Home Computer Repair

NOTE: Many of these VLC tricks use the same dialogs, so rather than repeat the same steps every time, I'll be doing a thorough step-by-step once and then highlighting only the differences in the subsequent mini-guides. I'm using Windows in most of my examples, but since VLC is cross-platform, most of the same tricks should work just as well on any platform. VLC has a Streaming and Transcoding Wizard that's supposed to make this process even easier, but it's been buggy for me in all my tests, so I decided to go with the slightly more difficult method detailed below.

Rip Any DVD

1. Open the Disc and Find the Correct Title: Insert your DVD and open it with File -> Open Disc. We need to find the right title to rip from the DVD, so at this point we're going to preview titles from the disc one by one. To do this, start with 0 as your title number and increment one number at a time until you find the title you want to rip. I've found it's quicker if you choose DVD rather than DVD (menus) at the top of the Open dialog so you only have to wade through actual video.
2. Pick a Folder to Save the Rip and Name It: Now that you've find the right track, you just need to tell VLC that you want to save it. To do so, tick the Stream/Save checkbox, then click Settings. Here you need to tell VLC where to save the file, so tick the File checkbox and pick a folder to save it to and then give it a name (e.g., My DVD Rip.mpg).
3. Determine Video and Audio Settings: Now you're ready to tweak the final settings before it's time to rip. Tick the Video codec and Audio codec, then choose the output codecs you prefer. This is really up to you, and if you don't have a preference I've had good results using the defaults described in this excellent VLC rip guide: mp1v for the video codec and mp3 for audio. If you need a specific file format for a mobile device, you may want to choose a difference encapsulation method and codec. Hit OK when you're done.
4. Rip Away: You've made it. Just hit OK again (make sure Stream/Save is checked) and it should start ripping.

VLC will rip the DVD faster than real-time playback, and you can follow the ripping process in the corner of the VLC window.

Convert Any Video for Your iPod or iPhone with a Drag and Drop Batch Script

Create a new text file and save it as VLC Converter.bat. Make sure your filesystem is showing file extensions so you aren't saving it as a text file (you don't want to end up with something like VLC Converter.bat.txt). You need to make sure it's saving with the BAT extension.

If you were building the script from scratch, at this point you'd open up the file you just created and paste "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" %1 in the first line. Now you need to get the command line options that describe how VLC should convert the file. For that, you can use the text generated by the Target textbox at the top of the Stream/Save Settings window described in steps two and three of the DVD ripping guide above, which displays the command line options you need for your batch file. Luckily a user at the iPod forums at iLounge already put together a VLC batch conversion script for iPods, so we can just use those settings, which look like this:

That's a lot of text, but it's just telling VLC everything you would normally tell it in the Settings dialog. The %1 variable will be replaced by the name of the file you drop on the script. Copy and paste all of that text (and only that text) into your batch file and save it. That's all there is to it. Next time you have a video file you want to convert for your iPod, just drag and drop it on your newly created batch script. The script was built specifically for converting videos to an iPod-compatible format, but you can build your own scripts to do virtually common conversions you want.

Stream Media to Other Remote Computer Repair

First, go to File -> Open File. Browse to the file you'd like to stream, and then—like above—tick the Stream/Save checkbox and click Settings. This time, rather than outputting the stream as a file, we're going to tick the UDP box and enter the local IP address of the computer you'd like to stream to. On Windows, you can find your computer's local IP address by opening the command prompt (Win-R, type cmd, and hit Enter), and then type ipconfig and hit Enter.

Once you've got that, enter it in the computer you're streaming from in the text box next to the UDP checkbox you just enabled. Hit OK to accept your settings, then OK again to finish the setup. While you're still on the streaming remote computer repair, go to Settings -> Add Interface -> Web Interface.

Now it's time to start the stream on your other remote computer repair, and doing so is a breeze. Just open VLC on your second computer, go to File -> Open Network Stream, and—assuming the UDP choice is selected and the port matches the port you used in the setup above (unless you changed it, they should both default to 1234), just hit OK to start the stream.

