Google LOVES new content on your blog, but writing it every week or couple of days can get to be a real pain! There’s got to be an easier way! Spin Oven is the fast way to make your blog content work harder for you! How? Every time Google visits this page it will see it’s been updated. The post below changes enough that Google regards it as new content.

Programming your post in Spin Oven will be easy. Type a paragraph for your blog, then type a second paragraph that says the same thing only with different wording. then put each paragraph in the following:

[ spinoven]
{paragraph 1 | paragraph 2}
[ / spinoven]
When you go to the blog post you will only see paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 displayed.

Next within each paragraph you do the same thing with each sentence.
{paragraph 1 {sentence 1|sentence 2} | paragraph 2}

Then within each sentence you do the same with words and phrases

Admittedly it’s a bit of work to get it to this point, but once you are done the post will reword itself into hundreds of different combinations.

If you are wondering where I got the code for this, I made it.
Contact me if you’d like to be notified of when it becomes commercially available.

How to Find a Computer Repair Technician

Looking for a PC repair business? I do laptop repair in Richmond Hill and Here are three quick tips to keep in mind when selecting someone.

1. How do you know if you’re being sold components you don’t need?

2. Does the business recommend free software when appropriate?

3. What is their company’s Refund Policy?

Conclusion

I hope you have found these suggestions helpful, and if you do need laptop repair in Richmond Hill you will contact me. The recommendations above are complied from a few of my best practices, which have netted me clients who consistently refer me to their friends and family when they need help.
’
]]> http://computerdoctorinc.ca/articles/2011/11/12/hey-google-spin-oven/feed/ 0 http://computerdoctorinc.ca/articles/2011/07/20/hidden-power-windows-search-virus-removal/ http://computerdoctorinc.ca/articles/2011/07/20/hidden-power-windows-search-virus-removal/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:14:56 +0000 admin http://computerdoctorinc.ca/?p=505 Hello from your local Computer Doctor. Today I’m going to share one of my most useful tips: unlocking the hidden power Windows Search.

If you’ve ever used Windows Vista or Windows 7, you’ve probably seen Windows Search. The search box on the Start Menu is for Windows Search, and so is the search box in the top right corner of every Explorer window. Microsoft makes it easy to find because it’s the fastest way to find files and folders on your computer, as well as programs and control panel options.

But there’s a lot more to Windows Search than lies on the surface. It includes something called Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) which lets people and programs create very specific searches to find particular files, or broad searches to find every file in a particular category.

Some of the advanced searches you can create with AQS:

To find all pictures taken between January 19, 2011 and January 26, 2011

kind:pics datetaken:>19/01/2011<26/01/2011

Find all presentations with more than 20 slides

kind:presentations slidecount:>20

File Attribute Search

For virus removal, using Windows search to search by file attribute is a lifesaver.

A file attribute is a piece of information that Windows keeps for each file or folder. These are:

Read Only (R)

You can open up and look at these files, but you cannot delete or save over them

Hidden (H)

If a file is Hidden, Windows will not normally display it.

System (S)

If a file or folder is marked System, Windows will warn you that changing it could break your computer.

Directory (D)

The Directory attribute is how windows knows whether something is a file or a folder

Archive (A)

Windows uses the archive attribute to remember what files still need to be backed up.

File attribute search is useful for virus hunting because viruses often try to hide themselves by marking their files System and Hidden. Lots of files are marked Hidden or System on any computer, almost no legitimate files are marked both, so we can easily identify virus files by searching for Hidden System files.

For this virus removal technique to work, the virus files must be searchable by Windows Search. To double check this, Type Folder Options into the start menu search box and click the first option. Click the Search tab and make sure “include System Directories” is checked.

To search for files by attribute, simply type attributes:## into the search box. Replace the ## with a number 0 to 63 for the specific combination of attributes you want. The list of possible numbers is as follows:

So, to search for Hidden (H) System (S) files the number is 6. Typing attributes:6 will show all the hidden system files.

These numbers were determined using the following system:

Each attribute has a number

ReadOnly 1

Hidden 2

System 4

Volume 8

Directory 16

Archive 32

To search for files with a single attribute, type attributes:## replacing ## with the number for that attribute.

