Computer CPR LLC Blog

Is There Good iPhone Repair in Dallas?

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:10:38 +0000

An iPhone that isn’t working makes a great paperweight. Also, you can throw it at your assistants if they’re not bringing the coffee fast enough. But by and large, when your iPhone is toast, you have two options: get it fixed, or get a new one. Seeing as a new one is often significantly more expensive than a repair job, it’s up to you to find the best iPhone repair in Dallas.

That’s a pretty daunting prospect, in some ways. Not because there are so few options, but because there are so many — how do you filter the cream from the crap? There are a few choice ways, as it turns out. Start with the basics.

Word On The Street
Ask around among your iPhone-owning friends, co-workers, and family. It’s likely that at least one of them has needed an iPhone repair guy in the past, and they can offer you advice on the teams they worked with. Find someone that has a good story about a great repair guy, and call them up.

Certify This
There are a few independent groups offering certifications in iPhone repair, but they aren’t affiliated with Apple, so their little bits of paper don’t really mean anything except that they were able to dupe a rube into spending money on their little piece of paper. Apple doesn’t offer any certification for iPhone repair, either, so you can just ignore this ‘normal’ part of searching for the right business to repair your phone.

Part and Parcel
iPhone parts aren’t exactly easy to repair in-house. The glass isn’t of a kind that you can easily melt back together and replace, and the electronics are even less likely to be successfully repaired. So rather than looking for a place that claims to be able to repair your iPhone, look for a place that boats a large stock of replacements parts and a willingness to ship off for whatever they don’t already have.

In the end, there are a lot of factors that go into a great Dallas iPhone repair joint — too many to cover in a simple blog post. But stick to the basics and talk to the people you’re interesting in talking to. If a short face-to-face doesn’t turn you off of them, you’re probably in the right place.

High-End Data Recovery in Ft. Worth

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:56:36 +0000

There’s only one option open to you when a data drive or other storage device suddenly fails: you have to call upon Ft. Worth’s data recovery experts. Blessed with world-class facilities and years of experience, the data recovery in Ft. Worth is some of the best.

Data recovery is an extraordinarily delicate process that should generally always be left to the experts — if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you stand a chance of destroying your data instead of saving it.

Damaged or Lost Data
As the available storage in high-end business devices becomes greater and greater, the tendency for a business to simply accumulate old data on a dozen-terabyte hard drive is pretty strong. But when a drive that large fails, unless the business has been very conscientious about backing everything up, they risk losing a huge amount of data all at once.

It’s not always about a drive failing due to bad hardware, either. Electromagnetic incidents from power surges to solar flares, accidental deletion, natural disasters, and sabotage are all sources of data loss that Ft. Worth has dealt with in the past seven years. Protecting your data against everything that could happen to it is virtually impossible — thus, the data recovery experts.

Data Recovery
Data retrieval can be performed on any kind of system, regardless of OS, specific hardware or software, or even origin. If it came from Earth and it’s not some sort of secret government project that uses a storage method no one has ever heard of, the data recovery folk can get it back.

Whether it’s a hard drive, a laptop, a USB drive (flash drive or thumb drive), a ZIPdisk, a RAID, a floppy, a stiffy, a backup tape, a mangled CD or DVD, or even a solid-state drive, proven data retrieval methods exist to get your bits and bytes back. In many cases, you don’t even need to deliver the media — simply send it to your data recovery lab, and you’ll get it back within a couple of weeks with all of the recovered data on a CD or DVD alongside.

5 Things NOT To Do For Data Recovery: Irving Edition

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:30:04 +0000

The kind men and women who do data recovery for Irving would like to share this PSA with their customers. Data recovery is a very delicate science and one mistake on your part can render once-retrievable data completely and permanently out of your reach.

NEVER Open A Hard Drive
Hard drives are constructed in environments called Class 100 Clean Rooms — that means that there are fewer than 100 particles of contaminant per cubit foot of air. Compare that to a typical house that has one and a half million particles per cubic foot, and you can see the danger — the instant a hard drive is exposed to plain old air, it’s already doomed.

NEVER Install Data-Recovery Software Onto The Drive You Need to Recover
In fact, never install anything onto the drive you need to recover. Half of data recovery is finding the remnants of your data on the drive, and if you happen to overwrite your data by installing software onto the drive, it’s gone forever.

