New York Laptop / PC / MAC Repair

There can be many issues with audio.  Common issues include problems with the drivers the PC or Laptop use to recognize the device.  The audio jack can also fail.  Sometimes it has nothing to do with either.  For example, the browser (which was the case for IE7) won’t recognize the audio settings of you PC or Laptop device.  While trying to view a video on the internet your headphones won’t be able to register any sounds from that video.  If the above issues have already been troubleshooted (the browser or drivers recognition) and the user is still having problems, feel free to contact us for a diagnostic.

Overheating in Laptop/MAC/PC can kill your device.  Overheating damages the CPU, the graphics card, the motherboard,  and just about any major computer component of the Laptop/MAC/PC.

For the most part preventing your Laptop/MAC/PCs  from overheating isn’t a daunting task.  It does, however, require the owners of Laptop/MAC/PCs to be diligent with care and maintenance of their devices.  Following a few simple tips can preventing overheating in Laptop/MAC/PCs.  New York Laptop Repair recommends the following tips.  By doing so, the Laptop/MAC/PCs will perform optimally and function for its allocated lifespan (as long as there are no other problems with the device).

Do not block the vent.  By blocking the vent, the user is cutting off the the vital opening needed to get rid of the heat generated by the computer components throughout the Laptop/MAC/PC.  The heated air needs to circulated out of the Laptop/MAC/PC otherwise the system will overheat and automatically shut down.  The automatic shut down is the last ditch effort of the Laptop/MAC/PC trying to prevent itself from destroying the computer components.  If this is something that has already happened multiple times to the user, it’s already likely the computer has sustain some amount of damage from overheating and the user has unknowingly cut the lifespan of the Laptop/MAC/PC (that is if the Laptop/MAC/PC is working).

Always clean the PC or laptop making sure it’s not dusty.  This is a Laptop/MAC/PC killer.  Dust is not the only thing that applies here.  Pet fur falls into this category.  Dust/fur builds up inside the computer.  Dust accumulates around the vents there by blocking it (see above!).  Also dust gets inside the computer which will settle onto the computer components and will eventually trap in heat onto the device itself.  This is incredibly bad for any computer component but it’s doom for the CPU which is the part of the Laptop/MAC/PC that runs and gives off the most heat.  If the CPU (or motherboard) is the Laptop/MAC/PC component that fails due to overheating, it would cost more to fix that device than it would to simply replace it with a Laptop/MAC/PC.  But considering how much money was spend in the first place to buy the Laptop/MAC/PC it makes more sense to just keep the Laptop/MAC/PC clean from dust or fur so that the device can function for its entire lifespan.

Leave space between the bottom of the laptop and a hard surface.  Yes, you read that right–space between bottom of the laptop and every hard surface!  It’s not enough to just place the laptop on a hard surface that may or may not produce heat.  Depending on the type of laptop the user owns, the vents can be either on the sides of the device or on the bottom.  Again, by placing the laptop onto a  hard surface, the user is blocking the vent.  Even if the vents are not located on the bottom of the laptop, all of the major computer components are located there.  If the laptop stays on the surface long enough, it will heat up the space below it and the heat now coming  from that space will cause the laptop to overheat quickly.  The user should invest in getting a laptop stand or even better, a cooling pad for the laptop.  A cooling pad is a laptop stand with extra fans that blow cool air onto the bottom of the laptop.  When buying a cooling pad, do some research.   The user should get a cooling pad which had fans positioned strategically.  For example, if the laptop has vents on the bottom, then the fans of the cooling pad should be around or away from the vents.  You don’t want to end up with a cooling pad that is blowing air into the vents that is trying to get rid of heated air.  It defeats the purpose and you will probably cause the laptop to overheat.

Do not place laptops on bedding or pillows.  This should be a given however, New York Laptop Repair has seen plenty of cases where this is the reason for a laptop to overheat.  Bedding and pillows trap heat!  Working on your bed may be comfortable but this practice will overheat you laptop.  Get a cooling pad or laptop stand if you are going to use the laptop on the bed.

Again, New York Laptop Repair recommends to follow these basic tips for optimal longevity for PC’s and Laptops.  Also New York Laptop Repair strongly encourages you to buying a cooling pad.

When a battery dies it almost always has to be replaced.  Working around a dead battery by plugging it into the AC adaptor doesn’t provide a long term solution either.  In fact, having the laptop plugged in constantly can leave the device vulnerable to other problems such as a power surges.  If the laptop becomes disconnected from the AC adaptor, it will automatically power down.  If enough incidents occur of a forced shut down, it can lead to hard drive failure and damage the other components of the laptop.  In buying a replacement part for the laptop battery, New York Laptop Repair recommends getting a genuine replacement from the same manufactures of you laptop that was design specifically to work with that laptop.

