Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Optimizing Battery Power on Your Laptop

The most basic step you can take to prevent power loss on your mobile PC is to invest in a high quality battery and always keep a spare on hand. Splurging on a quality battery and spare can save you from hours of lost access to your mobile PC.

Battery Care

Once you've invested in a good battery, you need to take care of it. To clean your battery contacts, first turn off and unplug your mobile PC. Remove the battery and wipe its metal contacts and its contacts inside the device with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Let dry completely before reinstalling and reconnecting to a power source. Repeat every two to three months.

Modern lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries can be recharged and partially discharged time and time again, but you should never fully discharge them. Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries common to older laptops should be completely drained and recharged every one to three months.

After mastering the basics of battery care, make sure you are utilizing your mobile PC's built in energy saving features.

Optimize Your Power Settings

The hard disk and display on your mobile PC consume the most battery power. Choose a power plan, refered to as a power scheme in Windows XP, to reduce the use of power-hungry functions and lessen screen brightness.

Utilize the following battery-saving states:

  • Sleep or Standby

    In a sleep state, your hard disk and display turn off, and all open programs and files are saved in Random Access Memory. In case of a crash or power loss, save your work before placing your system in sleep mode. Your mobile PC should wake up quickly from sleep, and your desktop and files should appear just as you left them.

  • Hibernation

    When your computer hibernates, it saves everything to its hard disk before shutting down. When you restart, your desktop should be restored exactly as you left it. Hibernation takes a bit longer to wake up from than sleep, but it uses less power.

Further Tips for Lowering Your Energy Use:

  • Turn off your wireless device when you're not connected to a wireless network but you're using your mobile PC.

  • Turn off scheduled tasks.

  • Keep the use of tools in the notification bar minimal.

  • Limit power-intensive activities such as gaming, watching a DVD or listening to a CD.

  • Reduce power consumption by adding memory (RAM) to your mobile PC. (See our post on "Low Memory" earlier this month)

Help is Here!

As always, we're here to help!  If you have concerns over your battery charging system or need som guidance in changing the settings we've recommended, feel free to contact us.  We can usually connect remotely, walk through it with you and have you all set in about 15 minutes!  Goto http://www.CrossLoop.com/HelpMeMax to Share your Screen. then give us a call at 847-348-3489, ext. 3.

      Friday, August 12, 2011

      Tips for Printing Beautiful Digital Photos at Home

      Recent technology has made printing high-quality digital photos from your home computer a simple, inexpensive process. Using a basic inkjet printer and the following tips, you can easily transform your amateur shots into professional-looking photo albums, wall art or gifts for your loved ones.

      Photo Resolution

      Higher resolutions photos will produce better prints. However, resolution cannot be increased once the photo is snapped, so set your camera to the highest resolution possible. You can always reduce the size later. If you plan to print a photo that is less than 5x7 inches, 3 megapixels is sufficient. Larger photos require at least 5 megapixels.

      Photo Editing

      It is rare to capture a perfect image, so you may need to engage the services of photo editing software to enhance the photo quality. Free programs, such as Windows Live Photo Gallery for Windows 7 or Windows Photo Gallery for Windows Vista, allow you to apply a multitude of effects, including removing red eyes, balancing light and color, softening edges, rotating image orientation and cropping out unwanted elements.

      Printer Settings

      If you will be regularly printing photos at home, it is crucial that you purchase a quality machine capable of producing high dots per inch (dpi). Look for a printer that offers at least 600 dpi to produce vivid, crisp, finely detailed photos. These settings can be adjusted using your desktop computer or on the printer if it is equipped with a menu screen. High dpi settings will increase the amount of ink used and the time it takes to print the photo, so use the lowest quality settings to run a test print, then switch to the highest quality options when you are ready to run your final print.

      Photo Quality Paper

      Bright white glossy paper produces a vibrant, shiny image that reflects light well. Purchase paper that has a quick-dry surface and is water resistant to avoid bleeding issues. Matte paper is best for black-and-white or sepia colored prints due to its nonreflective coating. It is also less likely to become smudged from fingerprints and dust. Satin paper offers the best of glossy and matte prints, providing a semi-gloss finish that is still rich in color, yet reflects less light and is fingerprint resistant.

