Chris Computing

AND WE'RE BACK

2011-07-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

Chris Computing has reopened are are taking on new work. Call us up for a quick fix on even the most difficult computer problems, or if you just want something new at the best possible price.

Is This The End?! Yes

2009-12-29T14:51:00.001-08:00

Chris Computing will be permanently shut down on January 1st 2010. We've had a great run, but all good things must come to an end. I recommend CCI computers in Walnut Creek for all your computer needs.

Their site is: http://www.cciathome.com/

Phone number: 925-939-8480

If you tell them you were reffered by me they might give you an ever better rate.

Busy Busy Busy...

2009-09-07T14:52:00.001-07:00

Due to an huge influx of new service requests we are currently backdated through September 15th. We will be accepting new jobs after the 15th or when the current work schedule is completed. Check back frequently as we might finish ahead of schedule. Thank you.

-Chris

And now for the triumphant return!

2009-06-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

Were back from the dead! No no, we’re not zombies; (“Brains?” ….”Quiet Ted, you’re going to ruin it for us.”). I’m sorry, where was I? Oh yes, we are back and taking new orders again. What does that mean for you you might wonder? Well that means that if your computer is acting funny you can call us and we can fix it.

More information to follow shortly, stay tuned!

-Chris
Chris Computing
… Not zombies

P.S. Chris Computing accepts payment in cash, check, or human brains…

Is this the end...? Yes.

2009-05-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

At the end of May 2009, Chris Computing will no longer be accepting new jobs. All current support contracts will be honored until they expire but contract holders will be unable to renew after their expiration date. Those with lifetime support contracts will still get service for the life of their product or products, not the rest of their (the person's) life, (this averages about 6-7 years worth of free service).

I do still have the "Get Help Now" link on the site and you can still submit a help request through the online form. I might choose to accept the work, but if I don't I will refer the issue to another capable party, (not the Geek Squad, after all I did say "capable").

Q@A

But Chris, (one might wonder), what has led you to shut down operations?
Good question. As it is I am the IT admin for large company, and the only person doing IT for it. That job has proven to more time consuming than I had ever imagined with me at times having to get up at 3am to fix something and work through most of my weekends. Needless to say I have precious little free time. Prior to now, the rest of my free time was divided up into Chris Computing work, being a good boyfriend, playing with my cats, day dreaming about getting some sleep one of these days, and paying bills and taking care of the house. Now, on your average week I would get about, (lets see here....carry the 1...), about 2 hours of time to do that; note that I said per week, not per day. This has started to lead to issues and the reprioritization of my daily life.

More to follow...

Email: Rules of conduct.

2009-04-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

I recently received a giant chain email talking about how if you hit #90 on your phone it gives your information to the person calling and how I should send it to “Everyone I know so they can be safe!” After getting more emails like this each day I decided I would start my own, “Send this to everyone you know or else” style email due to being insanely tired of receiving emails that if I don’t send to 8 trillion people god will kill a kitten, or some other insane and implausible event. So with that, if you ever get spam from someone sending you, “How to loose 600lbs in 5 minutes while eating pizza” or “Jesus has returned as an antelope!” Please do not hesitate to copy this response (leaving out the initial specific stuff to the email I was responding to) to the “friends” of yours that sent you this “wonderful thing they couldn’t resist to send.”

Email:

"ugg. I will save everyone some completely unnecessary fear here and let you all know this is not real. here are a few common sense reasons why.

1. even if hitting #90 did do that, how would the individual get the information you just "opened up" to them?

2. no telephone company (even ATT) would be stupid enough to allow customers to forward that information on to anyone. have you ever accessed your own account by phone from say Verizon or some other company? you can find out your info but there is no such way to forward it to anyone else.

3. If someone really wants your info they can get it. unless you pay to have your number show up as "blocked" or "unavailable" to caller ID (and even that can be reverse look-up'ed) I could get all the information about anyone's phone and geographic location by going to sites like this (this site is safe, check it out to see just how easy this stuff is. there is no virus's or spyware here, I use it daily) http://www.yougetsignal.com/

4. This information was provided (the stuff in the email) by Snopes.com. Snopes is known for being the most unreliable source of rumors and "information" on the planet, (second only to the voices that speak to people about spaceships in the tail end of the comets coming to "take us home." on a side note, anyone want some koolaid?)

