Newsletters
|
Newsletters
|
|
In this month's Newsletter:
Introduction
PC Resolver, in partnership with The Inland Magazine, is publishing a Questions and Answers section in the published magazine. The questions and answers themselves are in the Website Steve's Q&A section of Support. This section will grow and will include non-published questions.
A key part of Website Steve's Q&A is questions about websites. Having your own website has never been easier, cheaper or more necessary than it is today. A fully functioning professionally designed and built website costs 300 Euros to build to your requirements and less than 10 Euros a month to host (including your domain name and IVA). I will give a 50 Euro discount to anyone quoting this newsletter!
You can meet me at my Free Computer Clinic at The Inland Magazine Bootsale in Salinas on the First Sunday of each month.
Is this email for real? How can I know if it is a hoax or a scam?
How do you know if the latest email forwarded to you by well-meaning friends is for real or not? Is it a scam or a hoax?
The most recent question related to an email stating that MSN was closing down its email service. It went on to say that if you didn’t forward the email to all your contacts it would cost 10.00 to use it. So, you have to pay 10 ‘somethings’ to pay for a service that is no longer available!
This was obviously a hoax but others are more believable but still a hoax. There are a great many email hoaxes going around all the time and some keep circulating for years (this one has been on the go since 2001!). Most of us have fallen for an email hoax at some point (including yours truly!). These days, before I forward an email message, I always check it out at www.hoax-slayer.com. This also helps me identify the scams and phishing emails.
Hoaxes are less serious than the scams and phishing emails but still not harmless: they cause worry and I have known people stop using a service because of them. If you are at all concerned about an email you have received then check it out on line. If you’re still concerned then send it to me and I’ll check it for you (for free of course!).
Finally, if you do forward these emails (and the jokes etc.) then please use your BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) function of your email program to protect your friends’ email addresses. Contact me if you don’t know how (for some reason the BCC option is not displayed by default in most email programs). You can read more about using BCC in my article:
Blind Carbon Copy - What It Is, Why And How To Use It
How do I advertise with GoogleAds and how much does it cost?
Last month I covered how to add GoogleAds to your site to make money. I’ve had a couple of questions since about how to pay Google to advertise Websites.
For your advert to appear on Google’s search results pages and on other websites you create an advertising campaign with Google. You design your advert and include relevant key words to ensure your ad appears on relevant search results and websites.
You decide how much to pay per ‘impression’ (view) and how much per click. The more you pay, the higher up the list your ad will appear. You also dictate a limit spend per day or month: when your limit is reached your ad stops appearing and you stop paying. I limit mine to 1 Euro a day; not expensive and it drives traffic to my site.
It should cost less than 25 Euros for a web designer to do this for you.
As always, feel free to contact me if you need help or more information.
Website Steve's Q&A FREE Stuff
Hoax-slayer
Hoax-Slayer is dedicated to debunking email hoaxes, thwarting Internet scammers, combating spam, and educating web users about email and Internet security issues.
Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of common email hoaxes and aims to counteract criminal activity by publishing information about common types of Internet scams.
Hoax-Slayer also includes anti-spam tips, computer and email security information, articles about true email forwards, and much more. New articles are added to the Hoax-Slayer website every week.
Send files up to 100mb. Simply and easily ... and FREE. You don’t even need to create an account! In today’s file-sharing world, this is a must have!
All you do is enter the email address of who you want to send the file to, your email address and browse to the file that you want to send. Click 'send' and your friend will receive a link to download your file. Easy!! Click here.
As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea or inspiration to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.
Steve
PC Resolver
966 967 439
650 354 629
Please email Steve if any of the links in this article don't work. |
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 March 2010 15:52 |
|
|
Newsletters
|
|
In this month's Newsletter:
Website Steve's Q&A
Introduction
PC Resolver, in partnership with The Inland Magazine, is publishing a Questions and Answers section in the published magazine. The purpose of this is to answer the most common questions that are currently affecting my clients and readers of the magazine. You are encouraged to contact me with any questions you may have.
