How to Start a Remote PC Business

A remote PC business offers a customer specialized computer repair instead of a hot line or Internet chat with a technician. In most cases, the client has to provide the support person access to his computer but often the technician simply feeds instructions to the client.
Remote computer repair is convenient because the client need not go somewhere to get his computer fixed.

Instructions

1. Decide on what type of computer repair service you want to offer. Some businesses offer support for specific software while others provide hardware support. Determine your target market. For instance, if you're going to cater to individual end-users, you want to offer operating system support and repair, internet setup and anti-virus installation. Also, decide whether you're going to work purely for one type of operating system or if you can manage to offer support for all major operating systems.

2. Get certifications for computer support. To earn your potential client's confidence, you need to learn technical skills for various computer support concerns. Ask your local community college if it offers computer and networking support courses.

3. Set prices. Rates will vary according to the service. Offer competitive prices to attract people to do business with you. A good start is to find out what other remote computer repair websites charge. Computer Geeks online, for instance, charges $125 for full computer cleanup solutions. If you're going to offer your services locally, offer more affordable rates. The capital you would need to operate a local remote computer repair business wouldn't be as what you'd for a national operation.

4. Assemble your equipment together. To operate a remote PC business, you need a stable Internet connection and a couple of computers, depending on how big your business is going to be. If this is going to be a one-man venture, you can probably start with two computers. You will need more if you intend to hire more technicians. Aside from computers, you will need operating system and software emulators as well as a toll-free number for clients. You can get a toll-free number from your telephone service carrier.

5. Launch your website. To get your remote PC business up and running, you need a website from where clients can start chat sessions with you or pull up your contact information. Incorporate an online billing system to help organize and receive payments.

6. Market your services. Because your service is mostly web-based, you will need to establish an online presence so people in your service area are aware of you. Place advertisements through local computer stores. As local computer stores to recommend you to customers.


Source: eHow

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Online Computer Support Scales New Boundaries

There can be myriad issues which can plague your PC, stretching from the show-stopping to productivity draining and something to highly annoying. However, in spite of all such follies, the silver lining is the gadget tends to come tagged with an explicit promise of toll-free tech support straight from a manufacturer. But then again what if an issue falls beyond the support period or a scope the vendor had agreed upon?

Third party vendors join the bandwagon:

PC owners can breathe easy for now as they have unhindered access to premier 3rd party vendors. Highly recognized in the line of online PC tech support has become a lifeline for a good number of PC owners out there. And why wouldn't it be so? Boasting of the most seasoned and expert army of techies around, it wouldn't be wrong to say the organization tends to stands out as an ideal destination for a huge swathe of PC users. Many Online Support Companies have sprung up to capitalize on this fad. All this has relieved customers from pesters they faced earlier for getting their computer repaired.Boasting of high-end expertise and technical acumen, the army of experts is more than ready to help any PC user looking around for a resolution in the shortest time span possible. Doing everything possible within their purview to ensure any solution being provided is able to keep a PC up and running for a longer duration of time.

Onsite Vs Online computer support:

Even though for many, an on-site visit is a preferred medium to resolve issues, it is also again considered as a medium where one ends up wasting a lot of time waiting for a technician to show up. And it doesn't cut; for not only is it expensive but is also least favored when help is required at a short notice. Well, the service rates are also exorbitant, when all you need at the end of the day is a new driver for your graphics card. So, in such a scenario why not take advantage of the new-fangled Internet (and old-fangled telephone), which can often get you identical results, faster and cheaper? And if still it doesn't do it for you, why not opt for a remote access resolution, wherein you can simply log onto a Web site, click on a link and within minutes witness a technician taking control of your machine and its help line comes to the rescue of all PC owners in a big way.

Author is dedicated technical writer at PCCare247. The extensive service spectrum of PC Care includes Online Computer Support, Belkin router configuration, virus and spyware removal, operating system & software support, Netgear router support, email & browser support as well as assistance in installation of all the peripheral accessories for your PC. Our endeavor is to keep you at ease and your PC working uninterruptedly and which take care of complete health of your personal computer.

