PCTech

03/22/2020

During the COVID-19 outbreak, PCTech remains open and ready to help you remotely access your work pcs.

Please call 636-464-2400 or visit our website at www.PCTechrx.com/contacts to schedule a time for us to setup your remote workers.

08/14/2019

Windows 7 - Support is Fading Away

The end of the Windows 7 is set for January 2020. "End of life" means Microsoft will discontinue all support and all updates, including security updates.

What Do We Do Now? The days of rolling back the Windows 10 upgrade are over. It's time to start scheduling the upgrade or replacing your computer.

Why Is Windows 7 Going End of Life?
The Windows 7 "end of life" is similar to that of previous Microsoft operating systems. Microsoft states, "Every Windows product has a lifecycle. " The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it's no longer supported.

What Does "End of Life" Mean?
"End of life" is the date after which an application is no longer supported by the company that makes it. After Windows 7 "end of life," you can continue to use the operating system, but at your own risk. New viruses and other malware are developed all the time and without the security updates to fight them off, your data and your system are vulnerable to attack.

Upgrading From Windows 7
Instead of using an old and unsupported operating system, it's time to upgrade to Microsoft's most recent OS. Windows 10 was released in 2015 and it is designed to be faster than Windows 7 and provides a number of other useful benefits.

There are some visual differences between the two but you'll see similarities which will help you get up to speed quickly.

If you have any questions and would like to get on our schedule for an upgrade please call us at 636-464-2400 or you can visit our website contact page and submit a request. http://www.pctechrx.com/contacts

So how much does it cost? We estimate it taking 1 to 2 hours to upgrade your pc if all goes well.

06/12/2019

Just a reminder for those running Windows 7 and Server 2008 or earlier: The National Security Agency (NSA) has released a cybersecurity advisory for CVE-2019-0708—a vulnerability dubbed BlueKeep.

The intelligence agency is urging computer owners to patch against the vulnerability “in the face of growing threats” amid concerns that a malicious actor could launch an attack.

We have been working closely with our clients with the following operating systems: Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 to install patches on their equipment.

This is a very serious threat and it is imperative you review your systems and make sure you have the appropriate patches not just downloaded but installed.

For more info feel free to read the following article for more details.

https://www.nsa.gov/News-Features/News-Stories/Article-View/Article/1865726/nsa-cybersecurity-advisory-patch-remote-desktop-services-on-legacy-versions-of/

If you need help installing or verifying that you have the updates let us know.

04/12/2019

On April 8th, 2019, we were made aware of an issue regarding Windows 7 and 10. Microsoft released three updates that have been “breaking” Windows systems.

After the update, customers are reporting their systems are getting stuck in the middle of the update for hours. Symptoms also include getting hung after logging in as well.

We wanted to let all of our customers know not to install these updates list below. If you have already rebooted your computer, give us a call and we can help you with a work around until Microsoft releases another patch to fix these issues. If you are stuck in the middle of an update, we can help with that as well.

We are working diligently to make sure everyone is taken care of during this stressful time. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 636-464-2400.

04/12/2019

On April 8th, 2019, we were made aware of an issue regarding Windows 7 and 10. Microsoft released three updates (see photo) that have been “breaking” Windows systems.

After the update, customers are reporting their systems are getting stuck in the middle of the update for hours. Symptoms also include getting hung after logging in as well.

We wanted to let all of our customers know not to install these updates list below. If you have already rebooted your computer, give us a call and we can help you with a work around until Microsoft releases another patch to fix these issues. If you are stuck in the middle of an update, we can help with that as well.

We are working diligently to make sure everyone is taken care of during this stressful time. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 636-464-2400.

10/31/2012

Increased RAM Needs- In the above example, the blue circle indicates this computer is using 2.75 GB of memory. The blue arrow points to this computer with 3959 MB Total memory. To convert MB into GB, divide the MB total by 1000, which calculates to 3.9 or 4GB of RAM installed. In this sitution, the computer is only using 2.75 GB of 4 GB total RAM installed. Therefore, memory utilization is within acceptable ranges. If the computer's task manager indicates that nearly 100% of the Total RAM is being used for excessive periods of time, there is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. For users who primarily create/edit graphics and high quality images, increasing the device's physical RAM is almost a requirement.

10/31/2012

10/25/2012

How's Your Memory?
This is not a quiz to determine whether you tend to lose your keys or forget to pick up milk for the kids. "How's your memory?" is a question IT people frequently ask when clients report unusually slow running computers, system freezes and crashes, and other seemingly ominous symptoms. So the next time your PC Tech asks about your memory, here is what you need to know:

Types of Memory Used- There are two types of memory or storage that your computer uses: RAM - Random Access Memory and the hard drive. RAM is a temporary memory (stored on physical "sticks" of "chips" that fit into "slots" on the motherboard) that the operating system uses to open and run applications. RAM is used to help perform the instructions the programs need to operate. RAM only holds data while the computer is on. The hard drive, however, will store data whether the computer is on or off. The memory on the hard drive is used to save information (usually on spinning magnetic "disks" that use an arm to "write" data to the drive) entered or created using the programs on the computer. A larger hard drive will not cause the PC to run faster; it will just be able to store more data.
Thus, when a PC Tech asks about your memory, he/she is usually referring to your RAM... because the more RAM you have, the faster and more effectively the computer will run. This is important when multiple programs/applications are open simultaneously; users notice the computer runs considerably slower because all the programs have to share the limited RAM to carry out their duties. Sometimes when only one or two programs are open, RAM utilization will suddenly spike or run high: This can be a sign of a virus. Excessive memory usage can also occur because installing normal applications can cause a small piece of the software (called a "process") to run silently in the background, taking away usable memory for other applications. It's possible to have a hundred or more processes running at once and not have many programs running.

09/26/2012

Spoke today at the Affton Highschool Career Fair

09/07/2012

Choosing the Right Printer For Your Needs

Every company needs a printer, whether an office tries to become "paperless" or whether the establishment uses reams of paper for making copies, scanning, faxing, and printing documents on a daily basis. Sometimes printers merely need to provide black and white hard copies and other times, printers need to produce colorful, aesthetically appealing pages. Businesses, therefore, need to understand what type of printer (from inkjet to laser, from monochrome to color, from basic to multifunction) best suits their needs for the most cost effective and reliable solution.