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We all have or will come to a point in time where we will notice that our computer just isn't running the same. Either the system will unexpectedly crash and reboot, or we will just notice that our computer is running much slower than before. The average person will just unplug their computer and take it to the nearest "corporate" service center. However, the more tech savvy person (the anti "corporate" techie who refuses to pay $300 for a system restore) will try to fix it himself and save money. Here are some tips to help the inquisitive take the first leap into joining the anti-corporate masses and join the "Club".

It all begins with the question "Hard or Soft - Where?"

[Tyler steps up to the computer while looking around for spies]
I just wanted to point out to all you techies. You know who you are. [Tyler winks] You know you ask yourself this question, in your head, this exact way. Think about it. 'Hard or Soft - Where?' Take the time to Digg this and let me know if you do or if you don't or if you think I'm Tyler Durden. [Tyler winks again and steps away]

Thanks T. That's right. The first thing you should do when encountering a computer problem is to ask yourself, "Where is the problem - is it in the Hardware or Software?"

[Turns to Tyler] Isn't that right, Tyler? [pause] Tyler says that's right. Wait, Tyler wants to say something.

[Tyler steps up] Everything you do, you do at your own risk. We cannot and will not be held accountable for anything that you do to your computer. The thoughts expressed here are our opinions and not that of PC-Doctor or its affiliates. Try this at your own risk. [Tyler steps away]

Thanks Tyler. Now where was I? Oh ya!

To determine if it is a Hardware or Software issue, you should do the following in this order.

1. Does the computer power on? Yes, goto 2. No, goto 42.

2. Now that we know the power turns on. Can we access the BIOS? On most computers, to access the BIOS, you press delete. Some machines require F2 or F10 or F12, but if you watch carefully, the Splash screen you see while booting may tell you which button to press. Were we able to get into the BIOS? Yes, goto 3. No, goto 42.

3. Now that we are in BIOS, check the settings. WAIT! [Turns to Tyler then back to computer] Tyler says to check the settings, but don't touch anything. Tyler says that you should change all the settings to AUTO and if there is no AUTO as an option for that setting, then don't touch it. Tyler says AUTO Good, AUTO is your best friend. So did you turn everything to AUTO? Yes, goto 4. No, goto 42.

4. Now go to the exit and choose "Save and Exit" The computer will reboot. Let it boot to the operating system. Let it finish loading all its auto start-ups. Is your computer still running slow or crashing? Slow, goto 5. Crashing, goto 42. Works perfect, then you're done and you successfully fixed your computer - you're in the Club.

5. Now we must find out why your computer is running slow. If your computer is set to automatically log on as administrator, then goto 6. If not, then login as administrator and then goto 6. If you do not know how to login as an administrator, goto 42.

6. Usually the cause of a slow running computer is that precious memory is being used by programs running in the background. Many of these unnecessary programs, namely Amerikan Off L, ugh![Tyler giggles] or even viruses or is it viri? [Tyler chuckles] They create an entry in your bootup configuration file to start the program when the computer is turned on. Let's check if this is the case. Click on the Start button. Choose Run. Type msconfig. Hit enter. A box will appear. This is Microsoft's System Configuration Utility where you can see what services and programs are set to run on bootup. Typically, viruses will show up under the Services Tab or the Startup Tab and will be a noticeable entry by having a very random name that makes no sense. (NOTE: Anything you do here, you do at your own risk.) Choose the Services Tab and uncheck any services that you feel are unnecessary. Do not uncheck anything that says Microsoft and do not uncheck anything that you know is a legitimate service. Now choose the Startup Tab. Uncheck any programs that you feel are unnecessary to automatically start at bootup. Did you uncheck all the Services and Startup programs you deemed were unnecessary? Did you find any viruses? Or are you too scared to continue? If you unchecked all the items you needed to and are confident, goto 7. If you found viruses, goto 42. If you are scared, goto 42.

7. Well, good for you! That's the way to face fear! [Tyler applauds] Now click on the OK button and you will be prompted that your system needs to be restarted. Click OK and let it reboot. There is no turning back now, you must goto 8.

