Computer Mechanics Help Desk

Upgrade essentials

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:59:05 +0800

Here's what you need to know about upgrading from Vista to Windows 7. Actually, you don't need to know all of this, pick the relevant bits. But FIRST, this applies to everyone: back up before you upgrade. If you don't know how, call us because things can and do go wrong during upgrades.

Review Asus EeePC

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:17:18 +0800

Engadget do the best reviews. Here is their thorough look at the new ASUS netbooks. Having used an iPad for a month or so now I'm can tell you the web browsing experience falls well short of a netbook.

Searching in Outlook

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:08:36 +0800

Most of us know that you can click on a column heading in Outlook to sort the column into alphabeti order. Do you ever used the Advanced Find option? Click on Find, then Options, then Advanced.

Net filter deferred

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:27:44 +0800

Well if we can't get common sense at least we can get a deferral. Senator Conroy's Filter, the populist censorship tactic that was never going to work has been put back a year, creating the possibility it may be canned. Blocking of child porn sites is being done by Optus & Telstra, just as happens in other markets. More here.

Defrag

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:36:14 +0800

Here's a Screen Saver that actually does something useful. Defrags your hard disk while you're not using your PC. Pauses when you start using the PC and re-starts when the PC's idle again. Sensible. Free. Via the excellent Kim Komando.

Symantec gaff

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:56:58 +0800

Poor old Symantec. They put together a site to warn people about computer security during the World Cup and failed to properly protect their own web site from spammers, exposing visitors to risk. Now fixed. How embarrassing. Source.

Avoiding laptop probs

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:51:25 +0800

Other than virus and spyware infections, motherboard failures are the most common issues with laptops. Here's a short list of laptop maintenance tips; it's American advice but parallels our experience here.

65 iFixes to ignore

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:18:10 +0800

Apple's new OS 4 for the iPhone fixes a record 65 vulnerabilities or bugs, but the fixes are not available for a first generation iPhone. iPad owners will have to wait another 6 months for the same fixes. More.

Farmville cheats

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 23:06:04 +0800

No, I don't understand why, but Farmville is hugely popular, particularly on Facebook. Warn your 14 year old that web pages promising cheats on Farmville may carry a trojan rootkit.

XP security

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:55:11 +0800

Another exploit that targets Windows XP users highlights the benefits of upgrading to Win7. Contact us if you need assistance. 9325 1196. For people sticking with XP, Krebs recommends they create a User Account with limited security permissions and use that for normal web browsing. Use the Admin account only for updates.

Apple 4.0 upgrade

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:48:45 +0800

Upgrading your iPhone 3G or 3GS to the 4.0 Operating system? Multi-tasking and Folders await... You must update iTunes first to 9.2, then, if you're using Mobile Me, update that also. Only then will you be ready for the big sync.

iPhone 4 reception

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:43:48 +0800

Yes, Steve Jobs says, if you're having problems, you're holding it the wrong way. Amusingly, Engadget shows a number of Apple ads showing people holding it just that way...

Removing Java

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:07:25 +0800

We've written before about the questionable benefits of having JAVA on your computer. Security specialist Brian Krebs suggests here you don't need it unless you're a programming in that language.

iPad email hacking

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:38:18 +0800

A major security breach by Apple and their communications partner AT&T has revealed the email addresses and names of 114,000 iPad buyers, possibly many more.

No more tweets

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:27:43 +0800

The New York Times has banned the use of the word 'tweet', ie a message sent from Twitter. Reasoning is that it's not 'standard' English. I'm with one of the commentors, who wrote 'thou art really stupid'.