      Printer Maintenance

      Before printing, run the machine's print cartridge cleaning settings to remove any blockages that may have built up in the ink spray nozzles. You should also be able to adjust the machine's alignment and color calibration.  It's a good idea to have CLEANING SHEETS available to help clear the paper path and keep things from collecting around the inkjets.

      If you have questions, we'd be happy to make some suggestions - give us a call at 847-348-3489.




      Monday, August 1, 2011

      Solving the 'Low Virtual Memory' Message

      Has this happened to you? Your computer’s performance gets slower and slower. Applications take a little longer to open each time. Web pages time out before they’ve fully loaded.

      Then, something dramatic happens. You get a worrying message that your virtual memory is too low.


      It’s not as bad as it seems, however. You can fix the problem of low virtual memory.

      Simply put, your computer’s virtual memory is the hard drive space your machine uses when it is running short of random access memory, called RAM. Common programs like Microsoft Office PowerPoint and Microsoft Office Word can be real memory hogs, sometimes using all of your computer’s free RAM.

      What can you do about a “virtual memory low” message?

      If you get a warning that says your virtual memory minimum is too low or something similar, there are two things you can do to correct the situation.

      The simplest solution is to increase the virtual memory size on your hard drive, if space allows. To do that, simply go to your control panel and increase the size in the System section. The exact location varies depending on whether you’re using Windows 7, Windows Vista or another version of the operating system.  Choose the CUSTOM SIZE, and set the MAXIMUM the same as the MINIMUM - 3.5x - 4.5x the amount of Physical RAM is a good rule of thumb.  If you have sufficient disk space available, just set it to 4096 on both.

      A somewhat more complicated solution is to add more RAM to your computer. If you continue to get messages that say things like “your computer is running low on virtual memory” even after you increase the virtual memory size on your hard drive, adding more RAM is your only option. That requires opening the case, but the new RAM simply clips into place.

      Here are some general guidelines for how much RAM average systems need:

      • Windows 7 requires 1 GB of RAM to work properly.
      • Windows Vista requires 512 MB of RAM or more to work well, but some applications, especially gaming software, need twice that much.
      • Windows XP can manage with only 256 MB of RAM, but like all systems, it will work better with more.

      For a work computer, ask your company’s IT administrator to add more RAM for you. It’s a simple process. For your own computer, buy additional RAM at a computer store and ask them to install it for you. You can buy more RAM online if you prefer.  I ususally recommend the following as a good starting point: www.Crucial.com - run the "Scan for Memory" tool and it will tell you what you have and give you options for upgrading.

      A low virtual memory message isn’t really as terrible as it sounds. It indicates a problem you can easily solve.

      Friday, June 10, 2011

      How to Protect Your Network from Hacker Bots

      Not all hackers are only after your data. The real prize is your wallet.

      To carry out cyber-crimes, many hackers will use email spam, phishing attacks, or insidious websites to infect computers and turn them into "Hacker Bots." These Hacker Bots become drones that can be controlled remotely by cybercriminals, unleashing attacks on businesses that generate a steady revenue stream for the criminals.

      A Trend Micro study recently found that roughly 25% of all infected computers belonged to businesses. It's often hard to know for sure whether your computer has been turned into a Hacker Bot. The best solution you can take is to contact a security expert to fully assess the machine.

      Before you call a security expert, there are a few initial steps you can take:
      1. Disconnect the potentially infected computer from the Internet. If the computer is infected, this step will immediately stop data from being stolen, and prevent attacks on other businesses.
      2. Search for any sensitive data on the potentially infected machine and move it to a clean computer. Another option is to move the data to an external hard drive for safe keeping.
      3. Clean the potentially infected computer using antivirus software. You can also hire a professional to utilize advanced tools to ensure a complete quarantine of your machine.
      If you don't yet believe any of your machines are infected, you are in a great spot. Prevention is the best cure and is much easier and cost-effective to implement long-term. You can start by ensuring that your antivirus definitions are always updated and you have downloaded (and installed) the latest security patches for Windows and the programs you run on Windows (especially Adobe Flash Player).

      You can also outsource your security maintenance to a company (such as MAX Communications), who can professionally perform monthly work on your machines remotely to ensure they are as padlock safe as possible. This saves you the time and headache of having to do the work yourself, and will also give you peace of mind knowing that your data is professionally secure.