Source: EzineArticles

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How to Make a Computer Support Surround Sound

Surround sound support is typically done through the computer's sound card. Computer owners who do not currently have a surround sound compatible sound card need to upgrade to a surround sound card. Surround sound cards can be internal or external. External cards are easier to install as they simply plug into the computer's USB drive. Internal cards are slightly trickier to install but are still not that complex. External sound cards are ideal for laptop users who do can not replace the internal sound card easily.

1. Turn off and unplug the computer.

2. Locate the sound card on the back of the computer's tower.

3. Unscrew the casing for the tower. Typically screws for the tower are at the back of the computer.

4. Remove the casing.

5. Locate the sound card inside the computer. The ports (speaker, microphone) are at the back of the tower and the actual card extends into the tower behind those ports and connect to the mother board.

6. Remove the sound card. Unscrew any screws holding the sound card in place. Pull the sound card gently from the PC. It should pop out without much trouble. There may be clasps holding the sound card in place, unclasp them.

7. Insert the new surround sound card into the computer where the old one was. Make sure it is inserted correctly exactly like the old one was. Screw it in, if necessary.

8. Plug in and turn on the computer.

9. Insert the install disk that came with the new surround sound card.

10.Install the drivers and software from the install disk.

11.Reboot the computer and test the setup.

Source: eHow

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New computer models to help tone down the smell

Some call it the smell of money, but Teng Teeh Lim thinks that smell does not have to be so bad.

The University of Missouri Extension researcher wants to give large, concentrated animal operations an economical way to lessen those troubling smells.

Lim recently received a $50,000 Mizzou Advantage grant to develop a computer model that allows large producers to use the size and other simple information about their swine or dairy farm to give them a better idea of the amount of emissions and what they can do to address odor or emission issues.

"Measurement of emissions in the field can be very costly, very tedious to conduct and requires such hard work, set up and equipment maintenance for forever changing pollutants and exhaust from such facilities," Lim said. "A lot of the information we collect in the field aren't readily available from average producers, so it becomes a give-and-take thing to create a model that uses only a few key variables that most people can understand and use while only losing some precision."

Putting microbes to work

One solution lies in Lim's research on biofilters.

Biofilters - materials like wood chips that support microbial colonies - filter out and break down compounds that create those pungent odors.

"You're providing an environment for microbes to happily live in and multiply by using the exhaust stream - the odors, the dust, different gases - as nutrients to supply to their own population," said the MU Extension assistant professor.

Biofilters have existed for decades, but Lim wants to make them cheaper and more accessible to producers. Lim's biofilter work builds on years of research to improve air quality and builds on the experience of colleagues across the country.

"There are all kinds of fine details - material selection and composition, filter size, positioning, moisture control - that, when you put them together, becomes an art, especially to do inexpensively," he said.

Lim's models use on-the-ground measurements of emissions - such as dust, ammonia and hydrogen sulfides - collected during a two-year study of poultry, swine and dairy farms spearheaded by Purdue University. The hope is that in the near future a large producer can spend his money more efficiently to mitigate smell without the cost of on-the-ground emission measurement.

By attaching a correctly sized, small-scale biofilter to the ventilation system on a hog, dairy or poultry farm, up to 45 percent of the emissions can be reduced from the facility. Compounds like dust and ammonia create the strong odors in poultry farms while swine facilities emit more hydrogen sulfide in its smell, and different microbes will thrive in the same wood chips to consume whichever compounds are most prevalent.

Two sides of a coin

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can act as a double-edged sword. A new facility can rejuvenate struggling rural economies with much needed jobs and tax revenue, but often lawsuits result from the potential subsequent odor problems, which can hurt property values and quality of life for its neighbors.

The economic value of CAFOs to Missouri remains high. A 2011 study funded by MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource's Commercial Agriculture Program found that the economic benefit in northwest Missouri totaled about $1.1 billion each year for the region.

Yet, in 2010, a jury awarded one northwest Missouri group of landowners $11 million in a lawsuit against one CAFO, when they ruled that the smell and flies from the facility harmed their quality of life. In spring 2011, the Missouri State General Assembly passed a bill that would limit the monetary award for so-called "nuisance lawsuits" to the value of a person's property, which Gov. Jay Nixon signed into law in May.

Talk of further federal regulation also makes it prudent for CAFOs to be proactive in managing their emissions to improve air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency is conducting similar studies to understand overall emissions from farm facilities with a distant eye on future rules.

