PC WORKS

Then...Now...

PC WORKS has intentionally been kept as a small 'niche' business, but one with an impressive set of skill sets. For you, that means that we can generally find and fix ALL of your PC problems faster, better and perhaps even cheaper than most of our competitors.

The Windows family of operating systems are complex; they change with every new version. The bigger the operating system, the more the vulnerabilities, some of which get exploited by criminals (viruses, crime-ware etc), or result in failures, lockups, glitches and other abnormalities. It's a never ending process and that's what most of your Windows updates are all about.

We know and work with these operating systems all the time and can often guess the problem even before we see the machine. That saves time and money and it gives you a better result.

It may not be a software issue. Hardware also wears out. It might be a seized bearing in a cooling fan, a blown power supply, a worn out 'burner', an ageing hard drive, or a video card that just won't cut it with some new game. It could be that your new printer just doesn't work properly, or you're having trouble getting the new webcam to work with Skype.

PC WORKS carries most components in stock, so that we can quickly get your computer up and going again.

   Computer Maintenance

PCs, just like cars, need regular maintenance. We recommend a visit to the 'doctor' once a year for home systems and perhaps twice a year for business machines.

Apart from upgrading various Virus and other software, we clean and check everything to make sure your system keeps running properly. Fans draw in dust which clog cooling fins, which leads to overheating, which reduces your PC's performance and life. Bearings also wear out over time. They become noisy (usually on start up) and then finally seize, which again can lead to overheating, dry joints, earth shorts and even fire. We've seen it all...

Most systems of less than 3 years old, just need to have a good 'going over'; an annual tune up, if you like. Sometimes, with each new 'bigger and better' programs, not to mention all the updates that come out, a little extra RAM might help restore performance. Perhaps, your hard drive is getting old and slow, or your kids have downloaded lots of music and it's full. Replacing it with a bigger one can help restore performance, extend your PC's life and perhaps avoid losing all your systems and data. Remember, when a HDD dies, it often gives you all of two milliseconds notice.

A lack of maintenance or obvious issues, can reduce performance, result in random and annoying errors, cause freezing, crashes and a variety of software malfunctions.

We can fix all of that and more...

PC WORKS are specialists in the thorough removal of viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious infections, most notably the new CRIME-WARE variants, designed to steal your money, your identity or both.

Is your PC infected, or at risk? Ask yourself four simple questions.

1. Do you have a good current virus scanner, not a freebie?
2. Do you have separate spyware and malware scanners?
3. Do you keep the 'definitions' up to date?
4. Do you run your scanners at least once a week?

If the answer is NO to any one of these questions and you use the Internet, then your PC is probably already infected. It's certainly at risk.

First in, best dressed...

It's far better, easier and cheaper to protect your PC up front, than to clean and repair your system, afterwards.

Getting rid of infections PROPERLY is not a fast or easy task, no matter what some people say.

Firstly, you cannot resolve the more serious malicious code problems, using your own computer. If your operating system is running (live), then so is the code and it will often defend itself against removal, or re-activate later.

You can, of course, re-format your HDD and re-load your whole system. In this case, remember to save your data first and be prepared to spend many hours re-loading all of your software and printers, together with re-configuring email addresses, favourites and so on. Then hope that none of your data was infected.

At PC WORKS, we usually adopt a three stage process.

The first involves some preliminary diagnosis and preparation, followed by several hours of 'primary' scans of your HDD, connected to one of our diagnostic servers. We use several scanners and the process is repeated (as necessary) until 'all' malicious code is identified and removed.

The second process sees your HDD back in your machine, new software loaded and the scanning process repeated, until the remaining remnants (bones) are found and removed. Again, this takes many hours and has to be repeated, as necessary, until we get a perfectly clean set of scans.

Beware of services who offer to do this on site. To do virus work properly is complicated, time consuming and it has to be done 'by the numbers...' All too often, we get their upset customers who have already spent hundreds of dollars, only to have the viruses back a few days later.

The good news is that at PC WORKS, most of the 'heavy' work is done by our diagnostic servers. It's wasteful and unnecessary to have some-one sitting in your home, twiddling his thumbs and charging you.

While our diagnostic servers are doing most of the work, we get on with more productive things. More productive for us, cheaper for you.

The third step involves one of our experienced techs making any necessary repairs. They ensure repair any remaining damage, restore security protocols and 'scrub' the registry of any remnant references. We basically give your PC a tune-up, configure the scanners and give you some instruction (written and verbal) on you what you need to do, in the future.