5. (technically not proving this email I received to be inaccurate, but still important). The Internet is a series of tubes, stuff that has "send to everyone you know" is causing (not all by itself of course) what will need to eventually be the rebuilding of the backbone of the Internet to accommodate all this excess traffic (though its mostly caused by streaming media files like watching tv online). So please, next time you see something that you think would benefit the entire world greatly, send the person who sent you the email this.

"Thank you for taking the time to email me this amazingly fascinating piece of literature and/or information (or whatever it is, "worlds cutest kittens" etc...). In the future remember that while some of these emails are infact rather interesting (or those kittens are in fact mind numbingly cute), most of this information is likely false. To ensure you do not accidental send me, your loved ones, or others you care about things that are potentially incorrect or could actually be a virus themselves please refer to this common sense test. If the email passes the test please send it my way; the test is as follows:

1. while possible is this even remotely plausible (see Bonsia Kittens, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsai_Kitten )? if "yes" see step 2, if "no" find the delete button and send this email back to the depth from which it came.
2. was the email interesting enough for me to even read it all the way through before sending it out? if "yes" see step 3, if "no" delete.
3. is there an attached file in it that claims "you must see" or it will "fix something" "protect you from virus's" "________" (insert other bit of nonsense here). If "yes" delete, if "no" see step 4.
4. did my computer slow down or start doing weird things after opening this email/attachment? if "yes" go to www.ChrisComputing.com and pay me to fix it, if "no" see step 5 and or go to www.ChrisComputing.com and donate money anyways for providing you with such a handy guide.
5. was it interesting enough to read again or did I take something away from this I will value for at least the next few hours? if "yes" see 6, if "no" reread it or delete to be sure.
6. you are now ready to send this to your family, friends, loved ones. Even more importantly you have passed the "common sense" test.

Alternatively if you hate the people you are sending this to just do the exact opposite of all the answers that led you to having a legitimate reason to send it.

(as a side note, the Bonsia Kitten email was at the time the most circulated email to date. Proving once and for all that while a person is smart, people (the masses) are for the most part completely devoid of common sense).

And for the love of god! Please forward this to at least 60,000 people or the world will stop spinning and head directly into the Sun! Also your computer will explode and other such nonsense. :)"

update: After sending this out, within seconds I got a mass email full of super cute kittens, that then crashed my internet browser. So either god has a sense of humor similar to mine (scary thought), or this has already making waves.

Update 2: GOOD NEWS! After reading my email I am pleased to announce that the prince of Nigeria has decided to send me a large inheritance in exchange for only a small fee for transferring the money! Wow how lucky I am to receive such an honor.
(Yes I was sent that by someone I know with the subject title being, “Do you think this is legitimate?” Is it wrong of me to want to write back, “Oh yes absolutely, you should go for it!” …when was it exactly that most people stopped using their brain?)

Download Remote Connection Software.

2008-12-29T10:23:00.001-08:00

If you are using a PC (Microsoft Windows, any version such as XP or Vista), click HERE.

If you are using an Apple or Mac computer (running OSX, that is everyone these days), click HERE

Set up for PC users: When you click the link it will ask you to, “Run” or “Save.” Click “Save” and download it to your desktop. Then when it is done downloading you can “Run” it or simply double lick the newly downloaded file named, “TeamViewerQS.”
It will then generate a random user ID and password. You then need to tell me what those are and I will be able to connect.

Set up for Mac users: When you click the link it will open up a new small window that will show it downloading. Once that is complete you can click on the TeamViewerQS icon in that window and tell it to “Open” or “Launch.” It will then generate a random user ID and password. You then need to tell me what those are and I will be able to connect.

Note: the password changes every time you launch the application for security purposes. This means that no one, including myself, is able to get into your computer without you launching the application and telling them the new randomly generated password.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-17T15:09:00.001-08:00

Good afternoon,

Normally I only send 1 newsletter per month but since it’s the holiday season, I figured I would give a status update.

Chris Computing will not be accepting any more jobs this holiday season. We will be honoring scheduled checkups as well as existing service contracts, but as of today we will not be taking in any new jobs until after January 5th. The reason for this is that I will be donating my time to the FeedANeed.org program ( www.FeedANeed.org ) to help out non for profits this holiday season.

