<![CDATA[The one stop shop for all your PC repair and sales needs in Phoenixville, PA. Flat rate computer repair anywhere in the USA. Fast computer repair for all makes, desktops and laptops. Local walk-in computer repair with fast turn around time. - Tech Blog]]>Sat, 19 May 2012 13:11:31 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Recover Windows 7]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:26:30 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/12/recover-windows-7.htmlDiscover how to reinstall Windows without an installation disc.
 
If your computer came with Windows preloaded, you won't have an installation disc. Instead you restore your computer to the state it was in when it left the factory. Unfortunatley this means you get all that pre-installed software you may or may not want. 

Check with your manufacturer for full instructions, but if your computer doesn't have a recovery disc you can pop into the the drive, you'll need to look for an option to access recovery options as soon as you start your PC (located in the Bios screens using an "F" key like F10). Press this key and you will be given the option of restoring Windows using a drive image stored on a small partition on your hard drive. If your given the choice pick the destructive option that formats your hard drive and doesn't preserve any exsisting data (you should have already backed this up separately - make sure you have doent his first!). 

After your PC is restored and you've completed post-set-up wizard, you'll be returned to your desktop. You won't need to install any drivers now (although updates will almost certainly be avaiable), but you may have to remove any software that was pre-installed by the manufacturer you don't want, including any trial versions of security software. One program that may help you here is PC Decrapifier. Next time we will discuss how to make a rescue disc for both the 32 & 64 bit versions of Windows 7. This will help people who have upgraded to Windows 7 or have a PC that Windows 7 was not factory installed.  ]]><![CDATA[7 Secrets to PC Bliss]]>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:14:18 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/12/7-secrets-to-pc-bliss.htmlKeep your PC in shape for longer by following these golden rules. 

1. Stay Secure - Make sure your PC is protected with adequate anti-virus software: AVG 2012 is free and use Malwarebytes for addtional protection. Bothof these are available at download.com. 

2. Modify your online behavior - The best way to avoid infection is to make sure you don't put yourself at risk. visit techradar for the 10 top tips to stay safe. 

3. Think Twice - Don't install programs for the sake of it. Ask yourself if you really need them, and check to see if a portable version is available. Portable versions can be run directly from a USB flash drive without cluttering up Windows. 

4. Uninstall more cleanly - Installing and removing programs qucikly builds up clutter and detritus. Use Revo Uninstaller instead of programs & features to remove programs from your PC. This scans your computer for leftover files and registry entries after the programs is uninstalled, enabling you to perform a cleaner uninstall. 

5. Stay up to date - Make sure automatic updates is on and regularly check programs and driver updates. Update Checker is a great software to do it. 

6. Look after your drive - Get in the habit of running disk check. Click start, then computer, right click C drive, choose properties, tools tab, and click check now. Tick both boxes and click OK, scheduling the check for the next time you restart. Windows XP users should also remember to schedule a disk defragmenter every month. 

