available. On new hard drives this is no problem as most data is continuous; however on older or smaller drives where there are a lot of read/writes and deletions, this is much more of a problem. So let’s fix the problem!
First we need to open the disk defragmenter, and to do this we follow the same path as the disk cleanup from before.
• Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools >> Disk Defragmenter
• Once the program is up it will show a list of all your available hard drives or partitions.


• Select the drive/partition you want to test and click “Analyze”
• The results of this analysis will display on your screen.\


• As you can see the system recommends I defrag because of the number of fragmented files on my hard drive.
• Defrag is a long process I recommend you do this step at night when you are done for the day and just click defrag and turn off the monitor. Some defrags can take HOURS, so no need to sit and wait. Just turn off the monitor and check it again every few hours, or when you wake up.
• Once done click OK, and reboot the machine!
That’s it. Defrag complete. You can repeat the last few steps for each drive/partition you have and defrag them all. Again this just speeds up hard drive performance, and it is a good practice to do it once every few months.
Again, as always if you need any help with a project like this please feel free to contact me and I will do all I can to get you on your way!
Until next time!
~Geoff

Computer Maintenance

Ok so clearly you know how to use a computer, as you are already here .  (That is presuming you are on a PC not those nifty super devices such as Iphones etc.) However, owning a computer comes with much more responsibility than that.  There is maintenance that needs to be done!  Over the next few posts I will cover topics such as: Running a system sanity check, Defragging your hard drive, setting up security, and doing a backup to prevent the worst from happening.

In this post I want to cover something simple.  Let’s go over a simple clean-up.  Programs, emails, and the internet all use files that are invisible to the naked eye.  These files build up somewhere on your hard drive, and can slow down performance over time.  Let’s take a few steps to prevent this.

1. Desktop cleanup and organization
   1. This is a simple step where you can clean files you no longer need off your desktop.  You do not have to delete them (but if you will never need them again go ahead and delete them), so if you want to store them in a simple “Archive folder” that would be fine.  Just right click and select “new” then select “folder”.  Then you can dump all your unused files you need to keep into the archive folder.  Once you are done be sure to visit your Recycling Bin and select File > Empty Recycling Bin to clean them off your PC permanently.

1. Application cleanup
   1. This one is a bit more technical so let’s get to the main page first.
      1. Go to Start >> Control Panel
      2. Open “Add or Remove Programs”

      

      3. This is going to open a new window with a list of all your installed applications.  The list may take a few minutes to populate, but it will get there.

      

      4. Once you have your list carefully read through it and look at each program.  ***WARNING*** If you do not know what something is, DO NOT remove it.  It could be a file required by the system.
      5. Once you have looked over the programs go back and click on the first one you want to remove (Old programs, old games, etc) and it will open a more detailed display of that program.  Click the “remove” button and the system will start the applications removal.
      6. Repeat this last step for each program you want to remove until you have completed this process.

1. System driven cleanup
   1. This is the easiest step, because the system does it for you!  Just follow these easy steps.
      1. i.      Click Start
      2. ii.      Open Accessories (In XP or Vista you need to open All Programs first.)
      3. iii.      Open System Tools
      4. iv.      Click Disk Cleanup
2. This is going to open up a simple menu for you to make a selection.  Select the drive you wish to clean up and click “Ok”.  (I recommend doing this on every partition you have on the hard drive. Starting with the first, typically C:.)



3. Once you select the drive, Click “Ok” and the system will scan the drive and see what it can clean up for you.



4. The last step will bring up a list of file locations that can be cleaned.  Default boxes are already checked, but you can add and remove if you want to keep or delete more, then just click “Ok”.

That’s it for this post.   If you have any questions or comments please feel free to share or contact me directly.

Until next time!

~Geoff

Computer Maintenance