The questions and answers themselves are in the Website Steve's Q&A section of Support. This section will grow and will include non-published questions.
A key part of Website Steve's Q&A is questions about websites. Having your own website has never been easier, cheaper or more necessary than it is today. A fully functioning professionally designed and built website costs 300 Euros to build to your requirements and less than 10 Euros a month to host (including your domain name and IVA). I will give a 50 Euro discount to anyone quoting this newsletter!
You can meet me at my Free Computer Clinic at The Inland Magazine Bootsale in Salinas on the First Sunday of each month.
Is it safe to let my browser remember my passwords? If not, what is the alternative?
No! No! No! Let’s be very clear: It is NOT SAFE to allow your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox ...) to remember your passwords. I have written in a previous newsletter about how easy it is to reveal these saved passwords - in plain text! Anyone with 10 seconds access to your computer can see them! What happens if your computer is stolen? It doesn't bear thinking about does it?
So, what can you do to protect yourself?
You should, at the very least, use the master password facility if it exists for your browser. Do it now! I'll wait (the instructions for Firefox are here). But don’t think you’re safe because a quick search on the Internet will reveal many programs that will recover or reset this, and other, passwords!
Does this mean you have to remember all your passwords and type them in every time? NO.
I’ve used a great little program for years: Roboform.
Roboform:
• Integrates with all browsers
• Stores and Encrypts your passwords.
• Automatically fills registration forms with 1-click.
• Loads web pages and fills in the login details automatically (no risk of
phishing attacks).
• Backs up and synchronizes your passwords between computers.
• Generates random passwords (more secure).
• Stores and Encrypts notes of any kind.
• You can access your passwords online (securely!) from any computer.
Please contact me for free advice and guidance and make sure your Internet browsing is safe, secure AND easy!!
How can I add Google Adverts to my site? How much will I earn and who pays?
Google Adverts are the small text or ‘banner’ ads that appear on many sites (mine included!). If anyone clicks on these they are taken to a new site that will have content relevant to the ‘host’ site (your site).
To add these to your site you need firstly to create an account with Google and then you can apply for a Google Adsense account. From this account you create the size and style of ads you want to appear on your site. Google provide you with the code and you put this on your site.
You earn based on the number of “impressions” (how many times these advert have been displayed on your site) and “clicks”. My average payment is 25 cents per click (after Google‘s cut).
So who pays? The person who supplies the ad pays Google to place these ads on their behalf and Google pay a portion of that to the host site.
It should cost less than 25 Euros (less than 100 clicks!) for a web designer to do this for you. After that, you get your "money for nothing and your clicks for free"!
As always, feel free to contact me if you need help.
Website Steve's Q&A FREE Stuff
Roboform
Roboform is the top-rated Password Manager and Web Form Filler that completely automates password entering and form filling. It is free for a limited number of passwords.
RoboForm is an award-winning automated password manager and web form filler with some serious Artificial Intelligence. This is what it does:
• AutoSave passwords in browser.
• AutoFill passwords to login form.
• Click Login button for you.
• Fill personal info into online forms.
• Save offline passwords & notes.
• Generate Secure Random Passwords.
• Encrypt passwords and personal data using AES, Blowfish, RC6, 3-DES or 1-DES algorithms.
• All personal info is stored on your computer only.
• Take RoboForm with you on USB disk for ultimate portability.
• Sync your passwords and notes to Palm or Pocket PC.
• Backup & Restore, Print your passwords.
• More features: drill down for more.
• It is well-behaved: NO ADWARE, NO SPYWARE.
• Works under Windows as an add-on to IE-based browsers.
• Works with Netscape, Mozilla, Firefox under Windows.
Final Word
As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea or inspiration to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.