Your best option is always to protect your PC BEFORE it becomes infected. The cost is much less and so is the inconvenience.

   Are you already infected?

• Has your PC suddenly become slow, or unresponsive?
• Have you lost your Internet, or home network access? (Denial of Service).
• Do you have suspicious pop-ups, or get diverted (hijacked) to other sites?
• Do you get desktop warnings that you have numerous infections? (Scare-ware)
• Do you have suspiciously high Internet usage, or downloads.
• Have your desktop icons disappeared?
• Does Windows lock up frequently, reboot or shutdown.
• Are application programs unable to start.
• Has your Virus scanner become disabled.
• Do you have a gut feeling something suspicious is going on!

   Viruses & other Malicious Code

What most people refer to as VIRUSES actually falls into several categories.

ADWARE - annoying but usually the least malicious, downloaded on to your PC with 'freebie' programs and offers and designed to advertise products.

SPYWARE - often comes with Adware and can vary in threat from benign, to quite dangerous. Benign 'spyware' might simply report errors in computer hardware back to the manufacturer, or apply available updates. Malicious Spyware invades your right to privacy to send information across the Internet, or a network, without your knowledge or permission and often for improper purposes.

VIRUSES are truly malicious and designed solely to wreak havoc within your system. They can access your machine through the Internet, through a network or even off a 'burnt' CD\DVD or flash drive, plugged into your PC. Once active, they replicate and will often disable virus protection, chew up memory and drive space, corrupt or delete files, block Internet access and slow your PC down, before often crashing your Windows operating system.

MALWARE, strictly speaking, is more of a generic term that describes intent rather than the form or method of infection. It means MALICIOUS CODE and can include computer viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, dishonest adware, scare ware, crime ware, root kits and other malicious, even including unwanted software.

These consist of programming (code, scripts, active content, and other software) designed to disrupt, slow or deny operations, gather information and often leads to loss of privacy or other exploitation, unauthorised access and other malicious behaviours.

Most computer professionals regard Spyware and Adware as more of a nuisance, while viruses are dangerous and highly infectious, both to your system and to everyone else.

CRIME-WARE is the newest and easily the most dangerous of all malicious code, at present. This category represents the biggest threat to PC Internet users, in terms of identity theft and bank fraud, with annual losses already exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars, in Australia alone.

Imagine a small 'key-logger' program that resides in the PC's (TSR) memory and goes to 'sleep', until you type in your Bank's (URL) web address, then 'wakes up' and records your next 100 key strokes (logon and password), then sends them off to criminals, usually overseas. They then log on to your bank account and start emptying out your account. It happens every day...

There are two main levels of data recovery; Let's call them 'Soft' and 'Hard'.

'SOFT' recovery involves clever software and an experienced technician. It's used when the 'magnetic drive media' is still 'physically' sound.

Soft recovery techniques are used when files have been deleted, accidentally or perhaps intentionally. It can happen after a Windows system crash, when file or directory structures become damaged or corrupted. There might be damage to file allocation tables or the registry becomes corrupt or if the HDD's boot strap has been 'damaged'. It can happen when malicious code (viruses) infect your system. It can even happen when your PC is incorrectly shutdown, or as a result of a power outage.

Most often, it's human error known as 'the loose nut on the keyboard'.

The is ONE overriding rule to follow.

"When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging..."

Shut the machine down and seek professional help. The more you 'help', the more it will cost you and the less the chances of successful recovery.

Here's why...

When a file is first deleted, it is simply 'moved' to the 'rubbish bin'. The file status is altered, but the data is still protected and can easily be recovered, by the PC user.

Once you 'empty' the rubbish bin, both the file name and the data become unprotected and the space, on which it resides, is then made available to be written to, with other (new) data.

So, if you don't stop quickly, this space can be used again and any existing magnetic images (data/photos) may then be overwritten by new data. After that, it gets much harder to recover.

At PC WORKS, we use very sophisticated software that can still easily recover data, including photos, after the bin has been first emptied, PROVIDED it has not been overwritten.

If you keep going, overwriting data, or even formatting the drive and re-loading Windows, it gets a whole lot harder, takes longer and costs more.

Even then, we can often still recover data.

Costs vary, depending on how big the drive is, how much data you have, how bad the damage is and how quickly you shut down, after the problem occurred.

How is this done?

