Archive for July, 2014

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My computer is making strange noises — what do I do?

Posted by South City Computer

Generally, computers have 3 parts that can make noise: the speakers (duh), the hard drive, and the fan or fans. We’ll assume that you have already determined that the noise you’re experiencing isn’t coming from the speakers. This leaves the hard drive and fan, the two components in computers that have moving parts. Noise coming from either could indicate a problem, so here’s a few tips to figure out what it might be:

If it’s a quiet clicking or grinding noise, its probably the hard drive. Most computers have a flashing light that indicates hard drive activity, and if the noise is concurrent with this light it  is most definitely the hard drive. In this case, you should shut down the computer immediately and take it to an expert. Continuing to use the computer increases the chance of data loss drastically, and therefore should be avoided at all costs. When you bring your computer to an expert, such as the ones at South City Computer, he or she will generally copy the data from the old drive to a safe place, and then install a new one. Hard drives can’t really be ‘fixed,’ but replacements come at a reasonable price.

If the noise you hear is a louder clicking or fluttering, and it goes on constantly for the entire time the computer is powered on, it is most likely the fan. This poses a danger to your computer too, as a defective or obstructed fan can cause the computer to overheat. This will result in unexpected shutdowns, and can possibly permanently damage the CPU, by melting it. Shut down the computer immediately to prevent possible damage. If you can access the fan, make sure that no wires or dust is obstructing it. If this doesn’t solve the problem, or if the fan is inaccessible, take the computer to an expert to have the fan replaced. Fans are generally inexpensive, but an improper installation could cause the same problems as if the fan hadn’t been replaced at all.

In either case, the best solution is to shut down the computer right away and bring it to South City computers for a professional diagnosis. South City Computer can offer you wholesale pricing on parts that you might not otherwise be able to find at all, and of course, all installations will be done by one of our expert technicians.

Why doesn’t my laptop battery work anymore?

Posted by South City Computer

When lithium-ion rechargeable batteries first hit the market, they were a big deal. They opened a whole new door to portable electronics, because even though the battery could only power it for a few hours, they could be used over and over again.

Unfortunately, this use cycle was not unlimited, and they could only be charged and discharged about 300-500 times. The number of charge cycles has greatly increased since then, mainly due to intelligent charge controllers in the electronics, however, it is still not unlimited.

Chances are, if your laptop is a few years old, the battery has undergone cell oxidation. Cell oxidation is when the battery loses electrons. This is normal, because the battery outputs electrons in order to power the device. The degradation of battery life is caused by the fact that not all of the electrons can be recovered every time the battery is recharged, so, each charge cycle you put the computer through slightly reduces the battery life.

Eventually, once the process gets far enough, the charge controller will notice and send a message to the device. This usually shows up as a notification in the lower right corner on Windows systems. Unfortunately, due to the nature of lithium-ion batteries, there is no way to reverse the process. The battery will need to be replaced.

If this has happened to you, consult the experts at South City Computer to find a reliable replacement battery at a good price.

Apple Brings Mobile Computing to Your Wrist

Posted by South City Computer

As many may have already heard, rumors have been going around of Apple producing a smart watch designed to work with iPhone users’ mobile devices. Apple has been very secretive about the specifications of the watch, but various numbers have been thrown out, such as a screen size of up to 2.5″ — the size of the current iPod nano, which can be worn as a watch. This iWatch would differentiate itself though in that it would run a more complete version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS.

Since the watch is said to have waterproof features, it is also expected to have health tracking related features, which would integrate with a health app expected to be included in the upcoming iOS 8.

Contrary to what many Apple fans believe, Apple is not the first company to come up with this idea. In fact, Samsung, Sony, and LG all have smart watches that are already available. All these are, of course, only compatible with Android smartphones, however, watches, such as the Pebble, that do offer iPhone compatibility exist.

This move by Apple indicates a continuous trend that computing is quickly moving away from the Laptop and Desktop, and even away from the smartphone, into devices that integrate right into one’s everyday life.