Steve
PC Resolver
966 967 439
650 354 629
Please email Steve if any of the links in this article don't work. |
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 18 February 2010 14:48 |
|
Newsletters
|
|
In this month's Newsletter:
Website Steve's Q&A
Introduction
PC Resolver, in partnership with The Inland Magazine, is publishing a Questions and Answers section in the published magazine. The purpose of this is to answer the most common questions that are currently affecting my clients and readers of the magazine. You are encouraged to contact me with any questions you may have.
The questions and answers themselves are in the Website Steve's Q&A section of Support. This section will grow and will include non-published questions.
A key part of Website Steve's Q&A is questions about websites. Having your own website has never been easier, cheaper or more necessary than it is today. A fully functioning professionally designed and built website costs 300 Euros to build to your requirements and less than 10 Euros a month to host (including your domain name and IVA). I will give a 50 Euro discount to anyone quoting this newsletter!
What can I do to make 2010 better than 2009 for my computer?
OK, I’ve not been asked this question in so many words but these recommendations are based on real questions I’ve received during 2009. Your computer is now an essential tool in your life that enables you to communicate, work and play - it needs some TLC!
How do I protect my computer from power problems?
You need a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). These are better than the simple Surge Protectors because they also regulate the voltage coming in and provide backup power if power fails. A good UPS costs 70 Euros. A bad experience will cost a minimum of 200 Euros. See my article on UPS.
How do I protect my computer from Viruses and other Malware?
You need to install a good Firewall and Anti-virus software. I use FREE software to protect mine so it doesn’t have to cost a lot! To remove a virus from a computer can cost between 20 and 60 Euros. See my article on Malware for more information.
How do I protect my data?
You need to back it up. You need to back it up. You can keep copies on CD, external disks or on the Internet. The software is free. The loss of data costs so much more than money!
How can PC Resolver help?
You can get FREE help and advice from PC Resolver in a number of ways:
• Visit The Inland Magazine (TIM) Computer Forum
• See me at The TIM Boot Sale in Salinas (First Sunday of each month)
• Use the Search facility on my website
• Email or Call me
I made some changes to my website and now I want to undo them. How can I restore my site to how it used to be?
The answer to this is in the question itself: “Restore”. You need to restore from a backup. If you don’t have a backup of how the site used to be then you need to undo your changes one by one and this is not at all easy and in some cases is impossible.
A web hosting company will create a regular backup in case of system failure but this will be your site as it is today (not what you want!).
If you’re lucky, your web designer will have a copy of your site when it was first designed (I always keep a copy for my clients just in case). This is OK if you haven’t changed your site much since it was built.
If you have a database (as used in shops, estate agencies, forums, blogs etc) then you really need to backup regularly and certainly before any changes. You can do this yourself or ask your designer (I charge 25 Euros). Remember to backup the site (pages etc) AND the database!!
Website Steve's Q&A FREE Stuff
AlternativeTo.Net
Tired of over-priced software?
AlternativeTo is a new approach to finding good software. Tell us what application you want to replace and we give you great alternatives, based on user recommendations.
AlternativeTo have one mission: helping you find the right software for your computer or mobile phone. To do this they wanted to rethink the whole process of searching for apps. No more browsing through categories with long lists of crappy software.
Based on their users recommendations they list great alternatives to the applications you want to replace. By joining the site you can participate in the process of making these recommendations better, so please join in!
Final Word
As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea or inspiration to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or click 'Add Comment' below to add a comment to this web page.
Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.
Steve
PC Resolver
966 967 439
650 354 629
Please email Steve if any of the links in this article don't work. |
|
Last Updated on Friday, 15 January 2010 16:06 |
|
|
Newsletters
|
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All My Readers and Customers!!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my loyal customers for their continued support during 2009 and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
2010 will be my fifth year working in Spain and I'm looking forward to continuing to solve your computer & website problems so that you get the most from your investment. Please feel free to contact me if you need advice or have a question.
