There are a lot of issues and errors a computer can go through in its lifetime and there are also a lot of solutions for it. Some of the solutions to a computer issue are too complicated for an average Joe to do. Let’s face the facts – we are not as tech-savvy as we think we are. There is one easy solution to a faulty computer system which is sure to resolve almost any issue – reformatting.

Reformatting the hard drive of your computer will allow you to start over from a clean slate. This is usually the solution to bad virus infections and other unmanageable software issues. Most technicians view this procedure as a last resort because it will erase any and all of your old programs and files. If you want to save your important files, you need to back-up your files in an external storage equipment. You can purchase a flash drive or external hard drive for this. There are also a lot of free online backup services that you can find. It is practical and smart that you do back-up of your important files even before a catastrophe happens. Other more drastic issues can destroy your files, which you can’t recover anymore. If you don’t want that to happen, back your files up even before disaster strikes.

Before doing this procedure, you also have to ensure that you have the needed CDs for re-installation. This should include the original operating system that came with your computer (Windows XP, Vista, ME, 7 etc.) and also all the other CDs for your applications (MS Office, games and such). If you already lost these CDs, it is important that you obtain them again; else you won’t be able to proceed with reformatting. You can download some of the applications online for free but the operating system as well as the security software is licensed, so you would need to purchase a new set.

The procedure itself, although time-consuming, is pretty easy. Most of the operating systems will just require you to boot from the installation CD, and then would pretty much take care of everything else. It will give you instructions on how to partition and then format your hard drive, all you need to do is follow them. The length of the procedure would vary, but would mostly take around 2-3 hours to finish. It isn’t necessary to stay in from of the screen all the time but you should keep an eye out for any errors that could happen along the re-installation.

Once the re-installation is done, the computer would seem “fresh” again. You might want to double check on your old programs and files before installing them back. If these old files or programs led your computer to crash or malfunction in the first place, it might not be a good idea to put them back in. This procedure is so easy that anyone can do it. Even if you have little to no troubleshooting experience, you can get through fine with re-installing an operating system.

If you’d like help with this process just ask us! DQSupport would love to help you with this process!

You don’t really have to have a mind like Bill Gates to be knowledgeable in computers. As long as you have the right training, you can pretty much work your way in doing computer repair yourself. Maintenance is the key. Simply put, if you don’t want your computer to crash then take care of it. Although computer systems are reliable most of the time, regular maintenance is still crucial. It is just like every other possession that you might have, which when not maintained properly can show wear out signs pretty quickly. If you are able to properly maintain your computer on the other hand, it is less likely to have problems.
So how do you properly maintain a computer? There are two major components to it: the hardware and the software. Taking care of the hardware is pretty basic. This would generally just entail you to protect the exterior part of the computer. Clean the surfaces with a lint-free cloth but never spray liquid cleaners directly on the computer. Also, protect it from scratches or possible accidents that can cause it to break and get damaged by placing it in a secured area.
Regular maintenance of the software can be a bit more complicated. To avoid troublesome computer repair issues, an essential thing you need is good security software. This would protect it from harmful files you can get online. Trojan worms, viruses and other malicious software are rampant on the internet. A good security software will be able to detect a harmful file before entering your computer’s system. Repairing a virus infected system is not just taxing, it can also be expensive. If you regularly scan your system, it will be an effective preventive measure against infections.
You can learn about the different ways of training for computer repair issues in many different ways. There are audio books and even videos that you can find on the internet to help you out. You don’t have to enroll in an advanced training program for you to handle a computer, unless you want to be a skilled technician. Most of what’s available online are free. Troubleshooting a computer issue, like what experts say, is a trial and error process. This means that you sometimes have to exhaust every option available to get it fixed.
Don’t be scared to try and repair your computer. If the issue is too complicated for you to resolve, then it’s time to pass it on to an expert. Be prepared to shell out some money because this might cost you a bit. If your laptop or desktop still has an active warranty, then you are lucky. The manufacturer should be able to take care of the problem for you. But whether your computer is new or not, regular maintenance is still essential for a healthy computer.

