5 Tips for Saving Your Laptop Battery

Weren’t laptops supposed to be convenient since you didn’t have to stay in one place plugged into the wall?  It seems like the batteries on laptops drain so quickly that you need to always carry your charger with you to be able to plug in a moment’s notice.  There are a few things you can do to conserve your battery, here are 5 simple ones:

• Clear USB Ports & DVD/CD Drives – All your accessories that use USB ports or drives use battery power even when you are not directly using them.
• Use Power Saver Option – Check your computer’s control panel for power options. If you are trying to conserve your battery or make it last longer, choose the power saver option.  This will reduce the performance of your computer, but if conserving your battery is a priority, use this option.
• Turn off Wi-Fi & Bluetooth – Your battery is constantly being drained while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are searching for connections. If you won’t be using either of these services, turn them off to increase the length of your battery charge.
• Shut Down or Hibernate – These options are the best battery savers if you won’t be using your computer for an extended period of time. The standby mode uses the most battery power.
• Lower Brightness & Screen Resolution – If you are working in a brightly lit area or outside, turn down your screen brightness to conserve your battery. If resolution is not critical to your task at hand, lowering it is another way to help your battery charge last longer.

Although there isn’t a magic trick to make your battery last for weeks at a time, these ideas can definitely help increase the length of your battery charge especially if there is not an outlet nearby.

Written By: Amy Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

How to Clean Your Keyboard

With normal usage, your keyboard collects dust, debris, and germs. It is a good idea to clean your keyboard every couple months or more often if it is shared with other users. This ensures that your keys remain working properly and you don’t spread germs and bacteria with other users.  Here are some easy ways to clean your keyboard starting with the simplest.

• Use a soft brush (from vacuum attachment or toothbrush) to gently brush off dust.
• Spray compressed air on your keyboard to force dust and dirt particles out from between the keys.
• Use a small handheld vacuum or small attachment to carefully suction dust and debris from the keyboard.
• Wipe keys off with isopropyl alcohol using a cotton swab and soft cloth. Do not ever pour the liquid directly on the keyboard.
• Pop keys off carefully and clean them individually. Use a small vacuum or compressed air to clean out underneath the keys.

If you are not confident cleaning your own keyboard, take it to your local computer repair shop for professional cleaning or ask for it to be cleaned next time you get your computer serviced.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

Why do I need to reset my router sometimes?

Having trouble connecting to the internet? Check your router.  Occasionally, routers may need to be reset to regain your internet connection.  This can happen for a variety of reasons.  One reason may be that your router has overheated.  If this is the case, make sure it has plenty of ventilation and turn it off for 10 full seconds before turning it back on.  Another reason for a router failure might be due to owning a faulty or poor quality router.  Sometimes, less expensive routers don’t work as well or last as long.  Buying a router with good reviews and reliability might solve your problem.  High internet traffic can also cause routers to get bogged down or shut down and need to reboot.  If you are a heavy downloader, you might want to go into your settings and limit the download speeds or amount of connections.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

Where Should I Get My Computer Fixed?

All computer repair stores are not equal.  There are many important factors to consider before taking you computer to be diagnosed at the closest big box retailer or local computer shop.  Here are some important items to consider:

Professional & Knowledgeable Technicians – Take your computer to a shop that employs certified, trained computer technicians.  Many big box and chain stores hire employees with little computer knowledge.  These employees rely on diagnostic tools put in place by the company, but don’t truly understand how computers work and what it will take to fix a computer efficiently and make it the most cost effective for the customer.  Many small computer shops, such as TLC Computer Solutions, employ only trained professional technicians who can both diagnose your computer problems and fix them.

Correct Tools – Not all computer stores carry the right tools for your computer problems.  Computer issues can be complex and stores that carry the tools to fix all types of computer problems from being able to replace a screen to welding internal components are going to give you a much better deal and don’t run the risk of selling you costly upgrades or a new computer when your current computer may be fixed more reasonably with the correct tools. At TLC Computer Solutions, the technicians have the tools to fix almost every computer problem and if they don’t have the capability, they will be honest upfront and give you the best options for your computer needs.

Reliability – Check out reviews and make sure the shop you choose has a reputation for being reliable.  It is important that they explain their diagnosis procedure when you drop off your computer and let you know when you will be contacted with the results. A reliable company will have repeat visitors and lots of referrals.  TLC Computer Solutions has many online reviews that show a high level of customer satisfaction and have a very strong referral component.

Proper Diagnostic Tools – A computer problem may be diagnosed with many different diagnostic programs.  Make sure the company you choose has the proper diagnostic tools to diagnosis your specific issues.  This will avoid you paying for unneeded diagnostic tests that many big companies run all computers through (and charge you for them).  At TLC Computer Solutions, the technicians have some of the best diagnostic tools in the business and all of the technicians know how to use them properly and give the customers the most accurate description of their computer problems as well as the most cost effective way to take care of them.

TLC Computer Solutions, a local computer repair and computer sales company located in the Las Vegas/Summerlin area that takes pride in listening to customer needs and diagnosing computer issues in an efficient, reliable manner without hidden costs or unnecessary repairs.  If you have any computer issues, please call for a free diagnosis today at 702-275-8455 and see what a difference a small, reputable company can make with your computer needs.