      Contact us about our recently updated MaxMinder Plus Monthly Maintenance Program that includes 24x7 Network Monitoring, Management, Reporting, and Remote Remediation.  Prices starting as low as $199/mo.
      Call 847-348-3489, or Book an Appointment for your Free Network Audit.

      Wednesday, June 8, 2011

      Recover a Deleted File in Windows 7

      Windows 7 has a built-in tool called Previous Version that allows users to recover files they mistakenly delete. In order to recover deleted files you have to first make sure that System Restore is enabled so that Windows can automatically create restore points. These restore points are what you can revert a folder to in order to recover the files that existed at that time and date.

      Step 1 - Making Sure System Restore Is Enabled
      You can verify that System Restore is turned on by right-clicking Computer and selecting Properties. Next, you'll want to click the System Protection tab and then click the drive you wish to turn on System Restore. The C: drive is usually the drive selected. After selecting the desired drive and clicking OK, System Restore will be turned on if it was previously off.

      Step 2 - Recovering a Changed Document in Windows 7
      1. Open the folder where the file was located.
      2. Right-click in the white space within that folder.
      3. Select Properties and click OK.
      4. The Properties screen will then pop-up. In this screen, select the Previous Versions tab.
      5. The Previous Versions tab will then display various versions of changed or deleted files in that folder. These versions are based on automatic restore points created by System Restore.
      6. Choose the version time and date you wish to revert back to.
      7. Then click Open.
      8. You will then see all of the previous versions of files in that folder according to the time and date you selected.
      9. To recover one of those files, rick-click the file and select Send to and then choose the folder you wish to save the file to.
      That's it! Now you know how to recover lost files. It's a handy, useful tool that Microsoft built into Windows 7. We recommend you take full advantage of tne Previous Versions tool as it will save you headaches down the road.

      In addition, one of our favorite tools is available from www.Piriform.com and can be used to Recover Deleted Files on most version of Windows: Recuva.  It is a FREE Download and works well, even if the file has been removed from the Recycle Bin.

      If you have any questions, we are always here to help.  Call MAX Communications at 847-348-3489 or contact us through the web at www.HelpMeMax.com.

      Tuesday, May 31, 2011

      7 Steps to Cutting Costs in Your Business

      As a fellow business owner, I understand the importance of maximizing profits and cutting costs to grow a company. That is why all of the business computer consulting services we offer are designed to help our client's bottom line.

      This week's Business Computing Tip is a little different - dedicated to other ways you can save money at the workplace to free up resources for more useful places.

      Consider these 7 tips the next time you are balancing your budget:

      1. Migrating to laptop computers. Laptop computers consume approximately 90% less energy than standard desktop computers. Whenever possible, have your employees make the switch to laptops.
      2. Printer ink alternatives. Are you paying retail prices for your printer ink? Refilling your used cartridges (once) at places like Cartridge World, and buying recycled cartridges online can save you almost 50% off the suggested retail price.
      3. Evaluate your phone systems and usage. It's never too late to take a close look at your current phone plan and comparing your usage. Many times, business owners can reduce the number of lines they have or switch to an Internet-based phone system such as VoIP to reduce the costs of their bill.
      4. Review your weekly spending. If you find yourself buying office supplies once a week, consider the benefits of buying in bulk once a month. Run a quick cost comparison to see how much you could save by simply re-arranging your buying procedures.
      5. Hiring interns. Many colleges run a college credit program for internships. Simply contact the careers department and ask for information regarding their business partnership and intern programs. They are always on the lookout for opportunities for their students to work as interns in exchange for college credit.
      6. Turn off the lights. Turning off the lights in unused areas in your office workspace can greatly reduce your monthly electric bill.
      7. Leverage unused office space. If you have available space in your office that you do not actively use, consider subletting the space out. Sharing the rent and not paying for unused space are two great points to bring to the attention of your landlord.
      We'd love to hear YOUR suggestions on thsi topic - Post your ideas in the COMMENTS below...

      Monday, May 30, 2011

      Upgrading Your Computer on a Budget

      Replacing slow, obsolete parts in your computer can sometimes be a lot cheaper than buying a new one, and extend the life of your current PC for many more years. Many times, just a few small upgrades can make a world of difference in your computer's speed and overall performance.

      You can achieve the most performance boost by upgrading your computer RAM, video card, and/or hard drive. But -- before you decide whether an upgrade is the right choice for your computer, you'll want to find out what hardware or software your computer currently has. We recommend that you download and run a free software tool called Belarc Advisor. Belarc Advisor will generate a quick report with all your hardware and software components listed.