8. This one is obvious. Did your system die, or did it boot to the Desktop? If Desktop, goto 9. If dead, goto 42 (nice try, but we can't all be tech savvy).

9. Okay, the system rebooted and now you should be back at your Desktop and a notice will state that the Configuration Utility is open do you want to close it, click yes, or is it OK? [Tyler shakes his head disapprovingly] Now, do whatever you need to do to check and see if there is a difference in speed. Is the computer running faster or better or poorly still? If faster or better, then you're in the Club. If poorly, goto 42. Either way, you are now done.

42

Why 42? The answer is ...

[Tyler Durden runs toward the computer and pushes the Narrator aside]

The first rule of Fix Club is don't talk about Fix Club.
The second rule of Fix Club is DON'T TALK ABOUT FIX CLUB!

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Phishing occurs whenever an individual or "entity" represents itself as a legitimate company in order to solicit information from you for malicious purposes. This most frequently occurs in the form of an email that appears to be legitimate due to the presentation of the email and the email containing the users name. To further deceive the user, many of the URLs will contain what appears to be a valid URL address containing the legitimate company's name; providing false security for the user because of a commonly-used tactic of URL redirection.

So, how can you protect yourself from these "Phishermen"? Educate yourself and question anything suspicious.

Most companies will never solicit you for your information via the internet. Instead, they will attempt to contact you via postal mail. If that fails, then they will attempt to call you. Before releasing any information, contact the business to find out if the email is legitimate. Be sure to find the phone number for the actual business through other means than the fake email. Contact your financial institutions, and find out what their policies are regarding your information as well. Many financial institutions clearly state that they will never request your information via the internet.

Most importantly, educate yourself. A simple web search for "phishing" will reveal the latest scams. There are, also, various websites that are dedicated to putting an end to this deceitful and costly cyber crime ( www.pcworld.com ) . The information contained in these sites could prove to be invaluable. Remember, knowledge is power. So, educate yourself and you'll catch them before they catch you.

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Here is some practical advice that can save you time, money, and that priceless data.

The increasing number of computer repair and service centers opening throughout the world is proof that the average consumer is computer deficient. It is abundantly clear that there is a definite demand for their services, which average $300 per visit (based on the Geek Squad services price list consisting of $199 advanced diagnostic and repair + $99 data back up). However, consumers should not be so quick to leave their precious computers and data with just any service center or IT technician. Instead, they should approach this transaction with the caution that is given toward auto repair, as the same rules apply.

1. Do your research before taking your computer to a service center or technician.
You wouldn't go to just any mechanic to repair your automobile. So why would you take your computer to just any service center or technician? Do your research and find a reputable service center or technician. Do not take your computer to a service center based solely on a company's reputation or the coolest commercial/advertisement you had just seen. Ask for the qualifications of the technician(s) that will be working on your computer. Many service centers do not require their technicians to have any formal training or certifications. So, paying for their services (avg cost is $300) would be equivalent to having your "tech friend" fix the same thing for less or for free (avg cost is the cost of your tech friends lunch)! By asking for the qualifications of the technicians of a service center, you can feel more confident that the money you spend will be well spent.