Written By: Amy Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

5 Ways to Get Less Spam

It’s amazing how fast your email or spam folder can fill up.  If you are tired of unwanted emails or emptying your spam folder every day, here are a few suggestions to get less spam:

• Use a filter: Most email providers have a built in spam filter. If your filter is not effective, you can buy a program which is more sensitive to spam emails and blocks most of them.  Two popular spam filters are MailWasherPro and SpamFighterPro.
• Unsubscribe: Make sure to unsubscribe to all unwanted, non-threatening emails. This will prevent unwanted email from that website as well as prevent your email from being accessed by other companies associated with that one.
• Change email: If you can’t seem to control the spam on your email account, change email addresses and/or providers. Some providers have better email blockers. Certain providers such as Gmail have a better reputation for recognizing and sorting spam.
• Block: To get rid of unwanted spam, block the sender and/or the server. This prevents them from sending you any unwanted email.
• Report: You can report unwanted emails to your email provider. Many providers take this seriously and try to stop the companies from sending spam email to their users.

These suggestions may not eliminate all unwanted emails, but will definitely make a difference in the amount you receive.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

How Do I Check my Connectivity Speed?

Is your computer taking a long time to download or upload content from the internet or your computer?  The first thing to do is check your connectivity speed.  It is very simple, run a test on speedtest.net.  It will tell you both your download and upload speeds.  If they are not at least half of what your internet provider has guaranteed, check your network hardware.  Make sure your network hardware has all current updates and then reset or disconnect and reconnect your modem and router.  If you are still finding it difficult to efficiently download and upload data, give your internet service provider a call. The provider should be able to tell you if the problem is on their end or your end.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

When Should I Take My Computer in to Be Fixed?

A slow start up speed isn’t the end of the world… but a virus slowly affecting different parts of your computer might be disastrous if you let it go too long. It’s always hard to know when to take your computer to a professional, but here are three simple questions to ask yourself when deciding if you should get your computer looked at by a professional computer technician.
1) Does your computer run more slowly between applications than it used to? This could be a sign that a virus is affecting your computer’s performance. It may only happen intermittently at first and get considerably worse over time if it is not properly removed.

2) Are pop-ups interrupting you as you work on your computer? This might be from an infection that has gotten a hold of your computer and may eventually prevent programs from working. The sooner it is removed, the less damage it will do.

3) Did someone tell you that they received an email from your account that you never sent? This could mean your computer has been compromised by a hacker. Once someone has access to your email, they may gain access to other important passwords. Change your email password immediately and if it happens again, you might want to have a professional examine your computer.

In addition to problems caused by viruses and spyware, many other problems may affect the productivity of your computer. If you suspect a problem with your computer, back up your data and call your local computer repair company for advice. Here at TLC Computer Solutions, we will happily diagnose computers problems for free.

Written By: Amy Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

How to Clean Your Screens

Between dust and fingerprints, computer, tablet, and phone screens may always seem to be dirty. Make sure you use an approved method to clean your screens, don’t use household glass cleaners. The best way to clean your screen is with a microfiber cloth. These soft cloths will wipe away dirt and smudges without affecting the integrity of your screen or leaving residue on your screen.

The next best way to clean your screen is with a wet wipe designed especially for computer, tablet, and phone screens. Make sure it specifically mentions the type of screen requiring cleaning (LCD, plasma, etc.). Often times, you can buy a kit which includes a screen safe spray and microfiber cloth together. It is important to have an approved cleaner around to keep your screen clear and free of dust and germs.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

Three Reasons to Get Rid of an Old Computer

It is virtually impossible to keep up with technology, but it is also hard to get rid of a computer that still works.  Use these simple guidelines to see if your computer might be ready to be traded in or recycled.

• Doesn’t fit needs: Your computer no longer meets your current computer needs.
• Can’t load certain programs: If you can’t load the latest word processing programs or security packages, you probably want to get a computer with a more current operating system.
• It takes longer to warm up than work on it: Do you find yourself leaving the room after you turn your computer on because it takes so long to load and get on the internet? This might be a sign that a new computer with faster processing speeds in your near future.

If you find that it is time to get rid of your old computer, check to see if your local computer store will offer you a discount on your new computer purchase if you trade it in.

When a computer is beyond worth or repair, make sure to recycle it through an authorized computer recycling location.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV

Heat and Your Computer

Is it safe to leave your laptop in the car on a hot day?  The easiest answer is “no” and make sure you avoid both hot and cold extremes with your electronic devices.  More specifically, several components may be damaged by elevated air temperatures.  Extreme heat may damage your Central Processing Unit (CPU).  This can happen by external temperatures being too high as well as internal temperatures reaching too high due to a malfunction or broken fan.  In addition, high temperatures may actually cause your hard drive to expand and make it unreadable.  Thirdly, heat can affect the life of a battery.  It may cause the battery to be less effective or stop working altogether.  Lastly, hot and humid conditions can result in condensation build up inside your computer.  Condensation may cause your computer to crash.  Heat can definitely be a nemesis for your computer and damage components quickly.  Make sure to take your computer with you into air conditioned spaces when outside temperatures skyrocket.

Written By: A. Murphy, TLC Computer Solutions, Las Vegas, NV