FAQs
I'm Thinking of Buying a New Computer. What Are the Most Important Things to Consider?
Contrary to popular belief, the size of the hard drive is not what matters so much as the processor, bus speed, and amount of memory. Hard drives, no matter how large, will not typically aid the computer in thinking ability. They are mostly just storage places. Suppose you want to increase the speed of your automobile. You would increase the engine size and possibly increase the amount of fuel/air sent to the engine. You would not get a bus to drive faster. Bigger storage space does not equal higher performance. The speed of the processor and its multitasking ability (duo core) can dramatically increase its thinking speed. The bus speed refers to the rate at which the motherboard can transfer data. In a nutshell, the amount of memory helps the computer process all of the commands given to it more immediately. What Should I Keep in Mind While Making a Decision?
Keep in mind that repairs and replacements can be costly. If there is an extended warranty option, strongly consider it. The labor and parts costs on a new hard drive replacement start at about $125. What Is the Best Way to Hook to the Internet?
The fastest, least expensive, safest way is currently DSL. In some towns, cable modems are faster but since they're on a shared network, they are less safe: it's possible for someone to hack into a computer on a cable modem if they too have a cable modem. Once you have gone to high-speed Internet (cable, DSL, or some wireless), it's frustrating to downgrade to a dial-up connection from AOL™, Earthlink™, PeoplePC™, and other carriers. Keep in mind that Frontier offers a dial-up connection and DSL. With DSL, your phone line is available for use while you're surfing the Internet. Frontier is currently offering a 6MB-per-second download in certain parts of town, which is faster than cable has ever been! Cable typically has a 1MB-per-second download speed. My Computer Is Running Much Slower Than Usual. What Are the Possible Causes?
#1: Spyware
#2: Anti-Virus Software Is Hogging Resources
#3: Need More Memory for Applications I'm Having Trouble Trying to Find Files I Thought Were Stored on My PC. How Can I Find Them?
In Windows XP™, click on "Start," choose "Search," and then fill in the name of the file you're looking for. Here, you can narrow down the folders you want the computer to look in. You can even specify the dates of creation and the type of file, such as a picture or document. In all Windows operating systems, including XP, you can hold down the "Windows" key and type "F" for "Find." The "Windows" key is located on the left side of the keyboard between the "Ctrl" and "Alt" keys. I Have More Than One Computer in My Home/Business. Can They Be Hooked Together?
Yes, just about all computers can be networked together. I Would Like to Put All of My Pictures on a CD. How Can I Do This?
The easiest way is to use a CD burning program, such as Nero™ or Roxio™. However, XP comes with the ability to burn files for most CD burners. By the way, CD/RW means it is re-writable. CD-R is a one-shot deal; once you burn files to it, they are there forever or until you scratch your CD so badly the drive can't read it anymore. It cannot be erased and written over, as in a re-writable CD. I Run a Small Business & Use Computers to Store Information.
What Security Software Should I Use?
We've tried them all. The one that works best from our experience is AVG. It has a small footprint (it does not use most of the resources of the computer). Most of the others can reduce your PC's speed to a crawl. Since we found AVG, Back To Basics Computer Services LLC only sells AVG. I Am Thinking of Starting a Small Business. What Kind of Computer & Software Should I Have?
It depends on the size of the small business. In a small business of 25 or more persons where access needs to be managed and restricted closely, domains should be implemented in a server environment (server software is required). With many small businesses, such as this one, a "file server" (computer that stores all the data of the business) can be used in an XP system of networked computers. I Would Like Some Training to Help Me Use My Computer Better. Where Should I Go?
You can try Mohave Community College. They usually offer a structured computer course if enough people sign up. You can also use Back to Basics Computer Services LLC for a less structured, more individualized experience. We've found that learning takes place when you're relaxed and having fun. This is how we fulfill so many of your training needs. | 
