Stres Less Tech Blog

Internet Explorer 11 retirement in June 2022

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:13:02 GMT

Microsoft urges users on Windows 10 to switch over to Edge or other modern web browsers.

Full information on Internet Explorer 11's retirement can be found on the Microsoft website .

Laptop and cell phone batteries - when should I charge them?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 16:35:11 GMT

We get asked often at our Decorah office, how much or how often should I charge my laptop or cellphone batteries? Most Lithium-Ion batteries do best if kept between 35% and 80%. Here are some tips to help get the most use out of your battery!

Batteries have changed dramatically over the past 20 years, especially in the computer world. Most people have either a laptop, cell phone, or one of each, but did you know that the battery in these devices has a predetermined life?

Types of Batteries

There are three types of batteries frequently thought of when talking about laptops and cellphones. Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries are both considered out of date now, but were frequently used in older devices. These batteries were much heavier, did not hold a very long charge, and suffered heavily if left to sit for extended periods of time. Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries are currently the most common and have become the standard in portable power. These batteries can produce the same amount of energy as the Ni-MH batteries but weigh upwards of 30% less and are much slimmer. They are now commonly placed inside laptops or cell phones as non-removable parts (unless you want to open your device and risk voiding a warranty.)

Along with working towards lighter, smaller batteries, manufacturers have also created a battery that does not suffer from an issue most call “Memory Effect.” This is caused by not discharging a battery fully before recharging at least once over a few weeks. The substances in the older Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries crystalize and create a false zero, making the battery believe it only has access to a portion of the capacity it had at the beginning. The best charging method to prevent this was to drain thoroughly and fully charge the battery at least once a month - a technique now frowned upon with Li-Ion batteries.

Expected Life Span

Depending on the device, you could expect a life span of 500 to 1200 complete cycles. Now, it’s not like companies are setting an expiration date on the batteries, but planned obsolescence is kept in mind when crafting and manufacturing for small devices. HP's laptop batteries usually last around 1000 cycles, and most users hit that count in two to four years. For the iPhone 12 series, Apple anticipates the cycle count to be over 500 when it hits 80% of its design capacity. This seems accurate as my iPhone 12 Pro with pretty heavy usage is at 89% battery life, and 414 charging cycles.

Of course, there is still a long way to go from 80% to zero, but most companies recommend replacing a battery at or around that mark. The buildup of internal resistance is more noticeable, making charging take longer than when the battery was new. Along with the time it takes to charge, it is also more challenging for the device to tell where the battery’s 100% and 0% is, leading to sudden drops in percentages you may see at the end of a charge or if you turn your device on after it has been off for a while.

How to Increase the Life Span

While you cannot guarantee a change in the number of charge cycles a battery will handle, you can change how you charge the battery. By charging the battery within certain guidelines, you can increase its chances of outlasting others of its kind. Most Lithium-Ion batteries do best being charged up to 75-80% and then being discharged down to 35-40% without going above or below those limits. This will help the internal components last longer, but this doesn’t affect the charge cycle count as those are created cumulatively, so a 50% charge and a 60% charge equals one and 1/10th charge cycle. However, tests where batteries were fully charged and depleted did stop holding a charge faster than batteries that were kept in a range of 35-80% regularly.

Fast charging is a newer feature that some laptops and cell phones are talking about currently, but this might be something you want to skip on if you are concerned about more extended battery life. As a battery charges, imagine water filling holes in a beehive. The first 80-85% of the holes are pretty easy to fill, but the last 15-20% can be challenging for the water to find and fill appropriately. The same goes for the power as it fills the ‘cells’ in the battery, but a fast-charger would be similar to using a pressure washer instead of a garden hose.

Temperature and Conditions

In the Midwest, we can have varying temperatures throughout the day. Extreme hot temperatures can cause faster battery degradation, and most companies consider that temperature over 86 degrees Fahrenheit! If you have to leave your laptop or cellphone outside for an extended period, it is better to leave the battery around 40-50% instead of 100% charge. This will give the internal components of the battery to swell and shrink as needed, where if the battery was at 100% it would put pressure on the device it is in, possibly causing damage.

In colder temperatures, batteries have a more challenging time keeping a charge and giving the same amount of energy per charge. This will cause you to charge your battery more frequently, lowering the overall time the battery will last. One way to help prevent this is to bring the battery to at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit before charging, if possible. There are some manufacturers and retailers that are selling batteries now that will not charge unless they are at a temperature that is deemed safe to do so. Typically these are marketed to ice fishing or other cold weather sports, but that technology might make it to laptops some day!

How To Help Minimize Battery Usage

Battery usage can drain quickly. Some common factors are screen brightness, playing video games, and connected peripherals. Each element might only affect your battery usage a small amount, but they add up to quite a bit of use throughout the day. Consider lowering your screen brightness, plugging your Bluetooth speaker into the wall, and shutting off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if you are not using them.

In addition to changes that you can make each day, there are also settings in your device that can help save your battery usage that typically only need to be set once. When looking at what is commonly called Battery Saver Mode, Energy consumption and Performance are the two ends of the spectrum, and you will have to choose where on that line you would like to be. We recommend looking at the rest of the device to see where you should be most of the time.

Choosing closer to the Performance side for older computers is a good idea, especially if you have already replaced your battery since the speed of the laptop is probably a bigger concern than the battery life. If your computer is newer and faster, we might recommend focusing on Energy Consumption as the ability to run more processes at once can lead to faster drain since the system is being pushed farther. No matter which direction you choose to go, most devices can have the battery replaced, and we can get you a quote for that replacement if you think your battery is coming to an end!

How much does it cost to repair your computer in Decorah?

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 23:03:51 GMT

Free Diagnostics - We'll diagnose your computer or device for free - Schedule Appointment

Find out what you can expect for various types of computer repairs.

At Stress Less Tech Solutions, we will always offer a free upfront diagnosis of the issue and then provide you with our best recommendations and estimates for the repair.

We got this question a lot, how much does it cost to repair my computer in Decorah? Pricing for computer repair can vary depending on the issue going on with either the hardware or software.

Below we cover some of the most common repairs we see in our office in Decorah, Iowa, and estimated price ranges for the fix.

