Refurbished 30Gb Video iPod's For Sale

PC VD's Dallas iPod Repair is now selling refurbished iPods for $169.99. This includes a one year LABOR warranty on all parts EXCLUDING lcd screens and hard drives. This warranty described NEVER includes parts. THIS IS A ONE YEAR LABOR WARRANTY!

The front plate on the case is pristine along with the silver metallic back plate; absolutely pristine and covered in "protective" plastic 'peal-aways' on the front and back plate.

New iPhone Takes Off

The new 3G iPhone has taken off immensely with lines still lined up outside Dallas Apple Stores. The new price will obviously play to other cell phone manufacturers in their quality, speed and popularity in which the public will buy the best and most valuable portable phone available.

PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Repair will quickly get into the iPhone repair business as reasonably priced parts become available. Our PC repair service is now searching diligently for reasonably priced iPhone screens that seem to hover at the $100 mark.

PC Virus Doctors will also continue to look at extra added services to give to consumers of the new 3G iPhone, including software and hardware repairs.

Microsoft Officially Ends XP

Microsoft will officially end the operating system XP to major computer manufacturers such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard but will still be available to smaller, independent pc makers until July of next year. This is a measure that may help prevent Linux from establishing a front in the PC market. As noted in Dallas Computer Repair's previous blog, the OS [XP] will be updated with security measures until 2014.

The current Microsoft OS, Vista, is not held in wide support by many PC users because of the huge amount of resources it demands along with the non-compatibility with older software and the cost of the OS. The next Microsoft OS due out in 2010 is going to be named Windows 7.

XP OS Extends Unprecedented Updates

Microsoft has announced in an unprecedented fashion that the operating system XP will have security updates extended into the year 2014 according to a June 24th, 2008 article on informationweek.com which will leave many Microsoft consumers elated.

An official Microsoft Officer confirmed that many XP owners would like to continue using the XP OS system versus the newer one eventually offered.

Laptop AC/DC Jack Repairs

PC Virus Doctors are now offering dc jack repairs for Dallas laptops. Our Dallas computer repair offers jack repairs on gateway, emachines, dell, hp, alienware and all other laptops. All repairs include brand new jacks and top of the line solder that is lead free.

Service turn-around is usually within 72 hours and is not repaired offsite but onsite with qualified technicians. Call PC Virus Doctors' Dallas DC Jack Repair for immediate service.

CPU Overheating Issues Solved

PC Virus Doctors have come across many desktops and laptops having overheating issues that may be resolved with a modification and upgrade to the (central processing unit) CPU. Many times computer users complain that their desktop or more often their laptops are overheating and are shutting down prematurely which can cause data loss or more importantly physical damage to motherboards.

Heat times the factor over a period of time may determine the lifespan of a laptop or desktop. The circuit board or motherboard as it is more commonly known is subject to heat as the conductors on these boards are thin strips of copper laid over a thin piece of plastic. These circuits and connections become sensitive to cold and heat and they contract and expand as heat and cold are applied. The results can be devastating as these circuits can become broken just like concrete sidewalks that are exposed to extreme cold and extreme heat.

PC Virus Doctors are able to get inside desktops and laptops to modify the existing environment around the CPU that may cool temperatures up to 20 degrees fahrenheit. The results are dramatic and the PC should last significantly longer saving hundreds of dollars without replacing hardware.

Tips to keep your CPU from overheating include:

1. Not overclocking the unit
2. Stop running unneeded processes
3. Not allowing unneeded startup items to run
4. Adding fans or cooling pads
5. Place the desktop or laptop in a well ventilated, open area
6. Make sure all fans are working and adjust speeds if necessary
7. Vacuum or blow away all dust and particles from around the CPU and all interior
8. Do not put too much thermal paste on the CPU
9. Make sure the CPU is properly seated
10. Install software to adjust speed fans manually or automatically to cool
    

802.11n Wireless is Here

Speeds are now up to 300 mb/sec. with the wireless protocol 802.11. The new wireless speeds offer wireless connectivity that will allow offices to not have to be wired for computer communication. The technology allows for a potentially easier setup for networks saving alot of copper that would be strung throughout an office setting, saving the high costs of copper and eliminating the labor of stringing up wires and cables.