You're presented with a slight problem streaming the video using VLC this way, namely that you can't control the playback from the remote VLC interface. Luckily you already enabled the web interface, so on the remote computer repair you're streaming to, open a web browser and point it to the VLC web interface. If you're streaming over a local network, find your streaming computer's IP address the same way you did with the remote computer's address above, then enter it into your browser with port 8080 appended to the end. Mine looks like http://192.168.1.2:8080. Through the web interface on the remote computer, you can control all of VLC's playback. Handy, huh?

Source : lifehacker.com/397573/master-your-digital-media-with-vlc

A Texas law passed in 2007 has remote computer repair shops statewide up in arms. Seemingly pressured by the Private Investigator lobby, lawmakers enacted House Bill 2833, which seems to require computer repair personnel to obtain a Private Investigator license before being allowed to work on customers' computers.

The relevant sections of the law in question

"A person acts as an investigations company for the purposes of this chapter if the person:
(1) engages in the business of obtaining or furnishing, or accepts employment to obtain or furnish, information related to:
[...]
(B) the identity, habits, business, occupation, knowledge, efficiency, loyalty, movement, location, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of a person;
[...]
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), obtaining or furnishing information includes information obtained or furnished through the review and analysis of, and the investigation into the content of, remote computer-based data not available to the public."

According to a lawsuit initiated by the newly-established Texas Chapter of the Institute for Justice, the Texas Private Security Board, a state agency, is interpreting this as including simple computer repairs such as malware removal.

The law provides for punishment of up to one year in jail and $4,000 in fines, and up to $10,000 in civil penalties. Additionally, any customer knowingly enlisting the help of an unlicensed computer repair person (that is, without a PI license) is subject to the same punishment.

Matt Miller, Texas Institute for Justice Executive Director and lead attorney on the case, notes that "it makes no sense to require a remote computer repairman with 10 or 20 years of experience to get a degree in criminal justice just to continue working in his occupation. This law will drive up the price of remote computer repair for everyone, and that’s exactly what the private investigations industry wants."

For many small computer repair shops, this law would mean having to shut down their business until they acquire a license. To get a PI license, one needs either a criminal justice degree (with all associated costs) or a three-year apprenticeship under a licensed PI. Neither are realistic options for most small computer repair shops.

While it remains to be seen how this law will be interpreted by the TPSB and the courts, it sure is reopening the discussion about whether or not remote computer repair workers should be certified, and how. Computer repair is one of only a handful of professions that do not need certification in order to operate a business.

Source : enterpriseitplanet.com/networking/news/article.php/3757406

Unbelievable but true, in 2007 Texas decided that anyone employed as a remote computer repair technician needed to also have a Private Investigator’s license if they take any action that the government would consider “an investigation.” Because the law is so broadly worded, that could literally mean that I could replace your hard drive but not repair it. Nor could I retrieve your data. In order to comply with the law and obtain a PI license, I would have to quit supporting computers for three years and serve an apprenticeship under a licensed PI or attain a criminal justice degree. Either way, that would be several years away from technology that refreshes itself every 18 months or so.

According to the author of the law, state Representative Joe Driver, R-Garland, technicians are misinterpreting the law. Driver told the Houston Chronicle that the law was sought by the private security industry and would not apply to people who do nothing but repair hardware. It would only apply to those who retrieve data for the purposes of analysis to create a report for a third party.

According to Driver, a current class action lawsuit against the Texas Private Security Board is nothing more than a publicity stunt on the part of the Institute for Justice. But Matt Miller of the Institute for Justice says that the law is so vaguely worded that it could be enforced broadly.

The Texas Private Security Board has interpreted the law as being “data retrieval for a potential civil or criminal matter.” According to Miller, that could apply to a technician searching for the source of a virus, parents seeking to find out the names of the people their child emails or messages, or people employed by companies to determine what employees are doing on their work computers during working hours. The result of any of that kind of data retrieval and analysis could be considered potentially usable in a civil or criminal matter.

