Tag Archives: repair

Make Tech Easier

Keep your computers running smoothly – avoid headaches!

Full article is at https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-keep-your-remote-work-setup-running-smoothly-with-regular-maintenance/

Computers and laptops really do need regular maintenance to keep running. NONE of this is difficult, but will avoid a LOT of headaches.

It does NOT look like this!

EVERY WEEK

  • Check for Updates
  • Shut down the device [don’t just restart]. Wait a few minutes. THEN turn them back on.
    • It REALLY DOES solve a variety of mysterious issues.
  • Clean up – use a cloth to remove dust and fingerprints and all the other ickiness from your device.
    • Most microfiber cloths will do just fine. You do NOT have to go buy something “computer specific”.
    • Clean the webcam as well.

EVERY MONTH

  • Refresh your internet connection – unplug your cable modem, router, switches – any gizmo relating to your internet connection. Wait a couple of minutes, then turn them back on.
    • It will take several minutes for all the device to reconnect and get settled in. Go have a glass of sweet tea while you wait, and take a deep breath.
  • Check your accounts. Go to  Have I Been Pwned to see if any of your accounts have been in a data breach. Apple’s Safari Browser as well as Google Chrome might also prompt you about accounts that have been compromised.
  • Check your backups – you DO have a back up of important data?
    • If you don’t, you’d best get on that right now. Machines DO fail – it is only a matter of time.

EVERY YEAR

  • Review your setup. Retire anything you don’t use.
    • That is a great idea from a security perspective, could save money on your power bill, and will certainly help declutter your space.
  • Document your setup – write it down! How are things connected, what gizmos do you have in the house, serial numbers, etc.

iPads, Student

What to do if your iPad needs to be repaired

These are the things MDS Tech does to prepare your iPad for replacement. During this eLearning season, the process needs to change.

Make sure you take care of these things, if your iPad is operational:

1) Confirm that Notability files are being backed up – in Notability, click the gear icon, bottom left. Select Autobackup, and make sure there’s a checkmark beside Google Drive.if there isn’t check it, login, and let the backups commence.

2) Fire up Google Photos. Make sure your photos and videos are backing up to Drive. Click the “hamburger menu” – the three horizontal lines at the top right.

3) if you have anything else that you’d like to keep – Textilus documents, iMovies, etc – find a way to stash them somewhere. You could send them to Drive, or email them to yourself. Each app has it’s own solution.

Then contact MDS Tech to arrange a time to meet in the ARC. We are working partly on campus and partly from home.

Note that the standard policies apply here – there is a $100 charge for the repairs [which usually cost much more than that]. The business office will send an invoice in due course.