What the Geeks and Gurus WON'T Tell You

Guru Squad Guy

Computer service and computer repair is an incredibly competitive market. There are a ton of businesses in Amarillo that offer everything from simple desktop/laptop repair services to full-blown, full-service IT management for companies. And some operate differently from others. Let me explain.

Odds are, this has happened to you: Your computer starts acting strange, running slow. Maybe the dreaded blue screen of death. Or a virus. Or a hard drive failed, taking all your files with it.

You see, these things happen and it happens to everyone. The old way of taking care of these problems were to take your computer to the local Geek Patrol or the Guru Squad.

You know the drill:

1. Unplug all those wires from the back of your computer. 

2. Haul it across town to the Geeks. 

3. Leave it on their workbench while you wait for a week or so. 

4. When they finally get it done, they call you to come pick it back up. 

5. So you drive across town again and haul your computer back to your house or office. 

Then you try to remember where all those wires plugged into and pray that all your time and money weren’t wasted.

I’m going to tell you a secret: the Geeks and the Gurus, they want your computer on their workbench. Their business model depends on it. You see, they charge by the hour, just like us. But if they can work on say, six -- or even ten computers -- at once, then they are charging for that many hours of labor while only working one man hour.

At All Star Computer Service, we focus on one computer at a time, for several reasons. But it boils down to this: because that’s what you deserve. We understand that your computer is more than just a machine. For most small businesses, it’s their source of income. If the computer goes down, there goes your invoicing system. Your inventory manager. Your time clock. And if that computer goes down, you deserve a computer technician whose main focus is you. On getting your business back up and running. That’s what All Star Computer Service offers. Onsite service, focusing on one customer at a time.

Now there are times when a computer does have to go back to the workbench. Hard drive failure, disastrous virus infections and other dramatic computer issues do and will happen, but you can be rest assured that your computer won’t sit on our workbench for days -- or weeks -- at a time.

A few years ago, I was in a financial meeting for a company I worked for. And the owner of that company said to us that it was impossible to compete on both price and service. That you couldn’t choose both. We started All Star Computer Service to prove that wrong. We chose both. Our prices are competitive and our customer service is top-notch. In fact, in our first year of business, we were nominated for an Amarillo Globe-News Best of Amarillo customer service award. We were the only computer repair company nominated in any category. We believe that’s a testament to who we are and what we believe in. All Star Computer Service, YOUR technology MVP.

Giving Windows the Boot: Why You Should Switch to Ubuntu!

In just a few months, support for Windows XP will come to an end. No more system updates means your Windows XP machine will be completely vulnerable to virus attacks and other types of malware. Unfortunately, switching from XP to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will more than likely require quite a bit of hardware overhaul. Because newer operating systems are more resource-intensive than old Windows XP, your eight year-old desktop more than likely doesn't have the processing power to run these more recent operating systems. 

And even if you can or do upgrade to Windows 8.1, the tile interface on the new Microsoft operating system has left many users confused and irritated.

So, what can you do with that old machine? Sure, you could donate it to a local nonprofit or let us recycle it for you. Or, you could eek out a little more life out of it by getting rid of Microsoft Windows all together and installing Linux.

What is Linux?

Linux is a computer operating system, much like Windows or Mac OS X. It has its own suite of tools and programs, most of which are free and open source. (All Star Computer Service is a contributor and developer for LibreOffice, a free office suite available for Linux computers.) Though there are several variants of Linux available, our favorite is Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is a free operating system. Whereas it costs $119 for a license for Windows 8.1, you can download and install Ubuntu onto your computer absolutely free.

The good news? Ubuntu isn't anywhere near the resource hog as Windows or OSX, and the system can be installed on computers with older components.

