It’s the first quarter of a new year. Most would say, “Out with the old and in with the new!”. Maybe it’s time for a computer audit.

• When was the last time you backed up your important files?
• Check your photo album. Do you really need to keep eight copies of that selfie you were trying
to get right? What about the one hundred screenshots that transferred over from your phone?
• Do you need those word documents from 2013?
• Is your desktop covered with icons?

Well, now is a good time for an audit. Clean it up, back it up and continue into the new year with a faster, more organized computer.

It’s 2023! Can you believe how fast 2022 flew by? Here at Crowned Computer Services, we are very excited for the new year! We look forward to assisting with your computer support needs, and are wishing you an exciting and prosperous year!

Dream big and put some action behind your plans!

Happy New Year!!

I cannot believe we’ve made it to the end of 2022! Thank you so much for supporting Crowned Computer Services!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very safe and happy holiday!

We look forward to working with you in the New Year!

It’s 2018. You spent hundreds of dollars on a computer and it’s just the way you want it. It is super fast, has tons of space and can run all your applications without an issue. Fast forward to 2022. It takes forever to load up once you have turned it on. Navigating through your usual application is now a pain. Most times you don’t even want to be bothered with it.

You love the computer but is it time to break up? No, not really. Try these things:

1. Check your hard drive space
Make sure it’s not filled with pictures, videos, documents, software, etc.

2. How much RAM do you have? Maybe it’s time to bump it up a little

3. Are you using a HDD (hard disk drive) or a SSD (solid state drive)
Remember that an SSD is much faster than the HDD. It can take your boot time from minutes to
seconds.
You may also need a larger hard drive. Personally, 1 TB (terabyte) of space is enough for me.

4. Uninstall any software that is no longer needed.

Remember, even if you must upgrade RAM or the hard drive, it would be much cheaper than purchasing the computer all over again. As always, let us know if we can be of any assistance.

You did it! You sorted through all the specifications and options and made a choice that was best for your computing needs. Now what?

Here are a few tips:

o Run updates to ensure security gaps are closed

o Install software such as Antivirus/anti-malware software, productivity software such as Word,
Excel, Outlook

o Browsers that you want to use outside of the standard Microsoft Edge or Safari

o Use a power surge to protect against surges in power from your electricity provider

o If you’re using a laptop consider buying a bag to carry it in as opposed to just tossing it in
the seat next to you when you travel.

o Let it rest! That’s what you do at the end of the day right?

Enjoy your new computer!

There’s always some debate around which is better, PC or MAC. I honestly like them both. It’s always great to be well versed in different things. I use a PC for work/business and my MAC is for personal use.

Whenever I am asked whether a person should purchase a PC or MAC my advice is to always go with what works for you. Figure out what you’ll be using the computer for and your budget. If you only need to type up documents or browse the internet and your budget is $500 there will be a PC that fits those specifications.

If you’re just not sure we can help you figure it out, just give us a call. Falling into the PC vs MAC rabbit hole is a waste of time. They’ll both get the job done. Do what’s best for you!

Have you ever walked into a store looking for something specific and the selection is very small? It’s annoying right? Sometimes I just go with what they have, to prevent going from store to store.

Before you go into your favorite electronic store or the electronic section of your favorite store, think back to that one question we asked before: What will you be using the computer for?

Answering this question will keep you on the right track. Once you are in the store it is easy to get distracted by the new shiny computers placed perfectly on the display with the specifications next to them. If you do not know what you want, you’ll end up walking out with something you do not need. If you do know what you want and it is not there, consider a custom build on the manufacturer’s website.

If you need help determining what to get, we’re always available to help.

Your old computer finally stopped working and it’s well beyond the point of no return. It’s just time for a new one. Where do you even begin? Before you head to the electronic section of your favorite store and get bogged down with the technical specifications consider this:

• What will you be using the computer for?
Are you only browsing the internet? Playing the latest and greatest computer game? Maybe you’re typing documents or creating spreadsheets for work/school and storing them on the computer?
How you answer this single question will determine the type of computer you need to go for. Now take a look at the typical specifications:

CPU (Central processing unit) – Gives the computer all of the power it needs to work. It processes instructions from all of the software on the computer.
o If you’re using a particular software like Photoshop be sure to check the manual for details. If not, the i5 or i7 is good for basic use.

RAM – This memory is used by various applications and processes that are installed on the computer.
o 8GB, in my opinion, is a good starting point for basic use. If you’re gaming though you may find that 32-64GB will help everything run faster and smoothly.

Hard drive – determines how much space will be available for software programs, documents, pictures, music, etc. There are a couple of variations here.
o SSD (solid state drive) uses flash memory. Your computer will load much faster.
o HDD (hard disk drive) uses a mechanical arm on a spinning platter (think old school record player). While you can get larger amounts of storage for less, this is not as fast as the SSD.

Based on your specific use case you can get a general idea of what to go for. As always, we can always help. Happy shopping!

As we close out our cyber security series let’s recap:

We all play a part in cyber security. It is not just the responsibility of businesses. If you own a computer, phone, or have smart devices in your home, you should be concerned with cyber security just as much as a business. Cyber attacks are very costly but not just in the sense of money. A cyber attack could cause you to lose precious memories that are often never recoverable.

Helping prevent cyber attacks involve simple things such as:
• Creating strong passwords and changing them regularly
• Updating your computer and other software when prompted, to close security gaps
• Avoiding plugging in random flash drives and charging cables as they may contain malicious code
• Being aware when people are phishing for your information
• Being cautious about the information we put on social media.

In 2022, let’s take cyber security seriously and realize that is everyone’s responsibility. Be safe out there!

How can we practice cyber security outside of work? We do this by bringing in some of the same practices we are taught in web trainings at work.

• Don’t click links in emails that come from people we don’t know
• Be careful of the information you share online and over the phone
• Use strong passwords
o Change these passwords monthly
o Don’t use the same passwords on all your online accounts
o Enable two factor authentication
• Keep your software up to date. Updates close any security gaps your software may have.
• Change the default settings on your devices including internet routers and IoT devices (smart
refrigerators, smart locks/doors and cameras).

Practicing cyber security at home is a must. Be sure you’re doing all you can to protect your home network and all the devices that are within it.