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Pros:

1. Free!
2. Able to playback audiobooks in iPod application
3. Able to download audiobooks you’ve purchased over WIFI
4. Able to bookmark/notate your favorite spots in an audiobook
5. Hasn’t forgotten my position in an audiobook yet like the iPhone’s iPod app does frequently.
6. Special swipe and tap interface for fullscreen control without looking at the app.

Cons:

1. Not able to change playback speed (a big deal to me)
2. Not able to stream audio content that you’ve purchased (you have to download and most books are too big fo 3G)

• Easy access to lots of music.
• Not connected to desktop streaming limitations so you can keep streaming even if you go over on that limit
• Less obnoxious ads
• Hours of listening!

Cons:

• Needs either a good Edge connection or decent 3G connection to work.
• Drains battery in about 4 hours.
• Doesn’t work as a background app in pre iOS 4
• Crashes semi regularly
• Loads/opens slowly

Anti-Virus products I’d recommend

1. Microsoft Security Essentials – http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

It’s free, light on system resources, and effective. The price is right, and I’d say use this with out a second thought. But for those who want other options keep reading.

2. AVG Free – http://free.avg.com
It’s free, full featured, but heavier on resources than the Microsoft solution. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Microsoft option this is a close 2nd.

3. ClamWin Anti-Virus - http://www.clamwin.com/

If you are looking for an open-source and free option this is the one for you. It’s very light on resources, but not as full featured as other options. But if you know what you’re doing in general and are looking for just a backup system to check the occasional file with, then this is a good option as well.

4. Avast – http://www.avast.com/
Like AVG they offer paid and free versions, but the free version should be sufficient for most of our needs. Not as light as some other options but not a terrible option over all.

5. NOD32 – http://www.eset.com/

Not a free option, but this anti-virus application gets consistent reviews for being one of the best paid options.

Anti-Virus products I wouldn’t recommend

Both Norton and McAfee are paid products, and I’ve never seen them work effectively or efficiently. Expect them to bog down your system and provide little protection despite their glossy interfaces and flashy boxes. Sorry Norton and McAfee!

Conclusion

Most of the free options are sufficient, and Microsoft’s newest offering the Security Essentials really is stepping up to be the best option out there. This actually makes sense, because the company responsible for designing the product should be the best at protecting it since they know exactly how it should work.

Hope that helps you in your search for the best anti-virus product available!

Well, if you are using Windows XP, there is a pretty simple way for creating CDs, but it will take a bit more work for DVDs.

CDs vs DVDs – Pro’s & Con’s

CD’s

• Low Cost ($.25-$1 per disc)
• Easy to create (Windows XP and Vista can put files on CD with no extra software)
• Fast (5-15 minutes per CD, depending on how much you putting on it)
• Simple (Drag and Drop)
• Most Computer have them
• Small Size (only .7 Gigabytes)

DVD’s

• More Exspensive ($.50-$3)
• Extra software needed
• Larger (4.7 or 8.4 Gigabytes)
• Longer time to create (because there is more information to put on the disc it will take longer to make each one)

DVD Software

Because Windows XP doesn’t support the  ability to create DVD’s without extra software you’ll have to find a software product that will do this. If you are willing to purchase a product, the best (although possibly not the simplest) software to get is from Nero. You can find it on their site (http://www.nero.com/enu/store-nero9.html).

If you are looking for a free program to do this you can use one of these options:

• ImgBurn (http://www.imgburn.com/) [Voted best choice by lifehacker.com]
• CDBurnerXP (http://cdburnerxp.se/)
• InfraRecorder (http://infrarecorder.org/)

One of these three programs will do want you’d like, but they don’t come with support, so you’ll need to read the accompanying documentation on thier sites or find someone (like us here at DQSupport) who can help you with the process of learning how to use the software.