Lim said university research on emission models parallels EPA's efforts, but avoids the influence of regulations and politics, and university emission models can be compared with EPA models when the agency considers regulatory changes.

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Intel’s Ivy Bridge integrated graphics to support luscious

It used to be that integrated graphics chipsets could barely run a simple DVD properly. But come next year, the integrated graphics in Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge processor will be able to power eye-bleedingly sharp 4K high-definition video at massive 4K resolutions, VR Zone reports.

In comparison, Intel’s current Sandy Bridge graphics chipset only supports a maximum resolution of 2,560 by 1600. The additional graphics horsepower in Ivy Bridge means that a mere laptop will be able to power huge pro-grade displays, as well as have the ability to decode 4K HD video. To match that performance today, you’d need to invest in expensive graphics cards (and forget about doing it on a laptop).

Sporting a resolution of 4096 by 2304 pixels or more, 4K HD is the next major leap in video quality after 1080p HD video, the standard resolution for Blu-ray video, and the current maximum resolution for most HDTVs. With support for the 4K HD built-in, computers running Ivy Bridge processors will be able to play back massive video files without a sweat. In fact, according to Intel, Ivy Bridge will be able to juggle multiple 4K videos at once.

Of course, Intel’s Ivy Bridge graphics will also feature faster 3D graphics capabilities, but its support for 4K resolutions will likely be a good investment over time. We’ll likely be seeing 4K computer displays become more affordable within several years (right now the only such entry costs around $36,000 dollars), and 4K will eventually make its way into our living rooms (home projectors supporting 4K are just now being announced)

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Computer purchasing made easy

Whether your child needs a new computer to study or a webcam to stay in touch, John Lewis is your one-stop technology shop.
It will soon be time to wave the latest crop of university students on their way. This is an unsettling time for any parent, as you watch your son or daughter fly the nest for the first time - will they settle easily into their new digs, and are they going make friends with the right crowd?

As far as all that's concerned, you'll have to leave them to it. But at least you can make sure you send them on their way with the right equipment for the academic year ahead.

But where do you go for value for money, sensible advice and technical support? John Lewis is the perfect place for you to ensure they leave home with all their technology needs properly catered for.

Whatever your student offspring are looking to purchase for their new academic year ahead, it is a store you can trust to give unrivalled customer service and after-sales support.

Now is the time when your children put some serious thought into their technology shopping list. Whether it's a new laptop, netbook, printer, hard drive, webcam or the latest software they need, you can rest easy - John Lewis is a one-stop technology shop.

Of course, your children will want good-looking hardware, paired with the right software to make it work right for them.

The days of dog-eared student ring-binders are well gone. Students will need to type up coursework and access documents online. A new laptop will also double as an entertainment portal for tasks such as watching television shows, video calling and storing photos.

John Lewis is a store that will make everyone happy; you can shop with ease and know that you're getting value for money, with post-purchase support if you need it.

It has technical experts able to offer unrivalled, impartial knowledge close at hand in every store.

And whatever your budget - regardless of what equipment you are looking for - there is something to suit your child.

Meanwhile, the last thing you need to worry about is something going wrong with your purchases further down the line. John Lewis offers a free, two-year guarantee on all desktop PCs, so you can rely on the store to resolve any issues. This is in addition to a 90-day helpline service from the day of purchase.

As well as larger items such as computers, laptops and printers, at John Lewis you'll find all the add-ons you need to get the most from your purchase, from cables and connectors to software and accessories, print cartridges and laptop bags.

The Never Knowingly Undersold* commitment means that if you see or buy a product at a cheaper price from another high street competitor, then John Lewis will match the price or refund the difference. When you're looking to make a student budget stretch as far as possible, you can trust that it won't ever be beaten on price, quality or service.

All that's left is for you to decide how to shop with John Lewis - visit the website to read the online buyer's guides and read product ratings and reviews, shop via mobile phone or visit a John Lewis shop.

* Our commitment to value means that we match the prices of high street competitors (this excludes online-only or mail-order business), service conditions must be comparable. See our "Never Knowingly Undersold" leaflet in our shops or online for details.

