Patrick Edwards - Computer Consultant | Virus Removal - Spyware Removal - PC Help

Is Your Computer Bugging You? I Provide Remote Computer Support!

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:26:00 +0000

Hey there! I'm Patrick Edwards and I specialize in removing any viruses and spyware you have on your Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 PC by connecting directly to you through your internet connection.

It will be exactly as if I was sitting directly in front of it!

I offer a FREE PC check-up, so be sure to contact me today!

What I Offer:

You will not have to have a stranger come inside your home – I fix your computer right through your internet connection.
Neither will you have to take your computer into a repair shop – I can fix most PC problems online for you.
You will not have to break the bank to get your computer fixed – I offer flat-rate, affordable pricing.

Click here for more information on my services, including pricing.

Ready for your FREE Computer Check-up? Contact Me!

The sooner you contact me, the sooner we can get to work on your ailing PC!
Business Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9:00am - 9:00pm
Email: help@pedwardscc.com
Phone: 954.662.0266
Twitter: @pedwardscc

Have You Been Clickjacked?

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick Edwards) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:32:00 +0000

When you click a link, are you actually going to the link you thought you were going to? If not, you’ve been clickjacked! Fake links in Facebook are a common way to become clickjacked. If you see a link that looks suspicious, simply do NOT click it. If you just have to click it, try not to click anywhere on the malicious site.

For example, you click on a link that says “Click here to see The Game cast nude!” or some nonsense like that. You click the link and you see another button on the site to see the nude pictures, but no matter where you click on the site, it will make you do something else, like buy something off of Amazon or like a Facebook page.

Fortunately, clickjacking so far is pretty harmless to your computer, it’s just very annoying! You can avoid clickjacking by just not clicking crazy links, or using Firefox and downloading the NoScript add-on.

About Me, Your PC Expert

noreply@blogger.com (Patrick Edwards) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:51:00 +0000

For the last 25 years, I have fixed, built and used PC’s. Computers are my life, and without them I wouldn’t know what I would be doing right now. I know the language of computer talk, which means you can count on me to translate all that mumbo-jumbo into something you can understand easier!
I have the technology to connect to your PC from wherever you are in the world and see your desktop as if I were sitting in front of it (with your permission of course!). Whether you have viruses, spyware, or just a slow PC, I can help you, right from the comfort of your home.
With this remote support technology, you will not have to drop your PC off to a repair shop, nor will you need to have someone come inside your home. I do my repairs directly through your internet connection!
What ever issue you are having with your PC, I can help you. I offer a FREE computer check-up to those who need it. I give you a full report of your PC, and advise you on the best steps to take to remedy your problem.
I look forward to assisting you!

Protect Your Facebook Account: Account Security

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:53:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

Facebook has added a new feature to add more security to your account, and you should definitely take advantage of it. It’s called Account Security and is located in the Account Settings section in your Facebook account. Facebook now gives you the power to “kick” any unauthorized users that may have compromised your account. More details on this feature below.
You will notice the Account Security section in your Account Settings.

After you click “change” you will see a few options as well as a very important section called “Account Activity”.

Login Notifications
You can now get an alert via email or text message if someone logs into your account from a computer or cell phone you aren’t familiar with.

Account Activity
This is the most powerful part of Account Security since you can see the last time your account was logged into, where it was logged in from, and even the type of browser and if they used a computer or cell phone to access your account.

Let’s say you logged into Facebook at your best friend’s house but forgot to log out. Not a problem with Account Security, since you can simply log in to Facebook at home and click “end activity” where it says “Also Active”.

In the picture below, if you look under “Also Active” you can see that the Facebook account is currently active on a computer in Kansas City, Missouri and they are on an HTC Hero. By clicking “end activity”, that user will be immediately logged out of the Facebook account. Neat, right?!

Hope this helps you keep your Facebook account more secure! Oh, and I suggest you get a stronger password to not even have to have a stranger in your Facebook in the first place.

How-To: Speed Up Your Web Browser Easily

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:24:00 +0000

Facebook loading slow for you? What about any other websites? Try these steps for faster browsing:

Clear your browser’s cache.

For Internet Explorer 8: Go to your Control Panel and open “Internet Options”. Under the “General” tab in the “Browsing History”, click “Delete”. Next, make sure “Temporary Internet Files”, “Cookies”, and “History are checked. Then click Delete.