NEVER Freeze Your Hard Drive
A ways back, there was a cute little “trick” made popular on YouTube and through a chain e-mail that told people who had lost data that they could get it back by putting their drive in a freezer overnight. It became a ‘fashionable’ thing to try to do, but it’s also plain wrong. The freezer will get moisture inside your drive, which when it thaws, can completely ruin the sensitive electronics inside your drive.

NEVER Waste Time Retrieving Your Data
Sometimes, a drive that’s on the border of death will suddenly work again for a short time. If you don’t immediately go straight for the most valuable data and start moving it over to a stable drive, you can miss your window. The drive will crash again, and soon — so go for the gold.

NEVER Send Your Drive Without Insurance
Sending a hard drive through the mail without insuring it for the value of not just the drive but the software and data on it is asking for trouble. We get a lot of hard drives insured for $150 or $200 — not taking into account the thousands of dollars with of utilities, games, and priceless family pictures, business data, and so forth on the drive.

The Dallas data recovery teams thank you for your attention.

Advice From A Dallas Data Recovery Team: Don’t Click Any Virus Alerts!

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:14:59 +0000

One of the most dreaded moments in your typical computer user’s life comes when they see that popup that says “You have a VIRUS! (Dun dun dunnnn!)” The instinctive next click is on the button that says “Fix it now!“. Unfortunately, a computer isn’t an intelligent creature, and it will display whatever message it’s programmed to display. That means that the “Fix it now” button could very well be a “Please install this malware on my computer and give it permission to do whatever it darn well pleases” button in disguise.

That’s why Dallas data recovery teams universally agree: don’t ever click a virus alert, especially one you find on the Internet or upon opening a program you downloaded from a shady source like bittorrent or a warez site. In all likelihood, you don’t have a virus when that alert pops up — but you sure will if you click that button!

Why is it that it’s the folks who do data recovery in Dallas that are making this plea, and not they typical nerd herd? Simple — because the kinds of viruses that hide behind these popups tend to be the kind that will happily annihilate your data. Data recovery teams around Dallas have dealt with a rash of “user installed malware” that uses the fact that you installed it to get permissions to do everything from erase your boot sector to replace every graphics file on your computer with an evil smiley face.

So what should you do if you see a virus alert pop up and it doesn’t look like a perfectly legitimate one (from your active antivirus software)? Simple: ignore it. If it came up online, close the browser and restart from your home page. If it popped up when you started a program, reboot your computer and don’t restart that program. (If you’re power user enough to go through your Process window, pick out the offending program, and End Process that sumbitch, go for it.)

Just dont, for any reason ever click on a virus alert unless you’re sure it came directly from your antivirus program.

Specialized Gateway Computer Repair in Irving

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:14:28 +0000

Computers are everywhere, and their ubiquity makes them simultaneously extraordinarily useful and extraordinarily annoying. Useful when they work correctly; annoying when they don’t. And the number of ways they can “don’t” is enormous. Back in the days of DOS, there were thousands of ways that a computer could fail utterly — today, with three major and dozens of minor operating systems running hundreds of programs on any of hundreds of thousands of different hardware setups, the number of potential failures numbers in the billions.

Computer repair, because of that complexity, has become a matter of either becoming half researcher (so you can look up all of the error codes and other conditions online) or specializing in a particular niche — like Gateway computer repair. Irving, Texas has both types of computer repair guy.

So what’s the difference?

Computer Repair Generalists
Your typical Irving computer repair guy is a generalist. Capable of dealing with most problems, a computer repair generalist has in-depth knowledge of computer repair theory. He has studied how to test any system to determine where a problem lies, and tends to fall back on generic repair procedures such as reinstalling a problematic piece of software or replacing a problematic part.

The good side of a generalist is that they can handle 90% of computer repairs. The downside is that their solutions tend to be somewhat heavy-handed. If you’re a power user that has intensively customized your install of Office, you don’t want a generalist to come in and reinstall it because you’ll lose all of those customizations.

Gateway (and other) Specialists
A Gateway specialist — or any other, really — will tend to have more detailed knowledge of the hard- and soft-ware related to his specialty. This will give him more ability to repair, rather than replace, a software install or a part. Outside of their speciality, they tend to fall back on generalist-style repair.

