Archive for ◊ 2010 ◊

Hallmark Virus
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 | Author:

Ok… so I have been getting asked about the “Hallmark” Virus and there are always warning emails going around this time of year warning of this virus.

Yes, for the last few years there has been a virus spread by email, usually the subject is : Hallmark Postcard, or Postcard from Hallmark. There is a good chance this could be going around again with the Holidays upon us.

If you do get this email make sure to not open any attachments! If it is a legitimate electronic Christmas card it will have a link going to a website, not an attachment.

Many of these viruses come in an attachment with the file ending in “.exe”, which is an executable file. Never open an executable file that is attached to an email!

I hope that this message helps you all and prevents some infections this Christmas season!

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Email, Viruses  | Comments off
Automatically delete browsing history in IE8 on Exit
Wednesday, December 08th, 2010 | Author:

If you are using Internet Explorer 8, which many of my clients do use, sometime you want to delete your browsing history on a daily basis.  Previous to Internet Explorer 8, you had to go into the settings and delete it manually.  Internet Explorer 8 makes life very easy browsing the web and managing copied cache history files. You can setup Internet Explorer 8 to automatically delete browsing history when you exit (or close) it.

How to Automatically delete browsing history in IE8

1. Open Internet Explorer browser.
2. Goto Tools > Internet Options.
3. Click to check option “Delete browsing history on exit”.
4. Then click Apply, OK.

Done!  Now each time you close Internet Explorer your cached history will be removed!

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the Computer Solution llc
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Category: Maintenance, Shortcuts and Tricks  | Comments off
My Outlook email file is too large, how do I set up auto-archiving?
Friday, November 19th, 2010 | Author:

The way that Outlook stores your emails/contacts/calendar/etc. is all in one encapsulating file (.pst file), and as this file grows in size you will realize performance issues with Outlook.  If you notice underneath your “Personal Folders” you will see “Archive Folders”, this is where your emails are moved to limit the size of your mail file.  What I would recommend is setting up “auto-archiving” of your emails to limit the size of your email file and ultimately speed up Outlook.

To set up “Auto-archiving” follow the steps below (Outlook 2007):

1. Open Outlook and click on “Tools” then “Options”

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2. Click on the “Other” tab

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3. From here you select multiple options in regards to how often you want to auto-archive, the time length before emails should be archived, etc.

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4. Click “Ok” and you are all set!  Your email file should limit it’s size now and hopefully improve some performance in Outlook.

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Email  | Comments off
System Defragmenter Malware Scam
Monday, November 15th, 2010 | Author:

What is System Defragmenter and why do you need to remove it?  This is malware (what is malware?) and is not a genuine system or disk defragmenter program and will try to trick you by telling you that you have various file errors on your computer. This malware will run a fake system scan to try to convince you that there are major errors on your computer that need to be fixed fast and that you need to buy the full version of this software.

Possible Error Messages:

- Caution! 30% of your hard drive has been damaged and the information stored on it may be unrecoverable

- The temperature of your hard drive is reaching critical levels due to un-optimized files and hard drive damage. Immediate action is necessary to preserve the rest of your information.

- Your PC is in danger of crashing due to abnormal levels of heat buildup. You must improve your hard drive efficiency to decrease the temperature before it’s too late.

How to Fix:

1. Restart Your Computer and as soon as it turns back on (when you see the Dell, Gateway Logo, etc.), called the BIOS screen, press “F8″

2. When prompted how to start windows, select: “Start Computer in Safe Mode with Networking” (see image below)

3. Open your internet brower once Windows loads and download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware by clicking here

4. After downloading and installing MalwareBytes, select “Run Full Scan” (see image below),  and remove all infections upon completion.

Your computer should be fixed now but if for some reason the problem isn’t corrected, you should contact a service professional as the program can set up its installation in the startup folder so meaning it will re-install every time you load windows.

I hope this helps as the amount of Malware Scams are continuing to grow rampant.

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Malware, Viruses  | Comments off
AVG 2011… should I upgrade?
Tuesday, November 09th, 2010 | Author:

For all of you out there that are using AVG 8.5 or 9.0 Free you have been seeing messages about updating to the new version, AVG Free 2011.  What is new in AVG 2011?

- Improved Social Networking security.

Keeps you and your friends safe on social networks by checking all links exchanged in real time. It runs automatically as soon as you install AVG Internet Security 2011.

- The AVG Toolbar now uses Google as opposed to Yahoo

Just a personal preference but I prefer to search via Google than Yahoo.

- AVG Introduced what they call “Smart Scanning Technology

The new smart scanning technology uses minimal resources when you’re at your PC, concentrating solely on real potential risks, and then conducting heavier, secondary maintenance when you’ve stepped away.  This is the greatest new feature I have seen through all the improvements, it doesn’t slow your computer down as much when you first start a Virus Scan.

If you are currently running AVG Free 9.0, it is still supported, but you might want to start thinking about upgrading to the newer AVG.

My Overall Review: Great improvements and I still would recommended AVG Free to anyone.

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Maintenance, Software  | Comments off
Make the Windows 7 Look Like Windows XP
Friday, October 29th, 2010 | Author:

The single most visible change in Windows 7 is the new “dock style” taskbar, which shows icons instead of buttons, with all application windows combined within a single button. I have had several clients ask, “How do I make it look like it used to (in Windows XP)?”

Personally I prefer the new Layout over the Windows XP look, but some people prefer using what they are familiar with.

This is what the taskbar (bottom bar with the start menu and open applications) looks like in Windows 7.

Windows 7 Taskbar

Changing the Windows 7 Taskbar to XP/Vista Style

To revert back to the older style, the first thing you’ll need to do is right-click on any open area of the taskbar and choose Properties from the menu.