I look at it from the standpoint of having been there, done that. I have found all manner of things on a client’s PC in the course of doing a seemingly unrelated job. I have, as a part of my job, been required to provide detailed reports on user Internet activity to seniors. Probably a good thing I don’t work in Texas.

Another aspect of the law that should also be considered is that anyone in violation can be subject to criminal penalties up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine in addition to civil penalties of up to $10,000. And that doesn’t just apply to the technician. Any consumer who knowingly uses an unlicensed company faces the same penalties.

In my opinion, the Institute for Justice is taking the right path. By forcing attention on this law, hopefully the end result will be clarification of who may do what. Perhaps this time through, Mr. Driver will consider asking an average remote computer repair technician what kinds of work they do and possibly gain consensus on what should be acceptable and what should not. I can understand the Texas Private Security Board wanting to act to protect people’s privacy but I believe that this law may be a step too far.

Share your thoughts. In the course of your day would a law like this impact you? How?

Thanks to OnTheRopes for pointing this out!

Source : blogs.techrepublic.com.com/techofalltrades/?p=162

Rockwell stressed no voter-sensitive information was on the home computer repair when it was taken.

"We don't keep any voter registration information on the computer. That's all done through a database that's linked up to the Texas Secretary of State office," Rockwell said.

He noted a password is needed to access the database and that his was not saved to the computer. He's since gone in and changed his password and other private information to deter anyone from gaining access to documents and files.

Most of what was included on the laptop were copies of contracts signed with area entities to hold elections, figures relating to past voter turnout and sample letters to the U.S. Department of Justice.

"It's all things that are public information anyway, and were just easy to access there on the computer," Rockwell said.

A report was filed with the Mount Pleasant Police Department, but the laptop has yet to turn up.

"Even though all the pawn shops and authorities have been notified, it's probably history," said Titus County Judge Sam Russell, who admitted his main concern was if sensitive information was kept on the computer.

All area pawn shops and computer-related businesses have been notified.

Q. The first time I used my laptop after a heavy storm, the home computer repair would not hold a dial tone when I tried to dial up to the Internet, and I still cannot get online with that computer. If this modem is fried, can I get an external modem for my laptop, or are there other options?

A. Computers and modems are vulnerable to power surges caused by lightning storms, as well as other power fluctuations caused by brownouts and blackouts. Most likely, your dial-up modem did take a hit during the storm. If you have checked the driver software and settings and the modem still will not connect, you probably need to repair the modem or replace it.

A computer repair shop should be able to open your laptop and make sure that the internal modem was the only thing damaged before repairing or replacing the part. An internal modem will probably cost less than $25, plus labor. You can also find internal modems for sale at Web sites specializing in laptop parts and have a technician install it if you don’t feel comfortable trying it yourself.

If you do not want to repair or replace the internal modem, there are external modems available for laptops. Most cost around $50, and you can find them in computer shops. These types of modems connect through the laptop’s U.S.B. port and provide a jack on the other end to connect the phone cord. The U.S. Robotics USR5637 modem is one such example.

If you have a cellphone, you might be able to use it as a modem; check with your wireless carrier for specifics.

In the future, using a surge protector with outlets for both electrical and phone cords might help protect your equipment, but shutting down and unplugging everything at the first sign of an electrical disturbance is your safest bet.

source : http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/technology/personaltech/22askk-002.html?ref=personaltech

Computers, I'm convinced, must be related to house cats. Just when you think that everything is purring along nicely, a computer can stick its claws right into your heart.

One moment, it's a computer; the next, it's a big paperweight. That shocking instant — when you hit the power switch and nothing happens — triggers a fine cloud of panic that turns even the most rational person into a wild-eyed fixing machine.

Today, while we are both calm, let's map out a game plan for that inevitable day. Stick this column in a desk drawer so it can help you calm down and avoid making things worse.

