509 647-5666
800 985-1566

Wilbur, Washington

This page shares some answers to common questions, some tricks to make your computing a little easier and links to useful utilities or application add ons.

We try to spend some time each day updating content so you'll want to check back often as we'll probably have something new here.

Q&A

How come I can't read the CD someone just sent me?
It might be due to a faulty CD or a defective drive. Another problem is you might be trying to read a DVD in a CD drive. DVD's and CD's appear nearly the same but unless your drive is DVD capable you won't be able to read DVD's.

A simple test for your CD drive is trying to read another CD you know is good. If your drive will access that CD then the problem might be with the CD you received. If you have access to a different computer try to read the CD in that computer.

When I have a problem with my computer what should I do first?
If you haven't already, shutdown your computer and any hardware involved in the problem, (i.e. printer, scanner etc.). Wait about 15 seconds and then power up the computer first and then each peripheral you have. If the problem persists give us a call to discuss the problem and some possible solutions in more detail.

How much does it cost to have you fix my computers?
That's a difficult question to answer because there are so many variables involved. Our labor rate is $35/hr. and we have a quarter hour minimum charge.

To do a clean up/tune up of your computer to remove spyware/malware/viruses and fix other problems generally will run you just under $50.00 including the tax. The reason we say generally (about 909% of the time) is due to some computers being so badly infected that we have to spend more time on them, or your computer may have multiple user accounts and we need check each user account for problems.

How do I get Internet Service?
You have 4 basic options in our area for getting internet access, DSL, High Speed Wireless, Satellite, and Dial Up.

Centurytel offers high speed DSL service in many areas.

Odessa Office offers high speed wireless service to many areas.

Affordable Satellite in Airway Heights is currently installing HughesNet Satellite service. We don't have a link for them but their phone number is 509 244-3474. You can find out more about HughesNet by clicking the link above.

We understand Dish Network is offering some type of internet plan with their service as well but we don't have any of the details. If you use their service you may want to contact them about providing internet access.

Dial Up Service is available through many different providers in our area. Centurytel, Odessa Office, Coulee Dam Credit Union to name a few. There are quite a few others that serve our area as well.

Note: We have received some reports of cable and fiber optic being available in some areas. We are currently trying to get more information about this and will update our info here as soon as we can.

Tips & Tricks

Need a word processor and don't want to spend the bucks to buy Microsoft Office

Sun Microsystems is offering their Open Office 2.0 Office Suite available as free download. This suite of tools includes a word processor, spreadsheet, drawing program and several other tools. You can open files in many different formats including  Microsoft Office (97~2003 format) and Wordperfect. We like this tool so much we are using it for word processing in our office.

Internet Explorer

Having trouble reading the small font on that web page? You have the ability to change the size of most fonts with a couple of mouse clicks. On the text menu, near the upper left corner of your browser window, click on View and then hold the mouse pointer on Text Size. You'll get 5 options for changing the size of the font.

Instead of cluttering your desktop with dozens if not hundreds of shortcut icons, add those sites you want to visit again to your favorites list. You can organize favorite sites by folder as well as their place in the list.

Microsoft Office

So you've got Microsoft Office XP or 2003 installed on your computer and someone is sending you Microsoft Word documents (or Excel or Power-Point files) in Office 2007 format. It would appear your options are to contact them and ask them to send it to you in an OFfice97~2003 compatible format or spend the bucks and upgrade to Office 2007.

Well you have a third option, that is to download a compatibility pack for your copy of Office XP or Office 2003 that will let you open those 2007 files without spending any money to do it. All the instructions are included on the page the above link opens. If you have any problems feel free to give us a call.

Links

Spyware/Malware Removal

Spybot S&D
Ask 20 computer geeks what their favorite spyware/malware removal tool is and you'll get at least 20 different answers, it seems everyone has their favorite tool or has a bad story to tell about the ones they don't use or like.

For a free tool (they ask for a donation if you care to make one) we've found Spybot S&D to be a very effective first line of defence tool for home users. It won't fix every problem you'll get on your computer but it will clean up a lot of the common ones and the price is right.

Microsoft

Putting the SERVICE back into customer service.
Monday~Thursday 8am~5pm   /   Fridays 8am~3pm   /   Saturdays and Evenings by Appointment Only