The risk of not buying a genuine replacement is that the laptop battery might not fit correctly into the laptop.  Laptop batteries are not similar and come in different shapes.  If the user searches for a laptop battery by model number for a generic brand, there is also the risk of what quality that particular laptop battery has.  Will the battery have a long lifespan?  How long will the laptop battery’s charge hold?

Each laptop battery is design differently for power usage.  The average charge for the different types of  batteries is affected by the computer hardware found in the laptop, what performance settings the laptop is set to (balanced, power saver or high performance) and what kind of cell battery is used by the laptop.  For example, some laptop batteries have 6-cells and others have 9-cells.  If describing a lower end laptop on the balanced power setting, a 6-cell battery provide on average three hours of charge whereas a 9-cell battery offers an average of six hours of batter life.  Those numbers change if describing a higher end laptop on high performance setting.  That 6-cell battery now provides an average of an hour and a half of charge and the 9-cell battery offers two or three hours of charge.

A unique feature of the 9-cell battery is that it protrudes outward from the base of the laptop (12-cell batteries also have this feature).  The shape almost acts as a laptop stand by putting space between the laptop and surface the battery and laptop is resting on.  Many laptops can upgrade to either the 9-cell or 12-cell battery, from whatever standard cell battery the laptop series comes with.  Another benefit of the extended life battery is that is has a longer lifespan.  For example, a 9-cell battery will outlast a 6-cell battery on average, one year.  A 12-cell battery will outlast a 6-cell battery by 18 months.  The slight disadvantage of the extended life batteries is that because of its design, it is heavier than the standard batteries.

For which ever laptop battery you use, keeping it alive for the complete duration of its lifespan is a skill of finese.  The user has to keep an eye out for when the battery is fully charge and when it’s about to die.  If the user let’s the battery completely die before charging it up again, the  battery’s lifespan will gradually decrease below its intended duration.  This is due in part to the process in the battery that alters over time because of the exhaustion of certain chemical resources.  So overcharging and letting the battery completely die depletes those chemicals from the battery.

New York Laptop Repair recommends following these steps for optimal laptop battery use.  In caring for one’s laptop try not to let the  battery completely die.  New York Laptop Repair suggest letting the battery drain  to 10% then recharge it.  Once it is recharge, unplug the AC adaptor.  By doing so, the chemicals in the laptop battery won’t dissipate as quickly and the battery will more like live for its anticipated lifespan.

The Samsung Captivate is the new Android Phone offer from AT&T.   With an 4 inch display, the Samsung Captivate has the thinnest display availabe in the market today.  It utilizes super AMOLED technology which uses less power than conventional phones, allows for wider viewing angles and provides a lightweight design for the phone.  One of the best feature of this phone is its audience voice-processing chip which cancels out background noise. 

Read more info about the Samsung Captivate.

The Dell Streak is causing lots of buzz but not for its capabilities.  At 5 inches, the Dell Streak is garnering attention for being oversized and its lack of  “pocketability.”  Marketed as a tablet, it’s suppose to replace the need for lugging around multiple devices such as your cell phone or other tablet PCs. 

The consensus is the Dell Streak doesn’t quite measure up.

Antivir Solution Pro may sound like a legitimate antivirus but in actuality it’s malaware dowloaded while surfing the internet.  Users are forced to view popups stating their systems are infected with a virus and to buy its software for removal.  The problem is once Antivir Solution Pro is download it could stop all programs from opening.  What makes AntivirSolution more of a hassel is trying to delete it from your computer!  Fortunately, there’s plenty of sites out there that offers removal procedures. 

The release of mozilla’s new browser (beta version) offers a peak at what promises to be a powerful and faster.

Here’s some specs of what’s being offered:

• HTML5 Support for HD Videos
• CSS3 updated
• Plugin crash protection
• Reload and stop button merge into one button
• Tabs are now on top of address bar (default position)
• New firefox button similar to window home button

Check out this link for more details.

LCD screens are fragile.  Aside from physical damage (such as cracks, broken inverters, etc.), LCDs  burn out  or become very dull  from overuse.

It’s important to buy laptops from a reputable source.  Also imperative is to buy from a reliable major brand.  Though the bargin price is appealing. you might end up with unforeseen problems that will negate any savings.   A few laptops are known for catching on fire and causing health issues.

