Category: Computer Repair

What is the Blue Screen of Death? | IT Services Corona, CA

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Have you ever been working on your computer when it suddenly freezes and goes to a blue screen with a list of instructions and information? Well, that right there is called the Blue Screen of Death. The Blue Screen of Death can be caused by problems with your computer’s hardware or even issues with the hardware drive software.

A blue screen happens when Windows runs into a “STOP Error”. This type of failure causes Windows to crash and automatically stop working. At this point the only thing Windows can do is stop and restart the computer. This can sometimes lead to data loss if your programs don’t have the chance to back up. It’s ideal for you to have programs that back up continuously just in case you happen to run into the Blue Screen of Death or any other sort of error.

If you’ve run into the Blue Screen of Death and haven’t the slightest clue how to fix it on your own, call UP & Running Computer Solutions. Our knowledgeable computer repair technicians will help figure out why your computer crashed and get it back up and running in no time!

For more information regarding IT Services call UP & Running Computer Solutions at 951-737-8558 or visit our website www.urcs.net.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas

3 Common Causes for a Computer to Overheat | Computer Repair Corona, CA

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There are several reasons your computer could be over heating and not knowing what’s causing it to overheat can get quite frustrating. The causes can range from being a severe problem to something very minor. So before rushing off to get your computer repaired make sure that these three common reasons aren’t causing the overheating issue.

  • Dust Buildup- Dust buildup on the vents and the internal components of your computer can contribute to overheating. Dust buildup starts to block the vents and prevents airflow, while dust on the internal elements traps heat. Make sure to clean your computer with a can of compressed air regularly to keep from dust build up.
  • Poor Location- Where your computer is located plays a big role in the ability for it to cool itself down. Make sure your computer isn’t located in a room with poor ventilation or one that has little to no climate control, especially during the warmer seasons. Keep your computer away from windows and in a temperature controlled environment.
  • Poor Ventilation- Poor ventilation can be another cause of overheating. Most computers have vents in the casing that allows for proper air flow, if those vent are covered or have dust build up it will block airways and warm air will build up inside the case. Make sure that your vents are clear and are allowing for proper ventilation.

If none of the reasons list above are causing your computer to overheat and you are in need of computer repair, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.  

5 Reasons Your Computer May Be Running Slow | IT Services Corona, CA

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One of the most common issues that arise with computers today is when they start to become slow and sluggish.  When your computer starts to slow down, and take for what seems like an eternity to open a document or application, you may sometimes starting getting impatient and feel like pulling your hair out. But please refrain from doing so and take a look at the following reasons why your computer may be slowing down to gain some understanding and insight:

  • Limited Space- One of the main keys to a fast functioning computer is free space. The more free space, the quicker your computer will be. Make sure to clean up any old or unwanted files to keep as much spaced freed up as possible.
  • Too Many Programs Running- Another reason for a slow computer may be because you have too many applications or other programs that run in the background. The more programs running, the more difficult it is for your computer to “focus” on the task you want to be completed.
  • Overheating- If your computer is covered in dust that may be the reason it’s running slower. Dust and dirt constricts the air flow through your computer, and without proper air flow your computer can overheat.
  • Fragmented Hard Drive- Another common reason for a slow computer is a fragmented hard drive disk. Once the disk is fragmented it takes about 10 times longer to read and write basic information.
  • Viruses- There are all sorts of viruses out there ready to “attack” and slow down your computer. Some viruses include ransomware, at type of virus that wants money to free your computer, and other viruses could just be running in the background. So if your computer is running slower than usual, you may have a virus.