Computer Infected or Hacked

If you believe your computer is infected or has been targeted by a hacker remotely, it's crucial you get it resolved quickly before more malicious actions can take place. Members of our Stress Less support plans get unlimited infection removals and next-generation cybersecurity protection on their computers. For single-time infection removals, our prices range from:

$125-200

Computer Running Slow

The most common fix for a computer running slow is to upgrade the mechanical hard drive inside to a newer, solid-state drive. We often give the example of before your computer taking multiple minutes to start up or launch a program; after the fix, it takes only a few seconds. We can also talk about other hardware upgrades such as RAM that can help your computer run better.

$150-200

Broken Laptop Screen

Laptops range in quality and price, which is often reflected in how much a new, replacement screen or display can cost. For example, new screens on MacBooks can range a lot depending on the model and age of the computer, and Windows-based laptops can also vary depending on how much the replacement screen costs and the labor involved to replace the display. Sometimes, other parts also need to be replaced if there was physical damage to the top of the laptop. For the most accurate estimate, we recommend bringing the laptop to us for a free in-store diagnosis for the most up-to-date pricing.

Windows Laptop with Broken Screen: $129-249
MacBook with Broken Screen: $199-$699

Printer Not Working

We know firsthand that printers can often just stop working or communicating correctly with your computer. We pride ourselves in being able to solve most printer connection issues remotely from our office; this means you don't even have to leave your house! Most printer issues arise when the computer and printer stop communicating properly or a driver isn't installed or updated correctly.

$65-125

The price ranges on this page are only estimates and can change at any time due to the costs of parts and labor. Please call us at 563-387-9703 for the most up-to-date pricing on computer repairs.

Top 5 Reasons Your Computer is Running Slow

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 21:18:31 GMT

Computer taking forever to start up? Here are some potential causes behind it running slow.

Over the lifespan of computers it's normal for them to slow down for a wide variety of reasons. Below we cover the top 5 reasons that we see causing slowness in residential and business computers brought to our office in Decorah, Iowa.

Celebrating Nordic Fest 2021

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 16:31:19 GMT

One of the many unique things we love about being located in Decorah, Iowa!

Each year our beautiful city of Decorah, Iowa is host to the annual Nordic Fest celebration. From its official website description, "Nordic Fest is an annual celebration of Scandinavian heritage, culture, and food. Each year, over 10,000 visitors travel to Decorah, Iowa for three days of festing."

Our office technicians rave about the many Scandinavian-inspired food options that are available throughout downtown. From the popular sweet treats of Krumkake and rømmegrøt to always favorite options of Lefse and Norwegian meatballs, there's a ton of great food options.

Entertainment is in plentiful supply as well with the community favorite Nordic Dancers and many live musicians that play throughout the fest. Add in the annual parade and fireworks show and you have one awesome local event. If you're visiting town for Nordic Fest or a local resident feel free to stop by our office in Decorah for any computer or technology needs you might need.

Happy festing!

We design websites

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:01:11 GMT

Take the stress out of website hosting and design

We don't only repair computers in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, we also design and host websites for residential and business customers. We work to remove the usual stress and long waiting period involved when building a website. Here's what we offer when building a website for you:

Quick turn around from concept to completion
No web knowledge knowledge required
Modern and professional website design
Responsible/mobile-friendly websites that work on any device

Today is World Backup Day

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 22:55:39 GMT

Don't lose your data, backup your files.

According to World Backup Day , 30% of people have never backed up their data, 113 phones are lost or stolen every minute, and 1 in 10 computers are infected with viruses every month. Backups of your data should be an ongoing process throughout the year, but March 31 marks a good point to remind those who haven't to make it a priority on their to-do list.

We know the importance of data firsthand from helping customers in Decorah and the surrounding area when working to recover it after a hard drive goes bad. Even in a recovery process, not all data can always be recovered. The best defense always is to regularly backup your data to a cloud service to ensure it's safe and secure.

While external storage drives or USBs work as one way to backup data, they too can break, get stolen, or become lost. We always recommend our customers to invest in a cloud storage solution such as Microsoft OneDrive , Apple iCloud , or Google Drive . Cloud storage is always a better solution because it doesn't rely on physical hardware you need to keep track of or worry about its security. Cloud backup solutions are often cheaper in the long run as well because it's easy to add additional storage if you're running out of space.

Backups of your data should include personal computers, smartphones, and tablets. Most newer smartphones have built-in automatic backups enabled by default, but it's always a good practice to double check that's enabled on your device. It takes less time checking that your data is properly backed up versus the time required to try and recover it from an accident or hardware problem.

Stress Less Tech in Decorah is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., to help you with creating a backup plan that's tailored for you and is as stress free as possible. We ensure the backup process doesn't get in your way and is automatic so you don't have to worry about it. Give us a call at 563-387-9703 or email at support@stresslesstechsolutions.com to get your data backed up today.

Protecting yourself against the new Kr00k vulnerability in Decorah

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 20:57:52 GMT

Secure your wireless devices and network

A new vulnerability was discovered in Broadcom and Cypress Wi-Fi chips, which are the world's two most used chips in wireless-enabled devices. Referred to as Kr00k, the vulnerability targets the information that is sent through wireless signals. Usually this information is encryped ensuring that only the sender and receiver can read that information. But with Kr00k, that information can be decrypted by hackers to steal personal information.

Devices that are prone to this vulnerability include Amazon (Echo, Kindle), Apple (iPhone, iPad, MacBook), Google (Nexus), Samsung (Galaxy), Raspberry (Pi 3), Xiaomi (Redmi), and access points from Asus and Huawei. Researchers estimate more than a billion devices could be affected by the vulnerability, which is easy to see with the huge number of smartphones that include those WiFi chips.

Here in Decorah it's not difficult to go about your day and run into someone that is using either an iPhone or Galaxy smartphone. This is why it's important to keep on top of security updates on any device that connects to the internet, especially through WiFi or wireless connection. Fortunately, many of the companies listed were notified about the vulnerability and worked to release updates to fix the issue.

Here's a checklist to follow to ensure you're protected against the Kr00k vulernability:

Enable automatic updates on your device. Ensure that within your device's Settings area that system and security updates are set to automatic download and install. With automatic updates set your device will receive important updates once they're available versus having to wait for you to install them.

Check that the latest updates have been installed successfully. Sometimes issues can occur such as the smartphone running out of space preventing your device from installing the latest update. It's a good practice to regularly check that updates are installing successfully and checking that your device is up to date.

