It’s tons of fun getting a new device. Whether it’s a new desktop, laptop or phone: the thrill of getting it home and opening the box is great. We know, we love tech too. It even has its own version of new car smell! Once you get it home though, there are a number of things that need to be done before it’s really usable – beyond snazzing it up with a new case or mousepad.

The sellers like to say it’s ready to use straight from the box – and it is – except not quite the way you need it to work. They’ll all turn on, look for wifi, and sure, you can type…but rather like when you buy a new fridge, simply turning it on isn’t enough – it’s still empty and you’re still hungry.  A few minutes now to prep your new device will save you time, stress, and quite possibly money.
Today, we’re talking vital tech prep for new devices:

Security Updates and Fixes
From the factory to your hands, that device has been in the box for at least a month. In the world of security, that’s an eternity. During that time on the shelf, new viruses have come out and new software weaknesses have been discovered. Fortunately, new updates to combat these problems were also created, they just haven’t been downloaded to your device yet. We can make sure your essential software is up-to-date and set to stay that way. That way, you know your device is safe to go online.

Data Transfer From Old to New
Some people want to transfer everything from one device to another, others like to have a fresh start and keep the old device as a backup. We can either transfer your data entirely or just the things you use. For computers, we can even turn your old hard drive into an external drive that you can plug into your new computer and grab files as required.
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Setting up Hardware
If your new device is a computer, you’ll need to hook it up to extra tech like a printer or webcam. These tasks that should be plug-and-play can sometimes send you loopy, especially when you’ve got a plug mismatch or incompatible drivers. We can help get you set up, with everything tested and working.

Setting up Email and Software
This is one people commonly forget and then struggle with. Email clients in particular, need special configuration to connect properly. Quite often, we find people are stuck only able to receive, with overflowing unsent mail that won’t go anywhere! We’ll get all your personal software and accounts up and going.

Setting up the Network
While tapping in a WiFi password is easy enough, it doesn’t mean your browsing is secure, or even as fast as it could possibly be. We can quickly determine which connectivity method will be best for your device and your needs, and hook you up with fast, robust security measures.

Lockdown Privacy & Permissions
Whether you have children and are looking to provide a safe online experience, files you’d prefer to keep private, or simply want to set up ‘profiles’ for each user to have their own login, we can quickly get your new device configured to meet your needs.
 
We love to help. Give us a call at 715-255-0325 and we'll get your new device up and running.

Maintaining your privacy while using the internet has become more challenging over the years. The recent Facebook privacy scandal made that abundantly clear, with users shocked at how much information had been recorded about them. While it’s almost impossible to enjoy the internet and leave zero digital footprints, there are things you can do to hide your online activities - some more effective than others.

1. Get A Virtual Private Network (VPN)
VPNs aren’t just for business and downloaders now, they’ve gone mainstream. Once set up, it creates an encrypted connection from your computer to the VPN providers computer. The other computer could be in another city or another country. When you visit a website, it can only see the VPN computer - not yours. You essentially run around the internet pretending to be another computer, in another location. Since your connection is encrypted, even your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online, making your usage anonymous.

The Downsides: Because your internet usage must route through another computer first, your browsing and download speed could be affected. They can be tricky to set up and not all VPNs offer the same privacy levels or performance (the better ones tend to be more expensive). Some websites may even block visits from people using VPNs, so you may end up switching it on/off as required.

2. Go Incognito
Most browsers have a private browsing mode, each called something different. For example, Google Chrome calls it ‘incognito’, while Microsoft calls it ‘InPrivate’. Before you take the name at face value, it’s a good idea to talk about how they define ‘private’. Unlike a VPN where you can dance around the internet anonymously, private browsing simply means it won’t show up in your browser history, and what you entered into forms is also not recorded. This feature is free, so you always have the option to use it, and it’s actually more helpful than you might think. Common uses include price shopping to reset sale timers and access local-only pricing.

The Downsides: It can’t pre-fill saved passwords and it won’t help you type in the website name even if you’ve been there before.

