Hello from the Eldest Geek – check out my newsletter

I’ve been asked several times if I would do a newsletter – and I’ve done one for my Mac Customers for some time – so

here goes my general attempt.

(and to be honest, following up with customers is NOT one of my strong points so I’ll try to do this as well to keep in touch!)

Note – if you already get the Mac emails these will be close.

And if you DONT want them I’ll take you off the list immediately just reply.

SNOWMAGEDDON 2016!
Hopefully you all are snug riding out what may be the biggest snowfall since 1922!
But – while you are there with power and warmth THIS is a good time to get some things done!BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP!
Get your backup drive out and make sure Time Machine has a FULL backup of your system!
With this much snow we can never know WHEN (hopefuly not, but what the heck!) power might be lost.
In ANY storm, make sure your Time Machine is current.
Because when power fails – in the time during failure and just when its coming back on, your house current
may go haywire for a few milliseconds – much more than 110v, less, more less etc till it stabilizes.
THIS CAN CORRUPT YOUR HARD DRIVE – or even damage the Mac itself.
So ensure you have a current backup – then detach the drive and put in in a drawer!

And if you are using a PC – then the above is JUST AS IMPORTANT – but we don’t have Time Machine alas.

I use CasperXP myself on my Windows computers – it makes a FULL BOOTABLE IMAGE BACKUP on an external drives.

DONT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ONLY BACKUP PHOTOS AND DOCUMENTS!

If your hard drive fails, then you will spend HOURS reloading windows (or Mac OS) – and reinstalling all your software —

BEFORE you get to the point of being able to load back your photos and documents.

BACK UP THE WHOLE DRIVE TO A BOOTABLE IMAGE.

Then if your hard drive dies its an INCONVENIENCE – not a CATASTROPHE!!

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO BE ONLINE NOW?
If the answer is no, then shut the mac or PC down and unplug it from the wall.  You avoid any problems
with house power if it goes awry.  Snuggle up on the couch and fire up NetFlix.
(Those with satellites – Netflix or Amazon use your internet so that 2 foot pile on your dish would not
disrupt things).

WEIRD MAC PROBLEMS!
We have been seeing a number of macs in the last few weeks with odd Performance issues – and this has been a bit
unusual! In once case it was a failing memory stick, in another there were permission problems and in yet another
Mac OS had some misbehaving drivers.
One thing that is USUALLY safe in the latter case to reload Mac OS.  Not blindly, but after you check things.
Repairing permissions is straightforward, and should never be a problem.  If your Mac is running wonky (spinning beachball etc) it does not hurt to go into Disk Utility and pick your drive and Check the Drive and Repair if needed.
Permission errors are usually the fault of a messed up software program, but Mac OS knows how to deal with it.

Been having lost of these recently.  Mostly virus related but we’ve had several that were do to services malfunctioning – and this

is something WAY UNDER THE HOOD of a Windows installation.

IF YOUR SYSTEM IS BEHAVING SLOW – make sure to check and see if your hard drive is failing.
Google ‘Crystal Disk Info’ download install it and run it.  If it says CAUTION or BAD get by my shop IMMEDIATELY IMEDDIATELY

YOUR DATA IS IN IMMINENT DANGER!

ADOPTION CORNER

MACS
We have some nice Mac Minis at the shop – various configurations!
DId I mention that you can get a  Mac Mini – mount it on the wall behind your 60in TV, attach HDMI cable, fire up
Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse – and have a SIXTY INCH IMAC?  Rather nice :)Also we have a 2015 Mac Air – 4gb, 128gb – that needs a home!
Also a 13in 2012 Macbook Pro – and a 15in Retina!

We have several nice Dell laptops – 13 to 15 inch.  i3 and I5.

Some nice Sony and Toshiba as well!

We have a couple of DESKTOP REPLACEMENTS – BEAST Laptops from Dell in the Precision Family.

These were made to be desktop replacements and have a HUGE 220w power supply.  Dam near as big as many folks laptops 🙂

These things take up to 32gb ram, 2 hard drives and have a specialized video card with 1gb of ram dedicated to just video!

ALL COME WITH A SIX MONTH WARRANTY FROM US!Well – back to shovelling!!

Hope you like this newsletter – tell me what you think of it!

Any any QUESTIONS you would like answered I’ll put up a section of USER QUESTIONS and answer them for all to benefit!

Enjoy the SNOW and stay WARM.

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