      Once you have your report generated, you are welcome to give us a call (847-348-3489) for a free consultation and we'll be happy to go over the list with you and explain which upgrade options would provide the biggest "bang for your buck."

      Here is a quick overview of the main upgrade options to consider:

      1. Upgrading your RAM
        RAM is often the cheapest and most significant upgrade you can give your computer. If your computer is older, it may have less than 1GB of RAM currently installed. This currently allows your computer to operate at only a fraction of it's overall capability. Upgrading to up to 4GB of RAM may increase speeds tremendously.
      2. Upgrading your Video Card
        If you, or members of your family, enjoy playing PC games, you will want to consider upgrading your computer's video card. It's quite possible that your current computer only has onboard video graphics, which is placing a great deal of processing burden on your motherboard. Upgrading to an advanced video card (which is separate from the motherboard) will improve the speed of your computer.
      3. Upgrading Your Hard Drive
        If your current hard drive has low storage space left, you should upgrade to a larger drive. Having more space will make your hard drive run cooler and work less. If you're low on space, your hard drive will bog your computer speeds down as it struggles to manage and move around your data. But more than that, the Hard Drive is a MECHANICAL device, and it wears down over time (due to fritcion), resulting in slower access to data and programs. Cloning your hard drive is best done BEFORE your run into problems.
      4. Upgrading Your Power Supply
        Most power supplies that ship with name brand computers are cheap, generic and ineffective at keeping your computer running cool. Upgrading to a modular power supply will more effectively pull hot air out of the computer case. The cooler your PC, the faster it will run.
      5. Upgrading Your Operating System
        If you're running Windows XP or Vista, it's time to consider upgrading to Windows 7. Windows 7 is easier on your system, more secure, more robust, and faster than all of it's predecessors. (see our earlier post on "Can my PC run Windows 7?")
      6. Upgrading Your Computer Monitor
        If you have an older computer monitor, you should consider upgrading to a large 20" HD monitor. Your experience with your computer and the internet will change dramatically and you'll find it more enjoyable.
      With our fragile economy, sometimes upgrading your computer is the best option for extending the life of your PC and improving overall performance. If you're considering any possible upgrades, we are happy to discuss your options further to help you make an intelligent decision that will reap you benefits for years to come.

      Give us a call at 847-348-3489 or email MAX Communications

      Saturday, May 28, 2011

      Five Tips For Going Green With Technology in the Workplace

      Now that computers have become just a vital part of the workplace, it's important to consider ways we can conserve energy. After all, every little bit counts. Not only will you save on your utility and maintenance bills, but you will also be contributing to the greater good of society.

      The following are 5 tips you can implement right now to go green with technology in your workplace:

      1. Remember to use your power management features on all computers. Set a company-wide policy that staff members place their computers into sleep mode when they are sitting idle. This should be done during breaks in the work day, as well as at the end of the day when it is time to go home.  If you use Intel VPro Network Cards, you can actually send a manageed control to "Shut Down" and "Wake Up" your network workstations on a scheduled basis.  (Ask us how - MAX Communications 847-348-3489)
      2. Use Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) or PowerSaver Power Strips on all of your electronic components (stop "power vampires"). Power supplies help regulate the flow of electricity to your devices and save from much of the leakage that can occur from plugging devices directly into the wall.
      3. Purchase Energy Star-rated Computers, Monitors, and Printers. A little research goes a long way. The next time you go to make a PC purchase, look for the Energy Star rating. This will tell you that the computer uses less power and will lesson the load on the environment.
      4. Detox your computers the next time you make a PC purchase. There are many chemicals in computers; however, several can (and should) be avoided at all costs. The first chemical to watch out for is lead. Other chemicals to avoid include mercury, Brominated Flame Retardants (BFR), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), cadmium, hexavalent, chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB), and Pentabromodiphenyl Ether (PBDE). Look for a hazardous material use policy on the manufacturer's website that you are looking to make a purchase from. It will take just a couple minutes of your time to research which brand to choose, and your decision to purchase green will help the fight to convince any reluctant manufacturer's to change their ways.
      5. Look for green buying guides. There are multitudes of websites online that are designed to help you make smart, green technology purchasing decisions. http://www.thedailygreen.com/ is a great place to start. 
      If you know of others, we'd like to share - post them in a COMMENT below...

