In this post we are going to share with you a video on how to install and configure Avast! 5.0 for optimum protection against threats out there on the internet today.

We worked on a computer the past couple days and found that a malicious piece of software disabled the desktop and taskbar from showing up. After checking the registry we found that it was an entry modifying the userinit process. When this happens, it keeps anything from loading up, leaving you with a blank screen. Luckily this wasn’t a huge problem to fix. It was as simple as doing a little editing in the registry and it was fixed and booting up normally with the exception of a few malware applications coming up which we removed.

We ended up keeping this computer in the shop for three days and dropped the computer off to the client at work to keep her from having to schedule a time to pick it up because she’s a very busy woman!

A lot of people are impressed with the network speed on the HTC Hero with nTelos, especially when I commend them on facebook all of the time for giving me such great speeds (1.2 Mbps right now, actually). I’m writing this while being tethered on my mac via pdanet, but Iwon’t go into detail on the mac tethering, I’ll save that for another tip at a later date!

Anyway, let’s get started!

The first thing you will need to do is download the software here:

http://www.htc.com/uk/SupportDownload.aspx?p_id=283&cat=3&dl_id=852

After you install this software on your Windows-based computer and restart, get your HTC Hero out and perform the following steps-
Go to your home screen on your Hero
press menu button
tap settings
tap wireless controls
tap mobile network sharing at the bottom.
You should now be online on your desktop through your phone.
Simple as that! Let me know how it goes!

Last week we added OpenOffice.org to our list of open source software NOBODY should be without. Today we’re going to take a look at how to fix the problem of not being able to open the newest word document files in it. (.docx extension).

The best way to get around this is to use an online converter found at http://www.docx2doc.com/convert/docx-to-doc

Some people would rather have something that’s handy while on dial up or something not needing an internet connection. A program you can keep on your thumb drive at all times. If this is the case you may want to have a look at:

http://www.panergy-software.com/products/docxconverter/index.html ($19.95)

After using either of these methods you will be left with a .doc file which is easily opened with OpenOffice.Org

On Thursday, February 11th, 2010, PCRepairWV acquired a new client, an attorney in Clarksburg, WV. They have had some problems with their network for quite some time now, and they decided to contact us. We went out yesterday to complete a site survey and see what we could do to help get them get out of their predicament. Before going in, we spoke on the phone and found out that the previous technician never set the network up correctly. So we will be going in on Wednesday to reconfigure the whole network. We got started on the job yesterday during the site survey and found that they have a NAS server with 2GB and will be implementing it as a file server that is accessible by all employees of the law firm. This will put an end to the receptionist running upstairs to get a document she needs, and keep the assistants from having to go to the main office to get a document. Instead all documents that need to be shared will be done so via a single mapped drive.

We will be back in their office on Wednesday to complete the new computer set up and to get everything transferred over to the NAS. We’ll report back when we are finished with the job.

I just want to introduce this category by saying I’ll put up a tip at least every other week about keeping your computer running smoothly, tricks everyone should know, and how you can keep everything up to date. We’re gonna make this first tip EXTRA quick. It’s a simple keyboard shortcut called cut (or copy) and paste. Most people go up to edit on the menu and select the two items; however, there is an easier way since your left hand is (assummably) already on the keyboard:

After you drag your mouse over the text you’d like to select (with the left button being pressed down as you slide the mouse over the text) press and hold the ctrl button (or cmd if you are using an apple computer) and then press the letter “c” right above the keyboard. When you are to the place you want to put that copied text, you want to hold the ctrl (or cmd) button again and press the “v” key right beside the c key. Now, if yo want to get a little more advanced and “cut” then you can use the “x” key. You’ll notice that all three of the operations are performed with the three keys that are right in a row.

That’s all for now, until the next time, happy computing!

Currently we are awaiting a part to replace a 40GB hard drive in a laptop with a brand new 160GB. The owner of the laptop does a lot of music recording and watches movies on their laptop and needed more space to be able to hold all the information.

If you, or someone you know needs more room for their files, get a hold of us today at (304) 641-5321 and we will get them set up with a brand new hard drive to hold all that information!

OpenOffice.Org definitely deserves the first mention when it comes to open source software. Computers now days ALWAYS come with a trial version of the latest Office released by Microsoft. Be it 2003, 2007, and soon to be Office 2010. The only problem is, when these trials run out many people don’t want to spend all that money when they aren’t going to be using the suite very often, or when they just don’t want to pay that much money period. Luckily, with Open Office.Org you won’t have to pay the outrageous prices and you’ll still get ALMOST the same functionality as if you had the costly Microsoft Office suite.

With OpenOffice.org, rest assured you can do everything from creating word documents, to creating presentations like PowerPoint does. You can eve create spreadsheets and printable materials like brochures, business cards, and create labels with Avery templates.

For more information check out the download section!