What's the catch?
A lot of people will tell you that when you switch to a Linux OS from Windows, you'll have to replace all the applications you currently use. That's merely a half-truth, and I'll tell you why:

In the past, people relied a lot more on local applications (programs actually installed on the computer) to do most of their work. But now, many people simply use web apps to get work done. Facebook, email, even Quickbooks are all available online. The most popular third-party web browsers Firefox and Google Chrome are available for Linux. In fact, Firefox comes preloaded as the default internet browser in Ubuntu! LibreOffice, the default productivity suite in Ubuntu, is compatible with Microsoft Office and can read and write Office documents, Excel spreadsheets, even Powerpoint presentations. 

The Ubuntu desktop, with the Firefox web browser loaded.

As you can see, whereas it was once taboo to forego the walled garden of Microsoft Windows, open-source operating systems like Ubuntu are today a real, user-friendly alternative.

The kicker:
Want the best perk? Well hold on to your pants, because with Ubuntu you never have to worry about computer viruses. Never. Ever. Because most computer viruses and trojan horse malware are written for the Windows operating system, those files can't run on Linux. And, most of the programs that are available for Ubuntu are vetted through the Ubuntu Software Center, which is regularly checked and updated.

If you have further questions, or want to take the plunge into Ubuntu linux, contact us today. We'd love to help get you set up and extend the life of that old computer. 

How to Mess Up Your Computer: 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Get Viruses, Damage Your Hard Drive and Crash Your Computer

This post is going to be a little different than our last three. Think of this as "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," except instead of getting to make out with Matthew McConaughey in the end, you'll more than likely end up calling a computer technician (like us!) to fix your problem. We are going to lay out the 5 most sure-fire ways that you can mess up your computer, ranging from software and operating system crash to virus infections to hardware failure. Here is "How to Mess Up Your Computer in 5 Ways."

1. Never update your third-party software
I know, I know. Your computer is always popping up with some little window with a message saying something like "Update me! Update me!" And most of the time, you tell it to remind you later and forget about it until it pops up again. Why do these programs such as Adobe Reader and Java and Flash always demand to update?

Most of the time these updates are security updates. When a flaw or security hole is exploited by virus writers (you may recall the recent Java zero-day flaw in the news), the software company works hard and diligently to close that hole. Once the software is secured again, they release a patch or update for you to download to ensure your computer stays safe from those viruses. So, next time Adobe Reader or any other software asks to update, remember that it's generally a security update and it's best to run it to keep your computer safe.

2. Download media or copyrighted software illegally
Because of services like Netflix providing all the Breaking Bad and Mad Men episodes you can watch for pennies per day, and Pandora and Spotify streaming all your favorite music, the art of the illegal download is losing its appeal, but that doesn't mean it's gone completely nonexistent. Sites that offer illegal pirated media are havens for virus writers, because they can inject their virus's code into the file you're downloading. And once it's on your computer, it can wreck havoc. As tempting as it is knowing you can get the new Tired Pony album for free (if you know where to look), the risk definitely outweighs the reward -- and that's not even mentioning the legal troubles you can get into. Again, though it's not free, services like Amazon Prime and Netflix offer thousands of television shows and movies to instantly stream on any of your devices. And for the music buffs, Spotify has an incredibly vast catalog that you can stream to your phone or tablet for $9.99/month.

3. Visit illicit websites
This goes hand-in-hand with the point above. File-sharing websites, torrent websites and websites that offer, ummm...illicit material are breeding grounds for people who write viruses to infect your computer. The best rule of thumb is this: if you know it's a bad deal, then it probably is a bad deal. Stick with the above-the-surface content on the web and you'll (generally) be pretty safe.

4. Throw your computer on the ground
Want to really damage that sucker? Spike it to the ground! Shock and g-forces are the absolute worst thing for hard drives. In fact, a fall of just a few inches may be all the shock a spinning hard drive can take as the heads the read the data are very delicate. A hard drive is kind of like a record player, in that the discs inside spin while a laser reads the data from an arm that scans back and forth. If the head touches the disc, though, it's bad news and generally means permanent damage.

