Tag Archives: computer tips

What is Access Time?

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Access time is one of the most regularly reported performance characteristics for CD-ROM drives. It is overused at least as frequently as it is utilized correctly, as is the case with most popularly used performance metrics. Surprisingly, access time is frequently specified in CD-ROM drive specifications but is almost never mentioned in hard disk specifications. Quotes of the other variables that are used to make up access time are far more prevalent with hard disks. (Despite the fact that the devices access data in a comparable manner…)

The term “access time” refers to the length of time it takes from the start of a random read operation until data begins to be read from the disk. It is a composite statistic, made up of the following various metrics:

  • Speed Change Time: For CLV drives, the time for the spindle motor to change to the correct speed.
  • Seek Time: The time for the drive to move the heads to the right location on the disk.
  • Latency: The amount of time for the disk to turn so that the right information spins under the read head.

While access time is made up of the time spent on these individual processes, this does not imply that you can just put these other metrics together to get access time. The link is more complicated than this since some of these events might occur concurrently. There’s no reason why the spindle motor’s speed couldn’t be altered at the same time the heads are moved (and in fact this is done).

In general, the access time of a CD-ROM drive is determined by the drive’s rated “X” speed, which may and does vary greatly amongst drives. The earliest 1X drives had absolutely terrible access times, frequently reaching 300 ms; as drives became faster and quicker, access times reduced, and top-end drives currently have access times of less than 100 ms.

Part two coming up soon!

(Disclaimer: This post is a rewrite of a past KT blog post dated back in 2018.)

If you ever have an issue with any Windows 10 updates, give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Garland Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Garland, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Reduce RAM to Improve Performance

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First, let’s discuss what RAM is.

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is an essential and speedy type of short-term storage that your computer uses to store data that is presently in use.

With this, temporary storage is utilized by whatever apps are running on your computer, such as browsing or word editing. RAM gets purged when you shut down your computer. RAM varies from a hard disk drive or a solid state drive in that it continuously stores files and programs.

According to WindowsLatest, in the current edition of Windows, Microsoft Teams plays a larger role than predicted. The Teams application has been incorporated into the taskbar. This allowed users with personal accounts to initiate conversations or video conferencing calls, as well as add other users to the program.

Certain features and settings are enabled on Windows 11 by default that you might want to disable to improve the speed of the OS. If you have an unsupported device or old hardware with a low amount of RAM, you should immediately limit or disable the Microsoft Teams icon which is pinned to the taskbar of the new operating system.

Source: WindowsLatest

While you can find out the RAM usage on Windows Task Manager, there’s another simple way. Here’s how to find out how much RAM your computer is utilizing, follow the steps below:

  1. Click Start
  2. Search for “About Your PC”
  3. Find the section “Device Specifications”

From there, you’ll see “Installed Ram” information. You can then determine if your computer needs an upgrade.

If you have any Windows 10 issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Plano Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Plano, TX please call the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Understanding Backdoors and How They are Used

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A backdoor is any technique that allows authorized or intruders to bypass typical security measures and gain high-level user access (also known as root access) to a computer system, network, or software application. Through a backdoor, criminals may steal personal and financial information, install other software, and control machines.

Backdoors can also be purposely placed by system or application developers as a means of gaining post-release access to their technology.

By using vulnerabilities in Webkit, the browser engine powering Safari, and XNU, the macOS and iOS kernel, a completely new macOS backdoor was sent to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists towards the end of 2021 via bogus and hacked websites.

On Tuesday, ESET researchers shared their knowledge about the attacks and the results of the analysis of that final malicious payload: a macOS backdoor with many capabilities, including collecting and exfiltrating system information, executing files, starting a remote screen session, dumping the contents of the victims’ iCloud Keychain, and more.

Source: HelpNetSecurity

A good anti-malware program should be able to prevent hackers from installing the Trojans and rootkits required to open those pesky backdoors. You should also change your passwords on a regular basis and choose plugins and programs with prudence.

If you are needing help with computer-related issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the Las Vegas Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Las Vegas, NV please call the local office at (702) 800-7850.

What if Your Computer Won’t Shut Off

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Figuring out what’s triggering your computer’s Windows shut down problem can be complicated at times. Frustration doesn’t even cover how you’re feeling. It could possibly be a software or hardware issue.

Regardless, there are a variety of solutions you can consider, and one of them will most certainly solve the problem.