3.  Think About Who’s Watching
While you might be naturally careful when using a public computer have you thought about who’s watching what you do on your work computer? Some workplaces have employee monitoring software that tracks all sorts of data, including taking screenshots of your desktop. It helps them create rules about computer usage and helps them maintain legal compliance, but it may also provide them with evidence you’ve been breaking those rules. We do NOT recommend using VPNs or making other unauthorized modifications to the computers you use at work. Your company may already use a VPN and installing your own can not only lead to technical problems but may also compromise the security of your entire workplace. Your IT staff or provider is the only one who should be working on these systems. Work computers should be used for work only, save personal browsing and entertainment for home.

Stepping out to the internet cafe with your laptop can be even more risky, as people can install keyloggers that record every keystroke, including your credit card numbers and logins. You’ll never know your activities are being recorded, even if you use private browsing, as these attacks are generally perpetrated on the entire network.

The Downsides: None. Awareness of the risks and the possibility of being watched ensures you’re more likely to use the internet safely.
While private browsing can help keep your internet usage under wraps, it’s not a magic bullet to cover all possibilities. Many people believe they’re invisible AND invulnerable while private browsing, a mistake they end up paying for. You’ll still need solid anti-virus and password habits to protect against threats, and to be a smart internet user who avoids suspect websites. Consider the options above as privacy-enhancing measures, not one-stop solutions.
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Need help with your online privacy? Give us a call at 715-255-0325.

Congratulations on your new business! Start-up costs can easily escalate, and tech is often one of the bigger expenses. It’s not that everything is high priced, but the sheer number of technologies available can overwhelm smart decision making. The latest tech is dangled in front of you with amazing features you didn’t know you needed, and suddenly your budget has gone boom!
Here’s how to get the tech right for your business, without the headache and drama.

1. Check If You Actually Need It
In a lot of cases, using a cloud application means you can skip the big server purchase, along with the on-site technician to manage it. Many of your business programs will have a cloud option that allows you to get all the benefits without the big expense. Before you make the tech purchase, work out which applications you’ll be running and whether a local installation or cloud access is preferred. As part of this stage, think about how you’d like to use the applications - perhaps remote access is a priority, or perhaps collaboration will underpin your business culture. This level of clarity is often overlooked and the number 1 reason why tech expenses spiral.

2. Get Expert Advice
It’s easy to ask friends and family what to buy, but there are many more factors to consider than just their personal preference. You trust their opinion, of course, but they may be speaking from a consumer perspective or basing their recommendation on brand loyalty. Every business is different and pairing the correct technology with the business will save you a lot of money in the long run.

3. Buy Business Grade
Unfortunately, the computers and laptops you see in department stores aren’t up to business standard. They’re designed for home users to perform quick tasks, not run a full 8 hour (or more) workload. Business grade systems have additional features that your business needs, plus longer warranties and better support. Even the attached devices like networking or printers are built to a higher standard, to last longer and perform better. Considering the cyber climate we live in, taking a special interest in the security offered by the business grade technology is a wise decision.

4. Prioritize Flexibility
Businesses evolve rapidly during their first few years and the last thing you want to do is go out and buy new tech, playing catch-up with your vision and smushing together an assorted mismatch of devices. Your new technology should be as scalable as your business, which means making purchase decisions based on strategy, not price. Perhaps this means instead of workstations for employees, you only need tablets. Rather than having a fixed point of sale system, you might choose mobile checkout devices so your staff can assist customers on the go. These examples highlight how easy it is to commit to certain tech because it’s ‘what you do’ but later discover you’re locked into a certain way of doing business. Trying to change your processes down the line impacts productivity, efficiency and culture in a big way, so we recommend buying with your future success in mind.

5. Choose an IT Partner
During your set up and moving ahead through growth, you’ll need an IT partner who can not only help with your purchase strategy but support you through any tech problems as they arise. That’s the difference between a partner and a supplier, they’re committed to driving long-term business success.
You’ll be able to call on your partner and know they’re immediately up to speed with your business, they know how IT can help leverage your competitive advantage and which critical systems they should focus on. Getting good tech in place shouldn’t be seen as just an expense. It improves productivity and allows you to serve your customers better while enjoying consistent growth.
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If you need an IT partner to help your business grow, give us a call at 715-255-0325.

When was the last time you used a fax machine? Once as ubiquitous as the telephone, the fax machine has largely been relegated to the dustbin of history. I myself often chuckle when someone wants to send me a fax. It’s the 21st century after all, right? These days, email and other Internet-based forms of communication have largely replaced the humble fax machine, though you can still find them in certain industries such as banks. Why, you may ask? Well it has nothing to do with security or even reliability. No, the main reason the fax is still in use 175 years later is because some current laws do not recognize electronic signatures. When sent via fax, a signature is received as a direct, legal copy.