5. Never blow it out
Computer hardware is like a magnet to dust particles that build up on and around the components, causing the fans to not be able to ventilate the system properly. One of the parts of All Star Computer Service's Monthly Maintenance service is taking the computer components out and removing the built-up dust that gets in the computer. Without doing this, the computer may overheat or cause other hardware failure, including the power supply or even the hard drive.

Computer Virus 101

COMPUTER VIRUS 101

A screenshot of the FBI Virus, a common ransomware virus.

One of the most prevalent issues we face in the computer service world is the dreaded computer
virus.

So, in the following paragraphs, we will go over where they come from, how to help keep your protected from them, and what to do if your system gets infected by a virus.


1. Where do computer viruses come from? And how did my computer get infected?
Computer viruses aren't like biological viruses, which evolve and develop naturally in the wild. A computer virus is developed by a black-hat software developer (read: bad guy) and is released out into the world wide web. These programmers release these viruses in order to: 1. gain remote access to your computer and computer's files, or; 2. get you to pay the virus-creator via some kind of online payment system (which then gives them access to your credit card information), or; 3. simple bragging rights. Most viruses, like the FBI Virus and the Systems Tools virus are general variants of a money-making scheme, which (in some cases) helps to fund organized crime.

So, these viruses are released "into the wild," using exploits in either the operating system (think Windows) or third-party software (like Java, Flash and other applications). And what happens is that the virus can get attached to the code of a website or into a malicious file attachment from an email, and all of a sudden, it installs itself onto your computer. These virus writers are pretty smart at what they do and have all the tools necessary to infect your system!

2. How can I keep my computer protected from viruses? 
Everyone should have some form of Antivirus protection installed on their computer. We prefer Microsoft Security Essentials, which is a free antivirus program offered from Microsoft. Unfortunately, though, there is no way to stay 100% protected when using a Windows PC. Even Mac computers can get viruses too, despite what many people believe. Here is the basic breakdown of how computer viruses and antivirus programs compete:

Computer viruses come in many different variants, and can do everything from lock your computer down (which is annoying) to stealing your data (which is scary!)

Though it looks legitimate, the AV7 virus hijacks your computer.

- A new virus is released into the wild.

- After the virus is detected, antivirus companies create a patch, which is then downloaded as an update to your antivirus definitions.

- Virus-writer creates a new virus, or modifies the original one, and releases it to the Internet.

As you can see, it's a cycle. If you're one of the unlucky ones who gets the virus before a patch is released, your computer will become infected.

Your antivirus program will keep you protected from all the current viruses they have definitions for, but you also should take steps to make sure your computer is at its best to resist viruses. The best thing to do is to run your updates. Windows updates, as well as updates to third-party software like Java, Flash and Adobe Reader, are released constantly and are usually security updates. So keep those programs updated! You should also manually run a virus scan using your antivirus program. This way you can ensure that your system is safe.

3. What do I do if I get infected?
If your computer gets a virus, the best thing to do is to turn it off immediately. As stated earlier, some of these viruses' intent is to take your information (including passwords to email, facebook, etc.). It's also important to make sure that the virus can't change the registry of the operating system, which could make your computer completely unusable, needing a wipe of the hard drive. So, turn it off and call a professional (in this case, All Star Computer Service) so that we can remove the virus securely without any damage to your personal data/files. Sometimes a virus removal can take up to 14 working hours! But, that's necessary when ensuring that your computer is fixed as well as security holes are plugged against future attack. Though we can't guarantee that you won't be infected again, we can help make your computer more secure by closing some of the backdoor entry points into your system.

How Did My Hard Drive Die?

What happens when a hard drive bytes...er, bites...the dust?

"How did my hard drive die?"

That is one of the most common questions we get at All Star Computer Service, because it's one of the most common issues in computer repair -- a #2 right behind "Where/How did I get a computer virus?" (A question we will cover in a future blog post.)

So, how do hard drives die?