I first found out about it through this article on Ars Technica ( http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081217-donate-skills-to-feedaneed-and-help-deserving-nonprofits.html ) and thought, “What a great way for me to help others who need it this holiday season.” The site also lists a series of possible prizes (if you click on the link from Ars). If Chris Computing wins any of the game relates prizes, such as the Xbox 360, it will be donated to the Child Play charity ( www.childsplaycharity.org/about.php )

There are a lot of people out there this holiday season that could use a helping hand. Whether you do something simple like donate a toy to Toy’s for Tots ( http://www.toysfortots.org/ ), or something incredible like adopting a family that’s going through a hard time and give them a Merry Christmas ( https://secure.beyondshelter.org/aaa_get_involved/adopt_a_family.shtml ); it all adds up. The economy may be down but our spirits and our will to help out others should be stronger than ever.

Happy holiday’s everyone!
-Chris

UPDATE Chris Computing has been accepted as a partner with reddit's "Feed a Need". We will be giving out a Dell Vostro 220 computer to one of the lucky volunteers. They will also be given the option to donate the new computer to a local family in need.

How to make a video your wallpaper in windows XP!

2008-12-09T14:46:00.001-08:00

(Note: this only works on XP, NOT Vista)

While browsing through Microsoft’s website today I stumbled upon a little tool that will allow you to make a video, or multiple video’s, into your computers screen saver, how cool is that. This is neat if you want to turn your computer into a viewing screen for home movies or anything else that might interest you to run as a screen saver.

To get this neat little tool go HERE and click “Continue” where it says “Validation requited” (if it doesn’t say that, click “Download”). Next, if you get the option for “Run” (as a download option) click that, otherwise click “Save.” Once it is down downloading find where it is (unless you clicked run) and double click it to and hit “Next” until it is done installing.

After it is installed, right click someone on the desktop that is not on an icon and go to “Properties.” From there go to the “Screen Saver” tab and hit “Settings.” Now you can configure it however you want! I hope you enjoy this fun little toy.

-Chris

Customer Feedback

2008-12-09T14:26:00.000-08:00

"I had the pleasure of working with Chris Computing for over a year. They are extremely knowledgeable in their field, were timely in response to all requests, and Chris conducts himself professionally. I would wholeheartedly recommend Chris and his services without reservation."

-Anne

"Chris Computing was vital to my dire need! When I left my day job in October 2008, Chris responded to my mass email, offering to help with anything computer related. I knew Chris from working with Robert Half Technology; he always stood out to me as a whiz kid with utmost pleasant attitude. I immediately called him and told him what I needed. He came back with two quotes on the same day and recommended one over the other which made my decision quick and easy. Days later, I had in my hand the most fabulous laptop, all configured and ready to go. He even offered discount to show his appreciation for our past working relationship. Good karma brings another... Thanks so much Chris! You're my future CIO!"

-Ellen

"Chris has been wonderful when dealing with any computer issues. I would absolutely recommend Chris Computing to anyone who has any computer problems or would like their computer protected from problems. I had a virus while overseas and Chris logged in and took care of the problem - even when International I can count on Chris!!!"

-Sandi

Dear Chris,

"Thanks so much for helping my recover files and find and eliminate the virus in my computer. I especially appreciate you taking time to diagnose the problems free of charge. And when the fix to a little longer than you thought it would initially take, you honored your original quote and did not charge any more for your time. I have recommended you to several friends already and will continue to do so. I will also be contacting you soon to have some private instruction so in the future I can avoid some of the self-induced problems I've already experienced. Thanks also for your calm manner of diagnosing and fixing the problems. That really put me at ease and helped me feel confident that you were going to come to my rescue!"

-Carmen

Service Request Form.

2008-11-03T14:14:00.001-08:00

Complete this form and then click this link HERE to download the software.

Help Request Form

Computer Safety

2008-10-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

A lot of people have been asking me recently about general computer inquiries, one of the most common being those compressed air cans that clean out your keyboard/computer/desk/kitchen (do be warned; while using a powerful blast of compressed air to clean a room with hard wood surfaces seems like a good idea at first, your girlfriend, wife, or significant other, will come in and tell you to redo it, “the right way”).

These compressed air cans, for example Dust Off, are very helpful for cleaning out keyboards and the inside of your computer (AS LONG AS IT IS OFF AND UNPLUGGED), as it keeps things clean and running smoothly. There are a few simple guidelines to follow when using these though.

1) Never turn it upside down to use.
2) If it starts spraying out white mist stop using it immediately, (the liquid that is compressed in there is about as cold as liquid nitrogen).
3) Use only in short bursts otherwise you risk it spraying out the liquid inside which will damage anything it touches, including your skin, eyes, and anything else.