Wait, the fax machine has been around for nearly 200 years? Surely, I have my dates wrong, right? Well, if you’ve read some of my previous What’s Old Is New Again articles, you’ll know that I love to find the ancient roots of our modern life. Yes friends, the fax machine, wonder that it is, was invented by the Scotsman Alexander Bain and patented in 1843 as the “Electric Printing Telegraph.” To put the timeline in perspective, the United States was only about 67 years old at the time and John Tyler was our tenth president (succeeding William Henry Harrison, who died after his first month in office).

Ok, enough US history, back to the fax machine. Early analog fax machines used electricity and paper soaked in potassium ferricyanide to produce images. When current is applied to the paper via a stylus, the paper turns black. By pulsing the current, you can create lines and with enough lines, a two-dimensional image. The tricky part here, is to get both the sending and receiving machines in sync. While this is fairly easy to do when in the same room, transmitting across a vast distance was more difficult. Bain’s solution was to utilize a pendulum attached to an electric clock (which he also developed) on both ends. This kept the units in sync, no matter the distance between them. Despite his early success, Bain did little to develop his invention further and eventually the patent expired, allowing others to expand upon his work.  

Giovanni Caselli (among others) followed Bain’s work and presented his Pantelegraph (essentially a combination of a pantograph and a telegraph) to Napolean II in 1860 and his device saw some limited commercial use during this period. Yep, European businesses were using fax machines while our nation was fighting the Civil War. However, the Pantelegraph was too far ahead of it’s time. The pace of business life was so slow at the time that there was little demand for it, and the Pantelegraph soon failed largely due to lack of customers.

Development of wired facsimile transmission would continue through the 1800s and into the early 1920s.  In 1924, Richard Ranger of RCA invented the wireless Photoradiogram, the forerunner of our current fax machines. The first photograph transmitted by transoceanic radio facsimile was a picture of President Calvin Coolidge on November 29th, 1924.

In the late 1930s, a curious new business soon sprang up, that of the “radio newspaper,” in which an abbreviated newspaper would be transmitted on AM radio frequencies to ordinary radios with a special printer attached. The radio set would receive the signal and print the newspaper directly in your home. Despite the amazing business potential and multiple competitors, this exciting way of receiving news proved too expensive, and the technical limitations too great to effectively compete with traditional daily newspapers, and “flash” bulletins broadcast over standard radio.

Jumping ahead again to 1966, the Xerox Corporation released the Magnafax Telecopier, a small (46lb) device that connected to a standard telephone line and could transmit a letter-sized document in six minutes. This was a great improvement over Xerox’s LDX system of 1964, which came in two pieces (one to send, another to receive), weighed 1,100lbs combined and could be leased for $800 a month. For comparison, modern fax machines only weigh a few pounds and cost less than $100.

These and other advancements led to the device we are familiar with today. And although the electronic components are much smaller now, the basic principles are still the same. Small and fast, for a few decades faxing something was one of the fastest ways to send documentation around the world. Alas, the fax machine eventually became a victim of its own success. The advances in telecommunications that the fax machine helped usher in proved to be its undoing. The fax machine’s advantages were soon eclipsed by things like email and instant messaging. In addition to being easier and faster to use, email was also cheaper, especially when being sent long distance.
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So the next time you need to use a fax machine, and someone makes fun of you about how email is better, you can blow their minds by telling them the history of this humble little machine, and the role it played in the advent of modern communications.

New computers are whisper quiet, seeming to run on pure magic, but after a while computers can start making some pretty weird noises. Clicks, clunks, and about-to-take-off jet noises are the most common, but when should you worry? Your computer has a number of moving parts and even some stationary parts that can make noises. If you’re listening, your computer might be telling you about its current health and how you can help it run smoother, for longer.