At the risk of sounding like a Zen master, first do nothing. Almost anything you do in the first moments is likely to be wrong. Calmly jot down any symptoms that occurred in the days before the computer died, as well as what you were doing at the time. You may find a clue there.

Now that you've had time to let the panic settle, check the most obvious causes. And, yes, that starts with checking to see that the power cord connections are sound. Then check to make sure that the surge protector or UPS is turned on and plugged in.

Some surge protectors and power strips can automatically switch off if electricity to your home is interrupted. Plug a small lamp or other AC device into the power outlet that you're using to make sure a circuit breaker hasn't popped.

Next look at the front panel of your computer. Are any lights on? If not, the power supply may have gone bad. It's an easy replacement — most large home computer repair stores offer them — but many will be leery of that repair. Those of you who are competent to do it probably know it and those who aren't know it, too (I hope).

But what if the front panel lights are on but the machine won't do anything? Let's turn it off and see what it can say for itself. Hit the power switch and restart.

Do you see an on-screen message when the computer restarts? For instance, if the hard disk has failed, you'll see a message. But that's not the only way that a computer can tell you its woes. Most use beeping sounds to alert you to problems. The meanings of these codes vary according to the kind of motherboard installed in the computer. Your manual will tell you the type of motherboard installed, or you can use another computer repair to check the manufacturer's Web site. Once you know the brand of motherboard, you can use this site to decipher the beeps:

Of course, the computer may be mute: No on-screen messages, no beeps. If so, try disconnecting any unneeded accessories — printers, scanners, etc. — and turn the machine on again. At times, a malfunctioning device will cause the problem and, if not, you can at least rule it out.

The next step is to open the case.

Some of you will be reluctant. That's fine. There's nothing wrong with packing up the computer and taking it to a repair shop at this point.

But if you proceed, take a look at the cables and connectors inside once you have the case open.

Are they firmly seated? Now — using the manual or just your knowledge — locate the processor chip. Most often, it will have a tiny fan connected for cooling. Is the fan turning?

Most computers will shut down if they overheat — a good thing. It's also a good idea to check the larger fan — usually at the rear of the computer — that cools the entire innards of the machine.

If there's nothing obviously wrong and the fans work, then try removing and reseating accessory cards.

IN THE face of a spate of closures, one York Post Office has turned to technology to help secure its future.

Crichton Avenue Post Office has decided to double up as a computer repair centre in order to try and safeguard from any future closures.

The post office will now double up as computer repair centre, called Intake Computer Solutions on the site at Intake Avenue, Clifton, York. Despite its title, Crichton Avenue Post Office is based on Intake Avenue.

And bosses think the store is now the first place in the country where customers can post a package, obtain foreign currency and have their laptop or home computer repair , all at the same time.

Alistair Murray, sub postmaster at the post office for eight years called the move "an investment for the future of Post Offices" and said that his customers have been very understanding about the need to diversify.

He said: "They realise that the investment in the business is an investment for the future of the Post Office."

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Mr Murray said he took the decision to diversify what he offers to the area in the face of challenging economic and retail landscape.

As well as repairs, the centre will also be selling new computers and laptops, as well as second-hand computer equipment.

The computer business begins trading this week under the watchful eyes of Mr Murray and computer expert Jason Robinson. They hope that the new business expansion will bring longevity to the important traditional services supplied to the local community by the post office.

The shop is offering one to one, personal services that have been lost in the rise of larger, out of town computer stores.

"We see a definite market for the customers not happy with the service of larger stores, where they find it impersonal", said Mr Murray. Mr Robinson agreed, saying: "We provide a one to one service and customers deal with someone with knowledge of all the products on display."

"We know every product we sell inside out and our systems are built to individual customers needs, not just off the shelf'. That way you get exactly what you're after from your own computer."

"All the repairs are done by one of the people you meet when you first come through the door."

source: yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.2247299.0.post_office_bytes_back.php