If your screen is broken, have no fear!  The first step is to figure out which part of the LCD is damaged.  We can help troubleshoot the problem and replace or repair it.

LCD flat panel screen technology has helped make portable computers compact and light.

Advances in efficiency, light intensity, and cost have allowed LCDs to achieve widespread application, but the innovation never stops.

The power supply is the device that changes the electricity into the power needed to run the Laptop/MAC/PC.  When the power supply starts to malfunction, the Laptop/MAC/PC won’t turn on.  If the Laptop/MAC/PC that is running at the time the power supply fails, the Laptop/MAC/PC will shut off and won’t turn on again until the power supply is replaced.

Users might initially freak out and exclaim “OH MY GOD! My Laptop/MAC/PC  died on me with all my documents, programs, pictures and music that I bought on iTunes (around $500!!!).”  The user has every right to panic, however, it isn’t necessary to do so.  Unless the user is extremely unlucky and other computer components failed or malfunctions at the same time as the power supply, the information stored on the hard drive inside the Laptop/MAC/PC is safe.  The user will get back these files once the power supply is replaced.

A user can mostly like figure out if the power supply is the computer component that fail.  For MAC/PCs, the power supply will make a zapping sound followed by a scent of something burning (if the user can’t hear the zapping sound, then the user will most definitely smell the burning power supply).  Hopefully, you had quickly unplugged the computer.  At this point the user can either bring the MAC/PC to a local repair shop (like New York Laptop Repair) to replace the power supply or DIY.  If the option is the latter, then do the research on buying the right power supply and take precautions when installing the new power supply into your MAC/PC.  The last thing your aiming for is causing some type of electricity surge to go through the MAC/PC and damaging the various computer components.

When researching for the right power supply, the user needs to review the specification of how many watts each computer component needs.  For MAC/PCs, many parts need to be considered such as, the monitor, the motherboard, the CPU, the graphics card, and other components that add to the overall watts used (such as extra cooling fans withing the tower).  The user will also have to look for the correct connectors needed to plug into the computer components.  It’s important to note that certain manufactures produce proprietary parts for their computers.  This means that their products are not likely available to buy at retail stores.  If your power supply turns out to be proprietary, then the user will have to contact the manufacture either to get it repair there or to buy the part.  (Proprietary parts have the disadvantage of not upgrading parts).

The laptop power supply plugs into the power cord.  If the power supply for a laptop fails, it’s usually a case of wear and tear.  The parts of the power supply for laptops most likely to fail is the DC plug (the part that goes into the laptop) or the power supply.  Some power supplies made by certain manufactures are known for being poorly design.  The DC plug end is constantly bent and pulled.  Eventually the wires of DC plug will fray and the connection won’t work.  Even the best designed power supply/power cord  are vulnerable.  It could snap in some kind of accident or get chewed on by the family pet.  Once the wires are expose,  the user should just get a replacement power supply to avoid weird surges of electricity that could damage the laptop.

If the laptop power supply fails or malfunctions (for the most part) it is easily replaceable.  However, the cost will vary depending on where the power supply is bought from.  New York Laptop Repair recommend that any laptop power supply replacement should be genuine (made by the same manufacture as your laptop and is specified for use with the exact same laptop).  The risk in buying any random power supply for the laptop are the following.  The voltage needed for the laptop and the voltage produced by the power supply have to match.  If the user buys a replacement  power supply without doing their research could end up with the wrong type of voltage.  For instance, if the laptop needs 19 volts and the power supply only produces 16 volts, the laptop will not receive the correct amount of power it needs to run properly.  This will cause damage to the laptop in the long run.  However, its very likely that the user won’t even get to that stage because power supply’s with different voltage have different DC plugs.   A 16 volt power supply won’t fit into the power jack meant for a 19 volt power supply.  Thus you have just wasted money.

New York Laptop Repair can’t stress enough how fundamental it is to buy quality products. Remember, never purchase questionable replacement parts.  Power supplies for MAC/PCs need the correct amount of watts for all the computer components to run smoothly.  MAC/PCs also need the correct connectors for the computer components otherwise, it won’t run.  For laptops, always buy genuine replacements.  Put the time in researching for Laptop/MAC/PC replacement parts.  You don’t want to end up with products that won’t work correctly.

If you have any questions, give us an email or call 646-368-8307.  If your Laptop/MAC/PC has further problems that wasn’t fixed by replacing the power supply, stop by New York Laptop Repair’s office to get your Laptop/MAC/PC diagnosed.

Over the past decade viruses have made the internet an increasingly hostile cyber environment for all internet users.