Upgrade to the latest operating system version if possible. To ensure your device is receiving the latest features and security updates it's always a good practice to ensure you're running the latest operating system. Sometimes older devices are unable to run the latest operating systems and will require an upgrade to a newer device.

Only connect to WiFi networks you trust. Free and public WiFi networks can be handy, but also dangerous if sending sensitive information over them. Connecting to a public WiFi network with a device that isn't running the latest security updates is even more dangerous. If you're going to use a public WiFi network it's more important than ever to ensure your device is up to date.

Keep your home WiFi network secure. Best practice when running a WiFi or wireless network in your home is to ensure it's secured properly with a password. Your wireless router should also be set with a unique administrative password. Most wireless routers are shipped with a default password that could easily be changed without you knowing.

Contact Stress Less Tech for help with any of the checklist items from checking that your device is to up to date or securing your wireless router. We're available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Give us a call at 563-387-9703 , email at support@stresslesstechsolutions.com , or stop by our Decorah office location at 2427 Tamarack Dr Rd.

Now's the time to upgrade to Windows 10

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 22:53:15 GMT

With support now over for Windows 7, it's more important than ever to make the switch.

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020, meaning the operating system will no longer receive security patches or new functionality or features. So what does this mean to the average computer user in the Decorah area? Let's address the most common concerns we see from individuals.

Can I keep using my computer with Windows 7?

Yes, your computer will still function like it has in the past and you probably won't notice any changes. However, as time goes on other programs will also stop supporting Windows 7 like internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) which means they'll no longer receive important security updates. With the range of sensitive activities we use the internet for ranging from banking to online shopping it's important to do those with the latest version of Windows and security updates to avoid infections such as malware or trojans. The overall operating system will continually become less safe to use when connected to the internet as it will be unprepared to protect against new security threats.

Do you recommend the upgrade to Windows 10?

Yes! Both residential and especially business customers are strongly urged to upgrade their computers to Windows 10 to keep their operating system protected. Businesses in particular have a more urgent need to make the switch to Windows 10 as Windows 7 will no longer be in security compliance with maintaining a secure operating environment when connected to the internet. This could result in being more prone to outside threats from hackers or infections with malware, trojans, and viruses.

But isn't everything different with Windows 10?

Yes and no. While yes things will look different at first, the normal functionality of Windows 10 is relatively the same. Everything ranging from the start menu to task bar are still in their same locations. Other things such as the Windows 7 Control Panel has been converted into the Settings panel in Windows 10, which makes finding things like Printers and Scanners far easier than it was before. Windows 10 also has a new search bar built into the task bar making it even easier to find any files or applications on your computer.

I heard Windows 10 has a lot of problems, is it safe to upgrade to it?

Yes, now is the best time to make the switch to Windows 10. Many of those problems you hear about are old misconceptions from when it was originally released back on July 29, 2015. Microsoft is taking a different approach to Windows 10 in that it's continually improving the operating system all the time and making it easier and more secure for users. Some elements of Windows 10 from 2015 look completely different now in 2020. In the end it means if you upgrade now you'll be continually receiving updates and improvements to Windows 10 far into the future.

Will I lose all my files and applications if I upgrade to Windows 10?

No, the upgrade procedure from Windows 7 to 10 only changes the operating system itself and doesn't affect any of your files. Some older applications may have more difficulty while running in Windows 10, but now the majority of applications fully support Windows 10. Most newer programs and video games going forth will only function on Windows 10 which makes the upgrade even more important if you're purchasing new software or video games.

I need help with the upgrade to Windows 10!

Not to worry, we're here to make the process of upgrading from Windows 7 to 10 a stress less experience for our Decorah and surrounding area customers. We offer a flat rate service with no hidden charges that covers the entire process of upgrading to Windows 10 on either your desktop or laptop computer.

Already on one of our Residential Service Plans ? Bring your Windows 7 computer in for its annual tune-up and we'll include the upgrade to Windows 10 at no additional cost to you. As always, we're available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer any of your Windows 10 upgrade questions. Give us a call at 563-387-9703 , email at support@stresslesstechsolutions.com , or stop by our Decorah office location at 2427 Tamarack Dr Rd.

Did you know we custom build PC’s?

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:55:49 GMT

The new RTX 2000 series is on the way and they are going to be a serious upgrade for any PC Gamers out there!

Whether you’re looking for a gaming Computer or a work computer we can build it for you.

If interested in more information you can stop by any of our office locations: Decorah, Waukon, and West Union.

You can call us at 563-387-9703

https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/20/17758724/nvidia-geforce-rtx-2080-specs-pricing-release-date-features

Proudly Serving Northeast Iowa – Stress Less Tech Solutions

Top 12 Tech Gifts of 2017: Sphero R2-D2 & BB-9E

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:46:03 GMT

At Stress Less we like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19th for another must have tech item and why you should check it out.

In 2015 Sphero released their app-connected robot, BB-8, to tie-in with Star Wars the Force Awakens. Now, with this year’s release of The Last Jedi, Sphero has done it again with two new droids, R2-D2 and BB-9E. R2, of course, moves on treads and can move sideways if wanted or he can bring out his third leg and use it to lean back and navigate tougher terrain like carpeting.

R2’s head turns, and he has plenty of lights and sounds from built-in speakers, something BB-8 didn’t have. You can draw a path with your finger on the app and R2 will follow it. There’s also a button to have R2 “flip out” so to speak, where he shakes and makes noise before falling over.

Like its droid brothers, the BB-9E droid uses the same app as the other two and can be controlled via app or voice commands. The three droids are in scale with each other and 12-inch action figures.

Sphero is planning add new ways for the droids to interact with each other and their surroundings. Right now, you can have them watch Rogue One or The Force Awakens, and the droids will react at certain points thanks to scripted points in the movies and the app listens for these cues to cause the droids reactions.

If you’ve got a Star Wars fan on your list this Christmas, no doubt they’ve already got these little guys on their list. At just $180 for R2-D2 and $150 for BB-9E, they are affordable enough to get both…assuming you can find one. As is the case with most items on our list of Top 12 Tech Gifts, these droids are in short supply but revered by Star Wars fans all over.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less Tech Solutions!

Top 12 Tech Gifts 2017: TCL S405 4K HDR TV

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:44:34 GMT

If you’re anything like most Americans, you want the latest and greatest tech but can’t always afford it. TV’s for instance. You want to experience this new 4K technology that everyone is talking about but there is no way you can afford $3,000 for a TV. Never fear, there is an alternative.