When You Hear A Clicking Noise: This could be normal if it’s more like a soft tick. Mechanical hard drives work a bit like a record player with a needle and platter, so you might simply be hearing it spin up and move the needle around. When it starts sounding like a loud click it’s usually the needle hitting the platter too hard or bouncing around. If your hard drive has started making alarming noises, you should bring it in as soon as possible. Just like a record player, scratches that ruin your data are possible, and if ignored for long enough, it doesn’t just skip and have trouble reading the drive, the whole thing can become unusable.
Our technicians can copy the files onto a new drive before it gets to that point, but retrieving data from a destroyed hard drive is rarely achieved without CSI-level expenses. It’s easier and much cheaper to replace the hard drive at the first sign of failure.

When You Hear A Clunking Noise: Unsurprisingly, this one causes certain alarm. Computers aren’t meant to go clunk!  It may be a simple matter of a cable having shifted into the path of a fan and getting clipped during the spin. Remember when you pegged a card between your bicycle spokes? It might sound a little like that, skipping every now and then as it’s pushed away and drops back again. If that’s the case, our technicians will quickly secure the cable back where it belongs.

When You Hear A Jet-Engine Noise: Most computers and laptops have fans to keep them cool. The fans have to spin to move the air around, and the faster they’re spinning, the more noise they make. We start to worry when the jet-engine noise gets out of hand and it’s not just while you’re playing a resource-intensive game or doing some video editing. Constant jet-engine noise indicates your computer is struggling to cool itself down, perhaps because the fan vents are clogged with dust, your computer is in a poorly ventilated space, or the fan itself is worn. Each fan has ball bearings inside that wear out over time, making extra noise while it does the best it can. Our technicians can replace individual fans quickly and give your system a checkup to make sure nothing else has been affected.

When It’s Beep City: Your computer’s friendly beep as you switch it on actually has multiple meanings. It’s not just saying hello. The single beep you normally hear indicates that it’s run a self-test and everything is fine. When your computer is very unwell, you might hear more beeps than usual. This is because each beep combination is a code to technicians, letting us know what’s gone wrong.

Certain beep combinations mean the memory is loose or damaged, others that the video adapter has a problem, etc. If your computer has started beeping differently, let our technicians know so we can decode it and repair the problem for you.

Some noises your computer makes will be normal, others a sign of deeper issues. Even if your computer seems to be operating correctly, a sudden onset of weird noises could mean failure is just around the corner. Taking early action ensures problems don’t escalate, costs are kept low, and your files remain where they belong.
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Got some weird noises coming from your computer? Give us a call today at 715-255-0325.

Travelling soon? For most people, this also means making sure your tech is packed and ready for the adventure. Smartphones, eBook readers, tablets, laptops and smart watches are now so light and portable that you’d never think of leaving them behind, plus they can add a ton of value your experience.
Here are a few tips to consider before you hit the road.

1.  Backup to The Cloud
While you’re jet setting around, relaxing on a beach or hiking your way to freedom, your tech is always going to be exposed to a level of risk. This might range from accidentally leaving your laptop at a cafe to having it stolen from your bag, but either way the problem is the same - your data is now gone. If you’ve backed up your devices to the cloud (e.g. Evernote, Microsoft OneNote or Google Drive) you’ll be able to access your files easily and securely from anywhere.
Hot tip: Scan or save important documents like itineraries and passports to the cloud.

2. Pack the Right Cables
Begging random strangers for a loan of their cable isn’t much fun, so remember to bring the exact cables and chargers you’ll need. Most smartphones and tablets use universal plugs like Micro USB, USB C or Apple Lightning, so you can get away with only packing one cable. Many locations now offer powered USB ports but be sure to also pack the right charger as well, it’s a convenience you’ll appreciate. If you’re travelling overseas and the socket is different, remember to pack a plug converter, and depending on your destination, you might even find the voltage is different. It’s a good idea to check whether you also need a voltage converter before you try and charge.

3. Download Offline Data
It’s no secret that global roaming can give nasty bill shocks. The easy access data you normally use over Wi-Fi or get included in your cell plan has us all accustomed to being connected. While travelling, you might find yourself in a location where data costs a fortune or it’s not available at all. Download any files you might need, including important documents like itineraries and bookings, so that you can access them even without a connection.

4. Update and Scan
Just like you’d make sure you’ve got the right vaccinations and travel gear, make sure your tech is ready to travel too. Set aside a few minutes to run updates for your operating systems and apps, as well as your anti-virus. Go one step further and run a manual anti-virus scan too. The last thing you want to deal with one your trip is a cyber attack!  While you’re doing your pro-active thing, turn on password protection for all devices so that only you can unlock them.
Hot tip: Use a complex password that is hard for thieves to guess.