Cyber crimes are launched at a broad pool of victims through viruses, adware, spyware and now fake antivirus programs.  Viruses can infiltrate laptops and PCs at any time.  Unless you already have one of these services, there’s nothing that prevents sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, from being stolen during your regular surfing activities (i.e. online shopping, surfing, and downloading the internet).

Security service providers observed a 30% increase in network and Web‐based security events over a 4‐month period among their clients.  The number of events rose from 1.8 billion to 2.5 billion events per day.

Technical vulnerabilities can be resolved by using firewalls or a antivirus program.  However, other vulnerabilities can compromise you.   This can include  unsecured Wi-Fi connections, outdated Antivirus programs, and using peer-to-peer applications (Bit Torrent).  Just these few applications can leave your PC exposed to malware (malicious software such as viruses, adware, spyware, worms, trojans, dialler, hijackers, backdoor and fake antivirus programs).  Definitely use a reliable antivirus program on every Laptop/MAC/PC you own to reduce any exposure to cyber crimes.

It is important to note that all laptops and PC’s are susceptible to catching a virus (or any kind of malaware).  You are not protect just because your computer runs on a different operating system than Windows.  Though it’s more common that Windows users are affect with viruses than users with other operating systems, with the rise in popularity for MAC systems, viruses specifically made for MACs are increasing.

Malware such as viruses, adware, spyware, worms, trojans, dialler, hijackers, backdoor and fake antivirus programs are caught and alters they way you PC/MAC/Laptop behaves in various ways.

Viruses are download from a file.  When that file is run, the virus installs on to the Laptop/MAC/PC.  Viruses then either spread to other computers or can steal credit card information, bank account information, etc.  Spyware is downloaded and installed the same way as a virus.  Spyware observers the users internet habits, like what pages the user goes to.  Certain spyware installs a keylog which records every keystroke the user has typed on the Laptop/MAC/PC.  This means that if the user does online banking, the keylog has recorded the user name and password to log on to the user’s bank account.  For users who do online shopping, the keylog records the credit card number.  Dialler malware is used by hackers to call up sex phone lines (the one’s that charge a premium rate per minute on the phone line).  The cost of this is passed on to the unsuspecting user.  Backdoor malware takes advantage of security flaws from websites that hasn’t upgraded to the recommended security measures.  As the user enters one of these backdoor websites, the malware remotely takes control of the user’s Laptop/MAC/PC.  The user’s Laptop/MAC/PC then acts as a medium to launch an attack onto other computers or illegally distributes copyrighted media.

Vista and Windows 7’s security audits have amped up their security measures to protect users from catching a virus.  These measures are making it difficult for hackers to acquire sensitive information through hacking  Laptop/MAC/PCs.  However, we are seeing the emergence of websites being hacked.  If a site is hacked or hijacked (done by taking advantage of weak security measures in the website), the first time a internet user accesses a site, an frightening display messages will appear warning the Laptop/MAC/PC user that their sysptem is infected with a virus.   The users will then be prompted to pay a fee to download the antivirus program to remove the virus.  In actuality though by clicking to download the program, the user unwittingly is downloading a fake antivirus program.  The user has just downloaded the fake antivirus program/virus onto their Laptop/MAC/PC.

Websites are vulenurable if the webmaster of the sites have not download the newest security audits for their site’s content management system.  Any internet user with their own blog sites or websites are at risk.  It’s best to update to the newest version of content management systems to take advantage of beefed up security audits.

If your Laptop/MAC/PC is already infected with a virus, here are some common tall tale sign to look out for.

-Does the Laptop/MAC/PC get spammed with pop ups.

-Does the Laptop/MAC/PC also run slower than normal/doesn’t respond

-Are programs not opening or function as they normally should

-Is  the Laptop/MAC/PC restarting on it’s own

-Is the user having problems/completely blocked from logging onto the internet

Please note that any one specific problem from above doesn’t mean the user has a virus.  It could be do to changes in a programs such as an update or an hardware issue.  However, a combination of the above symptoms as well as any others list here, it is very likely that the user has caught a virus.

Viruses are not the only type of malware to be on the watch for.  Adware,

For information on the names of fake antivirus programs  just emerging, links to removal procedures, and details about how the fake antivirus programs work and affect your Laptop/MAC/PC, go to the Tech News section of New York Laptop Repair.

New York Laptop Repair offers computer related services such as virus removal.  Stop by our Midtown office to get a diagnostic.  Or give  a call at New York Laptop Repair: 646-368-8307.