The TCL S405 49” 4K HDR TV proves you don’t need to break the bank to experience 4K. Offering similar picture quality and brightness to the Samsung Q7F, the TCL offers less levels of lag than the pricier Samsung and comes with Roku TV! You can play Gears of War 4 in 4K or stream Netflix in stunning 4K resolution. All this will run you $360 for the 49” model, and upwards of $800 for the 65”.

It doesn’t sport a hub for your HDMI like the Samsung Q7F, but it does have three HDMI ports and a single USB on the rear side. Still, I’d gladly sacrifice a port or two if it meant saving thousands of dollars. Not only does it save you money, but now you have enough to get that new iPhone, right?

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less!

Top 12 Tech Gifts for 2017: Samsung Galaxy S8

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:42:50 GMT

If the new iPhone seems a bit pricey for you, don’t worry. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ offer similar technology but with a cheaper price tag. Much like its competition, the S8 offers a 5.8-inch display, but unlike that other phone it curves around the edges of the phone producing the first true infinity screen on a smartphone.

The phone does 4K video, has a 12MP rear camera (8MP on front), uses facial recognition to unlock, is water and dust resistant, and charges wirelessly. All features that the iPhone X sports. But unlike the iPhone, the S8 can expand its memory from 64GB to 256GB via memory cards, allows multiple windows so that you can multitask (text while watching a movie?), and contains a headphone jack. Also, you aren’t restricted to one method of unlocking. There is also a fingerprint scanner and the use of a PIN.

The biggest difference here is that the S8 comes in a bigger model, the Galaxy S8+ which has a 6.2-inch screen for only a few dollars more. Both versions make use of Samsung’s new Bixby AI, their answer to Siri that learns from you and can do things like translate languages and point out landmarks when taking photos.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 will run you $750 for 64GB (upgradeable to 256GB via memory card) while the S8+ runs $840. Both versions come in Arctic Silver, Orchid Gray, and Midnight Black.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less Tech!

Top 12 Tech Gifts 2017: SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:40:58 GMT

This USB drive has connectors for both USB-A and USB-C, to make it simpler for transferring data between computers and even some newer Android phones with USB-C. Laptops, Android phones, Macs, and PCs are all utilizing the USB-C connection. With this, there’s no need to worry which type of flash drive you have.

The Dual Drive comes in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB sizes. The 32GB can be found for less than $20, while the bigger sizes will run you a bit more money.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less Tech Solutions!

Top 12 Tech Gifts of 2017: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:38:38 GMT

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has an all glass design with four speakers and a High Dynamic Range (HDR) ready display. HDR offers better contrast and a better color range than regular HD does, making this the tablet of choice for all your streaming needs. The speakers are positioned in the corners and the sound moves accordingly when the device is rotated.

The tablet also comes packaged with a revamped Samsung S-Pen stylus. If you are one who enjoys taking notes on your tablet or prefer doing a lot with a pen, this stylus writes smooth and never has to be synced or charged. Besides writing, the S-Pen adds precision to coloring, drawing, and more. There’s also an add-on keyboard ($130) for those who want to use theirs as a word processor or for using the internet.

The Tab S3 uses a USB-C connection for fast charging, has a fingerprint sensor on the home button, and uses an all glass design, rather than aluminum like most tablets do. Unlike your iPhone, this tablet is equipped with a standard headphone jack, so that you can use your current headphones with it.

The Tab S3 really shines when playing video. The screen is crisp and sharp, and the sound is loud and clear thanks to the four-speaker setup. It is the first and so far, the only, HDR-ready tablet on the market. If the sticker price doesn’t give you pause ($599), then the Galaxy Tab S3 is the tablet to get this Christmas.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less!

Top 12 Tech Gifts of 2017: Microsoft Surface Book 2

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:36:28 GMT

Microsoft’s thin laptop/tablet hybrid two-in-one PC arrived on the market a couple of years ago and became an instant must-have item. This year’s models are no different. The 13-inch model comes in several variations of hard drive space and RAM, and starts at $1499. Joining the fray is a 15-inch version with just as many memory options, but starts out at a hefty $2500.

The biggest difference between the two (aside from screen size) is the video graphics card in each one. The 15-inch is equipped with a more powerful video memory card, allowing it to act as a mobile gaming machine. Whether you’re playing Gears of War 4 or Cup Head, the machine isn’t likely to lag or slow down.

Both models come with detachable screen, USB-C port, 17 hours of battery life, SD card reader, and offer touch screen with surface pen support. The pen allows you to sketch, write, and compose easily with virtually no lag.

Part tablet, part PC, and part gaming machine, the Surface Book 2 stands atop the laptop landscape this holiday season.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less Tech!

Top 12 Tech Gifts 2017: Samsung Q7F 4K TV

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:34:50 GMT

You’ve purchased the new Xbox One X or a PS4 Pro, and now you can’t wait to get gaming. Or maybe the console purchase was for a spouse and/or child. Sure, your run-of-the-mill HDMI capable TV that adorns your living room will connect. But you didn’t get all that new and great 4K power just to force it onto a standard high definition television, did you?

Of course not. You have 4K now, so that demands a great 4K experience. The folks over at Samsung hear you and have just the screen in mind. The Samsung Q7F is the perfect TV for your 4K movies or games. It’s great for media consumption, with four HDMI ports and three USB ports. These can be used individually, or you can connect all your devices to the Samsung One Connect Box, which acts as a hub for HDMI connections and feeds into the TV via a single cable. Super convenient when you have multiple systems.

Recommended by the folks over at Xbox, this premium screen will run you minimum $2,800 for the 55” model and as high as $6,000 for the 75” version. Available at most retailers, the best deals are usually hiding on the store’s website.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less Tech Solutions!

Top Tech Gifts 2017: Nintendo Switch

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:32:39 GMT

Nintendo knows how to get people excited, and excited they are to get the newest Nintendo console, the Nintendo Switch. The biggest draw might be the ability to play on your TV at home then remove it from its docking station and continue playing on the go as a handheld system. The console seamlessly transitions from one mode to the other, allowing you to take the game with you.