Computers can be quite difficult to work on, especially if you don’t know how they work. If you have a slow computer that needs some working on, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website at www.urcs.net for more information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing | IT Services Corona, CA

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Hard drive failure can be quite devastating for most people. Our hard drives are typically full of important files like personal information, photos, audio files and videos. Few people fail to realize just like any other electronic devices, hard drives have a limited life span as well. The average lifespan of a stationary hard drive is about 5-10 years. Fortunately, your hard drive will start to show signs of failure before facing a fatal failure, which will give you a chance to react. There are plenty of signs and symptoms you can keep an eye and ear out for, those include the following:

  • Computer Freezes- If your computer hard drive is about to fail you will find your computer slowing drastically and freezing constantly. If your computer is freezing while trying to access particular files, you should shut down and restart your computer. If your computer still freezing while trying to access that same files, you may be experiencing hard drive failure.
  • Corrupted Data- If your files are starting to disappear or are failing to open even though they were saved with no error, you should worry a bit. This could be a possible sign of gradual hard drive failure.
  • Strange Sounds- When you start hearing noises coming from your hard drive such as clicking or grinding, that’s when you should really start worrying. This very common sign of a failing hard drive is known as the click of death.
  • Chkdsk Command- This is another common sign of a failing hard drive. If every time you start up your computer,  it automatically runs the Chkdsk command while its booting up this may indicate hard drive failure.

If your computer is having any of these issues or any other issues you know are a problem, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558. For more information about our company and our services visit our website at www.urcs.net

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Onatrio, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

Cryptolocker Prevention Tips | IT Services Corona, CA

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Virus Alert

Cryptolocker is a malicious malware that cyber criminals designed to attack Windows operating systems by encrypting all of the files from the system.  These cyber criminals have been emailing it to massive numbers of people, mostly targeting the US and UK. Tens of thousands of machines have been affected by Cryptolocker, don’t be next. Here are some a few tips to avoid this ransomware virus:

  • Make sure to update your operating system and security software regularly.
  • Be sure to back up important data regularly and keep it on unconnected storage.
  • Make sure to keep up with the most recent security patches and other fixes.
  • Be sure to keep your anti-virus and internet security up to date.
  • Don’t open attachments from suspicious email addresses or unknown senders.
  • If you think your computer has been infected make sure to change network passwords and online account passwords right away.

If think your computer has been infected with Cryptolocker or another type of virus, contact Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help today or visit our website at www.URSC.net.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and all surrounding areas.

Don’t Pay Up to Ransomware | Computer Repair Corona, CA

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If you’ve visited the webpages of The Huffington Post or LA Weekly, you may have contracted a virus. This virus seems to have only affected people running Windows PCs using outdated browsers such as Internet Explorer 8. The culprit is a ransomware called Kover malware, with ransomware the threat operator takes control of your computer and locks it. The malware ran on AOL ads between Dec.31 till Jan.5th, says researchers, and there have been around 15,000 infections.

Once Kover locks your computer it figures out your location and tailors a message saying that you have broken the law. This message that appears on your screen states that you have to pay a fine before a certain deadline or you will face severe fines and jail time. This “fine” is a ransom and typically they want you to pay around $300 to regain the use of your computer. Kover targets people who have visited adult websites, but anyone is fair game with this malware. Kover will manufacture their own “evidence” and lock your screen.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you do contract this malware, paying the ransom will not restore or remove the malware from your system. Don’t be a victim, use trusted browsers and sources to keep you and your computer protected.

If you think you may have contracted a virus or are in need computer repairs, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help at 951-737-8558. We can repair your computer and get you back up and running! To learn more about our company or to put in a service request visit our website at www.urcs.net.

 Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

Are You Protected? | Computer Repair Corona, CA

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Virus Alert

Most of society spends a good amount of time on the computer by going online for things such as, searching for information, work, shopping, school work and even banking, which can sometimes leave your computer vulnerable to hackers due to the amount of personal information held in there. Keeping your computer protected from viruses and Trojans can be quiet simple, but you must be on top of it. Here are a few tips to lower your risk of contracting a virus or Trojan:

Use Anti-Virus Software- Having an anti-virus program installed is a great benefit for your computer. The ant-virus programs scan for viruses that try to get into your emails, operating system or files. Make sure your anti-virus is set to update automatically for the most protection.

