PC Fixer has invested somewhat in Search Engine Optimization and is somewhat happy with the results. As we have learned, the whole process is part science and part art. That is because the algorhythm that Google and other search engines use is a closely held secret. For example, we have learned that there are hundreds of different factors that determine search engine rank for particular keywords. How your site is designed, outside links and the site's overall content are three of the biggest factors. Although each search engine places different values on every factor, focusing your efforts on these three factors will serve to increase your search engines rankings acrross the board. PC Fixer's focus on SEO has been to get more business in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Playa del Rey, Culver City and... --
..Monthly Archives: August 2008
Verizon Westel modem router is a pain
Today we struggled with Verizon to support their Westel DSL modem router. It always amazes me how Internet Service Providers continually change their login and password schemes. This leaves the techie who is trying to set up their internet with little option but to call tech support and speak with somebody in India. If you have internet then you can look up the modem model # and usually find the default username and password. In this case it was admin/password which is pretty typical. But what happens when the default username and password has changed and you have to do a hard reset? You have to call Verizon and speak with tech support.... --
..Unremovable Infections in Los Angeles computers
So many of these are infecting Los Angeles computers lately. It isnt that they are unremovable, it is just that the troubleshooting process reaches a point where it no longer makes sense to fight infection. This is because one can reinstall the entire operating system in less time than it takes to completely eradicate the infection. That is unless the client has so many programs and so much data to back up that it would actually take less time to remove the virus. A balance needs to be stricken between the troubleshooting time to removal the malware and the estimated time it would take to reinstall Windows. That is why creating images is so important. Today I ran into an error I had never seen before on a Vista machine. Runtime error 21 at 04A949D2.... --
..Sound Cards and Custom-Built Computers
PC Fixer started it's business building custom audio computers way back in 1995. Those were the days. Samplitude, Cakewalk, Wavelab, Waves Plugins, Sound Forge, Fruity Loops, Logic Audio and masses of audio plugins kept our home studio busy for quite some time. We had so much fun. I remember the days. You used to have to have SCSI hard drives and SCSI cd burners. Years have passed and now PC Fixer only builds computers for the elite. We have built $7,000 watercooled boxes for wealthy clients who want only the best. Recently I completely remodeled my office and needed a new pair of speakers. I purchased the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speakers and so far they are amazing. Now I am shopping for a new audio card. I have used M-Audio sounds cards in the past and they... --
..Top 11 Ways to Tune Up a Computer
PC Fixer in Los Angeles has been perfecting the PC tuneup process for over 13 years. Want to make your computer faster? Here are the top ten ways to do so:
..- Adjust your startup items with the msconfig command. Knowing what to turn off takes experience.
- Adjust your startup services with the msconfig command. Knowing what you can turn off takes much experience and is different for every computer.
- Turn of desktop wallpaper, clean out your temporary file folder and adjust the Windows GUI.
- Run Spyware Doctor 4.0, update it and remove spyware.
- Uninstall Norton Antivirus or other bloated security software packages and replace them with efficient software such as Eset NOD32.
- Clean, optimize and compact the Windows registry with a program such as Registry Mechanic.
- Run bootvis. This unofficial Microsoft program will speed boot and shutdown times.
- Defragment the computer.
- Install more memory... --
Top Ten Programs for A Computer Consultant
Being a computer consultant in Los Angeles can be a challenge. Having the correct software is crucial to our work. Here at PC Fixer we are often asked what the best programs are. And so, after 13 years of software collecting and testing, here are PC Fixer's top ten most useful computer programs;
..- Spyware Doctor 4.0 - For some reason the newer versions of this program are not as good because they have become so bloated and are more like Norton Antivirus now.
- ZoneAlarm Security Suite - The best software firewall is still my by ZoneLabs. But beware: do not use this progam on a slow or old computer as it will definitely take it's toll on performance.
- Eset NOD32 Antivirus - This lightweight antivirus program protects with the best of them and doesnt slow down the computer.
- SuperAntispyware... --
Vista Antivirus is a fake antivirus malware infection
PC Fixer sees quite a bit of malware infections in the Los Angeles Computer Repair business. Recently Vista Antivirus has been infecting machines and causing them to purchase this fake software which then renders the computer completely unusable. Although the infection is easily removable with a free program like superantispyware, once somebody has fallen victim to this malware scan their money is gone. This leaves the user feeling angry and confused. I cant help but wonder how prevelant this is. Any other computer professionals in the Los Angeles, Malibu, Marina Del Rey, Play Del Rey, Venice, Culver City or Santa Monica area experiencing this as frequently as we are?... --
..TSW and the dongle needs food
Eastern Car Care in East Los Angeles had a problem: Their gas station management software just stopped opening. Mysteriously they received a message that a file named NmMulti.inf was missing the same day. It didnt take long to figure out that their parallel port was to blame and sure enough the dreaded (sometimes) yellow exclamation point showed up under device manager. After searching and downloading the correct drivers (three attempts later), the parallel port was working but the TSW program still would not open. It was then that I realized that the parallel port had a dongle hooked up to it that was preventing the program from opening. Luckily a simple reboot after installing the new parellel port drives did the trick and PC Fixer managed to be a hero in the Los Angeles Computer... --
..Straight outta West Los Angeles…from the trenches of the Malware Battleground!
I didnt have to fight one virus or spyware today! This is highly unusual. I think it is because I only worked on 6 computers today at 3 different clients. The first client has no qualms about admitting to downloading porn. In fact, PC Fixer showed him how to download it "safely". We set him up with ZoneAlarm Firewall with spam and spyware protection and Eset NOD32 Antivirus over a year ago. He regularly scans with Spyware Doctor 4.0 and he has not had a serious infection ever since. And this person had thousands of infections when PC Fixer first started working with him. Our second appointment was to help a client share calendars without an Exchange Server. We set him up with a special program that allows him to do this for his... --
..Fix the motherboard heatsink with superglue
I opened the dead computer case today to find a motherboard heatsink clip had pulled loose from the motherboard. I pushed the clips back in very deep and applied some very thin liquid superglue and let it dry for 10 minutes. I then swabbed up the reminder of the glue to prevent any shorts since superglue could possibly be conductive. I then cleaned the heatsink and chipset and clamped the heatsink clips back down. It worked like a charm.... --
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