Attached to your TV, the Switch docking station connects via HDMI and gives you true HD gameplay. The controller, the Joy-Con, separates into two controllers for multiplayer or the two can be attached to the sides of the console for gaming on the go. The Switch comes with a tiny 32GB of internal storage, but that can be easily upgraded to 2TB with a micro SD card.

Unlike previous Nintendo consoles, or even the Xbox and PlayStation, the Switch doesn’t use discs. Instead, it uses small cartridges, like the games on the 3DS handheld system. At only $299.99 it’s an affordable piece of hardware with a unique array of software already available for it. It doesn’t play DVDs or Blu-rays, but it makes up for it with fun and exciting games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.

Nintendo has said that they are doubling their production on the Switch, so it should be in ample supply this holiday.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less!

Top 12 Tech Gifts 2017: Google Home Mini

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:30:32 GMT

Google has been hitting the market over the past year with their own devices to rival their competition in tech market. One of these innovations is the Google Home Mini. The Mini is considerably smaller than their standard Google Home device ($129) and sports a smaller price tag accordingly. The Mini is built with families in mind and works in conjunction with Chromecast to control your TV, stream movies, and send music to your speakers. You can also have the Google Mini play from the device itself.

It recognizes your voice, so multiple users can access their own playlists, calendars, and more with just their voice. It also features hands-free calling for those times when too busy to hold a phone to your ear. The mini can control your lights, thermostat, and more with a voice command, but those require external devices and/or apps.

Overall, for only $49 it does a solid job of bringing your entertainment into the next generation without depleting your rainy-day fund.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less!

Top 12 Tech Gifts 2017: Sony Alpha 6000

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:28:51 GMT

At Stress Less Tech Solutions we like tech, it’s what we do. As the holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive, we are bringing you 12 of the most requested, most wanted tech gifts for 2017. Check back each business day between now and December 19th for another must have tech item and why you should check it out.

Digital photography is becoming easier to do with your smartphone, some phone cameras even rivaling some of the lower end cameras. But for those purists out there, it’s tough to beat the value you get with the Sony Alpha 6000. The camera is a mirrorless design with interchangeable lenses and takes photos at 24 mega pixels, that’s double what the iPhone X offers.

The body design is the perfect size for the average human, not too small nor too large. It fits just right in your hand. It offers fast, continuous shooting (up to 11 frames per second) all while maintaining autofocus and auto exposure, and is sports a quicker autofocus than the leading DSLR camera. The A6000 also shoots video in 1080p and comes equipped with HDMI output.

A great camera for the price, you can snag one with a 16-50mm lens for around $550. More lenses are available but will quickly run up the price.

Happy Holidays and good luck on the tech hunt from all of us here at Stress Less Tech Solutions!

Top 12 Tech Gifts of 2017: Microsoft Xbox One X

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:27:16 GMT

A good deed in Decorah, Iowa – Case of the mysterious laptop.

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:19:14 GMT

We are proud to be a part of the Decorah community. Yesterday we received a message from a friend in the community wondering if we knew the owner of a specific laptop. The owner of the laptop accidentally placed it into the wrong vehicle yesterday while shopping downtown. The owner of the car was kindhearted enough to contact us to help identify the rightful owner. We were then able to successfully identify the owner. The noble young man then drove to Mabel, MN to reunite it with the rightful owner. Our local community is such a great place thanks to wonderful people like Garrett Minear.

FREE Computer Tune-up! Decorah, Iowa Computer Repair Special offer!

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 18:17:07 GMT

Is your computer stressing you out by running slow? Taking a long time to start up? Getting lots of pop ups? Stress less and call Stress Less Tech Solutions of Decorah to schedule a same day or next day FREE computer repair tune up! That’s right for the rest of the month of February 2015 we are giving free computer tune-ups a $65.00 value!

Visit our website: StressLessTechSolutions.com

Call us at: 563-387-9703

Visit our office: 119 Winnebago St., Suite #4 (inside the Peace and Justice Center).

*This offer is only valid for residential drop-off service. Additional charge of $20 does apply for in-home service.

Stress Less! We have the solution to all of your technology problems!

We offer a full range of IT services from Networking to Web Design.

How to use Snapchat

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Computer Repairs Decorah, Iowa - New Office

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:54:44 GMT

Computer Problems? Come check out our new Computer Repair office in Decorah, Iowa.

We are happy to announce that our new office located in Decorah is officially open for business. This new location will allow us to better support all of our current and new customers in the entire area. We will continue to offer our onsite computer repairs but in addition to that you can now bring your computer directly to us.

Our new Computer Repair office is located at 119 winnebago Street, Suite 4, Decorah, Iowa 52101. We are currently open by appointment and will soon announce our new office business hours.

We still continue to offer our 24/7 support by simply calling us at 563-387-9703.

Thank you to all of our customers for helping us achieve this milestone. It wouldn’t of been possible without you.

A tip for your laptop when it’s this cold in Decorah

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:52:18 GMT

The temperature is currently -6F. in Decorah, Iowa today. With the forecast calling for it to only get colder this week here is a simple tip form your local computer repair experts.

Don’t forget your laptop, tablets, or cellphones in the car. With the temperatures this low it will not take long for your electronics to freeze. Well some devices may still work after being warmed up there are many side affects of letting your device become frozen.

The screen could potently crack (We do replace laptop and tablets screens from $50-$150 depending on the model).

It is very hard on the batteries health. The device may work but you will soon notice a significant decrease in your electronics battery life. (Thankfully we also replace Laptop, Tablet, and Cell Phone batteries in the local area including Decorah).

Condensation may occur on the vital parts that make your electronic function. (We fix this also).

So to sum it up please remember to bring in all children, pets, and electronics during these frigid times. If you do forget your laptop in the car and you live in the Decorah, Iowa area don’t stress bring it into Stress Less Tech to get it repaired today.

Brrrrr It’s cold outside in Decorah, Iowa

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:50:53 GMT

With the temperature in Decorah, Iowa currently at -4° and the wind chill below -10° it may truly be too cold outside for your to bring your computer into our office to get it fixed.

We understand!

That is why we offer our on-site computer repairs at no additional charge. With this free service option we can come directly to your home or office and work on your computer. Live outside of Decorah? No Problem, we service the entire area including all of Allamakee and Winneshiek county.

What are you waiting for?

Give us a call to schedule your same day on site computer repair

563-387-9703

Free Diagnostics

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:49:11 GMT

Computer Problems?