Your 'Hard Drive', for example, saves data to a small 'platter' or 'disk', a little like an old fashioned record. Imagine writing your name on a pad. Now 'delete' the file, or in this case, tear the top page off and throw it away. It seems to be gone!

Now use an HB pencil to gently shade the page underneath and the name can now be seen again.

Magnetic media is like that too. Even when you delete, format or overwrite a file, there remains at least some residual magnetic image or the original data, which diminishes with each subsequent overwrite. The US Department of Defence (DOD) 'secure erasure' standards is three overwrites, but some agencies can require up to 35 'passes', using even more intensive protocols.

Once the magnetic image is overwritten, recovery involves extras steps and fuzzy logic algorithms, all of which take longer to work and cost more. Also, the more often the media is overwritten, the less chance there is of recovery.

If you lose your valuable data, it will really spoil your day.. month.. year.

'HARD DAMAGE' recovery refers to the processes used when the hard drive or other magnetic media, have suffered critical mechanical, electronic or physical failure.

Recovery of this type is always far more expensive ($000's) and requires special clean room facilities. This is a service we do not offer at PC WORKS, but we can arrange it for you, or offer advice on who you should contact.

At PC WORKS, we don't sell 'budget' PC's. Simply put, the margin on hardware today is tiny, although component cost varies greatly, based on speed and quality.

"Lesser speed will save you money, but lesser quality will cost you more."

We only use quality components, ensuring best performance, compatibility and best value for your hard earned dollar. Simple things, like an extra $10 case fan over the drive bay, will reduce overheating and can extend your drive life by up to 100%. Up front, it actually doesn't cost that much more but, in the longer term, you save both aggravation and money.

We build PC's for families and students, for professional gamers, doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers and for every industry you can imagine. From simple email and web systems, to monitoring irrigation and feedlots on remote properties; from home and small business systems, to large secure, encrypted networks. We've pretty much done it all.

Mostly, of course, we build quality PC's for people who just want their computers to work, without too much fuss or frustration, knowing that friendly support is just a phone call away.

Before anything happens, we find out what you want and what you actually need; sometimes they're quite different. Once the specs and cost have been agreed, you need to allow about a week for delivery.

Once the components all arrive, we'll assemble the unit and custom load your Windows operating system. After 'burn in' testing, we then setup your printers, cameras and other peripheral devices. Next, we load and configure all of your application software, together with a host of other useful utilities. Finally, we copy over all your old data, photos, music, emails and even your Internet favourites.

Once this is all done, we will re-tune and performance test the machine again, making any required adjustments. Finally, we sit down with you again to ensure that everything is to your satisfaction.

Once done, the hard drive(s) are then 'imaged', so that the entire system is safely backed up. Our custom builds take anything from 10-15 hours each. Imaging is all about good 'disaster recovery' procedures. We also setup manual or automated backup procedures, to ensure the safety of all your valuable data and precious photographic memories.

We take great pride in our work and that ensures customer loyalty and satisfaction. Many of our clients and their families have been with us for over almost two decades now.

We build beautiful computers... and they each get a name.

   Some Common Computer Terms

CPU - Central Processing Unit

A computer's CPU is the brain of the operation. It is responsible for the processing of information and operations, and the higher its speed (measured in GHz) the faster it can do this provided the RAM (see below) is up to scratch.

RAM - Random Access Memory

RAM is a computer's short-term memory, not to be confused with your HDD (below) which is your computers storage space. RAM determines such things as how many programs you can have open at once, generally how much your PC can hold in its short term memory. Remember that RAM also determines the 'speed' of your PC. 'A computer is only as fast as it's memory', the RAM is the component responsible for delivering instructions to the CPU, so you can have the fastest CPU you can get your hands on, but if you have slow RAM you won't notice much of a difference at all! This is usually why when you upgrade your CPU you should also be looking to upgrade you RAM in both speed and capacity. The long chip in the picture above is a RAM chip or RAM 'DIMM'

HDD - Hard Disk Drive / SSD - Solid State Drive

This is the component responsible for storing you data and programs in the long term. For obvious reasons it is vital that this component is of good reliable quality. Measured in GigaBytes, you may simply have run out of storage space and need more for a growing photo, music or document database.

More Simple Upgrades

• A better video or sound card for better gaming graphics and performance.
• A larger hard drive, allowing you to store more information, photos, videos, documents, music, etc.
• More USB slots, Fire-wire slots.
• Or if you are after better peripherals; mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc. we can also help.