Install a Firewall- Firewalls can help alert you of any suspicious activity, while also blocking viruses, hackers or worms from attempting to download malicious programs onto your computer. Some systems have a built in firewall but are usually shipped in “off” mode, so be sure to turn your firewall on. Make sure to keep your firewall updated regularly.

Use a Pop-up Blocker- Avoid clicking on a pop-up ads by using a pop-up blocker. Most pop-ups are created by advertisers but they may contain a harmful or unsafe code.

Don’t Open Unknown Emails- Emails can contain computer viruses, so before opening an email, make sure you’re receiving it from a known address or sender.

Use a Strong Password- Make sure to choose a strong password to protect yourself for potential hackers. Don’t choose something simple as your password; some hackers have a program that can try every single word in the dictionary.

If you think you may have contracted a virus are in need computer repairs, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help at 951-737-8558. We can repair your computer and get you back up and running! To learn more about our company or to put in a service request visit our website at www.urcs.net.

Computer Repair Corona, CA | Top 5 Computer Problems

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Every PC will have problems. These problems could be big and complicated or small and simple to fix. It’s especially a problem if you don’t know as much about computers as you would like. If you have little knowledge of computers or don’t have the time, a computer repair company can help. Here are five common computer problems and what they mean.

  • Malicious software: viruses, spyware, adware, etc. All can harm your computer and your private information.
  • Computer won’t turn on: this could be a loose cord or a power supply that has gone bad.
  • Slow computer: all deleted files and applications are still on your computer taking up space and need to be cleaned up. Low hard drive space and not enough RAM can also cause your computer to be slow.
  • Blue Screen of Death: your computer freezes in a blue screen with an error message. This could be many things, overheating, hard drive failing, or buggy software.
  • Noisy computer: a fan could be going out or your hard drive could be going out.  Back up your files immediately and have a computer repair company service your computer.

If your computer is having any of these issues or other issues that you know are a problem, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA for help at 951-737-8558. We can repair your computer and get you back up and running! To learn more about our company or put in a service request visit our website at www.urcs.net.

 Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

 

Computer IT Services Riverside | Signs of a Hard Drive Failure

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Your hard drive is where all of the information on your computer is stored. Over time hard drives will start fail. A hard drive failure could happen at any time without warning, so making sure your hard drive is backed up is very important.

There are times when you hard drive can give you a warning.

  • If Windows is always telling you that it needs to check the consistency of your hard drive, it could be trying to tell you your hard drive is about ready to fail.
  • Computer making strange sounds.
  • Files suddenly have errors.
  • Computer is slow or freezes.

If you think your hard drive might be going bad, call Up & Running Computer Solutions, Inc. in Corona, CA and we can run a diagnostic test and let you know if you need a new hard drive. Call today at 951-737-8558.

Computer Repair | How did my computer get a Virus? | Anaheim, CA

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Is your computer running slow or do you get frequent pop ups? Your computer could be infected with a virus and in need of computer repair. Now you’re probably wondering how you got a computer virus. There are several different ways a computer can be infected with a virus.

  • Agreeing to prompts: clicking “yes” or “ok” without reading what you are agreeing to and understanding what it’s asking. For example, you get a pop up saying your antivirus is out of date and you need to proceed with an update. This is a virus.
  • Email: opening email attachments from unknown sources or emails from friends and family that have also been infected.
  • Not running updates: a lot of updates are security updates that help keep your computer from getting infected.
  • No Antivirus: if you have a computer that funs Microsoft Windows is it highly recommended that you have antivirus and spyware protection.
  • Internet: internet browsing and downloading software from the internet that could be infected.

Computer viruses can happen to anyone. If you have a computer virus and need to get it removed. Or are in need of other computer repair call Up & Running Computer Solutions, Inc. in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558 or visit our website to make a service request at www.urcs.net.

Proudly serving the communities of Corona, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.