Did you know we offer FREE diagnostics?

Having computer issues give us a call today at 563-387-9703

New Office Location in Decorah. Computer Repairs

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:47:41 GMT

We are very excited to announce that we have began moving our computer repair operations into our new office located in Downtown Decorah, Iowa.

This new location will help us better serve all of our customers computer repair needs in Decorah and the surrounding areas.

We will post future updates when the new office in Decorah is ready. In the meantime don’t forget we always offer on-site computer repairs to Decorah and the surrounding region. This service is Wonderfull for you as our customers especially as we enter these cold months of winter. Instead of having to carry your computer in the cold outside just give us a call and you can enjoy a nice warm cup of hot cocoa while we work on getting your computer fixed.

Merry Christmas!

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:46:01 GMT

From our hearts to yours, we would like to take a moment to wish all our family, friends, and clients a Merry Christmas!

Is Your computer running slow? Stress Less Decorah!

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:43:46 GMT

Why we offer a stress less computer repair to Decorah and surrounding areas.

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:40:51 GMT

Tips to a Happy Laptop

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:38:19 GMT

While we are performing our on-site computer repair services to the Decorah area, we get asked a lot “What’s the best way to make my laptop last longer.” Here is some tips to ensuring you get years of life out of your laptop.

Owning a laptop is common practice these days for end-users and businesses alike. They help get the job or tasks done, while being portable. Students can study at the local coffee shop with them, or employees take them with them on travel. They are the ultimate component when being mobile and still being able to keep up on their email, social media, work, etc. Some consideration has to be taken when it comes to having a laptop computer and making sure that it will last and continue to chug along happily all the way through.

Many of us own our laptops for more than the actual designed life of 2 years. We say 2 years because laptops are mobile, which means they are exposed to conditions that a desktop computer would normally not be exposed to. Yet after a year or two of owning a laptop, we find them to be slow, or crashing on a regular basis, and there are many things that will contribute to this. Making sure your laptop is taken care of, and is happy, will ensure your laptop can last for several years, more than just two.

Temperature

Hot and cold climates can kill your laptops battery, or even components. Laptops by design handle temperature, specifically heat, very poorly. Especially on battery where they rely more on passive cooling. Passive cooling means the fans don’t spin and move air about to help keep things like the processor cool. Passive cooling only works when the ambient, or Hot Laptop surrounding temperature, is below 85 degrees. Forced air cooling, or active cooling, is when the fans in your computer are pulling cool air in and pushing hot air out. This works really well to keep the computer cool, but has a few drawbacks. On battery, your laptops fan(s) will consume a lot of battery, giving you only a couple of hours of work time. These fans are moving air through a space that is less than half an inch wide, which allows very little air to flow through your computer, and the vents can be easily blocked, which prevents forced air from being able to cool the computer. But enough about fans.

Heat is the #1 killer to any laptop computer. The battery will naturally get hot when the computer is in use, or if it is being charged. Batteries just do this naturally. At the same time, that heat is killing the life of your battery. If you allow the laptop to “run hot”, you can notice that your battery life gets shorter and shorter over time. This is especially common when you are using your laptop to perform things that drain the battery quickly, such as games. Just leaving your computer out in the sun can damage your laptops battery as well, because even if you remove the battery from the hot sun, the battery may feel cool, but in reality, it’s still very hot inside of it. So when you turn it on, it’ll only get hotter from there. Your battery is not the only thing that can be damaged from the heat. The processor, the screen, the motherboard, your hard drive, all these things can be damaged to an extent where repairs get costly if the laptop gets too hot.

The cold also has an effect on your computer, but not as quick as heat can. Taking a computer that has been in a cold temperature, say your car overnight in the winter, and then taking it indoors where it is warm(er) and quickly turning it on, can create condensation within the computer. This is where the cold can cause factors that cause damage. Condensation can create a sticky layer of dust to form on the motherboard or vents, which is more dense than the normal accumulation of dust. This sticky dust layer acts like a super warm blanket, which helps insulate the components and cause them to get even hotter. Condensation and electricity, if you remember from your science classes in high school, can create corrosion to occur. Corrosion can effect your computer in two ways. One is poor performance, the other is a slow and painful death with noticeable signs of instability.

If you take your computer regularly from one extreme temperature to the other quickly, what can occur is over time, your laptops components will quickly degrade, and you will end up with a laptop that is slow, and has many issues with powering on, powering off, or just staying on and working.

Another way temperature can greatly affect your laptop is by placing it on a cushioned surface, such as your bed or a pillow. This blocks the vents, and prevents your laptop from being able to breathe or cool effectively. And never place the laptop directly on your legs when in use, burn injuries have resulted from using laptops in this manner, and your legs can block the vents as well.

Storage and Transport

Storing your laptop means a lot to it. Duration, location, environmental factors, etc.; all these play a very important role to how long your laptop will last. The first thing to consider is where are you going to store it and for how long. If it is overnight, or for a few hours, choose a location where it will be safe from being knocked over. A lot of laptops we see in the shop for repairs are because the laptop was dropped. Make sure you don’t leave your laptop plugged in where the charging cable can be easily yanked out, or tripped over. This is for your safety as well as the laptops. Even with the Apple laptops, and their magnetic charging cables that just stick on rather than plugging in. The cable itself can still damaged. Good places are on a desk, with a few inches of extra desk space all around, a kitchen table unplugged, or in a drawer.

If you plan on leaving your laptop stored somewhere for a long period of time (more than a day or two), choose a cool (70 to 80 degrees), dry, and away from sunlight location. One more consideration for long periods of storage is the battery. We’d give advice for this one, but it is best to consult your manufacturers instruction manual as every battery needs to be stored differently.

When transporting your laptop, don’t leave anything plugged in. This is how you damage ports, cables, USB drives, etc. And turn off your laptop or place it in sleep more. If you leave your laptop running while it is on, you run the risk of damaging your hard drive beyond repair, as well as other things that can damage your laptop. Choose a laptop bag that provides some form of padding. It doesn’t have to be thick or space age. Wrapping it in a towel can even provide effective padding when storing your laptop in a bag. This is another thing that brings so many laptops in to our shop. Because when we transport our laptops, we think they are safe in the bag. We don’t consciously consider how we carry it around, or set it down. “Oh it has padding, it’ll be fine.” This statement is not true. No matter how much padding it has around it, any impact to your laptop can cause serious damage. The padding isn’t there to prevent damage caused by bumping or banging your laptop. It’s there to protect your laptop from whats in the bag, such as pens and books. Choose a laptop bag that is also light in color, avoid dark colors, especially the color black, as these colors invite heat to surround your laptop. And before placing your laptop in a bag, make sure it is off, and give it five minutes or so too cool down, especially if the bag has been sitting in the sun or next to a heater.