In the December 2009 Newsletter from PC Resolver:
Website Steve's Q&A
Introduction
PC Resolver, in partnership with The Inland Magazine, is publishing a Questions and Answers section in the published magazine. The purpose of this is to answer the most common questions that are currently affecting my clients and readers of the magazine. You are encouraged to contact me with any questions you may have.
The questions and answers themselves are in the Website Steve's Q&A section of Support. This section will grow and will include non-published questions.
A key part of Website Steve's Q&A is questions about websites. Having your own website has never been easier, cheaper or more necessary than it is today. A fully functioning professionally designed and built website costs 300 Euros to build to your requirements and less than 10 Euros a month to host (including your domain name and IVA).
Should I upgrade to Windows 7? Will it work on my computer?
Regular readers of my monthly newsletter (you can subscribe from my home page) will know that I had a hate/”don’t mind” kind of a relationship with Windows Vista. Windows 7 is better - much better and SAFER!
I've been running an evaluation copy for a couple of months now and I have to say that I'm so impressed I’ve bought it! It is more reliable, more secure and more attractive than Vista, XP or any previous versions. The new graphics, new features, new hardware management and improved security make it easy and safe to use. This is the first Windows Operating system that I actually recommended that people pay to upgrade to (as opposed to buying it pre-loaded on a new PC).
It costs less than 100 Euros depending on the version you need.
How do I know that it will work on my computer? The easiest way is to take advantage of my free Windows 7 Computer check! If you’re feeling adventurous then Microsoft has provided an upgrade advisor tool and a hardware/software compatibility checker. You should download and run these on your existing computer before buying the software.
What Version should I buy? The flip answer is “If you need to ask then you need Premium!”. This is because this is the right choice for 99% home users. If you not sure: call me.
Should I Upgrade? YES. It’s a joy to use. And It’s Safer!
FREE Windows 7 Computer Check and Upgrade Advice to all TIM Readers!
Just email or call me to arrange your free computer check and/or advice.
I want my website to be available in English AND Spanish. Is this possible and how much will it cost?
Not only is it possible but, for most of my business clients, it is essential! Regardless of how well (or not) you speak Spanish having your site in Spanish opens it up to the Spanish market - they will Google in Spanish so at least part of your site should be in Spanish. Once your Spanish visitor is on your site they can rely on their own English skills to understand the rest.
To add a multi- lingual component should cost between 50 and 200 Euros depending on whether it’s a new or existing site; the complexity and size of the site. This will pay for itself with your first (of many) Spanish Client!
This assumes that you have the Spanish for the content. I don’t recommend “on-the-fly” translation services because they can produce nonsense.
Website Steve's Q&A FREE Stuff
1. CertainKey Password Checker
CertainKey Password Checker is a FREE online service to check how secure your passwords are in terms of the time required to ‘crack’! You’ll be surprised how quickly your passwords can be discovered.
2. QuickOnlineTips
QuickOnlineTips is a website with the latest tech news but also tips for getting the most from your tech and solving your problems. Of course, if you can't find what you want here feel free to contact me if you can't find what you need!
Final Word
As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea or inspiration to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or click 'Add Comment' below to add a comment to this web page.
Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.
Steve
PC Resolver
966 967 439
650 354 629
Please email Steve if any of the links in this article don't work.
Your email address is only used by PC Resolver for this purpose and is not passed on to anyone else. |
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2010 17:45 |
|
Newsletters
|
|
In the November 2009 Newsletter from PC Resolver:
Windows 7 Has Arrived But Is It Any Good?
So, after all the bad press surrounding Vista the much-anticipated Windows 7 has arrived. I've been running an evaluation copy for a couple of months now and I have to say that I'm impressed! It is more reliable, more secure and more attractive than Vista, XP or any previous versions. The new graphics, new features, new hardware management and improved security make it easy and safe to use. This is the first Windows Operating system that I have actually recommended that people pay to upgrade to (as opposed to buying it pre-loaded on a new PC).
