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We Have Moved!

We’re now conveniently located near the corner of Whitcomb and Westnedge behind the Burger King. We are the upper suite in the rear of the building. If you need driving directions, please don’t hesitate to call!

Geek Easy Computers
435 Whitcomb St. UL 201
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(269)548-TECH (8324)

Q & A: User Questions, Tech Answers! Year End 2016

In our ongoing mission to help make your technology easier, we like to provide you with tools and knowledge to make your computer interaction more “user friendly.” This edition will showcase some of the most popular questions asked throughout 2016, and also include some that we haven’t covered yet. So without further adieu…

 

Q: I just got another virus! I have a free antivirus program on my computer, so what’s up with that?

 

A: Well… first of all it’s good you have some protection on your computer. Unfortunately, nothing is 100% foolproof, and free antivirus programs even less so. What you need is a combination of a solid, reliable, frequently updated retail antivirus program, active malware/spyware protection AND modified online behavior. It’s fairly easy to avoid the most common places that viruses lurk if you know what to stay away from. Places like illegal music or movie download sites, sites that promote illegal or questionable activities, and of course adult sites are always red flags. Stay away from places like these, and your chances of getting a virus will be greatly reduced. Also, never open an unsolicited email attachment.

 

Q: Ok. You guys keep telling me that I need to backup my computer. So how do I do that?

 

A: Glad you asked! Backing up your data is not nearly as difficult as people imagine it is. The point of having a backup is redundancy. The chances of you losing your data in multiple locations is remote. The easiest backup scenario is an external hard drive. You can set up your computer (using built-in tools or a 3rd party application depending) to automatically backup your data at a specific time every day (or night) so you don’t even have to think about it. There are other methods to fit all types of setups and cloud options as well to keep a secure copy of your data outside the house and disconnected from the computer. Talk to your local computer professional, he’ll help you figure out the best method for you!

 

Q: I keep getting an error message when I start my computer. Should I ignore it?

 

A: Absolutely not. If you are getting an error message, that’s your computer telling you something is wrong. Even if it seems to run ok, something isn’t right “behind the scenes” and could lead to a more serious issue later. The best thing to do is to copy down the error message, and then call your local computer professional. He will be able to determine if its something minor or if he needs to further diagnose the error.

 

Q: I keep getting weird emails with links/attachments. Should I click/open them?

 

A: No! Never open an attachment or click on a link in an email unless you are 1000% sure you know and trust the source of the email. Doing so otherwise could potentially expose your computer to anything from viruses to identity theft to hijacking of your machine! Never open or click on them. Ever.

 

Q: My computer is running super slow. How do I speed it up?

 

A: There are a lot of factors that could cause your computer to slow down. But usually, most computers performance can be noticeably improved by one or both of the following solutions:

The simplest and usually the one that gets the most visible results is a RAM upgrade. RAM doesn’t actually “speed up” your computer. What it does is let your computer do more things at once, so things get done faster. The other most common solution is getting your computer a tune-up.

 

2016 was an interesting year in technology. 2017 promises even more innovation and upgrades. Geek Easy Computers is your place for news on the latest & greatest, and your place to get answers to your questions!

 

Adonis Pointer is a photographer, a collector of vintage razors, and a certified technology geek!
Adonis has been involved in computer technology since well, a LONG time! He has been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry from sales to repair to training to consulting. As the Social Media Manager he writes the majority of the posts on the Geek Easy Computers blog.

 

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