Tuesday 19 November 2013

DON'T Change Your Email Password!



This article concerns those users who use a desktop email client such as Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Outlook or Windows Live Mail. In other words, where emails are stored on the computer and not accessed via a webpage.

Every now and then, when you open your email client, you may get a message telling you that your email cannot be downloaded because your username or password is incorrect.

If you've had no problem downloading your email in the past, then this standard message is going to be very misleading. The best advice is NOT to panic and NOT to change any details.

If you can still access the internet through your web browser, then the fault is very likely to lay with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). All ISP's have problems now and again, and these are usually speedily fixed. You should give your ISP at least 12 hours to fix the problem.

Check the Service Status on the ISP's website to confirm any problems they might be experiencing. You could even access your email through the online webmail facility (you will need your username and password to login). 


If the user loses patience and starts to change usernames and passwords, these will be remembered by the email client and when the ISP comes back online, the username and password really will be WRONG!

Monday 4 November 2013

Laptop Overheating Explained


As a laptop gets older, one of the most common faults is overheating. There are two main causes: blockage of the cooling system by dust and fluff, or a faulty fan. Bad design can also be to blame but we shall not be looking at that cause here.

How Does The Heating System Get Blocked?
Laptops produce a significant amount of heat that is generated by the CPU, GPU and other components; this needs to be evacuated as quickly as possible. Without getting too technical, a fan draws cool air in and directs it over a radiator where the heat has been directed by copper pipes (similar to a car engine).
As a result of the cool air being drawn in by the fan, particles of dust and fluff are also sucked in. It's these particles that collect in front of the radiator, building up over time to form an impenetrable barrier. Cool air cannot pass over the radiator and the components overheat as a result.


Dust and Fluff Can Clearly Be Seen on the Fan Intake
The Cooling Fan
A faulty, or underperforming fan can occur due to a failed motor, missing blade(s), or some form of obstruction. All fans eventually fail and an early replacement can extend the life of a laptop considerably.


This Fan is Totally Chocked With Fluff and Dust!

Signs of Overheating
The laptop base gets VERY hot! It may be too hot to put on your lap!
Little or no air coming from the exhaust port.
The laptop cuts out or throws up a blue screen.
The Laptop becomes very slow.
The fan becomes noisy.


A 'Carpet' of Fluff Completely Blocking the Cooling Radiator 

Consequences of Overheating
Most laptops have a thermal cut-out in place that detects overheating and stops the machine working. However, this is not always quick enough to prevent damage to the CPU or GPU. Once this happens, there is no alternative but to replace the processors (very expensive), or scrap the laptop!
Once a laptop is overheating, its useful life is considerably reduced.

How We Repair
Despite mis-guided advice to the contrary, there is only one solution to this problem, and that is to dismantle the laptop, remove the motherboard and clean out the accumulated dust blockage by hand. It cannot effectively be removed by vacuum cleaner or poking around with a paper clip!
Renewal of a faulty fan also requires the removal of the motherboard.
Our repairs include the complete removal of all particle blockages and a complete cleaning of the internal laptop cavity and components. Should the fan require lubricating or replacing, we can also include that procedure.

Our work is carried out extremely carefully and by our most experienced technician. After the procedure, you will be able to work normally once again, as the operating system and data will be unaffected.