      Friday, May 27, 2011

      Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

      Computer keyboard shortcuts are designed to save you valuable time and productivity. Yet, many computer users opt to stick to long-form commands, because they are afraid it will take too long to memorize shortcut combinations.

      The truth is, memorizing shortcut commands is easy and will eliminate unnecessary steps. Your hand muscles and cartilage will not have to work as hard and you will free up more time than you may think.

      In this week's post, we've decided to feature our list of the top 10 keyboard shortcut commands we believe will be the most useful to you:
      1. Ctrl + F
        This command opens the Find function in any program you are using. This includes your Internet browser as well to find text on a page.
      2. Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc
        This command quickly switches between open programs moving forward. Pressing Ctrl + Tab will switch between tabs in a program. Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards.

        If you are using Windows Vista or 7, you can press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.
      3. Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert
        This command copy's the highlighted text or selected item.
      4. Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert
        Use this command to paste the text you've copied from the clipboard to the spot your cursor is resting.
      5. Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
        This command will undo any change you've just made. For example, if you paste text, pressing this command will undo that paste. Usually, you can press this command multiple times to continue to undo previous commands further and further back in the order they were performed. Pressing Ctrl + Y will redo the undo.
      6. Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow
        Use this command to move your cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. To highlight one word at a time, hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction.
      7. Ctrl + Backspace
        Press this command to delete a full word at a time instead of a single character at a time.
      8. Ctrl + P
        This command will print the page you are currently viewing. This includes programs such as Microsoft Word and your Internet browsers.
      9. Ctrl + Home / End
        Use this command to move your cursor to the beginning or the end of your current document.
      10. Page Up / Spacebar and Page Down / Spacebar
        These commands will move your current document in either direction one full page at a time. When browsing the Internet, these commands will move your scrollbar one full page at a time in the direction you indicate.
      These commands are easy to learn, and will save you a lot of time throughout your day. Every second that you waste in unnecessary steps adds up to minutes, hours, and days throughout the years you use your computer. Taking a few minutes to learn these commands now is well worth the investment for the long term.

      If you are interested in our "Personal Computer Tutor" program that is customized for YOUR needs, give MAX Communications a call to setup a free consultation. 847-348-3489 

      Tuesday, April 12, 2011

      Fighting the Malware Battle

      Fighting the battle with malware can really hurt your business when you have to spend a great deal of your IT budget on software to protect your machines from infection. Here are some tips to do it for free.

      First, let's start with a definition of "malware" so that we are on the same page. Malware is malicious software (e.g. viruses, trojans, worms, adware, etc.) that is designed to secretly install on your computer with the sole purpose of wreaking havoc to the code or harvesting data.

      There are a few free tools we'd like you to be aware of that will help you create a "first line of defense" against an attack. While no "over the counter" software is a guaranteed cure-all, you can certainly decrease the effects of malware and save your organization dollars over the course of the year as a result of fewer attacks.

      You can fight malware with these free tools:
      1. Combofix - this software will assist in tracking down and removing malware. Make sure to disable your antivirus software first before running Combofix. 
      2. CCleaner - this handy tool does two things well. It cleans the Windows registry and removes cached web data. It's a good idea to do a backup of your registry before running this tool, but plan on experiencing a faster computer with less problems afterwards.
      3. Microsoft Security Essentials - looking for an antivirus program that is effective and causes little drain on your system? This tool is it, and the cost is zero.
      4. Malwarebyes - it always amazes us when clients are surprised that they need anti-spyware software in addition to antivirus protection. While antivirus software is effective at protecting against viruses, there is a long laundry list of other types of malicious code (a.k.a. malware) that you have to protect your machine against. That's where Malwarebyes comes into play.
      5. Clonezilla - one of our favorite tools for creating "clones" of your machine so that you can perform a restore in the future should something catastrophic happen to your data.
      There are many tools on the marketplace for businesses to use to protect their data and increase their company productivity. These 5 programs are a great place for you to start.

      Just keep in mind that not all computer problems are created equal and there is still a possibility that you will run into a situation that requires professional intervention. We are happy to assist if such a situation were to arise; however, we do feel it is important to educate our clients and enable them to implement steps they can perform on their own.