7. Use a cleanup tool - Install CCleaner to periodically clear out redundant files from your hard drive. Avoid the registry cleaning tool though as these could cause irreparable damage to your Windows installation.  ]]><![CDATA[How About Some Free Cloud Storage?]]>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:50:35 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/12/how-about-some-free-cloud-storage.htmlSo, a few weeks ago I spoke to you all about using Windows backup. I know some of you just aren't doing it. Well I have another option for you. Use cloud based backup services. The're a ton of these services out there and some charge a lot for storage. How about if you could get some free storage on the cloud? I have recently signed up MiMedia. They offer 7GB of free cloud storage and an easy set up process. While it won't backup everything on your drive, your ultra important documents can be put on the cloud for safe keeping. Just use the advanced option during setup and pick the folders you want backed up so you don't go over the 7GB. I have starting using it for my important business documents and have found it to be wonderful. While I very seldom endorse programs, I feel this one gets an A-Okay from The PC Doctor of PA. Give it a try and see if works as well for you as it does for me. I am anxious to hear your responses.   ]]><![CDATA[How to get more from Twitter wherever you are.]]>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:32:48 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/12/how-to-get-more-from-twitter-wherever-you-are.htmlTwitter is extremely popular, and for good reason. It's great for sharing your thoughts with others , but the basic webpage can get overwhelmed- especially if you follow a lot of people. The main page simply lists every tweet people post in chronological order. Although this simplicity can be appealing, it does mean that certain tweets can be missed. (like this one!) To avoid this I use Hootsuite, http://www.hootsuite.com to organize my tweets. I'll share with you a few of the great things it can do. 
1. Signup or download (on a smart phone) hootsuite. 
2. Connect Hootsuite to your Twitter account.
3. Take a few minutes to get familiar with it. Tweets posted by people you follow can be put into lists, so you don't miss anything. For example a list of your favorite tweeters (like @thepcdoctorofpa ) By default you have mentions, direct messages and you r tweets. Just click add stream to add your favorite tweeters. 
4. Quick tweets you can add a new tweet by typing in the box, if you go over the 140 limit, Hootsuite will automatically shorten your tweet while keeping it readable. There is also a place to shrink website URL's!
5. Use it anywhere in the world. Download the app for your smart phone, or use it as a web based client (in your browser). 
6. Organize your tweets. You can filter the columns to only display tweets displaying certain words. The more you add the more specific the results. 
7. Create lists. Lists are great ways of grouping people, so they are easier to follow. 
8. Get tweeting!!! With a built in scheduler, you can tweet even when your away from your PC or smart phone. Just schedule your date and time by clicking the little calendar icon in your tweet area.  ]]><![CDATA[Microsoft Support Scam]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:36:22 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/12/microsoft-support-scam.htmlI have had a few customers who received a phone call from someone claiming to work for Microsoft, saying that their home PC was sending it error messages indicating the presence of infected files that could damage their hard drive and mother board. Even though AVG reported no problems, the technician had them run Event Viewer and allow remote access through a sites such as ammyy.com and support.me . The tech then spent 7 hours "cleaning up" their systems and charged on average of $120.00. 

