January 2017 - Ophtek

5 Signs That Your PC Is Due for an Upgrade

Jan 2017

PCs are very important to business and you can’t afford to be without one or using one that isn’t optimized, but how do you know it’s time to upgrade?

The problem with working with an aging PC is that it’s difficult to guarantee its reliability. And if the world of business demands one thing then it’s reliability. Even the very best computers will go into decline or slip behind in terms of technology, so it’s a good idea to upgrade around every four years.

Sometimes, though, an upgrade may be required a little sooner, so let’s go through five signs that your PC is due an upgrade.

Noisy Components

When your PC starts making noises which get louder and more grating as time goes on then it’s an indicator that something isn’t right. In particular, the most common components to start generating such a noise are the various fan drives and hard drives housed within your PC. And when these start to fail – particularly the fans – this puts a huge amount of stress on the rest of your PC, so it makes more sense to upgrade to a new PC.

Out of Date?

New advances in software and technology are so rapid that, depending on the needs of your business, older PCs may struggle to adopt. And, in some cases, older PCs simply won’t be able to run this new technology; this can put your business at a real disadvantage, so sometimes it’s crucial to upgrade your PCs when bringing in new software in order to get the best out of it.

Constant Maintenance is Required

Sometimes you’ll realize that you’re actually spending more time sorting out the various problems with your PC than getting work done on it. And wasted time is wasted money, so it’s a huge drain on your businesses resources and needs addressing. Even if it may seem expensive to upgrade, ultimately it’s going to save you more money in the long term due to increased productivity.

Lack of Support

Once software and hardware providers stop offering support or security patches it means that your PC becomes a liability. After all, what if you have a severe server meltdown and all your data is at risk of being lost? Without any support there’s the risk that you’ll never see that data again. Likewise, without any security updates you run the risk of being hacked. Upgrading to current, supported technology is the only option in these cases.

It Slows Down

All PCs reach a point where they simply slow down. Processors have to handle more advanced programs and updates. Their performance can decline whilst the constant demands of a business PC can eventually push them to a point of exhaustion. Therefore, if there’s nothing noticeable which is causing the PC to slow down then it’s time to consider an upgrade.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

5 Ways to Keep Your PC Running Cooler and Faster

Office IToffice IT, PerformanceOphtek, LLC

Jan 2017

Modern PCs and processors are capable of great performance, but did you know that they can run even faster and achieve more if you keep them cool?

Now, I’m not suggesting that you move your PC into the refrigerator, but reducing the temperature of your PC by just a few degrees can really optimize its performance. And, whilst some of the methods require a little bit of investment, many are cost free.

I’m sure you want to get started optimizing your PC, so here’s 5 ways to keep your PC running cooler and faster.

Good Air Flow is Crucial

One of the most common causes for a PC to start underperforming is a lack of adequate air flow; this lack of airflow is usually caused by restricted space issues e.g. pushing the PC into a tight corner or cramming it in between shelves.

Now, whilst this may save you valuable real estate, it’s also going to prevent the free flowing movement of air. And this leads to high ambient temperatures around and in your PC, so it’s essential that you make sure there’s enough breathing room around it to work in a comfortable temperature.

Upgrade to a Better Cooler

All PCs come installed with parts such as heatsinks and fans to help reduce the internal temperature of your PC. However, these are only ever good enough to do the bare minimum and this means you can never push your PC to its full potential.

For the cost of just $40 – $50, though, you’ll find that you can invest in highly effective replacements than the standard specs already cooling your PC. And, once these are installed, you’ll find that you get a faster performance from your PC and an increased lifespan.

Check Your Power Supply

If your PC has started to run slowly then it’s a good idea to check your power supply. Not many people know this, but there’s a fan built into your PCs power supply to help remove hot air. And, if this has failed, the internal temperature is going to rise very quickly.

If you put your hand behind your PC and can’t feel air being blown out of the case then there’s a good chance you’ll need to replace the power supply.

Keep Your PC Clean

Dust may seem like nothing more than irritating specks that make your desk look untidy, but dust can soon accumulate within a PC and leave your heatsinks and fans struggling to work. This leads to an increase in temperature and a decline in performance.