For Firefox 3.6: Hit Control+Shift+Delete inside the Firefox browser. Be sure to change the “Time frame to clear” to “Everything” in the drop-down box. Then click “Clear now”.

For Chrome 4.0: Click the Wrench in the upper-right corner of Chrome, then click “Options”. Under the “Personal Stuff” tab, go down to the “Browsing Data” section and click “Clear Browsing Data”. Where it says “Clear data from this period” change it to “Everything”.

Check your internet speed.

Is your internet speed at where it should be? Click here to find out how to check and troubleshoot your internet speed. If your speeds are below what you are paying for from your internet provider, you should call them immediately to troubleshoot your connection.

Remove spyware from your PC.

Spyware can greatly impact your internet browsing speed. Click here to learn about spyware and ways to remove them.

Reboot your PC.

Restarting your computer can clear your memory and potentially speed up your browsing experience.

If you have tried every one of these steps and you still experience slowness while browsing the internet, you may have a more advanced problem. Contact me for more help!

7 Tips To Speed Up Facebook On Your PC

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:53:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaAre photos taking forever to show up in Facebook when you click a picture? What about just the overall speed of Facebook.com on your PC? I’m sure we can safely assume that we have very little patience when it comes to slow loading websites, especially Facebook. Try these 7 tips to speed up your Facebook experience.

1. Clear Your Cache. Think of your cache as your closet in your bedroom. The more stuff you have in your closet, the longer it takes to find an outfit, right? Your web browser stores information for quicker loading of web pages in its cache, but when it gets too large it actually slows things down. Clearing your cache as well as saved cookies and history helps not only speed up Facebook, but your internet experience overall. Click here to find out how to clear your cache for your specific browser.

2. Close Other Open Browser Windows. If you are like myself, you have a million websites open at once. This can cause your PC to slowdown tremendously, especially if each browser window is doing something in the background like downloading files or streaming videos. Close them out and you should get a better Facebook experience.

3. Check Your Internet Speed. During different times of the day, especially if you get your internet service through your cable provider (i.e. Comcast), you may get dramatically slower speeds when visiting Facebook. Reports suggest that 25% of internet traffic around the world happens between 9:00pm – 1:00am. So, if at 9:30pm you notice Facebook slowing down, check your internet speed at http://speakeasy.net/speedtest or http://speedtest.net and see if the speeds your paying for is lower than normal. If it is slightly lower there is really nothing you can do about it besides telling ¼ of the entire world to get off the internet while you are on Facebook. However if it is substantially lower you may want to call your internet service provider.

4. Try a Different Browser. Are you still using Internet Explorer with browsers like Firefox and Chrome out there? Shame on you! If you are having a slow experience in Facebook with Internet Explorer, you may want to give Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox a try. In my personal experience, Google Chrome is ridiculously fast. Firefox is fast as well, but not as fast as Chrome. I also feel that both Chrome and Firefox are much more robust in features than Internet Explorer 8(At least until Internet Explorer 9 arrives, then the story may change).

Go ahead and download Firefox or download Google Chrome and see if your Facebook experience speeds up.

5. Restart Your Router/Modem/PC. “When all else fails, reboot.” I use this phrase in every aspect of my life, especially my computer life. If you just don’t know what else to do with slow browsing, you can try restarting your router if you have one and also rebooting your internet modem. This can sometimes remedy a slow internet connection if you’ve tried some of the steps above already. You will also have to reboot your PC as well.

6. Upgrade your RAM. So now we are really getting to the nitty-gritty. RAM is so important to your PC experience that you shouldn’t even purchase a computer with less than 2GB of memory. Windows alone takes 1GB of that 2GB, so you are left with only 1GB of memory to “do stuff” with. This goes back to #2 of this list, if you have low memory on your PC, your best bet is to close everything out other than Facebook to “upgrade” your Facebook experience. I have witnessed my browser taking up to 300MB of memory while on Facebook alone, so imagine if you only have 400MB of memory to spare!

7. Completely Tune-Up Your PC. This tip takes the #1 tip on this list and expands on it. If you have never had your PC tuned-up, now is the time. If removing spyware, defragmenting your hard drive, updating Windows, checking your hard drive for errors, and optimizing your registry has never been done to your machine, I’m sure more than Facebook is running slow for you! You can do this yourself, or have an expert do it for you.