This is INSANE!!! This is a SCAM!!! The tech claimed to be from a company called "Cyber Astro" & is not listed as a Microsoft Partner. A forum on Microsoft's official website mentions ammyy.com as potentially spreading malware. Microsoft will never "Cold Call" any customers. If you get a call or anything like this, hang up! Never install or allow any remote access tool from someone unless you are positive they are legitimate. If you have fallen victim to any type of scam like this, please contact us to remove the software and get the malware out of your PC.  ]]><![CDATA[Are You Using Sidebar Gadgets In Windows 7?]]>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:28:55 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/11/are-you-using-sidebar-gadgets-in-windows-7.htmlGadgets are mini-programs that offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools. First introduced to people in Windows Vista. Whereas Vista was slow enough without adding a another two or three start-up items, Windows 7 has horsepower and skill to keep these a useful, but less resource using item. Sidebars gadgets come in every style or item you can imagine. From soup to nuts, you can find almost any item to add to you desktop. Some newer programs like AVG 2012 anti-virus has the option to add a gadget direct to you desktop. This handy gadget will tell you if you need to update your anti-virus protection, and lets you safely check Twitter or Facebook directly from the gadget. While we don't recommend more than two or three items at a time running (depending on your RAM) we do think some can be very useful. Below is a few of our favorite sidebar items. To add them just right click on an open area of your desktop, then choose gadgets. Pick what you want, or go on-line to Windows website to get more. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/personalize/gadgets  
Have fun!
1. CPU Meter - great to see how well your PC is performing in real time.
2. RSS Feeds - Cool if your a news buff and want to stay up to date.
3. Facebook - Great to like us from! facebook.com/pcdoctorofpa
4. Twitter - Tweet your heart away (and follow us! @thepcdoctorofpa )
5. AVG 2012 - Runs scans, update protection search and more
6. MiniTV - Now you can watch ESPN while doing work :) 
7. Traffic by Bing Maps - Nuff' said, we all hate traffic. Real time updates too!
8.Open/Close DVD - for us lazy ones who don't want to press eject
9. Clipboard Manager - great for managing what you copy, cut or paste.
10. App Launcher - Bring back quick launch back - but faster! ]]><![CDATA[Windows Backups, Are you doing it? ]]>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:24:03 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/10/windows-backups-are-you-doing-it.htmlWindows has had a backup tool built into it for years. The issue is very seldom do I see someone take advantage of this tool. Cloud backup services are big business now and are only getting bigger. My thought is, why use a service and pay for it when Windows has already given you the tools you need to keep your PC backed up? And it's free! All you need to take advantage of this free tool is an extra hard drive. Whether it is an external, DVD discs, Flash Drives, or a second internal drive set it up and follow the instructions Windows provides in the Control Panel. In Windows XP, this will be under the "system" icon and in Vista & 7, this will be under "backup and restore".  Windows helps you determine a day and time that fits into your schedule. It can set up daily, weekly or monthly. Windows also manages the size of your backups automatically, by deleting older backups as it runs out of room on the drive. Before you sign up for an online backup service, try Windows backup. It could save you hundreds over time....  ]]><![CDATA[We Welcome Your Questions]]>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:07:16 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/10/we-welcome-your-questions.htmlAs a free service to our friends, family, business associates, customers and potential customers we are offering a Q&A session with our techs. Email us via our "Contact Us" page and we will review your question. If we feel it is a good question we will post it here and answer it. If we feel it is specific to your issue only, we will happily answer it through email. This service is a way to show you the value of a knowledgeable company with whom you can trust your computer too. This is limited to one per person. If you feel you can benefit from continuous technical support, you might want to look into one of our extended service plans. For less than a dollar a day, you can have a tech available to help through any jam you may get into.  ]]><![CDATA[Anti-virus Vs. Anti-Spyware Programs]]>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:24:28 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/10/anti-virus-vs-anti-spyware-programs.htmlOne of the most frequently asked questions I get all the time is, What's a good anti-virus program and do I need a spyware program too? This is a great question and one that has many answers, but let me break down the question into two parts. 
1. A good anti-virus program will have some built-in anti-spyware and anti-malware coverage as well as a search guard and link checker. I always recommend a program that doesn't pull a lot of resources from your PC. While you need aggressive protection, you also need speed. Programs like Norton and McAfee are memory hogs and can slow your computer down tremendously. If you don't have a super-fast computer these can hamper tasks as simple as going to a new website. I always recommend a lean and mean program like AVG Free edition. AVG takes very little resources while offering maximum protection. 

2. Yes you should run a separate spyware and malware program to be exact. While most programs cross check for other issues, an independent program will specialize in looking for the issues it protects you from.   For spyware we recommend Spybot Search and Destroy (a free program) and for Malware we recommend Malwarebytes free edition. These programs only run when you open them, are user friendly and will even give you some insight on what they removed. Spybot actually gives you a definition of the issue it fixed if you click on the problem. These scans take as little as 2 minutes on a healthy computer and will make sure along with your anti-virus program that you are safe from all the 
]]><![CDATA[A Free PC Tune-Up For One Lucky Follower]]>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 06:31:11 -0500http://www.thepcdoctorpa.info/2/post/2011/10/a-free-pc-tune-up-for-one-lucky-follower.htmlAs I am sure you are aware of, we have just started a Facebook page. We will be offering Facebook only specials, contests and informative technical information. As a way to celebrate, we are offering a FREE PC Tune-Up to the 20th person who like us on Facebook. This is a $50.00 value. Tell your friends, family and co-workers. You don't even need to live close to our office to win. You can ship us your PC and we can ship it back to you! Good Luck winning and stay tuned for more exciting give-aways!
Here is the link

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