Computer Services

Search engine optimization

Preferred computer vendors:

Ultratek International
535 South Broadway
Hicksville, NY 11801
(516) 935-2005

They don't build computers for anyone. They build them just for you.

Recommended software:

AdAware has long been our preferred tool when our computers weren't running well. We recently came across Malwarebytes when we had to eliminate Antivirus 360 from a system. It worked really well.

Norton Internet Security 2009 1User/3Pc

Some free alternatives :
Antivirus - Avast Home Edition
Spyware - Windows Defender
Firewall + antivirus - Comodo Firewall and Antivirus

Internet Security and Safety:

Here are a few situations to use caution:
The site is referred to you through an e-mail message from someone you don't know.
The site offers objectionable content, such as pornography or illegal materials.
The site makes offers that seem too good to be true, indicating a possible scam or the sale of illegal or stolen products.
You are lured to the site by a bait and switch scheme, in which the product or service is not what you were expecting.
You are asked for a credit card as a verification of identity or for personal information that does not seem necessary.
You are asked to provide a credit card number without proof that the transaction is secure.
No legitimate bank will ask you to click on a link sent to you in an e-mail.

Here are a few examples that a site might be safe:
Are you visiting a secure site? Look for the lock icon in the Address bar. Click on it to learn more about the Web site.
Is the website certified by an Internet trust organization? Do you see any privacy certification logos (usually at the bottom of the first page)?
Is the website owned by a company or organization that you know well?
Does the website have a valid certificate? Did the Address bar turn green?
Does the website ask you for personal information? Check for the lock icon.
On a retail website, is there a way to contact someone by phone or mail?
If you don't recognize the site, do you have other information to help you decide? Try to search for the vendor first. Look for trouble reports or ask friends or colleagues.
(Source: Internet Explorer 8 Help)

In addition:
Keep Windows and Office up to date
Get the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Adobe Reader and keep them up to date
Get an Internet Security Suite (anti-virus, spyware and firewall)

Recommended maintenance routine:

Daily - Backup
Weekly - Virus Scan, Spyware Scan, Adware Scan
Monthly - Windows Update, Office Update, Scandisk, Defragment

Problem solutions:

Message: "this copy of windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can logon"

I installed the OEM version of Windows XP SP2 on a different computer. It was similar, but not an exact copy of the original. After installation it would hang at the activation window. After a re-boot I could activate and register Windows. However, when I tried to log on, a dialog came up saying "this copy of windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can logon," The options are "Yes" and "No." "No" just gets you back to the log back in again. When you select "Yes" the activation window says that you're already activated and brings you back to log in. You can do this over and over again.

Others have had the same or similar experience and posted their problems in many forums. One even called Microsoft and was told it couldn't be done. None of the suggested solutions worked for me. I repaired and re-installed several times. Nothing worked until I used another installation CD the same kind as the original. A repair with this CD worked for me. Apparently, the original CD must have gotten corrupted somehow.

Message: "The specified server was found, but there was no response from the server."

This happened just after I reformatted the hard drive on a virus infected machine. After installing Outlook 2003, I could not send message. Testing the account produced the above message. I found the solution on TechRepublic.com. Go to Control Panel, double-click on the Mail icon. Click on E-mail Accounts. Choose View or change existing e-mail accounts and click Next. Select the account that's not working and click Change. Click More Settings. Click on the Advanced tab. Change the Outgoing Server (SMTP) port to 465 and check This server requires an encrypted connection. When you go back to Test Account Settings you will be prompted to accept the certificate. Do that.

I'm not sure why this worked, but suspect that the infected machine was acting as a zombie and was blocked by the mail server. Changing the port on the re-formatted makes it look like the new machine it is to the outgoing mail server.

I notice that others have done this successfully with other port numbers as well.

Install/Uninstall problems can sometimes be resolved with Window Installer Cleanup Utility.

Event Viewer Description: "RSM could not load media in drive Drive 0 of library HP DSC CB350 USB Device."
Event ID: 111

We got a new HP CB350 digital camera. It would not connect to the computer. USB error was displayed on the camera and the computer's event viewer would display the above error twice.

What finally solved this problem was setting Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service to start automatically. Ordinarily this service only starts when requested by other services. I'm sure there is a resource penalty for doing this, but it did solve the problem.

The above error continues to appear in the Event Viewer, but the camera now connects to the computer every time.