Microsoft have made the final test version of their new Operating System, Windows7,  available to the general public as a free time limited download. Anyone can register and download the new Operating System, and use it until March 2010 at no cost whatsoever. After March 2010 you will need to uninstall the software, and revert to your old Operating System, or buy a copy of Windows7.

We have been testing earlier Beta versions of Windows7, and so far have been impressed with both the speed and stability of Windows7. We will be trying out this latest test version later on this week.

Microsoft are obviously keen to make Windows7 a success, and have taken the unusual step in allowing the general public to both try the software out for a generous 10 months, and take part in the final testing stage.

The software can be downloaded here, all you need to do is to signup for a free Windows Live Account to register.

Let us know how you get on with Windows7 if you do decide to try it out. Please bear in mind this software is still in the testing stage so we would not recommend installing it on your main PC; better to install it on a spare PC, or laptop, that is not business critical.

Chris
ASL Computer Services

Computers infected with the infamous Conficker worm will start scanning the Internet for instructions this April Fools’ Day.  What action do you need to take to protect your PC?

Firstly, don’t panic, just follow the steps below:

1. Download the Conficker scanning tool
2. Unzip the contents of this download to an empty folder on your PC
3. Double click on the bd_rem_tool_gui.exe file
4. click on start

This scanning tool will show you if your PC is infected with the Conficker worm virus, and assist with the removal of the worm if needed.

If you need any advice just give us a call.

Chris Moody
ASL Computer Services
01788 298034

ASL Computer Services are now offering on-site computer support and repair services in Warwick, Leamington Spa and surrounding villages. This is in addition to the existing areas covered (Rugby, Daventry, Southam, and Coventry).

One of our experienced PC engineers will come out to your home or office to fix your PC problems. No call out fees or travel time charged.

Why not give us a call today on 01926 298034

A BBC TV programme broadcast on the 14th March about Cyber Crime is well worth watching.

“Software used to control thousands of home computers has been acquired online by the BBC as part of an investigation into global cyber crime.

The technology programme Click has demonstrated just how at risk PCs are of being taken over by hackers. Almost 22,000 computers made up Click’s network of hijacked machines, which has now been disabled. The BBC has now warned users that their PCs are infected, and advised them on how to make their systems more secure.”

The programme can be seem here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jctj1/Click_14_03_2009/

Chris
ASL Computer Services
“If you have a PC problem, ASL can fix it”

We have just opened up an eBay shop, which will be selling various computer related items; Desktop PC’s, Laptops, Peripherals,  Software, & printers.

Some items will be auctions, starting from as little as 99p, and other items will be “Buy It Now” at a fixed price. The shop will be “stocked up” over the next one to two weeks, so please drop in and take a look at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ASL-Computer-Services

Chris Moody
ASL Computer Services

Microsoft has issued a security patch to fix a critical vulnerability in its Internet Explorer browser which has attacked over 2 million Windows users.

Their advice is to update Windows with the security patch as soon as possible. The relevant patch for your version of Windows and Internet Explorer can be downloaded below

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?pocId=&freetext=960714&DisplayLang=en

Chris Moody

ASL Computer Services

We have managed to obtain some fairly high spec Dell desktop PC’s with Windows XP Professional instead of Vista installed. These are brand new stock from Dell with on-site next business day hardware warranties until Aug 2009 (12 months).

The spec is ideal for business use as they have:

• Fast dual processors
• Large amount of memory
• Win XP Pro installed but Vista business licence and media included in case you wish to “upgrade” later on to Vista
• Wireless keyboard and mouse
• DVD Re-writer

They are priced at £230 plus VAT. Full details of the offer are here.

Chris
ASL Computer Services

We are now quickly approaching the peak holiday season. Many of you will be almost ready to jet off on that well earned summer holiday. While on holiday you will no doubt take lots of pictures with your digital camera, or even your mobile phone, as many phones now have high quality cameras built in. But what do you do with your pictures when you get home?

Many of us will transfer our holiday photos onto our computers and then leave them there never to be seen again. Why not do something different this year. Create a free account with one of the many Internet based photo album services. When you have uploaded your pictures into these web based albums you can share them with your friends and family across the Internet. You control exactly who can access your pictures, or you can make them public, it’s your choice.

It is much easier that creating CD’s and putting them in the post, or trying to email large photos to individual people. There is another advantage as well. As your pictures are then stored somewhere else as well as on your PC you have a backup. So if the ones on your PC are deleted accidentally you have not lost all your pictures, just download them again from your web album.

A number of companies offer this service, take a look at:

Flickr -  www.flickr.com

Snapfish -  www.snapfish.com

Photobucket -  www.photobucket.com

Putfile -  www.putfile.com

Picasa Web Albums – http://picasaweb.google.com

Alternatively if you have a facebook account you can use that to share your photos with individual friends, all friends, all friends and friends of friends, or even everyone.

Facebook -  www.facebook.com

Enjoy your holidays and take lots of photos.

Chris Moody
ASL Computer Services
Sir Frank Whittle Business Centre, Great Central Way, Rugby. CV21 3XH
Tel: 01788 298034  

It looks like anyone wanting to buy a new PC with Windows XP as the Operating system is very quickly running out of time.

At the end of this month (30th June 2008) Microsoft will prevent the major PC builders (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, etc) from supplying any desktop or laptop PC’s with Windows XP, Vista will be the only available Microsoft operating system. The only exception to this rule is the Ultra Low cost PC’s which will still be allowed to be supplied with XP Home pre-installed, but they are a very small and specialist market.

With just over three weeks to go until the deadline the manufacturers are running out of XP licences, and they cannot get hold of any more. We are already finding it is almost impossible to obtain new desktop or laptop PC’s with XP Home or XP Professional.

Chris Moody
ASL Computer Services

For a number of years now we have been recommending AVG Free edition as the ideal Anti Virus product for the average home PC user. It has many advantages over other Anti Virus products:

* It is free of charge for home PC users
* It does not consume lots of memory and processor power, so is ideal for older less powerful PC’s
* It is very effective at protecting your PC from Viruses

Recently AVG released a major update to their AVG products. Those with the paid for AVG products will automatically be upgraded to the new version, but the AVG Free users will have to upgrade manually. The existing AVG Free Version 7.5 will not receive any virus database updates after 31st May 2008, so users of the old free product will need to uninstall version 7.5 and install the newer version 8.0 as soon as possible to ensure continued full virus protection.

Some of our customers have had some difficulty in finding the download link for the new AVG Free Edition program so we have put a link to the download on our webpage. Just go to our website www.computerrepairinrugby.co.uk and you will find AVG Free Edition V8 under the “useful links” section on the right hand side of our web page.

Please note that the AVG Free edition is only for home PC users. Business users, or home PC users requiring more advanced virus & spyware protection, should consider the paid for AVG Anti Virus and AVG Internet Security products. We are an authorised AVG reseller so can supply these paid for products if you require them (you can purchase and download via our website, or we can visit you to supply and install these products). However, the average home PC user will find the basic AVG Free version will give perfectly adequate protection from Viruses.

Chris Moody
ASL Computer Services
Computer Support and Repair for Small Businesses