Click here for more information on how I can help you optimize your PC.

Hope these 7 ways to speed up Facebook on your PC helps your overall Facebook experience. Hit me up on Twitter or Facebook if you have any PC questions!

5 Free Anti-Virus Programs

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Image by Bon™ via Flickr

I can’t stress how important it is to have some form of anti-virus protection on your PC. With so many free anti-virus programs available, there is really no excuse. Here are 5 free anti-virus programs I recommend for you to get right now.

1. Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft is now offering a complete security suite for free to PC users that have a valid Windows XP/Vista/7 computer. Microsoft Security Essentials comes with antivirus, firewall, and spyware protection. Very easy to use and automates many tasks for you.

You can download Microsoft Security Essentials here.

2. Norton Security Suite: Comcast internet subscribers can now get this $160 program free. It is unknown why Comcast made the switch from its previous antivirus program McAfee, but it’s still a win for Comcast internet users. Norton Security even tunes up your PC for you. Norton Security Suite comes with antivirus, firewall, identity protection, and spyware protection.

Get Norton Security Suite here.

3. Avast!: Avast is a popular free antivirus program with over 100 million PC users. Recently, Avast launched version 5.0, which replaces Avast Home Edition. If all you do is browse the internet and check email, Avast! is for you. This free antivirus program does NOT come with a firewall, but does protect you against viruses and spyware.

Grab Avast! Free here.

4. AVG: AVG Anti-Virus is packed with features in a small download. Small things like rootkit and phishing protection makes AVG a powerful free antivirus program. Did I mention AVG has more than 250 million downloads on download.com?

Download AVG for free here.

5. Avira AntiVir: Avira AntiVir brings a slew of features for a free antivirus program. Avira Antivir protects your computer from nearly every possible threat while at the same time remaining very simple to use.

Get Avira AntiVir for free here.

So, which one should you get? All 5 of these free antivirus programs are very powerful and will protect your computer effectively. I personally like Microsoft Security Essentials for its ease of use, but since I am a Comcast subscriber, I use Norton Security Suite.

Which antivirus program did you choose?

Facebook Launching New E-mail Service

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:37:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Very soon, your Facebook messages will turn into an email service. That’s right, Facebook is launching its very own email service, possibly as early as this Monday. The rumor is, the link you created to your Facebook profile may be used before the @facebook.com part. So for example, the link to my page is http://facebook.com/SwizzaTG, which would make my email address SwizzaTG@Facebook.com

I welcome the change, but I am concerned that spammers could abuse it. Business owners as well should take note of this, as it would make Facebook a great platform to market and service your customers.

Would you use Facebook as your primary email account? Are you concerned about privacy? Spam?

4 Key Steps To a Stronger and Secure Password

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:47:00 +0000

Image by Simon Lieschke via Flickr

Yes, even I am a victim of having my internet accounts hacked. Although no system is 100% perfect, there are key ways to make the password(s) you use daily much stronger and much more difficult for hackers to figure out. If you use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc., these steps for a better and more secure password will help you sleep at night knowing your accounts are safe. I recommend changing your passwords at least every 90 days, especially if you had a virus on your computer recently.

1. Do NOT use words in the dictionary: Not only should you not use words in the dictionary, don’t use names either. This is the easiest way to get hacked, even if you mix numbers into your password! If you really want to use a word you just love, read #3 below.

2. No personal information: For a strong password, avoid using birthdays, anniversaries, your dog’s name, etc. You are just asking to have your accounts compromised if you use these types of information for your passwords.

3. Mix up your password: M!x uP Y0uR p@55w0Rd 2 m@ke !t MOre dIff1cult! Notice how I typed that? If you HAVE to use a word in the dictionary, at least use upper-case and lower-case letters along with characters and numbers inside the actual word.

Remember, even if you took a word like “Florida” and changed it to “fL0R1D@”, it still isn’t the strongest password you could make and can still be figured out! However, it does make it much more difficult, right?

4. Use a phrase..with a twist: What do I mean by this? Let’s say you want to use a song quote, like “If You Like It Then You Should’ve Put a Ring On It!”. Instead of using this entire quote word for word, why not use the first letter in each word? Like “Iylitysparoi!” Make it difficult!

I hope this helps you make your passwords more secure! Go ahead and change your passwords now with these tips!

