Tech Guy Allen

Tech Guy Allen Slow computer? Worried you lost 1,000 photos? Need a cleanup? Tech Guy Allen will help you fix your PC. Tech Guy Allen's motto: "No fix, no charge." :)

04/01/2022

Spring cleaning applies to your computer, too! Tons of junk slowing you down? Is dust building up inside and potentially overheating your system? Let your fully vaccinated tech help you with your spring cleaning! On site, meet-up, or bring it to me, I'm happy to help! Let's polish up your ol' computer! 😄

01/24/2022

"But Tech Guy Allen, mine was making that noise and it fixed itself!" Wrong answer. The cooling fan gave out from struggling. As heard in this video, if your computer suddenly stops making this noise, it's easy to believe that the problem fixed itself. That's incorrect, however. In fact, it's the total opposite, and you might learn that very quickly.

Sometimes, as is the case with this client's computer, you can knock on the area of the computer where the sound is coming from and, similar to how tapping a car's dying starter with a hammer gets a few more starts, the fan will start running again for a while. You can baby the fan for varying lengths of time like this; but, eventually, no matter how hard you knock, the fan will be Rice Krispy and done. Get a replacement ordered when this noise starts up. Of course, it's important to know WHICH fan is failing. If you're having trouble diagnosing that, give me a holler, and let's tackle your cooling fan project!

BONUS: as the fan gets closer to complete failure, the "chainsaw sound" will get weaker, and the increments will get shorter. Don't run it to the wire, though, and risk a major system failure.

01/24/2022

If your computer is making this noise: no, it's not going to go full transformer on you; however, this is the sound of bearings going out on a cooling fan. If you hear this sound, yet choose to ignore it, you might luck out and it is just a circulation fan. Worst case, though, your processor will no longer be cooled, which could brick your computer permanently. Do not ignore this sound. This is *especially* important in the heat of summer. Chainsaw sounds belong outside, and they especially have no place in your computer. Thank you for your time, and I hope I can assist you soon.

02/28/2021

Malvertisement: what is it? The short answer: an advertisement that is designed so you'll likely click it, and malware can be easily downloaded. "YOUR PC HAS 100 VIRUSES CLICK HERE TO SCAN" has evolved... A LOT.

The long answer: malvertising is a huge portion of the internet. Just because it's a "trusted" advertisement from Google's AdSmart technology, doesn't mean you're safe from malware when you click it. You can be on a website you trust 100% (for example, Yahoo!), see what appears to be "a very interesting article," and underneath that link is a redirect to some spam URL like xijfiuemap.woepfjien

Malvertisements are not limited to just "interesting article titles." Some more situations where malvertising happens include, but are NOT limited to: 1. "Slow download? Click here" next to legitimate "Click here if your download doesn't start" message. 2. Clickbait-y titles like "insurance companies do not want you to know about US!" amongst a list of other, legitimate websites. 3. Boxes that pop up with messages like, "click HERE if you want a complimentary scan of your system to check for viruses."

"So, how do I know if a link is actually a malvertisement?" Well, there are a couple of methods, as of right now, that can help you keep those fake websites off of your system.

First method (mostly helpful): hover, but don't click. In most modern browsers, the actual link redirect will show up in the bottom left corner of your browser window. While this can be a useful method, it's not bulletproof: some scam artists will cleverly place commas in lieu of periods (A.K.A. "dots") in the URL to make you believe you're going to, for example, be redirected to Google. You might see "Google,com" and not even give it a second thought; however, that mistake is likely going to be very costly.

Second method (most recommended): install a very reputable anti-malware program. Some of you know of my usage of MalwareBytes, and that I describe it as "an extra layer of security for a standard computer with antivirus already installed." MalwareBytes, albeit a great program, does cost money for the full version. After testing out both, I can assure you that the paid version is fully worth it. If a malicious redirect attempt occurs, your connection to the site is immediately aborted, and you're greeted with a sobering message from MalwareBytes, explaining what just happened.

As technology progresses, so do hackers, criminals, etc., and their abilities to really mess things up. It's a sad reality. I hope this information proves useful to all that have read it. Keep on clicking, typing, and tapping.

- Tech Guy Allen

09/14/2020

OMG! HMU IYKWIM. WTH are you saying? AFAIK, I'm going TBTH w/ you!

Is internet jargon driving you crazy? Did you, at one time, think LOL was the standard for "lots of love" ? While trends and times have changed, a lot of internet acronyms really haven't changed... although, more are added, consistently.

If you'd like someone to go over the common internet slang and we use these days, and why we use them, then maybe it's time to schedule some time with your neighborhood technician!

There is one acronym I use frequently, and it's still catching on, so learn it now, if you don't already know: AFAIK = as far as I know. 👍

09/14/2020

Tech tip: for over a decade, Windows users have undoubtedly noticed that the "task manager" (in the days of Windows XP and earlier, the "ctrl+alt+delete window") is a little more tricky to get to.
.. Or, IS IT? Actually, the alternative shortcut to pull up the task manager has been in existence since Windows 95, and it still does exactly that! Learn this one: ctrl+shift+esc (press down together in that order). Fun fact: if your hand is big enough, this shortcut can be used with one hand! So long, ctrl+alt+delete! (Unless, of course, you use this shortcut to access the "metro" window and perform other tasks.)

