FAQ - Xpert Technology Solutions, Inc.: Raleigh, Cary, Durham, North Carolina computer consultants

Frequently Asked Questions

• Display Settings Questions
• Email Questions
• Hard Drive Questions
• Network Questions
• Power Supply Questions
• Spyware Questions
• System Restore Questions
• Virus Questions
• Windows Vista Questions

Display Settings Questions

How do I change my screen resolution?
You can change your screen resolution by either right-clicking the desktop and selecting Properties, or by going into the control panel and clicking the Display icon. You will then click the Settings tab. In Vista, you will find the monitor settings under the Personalization icon, then the monitor tab.
Next, look for the slider bar that says Resolution. Be careful not to set the resolution too high, as older monitors may not be able to handle the resolution and could possibly go black. If this happens, do nothing, as Windows will usually revert the resolution back after 15 seconds without a response from you. Typical resolutions are 800X600 or 1024X768. If you have a widescreen monitor, you can even try 1280x768.

My colors are grainy and speckled with dots. What should I do?
You may have a couple of problems here. 1) Your colors may be set to 256 and should be set to 16-bit or 32-bit depending on your graphics capabilities. Or 2) You should make sure your graphics drivers are installed. To update your graphics drivers, visit the manufacturer of the card (nVidia, ATI, etc..) and download the latest drivers, then go to the Control Panel, then System, then Device Manager. You will see a listing for your display adapter. Right-click the adapter, then click Properties, then select the Driver tab and finally Update Driver.

What does the refresh rate on the monitor do?
Generally, you will not want to mess with these settings if your monitor is working okay. If you're monitor flickers or if you are suffering unusual eye strain, you may want to increase the refresh rate to reduce the flickering.

I have a dual output video card and want to use two monitors. Is this possible?
Yes, having two monitors is great for multitasking or increasing the amount of your workspace for photo editing, spreadsheets or other tasks that demand multiple Windows open at once. To do this, connect both monitors to the card and navigate back to the Display settings area. You should see a box with a 1 and a box with a 2. The number 1 box is your main monitor. If you click on the second box, you can now adjust the settings for the second monitor. If you're not sure which monitor you're adjusting, click Identify Monitor and a huge number will be displayed on your screen. You can even drag the boxes around to get the exact orientation of the physical monitors.

Email Questions

Can I use Outlook or Outlook Express instead of my ISP's mail client?
Yes, you can usually use any Email program in place of your ISP's mail client as long as you know or can find out the mail settings they use. For instance, if you want to configure Outlook Express to use with your RoadRunner email, just setup a new account in Outlook Express and input the proper POP3 and SMTP settings when asked. RoadRunner uses pop-server.nc.rr.com for POP3 and smtp-server.nc.rr.comfor their SMTP settings.

I get so much SPAM, how can I stop it?
If you're completely inundated with SPAM, it may already be too late. Perhaps you should consider switching to a different Email address. Otherwise, there are some programs out there that do quite a good job, such as SPAMBully, while others are hit and miss. GMail also does a great job of filtering SPAM, and you can sign up for a free Email account or even add your existing POP3 accounts.

How do I create an account in Outlook Express?
You will need to know the server's POP3 and SMTP settings to create a new account in Outlook Express (or any other client, for that matter). Open OE and go to TOOLS, then Accounts and the Wizard will begin. Type the name you want to appear in your Emails in the first box and click NEXT. Then enter the Email address, ie. bobsmith@comcast.net and click NEXT. You will then be asked to enter both the POP3 and SMTP information. Lastly, you'll need to enter the username and password to access that Email. That's it, you're finished.

Can I check my Email from anywhere?
That depends. If you have Outlook or a similar client already configured on your laptop, then sure, you can check your Email anywhere. All you need is an Internet connection. But if you're on a library computer or borrowing one from a friend, then you cannot use a Windows mail client unless you go through the process of configuring that on their computer. Instead, try logging in directly through your ISP's website. Or if you have an Internet Email client, such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, ect. . . you can check it from anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Hard Drive Questions

What is the difference between SATA and IDE?
The first thing you'll notice is the interface. SATA drives have a single cable with a small connector, while an IDE drive will have a flat ribbon cable. SATA drives have a faster data transfer rate. Your motherboard must be able to support a SATA drive. Otherwise, you'll need to buy an IDE drive.

How often should I defrag my hard disk?
That really depends on what you do with the drive. If you add and delete a lot of data, you'll want to defrag monthly. If you're a casual user, every three to six months is probably fine.