Think of a hard drive like you would a record player. Your computer's hard drive reads, writes and stores information on a platter of discs that spin super fast, while a laser scans back-and-forth over the disc, just like a record player plays music by running a needle over the record. You see, it's a mechanical process. And, like most mechanical devices (your car's engine, for example), it will go out over time. However long that is depends on several variables.

A whitepaper study by DriveSavers estimates that 80% of hard drive failures occur because of good old mechanical failure, including heat, electrical failure, media failure or head crash (that's when the read/write device crashes and comes in contact with the disk platter. That's never good, because it generally means that data recovery is impossible.) The other 20% is due to virus infection, failed data writing or even human error.

So, what is the best way to avoid this problem?

Unfortunately, all hard drives will eventually die, taking your family photos, videos and that huge media collection to the digital grave with it. So, the best way to proactively protect your digital belongings is to have a constant backup, whether on another external hard drive (but we know all about hard drive failure now, right?) or with an online backup service, like Carbonite Online Backup.

If you are experiencing computer system slowdown, the dreaded blue screen of death or any other computer health issues that may be attributed to a failing hard drive, call us today. We may be able to save your data before the drive crashes completely.

Google Apps for Business: The Real Deal

A recent blog post by one of our competitors from April 2013 stated several inconsistencies regarding Google Apps for Business and their pricing structure. We would like to take a moment to run through these to ensure that the general public is not only well-informed, but also not hit with a “bait-and-switch” when it comes to using Google Apps for Business. All Star Computer Service uses Google Apps for Business not only internally, but we set up the service as part of our domain management service for our clients. We have over a dozen small business clients on the platform and it has proved to be one of the most cost-effective, secure tools for email, domain and web-based document/conference call collaboration.

The blog reads:

“…(A)t ******** our goal is to provide solutions that best fit our client’s needs, size and budget and when you are a small business with little to no IT budget – free AND reliable is music to your ears.

Google Apps for business has a number of benefits over traditional business IT services and servers running software to handle email, calendars, communications, storage and collaboration.”

Here, we set the record straight: though Google Apps for Business is powerful and a cost-effective alternative to traditional server-based emails, it is not free. The service is offered at a very inexpensive $50 per user, per year; or $5.00 per user, per month. The pricing structure can be found here.

Though Google Apps was initially available for free for small businesses, Google changed their pricing structure in late 2012. Below is taken directly from the Official Google Enterprise Blog, which can be found here.

“When we launched the premium business version we kept our free, basic version as well. Both businesses and individuals signed up for this version, but time has shown that in practice, the experience isn't quite right for either group. Businesses quickly outgrow the basic version and want things like 24/7 customer support and larger inboxes. Similarly, consumers often have to wait to get new features while we make them business-ready. 

With this in mind, we’ve decided to make things very straightforward. Starting today for all new customers:

               ·  Individuals wishing to use Google’s web apps
              like Gmail and Google Drive should create a free
             personal Google Account, which provides a seamless 
             experience across all of our web service on any device.

              ·  For Businesses, instead of two versions, there will be one.
             Companies of all sizes will sign up for our premium version, 
             Google Apps for Business, which includes 24/7 phone
             support for any issue, a 25GB inbox, and a 99.9% uptime 
             guarantee with no scheduled downtime.Pricing is still
             $50 per user, per year.”

 Now, many of the features in Google Apps, including Google Drive, Google Calendar and Gmail, are available for free for standard users with a @gmail.com address. However, the blog post by our competitor words their dissertation on the idea that a small business can register a custom domain name (think you@yourbusiness.com) and take advantage of these offerings from Google with no financial commitment.

The All Star Computer Service mission statement has always been to offer the best customer service and the best computer support at the best price. Google Apps for Business is one of the many tools we employ to help us maintain that promise to our customers. If your small business is looking at improving productivity while having one of the best cloud-based domain/email systems available, we would love to talk with you about Google Apps for Business.