Taking your laptop with you in the car is another thing to watch out for. Place your laptop, in it’s bag, on the floor of the car and in a manner where nothing heavy will be on top of it, and it can lay as flat as possible. Placing it on the seat is like placing anything on the seat that isn’t secured. If you turn or stop too suddenly, the laptop can fly off the seat and hit the floor. Make sure that if you leave your laptop in the car to place it under a seat. Never just under a towel or spare sweater. We say this for a couple of reasons. The first one is heat and the immense power of the sun. The second is theft. We strongly recommend never leaving your laptop in the car anyways, but if you do, always remember to put it under the seat. Placing towels or sweaters over it look like candy to a thief, and increases the risk of theft.

Other Considerations

Have you ever loaned your car to a friend, only to get it back with new scratches and an empty gas tank? Same can go for your laptop. We are more likely to let our friends borrow our laptop computer than a desktop computer, because they can take it with them. One of the other big reasons we see a lot of laptops come in to the shop is because the owners let their friends borrow them. The friends then installed and downloaded various malicious software, or played with the settings that have now caused the laptop to become a complete wreck and need repairs. We are not saying don’t let your friends borrow your laptop, just do the following:

Enable the guest account for them to use. Don’t let them use any other user account. This will prevent your friends from making any serious changes to the computer, and things wont be permanently saved either. So tell them to bring a USB drive to save their documents.

Change your user account password, even if you didn’t give it to them, after getting it back. Just in case they figured out your password.

Tell them to bring your car back with a full tank of gas…ermm…we mean the laptop with a fully charged battery. It’s the considerate thing to do.

Watch what you install on your laptop as well. You could end up getting more than you originally thought you would. There are so many quick and easy downloadable software out there, that we think is amazing looking, just to find out later that it was a virus. It’s not that laptops are more susceptible to it, this is just a core consideration to be mindful of.

Watch whose WiFi you connect to, and what you select it as. If you are at home, then it is your “Home” network. If you areNetwork Locationat work, then it is your “Work” network. Anywhere else and it is considered a “Public” network. This is important, because these different settings mean different things.

Home Network: Your computer will be visible on the network, meaning you can see other computers, and others can see you. This means if your computer is sharing anything, such as printers, folders, etc., then they can access them.

Work Network: This is only important if your computer needs to access a domain. Consult your IT department for more information before connecting your personal laptop to a work network. This network is treated like a Home Network.

Public Network: If you are at a coffee shop, the airport, or any other public location, and accessing the WiFi there, this is the option to choose. It hides your computer from the others, and wont allow your computer to share anything to any other computer. This is important for protecting your computer from cyber stalkers and thieves.

Make sure your Anti-Virus software is up to date. Even when using a Public Network, things can happen, such as the coffee shops WiFi isn’t as protected as it should be and their network is infected. This can cause your computer to become infected as well. Also, having an up to date anti-virus program protects your computer in general.

Is your computer infected with Malware?

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:34:57 GMT

You would be surprised by the number of clients that we work with in Decorah, Iowa that when we point out that it looks like they have a malware infection had absolutely no idea. Many times we were working on there computer for other reported issues when we discovered there malware infection.

So what exactly is malware? well malware is any type of malicious program on your computer in which their intent is to either disrupt your computer operations, collect sensitive data from your computer, or gain access to your personal and private computer files.

How to tell if you have an infection: Well there are many signs that you computer may be infected. Some of them are more obvious well some of them only a well trained technician can pickup on. Here are some of the easiest signs to spot if you have an infection.

1. Unexpected Antivirus Disabling: Many malware programs are designed to disable your antivirus software that would otherwise eradicate them, so if your antivirus system is suddenly not operating this could be a sign of a much larger problem.

2. Erratic Email: If you hear from your contacts that they’re getting strange emails from you that you did not send yourself, this is a strong indication that your system has been infected (or that your email password has been stolen).

3. Popup ads appear: Even when no browser is open you receive ads displaying on your computer. Adware programs bombard their victims with advertisements. Sometimes they’re ads for legitimate products, other times they contain links to malicious websites, sites that will attempt to drop more malware on your PC.

4. Browser Redirection: Browser navigation gets redirected. Not every site redirect is malicious, but if you find that trying to reach Google takes you to an unfamiliar search site, you’ve almost certainly got a problem. Sometimes the redirection is more subtle. For example, a banking Trojan might divert your browser to a fraudulent site that looks just like your bank’s real site. Home Page Redirection - Conduit Search. Decorah Iowa computer repairIn that case your only clue is the unfamiliar URL in the Address bar.

5. Homepage changes: If your home page is suddenly on something like Conduit Search, ask, or any other site that you did not set it to chances are you computer is infected. Many times even once you change your homepage back after you get on your computer next time the malicious homepage will be back.

6. Fake Security Program: A security program you never installed pops up scary warnings. Creating and distributing fake antivirus programs is a lucrative business. The perpetrators use drive-by downloads or other sneaky techniques to get the fake antivirus onto your system, then display scary warnings about made-up threats. Naturally you have to register a payment before the fraudulent tool will “fix” the problem. And of course scanning for malware with the fake AV is super-fast, since it’s not actually doing anything.

What to do if you think your infected:

Stress Less and call us to fully remove the infection from your computer. We offer our infection and virus removal to all of Northeast Iowa, including Decorah, Calmar, Clermont, Waukon, and West Union.

563.387.9703

How did that get on there? I only downloaded…

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 04:30:04 GMT

A lot of our computer repair calls that we receive in Decorah, Iowa and the surrounding area start out like this

“I just downloaded this one program and now theres a bunch of other junk.”