To search for files with a combination of attributes, add up the numbers of the attributes you want, and use the total.

For example, to search for a Hidden (2) System (4) Directory (16), add up the numbers ( 2 + 4 + 16 = 22 ) and search using the new number: attributes:22

Service Award

A big thank you to all my awesome clients who nominated me for The Richmond Hill Liberal’s 2011 Reader’s Choice Award for “Best Computer Repair” under the category of “Best Business Service”!

The three most common ways for your email account to be hacked are:

• Your password was too weak and got hacked.
• You used the same password on multiple sites and one got hacked.  The hacker then tried your password on other accounts that you have.
• You have a computer virus on your system that is harvesting your user names and passwords when you type them in.

What you should do if you think your email account has been hacked:

• Ensure you have a strong email password and change it regularly: don’t use a dictionary word or a common name; do make your password long, with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
• If you have the same password for multiple accounts, change them too (ideally they should all be different).
• Make sure that the hacker hasn’t set up or changed your:

• contacts
• vacation response
• email forwarding
• reply-to address
• password reset information
• billing information
• mobile alerts for new messages

Fraudulent emails can be caused by a computer virus:

• If you already had a strong password, then the problem is likely a computer virus. Run a good virus / malware / adware scan to identify the problem, and then proceed with virus removal.
• The source of the fraudulent email could also be a virus on one of your contacts’ computers. To find out, ask someone who received the spam email to forward you a copy with all of the recipients listed.  Check the list with your email address book.  If you don’t recognize some of the recipients on the list, then someone you know may have a virus on their system that pulled your name from their address book, and then sent out email to their other contacts, making it appear as though it’s coming from you.  In some cases it is possible for a technician to determine if this is the case and find out who really has the virus.

If you have any questions or need help with virus removal, please contact Ken at 905-883-9781 or visit our website at www.computerdoctorinc.ca

Copyright April 2011 The Computer Doctor Inc.

What You Will Need

You will need one of the following:

• Easy Transfer Cable

OR

• both computers connected to your network

OR

• USB flash drive or external hard disk

Notes

If your old and new computers are connecting through your network to the Internet, then there’s a good chance that you can use the network option to transfer your files. The Easy Transfer Cable is also a simple way to transfer files, however it requires purchasing a cable for $38 that will be rarely used. This tutorial goes through the procedure of using Windows Easy Transfer with a USB flash drive or external hard disk since everyone should have one of these on hand for making regular backups of their files.

By default, Windows Easy Transfer will copy your documents and settings into the Windows user account you are currently logged in to. If you want to add your old files and settings to a new or different account on your new computer I have noted in the procedure how to do this.

While it is unlikely that viruses transferred from your old computer using this method will be run automatically on the new computer, you should ensure that you have Anti-Virus software installed on your new computer before continuing. There are some viruses that copy themselves to every flash drive and hard disk that they can, then use autorun to start themselves automatically on insertion of the flash drive or hard disk onto another Windows system. If you suspect your previous computer may have had such a virus, remain alert when Windows 7 asks you about changes being made to your system. If you deny all changes during this procedure, then even though some virus files may be transferred to your new system, they will not be active.

STEP 1: Install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer

There are two methods for getting Easy Transfer for installing onto your old computer:

OPTION 1: Download and install from online:

There are several versions available depending on what version of Windows you are using. Go to download.microsoft.com and type ‘Windows Easy Transfer’ in the search box to bring up a list of different versions of the software, or type in the link below. You can also visit my website or blog for a version of this tutorial with a clickable link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer

OPTION 2: Get the installation file from your new computer:

ON YOUR NEW COMPUTER:

Click on Start → All Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Windows Easy Transfer

OR

Click on Start and type transfer in the search box, then press Enter

Click on Next when the Welcome Window for Windows Easy Transfer displays

Select the method you want to use for transferring files to your new computer. Click on How do I choose? for more information on determining the best way for your situation. The same method must be used on your old and new computer. For this tutorial we are using a USB drive.

