Frequently Asked Question

What is Geek Computer Services? Geek Computer Services (www.geekcompuservice.com) is a new service brought to the Northern Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts area. Now you too can benefit of our services and start enjoying a better computer experience. Top What services does Geek Computer Services offer? We offer services to fix the most daunting computer problems. We offer solutions for virus and spyware removal, setting up your home network, increasing the speed of your computer, and helping you troubleshoot serious computer operational issues. Even if you don't know what the problem is we will diagnose and resolve it. We can even help you decide if you should upgrade your computer to Microsoft's latest Windows 7 or 8 operating system. Top What makes Geek Computer Services different? Geek Computer Services is there to help you when you most need it, we can fix any make, any model no matter where you purchased your computer. With over 12 years of experience and the right tools we can solve your problems reliably with little hassle to you as possible. When you call we do not connect you overseas and you take advantage of a local service and the best thing, when you are home after work, with us you don't need to miss work to wait for a technician to come and fix your computer. With every service we also show you how to avoid problems in the future. Top What are your hours of operation? Because we understand that most people work during the day we at Geek Computer Services specialize in after hours service, that way you the customer do not have to miss a day at work to fix your computer and for more convenience we make house calls on Saturdays. Top Is the service guaranteed? Yes, if we don't solve your problem to your satisfaction we offer your money back. If you have questions about the service we provided you can call back within 5 days and we will answer any related follow-up questions at no additional cost. Top What do you do with my information? Geek Computer Services respects your privacy and recognizes your need for appropriate protection and management of your personal information. For further details please review our Privacy Policy. Top

Which anti-virus and spyware do you recommend ? The leading suites are McAfee Internet Security Suite, Norton Internet Security, PC-cillin Internet Security and ZoneAlarm Security Suite. Each includes an anti-virus module, a firewall and a content filter. Some add a spam filter and a spyware remover. Each of the anti-virus modules. However our experience has showed that a good program is only effective when the virus and spyware definitions are kept up to date. Viruses are only one of the threats you face as a computer user. spyware, phishing scams, intruders, spam…the list is long and gruesome. In fact, for most people these days spyware is a far greater danger than viruses. So products which combine multiple lines of defense – firewall, anti-spyware, spam blocker, anti-virus, and so on – are particularly attractive. Instead of having to pay for the individual components, you can get a bargain by opting for a security suite. Top How does my computer get infected with malicious software? Most likely your computer is or has been infected with Virus, Adware or Spyware at some point. Even if you are technically literate and you have any of the prevention software listed above for a virus killer and a physical or software firewall, you are still likely to get infected at some point. Believe it or not but the most common way is you! So how do they slip by all your protection software and infect peoples systems? Chances are that it was through free software you downloaded at some point. When downloading free software always carefully read the information about it on both the website and the license agreement. It might be worth your while doing a Google search for “program-name Spyware” to see if anyone else has reported problems. The best way to deal with Virus, Adware and Spyware is to avoid downloading it in the first place. The most common culprits are ActiveX Controls, free games, free screensavers, weather monitors and emoticon packages. Top How do I know if my computer is infected? After you open and run an infected program or attachment on your computer, you might not realize that you've introduced a virus until you notice something isn't quite right. Here are some signs that your system might be infected: - Runs consistently more slowly than normal. - Stops responding or locks up often. - Crashes and restarts every few minutes. - Restarts on its own and then fails to run normally. - Applications don’t work properly. - Disks or disk drives are inaccessible. - Printing doesn’t work correctly. - You see unusual error messages. - You see distorted menus and dialog boxes. Top What is a Network? In the simplest terms, a network consists of two or more computers that are connected together to share information. All networking, no matter how complex, builds off this simple system. Though this may seem like a basic idea, the concept was a major achievement in communications. There are two types of networks wired and wireless. Top What is a wireless network? A wireless network allows computers to share printers, files or an Internet connection without any wires between them. Wireless networking hardware uses radio frequencies to transmit information between the individual computers; each computer requires a wireless network adapter. A wireless network hub or router is used to bridge the wireless network to traditional Ethernet or home phone line networks, or provide a shared Internet connection. Top How can I make my wireless network more secure? A wireless network may be unaffected by the walls of your house, allowing you to use your laptop in your garden. However, unless you add security measures, it's technically possible for nearby households to access your broadband connection and see what you're doing on- line. The first step in securing you wireless network is ensuring that the security features available on your modem router are turned on. Security features are often switched off by default when you purchase your modem router. Top Should I repair or replace my computer? The answer to this question it comes down to economics, if the system is too old or the cost of the repair is too high you may consider buying a new computer. Ask the technician about your bets option. Top How long will it take to fix my computer? Our goal is to get your computer up and running as soon as possible, most problems will be taken care at your home the same day of our visit, however depending on the problem we may need to come back on a later day to complete the repair or we may need to take the unit back to the shop for further diagnostics and repair. Top