Source : telegraph

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A Comparative Study : Computer Support

Computers are electronic devices, which can store and process large volumes of data, with great speed and accuracy. All of us are pretty well acquainted with this definition of computer. But many do not know that this definition tends to vary with the passage of time. It might sound a little bit bizarre, but a deeper analysis will show that it is true.

A computer is a delicate and sophisticated electronic device, which needs regular care and maintenance in order to perform as per the above definition. 'Speed' and 'accuracy' are the prime virtues of a computer. But a computer tends to lose its prime virtues if its share of care and maintenance is neglected by the owner. But it is difficult for an amateur user to maintain and upkeep his /her computer on his/her own, as they require technical knowledge. Therefore, it is advisable that such an user should avail computer support service.

Importance of Computer Support

Most users are not aware of the importance of computer support. They treat it as an extra financial burden, which comes with the huge cost of buying a computer. Moreover, the warranty period served by the brand owners, gives them a false sense of security, due to which they do not bother to avail any sort of the same. But it is indeed more than just a necessity. It deals with, and resolves a lot of issues related to computers and its peripherals. Its versatile range of services include speeding up slow PCs, healing computers from virus and spyware threats, solving problems related to sending emails or attaching files with emails, issues with configuring internet setup, MS Office Support, XP Installation, Windows Vista Upgrade, Windows Vista Installation, Printer and Scanner issues, Parental Control, Data Backup, Wi-Fi Support, Windows 7 Support, and many more.

Types of Computer Support

In general, there are two types of computer support which users mostly avail, namely- Onsite Support and Remote Support/Online Support. For those who are not acquainted with these two terms, Onsite Support is the conventional support which is provided to the customer by the service provider, by physically paying a visit to the house of the same. Whereas, in case of Remote Support/Online Support, the service provider gets to share the customer's computer via the internet, and all the queries of the latter are solved through the same medium.

Advantages of Onsite Support

> Customer gets to converse with, and explain the problem to, the technician face to face.
> The technician also gets to resolve the issue more conveniently as he/she physically pays a visit to the customer's house.

Disadvantages of Onsite Support

> It is highly time consuming, as the customer needs to fix a date which is convenient to both the customer and the technician.
> As the technician pays a visit to the customer's house, the cost of servicing increases.

Advantages of Remote Support

> Customer gets instant solutions to all kind of technical problems. It also saves lot of valuable time.
> Services available 24X7
> Much cheaper than Onsite Support

Disadvantages of Remote Support

> Customer doesn't get to converse with the technician face to face. As a result, the customer may not be able to explain the problem properly.

Therefore, it may be concluded that if you are looking for instant, economic solutions, go for remote support. If money or time is not an issue, go for onsite support.

Article Source: EzineArticles

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Computer Help On Defragmenting Computer

In Windows Operating System the files are placed in the free space of the hard drive. The files are stored not in one physical place. As a result a file can be stored in a fragmented way. With the passing of time a computer could have hundreds of fragmented files. These files can be stored broken up in different locations in the hard drive which slow down the performance of the PC. The reason behind this slow performance is the fact that when the PC becomes fragmented with hundreds of files the response time of the computer increases because it takes more time to access information from the fragmented locations. As a result using a defrag program for you computer helps speeding up your computer.

If you defrag your computer with some computer help from experts the process can help your computer to place all pats of a file together on a same place. It organizes and places all the directories and files in a way how you use them. So after the defragmentation program it is certain that your computer will run faster than before.

Before defragmenting your PC you need to make sure you have back up of everything. Computer help experts suggest that you need to check your hard drive health too. They suggest using CHKDSK to scan and to fix any problem in the hard drive.

Now you need to close all the programs that are open. Computer help experts suggest that you need to make sure a constant power supply. If there is any possibility of power outrage you must use the battery backup. Your computer can crash or the operating system can corrupt or both of these can happen at a single time if in the middle of a defragmenatation process the power supply is broken.

Computer help exerts now want you to open the Defrag program. Now you need to click on the button ‘Start’. You will need to locate the Disk Defragmentation program. You need to open the program and click on the program icon. Then you should go to Accessories icon and click it. You must click on System Tools icon and then click on System Tools icon.

Now you must click the Analyze button and analyze the hard drive whether it needs defragmentaion or not. The result screen will tell you whether you should carry on a defragmentation or not. If the result says that your hard drive does not need it then you must not be benefited much by doing it. Otherwise, you should go on to defrag your hard drive.