After selecting the method you wish to use to transfer your files select This is my new computer

On the next screen where it asks you if you’ve already installed Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer? click no

When asked “Do you need to install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer?” click I need to install it now

Select the type of drive or location that you wish to install Windows Easy Transfer

Windows will then prompt you for the drive or location

STEP 2: Use Windows Easy Transfer on Your Old Computer

ON YOUR OLD COMPUTER:

If you downloaded and installed the program from the Windows website:

Click on Start → All Programs → Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7

OR

If you copied Windows Easy Transfer from your new system:

Open Windows Easy Transfer from the drive that you copied it to

Click on Next when the Welcome Window for Windows Easy Transfer Displays

Select the method you want to use for transferring files to your new computer. Click on How do I choose? for more information on determining the best way for your situation. You must use the same option on your old and new computer.

After selecting the method you wish to use to transfer your files, select This is my old computer. Windows Easy Transfer will scan your User Accounts and Shared Items

When finished scanning, de-select the accounts you don’t wish to transfer to your new computer and click Next

Optionally, add a password to protect the file that your documents and settings will be saved in and click Next

Windows Easy Transfer copies your files, and on completion displays a summary box telling you whether the save was completed successfully. Click Next and Windows Easy Transfer displays the location of your saved file. Note that if this is a USB flash drive or external hard disk, the drive letter will probably be different on the new computer than the one displayed.

STEP 3: Use Windows Easy Transfer on Your New Computer

ON YOUR NEW COMPUTER:

Click on Start → All Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Windows Easy Transfer

OR

Click on Start and type transfer in the search box, then press Enter

Click on Next when the Welcome Window for Windows Easy Transfer Displays

Select the method you want to use for transferring files to your new computer. Click on How do I choose? for more information on determining the best way for your situation. You must use the same option on your old and new computer.

After selecting the method you wish to use to transfer your files, select This is my new computer

Plug in your drive

On the next screen where it asks you if you’ve already saved your files from your old computer to an external hard disk or USB flash drive click yes

Select your drive and find the file named Windows Easy Transfer – Items from old computer then click Open

By default, Windows Easy Transfer will transfer your documents and settings into the account you are currently logged into. You can click on Advanced Options on the bottom right of the window and change which account your documents and settings are added to, or add a new account.

Click Transfer

When completed you can see a summary of what was transferred and a list of what programs were installed on your old computer that you may need to install again. Free software with similar functionality may be found on my blog or under the links section of my website. This summary can be accessed any time by going to Start → All Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Windows Easy Transfer Reports

Click Restart now

If you added your information to a new account on your computer, and you want to remove the account that came with your new PC, you can go to Start → Control Panel and under User Account and Family Safety click Add or remove user accounts to remove it. Only do this if you haven’t saved any documents since getting your new computer.

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend keeping your old computer or its hard drive for at least a year as a backup in case your new computer stops working unexpectedly, or a much needed file wasn’t transferred automatically.

For your security, when disposing of your old computer be sure to erase the hard drive using a program that overwrites the data several times to ensure that no one else can recover it. For this purpose you can use Darik’s Boot and Nuke.

For more information about computer recycling in Richmond Hill, please see my blog posting – Computer Recycling in Richmond Hill.

As always, if you need help transferring your files from your old computer to your new computer, or are looking for computer repair in Richmond Hill, or laptop repair in Richmond Hill, I’m here to help! I can be reached at 416-464-1833, or at www.computerdoctorinc.ca.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html

2.       Use a web browser like Firefox. It is less susceptible to viruses than Internet Explorer, and it has a Private Browsing feature. Mozilla Firefox is free, open-source software.

3.       Use a free software like Adblocker Plus for to reduce invasive online ads in Google, Hotmail, Yahoo, and others.

4.       Before you purchase anything online or fill out forms requesting personal information, make sure the website you are on is secure. Secure websites begin with https:// in the address bar instead of http://.  If the site is secure, Firefox and Internet Explorer will warn you if there is a problem with the certificate, such as it being past its expiry date or not matching the credentials of the site you are on.  If there is a problem with the certificate, assume that the site cannot be trusted until the certificate is fixed.