Local South City Computer repair store is different

Posted by South City Computer

computer-repair-sign
The computer repair industry is a 21 billion dollar industry with almost 60,000 businesses that provide computer repair services. The businesses run the gamut of large computer retailers to IT management companies, to the small local computer repair store in your neighborhood, to the guy fixing computers out of his garage for extra cash. So how can you be sure you are going to get the best service at a reasonable price?

Here is what makes South City Computer different than all the rest:

Small local business! South City Computer is a local independently owned and operated computer repair store in south St. Louis City. South City Computer is your neighbor who can help you with your computer issues and support. Sometimes it is nice to see a familiar face, or to be able to ask for somebody you already know and have a comfortable working relationship. You can expect the same great familiar quality service every time. By choosing to do business with South City Computer you are supporting your local community and helping to provide jobs to people who also live in your neighborhood.

Quick turn-around! South City Computer can usually provide same day to next day service if necessary depending on the complexity of the issue. South City Computer can provide agile service because it is a small business. The fastest most stores can service your computer is usually anywhere from a couple weeks to months. South City Computer understands how important a computer can be to your business or everyday life, and that having it out of commission is not a viable option.

Flat rate service menu! Most computer repair services follow the South City Computer flat-rate service menu. You will know how much your computer repair is going to cost you right when you walk through the door. There are no hidden service fees or expenses. You can quickly determine if it is worth the expense to repair the computer issue or is it time to invest in a new computer. The technicians at South City Computer can give you advice to guide you to make the wisest decision.

On-site and remote repair services! South City Computer offers on-site and remote computer repair services. A technician can come to your house or office to diagnose and possibly fix your computer issue. A computer repair and support expert can also connect to your computer remotely to try to diagnose and fix computer issues without you having to unplug anything. This may save you some time and hassle during your computer repair.

Visit the Technology Bar! Ask an expert South City Computer repair technician a question, seek advice, or have them take a look at your computer, laptop, cell phone or other technology at the South City Computer Technology Bar. Get a quick fix, learn something useful, get helpful advice, or discover an answer to your computer technology question. Schedule an appointment today! The South City Computer technology experts can help!

Free PC Checkups! You probably have gone to your doctor for a physical checkup just to make sure you are doing well, think of the Free PC Checkup as exactly the same thing, but for your computer. South City Computer can give your computer a thorough scan for potential issues or threats, and maybe give it a quick tweak to make it run faster and smoother, all that is for FREE!

Technology News! South City Computer is in the “know” when it comes to technology. South City Computer offers updates and alerts on the latest viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware threats, as well as computer tips, computer software recommendations reviews, smartphone app recommendations and reviews, computer repair resources, and other interesting tech news from around the world syndicated on the website, in an email newsletter, and on Facebook and Twitter. All this is for FREE!

South City Computer strives to be different than the rest by offering you more value and better friendlier service. South City Computer is your friendly neighbor that can help you with your computer needs. You will recognize the difference immediately when you choose South City Computer.

Alert: Android Trojans and Viruses

Posted by South City Computer

Android Viruses and Trojans Oh MYDo you think your Android device is safe from virus and trojans? Think again. Here are a few new viruses and Trojans that were discovered in June 2014 to watch out for:

Android.Generisk is a generic detection for Android applications that may pose a privacy, security, or stability risk to the user or user’s Android device.

Android.Uupay is a Trojan horse for Android devices that steals information from the compromised device. It may also download additional malware.

Android.Rusms is a Trojan horse for Android devices that sends SMS messages and steals information from the compromised device.

Android.Pletora is a is a Trojan horse and Ransomware for Android devices that may lock the compromised device. It then asks the user to pay in order to unlock the device.

Android.Simplocker is a Trojan horse and Ransomware for Android devices that may encrypt files on the compromised device. It then asks the user to pay in order to decrypt these files.

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