SCAM ALERT – Fake Microsoft Support Calls
At Lakeview Computers, we have seen one that is growing more and more rapid in the past couple weeks! A company is calling or emailing saying they are with ‘Microsoft Security’ or ‘Microsoft Support’ and that you have numerous virus’ or corrupt files hidden in your system and for a reasonably low fee, they can identify and remove these ‘computer bugs’ for you!!
THIS IS A SCAM!! They will give you a number to call back should you question their validity and a real person will answer ‘Microsoft Security/Support’ …..anyone can answer a phone and give a false name!!!
DO NOT GIVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER TO ANYONE!!! This is very important to remember!! They will continue to pull money from your credit card, the amounts will vary and they will give you quite the headache to deal with!! In most cases, the money is recovered, but not without numerous phone calls and time wasted on your part!!
Should one of these companies try to contact you via email, pop-up windows or a phone call to your house...hang up, click NO or do not respond to the email!! DO NOT REVEAL ANY INFORMATION TO THEM!! They are persistent and some will try to call back more than once.
Top 3 Ways to Keep Computer Cool…
1) Keep it off soft surfaces such as blankets and your fuzzy underwear. Running your Laptop on a hard surface such as a desk or cooling pad can greatly reduce the amount of lint getting sucked up.
2)Give it some breathing room, this applies to Desktop models as well as laptops. The more space around your laptop, gives it much needed cooler air prolonging the life of your computer.
3)Regular maintenance including air dusting can free those clogged heatsinks and fans of heat absorbing dust which left un-checked can lead to permanent damage 
If you have any questions, feel free to call our office or email us at info@lakeviewcomputers.com.
Tweet? What’s a Tweet?
Celebrities use it, your kids are starting to use it, maybe you yourself even use it. Twitter is a fast and growing social networking site, very much similar to Facebook, but also extremely different.
Twitter has 'status updates', just the same as Facebook does, only Twitter is a little bit different. Twitter uses Tweets. Tweets are status updates, but they are in the format of text messages unlike like Facebook. In a 'tweet' you can mention people using the '@' symbol. Twitter also uses the pound symbol (#) to send 'mentions' called Hashtags. These mentions/hashtags could simply be '#thumps up' which, if clicked, would link you to any tweets that have every mentioned the words 'thumbs up'. Or a better example, Charley Sheens 'winning' phrase is popular on Twitter, and every time someone hashtags the word 'winning' it link you to a Twitter page that has everything about Charley Sheen, or the word 'winning', 'win', or 'winners'.
Twitter is simple to use, but it is mainly for creeping up on your favorite stars, sharing easily with TV stars such as hosts from Much Music, Opra, or Ellen DeGeneres, and countless Movie and Music Stars. 90% of all stars today have a Twitter 'feed' or profile, most of which are fake, or 'die hard fans' who like to make these celebrates a page in hopes they will 'take it over'. The only downsides to Twitter from Facebook, for all you Facebookers, is Twitter doesn't have 'friends' it has 'followers', and it doesn't have games. It doesnt have 'photo albums' to add last weekends photos too, although there are applications where you can upload photos to a site and the link will appear in your Twitter feed, but only one photo shows up at a time. This gives Twitter a more secure feeling. Because overall personal information is visible to anyone on the site, pictures aren't. Where as in Facebook, you can upload pictures, music, videos, and everyone can see them without being your friend (depending on your security settings).
Twitter is simple, clean, and easy. And every mobile device is able and compatible to work with it.
What Is RAM?
What Is RAM?
System memory, frequently called RAM is a type of memory that can be accessed randomly. RAM is the 'working memory' storage area within the computer. All data on the computer is stored on the Hard Drive, but in order for the computer to work with the data, the data the computer uses and works with is read into the working memory, or RAM CHIPS.
Upgrading Your RAM
Before you can upgrade your system, you have to first find out what type of memory s supported by your motherboard. You can find this readily on your motherboards manufacturing site, by looking at it yourself (if you know what to look for) or by getting a trusted computer tech to take a look for you.
Another thing you will need to consider is how much you will need ad how much the minimum is for your operating system.
There are three different types of RAM:
DDR- Short for Double Data-Synchronous, it is a type of SD RAM that supports Data Transfers on both edges of each clock cycle, effectivly doubling the memory chips data. Also consumes less power which makes it suitable for Laptops/Notebooks.
DDR2- Is the next step up from DDR. It offers newer features and functions that enable higher clock and data rate operations. Transfers 64 bits of data twice every clock cycle. DDR2 is not compatible with a DDR memory slot.
DDR3- the third generation of DDR that improves upon DDR2 by offering reduced power consumption, and a double pre-fetch buffer and also offers more bandwidth because of increased clock rate.
Size Matters!
Most commonly supported in Notebooks is the SO DIMM or small Outlined DIMM(Dual In-line Memory Module), which is a smaller version of the DIMM in CPU's. What differentiates between Notebooks and CPU's is form factor or physical size and pin configuration. A full size RAM for CPU is anywhere from 100 to 240 pins, and is usually 4.5" in length.
A notebooks SO DIMM has 72 to 200 pins and a completely different pin configuration and is 2.5" to 3" in length.
Both do the same, but the size and pin configuration is different. When upgrading, if you don't bring in your computer, make sure you distinguish between a laptop or a CPU(desktop).
4 Simple Steps to Protecting your Laptop
Four simple ways to keep your laptop cool and safe are;
- Put a hard book under the battery of your laptop while its on your desk or even your lap. This slight tilt gives your computer room for air flow for the fan at the bottom of your laptop. Be sure not to cover the fan completely at all, always give it enough clearance for airflow.
- If a book doesn't help, buy a laptop cooling pad. There are many different brands to choose from like Thermaltake, Zion, and Targus and are available at most computer stores for effective prices.
- Maintain a cool environment. Try keeping your computer stored in an air conditioned room or open a window if the room gets hot to allow your system to get cool air flow instead of warm air. Be sure to give your computer cool down time after you have finished using it by completely shutting it down and unplugging it from its charger and the wall.
- The most effective way to keep it cool is to keep it on hard surfaces, and air dust it regularly. A laptop sitting on not solid surfaces can give the fan no choice but to keep tying to get air to cool your computer down, and in that process can make it take in dust, lint and even pet or human hair. This can clog up the fan and prevent it from working properly, and is a big reason why most computers over heat today. Lint inside your computer can even cause a fire. Cans of Air Duster or Dust Off can be bought anywhere most computers are sold, as well as your local computer repair shop for an inexpensive cost. When using Air Duster or Dust Off on your computer, be sure it is shut down completely, and that you are either outside or in a very well ventilated area.
These are only some of the ways you can keep your computer cooler. If you have any more questions, or are looking to get your computer cleaned up, call our office at 403 887 8420 or email us at info@lakeviewcomputers.com and we will surely help you out!