4 Easy Tips To Avoid Viruses and Protect Your Personal Accounts Online

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

There are numerous ways to become infected with a virus or have your personal accounts compromised. However, with these four tips you can really slim down your chances of having your computer attacked by malware and phishing attempts.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are emails you may receive that look like they are legitimate but they are not. These scams trick you into giving out your personal information. If you are ever asked to give out any personal login information to any website it is a fake! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT give out your login details to any email address or any website. Official emails from businesses will never ask for your personal login information. Ever!

Suspicious Links & Attachments

Never open an email attachment or click on any links unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure who it is from and what it is about. When in doubt, call the person and ask them if they really posted the link or attachment before you open it. This also goes for direct messages from Twitter or private messages in Facebook. Even status and wall updates have fake links that will lead you to phishing websites. If you do click on a suspicious link, again, NEVER input any personal login details. I don’t care if your mom posted the link or sent you the email, be careful!

Passwords & Login Information

This goes along with the overall theme of the first two best security practices above, but it’s worth repeating. NEVER give out any passwords at any time. I don’t care who asks you for it, don’t give it out. Don’t even give it to your significant other because one day you two will get into a fight and there goes your Facebook! Remember no legitimate company will ask for your personal passwords.

Virus Alerts 101

So let’s say you clicked on a link you thought was legit but wasn’t and your anti-virus program alerts you that you have a virus. DO NOT shut down your computer! Leave it on, because if you shut your PC down and turn it back on again, you have now given the virus life. Let your anti-virus program attempt to clean it. If it is unsuccessful, contact me and I can remove it for you.

If you remember these four best practices, you will save yourself the frustration and fear you get when you know your accounts and computer are safe.

Need a free anti-virus program? Try Microsoft Security Essentials.

New Service: Free Diagnosis of Your PC

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 02:46:00 +0000

Are you not sure about what’s wrong with your computer? I know plenty of times my own PC will constantly crash on me and I haven’t a clue as to why! Well I know how it feels to have to take your computer to Geek Squad and have to pay them just to find out what’s going on with it. It sucks! This is why I’m now offering a FREE 15-minute PC diagnosis. Yes, free.

I will connect to your computer through your internet connection, run a few diagnosis checks and give you a report of your PC’s health; free of charge to you!

Ready for your free computer check-up? Click here to get started!

Free Download: Microsoft Security Essentials For Anti-Virus Protection

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 03:32:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology.

It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple. Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

Download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_essentials/

Low on Hard Drive Space? Delete Unnecessary Files With Disk Cleanup in Windows 7

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:25:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBaseAre you down to your last bit of hard drive space with all of your music and pictures filling up on your PC? Having ample space on your hard drive is critical to the overall performance of your Windows computer. Windows uses empty hard drive space to swap files around to load programs and other files quicker.

Luckily, there is a built-in feature in Windows 7 called Disk Cleanup which cleans up unnecessary files that build up on your computer. Here’s how to clean up some extra space:

To delete files using Disk Cleanup

Open Disk Cleanup by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Disk Cleanup, and then, in the list of results, click Disk Cleanup.
In the Drives list, click the hard disk drive that you want to clean up, and then click OK.
In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, on the Disk Cleanup tab, select the check boxes for the file types that you want to delete, and then click OK.
In the message that appears, click Delete files.

The options shown in the Disk Cleanup list is usually safe to delete them all. So go ahead and select every checkbox to clean. It may take your PC a good while to erase the files, so you may want to do this overnight if you have never ran a Disk Cleanup!

With my Complete PC Clean-Up service, I do this and much, much more for you! Click here for more info.

How-To: Protect Your Computer From Spyware and Viruses

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Nothing is worse than having software on your computer that you did not install. On top of that, this unwanted software causes you nothing but agony while you use your PC! This type of software is called “malware”, which include spyware and virus programs.

Do you have spyware or a virus on your computer? First we need to figure out if you are experiencing malware symptoms on your machine. Here are some questions to ask:

When you browse the internet, do you get large amounts of pop-ups? Or are you re-directed to a different website than you intended?

If you try to go to a common website, like facebook.com, but you are directed to another website other than where you wanted to go, chances are you have malware.

If every time you visit any website and you are met with a crazy amount of pop-ups, you have malware!