5. Mark Your Territory
Almost exactly the way it sounds, let everyone know this tech belongs to you. Write your cell number on portable devices in case you get separated so whoever finds it can give you a quick call and save the day.  Don’t want to use permanent marker on your shiny tech? Grab some sticky labels you can peel off when you get home.

You can also get little Bluetooth tracking tags to stick to your gear, so that if you ever lose something you can chase it down. Similarly, you might like to consider enabling the ‘find my device’ feature on your mobile devices. Having this feature switched on also means you can disable your device remotely, an excellent security option if it’s been stolen.

Need help preparing your tech for travel? Give us a call at 715-255-0325.

That pop up just won't leave. It’s been hounding you to upgrade your software and clearly, it has zero intention of giving you a moment's rest. That software wants to be upgraded and it wants it now.
With a grudging sigh, you click and let it upgrade in the background. Maybe now it will let you get some work done. Except instead of grabbing a competitive advantage by having the latest and greatest edition, you quickly discover it's given you the exact opposite. Your essential hardware no longer works, you've got errors all over the place, and that application no longer runs at all.
Your urgent upgrade was more of an instant downgrade.

Before you click that nagging upgrade button, consider the following:

Is the Upgrade Going to Work With Your Current Systems?
If your project management software no longer talks to your scheduling software, you've got a problem.  It's reasonable to expect the upgrade to have gone through robust testing and bug fixes, but even the mega corporations are caught out in an instant.

Is Your Current Solution Still an Option?
Developers cease support of older software versions after a certain date. In these cases, continuing to use an outdated version leaves your system vulnerable, without patches and security updates.  If your software is at the end of its cycle, you'll need to upgrade regardless.  This, however, gives you the perfect opportunity to revise your selection and make some experienced decisions - upgrade or replace.

Will This Upgrade Benefit Your Business?
Some upgrades are purely cosmetic. They look great and the developers pitch them as the latest and greatest, but without additional innovation on offer, you're better to wait.
On the other hand, if the upgrade is going to have a positive effect on productivity, efficiency or customer satisfaction, definitely put it on your to-do list. Hold off for just a few moments though, while your IT technicians research any conflicts that might arise.

Being an early adopter isn't always the best idea. Sometimes you need to let your other software packages catch up, and compatibility issues will always be relevant. It's more important than ever before to take your time and research the upgrade to see how others have fared - before things come crashing down.
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Call us at 715-255-0325 for a quick compatibility check before you click!
Speaking of upgrades, here are….

With Office 365, it seems common sense has finally prevailed, giving customers the changes they actually want. It’s still Office, and you will still know exactly how to work it, but you’ll get so much more done.

1. The Whole Mac/Windows Drama Is Over
Office 365 brings with it a stack of benefits, but perhaps the most relieving is the in-built file compatibility across all platforms. No more converting (or corrupting) files back and forth, productivity black holes have essentially been eliminated.

2. It’s Always Ready to Go
Microsoft is so confident in their cloud-based software and data storage; they’re giving a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Work online, offline or mobile – the choice is yours.

3. Security Is Built In
A large part of Microsoft’s uptime certainty comes from their extremely robust security protocols. Office 365 offers enterprise-grade admin controls at your end, as well as government-grade security at their end for Office 365 Business customers.

4. Generous Data Allowances
Each user gets 1TB of cloud space for file storage, which can be shared at folder or file level.

5. Work Anywhere, Anytime
Previously, staff needed to establish a VPN or manage security concerns which made working off-site difficult and cumbersome. Office 365 has solved that problem and working from anywhere is now easy.

6. Integrated Across Devices
Calendar, email and contacts are all synced and updated across multiple devices: Laptop, desktop & mobile.

7. Upgrades for No Upfront Costs
Once upon a time, updating your Office version meant paying a small fortune and half a day downtime. Office 365 changes that, with no upfront cost or installation delay. You get each new version as they are released for as long as your subscription is current.
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Ready to make the switch to Office 365? Give us a call today!

Most of us know a fair amount about computers, even kids are joining circuits and coding programs in schools - but that does that make everyone an IT expert? It’s fair to say almost all workplaces have that employee who can finesse the printer or use shortcuts nobody else knows about. They have skills, absolutely, but they often know just enough to be dangerous to your business.

