Free Computer Consultant Tip-Of-The-Week for September 12,
2008
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Have you checked out my Support Forum?
http://www.freecomputerconsultant.com/forum/
I get a lot of inquiries via email and YouTube (both email
and
comments). I try to reprint anything I think might be helpful
in
the support forum so that others can benefit by the answers
posted
there.
Now on to today's topic..
A techie employee at one of my clients recently reported
that his
laptop was fried, he needed a new one.
Ok, warning flag #1, he WANTS a NEW laptop.
Here's what happened.
The laptop he was using was an AMD based laptop. Now, AMD
makes
some good processors and many gamers love them. And since
they
many times are cheaper than Intel, some manufacturers, even
big
names like HP, are using them.
I still won't. I have to deal with hundreds of PC's every
year,
and let's face it, Microsoft is in bed with Intel, not HP.
So it's no real shock that Windows XP Service Pack 3 trashed
a
lot of HP's. But it only hurts Windows, not the hardware.
When this tech reported his laptop as fried, that's was
obviously
a statement aimed at folks with NO technological knowledge.
Question is, why was he installing SP3? I will load it on a
new
install of Windows XP, heck it saves gazillions of updates
being
loaded individually. But on an older PC that already has
those
updates, SP3 really doesn't offer much.
And just when the "experts" sounded the all clear on SP3 a
couple
of weeks ago, it only took them about 1 week to renege on
that
announcement and report that SP3 is STILL causing problems.
If you want your computer to be safe, head over to
Secunia's
free online scanner:
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/
Notice that if you have Windows XP SP2 installed, they mark
you
as good WITHOUT recommending SP3.
Now back to my story of the tech. He also reported that he
lost
his email, but that was all.
#1 He didn't have his email backed up
#2 I have no idea how a bad install of SP3 would trash
email
#3 He didn't ask for help as soon as he realized it was
gone
I have been on this soapbox before, PLEASE:
Don't be your own worst enemy!
If you have questions about what's in this rather lengthy
tip,
Please head over to my support forum and ask. I'll be glad
to
help.
http://www.freecomputerconsultant.com/forum/
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Notice there are a lot of new blog entries since my last
eletter.
Some are tuned to the Small & Medium Business world (SMB)
but a
lot have universal application.
Check them out.
Until next time...
-----------
You can keep up with articles I write and videos I create,
for the most part, at:
http://www.AssociatedContent.com/freecomputerconsultant
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When was the last time you backed up YOUR PC?
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The Free Computer Consultant
http://www.FreeComputerConsultant.com
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