This type of business capable wireless connectivity will allow offices to more easily move, make additions and allow for changes to the network. Phones can be attached to the wireless network along with printers and other hardware that proves that wires may be a thing of the past.

Dallas Computer Repair- Upgrading RAM

Computer upgrades that prove worthwhile include increasing RAM capacity. Both desktops and laptops may be available for significant RAM upgrades that are quiet affordable and offer a noticeable increase in computer efficiency.

Most name brand machines allow at least a 2 gigabyte RAM load. This can be significant if the current load is 526Mb while allowing 4 times times the output load when upgraded[both modules].

Computer Repair Tips- Replacing Power Supplies

After the previous blog about basic PC maintenance and you find your desktop computer is still just shutting off after a few minutes then you may want to consider if the power supply is going out. Changing the power supply is not that difficult but safety should be number one in concern.

Dallas' PC Virus Doctors Recommendations:

1. ALWAYS, disconnect the power cord from the computer along with all other USB plugs, monitors, keyboards, the mouse, modem, etc.
2. Remove the one side of the computer that allows you to unscrew it from the back or has a lever for the user to lift and remove the designated panel.
3. Now view the power supply located on the rear computer panel and located against the upper case; the supply is connected by about four phillips screws on the rear panel.
4. If the power supply is rectangular, almost square, then most certainly it follows the 'form factor' and any good power supply with the same wattage rating should work well and fit 'true to form'. If you find two power supplies with similar rating see which one is heavier and choose it.
5. Before removing the old power supply the next step becomes obvious to the most novice computer repair tech: documenting where the plugs go from the old power supply into the mother board, hard drive and other removable drives like a floppy-drive or cd-rom.
6. After documenting the plugs' whereabouts then remove the old supply and replace it with the new power supply.
7. Attach the plugs from the new supply into the motherboard and drives.
8. Replace the cover and plug in all the peripherals.
9. Turn it on.
10. If the computer does not shut down and reboot then one knows it was a faulty power supply shutting the PC down, not software problems.

Another PC tip from PC Virus Doctors' Dallas Computer Repair.

Computer Repair Tips- Temp File Cleaners

#1 PC Repair Tip- Dumping Temp Files

An often overlooked aspect to keeping personal computers running like they should is dumping temporary files. File extensions that may be dumped include:

1. .bak
2. .chk
3. .gid
4. .log
5. .old
6. .syd
7. .tmp

***PLEASE NOTE: PC Virus Doctors will NOT be responsible if you dump these files and things go bad, KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING!

There are many freeware programs that are from good to decent cleaners. Just as always, be aware of freeware programs and malware that may be included. Some good cleaners include CCleaner from Piriform, HDCleaner available from MajorGeeks and other temp file cleaners can be found at SnapFiles in the freeware category. These cleaners are worth the time learning and evaluating how well each cleaner does by running them in different orders every day or every other day.

Temp Files Cleaners and Their Advantages

CCleaner is nice as it has a mild registry cleaner to delete bad registry entries. Users are given the option to backup the registry which is always a good idea before beginning a computer repair. After a few weeks if everything seems like it is opening and executing then the old registry backup can be deleted. CCleaner or Crap Cleaner can be operated with just one touch for temp file deletion and one touch for the registry cleaning minus options provided like backup.

HDCleaner is nice and allows users to add file masks such as .log, once again caution to readers about dumping files. HDCleaner also allows the most recent opened documents to be dumped with a DOD erasing method. This utility also has other great tools such as duplicate file finder where one duplicate may be deleted, the utility has a tool to wipe free space, users can check disk and perform other maintenance/repair from one interface.

Built-in Programs for File Deletion

Also do not forget to [1] dump files by going to start> all programs> accessories> system tools> disk cleanup. Many megabytes or even gigabytes can be deleted/dumped from there. [2] Firefox and Internet Explorer users should go to "Tools" on the upper toolbar on the browser and find where the temp file deltion is located, very important.

Users would be surprised at the difference of performance after this simple 'computer repair' which is not really a repair but a maintenance issue. Temp file deletion is one of the first items that PC Virus Doctors' Dallas computer repair performs before malware removal. This eliminates other issues that can complicate a diagnosis that may not be malware but just temp files all over the drive that number in the thousands if not hundreds of thousands with volumes in the gigabyte range.

The easiest computer repair/maintenance/tuneup tip: dump temp files!