We Can Setup Your Computer
We can setup a new computer for users that are not confident that they can do this themselves. In addition to the basics we also configure your PC to match your needs. Here are the main steps that we will go through to make the setup go smoothly, and to give you years of reliable operation.
We review your planned location for the computer
(Skip this if the computer is a laptop). If the computer is a desktop model we will discuss the placement of the big box (tower). If you put it on the floor, the fans will bring in more dust and you will have to have the dust removed more often to keep it running. If you put it up on a desk, it wastes a lot of space, looks cluttered but the computer will last longer. Can it easily be knocked down is another item we will consider.
Is your location close to a source of power? You should locate it on a circuit that is not used by an air conditioner, or refrigerator or other appliance with a motor. This will reduce power line noise, and avoid have your computer loose power if a circuit breaker or fuse trips.
There should be room for a power bar with built-in surge protection. We highly recommend surge protection for all computers, and this is the best time to install it. You will need provision for up to about six plugs when you add accessories. You may wish to have an UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) so that if the power goes off then you have five minutes to close off your work and shut down your computer. If do, then this requires more room than a power bar.
We connect all the wires
On newer computers, the cables are colour coded. This means that there are some visual clues to identify which wire goes where. It does get more confusing if you have sound capabilities, as the connectors frequently are all the same, a 1/8 inch stereo audio cables and the colour coding does not help.
Where the color coding does not help is when you connect your computer to the internet. We can connect up to dial-up, Bell or other telephone based DSL high speed Internet, or Cable based high speed. The latter two require one or two additional boxes that we will wire up and plug in for you. There are configuration steps to get these boxes to work, and we will do this for you.
We wire up the wireless (Wi-Fi)
If you have a wireless network as part of your setup we can wire this up, provide the power and setup the wireless system to operate securely for you. If you have a desktop computer, and a wireless router, then typically you will have a wired connection to the desktop computer. You would use the wireless connection for laptops belonging to yourself or to your guests.
If your cable or phone line is in a different part of the building than where you plan to locate your desktop computer, then you need a Wireless NIC card plugged into your desktop computer to access the Internet. This card will require configuration as well.
The location of the wireless is very important for reliable operation. We will pay particular attention to this to ensure a reliable operation. Sometimes a significant compromise is required to get a good location.
We configure the wireless (Wi-Fi)
The configuring of the WiFi components is the most challenging part of most installations for new computer users. We will ask a few questions to determine your requirements, and will set up the wireless system. We will do a site survey and then set up your wireless to operate on a channel that is lightly used in your neighbourhood. Next we setup WAP encryption of your wireless to keep your connection private.
We connect your printers
We connect your printer and install the correct drivers for it, and test it. If you have more than one computer we can arrange for the printer to be used by all computers. We will setup and configure file and printer sharing.
We setup user accounts
For most new computer owners we recommend a setup with at least two accounts. We setup a guest account or an account for a frequent user so that they have their own settings and don't disturb yours. The guest accounts will be setup as a limit privilege account so that they can't make major changes to your computer, either deliberately, or by accident. We also setup your the accounts so that a guest can't access or see any files that you create, unless you specifically give them permission by putting them in a shared folder. This helps maintain your privacy. This setup will allow only you, using a password protected account to add or modify the programs on your computer. This will keep your computer more stable and more familiar.
We setup anti-virus software
This is an essential utility for all computer users who are connected to the Internet. We will install one if none is included with your PC, and ensure that it is operating correctly.
We can setup remote access
If you are a new computer user and you have a friend or relative who is a computer whiz we can setup your computer so that when you enable it, the person that you choose can view your screen and can jointly do things on your computer. We would use either VNC or Microsoft Remote Desktop, depending on the situation. You can also use this to get help from an online help desk service.