CJ Computer’s Budget Hardware Upgrades

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CJ Computer’s Budget Hardware Upgrades
Computer Tips and Tricks

When you computer is old, and getting slower, computer tips and tricks include upgrading components rather than paying for a new computer. This is a great option is you don’t have the money to purchase a new computer system. Upgrading g one or two hardware components is a cost-effective way to improve the performance of your computer. Many people can do the upgrades themselves, but if you don’t feel you’re tech savvy enough for such a project, then you can hire a computer repair expert in Raleigh to help you out.

More RAM

The random access memory (RAM) is where information and data such as the operating system and applications are stored so they can be access quickly. If you want a faster computer you can add more RAM to your system. You can upgrade to 4 gigabytes, 6 gigabytes or 8 gigabytes of RAM. If you upload a lot of videos or images, play online games, and multitask, then you need a larger amount RAM. RAM is one of the easiest components to upgrade.

More Hard Drive Space

By upgrading your hard drive you have more storage space. Hard drives are now available with 100s of gigabytes or several terabytes of space. Not only does more storage result in a faster computer, but data retrieval is also faster. When choosing a hard drive, you must make certain it’s compatible with your current computer system. Also, you have to decide whether to replace your old hard drive entirely. or just add the new internal hard drive to your system. If you plan to install a new hard drive, there are software programs available to copy files from the old hard drive to your new hard drive.

New Processor

Another way to improve performance is to upgrade your processor or central processing unit (CPU). You have a couple of options here. You can get a faster version of the processor you already have or you can choose to buy a processor with more cores. Although many people can replace their RAM or hard drive, replacing the CPU is not a DIY project. It’s a complicated process that takes time to learn and is best left to computer experts. Getting a new CPU is not necessary to get faster computer, but it is an option.

Based on how much money you have to spend, you can get more RAM and/or a new hard drive and see a dramatic improvement in your computer. If you’re still not satisfied with the results, then consider getting a new processor. For information and help on installing new hardware on your computer, contact us for computer repairs in Wake Forest, Raleigh or Durham.

How To Keep Your Child Safe On The Internet

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How To Keep Your Child Safe On The Internet

We can’t tell you how many times we get a phone call from a customer that start with ” My child was surfing the web on my laptop last night and now its ……”  You can easily complete the rest of this sentence. The internet is already filled with perils and threats for adults so when it comes to our children we have to be super careful as to what sites they access. At CJ Computer Services we care about you and the safety of your children and we are here to help and be a constant source of knowledge for you.

Threats on the Net-

We already know about spyware, malware and viruses that wreak havoc on our primarily windows based computer each and every day. It is a constant struggle to keep our computers free from these malicious programs. When our children surf the web they are attracted to the online gaming sites which are notorious for bloating our computers with extra software and most of the time malware. We recommend dedicating a specific computer for your child’s web surfing so it does not interfere with your daily computing activities. We tell our customers to educate their children and keep a watchful eye out for what they are downloading and the types of sites they are visiting.  There are many programs either free or pay versions that will restrict the types of sites your children will go to and will therefore reduce the risk of infection.

What Can I Do As Their Parent?

Plenty! Being observant and involved in their computing experience is #1. Do not put the computer in their rooms if possible. Put it in a public place and let them know they are being monitored. Now if you have access to your wireless router you can easily enable parental filtering that will block certain websites from each and every device they use in your home. The main thing to keep in mind, disable their cell connection in the home to force them to go through the wi-fi and the filtering. Kids are smart and very adaptable so we have to stay on our toes. There are a host of free and paid software titles that can be installed on your child’s computer to keep them surfing down the “safe Path” on the web. Some of the notables are Net-Nanny and a great free option is K-9 Web Protection. It will even bark nice and loud when your child goes somewhere they should not go to alert you. The key point here is it blocks your child from reaching a harmful site.

We are here for you to help you with any and all of your computer and technology related needs. If you have any questions on how to keep your child safe on the internet do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We are proudly serving Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, and Durham NC.

 

Upgrading to Windows 10- Beware of Your Office Installs!

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Thinking about upgrading to Windows 10 soon?

As Many of you are getting messages to download Windows 10 for “free” lately we want you to know the possible perils that may occur. Overall we feel Windows 10 is a great operating system with many new features but our customers deserve to be informed.

Considerations before upgrading to Windows 10

Hardware Compatibility-

The first major concern when  Upgrading your operating system would be your computer’s hardware and software compatibility. Your computer has an existing hardware and software signature that is compatible with its current OS and changing that can cause certain programs you use to not work or certain hardware you have to not function correctly or not at all. We recommend checking with your current hardware manufacturers for updated drivers that are compatible with Windows 10. The major hardware you would be concerned with would be scanners, printers, digital cameras, etc. If they are not compatible it may force you to have to upgrade your hardware and will add an associated cost with this “free” upgrade.

Software Compatibility-

The second concern with your Windows 10 upgrade would be your software compatibility. Many software titles you are currently running on your Windows 7/8 machines are not yet compatible with Windows 10. We suggest that you reach out to your software manufacturers to confirm the status of compatibility. Many times they will provide sofware updates free of charge when new operating systems are released. It really depends on the sofware manufacturer whether you will need to purchase a new version of the software.

Office 2013 Compatibility-

We have recently noticed a major software incompatibility with Office 2013 Pro and upgrading to Windows 10. Upon upgrading a machine that has a pre-existing install of Office 2013 can render that software deactivated. It may require the user to have to re-purchase a new license for Office to re-install. We are proud to be there for you in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary and Durham for all of your Computer Service needs. If you need help please feel free to contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Tips and Tricks – Make Your Computer Run Faster

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Computer Repair Tips and Tricks- How To Maintain your PC

 

At some point, nearly everyone complains about a slow running computer. There are many reasons for this, but before you call a computer repairs expert in Wake Forest, try a few of the below computer tips and tricks to get your computer running faster.

1. Clear Temporary Files, Browsing History and Cookies

One of the first things to do is also the easiest. Every task you perform on your computer creates a file that clutters up your hard drive. Cleaning out your temporary files, browsing history, and cookies clears up a lot of space so your computer runs faster.

2. Scan Computer for Viruses and Malware

Viruses, malware, and spyware can overtake your computer and cause it to run slower. Anti-malware software is essential for the protection of all computers and laptops. Although real-time protection is important, you can also do periodic full system scans to find and remove any malware.

3. Use Disk Cleanup

Windows provides a built-in tool to help you declutter your hard drive. It’s a program listed under system tools that you can easily use to clean up program installers, caches, and other files you no longer need.

4. Uninstall Unwanted Programs

Every computer has several programs pre-installed on the system that you probably aren’t aware of. In most cases you don’t need or rarely use these applications, but some are still running in the background. Find the list of programs installed on your computer and remove those that you don’t need or want.

5. Defrag Computer

Another way to get faster speed is by reconfiguring your hard drive so that it stores information more efficiently. This sounds complicated, but you can use the tool listed under “My Computer” to defragment your system.

If you don’t get noticeable improvement after performing some or all of these tips, then you might need to have your computer repaired. For more information on ways to get your computer to run faster, talk to a computer expert. Contact today for mobile computer repair in Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Durham.