How can I diagnose problems with my hard drive?
A great place to start with hard drive diagnostics is right at the manufacturer's website. All major brand drives will have utilities for their drives, such as Maxtor's Maxblast or Western Digital's Data Lifeguard.

Can I put my old laptop hard drive in my desktop computer?
Sure, all you need is an adapter. The adapter converts the connection to the laptop drive to interface with the IDE and power cables of your desktop PC.

What is the best way to partition my drive?
If you have a Windows XP or Vista disk, you can install the Operating System and create partitions during the install. The installation will ask you how much of the drive you want to use for the Windows install, and you can specify a portion of the drive's space and leave the rest to be formatted later within Windows. That extra space is another partition.

Can I recover data that has been erased by my hard drive?
Yes, there are programs out there that recove lost data quite esily. The important thing to remember is that data will be overwritten the more you use the PC. So if you accidently erased something critical, be sure to stop and use a program like Undelete Now to get the data back.

Network Questions

Should I go wireless or wired on my network?
If you are in near proximity to your router or modem, then you should go with a wired network. While there may be no real speed advantage, there are security risks when going with a wireless network setup.

Do I need a router?
If you only have one PC in the house then, no, you do not need a router. If you have two or more PCs, then we recommend a router because they are pretty inexpensive and also help secure your internal network from snoops by providing Network Address Translation (NAT). NAT means the router has an external IP address provided by your ISP and then provides your internal network with an internal IP address, such as 192.168.1.2. This means the outside world cannot "see" the internal computers.

How can I renew my IP Address?
Try going to Start, then Run and type cmd and hit OK. At the command line type ipconfig /release and hit enter. They type ipconfig /renew or simply reboot the PC.

What is my external IP address?
To figure out your external IP address, you can visit a site like whatismyip.com. This will should you the IP address given to you by your Internet provider.

Do I need encryption on my network?
If you're running a wireless network, or if you have a wireless router, then yes you do need to run some type of encryption. If you a running an unsecured network, anyone in close proximity can access your network. Run WPA encryption with a secure pass phrase. If you have older devices, you may need to run the obsolete WEP, but it's better than nothing.

Power Supply Questions

My power supply fan isn't moving. Can I replace it?
You can if you have experience working with a soldering iron, but we advise against it because the fan may not even be the source of the problem. It's also dangerous. You can easily replace the entire PSU for very little money.

Our computer's power supply has failed. What type should I get?
You'll probably find your power supply is a standard ATX power supply with a single 20-pin connector to the motherboard. You should replace it with one of equal or greater wattage. Spending more on a power supply with greater wattage will not improve performance, just allow you to run more devices. Look for a name brand like Antec or Thermaltake.

Is there any easy way to test my power supply?
Many local PC and electronics stores will sell stand-alone power supply testers for about $12. All you have to do is plug the power supply into the adapter and turn it on. The device will instantly tell you if the power supply is bad. If you have a multimeter, you can also test the voltages.

Why can't I turn off my computer when it crashes? I have to use the power supply switch on the back.
Try holding the front power button for five or six seconds. Merely pressing the button will not turn the PC off, as this isn't a spring-loaded switch that has an On and Off. By holding the button for several seconds, the computer knows to shut the power supply down.

I just installed a new device. Does it matter which power plug I use?
No. You'll notice that your power supply has several plugs not being used. As long as it fits, it's okay to use. There may be a couple of odd connectors that go to the case fans or floppy drive, but any of the 4-wire plugs can be used for devices such as hard drives, CD and DVD drives, case fans, etc.

Spyware Questions

What exactly is Spyware?
The loose definition of Spyware is any program that monitors your computing behavior and reports back to a "home base." The purpose of this is usually to serve you ads. As a result, Spyware often breaks your system because it attempts to change system settings, such as your browser homepage.

What are good programs to get rid of Spyware?
This really depends on the severity of the infestation. We usually start with "Spybot Search and Destroy" and a second program such as "Adaware" or "Ewido." Running two is good, because there is often an overlap in protection between two programs.

I have Spyware real bad--what do I do?
If your system is so bogged down that it will hardly run, you have a couple of choices: 1) Reformat and reinstall the Operating System or 2) use an advanced program like Hijack This. HJT is a fantastic tool that scans your system and allows you to quickly remove threats. Problem is, Hijack This can be a little confusing when interpreting the log files. We have advanced users in our forums that can help.

What is a good preventive measure against Spyware?
The best way to fight Spyware is to keep it off of your system. Avoid downloading "freeware." This is not to say all freeware is dangerous, but this is often an avenue for infection. You willingly install a program and it goes to work. Also, scan weekly. Don't let Spyware take root in your PC.