Is your anti-virus program alerting you that it has detected malware? Hopefully you do have some form of anti-virus protection on your computer. If you do, many times it will block the malicious software from installing.

Have you installed a program directly from a pop-up? If you did, that was definitely malware! Especially if it claims that it found a virus on your computer. BE WARNED: DO NOT INSTALL ANY PROGRAM CLAIMING TO BE AN ANTI-VIRUS WHILE YOU BROWSE THE INTERNET! To further clarify, if you come across a pop-up claiming to be scanning your computer for potential viruses, IT IS A VIRUS!

I can go on and on, but I’m sure you get the idea. Be safe while you browse and download files from the internet. - Do not install programs you didn’t initiate yourself. - Having an anti-virus program is a MUST. If you do not have one installed, you can get one for free. - Do not click links you are suspicious of. Chances are your suspicions are correct!

Even with these precautions, you can still be infected. If you think you have a virus, even though you have anti-virus software installed, try running a scan to see if it gets detected. Best case scenario is the anti-virus program finds the virus and erases it. If you think you have spyware, install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and do a scan. You can also use Ad-Aware. Both are great and are free.

Need some help? I can connect to your PC to check it out for you for free if you are still unsure of the status of your computer. Shoot me an email if you have any questions! . Hope this helps!

11 Free Downloads For Your New PC

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:13:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaI’ve gathered some software you should have on your computer if you don’t have already. These downloads are especially important if you've just recently purchased a new computer or had to wipe your current one.

Anti-Virus Software:
- Microsoft Security Essentials

- AVG Anti-Virus

Browsers:
- Mozilla Firefox 3.6

- Google Chrome 4.0

Essential Downloads:
- Adobe Flash Player 10.1

- Adobe Reader

- Java

- Windows Live Essentials

Social Media Software:
- TweetDeck

- Seesmic Desktop

- Yahoo! Messenger

I will be updating this post again with even more essential downloads you need for your new computer!

Questions? Hit me up.

The Secret Behind How I Connect To Your PC To Repair It

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:43:00 +0000

How My Remote Support Works

Many of you have asked me, “How in the world can you connect to my PC and fix it remotely?”. Well, I am giving away the secret to my magic trick. Watch the quick video above to see in action how you can share your PC screen with me so I can fix your computer!

Contact me for more information on how I can help you clean up your PC!

Is Your Computer Ready For Windows 7?

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:09:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

Are you ready to finally upgrade your Windows XP or Vista PC to Windows 7? Let’s first make sure your computer can handle Windows 7! Follow these steps to find out how Windows 7 will work on your computer:

Visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor and download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
Before you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in all the hardware you plan to use with Windows 7(keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.). That way, the Advisor can give you the most accurate results.
Once the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor finishes, you will get a report of what will and what will not work with Windows 7. Don’t worry though, many hardware providers have updated drivers that may work with Windows 7.

If you are upgrading from Windows Vista, you shouldn’t have any problems upgrading to Windows 7. Upgrading from Windows XP is a different story though, so be sure to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor before you purchase Windows 7!

Ready to buy Windows 7? Purchase now from Amazon

College student? Purchase Windows 7 for a discount.

Testimonials From My Customers | STG Computer Consulting

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 21:33:00 +0000

"My computer is always freezing and when I try to play the daily recaps of my soaps and cannot get through a scene, I end up shutting the pc down and missing weeks of my soaps; at least until I have the courage to go at it again. This is a pain for any avid soap fan that tunes in to see Victor Newman, in yet, another tirade on his poor family. I knew my pc needed help, but I wasn't prepared to spend a lot of money. I heard about Swizza the Guru from a friend. I checked out the website and saw what services were available. I was very eager to set an appointment to get my FREE consultation. Free is definitely in my budget. I was able to set my appointment online; no need to bother calling and waiting for an operator to assist me. Patrick was prompt for my appointment and the best part..he never stepped foot into my home! Everything was done online! My pc is faster than ever and I have been able to watch an entire episode of Y&R without interruption. I highly recommend Swizza the Guru!”

--by Angela Mackey in Hollywood, FL

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"Thaaaaaank Uuuuuuuuu to Swizza the Guru! He just cured my laptop from AIDS!!!! Thank u sooo much! I love u! *kiss*"

--by Nikky Brown in Los Angeles, CA

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“Swizza the Guru Computer Consulting is the best !!!!! My computer was not working properly he fixed it all the way from Miami and I live in Houston, TX. He not only saved me time but also money because his prices are way better & more convenient than Best Buy!!!"