Training and Skill Set
Hobby IT skills are learned on home computers which are very different to a professional business setup. When something goes wrong on a home computer, there’s no drastic impact if parts need to be replaced, data is lost or it stays down for a week or two. In a business setting, every problem costs time and money, usually creating a domino effect through the entire network. Would you gamble the success of your business with a non-professional who did a quick Google? It’s unlikely you’d let someone be your lawyer purely because they can deliver a stubborn argument, nor would you let someone perform surgery just because it looked easy on TV. Businesses have unique, specialist IT needs that go beyond amateur computer skills and there’s always going to be more at stake.

Designing and implementing a custom backup plan for your business is a particularly interesting area. While most home users skip this part entirely, an IT professional has seen (and recovered) all manner of situations and will use that knowledge to ensure that if the worst happens, your business is covered. This could mean anything from having a complete copy of your drive stored securely in the cloud or drilling down to backup only the most important data. An IT expert is equipped to help you identify the value in each piece of data and implement a plan so robust that if your business is ever hit by disaster or breach, downtime is minimal - along with losses.

Experience Counts
If a disaster ever does occur, like fire, flood or theft, would an amateur know what to do? Who to call? These situations are so charged with tension and panic that making the wrong moves can lead to more damage. A professional helps design continuity/disaster plans, which map out exactly what should happen, who should do it and in what order. It takes out the guesswork and minimizes downtime. Perhaps more importantly, the expertly written disaster plan will include a complete risk analysis so that you know in advance where to strengthen your protection. It also includes a business analysis so you know which systems are dependent so you can stop the domino effect, plus know the legal/contractual impacts, financial impacts and so on.
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Regulatory Compliance
Your IT professional will also help ensure your business is meeting any regulatory requirements. Many businesses are subject to strict data rules set by government bodies, such as FISMA and HIPAA. The regulations change often and demand increasingly more attention to data security, with hefty penalties for businesses that fall behind. Professionals are constantly in the loop around upcoming revisions and how best to comply with little to no disruption to your daily business. Part of ensuring your business is safe means staying on top of software updates and patching multiple computers at the same time.
The best option is to run the updates before employees arrive for the day, and since the process can take a few hours and be quite fiddly, it’s generally not something amateurs will prioritize. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen with recent cyber-attacks, delaying a security update by even a few days can lead to disaster. Engaging an IT professional is a cost-effective solution that keeps your business running, growing and earning.
 
Let the professionals manage your tech the right way by calling us at 715-255-0325.

It’s a decision that comes with equal doses of excitement and angst: getting a new computer! Unlike running out to the shops for a new toaster, choosing the right computer comes with so many questions, most of which are usually asked in some sort of alien language. Helpful sales people at BigBox Mart offer RAM as if it were a side of fries, they measure CPU speed in ‘gigahertz’ and ‘cores’, and list features that mean nothing around what you actually want to do.

That’s not what you’ll find here. At Yellowstone Computing, we chat with you about how you use your current computer, what kind of performance you expect from a new one, and how your needs might be changing. Looking for a laptop to replace a desktop? If you never take it from your desk, is a laptop the best way to go? Heading to college? Then maybe your laptop should be super light. We work with you to find the right tool for the job. Depending on your needs, we may even have exactly what you want on the shelf.

Then Comes the Real Fun.
Once you’ve got that new machine home and out of the box, you’ve inhaled that new tech smell and taken plenty of selfies to remember the moment forever, the anxiety can come flying back in. Which cord goes where? It doesn’t work like your old one! Why is it doing that?! How do I put programs back on? Does it come with security already loaded?  If you’ve had your old computer for a few years, you know you’re in for a bit of inconvenience, no matter how shiny the replacement is. We can assist you through this transition period and make it all so much easier by:

Moving Your Old Files for You.
One thing most people forget during their new computer bliss-phase is how to get information off your old computer and onto your new one. If your old computer is too broken to start, this can be a real problem. Our technicians can transfer all your files to the new computer, turn your old hard drive into an external drive for, or copy the data onto a USB stick. You’ll be able to pick out the files you need and continue what you were doing. If you’d prefer, we can often install the old hard drive inside your new desktop so it’s always there and you have extra storage as a bonus.

