Why I am Getting Involved

The Legal Disclaimers and Terms of Use

Before I start offering tips to users of this blog, I want to clarify the terms of use of any information given here.  All information given is without warranty.  Use at your own risk.   Although I personally stand by whatever information I give here, I accept no responsibility for how you use the information or any negative results (including damages to your computer or equipment) that may result. Users of this information agree to waive all rights to legal recourse against me or any company associated with this publication.

Now that I have gotten this legal stuff out (and hopefully scared all faint-hearts away), let me tell you who I am and why I feel qualified to write the things you will see in upcoming articles.

Who I am and Why I Feel Qualified 

I have been involved with computer use and repairs since 1985.  That's since the days of RadioShack's Color Computer!  Back then, when you purchased a computer, you had to either learn to program it yourself (using BASIC) and a poorly-written manual or limit yourself to using a few badly-written applications.  To get audio, we recorded our applications using a portable cassette player! A top of the line system at that time had 64 mb of RAM, a 10mb harddrive  and a floppy disk drive!   (Cassette players were routinely used for data storage.) The video standard was EGA and most monitors were black/white.  You had to be rich to afford expensive luxuries  like a VGA card!  To put it simply, I've been involved with computers a loooooong time!  

I initially sold computers as an educational tool (which I still believe it to be).  My first computer came equipped with a black/white ega monitor, 10mb hard drive, 24 mb ram and a single-sided floppy disk drive all enclosed in the new tower casing.  The price tag: $1500!  Needless to say, I cherished that machine until I found out that it could not do what I originally wanted to use it for: develop and display color applications!   I was in a bind.   I could either return the machine (at a financial loss), abandon my dreams of using and developing color applications or fork over another thousand dollars for the necessary upgrades.  What was I to do?  I did not have the money to pay for repairs.  I did not want to return my new computer and lose both the machine and money in the process.  And I sure as hell was not going to abandon my dreams of developing and using color applications!   So, what did I do?  I learned computer repairs and upgraded my machine for myself at a fraction of the cost of sending it to the certified technicians of that time. 

Since then, I have built and upgraded many machines. I owned a computer repair company (Simple Improvement Services) for more than 10 years.  I have solved countless millions of computer questions for end-users.  I have seen the computer manufacturing industry produce many wonderful and amazing machines. I have seen computers become affordable to almost everyone.  I have seen computer programs develop into the all-encompassing applications they are today.  A lot has changed with computers, but throughout all the years, one thing remains the same.  Computer users continue to have the same problems today as they did in the early days.  

Most computer problems are created by the user's lack of expertise when faced with a machine which continues to have the same mystique of its early invention.  Although most modern computers are contained on a single board, with a few swappable parts, most users are convinced that they are unable to solve their own problems.  Yet my 25+ years' experience in the computer repair industry has shown me that most computer problems are only about 10% hardware-related. 

The fact is that many applications are still poorly written and poorly documented.  Some applications are too complex.  Some applications are too large for their purpose.  But above all, Help documentation continues to be the number one source of difficulty facing computer-users today.    Many people who call me about their computer problems today usually confess to lack of understanding how the program they are attempting to use operates.

 This blog will attempt to address this problem in the most effective way.  Unfortunately, because of my loooong involvement with computers, I may inadvertently speak in "computerese" (geek language) when attempting to explain concepts.  Whenever this happens, please feel free to leave a comment and I will clarify my statements as soon as possible.  This blog is written for you, my readers, and I will deeply appreciate your feedback on all my attempts.  Let me know in no uncertain terms, if  I am meeting your needs.  Send me your questions and comments and I will attempt to address them as completely as possible.

I will be providing information on some resources and applications which I have found useful over the years.  Feel free to get them and use them as you see fit.  My recommendations are based purely on my experience.  You must determine if these items and applications are useful for your own situation.  

First Things First

1. It is extremely important to make sure that your system components are cleaned regularly. This helps your hardware functioning at top performance. Keep track of any screws removed.  Always unplug your computer from electrical connections before performing the following routine.
   
2. Do not use water when cleaning your computer! 
3.  If you need to use a damp cloth to remove stains, apply Rubbing alcohol.  It is a wetting agent that evaporates completely at room temperature and will not cause electrical shortages on your computer.
   
4. Use a soft-bristled paint brush or compressed can of air to remove dust from your computer every 3 months.  Dust is attracted to your computer's components by static electricity and can build up quickly, causing damage to your system.  Ensure you clean around the floppy and cd/dvd drives, intake/exhaust fan and all open ports (usb, etc).  (Important: remove your system covers, especially the front cover, and clean all internal components.  A car vacuum is very helpful here.  If unavailable, cautiously use a home vacuum cleaner.) 
5. Clean your keyboard as often as needed with a dry brush or compressed air.   Avoid getting drinks or cigarette ashes in your keyboard.  If possible, avoid smoking at your computer desk.  Cigarette smoke creates a hard-to-clean, oily residue on your computer components and exhaust fan.
6. If using a rolling mouse, remove the ball covering and cautiously use any sharp item to scrape the gunk off the little rollers inside.  (This may require a little dexterity but it will keep your mouse from making those jerky movements that indicate a dirty mouse). If possible, use a sharp plastic instrument.  Be careful not to apply too much pressure or you will damage your mouse.  If using laser mouse, lightly brush around the laser light to remove dust buildup. Also use a clean mousepad to prevent dust buildup in your mouse.

Do not forget to clean your computer and monitor cases, especially the air vents.  Use a soft cloth dampened with alcohol to clean the monitor face or follow the manufacturer's instructions.  (Do not apply pressure when cleaning LCD monitors!)

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next post: Upgrading :-Do you really have to?