FAQ (Computer Services)
- I've ordered broadband internet but I don't know what to do next!!!
- Your provider will send a box (a router) in the post. This needs to be connected to your phone line using an adapter/filter that also allows you to connect your phone to the same line. You will then need to install the software that comes with the box, then enter any username and password that they will have provided. Your internet provider (BT, Sky etc) will not do this for you. If you want them to come, they will charge you in excess of £50. We charge a set fee of £25.
- Is my internet connection secure? Can other people use it?
- Pretty much all internet providers will send you a wireless router as part of your contract. This router should already have its own ID and password, which is usually printed on the router itself. Theoretically this means your connection is safe from others. However, its sometimes a good idea to change the password to something more secure. We can help you set up a wireless network that will be reliable and secure.
- My internet connection has stopped working. What can I do?
- In most cases, simply turning your router off for 30 seconds, and then back on again, seems to solve the problem! However, it can be more complicated than this. There are a number of reasons why your connection may not be working, from incorrect passwords to annoying viruses. Call us and we will try to help.
- Why is the internet running so slowly?
- As above, in some cases the issue is a simple one to resolve, but there could be something more sinister going on in the background, such as viruses, adware, spyware and trojans. We charge a set fee of £25 to come out and fix these problems.
- What are viruses, trojans, spyware & adware?
- They are a internet user's worst enemy! Whilst you are innocently surfing the web, malicious websites attempt to install viruses in clever ways. For example, a warning might pop up on your screen informing you your security software has found a virus and you need to "click" to remove it... when in fact, in reality, when you "click" you actually install the virus onto your system! Adware is a little program that watches what websites you visit and then attempts to sell you things by popping up adverts all over the place. It can drive you crazy! Spyware attempts to extract personal data from you, such as names, email addresses, passwords, date of birth, credit card numbers etc etc. Its not just when browsing the web that you need to be careful. They can also be installed on your system via your email. We can remove these issues, and set up preventative measures to stop it happening again.
- How quickly can WillcoxMedia come out and fix these issues?
- If you live in North Devon and i'm not already working out on location, I will aim to be at your property or business within an hour. You can call my mobile on 0777 250 4922 if the matter is urgent.
- What is the cost?
- All our services are priced very competitively. We charge a £25 set fee for any internet related issue. If for some reason we feel it will cost more, we will inform you. Plus you don't need to pay us in the unlikely event that we cannot fix the problem.
- Why is my computer running so slowly?
- When you first buy your computer or laptop, is runs like a dream. A year on, and it really starts to slow down; two years on, and it can become almost unusable. This could be for a number of reasons. Typically you will have too much clutter on your hard drive, which slows the system down, and takes longer for your computer to access your files and programs. Or it could be a virus, or incorrect drivers for your hardware. If performance cannot be improved, the next step is for a memory upgrade, therefore increasing your computer's ability to "think" and act quickly.
- My computer is taking forever to start up!!!
- This is nearly always down to the number of start-up programs you have. Many software companies want their programs to load as soon as you turn on your computer, so that you use them more. This means that more and more programs try to load up, and bog down the entire system. We have seen computers taking 10 minutes or more to start functioning normally following start up procedures. We can control which programs do and don't load when you turn on your computer. Most of the programs that load up, you simply do not need!
- Can you install hardware to speed things up?
- Yes. We can increase memory and/or install a new hard drive. We do this for a set fee of £30.
- What are the costs?
- We charge a flat fee of £30 to get your computer up and running properly. We will advise you if we feel there may be other costs, such as the purchase of a new hard drive.
- What is the difference between software and hardware?
- Software is programs that you install from a disk or from the internet to carry out various tasks, such as word processing, photo editing, games etc etc. Once installed, you can run these on your computer, often without the need to use the disk ever again. Actual physical items such as printers, cameras, hard drives, monitors, graphics cards etc etc are called hardware, and will nearly always require a software installation in order to get them to work.
- How long will it take you to install my item, and what is the cost?
- We charge an hourly rate of £25 as each hardware/software is invariably different. Some will take just 10 minutes to install (in which case we won't charge you for an hours work) whilst others may take a full hour. If you have a number of items to install then you can cram as many in as you like!
- Can I connect 2 computers together?
- Yes, we can create a wired or wireless network, meaning any number of computers (with your permission) can share your internet connection, share files, share music, share a printer etc etc.
- What else can I connect to my network?
- Printers, scanners, cameras, external hard drives, games consoles (PS3 / Wii / PSP / XBOX etc), music centres (if compatible), TV's etc etc.
- How much does it cost to set up a network?
- It really depends on what you need, so contact us first. Hourly charge is £25, and as a rough estimate, it may take an hour to set-up, and up to 3 to 4 hours in an office environment. Additional hardware costs may be applicable (a new router, or some cabling for example).
- I think my hard drive is corrupt!
- It's a horrible situation to be in, particularly if you haven’t backed up any of your data. However, all is not lost. It is possible to recover data from a non-compliant hard drive.
- I can't find a file. I may have deleted it!
- Don't worry. When you delete a file in Windows, hasn't actually been deleted. All that's gone is the visible link to the file. The file is still there, although the longer it remains "deleted" the more chance it has of being written over it (if you "delete" a file, Windows presumes you don't need it and may at some point wipe over it with a new file). We can recover nearly all data if you feel the file has been "deleted".
- I was doing some work and I accidently exited without saving the file. Can I get it back?
- This is a proper "roll your sleeves up" job! It's not easy but we can give it a go. Thankfully, Windows does store temporary files in all sorts of weird and wonderful places, so there is a good chance we can find it.
- What are the costs to recover my data?
- We charge £25 per hour. The time taken is dependent on the data itself. Many files can be recovered extremely quickly, whilst corrupted data may require your hard drive to be taken back to our offices for further investigation.
- I'm not very good with computers and would like to learn the basics...
- We can teach you the basics with some one to one tuition. We'll take notes together whilst we do this, which you can refer back to once needed. "The basics" may include browsing the web, sending emails, moving or deleting files, creating word documents, getting photos from your camera onto your computer... there are many things to learn. Contact us for further details.
- I've forgotten something that you taught me!
- No problem at all. If its something we've covered in our tuition session, you can call for assistance at any time for free!
- I know all the basics, but I quickly want to learn more advanced computing skills...
- Send us an email and let us know what you want to learn. We know almost everything!
- What are the costs of a tuition session?
- You'll need to call first. We charge £25 per hour, but we do offer introductory rates at a discounted price, plus we offer a discount for multiple sessions. We can advise you how long we think it will take to learn something. For example, "the basics" can usually be covered in an hour.
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