      Call MAX Communications at 847-348-3489 or connect for Remote Support via our website: www.HelpMeMax.com and "Share your Screen" to allow us to assist while you watch!

      Thursday, April 7, 2011

      How to Create a Home Computer First-Aid Kit

      As each day passes, and we enter further into the technology age, people become more reliant on computers to play vital roles in their personal and business lives.

      It's interesting to note that although this phenomenon continues to progress each year, the average computer user does not take any preventative measures to preserve their personal data, programs, and overall daily workflow.

      That is why we decided to dedicate this article to helping our clients plan ahead to prevent any dreadful circumstances that can come from relying so heavily on a device that is not preserved in some backup state.

      We've prepared a quick guide to creating your personal "home computer first aid kit," you can have peace of mind in knowing that your pictures, videos, programs, files, settings, banking data, etc. are recoverable should your computer crash or hardware fail.

      3 Elements of a "Home Computer First-Aid Kit"
      1. You'll want to start by bringing your computer to a perfect state of operating. Many times this can be acheived by re-installing Windows, updating your Windows updates, optimizing your personal settings, installing all of your favorite programs, organizing your personal folders and files, etc. We realize this is a lengthy step to take, but it is important to establish a "perfect state of operation" where your computer is running at optimal performance.
      2. The next step is to create a "system image" of your hard drive. There are various tools you can use to create an image of your computer. In layman's terms, a "system image" is like taking a picture of your hard drive that can be stored on a DVD (or two). That "picture" can then be restored onto your hard drive at any time. If your computer ever crashed, or you were interested in purchasing a new hard drive, this "system image" would come in handy as a convenient way to restoring your computer back to that perfect state.
      3. The next step in creating a "Home Computer First-Aid Kit" is to choose an online or offline backup system. There are websites online that will automatically backup your personal files (e.g. pictures, videos, music, software data, etc.). You can also purchase an external hard drive that has auto-backup capabilities.
      4. Once you have your "system image" and auto-backup system in place, you'll have peace of mind in knowing that your data, programs, settings, etc. are all recoverable.
      We realize that some of these steps are advanced and not everyone would feel comfortable performing them. Many of our clients hire us for the re-install, system imaging, and auto-backup installation. You are welcome to implement these steps yourself. If you feel you would rather a professional handle them, we are happy to assist.

      We cannot stress enough how important it is to protect your computer. We receive calls every week from clients who've lost everything, and it can be an extremely sudden and costly situation to be in. You can prevent this from happening to you if you go in with a plan.

      Contact MAX Communications at 847-348-3489 if you have questions, or would like assistance with these tips.

      Wednesday, February 9, 2011

      What You Need To Know About Computer Drivers

      Home Computing Tip-of-the-Month:
      Windows Device Manager
      Computer drivers are small pieces of software that tell your operating system (i.e. Windows 7) and other software programs how to communicate with a piece of hardware.  Recently we have had several instances where updating the printer drivers solved performance issues.

      Printers, for example, come packaged with drivers to install that tell your operating system exactly how to print information on a piece of paper. Sound card drivers tell your computer how to create audio signals that the card can output to your speakers.

      It's important to understand this, because as you update your operating system, install new programs, install new hardware components (i.e. printers, cameras, speakers, etc.), download sytem updates from the Internet, etc., your existing drivers will likely become outdated and cause your hardware components not to function properly.

      If you run into a situation where your hardware is not working (e.g. your printer no longer prints, your speakers no longer play audio, etc.), you will likely need to run a driver update.

      Drivers are updated in Windows by using a driver update wizard from within Device Manager. About.com has a great article on Device Managers that will provide you with more details. You can also do a search online at the manufacturer's website (usually under "Support") for Driver/Software Updates to help you do the job. If this does not sound like something you feel comfortable performing yourself, you can always consider hiring a computer consulting firm, like MAX Communications, to assist you.

      ** Call us at 847-348-3489 and we can even assist you via Remote Control (visit our website at www.HelpMeMax.com for more info) **

      Wednesday, February 2, 2011

      Why and How You Should Recycle Your Old Computers

      Home Computing Tip-of-the-Month:
      We've decided to focus this month's Home Computing Tip-of-the-Month on an important global effort to curb electronic waste. Below, you will find free computer recycling options for you to safely dispose of your electronics in a way that will not harm the environment.

