Helpful Tips
How to Change Printers?
1. With the document open, click on “File” then “Print.”
2. When the print dialogue window appears, select your printer either by an icon or drop down menu.
How to reset the Internet or Network (Router)?
This is the remedy for a lot of modem/ router malfunctions.
1. Unplug the black power cord from the back of the Netgear router.
2. Unplug the black power cord from the back of the DSL/Cable Modem.
3. Wait for 30 seconds then plug the DSL/Cable Modem’s power cord back in.
4. Once the power cycle on the Cable/DSL modem (sequence of blinking lights) steady's and becomes predictable, turn on the router by inserting its power cable into the back of the unit. Then wait until the router is done with its power cycle before attempting to access the internet.
Computer Classes
Edmonds Computer would recommend that you take the course ITIS 1000 at Lakeland Community College. The admission fee is $10 and the course is about $150. They'll show you the how to get around the operating system (windows) and teach you about the entire Microsoft Office suite as well.
Back-up Recommendations
- install a DVD Read/ Write (DVD-RW) drive
- install a Blue Ray drive
- purchase an external Hard Drive. If you have a router, then maybe you should consider one that hooks up with a network cable. When properly set up, it could back up many different computers and serve as actual hard drive space.
Computer Clean-up Recommendations
- Spybot Search and Destroy
- Ad Aware Personal Edition
- Delete Internet Temporary Files (Control Panel-> Internet Settings)
- Registry Cleaner (purchase this, NEVER USE TRIAL SOFTWARE, see below)
- Disk Cleaner
- Disk Defragmenter
- Virus Scan, Full System Scan
Free scans are always a scam.
Contacting a Manufacturer, Getting Technical Support By Phone
Open your web browser and log on to http://www.Google.com. In the search field, type in "___________ phone number" [Dell phone number (for instance)] and click on search or press enter (return). If its a reputable company, the first couple search results should yield some numbers. Many of them WILL NOT be toll free.
Questions
1.
Q: What is plugged in to my Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)?
A: When we install an UPS in your house, we usually plug only the cable/DSL modem and router in to the unit. Exceptions to this are when you, the user, request a larger UPS to accommodate your computer, monitor and perhaps printer as well.
2.
Q: What does the UPS do?
A: The UPS is a device with a battery inside that charges until it senses that the AC power has gone out. In that event, the UPS switches to DC power, allowing your devices to stay on from 12 minutes to about 4 hours depending on the size and age of the unit.
3.
Q: What is wired to what?
A: Starting from outside your house to your computer and other devices...
Cable comes in from outside your home/office on a coaxial line. Then from the first splitter, branches off (one to the TV/ other splitters and one to the modem) and goes to the location of your cable modem. Once an Internet connection is established, a network cable (also known as RJ-45) is attached from it's port and the other end is inserted to the internet port of the router [you will know this port by it having a different color or by it being actually separated from the other ports (metal- RJ-45 internet port separated with about a .25mm gap from the others.)]
From the router there are two options. Some have wireless internet connections and they pick up the internet signal being transmitted by the router. The other option (and you can still have a wireless router and access this way) is to have another network cable coming out of one of the numbered ports on the back of the router. This cable inserts into the network port of your desktop or laptop computer.
DSL comes in from your phone line and usually does not matter where it's split from so long as the signal is sufficient. You may encounter problems if there are numerous splits throughout your home/office, as this will degrade the quality of the signal. Also, filters have to be installed on EVERY phone that is jacked in to the walls of your location.
Some of you have 2 types of DSL modems. First, there's the standard DSL modem. And second there's the a 2Wire Gateway (old SBC, AT&T Yahoo) that is a modem and wireless router combination. In which case, you should see a network cable from one of or the only port in the modem/ router. If it's a modem, that cable should insert into the internet port of your router. If it's a wireless router, the network cable will insert into the network port of your computer. If your computer(s) is (are) only connecting wirelessly then there shouldn't be any other cables except the phone line going into the unit.
Also from the router you can plug in additional devices, such as an XBox game consoles or a print server. Both devices mentioned could also be wireless.
If at any point you feel overwhelmed or intimidated, please call us at (440) 352-3706 and we can either come out for service or give you a more customized response to this question.
4.
Q: What do the lights mean?
A: They are different for every router and modem. We strongly suggest that you become familiar with your devices "power cycle" and how it lights up under normal operation. You can get documentation from your ISP and manufacturer.
A power cycle describes how your modem/ router lights up when it's first plugged it. Basically, these devices check themselves when their powered up to see if there are any hardware malfunctions?
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5.
Q: What is the proper sequence to power up my internet (with a Cable/DSL modem and router)?
A: With all devices powered down, you power up the Cable/DSL modem first. The device will go through a "power cycle," when the lights steady, it's then time to plug-in the router. The router will also go through a power cycle. When the power cycle is finished, the internet should be available.
You may have a wireless print server on your network. You will need to power it up after the lights on the router have steadied.
If you're uncertain about the power cycle of your device, substitute waiting 60 seconds after you plug the device in instead of looking at its lights.
6.
Q: How often should I backup my system?
A: You should backup Documents (My Documents) every quarter. Edmonds Computer will send out automated quarterly emails reminding clientele to backup their systems.
7.
Q: I smoke in my home/ office/ shop. What are the ramifications of that in regards to my computer?
A: Typically any thing electronic in your home that contains a synthetic or silicon circuit boards are susceptible to dust. Dust and smoke cling to these boards and coat other components, having numerous effects. Mostly jamming fans or coating metal surfaces that rely on passing outside air to cool them. Edmonds Computer finds tobacco smoke to be corrosive to these circuit boards especially. Our best guess is that once the circuit is corroded, it breaks, but is held together by the dust (a "dust bunny," conductor of electricity). At some time you'll feel prompted to clean out your computer using an air can or vacuumed cleaner hose, probably because you need to clean the CPU fan (before the CPU gets too hot and burns up). At the point which you clean the computer, you break the circuit (one of many).
This is just theory based on the company's combined technical experience. Edmonds Computer recommends that you do not smoke in your home/ office/ shop if you own a computer. If you are still compelled to smoke, then we suggest that you isolate the computer in another room. Then run an oscillating fan in that room non-stop and all-year round.
8.
I have to reset my Cable/DSL modem and router on a reoccurring basis. What's going on and how can I avoid this?
In NE Ohio, some of the utility regulation is controlled at the local level, including townships. In nearly everybody's home, office or shop, we experience power irregularities called "surges," which is a momentary excess of power. We mention this because it's something that a lot of people are familiar with. What your not usually familiar with is the term "sag," which is a momentary loss of power. It takes about 18-25 ms to turn off the digital display on your electric range top. Or it takes just as long to restart your alarm clock or television. But Cable/DSL modems and routers are much more sensitive that than. Some of them can restart or malfunction in 8ms. In this case you should purchase an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). We recommend the APC 325VA 120V BE1363 if you are only going to plug in the modem and router. The 325VA is the bottom of APC's line and is usually sold in Microcenter (Mayfield Heights) stores. If they don't have any in stock, then we recommend that you get the 350VA model or purchase the 325 online.
If you are going to purchase a UPS for your entire system, you will need to determine what kind of monitor you have and how many watts are in your computer's power supply. If you are unfamiliar with how to ascertain this information, you could call Edmonds Computer to have somebody come out and make an assessment.
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