The good side of a specialist is that, if you have a computer that fits into their specialized knowledge, you can often save time and money with them. The downside is that if it doesn’t, you end up with a generalist that has some preconceptions that can hinder their ability to broad-mindedly diagnose a problem.

An Example of Remote HP Computer Repair from Ft. Worth, Texas

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:33:07 +0000

HP computers are decent machines. They tend to be pretty dependable, hardware-wise, as long as you don’t get inside them and mess around too much. That’s what makes HP computers a prime candidate for an increasingly-more-commonplace (at least in Ft. Worth) computer repair technique called Remote Computer Repair.

Remote computer repair requires your computer to be functional, turned on, and connected to the Internet successfully. Needless to say, there are plenty of problems that can’t be fixed in this way, which is why we say HPs are prime candidates — they tend toward the problems that don’t cripple your entire machine at once. So if your HP machine can get online but still clearly needs help, talk to your repair guy about a remote job.

For example, let’s say you have an HP computer running Windows 7 and you’ve suddenly lost all of the buttons on your copy of Word for Windows. You call the computer repair guy, and he tells you to go to his business’ webpage and download a small utility program. After you’ve installed it, the computer man can then click a button from his office that allows him to see what’s on your screen and move your mouse pointer with his mouse (and type into your text boxes from his keyboard, too.)

The repair guy will then open your Word for Windows program, figure out what happened to your buttons, and put them back in exactly the way that you’re used to having them. He may do this while he’s on the phone with you, or he may ask you to type into a chat window while he’s not busy doing stuff on your machine.

When he’s done, you can uninstall the utility that allows him to see your machine (if you’re worried about your privacy), or leave it alone (if you think you may need his help again in the near future.) It doesn’t really matter; he won’t use it except to repair your machine, and if you do turn out to need it in the future, you can always redownload it. (If you couldn’t redownload it, he couldn’t use it to help you anyway!)

This is a pretty simple example of remote HP computer repair in Ft. Worth; in more complex scenarios the repair guy might end up installing further utilities that allow him to get deeper into the software of your machine so that he can fix more fundamental problems. But the concept is essentially the same: by getting control of your machine from his office, you save travel time, gas money, and generally get the same level of service at a lesser expense.

Find The Best Dell Computer Repair in Dallas

computer_repair_dallas — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:19:12 +0000

Computers are working their way into every part of our lives. Your auto mechanic uses your car’s computer to help diagnose its problems. Your kitchen appliances use computers to control how fast they blend, how hot their elements get, and more. More than three-quarters of Americans use an Internet connection at least once every week at either work or home.

Of course, this dependence on computers is much akin to our dependence on electricity — a power outage is devastating to our normal ways of life, and nearly as awful is a sudden failure of whatever electronics you rely on every day. That’s why it’s wise to start forging a relationship with your local computer repair folk before you need them, especially if you have a Dell computer.

You see, Dell has a reputation for outsourcing their tech support to people that are bad enough at English that simply explaining your problem can be a problem. That’s why you should look local. A local who doesDell computer repair in Dallas is going to be much more effective than Dell’s “in house” tech support.

The first place to start — welcome to the age of social marketing — is by asking your friends, neighbors, and family. If that means pinging your Google Plus circles now (while your computer is still working), go for it — but in general, people you actually meet face-to-face are going to have the most useful opinions.

Once you have a few names from people you know, it’s time to narrow the list. The next step is looking for people who have said something bad about the business in question. Ask the Better Business Bureau, ask people to their face, and look around online for ‘reviews’ of the business. In Dallas, computer repair people get a lot of commentary online for their work, and you can pick out some of the worst with a simple Google search.

That accomplished, go have a chat with your repairman of choice. Come up with a simple question or two to ask, walk into his office, introduce yourself, and ask your questions. If you get a good vibe, note his name and number and post it (on paper) near your computer for emergencies. If you get a bad vibe, don’t be afraid to walk out and try the next person on your list.

Is your computer running slow? Fix it with Gateway computer repair in Irving.

computer_repair_dallas_tx — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:52:26 +0000

There are dozens of reasons that you computer can slow down over time. Sometimes it may need defragmented. As you install more programs, uninstall programs, save and move your files around on the computer, a lot of unnecessary files can begin to pile up on your hard drive. Temporary files can take up a lot of space, and you can delete these, if you want, to recover some of that space.