That’s why you need to remove the casing from your PC once a month to blow it through with air in a can to remove dust from all components. You may be tempted to use a vacuum cleaner as it will appear to be more effective, but it’s more likely that you’ll cause damage trying to get into all the tight spaces in your PC.

Water Cooling

Water and computers aren’t two things that usually work well together, but the option of water cooling may be the solution to your temperature problems, particularly if you’re running a high end PC with a busy processor.

By pumping a stream of cool (and enclosed) water down to your processor, a water cooling system can remove the heat from this area and transfer the heat out of your computer. And the good news is that it’s a relatively cheap option with kits costing around $60 – $70 more than capable of making a temperature difference.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

5 Essential PC Maintenance Checks You Need to Know

Office IToffice ITOphtek, LLC

Jan 2017

An important area of PC ownership is ensuring that you carry out regular maintenance on your PC. Without it, you could soon find your PC slowing down.

It’s a good idea to carry out a monthly maintenance on your PC, but this can sound a little intimidating. After all, there are so many pieces of software and hardware crammed into its case that it’s difficult to know where to start.

However, there are a number of relatively simple checks you can carry out which should help to maintain the smooth running of your PC. Let’s take a look at 5 essential PC maintenance checks you need to know.

Update Windows

Microsoft regularly release patches and updates for Windows a couple of times a month (always on Tuesdays), so it’s crucial that you install these to ensure that your PC is running to its full potential and is secure from any new cyber security threats. In Windows 10, the Windows Update feature can be found within your Windows Settings app.

Spring Clean Your PC

Dust can be a major issue for your PC, if too much builds up then your PC will begin to overheat and the hardware will gradually begin to fail. Now, dust is so tiny that it’s impossible to put a guard up to protect against this, so you need to look into other dust busting methods.

You can give yourself a head start by regularly cleaning around the PC to remove any surrounding debris. However, ou need to get a little bit deeper to really ensure that dust doesn’t build up. Once a month, remove the casing from your PC and use a can of air to blow through all the crevices and remove dust without causing any damage.

Disk Cleanup

The hard drive on a PC can gradually build up with clutter and unnecessary files over time, but whilst they may be out of sight and mind, they have the potential to slow down your system and seriously stretch your resources.

Luckily, Windows has a built in disk cleanup to help identify and remove these files, so that your resources can be used more appropriately. In Windows 10, just search for ‘disk cleanup’ in the taskbar and you’ll be presented with options for deleting temporary files such as browsing history and unneeded system files relating to uninstalled programs.

Complete an Antivirus and Malware Scan

Not all pieces of security software will regularly carry out scans on your hard drive, so there’s a good chance that malware could be lurking on your system. And, as well as being dangerous for your personal data, these pieces of software can seriously compromise the performance of your system due to the memory they hog; that’s why you should schedule a regular scan in, ideally once a week.

Uninstall Unused Programs

We all install programs that we only ever use once or twice, but due to PC owners taking storage space for granted, many of us forget to uninstall them. And, over time, these forgotten programs gradually build up and start to command huge amounts of space and, if they’re running in the background, precious memory.

Therefore, it’s good practice to review the programs installed on your PC once a month to reclaim your hard drive for more optimized performance.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

Understanding the Cost of Your Technology

Office IToffice ITOphtek, LLC

Jan 2017

Technology is crucial for businesses, so it’s a rare firm which isn’t looking to upgrade. However, do they always fully understand the costs of technology?

It’s imperative to stay competitive and safe in modern business, so purchasing IT equipment is a regular process for almost all organizations. And whilst we’re all aware that this can be a costly experience, the costs aren’t always limited to the price sticker. That’s why it’s a good idea to understand exactly what your overall outlay – better known as total cost ownership (TCO) – will be.

Let’s take a look at what you need to consider and understand when it comes to costing the price of your technology.

What is TCO?

The TCO applies to every cost that your technology is likely to incur over the course of its lifetime. After all, the equipment involved in IT is very rarely an inanimate object (unless it’s a mouse mat) and this means that there are a variety of costs such as:

Maintenance
Running costs
Admin processes
Costs incurred by downtime when technology fails
Software required for hardware

It’s these costs that many businesses fail to take into account when planning their budget around new technology purchases. In fact, it’s estimated that, for example, a PC’s ticket price will only make up around 20% of its TCO. And that means the other 80% will slowly mount up over its lifetime and eat into your budget when you least expect it.