The power button would not switch off a device to prevent it from being switched off incorrectly when it is running. If the machine is frozen or has other issues, press and hold the power button for 5 to 10 seconds without releasing it. This is what’s called the force shutdown routine.

Run Box

If you’d rather, another way is to utilize a certain command in the Run box as well. Follow the instructions below:

  1. Press the Windows + R keys
  2. Type in the following command: shutdown /s /f /t 0
  3. Click OK

This will immediately send your computer to shut-down mode. From there, you can just press the power button to turn it back on.

If you are needing assistance with any Microsoft issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the North Richland Hills Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in North Richland Hills, TX please call the local office at (817) 756-6008.

Receive Screenshot on your Mac without Floating Preview

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Apple users! Heads up!

Have you ever taken a needed screenshot on your Mac only to see it temporarily in the lower corner of your desktop? This is just one of the many new features of macOS Mojave that pop up when you take a screenshot. And there is a simple remedy for it! Change your settings so that the file will go straight to your desktop with no floater.

  1. Press command + shift + 5
  2. Go to Options
  3. deselect Show Floating Thumbnail

How to take a screenshot on your Mac

  1. Press Shift + Command + 4
  2. Click and drag the area you want to screenshot.
  3. Your screenshot will be placed on your desktop. It will be listed as a png file.

For help with any Apple issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285. Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Denver Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Denver, CO, please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

What if a Website Doesn’t Load?

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Sometimes, the internet can be a frustrating thing to deal with, especially if the website doesn’t load. You may be welcomed with a “The connection has timed out” or 404 error will pop up. Or, you might find the black and white dinosaur mini game, while it reads “No internet”.

This can be confusing, as you think everything on your end should be working properly. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can troubleshoot this issue.

Turn it off, then on again

Computer techs are often quick to ask, “have you tried turning it off, then back on again?” And while that can be annoying, these techs swear by it. When computer issues arise, something as easy as shutting down your PC for a short time, then turning it back on alleviates the problem.

Add-Ons may be stopping a loading page

Certain browser add-ons you may hinder the loading process of a website. These can vary anywhere from anti-virus extensions to incorrect configurations. Try a different browser to see if you’re acquiring the same results. Also, a word of caution, if the extensions are causing the webpage to fail at loading, there may be a good reason for it. Often times, you can trust your add-ons to determine which websites are safe and which are not.

Try a ‘website down’ checker

Websites, such as “Is It Down Right Now?” will help double-check if you’re the only one experiencing loading problems. All you have to do is type in the URL and search. Within seconds, the results will show if anyone else is having trouble on that website as well.

Check a different device

It’s quite possible that the device you’re surfing the web on is having some technical difficulties. To test this, try using the browser on a different device and see if the same results appear.

PGMag states on their blog, “try visiting the site on another device, like your phone (connected to the same Wi-Fi network). If the site loads on your phone but not your computer, you can narrow down the problem to your PC. If the site doesn’t load on your phone when connected to Wi-Fi but loads when Wi-Fi is off, you’ll need to start digging around in your router’s settings—it’s possible the built-in security software, parental controls, firewall, or some other option is blocking your access.”

Stating the obvious

There are also options on the problematic webpage, which states:

  • checking the internet connection
  • checking the firewall and proxy
  • Run the Windows Network Diagnostic

These options give links, which will send you to the proper destination to run any diagnostics or check any connections.

If you ever have a computer-related issue, give us a call at 1-800-620-5285. Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Atlanta Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Atlanta, GA, please call or text the local office at (678) 695-8120.

Get the Most out of your Shortcuts

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Computers have evolved so much in the past several decades, and it still continues to improve to this day. You have the world at your fingertips. With the ability to search the internet for any and all questions, converse with anyone in the world, acquire all forms of jobs, the possibilities are endless with this wonderful piece of technology. And when you own one, you want to get the most out of it. Here are just a few Windows shortcuts that make life just a little bit easier:

If you are surfing the web and by a mere fluke, your mouse exits out of a tab you were needing. It can be frustrating, indeed, but CTRL + SHIFT + T will bring back the tab you accidentally closed. All is well again.

Extensions on your browsers are one of the best forms of utilization. Use 1Password to save all of the passwords in one place. You’ll even have to have a password for this Chrome extension. AdBlockPro is also a great one to avoid pesky ads. Check out more available entrepreneur-related extensions here:
https://www.fundera.com/blog/chrome-extensions

Snip And Sketch is a keyboard shortcut, allowing you to highlight what you want to save in the Print Screenshot Mode. START MENU ICON + SHIFT + S will start it. Then open the Paint application, right click, and paste. Voilà!