Viruses and spyware are also a major problem with computers, and you may not be aware that your computer is infected. You might just think the computer is getting old, or that something else is wrong with it. Having and using a good anti-virus program is important. You should run scheduled scans frequently, and scan any time that you think you may have caught a virus or some spyware online. However, not all anti-virus programs, even good ones, will catch everything. Viruses and spyware are always changing, and anti-virus programs might not detect them all right away. If these things stay on your computer undetected, they can cause you all sorts of problems. Not only can they slow your computer down, and cause it to freeze and crash; but spyware can also steal your personal data and cause security problems. Viruses can also cause permanent damage to your computer. Gateway computer repair Irving can help to identify the problem and to fix it.

It can be difficult to diagnose all your computer problems yourself, so it may be a good idea to consult a computer expert if you have concerns about the speed of your computer. If your hard drive has crashed and you need to recover the data, HP computer repair in Ft. Worth may be able to help you. If you’re concerned about security issues when getting rid of an older computer, they can also wipe your hard drive, ensuring no sensitive data is left behind, and they also offer computer recycling services. You can have your existing computers upgraded or repaired if needed, or you can put together a new, custom computer to meet your exact specifications.

Streamline your company’s computers with HP computer repair in Ft. Worth

computer_repair_dallas_tx — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:51:54 +0000

In the past, a lot of businesses used paper and telephones. Now computers are integrated into almost every office. Paperwork is often done on the computer, since it’s faster, creates less clutter, and makes it easy to search and archive all your records. However, with new technologies come new problems. computer crashes, hard drive failure, viruses and many other things can keep your business from running as smoothly as you want it to. Computers can make people more productive. They can make it easy to store and access files, without hunting through file cabinets and desk drawers. But it’s also important to keep your computers virus free and to repair them when necessary in order to keep your office running smoothly.

Many of the problems that may be afflicting your computers can be fixed with Dell computer repair in Dallas. While it’s important to back up your files frequency, to have anti-virus software and to scan your computer often, and to defragment as needed, sometimes you just can’t foresee all the problems and potential hassles that may crop up.

Even if you don’t have any major hardware failures, it’s still possible that you aren’t utilizing the full potential of your computers and your business network. Gateway computer repair Irving can also help you to make the most of the technology that you have. Streamlining your network at the office can also result in greater productivity and less hassles for you and your employees.

It is possible to get a free consultation and to find new and improved solutions for your business, and to discuss how to implement them. Computers are important in the business world today, and finding the right technologies for your business can give you an edge up on your competition. Even if you don’t need new computers for your office, you may consider new networking solutions, or upgrades to make your computers faster. Custom-built computers can also be a great solution to your business needs, and you can pick and choose the features you want. Parts and labor warranties and professional tech support can help ensure that your computers run properly, and keep running properly.

Need to recover lost data? Dell computer repair in Dallas can help you.

computer_repair_dallas_tx — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:34:49 +0000

We all know that backing up your files is important. We’ve all heard horror stories of people who have lost something really important because of disc failure, computer crashes, and other problems. There are services out there that automatically back up everything on your computer over the internet, but many people might not think about doing that, or might not consider it to be worthwhile to sign up for these services. After all, it’s possible to just do it yourself. Backing up to CDs and DVDs is not that hard, usually, and recordable media has become a lot cheaper over the years. However, all this is easier said than done. The fact is that many of us don’t back up regularly, we don’t back up everything, and sometimes we forget to do it at all.

Unlike something like a data DVD, a hard drive is mechanical and has moving parts. As with anything else with moving parts, eventually it may wear out and fail. In many cases, it fails at the worst possible time: right when we are working on something very important, or something with a lot of data; things we have put a lot of time and effort into, and things that are actually worth a lot of money to us. Many of us have bad luck in that things fail right before we were meaning to back up everything to disc. Since we can’t go back in time and correct our mistakes, we may have to look into our options with data recovery services, instead.

Data recovery and Dell computer repair in Dallas is possible for your business needs, and you can free initial consultations. Experts in computer repair and data recovery can help you with your business’ needs, either on site or remotely. Recovering lost data can be crucial in some cases, and you may not otherwise be able to re-do all the work that was on your failed hard drive.

You can always make plans to back up more often in the future, but what about data you’ve already lost due to a failed hard drive? HP computer repair in Ft. Worth can help you to recover that important data that you have lost. Remote support may be possible, or a computer professional can assist you on site with your computer problems.