2. Inventory everything and ask that original parts be returned if they are going to be replaced.
NOTICE: computer parts are much easier to steal than automobile parts!
It surprises me how many people assume that their computer is a "SOLID" unit. The average consumer does not realize how easy it is to take their expensive computer components and replace them with cheaper ones. Imagine someone stealing your automobile's V8 engine and replacing it with a 4 cylinder! Memory, aka "RAM" is undoubtedly the most frequently stolen computer component. It is not uncommon for a service center or technician to steal your high speed memory, and replace it with a much slower and cheaper module. Though the average consumer won't be able to notice the difference, what they don't realize, is that there can be hundreds of dollars in value between the stolen module and the replaced module. Even more disturbing, is when a consumer is able to tell the difference. To add insult to injury, many technicians will "explain" that the noticeable slower speed was caused due to the initial computer's failure. And to make things even worse for the unwary consumer, these technicians will offer to sell them faster more expensive memory (which is their stolen memory) and then even charge them for installing it! Memory is not the only thing stolen. CPU's, video cards, motherboards, etc. it can all easily be stolen and replaced. To prevent theft, consumers should inventory their computer components. This can be done in numerous ways, however, simply labeling of the components is not sufficient. It is necessary to know the name brand, model number, and serial number in order to be fully protected. A physical inventory is effective, but time consuming. Also, the average consumer is reluctant to open up their computers. The alternative and more effective solution, would be a system information scan with software like PC-Doctor, which may already be pre-installed on your system. PC-Doctor is frequently pre-installed and comes bundled with many retail computers. It offers hardware diagnostics that you can run for free rather than paying $59 to a service center. By utilizing a hardware diagnostic tool like PC-Doctor, you can run an initial system information scan to keep for your records that you can compare to an after repair system information scan. This way you can verify if anything was stolen or if a component was properly replaced.
(UPDATE: check out the new Profiler by PC-Doctor!)

3. Ask about warranties and/or guarantees and be sure to read all the paperwork and fine print.
Again, it is surprising how many people will sign a document, but never read it. It is important to read the documents you sign and to understand any warranties, guarantees, and/or conditions. It is also extremely important to be certain that all your information is correct on these documents. For instance, an individual took his laptop to a service center for repair. He assumed that because it was a reputable service center he would be fully protected against loss or damage, so he signed all the paperwork and went on his merry way. A month later, he returned to the service center and politely asked for an update on his laptop. The service center checked their records and found that they had shipped his laptop over a week ago. Again, the individual went on his merry way expecting that he would receive his laptop shortly, but he felt a bit concerned as to why it was even shipped to begin with. Two weeks later, the polite customer returned to the service center asking for his laptop since he still had not received it. The service center checked their records, and it showed that it was left at his doorstep. The customer was furious stating that a thousand dollar laptop should require a signature. The service center replied that it wasn't their policy to require a signature and it clearly stated that fact on the documents that the individual signed. The customer asked to see the documents he had signed and to see where it was stated. The service center pointed to the paragraph. The customer quickly stated, "Well that's just fine! But why then is my address incorrect on all these documents!" The service center then pointed to a statement on the documents that stated, "By signing this document, you are accepting full responsibility as to the accuracy of the information contained in this document." The customer then replied, "Well, then why did you ship my laptop in the first place? I never asked for it to be shipped!" The service center replied, "Whoever checked you in must have forgotten to check the box that said Do Not Ship. We are sorry, but it is not our responsibility nor are we liable." The technician then pointed to the previous statement. This is absolutely a true story, as I was the technician that had to deliver the bad news.

4. Utilize preventive maintenance to minimize future PC repair.
*Your computer is much like your automobile in that you can avoid damage through preventive maintenance. Purchase an external hard drive and backup your precious data frequently. This alone can save you a minimum $99 for a data backup or as much as $1599 for full data recovery.
*Defragment your hard drive once a month to avoid data corruption as well as protect your hard drive's mechanical components. By defragmenting your hard drive, you are allowing the data to be stored more efficiently. This will allow your hard drive to keep mechanical movement to a minimum.
*Use a surge protector to prevent power surges; and unplug your computer when there are lightning storms.
*Store your computer in a cool dry place and allow it to "breath". Proper ventilation is crucial in order to prevent overheating.
*Clean out the "dust bunnies". Computers are notorious for these little critters, and they can prevent your computer from receiving that much needed air.
*Purchase legal and valid Anti-Virus / Anti-Spyware programs. What many consumers do not realize is that they are actually paying for the current definitions, rather than the software program alone. Anti-virus and anti-spyware should be configured to download definitions daily in order to provide maximum security; and full system scans should be run a minimum of once a week, however, if a user is a frequent "downloader" then the scans should be done daily.

Avoid the high cost of computer repair by treating your computer like an automobile. Take care of it and it will take care of you. But remember, a computer, like an automobile, depreciates over time, requires preventive maintenance, will eventually break, and there will always be a newer faster model!