--by Charmaine Davis-Solomon in Houston, TX

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“Everyone who has ever had a computer virus or what u thought was a
glitch needs a pc expert. Swizz is the spot, he detected & removed
a virus the super expensive remover claimed to have quarantined."

--by Michele Goldson in Miramar, FL

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“I must say that Swizza the Guru Computer Support is the best. You have questions, he has the answers! I can still remember when I thought I was going to throw my laptop out the window, Swizza the Guru managed to reset it as if it was brand new. I have made recommendations for his services and he never disappoints. Not only does he fix the problem, he also gives great advice on how to care for your computer to keep it in the best condition. You receive great customer support and advice, all for a reasonable price. Swizza the Guru is #1 in my book!”

--by Nikki Higgins in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

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“This is my first laptop and I'm very excited!!!!!!!! Of course the only person I thought about to help me set up my new toy is Patrick aka SWIZZA THE GURU. He did an AMAZING job and now I can't wait to start playing with my new laptop!!!!!! Thank you Swizz!!”

--by Tia-Fae Watkins in Lauderhill, FL

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“SWIZZA THE GURU IS AWESOME! He really knows his stuff when it comes to computers!”

--by Temika McClarin in Liverpool, NY

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"THANK YOU PATRICK SWIZZA THE GURU..YOU HOOKED A SISTA UP MY LAPTOP IS RUNNING LIKE NEW..I MUST OF HAD OVER 1,000 VIRUSES OR MORE AND NOW IT'S ALL GONE..THE BEST PART IS I DIDNT HAVE TO TAKE MY COMPUTER ANYWHERE..LOVE IT!!!!!! THANKS PATRICK"

--by Michelle Dawes-Smith in Plantation, FL

Contact Me

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:41:00 +0000

The sooner you contact me, the sooner I can fix your computer!

Business Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9:00am - 9:00pm

Email: help@pedwardscc.com

Phone: 954.662.0266

Twitter: @pedwardscc

Help! I Can’t Browse the Internet!

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Image by trustmeiamnotageek via Flickr

Question: “I am unable to log onto the internet. The Diagnose Connection Problem says I need to verify the current proxy server configuration. HELP PLEASE!!! :)”

Answer: This is happening to you because Internet Explorer is looking for a proxy server when there isn’t one to find! Here’s how we fix this:

Open up Internet Explorer, click Tools, then Internet Options.
Click on the Connections Tab and look for LAN settings.
Check the “Automatically Detect Settings” box and uncheck the "Use a proxy server for your LAN".
Click Ok then restart Internet Explorer. You should be good to go!

Internet Feeling Slow? Check Your Speed!

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaInternet speeds can change throughout the day. If you are curious about how fast your connection is, you can go to www.speakeasy.net/speedtest.

Simply select the city closest to your location and within about 30 seconds you will get your results!

Typically, a fast connection should be approximately 4000 kbps or more for the Download Speed, and 500 kbps or more for Upload Speed. Check with your internet service provider to find our what speeds you are paying for or if you are experiencing speeds much slower than this.

A quick way to troubleshoot slow internet speeds is to power cycle your modem. To do this:
1. Shut down your PC completely.
2. Unplug the power cord from the back of your modem.
3. Wait at least 30 seconds and replug your modem.
4. Once all of the lights on the modem are on and solid, turn back on your PC.
5. Check www.speakeasy.net/speedtest and re-test your speed.

Here are some ISP Twitter addresses to contact when you need help!
Comcast Cares: http://twitter.com/ComcastCares
AT&T U-Verse: http://twitter.com/ATTCustomerCare

Still experiencing slow speeds? Contact me and let's see what we can do to speed your internet up!

ALERT: New Malware Threat Through Facebook Emerges

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:22:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Facebook’s Security page is reporting in that there is a new threat going around on Facebook. Scammers are using emails that “look” like they’ve originated from either one of your friends or popular websites to trick you into either installing malware, or giving out your personal information.

Do not fall victim! If it seems suspicious, then it probably is. I will always know if my friend has sent me an email because he/she either told me to check my email or it just doesn’t seem like it’s a type of email they would send me. When in doubt, don’t click it.