That all being said I ran into an interesting picture belonging to an article that I later read and decided to do this public safety announcement.

As seen above, this is the picture that I saw (a larger version can be found here).

My response to seeing this was sending this very sarcastic email. CAUTION! Please read with a sense of humor as this is intended to be a joke which I will explain momentarily.
(HDD stands for Hard Drive).

“Everyone knows that if you super cool your computer (in this case ram) to ultra low temperatures, then you can achieve uber gaming and performance increases. Side effects of "ram chilling" or "frost fire" include, but at not limited to; computer loading so fast that when you hit the power button it appears to do nothing at all, computer suddenly giving you new messages talking about its new advanced performance mod you just did (drive 0 not recognized, that just means its now so fast that the HDD can't keep up, in lesson 2 we talk about the "HDD deep freeze" upgrade for advanced data protection and speed; deep freeze to HDD will prevent ANYONE from accessing your data, likely forever), an unusual oder (usually a combination of the smell of burning batteries and electrical fire, but don’t worry that just means its going lightning fast, zoom zoom!), and of course erectile dysfunction.”

I will explain why what the picture shows is the last thing you want to do to anything, (there are exceptions, but the people who make Dust Off would likely sue me for talking about the, “100 alternative uses for Dust Off”).

If you hold a bottle upside down, like they are doing, it will emit vapor and liquid that comes out cold enough to make an ice tray full of water turn into an ice tray full of ice in about 2 minutes, though highly toxic. Not only that but if the computer in the picture was turned on it would likely either not turn on ever again, short circuit, or burst into flame (I am not kidding one bit). The chemicals, in vapor form, are also highly toxic and flammable. So, to make what turned into an overly long rant a bit shorter, use these condensed air can products exactly as it says on the bottle.

For alternative uses, of which there are hundreds, email me at Chris@ChrisComputing.com

September update

2008-09-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well here we are, midway thought September and it still feels like we just barely made it to 2008. Am I the only one who every now and then suddenly realizes were in the 21st century? I think when I get my flying car and own or rent property one the moon that it will finally sink in.

A lot has happened here at Chris Computing and I couldn’t have done it without all of my loyal customers and their great referrals! Thank you all so much. Because of your business and support I have been able to buy my first home and am anxiously awaiting moving in this October. As a way of saying thank you for making this happen I sent out a series of coupons for free or extremely discounted work, I hope you enjoy.

Also I am undertaking a new business adventure and going corporate! This is a huge step for me as this will be catering to companies for 5 or more people who don’t have in house IT support. Services will range from network maintenance and upgrades, to full on set up’s, antivirus management, corporate data protection, online encrypted back up’s or Exchange or company Databases; and everything in between. The company has been founded as 0CNsystems (pronounced, Ocean Systems), and should be going live the start of next year.

Also make sure to look for the October news letter for more coupons and tips and tricks on how to keep your PC running fast, efficient, and virus free. Have a great day! :)

Oh I almost forgot! There are a few links at the bottom right of the website. One of them is a “Donate” button, and all donations help with my continued education as well as buying new hardware and software so I can always be fully prepared for any computer problem that comes your way. Also a portion of all donations goes to a few causes I strongly believe in such as the ASPCA and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Thanks!

2008-09-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your donation! All donations help fund my further education of technology, and a portion of the proceeds go to help a few organizations in who's cause I blieve in.

ASPCA

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Thank you again for your donation.

-Chris

...And We're back!

2008-05-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

You heard right! Chris Computing is back in business and is ramping things up to full speed.

Aside from a completely remodeled webpage we have a few new tricks up our sleeve. Before we would have to make house calls to fix any problems but now, we can remote connect! to your computer (with your permission of course) so that you can have your issue fixed faster than ever! Basically this means that we will be able to see the screen just as you do, as well as control the mouse and keyboard. This new technology saves you time and money, it’s great!

Also a few other smaller additions. There is now a newsletter you can sign up for on the main site. Just put in your email address and hit, “Submit.” You can unsubscribe the same way if you choose. There is also a virus tracking panel that lets you see the latest threats.

There is a whole lot more to come so stay tuned!

-Chris

Price Sheet

2008-05-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

Computer Optimization: $25

Performance Tune up: $25

Software Installation: $10 per software title

Virus and Spyware Removal: $60 an hour

Fully Customized New and Used Computers: Rate varies based on computer purchased and packages chosen for customization. Please contact us for more information.