You’re probably beginning to understand the importance of careful budgeting around your new technology purchases – especially when you consider just how often businesses have to upgrade their equipment – so how can you go about making this purchase less painful?

How Can You Reduce Your TCO?

The TCO for your technology purchases can have a real impact on your budgets and expenditure, so it’s vital that you factor in all the possible costs you may encounter. Otherwise, you may find yourself desperate searching for precious dollars to keep your technology operating.

And, in order to keep your TCO at a manageable level, you need to plan ahead and ensure that the following areas are tackled efficiently:

Ensure that good security is in place as cyber-attacks on your equipment can lead to significant downtime for your workforce
Analyze your current spending patterns to help get a clearer picture of the potential future costs
An in-house IT team can be costly, but by outsourcing key operations such as technical support, you may discover this is a much more affordable option
Remember that new equipment becomes essential when older, outdated equipment is holding you up in terms of efficiency and downtime from failures
Do not allow all employees access to all areas of your network as they are likely to cause disruption when accessing, for example, software they have no training in
Create an inventory of all your software, hardware and associated licenses to make sure you can monitor the age of all your equipment

It may seem difficult to plan ahead for the TCO of your technology purchases, but if you put in the necessary research and try to reduce in-house disruption you can come to a much more agreeable TCO.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

Diagnosing 3 Simple PC Problems

hardwarePerformanceOphtek, LLC

Jan 2017

There are many problems you can experience with a PC, but you may be surprised to learn that many of these can be diagnosed by yourself.

It’s always useful if you can diagnose the problem that your PC is having as it allows you to start working on a solution. And that means you can get back to doing the important things on your PC.

That’s why I’ve decided to gather together some of the simplest tests you can do to get to the bottom of three of the most common PC issues, so let’s take a look.

1. An Application Is Running Slowly or Not Responding

It’s always frustrating when that application you desperately need isn’t working correctly, so it’s essential for your stress levels that you know what to do in this situation.

When an application is running slowly then it’s possible that it’s not loaded correctly, so the simplest solution here is to close the application and restart it. However, if this doesn’t correct the problem then there’s a good chance that one of the files has become corrupted. Therefore, in this instance, it’s best to head to the developer’s website to check for any available updates that can be downloaded and installed.

If, however, you’re unable to even close your troublesome application down, then you need to do something a little different first. By holding down the control, alt and delete keys at the same time, you can bring up the Task Manager window which lists all the applications which are currently running; all you have to do here is click the application in question and click ‘End Task’ to exit the application.

2. PC Is Not Turning On

Sometimes you’ll go to turn on your PC, but that power button just isn’t responding. It’s a common fault, but many PC users fail to grasp the fact that the actual problem may be ridiculously simple.

First off, always check the power cord as this can easily become disconnected from your PC. Even if it’s just worked its way out slightly, then your PC will not turn on.

Another good thing to investigate is the plug socket that the PC is plugged into as these can sometimes develop faults. Try plugging a different device into the plug socket to see if this springs into life. If there’s no response then it indicates an issue with the plug socket, so may require the intervention of an electrical engineer.

And, if it’s a laptop, it may be that the battery is not charged or it can no longer take a charge and needs replacing – usually there should be an indicator light to show that the battery is charging.

3. Entire System Is Running Slowly

PCs are capable of running many different tasks at work thanks to their memory capabilities, but sometimes you’ll find your PC slowly grinding to a halt and barely able to get a drop down menu to work. Often, this will be down to one or more applications hogging the memory, so you need to identify which applications are causing this and then start rectifying this issue.

Again, you need to go through the control, alt and delete key hold to bring up the Task Manager window. Once there, click on the performance tab to view your CPU usage – if this is rising above 60% then there’s a good chance that your PC is going to start struggling.

And to identify which application is causing your issue you then need to head to the Processes tab of Task Manager. This will list all the applications currently running and if you click on the Memory tab you can sort by the most memory hungry applications. If, for example, it shows that Firefox is using 400,000K of memory, but you’re not using it then it indicates a pointless memory drain, so click End Process to free up some valuable memory.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

Monthly Archives: January 2017