A situation where this shortcut could come in handy might be: your computer has an infection that's essentially disabled the "metro" portion of Windows (this type of infection is NOT unique or uncommon, and it is typically infuriating to resolve if you don't know what you're doing). This might be your only option to shut down a program that's acting up, if you're dealing with a system problem/failure!

If ctrl+shift+esc still didn't save you, then perhaps it's time to call your neighborhood technician. 🙋‍♂️ I hope this helps you! Keep on clicking, tapping, and typing, folks!

- Tech Guy Allen

Don't let your computer suffocate and overheat. "Dirt and dust will make it bust!" Be good to your equipment. I can have...
05/24/2020

Don't let your computer suffocate and overheat. "Dirt and dust will make it bust!" Be good to your equipment. I can have your computer go from before to after in a matter of about 10 minutes (tower-style computers only - laptops and handhelds are far more intricate). Not only will I have your computer operating like new: it will sound, and look, like new, as well. Here are some before and after pictures of a computer I was requested to do a physical cleaning on. :) If you like this result, please contact me. Even if you think your computer "probably doesn't have that much dust," don't get overconfident. Play it safe and get it cleaned - overheating can lead to irreversible damage, including warped/bloated casing, premature cooling fan failure, and in extreme cases, destroyed hard drive. One of the first signs of a computer overheating is the level of noise you hear from the cooling fan, as well as extreme sluggishness that cannot be explained from a software perspective. (Usually, the computer will slow down considerably, during these noisy cooling fan sessions - if this is your case, contact a technician immediately.)

Keep on clicking, tapping, and typing, folks! :)

- Tech Guy Allen

05/24/2020

"My computer's layout is all screwed up! I can't even figure out the start menu!!! Ugh... is this a Windows 10 update???"

Fear not. No, this sudden configuration change that can appear out of nowhere is, most likely, a result of your computer deciding (for you) that you need a feature called "Tablet mode."

Quote from a reputable open information source, regarding this: "In many cases, Window 10 notices how you’re working and automatically turns Tablet mode on and off when necessary. (Microsoft calls that special sense Continuum.)"

This is a very aggravating feature, especially if you're using the old-fashioned monitor-and-tower setup, and you're still trying to get the hang of Windows 10. It *does* serve its purpose for some users; however, the majority of users will find this "Continuum" nonsense to inhibit their use of the computer.

It's not a major repair that you need to "call out the techie" for. It's a simple fix (on most setups), actually, but finding the solution online can be cumbersome. So, here's the two-step fix for getting you out of Tablet mode:

1. Look for the notifications window at the bottom right corner (the icon looks like a rectangular speech bubble) and left-click it.

2. At the bottom of this pop-up window, there should be various "buttons" (think of it as a miniature control panel/switch board). Look for the one labeled "Tablet mode" and left-click it (if it is active, it will be illuminated, in nature; most likely, however, you want it de-selected).

That's it. If I fixed your issue and just saved you your paycheck on a computer repairman, let me know! If you're still experiencing menu/visual/layout problems, or you are having major problems extending beyond this, send me a private message. Thank you. I look forward to assisting you in any way I can. Keep on clicking, tapping, and typing, folks! :)

- Tech Guy Allen

04/17/2020

"My phone/tablet has been acting up a lot, and I don't know why." Today's topic pertains to one question I have for you: when was the last time you restarted it? No, not the last time you restarted/closed your recent apps: the last time you completely restarted your device.

Just like a desktop or laptop (especially ones that run any version of Windows prior to Windows 10) needs an occasional power cycle done on it, so do phones and tablets.

Never restarted your device? That's easy!* First, locate the power button (aka "the one that turns on the screen," "the one that turns off the screen"). Next, hold the power button down for anywhere from 2-7 seconds. If you have an iPhone, it will take closer to 7 seconds. You'll know this is being done correctly when a NEW screen pops up that has some options you may have never seen before. For most iPhones, you'll see an animated "swipe to power off" message. For most Android devices, you'll wait closer to the 2-4 second range. Some devices let you choose between "power off" and "restart." I do recommend using "power off," as "restart" clears less junk. If you don't see "restart," just tap the "shut down," "power off," or whatever the equivalent is on your device.

Once you've completed this procedure, and your device is completely turned off, the majority of tablets and phones will give off one last vibrate pulse that lasts about half of a second. If it doesn't do this, your device may not have vibrate hardware.** Possibly, too, your device's configuration is instructed to just power off without sending a pulse. (See second footnote for more information.) After this sequence completes, wait about 15 seconds. Then, hold the power button down for a few seconds, until you see the screen light up. Release the power button. The device will take anywhere from 10 seconds to two minutes (it honestly strongly depends on the age of your device and how much you've used it) to restart. Upon completion, you'll be presented with your unlock screen, and now, you're good to go! :) You may notice a dramatic improvement, and you may not notice any change at all. Regardless, it doesn't hurt to restart your device.

I hope today's tech tip proves useful to somebody. Keep on clicking, tapping, and typing, folks!

- Tech Guy Allen

* for most devices. There will always be one rebel, however, so if this doesn't work for you, contact me with your device brand and approximate year it was manufactured.

** to cut back production costs, I've personally seen an upsurge of new tablets that don't have the vibrate option. They use the extra physical space to either make the unit more compact, expand storage, or expand the heat sink on it... or they just leave it blank. With this situation, wait for your screen to turn totally black and count to 30. ^ Continue reading for the rest.

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