If the analyze program result suggest that your hard drive needs defragmentation you can go ahead with it. Click on the button Defragment. Now you will have to give time to run the program. The program will take some time. The time can vary from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the issues like the speed of the processor, the memory, the fragmentation process etc. When the process complete, you will need to close the program.

Source: http://goo.gl/enxlA

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Computer Support Specialist

The most important requirement to become a C S(computer support) specialist is to have a good analytical and communication skills. Usually a degree is important but work experience and certification goes down well with some companies. A bachelor's degree is required to move higher up the ladder. There are a lot of skills required to become a computer expert, so there are multiple ways to become a specialist. Training requirements for specialist posts differ from company to company but some formal college education is always a boon. A bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems is preferred and the minimum qualification for some jobs. But some jobs may need only a computer-related associate degree. While for some, good work experience in the specific field with certificates may substitute for formal education.

Instructions

1. Consider the area of computer support you want to ultimately be in and begin preparing early. Computer support specialists can be involved in a wide range of support roles, such as troubleshooting hardware problems, resetting forgotten passwords, assisting in building new computer networks, or even administering various databases. Learning these skills in a lower end job can be a good springboard for getting into a higher paying or more specialized computer support field.

2. Take computer related classes as early as high school, if possible. Many schools now offer classes specifically for training in computer programming, troubleshooting, or even networking.

3. Obtain the appropriate certifications for the support role you are trying to get into. Most computer support specialist positions will require a minimum of the "A+" Certification, which covers the basics of how computers work and how to troubleshoot hardware problems. There are numerous books and websites dedicated to preparing people for the A+ test and many colleges and universities offer the A+ certification test for small fee. Other certifications, such as the Cisco "CCNA" or CompTIA "Network+", may also be required depending on the type of job you are applying for.

4. Earn a degree in an appropriate computer related field. In addition to certifications, many positions will also require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or an equivalent degree. Some companies are willing to overlook formal education if you have previous experience working in a computer related position for at least two years.

5. Keep up to date on the newest changes in operating systems and hardware advancements. This may be as simple as reading monthly computer periodicals or as extensive as taking new computer classes in a community college every few years.

6. Prepare and maintain an appropriate resume to maximize your chances of getting hired for the job you want. Be sure to focus on the computer experience and certifications you have.

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Importance of Computer Support Services

In the recent years, more and more online computer support services have arisen to address the needs of PC users who experience issues with their computers. There is a wide range of computer troubles encountered by computer users. Malicious viruses and spyware are a constant threat to PC security and at times, it can be difficult to deal with them, especially if it's your first time. Hardware problems are also quite common. You may be getting frustrated trying to fix your keyboard or internet connection to no avail. In this case, seeking help from a reliable computer support is quite helpful.

Computer support professionals can help you solve most of your pc problems. Most of them have had years of experiencing dealing with computer problems so they can advice you with proper troubleshooting techniques. With their PC support techniques, they can assess your computer's problem and come up with an appropriate solution to it.

Here are some common problems solved by computer support services:

. Upgrading your operating system including the latest Windows 7
. Installing anti-virus and anti-spyware and optimizing your computer security
. Setting up new internet connection, fixing faulty internet, improving internet speed
. Support with laser jet printer set up, scanner, digital camera, etc.
. Troubleshooting software and hardware problems

There are other PC issues that can be addressed by an expert technician through computer support. Generally, they can provide support 24/7 which means that they are available all throughout the week, even on weekends and late night hours. Some providers even have Microsoft techies who are certainly knowledgeable when it comes to PC repair. They are customer friendly and very helpful in providing a step-by-step solution to each customer.

There are different service plans provided by computer support firms for home users and business owners as well. It's up to you to decide whether you'll be needing their service for long term. Select a reliable and reputable company that can offer the best services at a reasonable rate. Check if they have Microsoft certified technicians who are quite skillful in repairing computer glitches.

If you're not an expert in repairing PC troubles, it could be a good option to seek professional help from online support whenever you deal with such problems. It can save you from causing more damages and incurring more expenses. However, if your problem involves serious hardware problem that needs replacement of certain components, you can send it back to the manufacturer if it's still under warranty.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/K5XiR

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