Prior-I.T. Technology Triage

10/06/2021

Tip for the day:

If you love playing games on your PC, please be careful of what you download. Not everything you see online that looks exciting and enticing is meant to be on your computer.

Some of these games may have malicious programs embedded in them, and the next thing you know, you've exposed yourself to ransomware, malware, adware, and other things that can cause your computer to run slow, or even crash. In the event of a crash, data recovery can be time consuming as well as expensive. But we can talk about that another time.

There might even be spyware! Not a good thing. It could exposed your private data to hackers, who may steal your identity and use it to buy goods and services in your name, benefitting from it while causing you unwanted grief.

A while back, I had recommended Psiphon, which is a virtual private network. There are others that boast high effectiveness, but you may have to pay a fee. I personally use the free version of Psiphon, and it works well, although there may be some limitations, such as access to some websites.

If you need IT support services, please feel free to contact me!

09/30/2021

Computer still running slow? Here's a very old hack for that!

1. Click on Start
2. Start typing MSCONFIG (either caps or lowercase), then hit Enter
3. When the System Configuration window opens, you'll be on the General tab; if Normal startup is ticked off, that means all device drivers and all services that run in the background on your computer are starting up when you sign into Windows...choose Selective startup
4. Click on the Boot tab, then click the Advanced options button
5. Put a check in the box next to Number of processors, and click the drop down arrow; you'll see how many processors are installed in your computer
6. Choose the highest number of processors
7. Put a check in the box next to Maximum memory; a number might automatically show up in that box, but if it doesn't, here's how to find out how much memory you have installed
8. Click on Start, type Control Panel, then hit Enter
9. Click on System, and take note of the Installed RAM
10. Multiply 1024 by the number you see next to Installed RAM, for example, 28 x 1024 = 28672
11. Type that number you get into the Maximum memory field, then click OK
12. Click Apply, then OK again, then restart your computer

You should noticed a difference in how fast the computer boots up, how fast your desktop icons show up, and how fast you are able to open programs.

If you need more speed, RAM upgrades may be available for your computer. Contact me for a detailed estimate!

09/30/2021

Computer running a little slow? Try clearing your temporary internet files!

Take these steps:
1. Click on the Start button
2. Type "Internet Options" without the quotes, and hit Enter
3. In the Internet Properties window, on the General tab, click on the Delete button, which is towards the bottom right
4. Make sure all of the boxes in the next window have checks in them, then click the Delete button
5. Let the process complete; if it takes a long time, that generally means that you have a whooooooole lot of temporary internet files saved on your hard drive

When you visit websites, a small piece of information is saved on your computer that allows you to access that website a little faster the next time you decide to go back to it. They're also known as cookies. Over time, they accumulate, and can slow down your computer. If you've ever heard anyone say, "Clear your cookies," that's what they're talking about.

Next hack...

Using all available memory and processors on your computer!

If you're not computer savvy and may be leery about doing these steps on your own, contact me!

667-207-4345 (text is the best and fastest way to reach me)

01/21/2021

Tech tip of the week...looks like I'll have to do it on a weekly basis:

If you want a free, private VPN (virtual private network) for your mobile device and your home computer, check out Psiphon.

It will encrypt your data and tunnel your internet, even make it look like you're in another location. Keep your internet browsing and your personal data safe from hackers and prying eyes.

Best of all, the basic version is free.

www.psiphon.ca

Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content

01/08/2021

Hello, all! Just thought that you'd like to know the qualifications of the owner.

Transparency, honesty, integrity, and customer service. Expect this, and more from Prior-I.T. Technology Triage.

No pirated software used on customer's computers. That includes hacks, activations, keyloggers, or anything that will compromise the integrity of your system or data. Ever.

Details of steps taken to resolve your issues, which will be displayed on every invoice.

Reasonable rates, which are below the market standard, and easy on your personal or business finances.

Time and location accounting based on geolocation provided by Google Timeline, down to the minute.

Here is the owner's resume:

01/07/2021

Tech tip of the day:

Keep your browser and download history as close to empty as possible. Here's how:

For Internet Explorer:

1. In Windows 10, click on the Start button (lower left corner of your screen, looks like a window with four squares), and type "Internet Options" without the quotes.
2. You should see at least one search result on the Start menu. If you see Internet Options, click on it.
3. When the Internet Properties window opens, click on Delete on the General tab.
4. If you're on a personal computer that you own, you might want to preserve your Favorites (leave that checked), Download History (uncheck that box), Form Data (leave that unchecked), and Passwords (leave that unchecked). If it's a work computer, depending on the settings, you may want to do the same thing with those four options.
5. Click the Delete button. A status box will open, showing you an indicator bar, and when the data has been deleted, it will automatically close.
6. Click Apply, then OK on the Internet Options window.

You can also put a check in the box next to Delete browsing history on exit, and skip these steps. Keeping your browser history empty helps to keep your computer running a little faster. Although keeping your temporary files may load pages faster, especially ones that you've visited before, after a while, those files will pile up.

Check back tomorrow for another tech tip! If you are in need of service, please text your request to 667-207-4345.

Until next time...

01/06/2021

Remote support services are available! Internet access is required for remote support access.

01/06/2021

Visit this page for tech tips and tricks to help make your computing and entertainment life easier!

01/06/2021

Low cost and efficient IT support and services, flat and hourly rates are available! Available services include:

• Server support and configuration/administration
• Active Directory Domain Services configuration/administration
• DNS server configuration
• Backup and restoration
• Print server configuration
• Software deployment and installation on server
and workstations
• Network scanning/SMB/FTP configuration
• Virus/malware/Trojan/keygen removal and remediation
• Router/switch and internet connectivity setup
• Email backup and restoration
• Desktop/helpdesk support
• Office 2019/2016/2013/2007/XP/365 installation and support

And more!

Prior-I.T. Technology Triage (formerly TCG PC & Networking Services) is a Baltimore-based sole proprietorship. With more than 20 years of experience and multiple certifications under the belt, you can rest assured that you will receive expert and high quality service. The goal is to resolve your IT-related issues in a timely fashion and to return you to operational status with low downtime.

For price quotes and consulting, text 667-207-4345, or via email at [email protected].

Prior-I.T. Technology Triage...where your issue is our number one priority!