      Did you know that up to 43 million metric tons of electronic waste are not recycled each year? Instead, they are dumped into landfills and end up in third-world countries where children and parents strip the toxic material down for cash. Many of our clients that we speak to about this don't realize that computers can contain chromium, nickel and zinc. Even worse, LCD monitors can contain mercury.

      The following graph shows the dire state of recycling in 2007 of TVs, Computer Products, and Cell Phones.
      How to Recycle:
      If you have a local Staples store near your home, you can take any old Dell products to the customer service desk, and Staples will recycle them for free. Staples will recycle non-Dell products for $10. Each item is bagged, sealed, and then recycled by Eco International. Staples also will give you $2 in Staples Rewards for any ink cartridges you drop off.

      There are many Staples alternatives to recycling your computers, such as EcoSquid, Earth 911, My Green Electronics, TechSoup, RBRC, and many more. For a comprehensive list of local recycling resources, kindly visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency's page.

      As a side note: MAX Communications is offering the additional service of WIPING any DATA off the old hard drives, then supplying you with a certificate for your records to show that the data was cleared prior to the computer being recycled.  For more on this service to protect the privacy of the information you had stored, contact us today at 847-348-3489.


      Wednesday, January 26, 2011

      What To Do If Your Windows XP, Vista or 7 Operating System Is Not Shutting Down Properly

      Is your Windows operating system hanging up when you try to shut it down? Are you forced sometimes to hold the power button to force it to shut down?
      This is something that can happen after a virus update, after a new software install, or for no reason at all.

      The first thing you will want to do is run your anti-virus software to check for a malware infection. If no infection is found, then the next step is to determine which software program on your computer is causing the hangup.

      While there is no quick fix that guarantees you will find the faulty program on your own, one option you have is to review the programs that are set to auto-start when you turn your computer on. Here's what to do:
      1. Click the START button and type msconfig into your search box.
      2. Click the START-UP tab. This tab will show you all the programs that are set to auto-start with your computer.
      3. Go through the list of programs with a checkmark and uncheck the ones that you know for sure do not need to startup with your computer (e.g. - AIM, Quicktime, etc.).
      4. After you have made your changes, save them and restart the computer.
      5. After you restart your computer, you can always go back through steps 1.-3. and CHECK the box next to programs you WANT to startup, in case you need them.
      CAUTION: Changing your startup configuration can negatively impact your computer's functionality if you deselect a critical process that is needed to run. Only make changes that you are 100% certain about. 

      You are welcome to call us (847-348-3489) if you are not sure and we will be happy to assist you.  We can even connect in remotely and you can learn as you watch us make the changes.  For more info on this service, check out our website at www.HelpMeMax.com and download CrossLoop.



      Tuesday, January 25, 2011

      Can my PC run Windows 7?

      Can my PC run Windows 7? Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium UPGRADE DVD

      If you scroll down that page, you will see
      a large BLUE Button with white lettering to
      [ Download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor ]
      Click that button to go to the page for the actual [ Download ] Button. When Downloading, save the file to the Desktop, so you can find it easily.

      In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista, it can run Windows 7. But if you're not running Windows Vista, or are just not sure if your system is ready to run Windows 7, there's a quick way to do a simple check. (Most systems purchased since September 2009 will be compatible, if you have enough RAM and Disk Space available).

      Just download, install, and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor... You'll get a report telling you if your PC can run Windows 7 and if there are any known compatibility issues. If an issue can be resolved, you'll get suggestions for next steps. For example, it may let you know that you need an updated driver for your printer and where to get it.

      Before you begin
      Before you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in any USB devices or other devices such as printers, external hard drives, or scanners that are regularly used with the PC you're evaluating.

      Download the Windows 7 Upgrade  Advisor Beta
      To run the Advisor, follow the install prompts, the LAUNCH the Advisor program and let’ er run…
      Find out with the Windows Upgrade Advisor

      After you’re finished and satisfied with the results, you might want to head over to the following page to learn more about the Upgrade Process, with some good tips on how to keep things running smoothly:
      http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

      On the right side of that page are some links to other helpful resources.

      What if I don't want to do it myself?
      If the whole process seems to “daunting” for you, we can schedule a time to have MAX Communications come in and run it through the upgrade process.

      Let us know if you have any other questions…Or just call 847-348-3489 - we're happy to help!