Be sure to read my tutorial on using Account Security in your Facebook Account settings to be even more secure while on Facebook.

Fake Antivirus Programs: How To Detect and Avoid

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:46:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia
Fake security software, also known as “rogue”, appear to be helpful to you since it is detecting harmful viruses on your PC and is giving you the option to remove whatever it detected. However, fake rogue security software, such as WinAntiSpyware, Antivirus 2009, Antispyware Pro XP and AntiVirus Lab 2009 does not help at all with removing viruses or spyware and only makes your computer worse! So how can you protect your computer from these fake antivirus programs?

Here’s the deal. You’re surfing the internet minding your own business, when all of a sudden you get a pop-up out of the blue claiming you have a virus. This is your first sign that this is a fake anti-virus program! Now if you already have an anti-virus program, you should know the name of it, right? Right! So if you have McAfee, you should get a McAfee pop-up and not “Antivirus Pro 2009”. Be careful of what you click!

Q. What if I get the pop-up? What do I do? How do I avoid getting the virus from the fake antivirus program?
Simple: do NOT click it under ANY circumstance! Don’t even attempt to click the “X” to close it as that could still install the virus. The most safest way to avoid getting this virus is by immediately shutting down your PC. When you start your PC back up, immediately do a virus scan with your legitimate antivirus software. If you don’t have an antivirus already installed, here are five free ones.

Q. I already clicked it! What do I do now?!
If you have already installed the fake antivirus program, it might be difficult to remove as the makers of these rogue programs have become smarter. I recommend not logging into any of your personal accounts such as Facebook or your bank while you have this virus! Here are some things you can try:

Try uninstalling the program from Add/Remove Programs in your Control Panel. Look for anything related to Antispyware 2009 or similar. Reboot your PC in Safe Mode and immediately do a virus scan. Reboot in normal mode and look for any more pop-ups
If you still get the fake antivirus pop-ups, Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, open up Task Manager and look for Antispyware 2009 or similar. Click it and select “End Process”. After you do this, repeat step #1.

Why Is My Computer So Slow?

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaThis is a question I get very often. Why is your PC running slower than normal? Here are some key reasons.

Q. Why is my computer running so slow?

A. There are multiple reasons why your computer has become slow, but here are a few:

Cluttered Hard Drive(Fragmented): If your hard drive is too full, meaning you have less than 20% free space, expect your computer to run very slow. Defragging your hard drive will speed up your computer, but you will also have to consider deleting unnecessary files and uninstalling unneeded programs.

Malicious Software(virus, spyware, etc.): You may have a ton of spyware on your PC but not even notice it. Spyware and other bad software can be installed without you even knowing it. Simply visiting a website can be bad news for your computer. These viruses can slow down your PC by constantly accessing the internet, taking up memory, and using your processor.

Programs Loading at Startup: Whenever you install software, 9 times out of 10 it will run the minute you turn on your computer, and 9 times out of 10 you do NOT need it! The only program that should run the minute you start your computer is your anti-virus software and Microsoft-specific programs. Other than that, most other software can be shut off to not start the minute you hit your power button.

Not Enough Memory: You may also want to consider upgrading your memory, also known as RAM. It is the cheapest way to upgrade your PC and can really help speed things up. You can find out how much memory you have on your computer by going into the Control Panel and opening the System icon.

Need help speeding up your PC? I can help you get it back to normal.

Frustrated With Your Computer? I Can Help.

noreply@blogger.com (STG) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:45:00 +0000

I understand your frustration. You have tons of spyware on your computer. You may even have a couple viruses in there as well. You take your PC to a major repair shop where they quote you a $200.00 price just to clean your computer.

I can help.

Save yourself the frustration and hassle and have a computer expert fix your PC all from the comfort of your home. All online. Within minutes, I can view your screen and make the necessary repairs to your laptop or desktop computer. Minutes. No need to disconnect your PC. No need to have a repairman enter your home.

It’s safe, affordable and very convenient.

Safe.

- You will always have control of your computer while I’m connected.

Affordable.

- I charge a flat rate to fix your computer. No hourly rates.

Convenient.

- With the power of the internet, you can have your computer fixed without having to take it into a repair shop or having a repairman come to your house. It’s all done online.

Safe. Affordable. Convenient.

If you are in need of help, click here to contact me. I look forward to assisting you with your computer needs.

Swizza the Guru.