My anti-spyware program is not effective. Why not?
You need to update the software right after you install it, and be sure to update weekly. If you're scanning with old spyware definitions, you may well as not be scanning at all.

I hear you can Immunize your system. How do you do that?
Spybot Search and Destroy has an Immunize feature that blocks known threats before they even get onto your computer. When Spybot is installed, update the software then click the Immunize button.

System Restore Questions

What is System Restore in Windows?
System Restore is a Windows utility that allows you to revert your system's state to previous point in time. This allows you to undo damage caused by a program, update or driver.

What are "restore points?"
A Restore Point is a snapshot of your registry at a specific time. Restore Points are created each time you install or upgrade Windows, and updates are also created before each update via Microsoft Updates.

Do I need to create Restore Points?
You should occasionally create a Restore Point. Before Vista, Windows would generally create restore points after a major event, such as an update or a program installation that uses InstallSchield or the Windows Installer. If your system is running good, consider it part of a good preventive maintenance scheme to create a restore point.

Will I lose my data if I do a System Restore?
No. Windows restores programs and Windows files only and will not erase data such as photos, Emails, music, or any other personal files.

How do I start System Restore?
You can access the System Restore utility by going to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools and clicking System Restore. A Wizard will launch and help you either restore your PC or create an actual restore point.

Can I undo a System Restore?
Yes, you can undo a System Restore in the same manner by which you initiated the original system restore. You will now see an option to undo the last restoration.

I have a installed a bad driver. Do I need to perform a system restore?
No. Windows has the ability to roll back drivers. You can do this from the Device Manager under the System icon of the Control Panel. While a system restore will fix driver problems, its overkill in this point.

Do I still need to backup my system?
Yes. System restore is not a substitute for backing up your data.

Virus Questions

How can I protect myself against viruses?
The first things you should do are 1) Buy or download a free antivirus program. Update that antivirus program, then run a full scan of your system. 2) Do not open Email attachments--even if you know who they're from. Some Email worms will send mail from a friend or loved-one's computer, so the send might appear to be from someone you know, but might actually contain a virus. 3) Stay away from shady sites.

What is a good free antivirus?
There are many great free antivirus programs. AVG Antivirus and Avast! are a couple of good ones. You can also do online scans from Housecall. While Housecall will not give you real-time protection, it will scan your drives and help remove viruses already on your computer.

Will my firewall protect me from viruses?
No. While some firewalls may save you from worms scanning the Internet for open ports, a firewall will not save you from Human error virus infection, such as opening email attachments or partaking in file sharing.

Can viruses affect my hardware?
No. While in theory a virus can erase the BIOS of a PC and some even manage to erase all the data on hard drives, this type of damage is not permanent.

What are Trojans?
A Trojan is a program you might willingly put on your computer that turns out to actually be a virus.

Windows Vista Questions

How Much Memory Do I need To Run Vista?
Microsoft Wants at least 512 MB of RAM to run Vista. But to take advantage of the Windows Aero User Experience, you should have at least 2 Gigs of RAM. The more memory your PC has, the better it will run with Vista.

How Do I create User Accounts in Windows Vista?
Go to the Control Panel, then select User Accounts. If you're logged in as Admin, you can add user accounts and configure their access rights. Usually, only one Admin account is necessary, with all users running in Standard User mode for security purposes.

Does Vista Come With an AntiVirus Program?
No. Windows Vista comes with a lot of key security features, but antivirus is not one of them. It comes with a spyware prevention program called Defender and also a built-in firewall. You will need to install an antivirus program of your own

What Happened to Outlook Express?
Outlook Express has been revamped and is now Windows Mail. Windows mail is very similar to Outlook Express and even has a Junk Mail feature that keeps the SPAM out of your Inbox.

Do I have to run Internet Explorer 7 in Vista?
No. As with previous versions of Windows, you can run whatever browser you want. But IE7 with Vista is secure and has a lot of great parental control features other security features that make it a good choice.

Which version of Windows Vista do I need?
There are five versions of Vista available: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate. Most users will want Home Premium. If your system is on the low end of the hardware requirements, you might want Home Basic. The Ultimate version contains everything.

How Can I Uninstall Vista and Revert To Windows XP?
If you find that Windows Vista just isn't for you, you can usually uninstall Vista and go back to Windows XP buy using a genuine XP disk with an unused serial key. Just boot to the disk and when it runs setup, choose to delete the Vista partition and install XP on the newly created partition.