Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to secure my wireless network?
A: YES, you should. Your wireless router is broadcasting a signal. The signal can easily be picked up right outside your house, especially if the router is by a window. For ease of setup and configuration, manufacturers ship wireless routers with all security disabled. Therein lies the problem. If you do not take any further steps to secure your router, and a surprising number of people don’t, your network will be wide open to all passersby and strangers. It’s like you’ve hung out a sign, “The door is open. Please come in and help yourself.”
The problem is not that strangers will be able to use your router to access the Internet, but, without further protection, would-be intruders will be able to monitor and sniff out information you send and receive on your network. Malicious intruders can even hop on to your internal network, access your hard drives, and steal, edit, or delete files on your computer.
There are different levels of security settings on wireless routers. We can help you secure your wireless router to the level that best suits your needs. Give us a call at 281-980-4106. Top of page
Q: How do I choose between Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Pro?
A: Windows XP Pro allows you to log into a Domain, and offers some advanced security features. If you are in an office environment and you log onto a server, then you will need Windows XP Pro. Otherwise Windows XP Home is the way to go. Both versions have the capability to have multiple accounts secured by passwords. Top of page
Q: Why is my Windows XP computer so sluggish?
A: Windows XP minimum memory requirements is 256mb RAM. When running the programs that most of us use these days and running multiple programs at once, you really need at least 512Mb RAM. Trojans and/or Viruses can also cause sluggish behavior. We can add memory for you, remove Trojans and/or Viruses and help you optimize your system. Give us a call at 281-980-4106. Top of page
Q:Do I need to back up my computer and if so, how should I do it?
A: Yes you should! At a minimum, we recommend that you backup your data files; anything that you have created such as Word Documents, Excel Documents, Quicken Files, those treasured photos, etc. For the home user, the best way to do this is with a CDRW (CD Rom Read/Write) - If your computer has a CDRW, then you can burn all of your data files onto a writable or re-writable CD. Each CD will hold about 600mb of data. If you do not have a CDRW, we can install one and show you how to use it. If you want more robust backup software that will allow you to automate your backups, there are backup programs available to use with your CD. For example, "NTI Backup NOW! 3.0 Deluxe" software is available for around $30.00 - $40.00. If your computer is part of a business, you should be backing it up weekly on an external hard drive/tape backup system or by using a remote backup service. In addition, daily incremental backups should be performed; in other words, any files that are changed. Give us a call if you have questions or need help with your backup solution. 281-980-4106 Top of page
Q:Which Microsoft Office Suite should I buy?
A: It depends on whether you need Powerpoint, Publisher, and/or Access. The following is a list of the suites available and what they have in them:
| 2004 MS Works Suite: Microsoft Word 2002, Works 8, Money 2006 Standard, Digital Image Standard 2006, Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2006, and Street & Trips Essentials 2006 for more information go to: http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/products/suite.asp |
| MS Office Standard Edition 2003: Word 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, Powerpoint 2003 |
| MS Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003: Word 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, Powerpoint 2003 |
| MS Office 2003 Small Business: Word 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager Update, Powerpoint 2003, and Publisher 2003 |
| MS Office 2003 Professional: Word 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager Update, Powerpoint 2003, and Publisher 2003, and Access 2003 |
| For more info on the Office Suite Editions, click here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/prodinfo/default.mspx |
Q:Should I upgrade to Windows XP Pro if I am currently using Windows 2000 Pro?
A: These operating systems are very similar. Windows XP Pro has some newer capabilities, but not enough to justify the cost of changing operating systems at this time. If you are considering 2000 or XP, then choose XP; however, if you already have 2000, stick with it. Top of page
Q:Why am I getting so may "pop-ups" when I get on the internet?
A: Your computer is infected with Spyware. (This is not the same as a virus. Your antivirus software does not keep these off of your computer). When you go to websites that have damaging programs connected to their web pages, Spyware installs on your computer. It is almost impossible to avoid getting Spyware these days. Spyware is becoming more damaging and problematic than some viruses. You need to download, install, update and run the following programs for cleaning spyware from you computer:
Some computers get so infected with Spyware and/or viruses that the only solution to having a stable system is to reinstall the Windows Operating System and all of your application programs. This process can be very time-consuming and you need to be careful with your data. You must back it up first. We can do all of this for you at New Dimensions. Give us a call at 281-980-4106 Top of page
Call 281-980-4106 or email us here