We are always here to repair your computer for you. Once an unwanted program has snuck it’s way into your computer remember to stress less and give us a call. We will help you fully remove it from your computer, we will also remove any infections / viruses that got download with these programs. Many times after we fix the issue though our biggest concern is making sure that You, our customer is educated on how to prevent this from happening again in the future. Well it just so happens that a friend of ours who is also a technical blogger wrote a great article on that very subject of how to avoid this from happening in the future. So we decided to share it

Original story

Have you ever opened up your browser, and all of the sudden your home page is different or there is a tool bar at the top you don’t recognize? You probably recently installed some new program, and it had extra software “wrapped” up with it. You probably agreed to install it, without even knowing it, as annoying as that may be.

When you do a search for something you’d like to download, you likely find several links. It’s always good to look for the actual creator in the address to verify it’s the real version. Notice on this screenshot for my search of Avast (an antivirus program) download the first two are from avast.com, but the third is from download.com.

Downloading from the main source can reduce the risk of extra programs being added. But not always. More on that later on. First, let’s take a look at how you may be tricked into this software installation.

Let’s say I want to download a program called Magic Camera (just an example, I didn’t test the program itself, so this is not an endorsement to download it). I did a web search and found a site to download it from. I click on Download now, ignoring the little blue “Direct Download link” that’s so tiny I missed it.

Now I’m able to go through the installation steps. First, it will download the installer, then I click on the downloaded file to run the installer. One of the first screens I see is this:

I just read the top that says Click Accept to continue the installation. But read and see what I’m actually installing. The main screen says that Search Protect will change the home page of IE, Google Chrome, and Firefox, AND prevent 3rd parties from making changes. At the bottom it says, “By clicking ‘Accept’ you confirm that you have read and agree to the Search Protect Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and agree to install Search Protect.” But who reads that stuff? Click Accept. [ NOTE SEARCH PROTECT IS A MALWARE PROGRAM, AND WILL INFECT YOUR COMPUTER!]

Next screen…

Another accept window. I just click Accept, because, again, who reads all this? But by clicking accept, I have just agreed to install GreatArcadeHits, which will serve “advertising through in-text, pop-up/under, transitional, and banner ads in your web browser”. Yes, I just agreed to this. So now they have hijacked my browser home page and will give me pop ups and banners. [NOTE GREAT ARCADE HITS, IS ANOTHER MALWARE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL INFECT YOUR COMPUTER!]yo

This just goes to show you to be careful what you download. Read ALL those windows, don’t just blindly accept. But also, be careful when you uninstall. When testing these installation techniques, I downloaded a program called Drive Boost (again, not a promotion for the software.) When installing I saw this window at the end of the installation.

I saw that tiny little check mark that tried to get me to install an additional program, but I was smart enough not to leave that checked! Once I decided I didn’t need the program, I went to uninstall it and saw this window:

The instinct is to immediately click on the BIG RED BOX! But stop and look at what it says. Uninstall and Get Advanced SystemCare FREE. The same program they tried to get me on when I installed. What I really want to do is click that tiny link below that says “No, I want a full uninstall.” Can you see how easy we get suckered in?

But it’s not just downloads from small companies, big business suck us in too. Have you run a Java update lately? We recommend to keep it up to date, but be careful, because every time you update, you will see this screen:

Those check marks are there automatically, so if you just hit next, you may find the Ask toolbar at the top of your browser, and your default search will be set to Ask as well. Keep in mind, every time you need to update Java, this window comes up and is checked by default, so pay attention if you do not want that option.

This type of software can be added to any installer, even well known companies. Just be careful where you download from, and read those dialog boxes and windows that come up to be certain what you are installing. It’s easy to get fooled but now you will be wiser to these tactics.

There is another way of stopping these assorted programs from entering your system. This program is called Unchecky. You can download it from here http://unchecky.com/

Basically Unchecky stops installers which try to push additional unwanted programs onto your computer.

If you have installed programs such as those above (prior to installing Unchecky), then our advice, is to run your malware removal program. These programs WILL infect your machine, causing it to become slower and slower.

We are often asked “How did those programs get installed on my computer, as I didn’t install anything”. Well this just goes to show exactly how easy it is to do. So please be careful.

Source: http://cadisheadcomputers.co.uk/wp/where-did-that-come-from-unwanted-programs/New Paragraph

How to boot a computer into safe mode

paul@stresslesstechsolutions.com (Paul Greenberg) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 00:02:40 GMT

Safe mode can be used in numerous situations. Safe mode is a special mode built into windows which allows us to start your computer when it does not want to run properly in normal mode. It works by starting your computer using only the absolutely needed software, drivers, and services. Because of the fact that is using minimal resources it allows us to work on your computer faster. Since it only loads necessary software many times when we boot into this mode it prevents viruses / infections on your computer from blocking us from connecting and removing these infections.

Steps:

1. Shut the computer completely off.

2. Locate the F8 key on your keyboard.

3. Push the power button on your computer to turn it back on.

4. Immediately after pushing the power button start tapping the F8 key.

5. Keep tapping the key until you see a black screen that's advanced boot options .

6. Use the down arrow and highlight safe mode with networking.

7. Hit enter once you have highlighted safe mode with networking .

8. Log onto your computer and enter your password if prompted to.

9. If you don't already have a technician from stress less tech support on the phone give us a call at 888-353-1357.

10. Sit back and relax as our certified technicians cure the issue you are experiencing with your computer. Whether it be a virus removal or just a simple tune up your computer will be repaired shortly.

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A tip for your laptop when it’s this cold in Decorah

The temperature is currently -6F. in Decorah, Iowa today. With the forecast calling for it to only get colder this week here is a simple tip form your local computer repair experts.

Brrrrr It’s cold outside in Decorah, Iowa

With the temperature in Decorah, Iowa currently at -4° and the wind chill below -10° it may truly be too cold outside for your to bring your computer into our office to get it fixed.

Free Diagnostics

Computer Problems?

New Office Location in Decorah. Computer Repairs

We are very excited to announce that we have began moving our computer repair operations into our new office located in Downtown Decorah, Iowa.

Merry Christmas!

From our hearts to yours, we would like to take a moment to wish all our family, friends, and clients a Merry Christmas!

Is Your computer running slow? Stress Less Decorah!

Why we offer a stress less computer repair to Decorah and surrounding areas.

Tips to a Happy Laptop

Is your computer infected with Malware?

How did that get on there? I only downloaded…

A lot of our computer repair calls that we receive in Decorah, Iowa and the surrounding area start out like this

How to boot a computer into safe mode

How To Help Minimize Battery Usage