5.       Update your anti-virus program regularly.  If you do not have an anti-virus program, go to our website for links to free software for two highly recommended programs.

6.       Worried about Google collecting, storing and sharing your search terms? Try Scroogle.org. This website performs Google searches while preventing Google from seeing your IP address. If you use Firefox, you can integrate a Scroogle search box into your toolbar.

7.       Use at least two email addresses. Only give out your primary email address to people you trust. Use a “dummy” email account for websites that require you to register. Remember, sometimes even employees of a reputable company will sell your email address to a spammer.

8.       Protect the email addresses of your family, friends, and co-workers. When sending an email to multiple people, never use the “To” box. If the email you send crosses a spam server, everyone’s email address will be collected. If one of your contacts has a virus, everyone in the “To” box could soon be on the receiving end of a virus assault. Instead, always put multiple email addresses into the “BCC” (Blind Carbon Copy) box. This makes the email addresses invisible to others, and protects your contacts from spam and viruses.

9.       Protect your identity. Never provide your full name, correct address, postal code, date of birth on websites unless it is absolutely necessary (e.g. to complete a purchase, or on a government website).

10.   Remember that complete anonymity and privacy is impossible on the Internet. Your online activity and correspondence leaves a permanent record, but following these tips will go a long way to protecting you.

If you have any questions or need a hand implementing any of these suggestions, feel free to give me a call, send me an email or leave a comment here on the blog. I’m happy to help. The Computer Doctor is a family-run small business providing the Richmond Hill Ontario community with the highest quality computer and laptop repair, maintenance, security, tutoring, and advice.

Computer Repair in Richmond Hill

How do you find a computer servicing business or individual you can trust?  While investigating online reviews and getting recommendations from friends and family are two of the best ways, here are some other questions to think about. These are things to keep in mind when selecting a technician or company, because they are a reflection of their attitude towards fairness and customer satisfaction.

How can you be sure you’re not being sold parts you don’t need?

Be sure to retain all parts taken out of your system for replacement, especially hard drives.  If the part replaced does not turn out to be the problem, will it be refunded and your old part returned to the system without penalty?  Some technicians will charge large markups for parts, which may increase their motivation for replacing things that don’t need to be replaced.  A look at the big box stores (Staples, Business Depot) prices can ensure you are getting a fair deal for items such as hard drives, monitors, and wireless routers.  In order to reassure customers, and provide a level of trust, some businesses such as Ken the Computer Doctor do not charge a markup on parts purchased at retail outlets, and will even provide you with the original receipt.  This practice actually costs a company time and money, as they have to drive around and pick up the parts, but for some it is worthwhile providing this extra level of reassurance.

How is your information handled?

More and more, it is as important to protect your computer as to protect your credit card and social insurance number.  If you’re using your computer for online banking, family photos, and personal and business email for example, you need to be concerned about who services your computer.  By giving someone access to your computer, you’re entrusting them to not copy your data for their own use or install spyware to track the next time you enter your banking information.  You want a technician who only looks at what information is necessary to get your computer working again, who lets you know what backups may have been done in the process, and ensures the irreversible destruction of the backups once the repair has been completed.

Does the company recommend free software when appropriate?

If are in need of a software program, a technician usually has two options.  They can sell you a piece of software, or recommend a free open source (legal) alternative.  For example, some people are at low risk to getting viruses depending on their surfing habits.  In many cases a free antivirus program for personal use can be downloaded and installed that will work as well as a $60 product.  Free, open source alternatives to Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and many other applications are all available.  These alternatives can’t be recommended in all cases (if you need 100% compatibility with Microsoft Office for example), but working with a technician who can help you assess your actual needs can save you hundreds of dollars on software.

What is the Refund Policy?

If your system is not fixed, or breaks again with the same problem, how will they handle it?  Is there a warranty period for the work provided?  Will they offer a full or partial refund if you are not satisfied with their work?

What services are offered and how do they charge?

