Alter The Size of Windows Desktop Icons

Windows will give you the opportunity to resize your desktop icons to three standard sizes - small, medium and large. Changing sizes is an easy task, even for the beginner. Simply position your cursor in an empty area of the desktop and right-click your mouse. Follow the 'view' menu and make your choice by left-clicking on either 'Large' 'Medium' or 'Small' icons (see picture).

Customise Icon Size

But what if that isn't good enough?  Have you ever wondered how to customise the size of all your desktop icons to suit you? Try this quick and simple shortcut:

With all other Windows closed, left-click on any icon on your desktop to highlite it, then hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and using the scroll wheel on your mouse, adjust the size of all your icons.

Once you have chosen the size you want, release both the ctrl key and scroll wheel, and your icons will remain the chosen size until you alter them again using the same method.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 "Dead"

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 was/is a very expensive tablet/laptop. However, there is a serious growing fault. You try to turn it on one day and....nothing! It's totally 'Dead'.

Searching the Internet all you see is 'push this button, hold that button', etc. Nothing works.

However, we have a very good success rate of getting everything up and running and back to normal. The fix is NOT free and we need to have the tablet and charging adapter for less than a day. If we can't fix it, there is NO fee.

Please contact us through the website: www.pcpartners.uk.com

Laptop Power Jack Socket Repair

Laptop Power Jack Socket Repair

No matter how careful you are with your laptop, the power socket will eventually need replacing.

It's true to say that with most laptops this is not an easy job. It involves the careful disassembly of the laptop itself, the removal of the motherboard and some very skillful soldering! Trying to do-it-yourself often results in disaster, whereby the laptop becomes totally unusable! Don't take that chance!

At PC Partners we are fully qualified to safely disassemble your laptop and perform any soldering that is necessary. We carry a wide range of parts and the whole process usually takes 1-3 days. Urgent repairs are a speciality.

Visit our website for more details PC Partners

Cryptolocker - We Can Help!

Make no mistake, the Cryptolocker virus is going to cause a lot of heartache in the next few months, or possibly years.

But what is Cryptolocker and why should you care? Well, if you switch on your computer and are greeted with this screen...

If you see this screen, your docs, pics and music are inaccessible!

...then you are in trouble. For this is no idle threat. Your personal files ARE indeed encrypted and you will not be able to access them. To make matters worse, to release your files, you will have to buy a key before the countdown clock expires or your files will be locked forever!

Choose a 'convenient' payment method!!!

The difference between this and other 'ransomware' is that the threat is real and the release key is virtually unbreakable.

Running Anti-Spyware software can remove the infection but it will not remove the encryption. Your files will remain locked!

SHOULD I PAY THE RANSOM?

Definitely NOT! There is NO guarantee that you will be sent the unlock code or that your PC will not immediately be re-infected (and you will have to pay over and over again)!

THE GOOD NEWS

We have had great success in recovering files locked under this virus. It is a time consuming process and we would require your pc for several days, but you will have your precious data returned to you and the infection removed. Please contact us through our Website for more details.

Use Windows ReadyBoost to Improve PC Performance

How to Use ReadyBoost to Speed Up Windows 7

One of the most useful features of Windows 7 that is often overlooked is ReadyBoost. It was first introduced with Windows Vista but many users found the technology less than impressive. However, Windows 7 has seen a vast improvement and can lead to significant gains in computer speed and data handling.

ReadyBoost is simple to set up and requires no special skills. The only item required is a blank working USB Flash Drive (aka USB Memory Stick) between 1-8Gb in size. Although smaller and larger sizes will work as well.

As the USB drive will be connected to your pc for some considerable time, it would be best to choose a location somewhat out of the way - say, at the rear of your computer.

Ok, let's start:-

1) Plug your USB Flash Drive firmly into the pc and watch for this screen to appear on the monitor:

2) Click on 'Speed Up My System' and the next screen will appear:

3) Choose the option 'Dedicate this device to ReadyBoost' Apply & OK.

ReadyBoost is now set-up and operating.

You will see that in My Computer it shows as a extra drive with a red line underneath it. This informs the user that it cannot be used to store data.

If at anytime the USB Flash Drive is temporarily removed or changed, the ReadyBoost set-up procedure will have to be repeated.

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!

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.