FREE Computer Specification Check
Windows 7 actually runs on a lower specification PC than Vista but will it run on your computer? Call me to arrange a FREE check of your computer to see if it will run Windows 7 and if you will be able to run your existing programs and hardware. I will only charge travelling expenses @ 30 cents per KM from Sax, Alicante.
Upgrade Service Only 50 Euros (including IVA) - Save 20 Euros
I will install Windows 7 on your computer for 50 Euros including IVA plus the cost of Windows 7 if you quote this Newsletter and you order during 2009. This will include a 'dual boot' option if required: this allows you to choose between Windows 7 and your old XP/Vista installation (including your installed programs) when the computer starts. Your data (files, photos, music etc.) will be retained at no extra charge (saving 20 Euros). This is subject to your computer meeting the requirements for Windows 7 and is based on the work being carried out in our office (Sax, Alicante).
Website Steve's Q&A
Introduction
PC Resolver, in partnership with The Inland Magazine, is publishing a Questions and Answers section in the published magazine. The purpose of this is to answer the most common questions that are currently affecting my clients and readers of the magazine. You are encouraged to contact me with any questions you may have.
The questions and answers themselves are in the Website Steve's Q&A section of Support. This section will grow and will include non-published questions.
A key part of Website Steve's Q&A is questions about websites. Having your own website has never been easier, cheaper or more necessary than it is today. A fully functioning professionally designed and built website costs 300 Euros to build to your requirements and less than 10 Euros a month to host (including your domain name and IVA).
Can I share my Internet connection? Is this difficult and is it expensive?
Yes, it is possible and no, it is not expensive! You can share your Internet connection with another computer or laptop but also your mobile phone and mp3 player. When you’ve done this you’ll wonder how you ever coped without it!
I access the Internet on my phone for free by sharing my WiFi connection - no phone charges! I’m writing this on my terrace on a laptop that shares the files on my main computer. When I have guests staying they can also access the Internet from any room in the house.
The equipment you need is not expensive and you may even already have all you need. If you know what you’re doing, you can be up and working in an hour.
It is possible, inexpensive, quick to set up and wonderful, so what’s the catch?! Well, there are two:
1. If you don’t know what you’re doing you can waste money buying equipment that you don’t need or doesn’t do what you want.
2. If you don’t secure your connection then anyone within 100 metres can use it and you are legally responsible for anything they do!
If you are thinking about sharing your connection or you are concerned that your existing share is insecure then give me a call and I will advise you.
I want to make changes to my website but the features I want to use are not available with my host. What options do I have?
I have mentioned in previous articles that the most important thing to consider when creating your website is to choose the name. This is true. But choosing your host is the second most important! Try to anticipate future needs and don’t base your decision on price alone. You should be able to get a ‘top of the range’ package for 120 Euros a year that will be future proof. For all the benefits your website brings 10 Euros per month is a bargain!
My hosting is scalable from 5 to 10 Euros per month depending on needs but the main thing is upgrades do not require moving hosts.
Back to the question. There were only two options for my client: do without the feature or move hosts. The feature they wanted was a database to control stock and customer details and therefore doing without was not an option.
The transfer took a few weeks to prepare but, when it was ready, the transfer went smoothly with the site being unavailable for just 15 minutes.
Website Steve's Q&A FREE Stuff
1. Picasa - Free Photo Editor / Organizer
Picasa is free photo editing software from Google that makes your pictures look great.
Sharing your best photos with friends and family is as easy as pressing a button!
2. Open Office
OpenOffice is a FREE suite of programs compatible with Microsoft Office and other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.
Final Word
As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea or inspiration to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or click 'Add Comment' below to add a comment to this web page.
Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.
Steve
PC Resolver
966 967 439
650 354 629
Please email Steve if any of the links in this article don't work. |
|
Last Updated on Monday, 09 November 2009 16:15 |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 7 |
|
Newsletter
Please click 'subscribe' to subscribe to the PC Resolver Newsletter.
If you do not receive a confirmation then please email steve@pcresolver.es and I will add you to the subscriber list.
|
