Repair & Installation

"We can help fix your computer problem."

For Home & Business

You may be able to fix your own computer problems - with a little guidance. Listed below are common questions and issues - followed by answers and recommendations. I have tried not to use too much "tech talk" and to keep the answers short. If you have additional questions you can call or e-mail me and I'll try to answer.

Jay Mackley

  1. My email won't work. What's wrong?

    2. Email problems are usually a software configuration issue - meaning that the email or network settings are incorrect. The first step is verify the settings with your internet service provider (ISP) to make sure your email address, user name, and password are correct. Each provider (ISP) has a name for the incoming (pop/imap) server and outgoing (smtp) server. Make sure it's right. Make sure the authentication protocals are correct. Sometimes the outgoing server also requires a user name and password as well -- and this may not be obvious so you may have to ask about it.

    Other common causes of e-mail problems are a) an unstable internet connect; b) virus; c) spyware or c) damage to your e-mail program or the programs settings file.

  2. I am getting lots of spam e-mail. Much of it is offensive and it wastes a lot of time to sort through it. What can I do?

    3. For best email performance, my current recommendation is to use Mozilla Thunderbird which offers the best email filtering, security, performance, and price (free). Just the spam detection features alone which are built into Thunderbird make it worthwhile to convert over if you are using Outlook or Outlook Express. And it's easy to switch since Thunderbird automatically converts over Outlook, Outlook Express, and Eudora email, address books, and contacts at the time of installation.

  3. My computer is unstable and crashes for no reason!

    4. A damaged operating system can sometimes be repaired by a visit to windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Any any case, it is very important to keep up to date with the latest microsoft security patches and critical updates by frequently visiting windowsupdate.microsoft.com. If you have broadband internet then I recommend that you set up your machine to automatically download and install the critical security updates every night.

    Sometimes system software on the hard drive gets damaged either by hardware (failure or sudden power loss) or by malware (i.e. viruses or buggy software) on the machine. If the specific component cannot be fixed then the operating system may need to be reinstalled and in many cases your files and programs can remain intact during the process. However, just in case, a backup of important files should be done prior to reinstallation of the operating system.

    Computer memory fails more often than one would think. It's a frequent cause of sudden instability. Unfortunately when memory fails the symptoms can vary widely - from lock-ups and disk corruption to sudden inability to reboot the machine. Other components, including the motherboard may be failing but the first "obvious" place to look is memory. Replacing memory or just taking out one of the memory modules is a simple test. There are also specialized programs to test memory and other system components.

    RECOMMENDATION: For memory upgrades, go to crucial.com. Their memory is low priced and top quality. Their website allows you to look up the type of memory needed by computer brand and model (in most cases). Also, they have good online tutorials regarding each type of computer RAM memory.

  4. Can't boot up my system!

    There's no one answer for this one. I've seen it caused by the following: a) Failed memory; b) failed motherboard; c) incorrect BIOS settings; d) disk directory structure corruption; e) hard-drive failure; f) corrupted or destroyed OS (software) components.

    The fix depends on the cause. Of course, the cause is difficult to diagnose when the computer won't run at all, so what one has to do is start up (boot) the machine by an alternate method. One way to do this is using a start-up disk/floppy or using the "R" option for the "recovery console" on the Windows installation disk, which puts you into DOS mode. It requires some knowledge of DOS commands, but from here one can look at the drives to see if they're intact, check specific components that may be mentioned in the error message, verify disk integrity with the "CHKDSK" command and use other DOS commands.

    If the recovery console is not enough, then one needs to boot with a CD that has additional diagnostic and repair tools. I have four types of these and they can be very useful.

    For recovering data from failed computers, I like to use a boot CD containing a lightweight version of Linux called "Feather Linux". Feather Linux has a graphical user interface, can read Windows files and detect USB drives -- all of which is very useful for recovering data.

  5. My program used to work but suddenly it won't!

    6. If there is an error message it should be recorded so it can be analyzed to provide a clue. One way to easily record errors is to press the "Ctrl & Prnt Scrn" keys (hold down the Ctrl key, then the Prnt Scrn key together). This makes a copy of the error window so it can be pasted (Edit menu-paste or Ctrl-V) into Wordpad (or other word processor) for safekeeping.

    Next, try rebooting (restarting) the computer as it may fix the problem. If necessary check your program configuration options - especially if you made recent changes that may have caused a problem.

    Finally, you can reinstall the program from scratch to fix the problem.

  6. My Computer running slow.

    7. The first thing to look at is RAM memory. Many computers are underconfigured for memory. Windows XP should have at least 512MB and Vista should have at least 1GB with more if you do any serious work with your computer. Adding more memory is an inexpensive way to speed up your machine.

    Another common problem is that too much unnecessary activity is taking place at start-up and when the machine is idle. To check your machine, go to the Start Menu and select "Run". Type in "msconfig" and then go to the "System" tab. Uncheck anything you don't recognize or don't think you need -- and then reboot. You will see an increase in speed by disabling background programs that are not needed. If you "make a mistake" you can always go back and re-check an item. If unsure, uncheck items one at a time to be satisfied your system still runs OK before you uncheck another item.

  7. I've been hit with some kind of virus!

    8. The overall name for uninvited software is "malware" which includes viruses, worms, spyware, keyloggers, adware, hijackers and trojans. Here is a brief definition for each.


    Once upon a time, no serious malware existed, then it was just a trickle and now it's a full fledged war. Getting rid of these pests can be difficult. It is SO important to have good security in place at all times because prevention is much easier than the cure.

  8. What security procedures do you recommend?
    9. How effective are these recommendations? Well, I follow them on my own computer and have never been infected!
  9. Can't get the printer, CD drive, or other devices to work.
    10. Let's cover each type of device...

    The good news is that in almost every case, external devices can be made to work by configuring, installing or reinstalling the correct device drivers.
    RECOMMENDATION: You will have far less issues with this if you are using Windows XP.

  10. What is your procedure for removing malware?

    11. Without trying to get into all the details, I'll just say I/we mostly use the following programs and sometimes more.

    Actually this list is kind of old. The tools list above evolves rapidly in response to the need and which tools remain up to date over time. I also use tools from the Symantec website that are designed with specific viruses in mind.

    As a final note, I'll just say that when removing malware, it's most effective when it's done in Windows "Safe Mode".

  11. What do you charge for removing malware?

    12. It averages about $100. $75 for removing the malware, and $25 for updating the OS with patches and putting security programs in place. Obviously, this isn't a major source of income but it does (hopefully) generate goodwill and fulfill the MCS Mission Statement. Always included is a letter detailing the work done -- with specific recommendations for security and upgrades.

  12. I have an older computer. Is it worth it to upgrade or should I buy a new computer?

    13. If you use your computer a lot or if it is important to your business then I recommend a newer computer in almost every case. If the upgrade you want is very minor and you're just a casual computer user and the cost of the upgrade is less than $200 then you might want to just upgrade.

    The reason for this advice is that new computer systems are now very inexpensive and far better than older models.

  13. Do you sell computers?

    14. We build and sell custom computers with good components at a very competitive price. We do not build laptops. We also provide consulting and assistance in ordering your computer and in making the transition from your old computer to your new one. We provide software and hardware, with no $ mark-up, that may required to fix your computer problem.

  14. I am having a computer/software/network/printer/device (pick one) problem at work. Will you come onsite and fix it?

    15. Absolutely but it depends. Some problems need to be fixed offsite where we have the tools and software needed for the job.