Computer Training and Lessons: $60 per hour

Contact Information

2008-05-16T18:32:00.001-07:00

To set up an appointment with Chris Computing please send an email describing the problem or request to Chris@ChrisComputing.com or call 925-708-8046.

Frequently Asked Questions

2008-05-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

Q: Is there a warranty on the work you do?
A: Absolutely! 30 days on any software service and a varying time on hardware services. (The Chris Computing warranty on hardware is the manufacturer’s warranty plus 3 months).

Q: What do you mean when you say you, “remote control” a computer and work over the internet?
A: Great question. There is a small software program that the client downloads that will give me temporary access to their computer. Every things I do is in plain site of the user, for example; if I move the mouse on my end, your mouse moves on your screen. It’s just like I was sitting right there with you, but instead of waiting for someone to get to your house and charge for the trip as well, the support is instant and there is no $40 trip charge.

Q: How do you remote connect in?
A: I am now using a program called TeamViewer (formally I used CrossLoop). The program will generate a random user ID and password that will change every time you use it and is never the same twice, making it impossible to steal. More information available HERE.

Q: Is it safe to remote connecting like that? Can anyone else see my password?
A: Safety is at the heart of the program, and it has military grade encryption. You have a greater chance of being attacked by great white sharks in your own swimming pool than anyone being able to take over your computer besides the person you allow.

Q: What kind of services do you offer?
A: Anything you could possibly think of and then some. Basically, if you can break it I can fix it.

Q: Do you price match your competitors?
A: Not only that, I built my price list off of my competitors. On average my prices are half to 1/3 as much as the competition.

Q: Are there and discounts or bonus’s if I refer a friend?
A: Yes, if a friend even signs up for the news letter and I get an email that mentions you told them about the site you get 15 days of free phone support. This isn’t just phone support like Dell or HP where they tell you to wipe it out and start again, this is problem solving and answering question by an incredibly competent person, not someone just reading off a screen.

Q: Why is it called Chris Computing? (Yes I really did get this question)
A: My name is Chris, and I compute. So it made sense at the time.

Q: Where are your offices located?
A: We are located in Concord California, and do house calls within 20 miles of there (some exceptions apply). But we remote connect to anyone in the world, anywhere, and any time. For example I just connected and repaired a virus infestation on a computer in Italy just a few days before writing this.

Q: Are you hiring?
A: I am getting this more and more. As of current the short answer is no. When the economy picks up a bit there is a higher chance of employment.

Q: Why should I choose you to handle my computer?
A: On the right side of the website there is a "Customer Feedback" section, I hope the reviews speak for themselves.

Q: Do you do small business work or business consultation?
A: Yes, but not under the Chris Computing name. This is done through 0CN Systems, of which Chris Computing is a subsidiary. 0CN Systems (pronounced Ocean Systems), is the small to medium business company.

Q: If I can’t get online how can I get a hold of you?
A: Well, since you can’t get online this won’t help you, but my phone number is 925-708-8046.

Description of Services

2008-05-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

Computer Optimization: Windows was made to run on all kinds of computers so it isn't optimized to fully take advantage of your computer. Through a computer optimization we strip away the excess stuff that your system doesn't need to make sure it is running even faster than the day you bought it.

Performance Tune up: Whether you're a gamer looking to get the extra edge on the competition by having the latest drivers, or a home user just tired of waiting longer than you should have to for your system to do what you want, this is for you. A performance tune up takes the things you do the most and makes them a priority for your computer, making what you want to happen, happen when you want it to.

Software Installation: Have some software you want installed but not sure if you're doing it correctly or how to do it at all? No problem, let us handle it.

Virus and Spyware Removal: Let's face it, Viruses and Spyware can happen to the best of us. No matter how careful you are, they can still sneak in and make using you computer a hassle and possibly even unsafe. With some viruses capable of stealing credit card information or your personal identity, having them removed fast and thoroughly is more important than ever.

Fully Customized New and Used Computers: Looking for a new computer at an unbeatable price, configured just the way you want it? Chris Computing can find deals with most major PC manufacturers and get the computer for less than you can find virtually anywhere else and customize it just the way you want, without all that extra trial software that comes on all systems these days. We also build and design specialty computers upon request.

Computer Training and Lessons: Computers get more and more complicated every year and sometimes its hard to stay ahead of the curve, or even just to keep up. We offer one on one lessons and training to make sure you can use your computer for all its worth.

...and much, much more: Thats right, if you can think of something else you want done just ask.