Computer
Tips and Hints
Do you have a question regarding your computer? If you can't find the answer on this page, contact
us with your question and we will do our best to answer it for you.
What is a Flash Drive and how does it work?
Also known as a USB drive and thumb drive, these drives are used to store data, much the same way as a floppy disk is used. The main advantage is that it can hold more data - a floppy disk is limited in space to 1.44mb, where a flash drive can store up to 4gb, depending on each drives individual capacity, they generally start at 128mb and vary in size up to 4gb.
A flash drive can be used to store data such as photos, or files; back-up data to be re-loaded if your hard drive needs to be formatted (wiped clean); or to transfer data from one computer to another.
Small in size and convenient to carry, they plug straight into the USB ports on your computer, effectively creating another drive. Differing brands may have slightly different capabilities, but are used in much the same way.
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Taking care of CD's and DVD's.
Whether it be a music CD or a software CD, it is important to take care of them. You should always hold CDs around the edges; avoid placing your fingers on the disc itself as this can scratch, even dirty the surface which can cause damage to the data on the disc.
 To clean a CD/DVD, take a clean, soft lint free cloth and wipe the surface against the tracks, starting from the middle of the CD, wiping towards to outer side. For stubborn marks try using a slightly damp cloth. NEVER wipe with the tracks or in circles and avoid using household cleaners, chemicals and other corrosive cleaners; doing so may put more scratches on the disc.
(You can purchase CD cleaning kits from your local supermarkets as well as a CD/DVD Rom drive cleaner that can also be used in your DVD players etc.)
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When I turn on my computer it says that Windows didn't shut down properly and
starts running Scandisk. Why is this?
We
all know how to turn on our computers, but not everyone knows that there's
a right way to turn it off. There are many processes running in the background
that you cannot see. Simply turning off your computer using the power
button, or turning off the power itself can cause damage to your computer.
Thus Windows running Scandisk....to check if there are any errors.
To
turn off your computer safely: go to
'Start' - click the
"Turn off Computer" or
"Shutdown" button;
This will bring up a window - click 'Turn
Off' (Windows XP); check 'Shutdown'
then OK (Windows 98, ME). This will shut
down the computer process by process.
You
will then get a message telling you it is OK to turn it off. Some computers
will turn off automatically, while others require you to hold down the
power button until it turns off.
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What
does the ’R’ and ’RW’ mean on CD’s and DVD’s?
The
’R’ (readable) disc formats can only be written to once; they are readable
only, meaning that they can’t be erased and used again. While ’RW’ (re-writable)
discs can be written to and erased many times; they are both readable
and writeable.
Of
course, DVD's hold a lot more information than CD's - on average 4.7gb
as opposed to 700mb.
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Can
I get a file back after sending it to the 'Recycle Bin' by mistake?
Yes,
if you mistakenly delete a file you can still recover it, provided you
haven't emptied your recycle bin. A
file in the Recycle Bin is not deleted from your computer until you select
"Empty the Recycle Bin".
Double-click on the
"Recycle Bin" icon
on the desktop; Select the file you wish to recover and click on
"Restore this item"
(on the left hand side of the screen), this will put the file back to
where it was originally.
If
you are sure that you no longer need any of the files click on
"Empty the Recycle Bin"
to permanently delete them from your hard drive.
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What's
the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R?
You
might remember when videos first came out there were two video tape formats:
VHS (Victor Home System) and Betamax (Sony). We have a similar battle
of the formats with DVD.
The
disks are pretty much the same, but the writing process is different.
DVD+R is a bit more advanced, but the disks often cost more than the older
DVD-R format.
One
thing to consider is which format your DVD records in. We've had customer's
who have tried to burn using DVD-R discs, but their burner only supported
DVD+R discs.
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The
importance of looking after Software.
When
you buy a new computer it comes with a number of software discs, including
the Operating Sytem and those for the mainboard & modem. It is important
to store these discs and books that come with them together in a safe
place. (Over time this software can be worth more than your entire computer
and can be used on new computers should you wish to upgrade).
Looking
after your software can save you a lot of money. A number of times we've
had to format customers computers (wipe clean) needing to reload the Operating
System, drivers and all software. Instead of costing $100 to do this, the
bill has blown out to $300 - $400 because the software has been misplaced
or was not received when they bought their computer.
Always
ask when buying a computer -
Do I have all software discs? This
question could save you hundreds of dollars.
When
buying secondhand computers, make sure you are at least provided with
the original Operating System Disc - paying a bit extra for a secondhand
computer with original software is well worth it!
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Is
your computer protected from Viruses?
A
number of times when we are called out to repair computers, we find that
our customers believe that their computer is being protected by their
anti-virus software. However, in most cases the software has expired,
not been updating or is simply not working.
It
is important that you check that your virus definitions and subscription
status are up to date; it only takes one virus to stop your machine from
working properly. We suggest that you learn your anti-virus program to
ensure that you are protected. If you need help with this, please do not
hesitate to call us.
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Can
my computer be damaged during a storm?
Yes.
Lightning strikes and power surges can damage and/or destroy your computer
including the power supply, hard drive, mainboard, chip and modem. Surges
are common in power cuts when power is restored. You can also receive
a surge down the phone line. One way to help prevent this is to unplug
your computer and phone line from the modem. Of course, you are not always
at home when a storm occurs; for this reason we recommend using a surge
protection unit to help minimise this happening.
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How
often should I run Scandisk and Defrag?
We
recommend that Scandisk and Defrag be run on a monthly basis to keep your
computer running at its best. For information on how to run these programs
click here.
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Every
now again I have trouble moving my mouse.
At
some point when using a PC your mouse will need cleaning. Cleaning a mouse
is fairly straight forward and only takes 10 minutes. Make sure your computer
is turned off; turn your mouse over, you will notice a cover over the
ball; remove and carefully clean the dirt from the rollers. If the dirt
is thick you may need to use a pair of tweezers, taking care not to push
to hard; wipe the ball with a clean damp (not wet) cloth - avoid using
chemicals. If you use an optical mouse, carefully wipe the dust away.
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