There are two major ways of handling charging for computer servicing – by the hour rate, and fixed rate.  Some places also charge a diagnostic fee which you pay to have them look at your system and tell you what is wrong with it before they try to fix anything.  This can actually be reasonable or excessive depending on what the problem is.  For example, if the system freezes, it may well take several hours of diagnostics to determine what is wrong, after which you may have to decide if your computer is worth fixing.  However, if you are complaining of excessive pop-up ads and viruses, then it really is an unnecessary charge – the first solution is to attempt to remove the viruses.  There are many computer shops (such as The Computer Doctor) that do not believe in charging a diagnostic fee, and will often even provide a free consultation over the phone.

When working with someone who charges a flat rate, be sure to find out what it covers.  A couple of things to consider:

–        What if the technician is doing onsite or door to door service, and leaves after rigorously making sure they have fixed your problem, but the problem returns in a couple of hours/days?  Is there a charge for a second or third visit?

–        If required, does it cover backing up and restoring your data?

If you are using someone who charges by the hour, find out if there is a cap on how much you will have to pay.  As the size of hard drives and memory has increased, and the number of virus threats continues to climb, it takes longer to scan these areas for problems.  What was once economical 10 years ago to do on-site for an hourly rate is now prohibitively expensive.  While these tests are run the technician can do little else with your system but watch the scans complete.  You do not want to be paying for this time.

What support options do they offer for Computer Repair in Richmond Hill?

There are at least 6 common ways of offering support for Computer Repair in Richmond Hill:

Remote Connection (VNC) – The technician has you download and run a program that allows them to view your computer screen and use your keyboard and mouse as though they were sitting in front of it.  This is one of the fastest and most convenient options as once the connection is initiated you do not have to be present while they work to solve your problems.  When exploring this option, make sure that their software uses an encrypted connection.  This prevents people from spying on your system while a technician is connected to it over the Internet.

On-site – The technician comes to your house and works on the problem directly.  Depending on the problem this option is becoming less and less economical for you and the technician due to the complexity of virus threats.  Scans for common problems can easily take more than 3 hours to complete.

Drop off service – You disconnect your system and bring it to the technician, then pick it up and reconnect it again.  The disadvantage with this service is the technician usually only gets a description from you of what the problem is, and doesn’t get to see you reproduce the problem in your home while it is connected to your peripherals and network.

Pick-up and Drop-off service – The technician comes to your house or business and watches you explain and demonstrate the problem you are having with your computer, then disconnects it and takes it back to the shop for repair.  Once your computer is fixed, the technician returns, reconnects your computer, and then ensures that your problem is resolved.

Phone – The technician works with you to try and solve the problem via the phone.  Often if it is a simple problem, there may not be a charge for this.

Internet Chat – The technician initiates a chat window online with you and attempts to walk you through solutions to the problem.  This has the advantage that all the steps can be clearly read, and web links to solutions shared, however it means switching back and forth between a chat window and working on the solution being applied.  If you are having a problem with a peripheral such as a printer or camera, you can often find this type of support for free from the manufacturer of the device.

Email – The technician works with you through email.  This option is a lot slower than the other options above, but has the advantage that you will have an archive of the entire conversation.

Employee Morale

How a shop treats its employees may be a reflection of how the employees will treat your computer.  If the technician is making minimum wage while the owner is charging $75 an hour for the repair, they may feel taken advantage of, and not be worried about searching your computer for sensitive information, copying your music files, or not fixing all of the problems with your computer.  If you are dealing with a company that only has one employee (the owner), consider what they are charging compared to other repair shops and professional services (plumbers, etc).  If you look for the cheapest service, you can be sure that they will be cutting corners and not doing everything possible to ensure that there aren’t hidden viruses or underlying problems.  The highest price service is not a guarantee of quality either – one only needs search for reviews of the big box store computer repair services to see that.

Preventative Maintenance Services?

When having your computer fixed, the following services may be worth looking into if they are offered at a nominal cost or for free.