Set Up Your Email.
It’s no secret, setting up email can cause headaches! Getting the settings perfect can sometimes be more error than success. The most common problem we see is email that can receive, but not send. It’s a frustrating problem, especially when you’re sending important emails. We can set your email up successfully and ensure it both sends and receives, as well as add in any additional email accounts you’d like to manage from the same app.

Save Your Favorites.
All those bookmarks you’ve made and carefully sorted (or not) are important. You may even have different collections of favorites in different browsers and the last thing you want to do is go find those pages again. We can retrieve your old favorites and put them onto your new computer, making your browser experience look and feel exactly as it did before, only faster.

Set Up Your Software.
Quite often these days, software doesn’t come on a CD. While that’s forward thinking and reducing waste, don’t you miss having a disk you could install from and the license key taped to the back? We sure do! Even so, we can help you re-download your programs and set up the licenses good as new. We also go one step beyond and make sure the new software is optimized, updated and working well. While we’re doing that, we make sure your anti-virus is up-to-date and you’re as secure as possible against threats.

Delivery & Setup.
Sometimes it’s a matter of knowing what cord goes where or getting the right adapter, but sometimes new devices can present software problems. Printers, webcams, game controllers, etc. all have unique drivers that need to be installed before they can work properly. Windows 10 is great at picking most of these up automatically, but if they’re not playing nice or your new computer is suddenly missing the correct plug, we can help get you moving again. With personal delivery and setup, we ensure all your devices are playing nicely together, so you can sit back and relax, while we get everything working!
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Skip the fuss, come to us! We make getting a new computer easy! Call us today at 715-255-0325.

Most homes are trying to reduce power costs by turning off lights and appliances, but do the same rules apply to computers? After all, it requires more than flicking a switch on your way out the door. Some people believe you should shut down after every use to save wear and tear, others believe you should never shut down your computer - ever. Others simply want to make sure the pages and apps they left open are still there waiting for them. So, who’s right and what are they really doing?

Back when computers were clunky behemoths that took a long time to start, you’d go nuts at the person who shut it down when it was your turn. If you have an older computer, maybe you still do.  Modern computers actually have two options for their downtime: Shut down or sleep.

When it shuts down, the system goes through and closes any open programs (often prompting you to save first), then gradually cuts power to all components. It’s a methodical process that seems quite fast to us but is actually made of 100+ intentionally ordered steps. If there’s a sudden blackout or you hold the power button until it turns off, it means the steps aren’t followed and damage is possible. The second option is to put your computer to sleep. This can be triggered by an automated timeout or a user click. Your system uses a special type of memory called RAM to hold all your running programs exactly as you left them but use minimal power. The hard drive stops spinning, the graphics card lets the screen go black, and even the system fan slows to become almost silent. When you wake it by moving the mouse or pressing a key, it ‘wakes’ again almost instantly.

Reasons to Shut Down
A switched off computer isn’t drawing power which is a tick for the environment. But shutting down is about more than saving power. It can sometimes give improved stability over a machine that’s been running for days/weeks. This is because every time you shut down, you give your computer a chance to clear out all temporary junk files it’s been carrying in memory. It also triggers various health checks on startup that may otherwise be missed, important routines like checking for updates or scanning for viruses. It’s certainly more convenient to spend an extra minute booting up than lose everything to a cyber-attack. For older computers or those under heavy strain like gaming or video editing, shutting down also provides a necessary chance for the components to cool down.

Reasons to Sleep
Speed is the big selling point here. You can literally sit down and start working where you left off without the delays of bootup, finding your program, opening your saved files, scrolling down... it’s all right there and ready. You can even tell it how long to wait before putting itself into sleep mode, just in case you get called away and forget. Windows updates still run in the background, so that’s okay, but it’s important to note that your computer might get stuck waiting for a reboot that never comes.  Those pending updates may stack up, ineffective until it either forces a reboot or becomes unstable enough that you give in to a restart.

The Best Method Is….
Since the whole point of having a computer is that it’s ready to work when you are, we recommend shutting down at night when it’s definitely not in use but using sleep mode during the day. Updates will get all the rebooting they need, memory is refreshed for the new day, and you’ll get the best of both worlds - speed and stability.
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We can help your computer boot faster, give us a call at 715-255-0325.