Windows 7 Taskbar Properties Menu

From the Taskbar buttons drop-down menu, you’ll want to choose “Never combine”, which will make every window show up as a separate button on the taskbar, or you could choose “Combine when taskbar is full”, which does just like it says.

Windows 7 Taskbar Properties

Now you should see the buttons show up with text labels like you are probably used to… but in the Windows 7 style.

Windows 7 Taskbar Hover

If you chose the “Use small icons” checkbox in the properties screen, the taskbar will actually shrink down to look very similar to Vista.

Windows 7 Taskbar Hover Small

The only problem is that the “pinned” icons are still sitting on the taskbar, which isn’t the same as Vista or XP, but you can easily remove all of them by right-clicking and choosing “Unpin this program from taskbar”.

Windows 7 Un-Pin

And now the taskbar looks and works very similarly to Windows Vista:

Windows 7 Taskbar Unpinned

If you wanted to make it look like Windows XP, and replace the “Windows Orb” with the traditional “Start” button, you can choose the “Windows Classic” theme under the Desktop \ Personalize section.

Windows 7 Classic Theme Silliness

Pictured above is the “Windows Classic” theme selected with the other changes mentioned above.  Look familiar?

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Shortcuts and Tricks, Windows 7  | Comments off
Help! My email is sending out junk email to all of my contacts
Monday, October 18th, 2010 | Author:

So you receive a phone call from a friend or family member saying that they received an email from you with only a link, or even worse saying you are stuck in a foreign country and need money.  How do you stop your computer from sending these rogue emails?  You don’t want your email address to be marked as a spammer and de-activated as well.

These are not viruses but malware (bad software) infections that will go through your address book and email everyone and try to infect their computer and start the cycle all over again.

If your computer has been sending these rouge emails, follow these steps:

1. First off, tell the people that have been getting these emails not to click on the link or follow any instructions provided in the rogue emails.

2. Download MalwareBytes on the infected computer.  - Click here to download

3. After downloading and installing MalwareBytes run a “Full Scan”

4. Upon scan completion:

4a. Remove all infections

4b. After removing infections, change your email password (highly recommended)

5.  Complete!  Your email should be clean now and you won’t be sending spam anymore.

To prevent this from happening in the future, you can always purchase a license for MalwareBytes so that it provides “Real Time Protection” and is only $24.95/year, or just make sure to update and scan with your antivirus and Malware or Spyware software regularly.

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Internet, Malware, Viruses  | Comments off
Microsoft Security Essentials Malware
Thursday, October 14th, 2010 | Author:

Initial Symptoms:

Microsoft warns of the fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert that was discovered to pretend as a security tool from the software giant. In fact, it is a fake program trying to scam computer owners into purchasing their fake “anti-virus” programs. Microsoft Security Essentials Alert malware (meaning bad software) is introduced in an alert message reporting various threat details (see image 1). It will give an option to fix the computer and remove the threat by providing a “Scan Online” button.

Image 1 (Initial “Fake Infection” Screen)

Image of Fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert

Clicking on “Scan Online”, will load a new window that display a number of available programs. There are actually so many legitimate programs present on the choices but mixed with rogue ones. Noticeably, only those fake programs are executable including Red Cross, Peak Protection, Pert Detector, Major Defense Kit and AntiSpy Safeguard (see image2).

Image 2 (What is shown after you select “Scan Online”)

Microsoft Security Essentials Alert Programs

Removal Instructions:

1. If possible: Open your internet browser and download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware by click here.

  • 1a. After downloading and installing MalwareBytes, select “Run Full Scan” and remove all infections upon completion

2. If you can not open any programs due to restrictions this malware makes:

  • 2a. Restart Your Computer and as soon as it turns back on (when you see the Dell, Gateway Logo, etc.), called the BIOS screen, press “F8″
  • 2b. When prompted how to start windows, select: “Start Computer in Safe Mode with Networking”
  • 2c. Open your internet brower once Windows loads and download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware by click here
  • 2d. After downloading and installing MalwareBytes, select “Run Full Scan” and remove all infections upon completion

Your computer should be Malware free!!!  You can update/scan with MalwareBytes whenever you feel necessary, or,  if you purchase a license for this software it will provide real-time protection and prevent these sorts of intrusions from getting into your computer.

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: Internet, Malware, Viruses  | Comments off
An easy way to re-size photos for emailing
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 | Author:

So you just returned from your trip and you want to share your photos with family and friends but your can only attached 2 or 3 photos to an email before the email is too large to send.  Now what?…. Picasa!

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Picasa is an application from Google Inc. that makes it easy to organize, edit, and share your photos.  There is a built in way to email photos and Picasa will automatically re-size the images to an “email friendly” size and then attach the photos to your email.  The amount of features built in to Picasa is astounding… but not overwhelming.  Picasa makes photo organization and editing simple… I promise.

Give it a try and you will not be disappointed!

Download:

Click Here to Download Picasa

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: General, Shortcuts and Tricks, Software  | Comments off
Google’s New Instant Search Feautre
Friday, September 10th, 2010 | Author:

durango computer repairIf you have used Google.com’s search in the last few few days, you have noticed something very different about the search giants website.  Previously, Google would show search suggestions depending upon the character you are typing and you would have to click on the suggested term to begin the search.  Now the search engine computes the searches as you type and displays the results immediately and the results change with each character typed.  You must be using a relatively newer browser to be able to see this feature in action (Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3, Chrome, etc.).

It will only save a second or two… but it is a giant feat in regards to how quickly your results can be served.  A major change in a relatively unchanged search market.

Try it out! — click here

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the Computer Solution llc
Computer Help Durango Colorado - Computer Repair Durango Colorado - PC Repair Durango Colorado
Category: General, Internet  | Comments off
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