Memory Scan – Memory errors usually cause a computer to freeze, often with a blue screen. However sometimes, the problems can be a lot more subtle, resulting in the gradual corruption of files and data.  A memory scan can ensure that this isn’t an underlying problem.  If there is an error found in the memory then it is only a matter of time before this will begin to affect your computer, quite possibly with disastrous results.  It’s a $75 replacement part that takes 10 minutes to install which will save you hundreds in data recovery costs, hours of headaches, and having to deal with irrecoverable data corruption.

Hard Drive Scan – Some errors can be a sign of an ailing hard drive. A few bad spots might be okay, but if the hard drive is littered with them it will definitely need replacing sooner or later. If your computer is still working fine, the hard drive can be replicated onto a new one, saving many hours of re-installing software and costly data recovery at a future time.  This type of repair is a little more costly, but may be well worth it over waiting until there is a complete failure and you lose everything.

Computer Cleaning – Over time, dust builds up on the fans and other components in the computer. This can lead to overheating, odd behavior and premature failure.  This service should cost far less than the solutions above and will help extend the life of your computer.

Conclusion of Computer Repair in Richmond Hill

With these tips in mind you should have no problem finding a computer repair technician who is dedicated to providing fair and outstanding customer service.  When you are looking for Computer Repair in Richmond Hill, I hope you will consider me for your needs.  With over 10 years of experience as Ken The Computer Doctor, I have come to know how to reassure customers and convey my honesty when consulting with potential clients. The recommendations above are received based on my practices, which have netted me clients who consistently refer me to their friends and family when they need help.  Please visit my website at www.computerdoctorinc.ca or give me a call at 416-464-1833 for Computer Repair in Richmond Hill.

Learn about Computer Recycling in Richmond Hill

Computers and electronics waste contain a myriad of toxins that, if not disposed of properly, can become a hazard to the environment and human health. Here is a guide to help you reduce your environmental impact.

Reduce – The best way to be environmentally friendly is to make your computer last as long as possible. Try upgrading your computer or having it repaired, replacing only the necessary components rather than the entire system. By doing this, you can extend the life of your computer, saving yourself money and helping the environment.

Reuse – When you no longer need your old computer equipment, ask around to see if your family, friends or neighbours may able to put it to good use. Another option is to donate your used equipment to an organization such as Reboot Canada, which refurbishes used equipment and distributes it to charities and non-profit organizations. Plus, you’ll get tax credits for your equipment donations.

Recycle – When you do decide to dispose of your computer and electronic equipment it is important to make sure it is treated as hazardous waste.

Where to go for Computer Recycling in Richmond Hill

The town of Richmond Hill recycles items such as computers, monitors, scanners, VCR’s, photocopiers, electronic calculators, radios and stereos, telephones, hard drives, digital cameras, printers, computer accessories, electronic pagers, modems, fax machines, video game consoles, and electronic games. They may be dropped off for Computer Recycling in Richmond Hill at one of the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Depots in York Region at the following locations:

– 130 McCleary Court,Vaughan
– 2840 Rutherford Road, Vaughan
– Rodick Road, South of Miller Avenue, Markham
– 225 Garfield Wright Boulevard, East Gwillimbury
– 23068 Warden Avenue, Georgina

For more information on Computer Recycling in Richmond Hill

For more information, hours and maps consult The Town of Richmond Hill Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Product Recycling webpage.

For a list of other facilities for computer recycling in Richmond Hill, visit the website of the Ontario Electronic Stewardship.

An Important Reminder – Always remember to protect your privacy when disposing of your computer and electronic equipment. It is not enough to format or use the delete command available in Windows, on your cell phone or on your digital camera – this only hides the files from view and they can easily be recovered by someone else. A special program is required to ensure the data is actually destroyed so that it cannot be recovered. Files Shredder is a free utility that allows you to selectively destroy existing files, and those that you can’t see because you have already deleted them. Darik’s Boot and Nuke is designed to boot from a floppy disk, usb key, or CD ROM, and then destroy all of the information stored on a computer, including the operating system.

If you need help setting up your new computer system (for example, transferring your data and bookmarks from your old computer, setting up the internet, ensuring proper wireless security, etc.) contact us and we would be happy to help you. We can erase all the data from your old computer system and take it to be recycled. We’re here to help you with Computer Recycling in Richmond Hill.