And speaking of “voilà”, you too can find the proper letters for foreign words (shown above). Look up the Character Map in the START MENU for foreign letters or symbols. It will also give you the keystroke: ALT+Numberpad on the bottom right corner of its window for quicker access. For example, the à is “ALT+0228“.

Open the Task Manager by clicking CTRL + ALT + DELETE. There, it can provide you with information on your memory, performance, open applications, etc.

Would you like to view information about your computer? To get right to it, go your System Settings by using the START MENU + PAUSE-BREAK shortcut.

Done with work for the day? Quickly lock your computer down with START MENU + L. This will automatically revert back to the “sign-in” screen.

If you have any questions about getting the most out of your computer or if your computer is having problems, give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Thornton Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Thornton, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Delete Personal Information Properly When Selling Your Computer

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This seems like a no-brainer when it comes to selling your computer, whether it be a PC or a Mac. No one wants any of their personal information compromised and fall into the hands of the wrong person.

But according to Kim Komando, a blogger named Josh Frantz spent roughly around $600 on different used devices for security research. What he found was absolutely startling.

“Frantz posted what he discovered on his rapid7 blog — and it was shocking! Of the 85 devices he bought, only two were correctly wiped. Most of the devices still had tons of information on them.

With help from a script he wrote, Frantz found 214,019 images, 148,903 emails and 3,406 documents. From all that, he was able to see email addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and credit card numbers.”

Source: Kim Komando

If you are ready to sell any device you have, make sure you use apps, such as Eraser, or Permanent Eraser to delete any and all information that could easily be stolen. You can also look up apps in the App Store to give you options of which disk eraser works best for you.

These devices aren’t limited to just computers. Phones, printers, tablets and other electronic devices acquire certain information that you would not want leaked. Take the appropriate steps to remove the goods, so the goods don’t become tainted when you sell your device.

If you are having security problems or any other issue with your computer and would like some assistance, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you from our staff at the Arvada Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Arvada, CO please call the local office at (720) 441-6460 or schedule an appointment at www.arvadacomputerrepairservice.com.

Widespread Computer Issues- Revisited

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Back in 2013, we shared this blog post, explaining the most known issues in the computer world. This is simply a re-post, in hopes to remind users of a few computer issues and how to fix them.

What’s the strange WHIRRING NOISE coming from inside your PC? Most likely this is a sign of an overtaxed or dying FAN. Your fan may have come loose or may have become clogged with dirt and dust, decreasing its effectiveness and requiring it to work harder than it should have to. Thus, it is vital to clean out any dirt and debris that may obstruct the computer’s ventilation.

A non-functional fan can potentially cause OVERHEATING as well. All components of a computer demand appropriate and sufficient ventilation and cooling, as they generate heat during operation. When you are dealing with any kind of odd computer noise it is of utmost importance to perform a backup of all valuable, irreplaceable files saved on the system’s hard drive.

Although clicking sounds are the predominant, ominous indicators of a HARD DRIVE CRASH, failing to acknowledge other strange noises as a sign of a potentially serious issue could result in catastrophic data loss. There are many possible causes for hard drive failure, including overheating, faulty air filter, power surges, violent vibration, static electricity, mechanical failure and virus infection.

Your PC’s longevity is top priority!

If you’re needing help with computer problems, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

Computer is Running Slow

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Computer performance is quite important, especially since more and more people work remotely. So, if yours is running slower than normally, you may find one or more of these culprits.

Too many opened programs

Multiple programs running at the same time can cause issues to the speed of your computer. It results in a loss in processing power. To check this, open up the Task Manager app in the Start Menu. From there, you can end unnecessary tasks.

Outdated Windows Update

Microsoft releases Windows Updates to keep your computer running as smooth and securely as possible. If you’re running an outdated Windows version, search for Check for updates in your Settings.

You may have a virus

No one chooses to acquire viruses on their PC. Unfortunately, it happens often. Malware can cause computer performance to noticeably drop. Virus & threat protection is easily accessible in the Windows Security of the Settings app. This scans your PC and lets you know if any action is necessary.

Low Disk Space

Freeing up space on your PC will potentially boost the speed. Open Storage settings can be found under Storage in the Settings app. From there, you will be able to how much space you actually have.

For help troubleshooting PC issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Mesa Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Mesa, AZ please call the local office at (480) 240-2950.