Welcome to Charleston Tech Support, LLC

Charleston, SC computer repair, service, and support serving the greater Charleston area. We service a wide range of technology, including Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh hardware and software.

• Is your business suffering from a computer solution that is not working the way you need it to?

• Do you ever wish you could bring the IT guy from work to your home to fix your computer?

Having a “Computer Guy” these days is just as important as having a plumber, electrician, lawyer, or accountant on call. You want someone you can count on to be there when you need them, as well as know your computing needs.

We offer you a personal, yet professional relationship at an affordable rate.

Check out our services and rates, then contact us to make an appointment. We pledge to provide the highest quality of service for you and your business. Don’t forget to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

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Call us at (843) 767-9500 today!

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Technology Forces Personal Progress & Benefits Everyone

Last modified on 2010-03-05 01:00:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

No duh, right? The title of this article pretty much states the obvious, but for some reason most people still fear change when it comes to technology. It is a definite problem for the more conservative in nature to deal with the amazingly rapid pace of progression that technology rolls forward at. How is it possible that the application you finally mastered is now updated and in the process has thrown everything you know out the door in favor of some newfangled way of getting things done?

I can only give one solid piece of advice for my friends, colleagues, and customers that suffer from this onslaught of change – get over it. You can’t stop the landslide of innovation and if you try to hold back you will get buried. Truly successful people challenge themselves on a daily basis by doing something that scares the pants off them, and then overcoming it. If it makes you sweat to move from one version of Windows to a newer one, well that’s OK. Just dive in – the water will be cold for a second and then you will get used to it pretty quickly. You say that you don’t have time to learn, but really, do you have time not to learn? Can you afford to deal with it another day knowing that that other day will be just as constricted as today and then some because you put it off?

The secondary reason for my pep talk is that I run into a lot of people who refuse to embrace new or current technology because they are clutching onto what they are comfortable with, regardless if it is actually holding them back. Desktop applications for businesses are being replaced by web applications but people can’t see the value in them. Not because they don’t offer any, but because they are used to what they have. Lets take Outlook for example. This widely popular application has alway stunk on ice when not used in conjunction with a Microsoft Exchange email server. People got used to it and now can’t let it go. They seem to love how the PST file gets corrupt and wipes out all of their email, calendars, & contacts. They must truly enjoy accidentally sending a large attachment and having the file get stuck for days in the outbox until a tech can come and remove it. And they can’t wait to see the message that Outlook is scanning their files because it didn’t shut down correctly for 40 minutes at a clip. Why are you still using Outlook when you could switch to a hosted Outlook Web Access account, or better yet a Google Apps account? Because it’s different!

I’ve written previously on how I think you should dump Windows XP and stop using Internet Explorer, and now I’m telling you to take an inventory of what software you currently use and see if there is a better way to get things done. The goal is to find a tool that gets the job done faster and more efficiently overall no matter what the conditions. Maybe that does mean sticking with Outlook for your situation, but more often than not people don’t want to move on for reasons of comfort instead of progress.

The primary reason for my pep talk (or as my wife would classify it – a lecture) is that in 2010, time has become the most valuable asset we have. We don’t seem to have enough of it to get everything done as well as experience the best parts of life without cutting some corners and making some sacrifices. Every second counts and if you can save a few by using better technology, then you and your loved ones will be in a better place for it.

It’s Time to Kick XP

Last modified on 2010-02-11 12:34:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I’m sitting here looking at a script designed to remove the hooks of a Windows malicious infection on a computer running Windows XP so I can successfully clean the computer of the Trojan and Spyware onslaught it is currently suffering. Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours looking at the same window on a couple of other customer’s computers and the same thing on the day before that. What do they all have in common? They were all running Windows XP. They also all use Microsoft Internet Explorer and they all had up-to-date reliable anti-virus software. They all got infected by simply browsing the web as they always do. Like chain smokers who still think they’re not going to be affected even with all of the knowledge of the detriments of smoking, Windows XP users keep running Windows XP and Internet Explorer. They also get surprised when they get infected and ask, “How could this happen?” and, “This never happened before – what did I do wrong?” Folks, it’s not a matter of if you will get infected while running Windows XP and using Internet Explorer, it’s a matter of when.

There are plenty of reasons that people are still sticking with XP in their businesses. A lot of them really don’t have a choice because the cost of upgrading all of their software is either too expensive in a down economy or the software just hasn’t been written to work on a newer operating system yet. I get that, but at some point you have to move on. Microsoft already ended mainstream support last year for Windows XP, so if you call them about it, it will cost you. They are planning to end support completely in 2014, so after that it will not be patched with security updates at all, and Microsoft will pretend you don’t exist. If you are in a situation where you have been unable to update for similar reasons, you should make it a priority to get the transition done by the end of this year, or come up with an alternative (I consulted with a customer just yesterday who will be changing the program they have been using for over 10 years in favor of one that is more modern and works on newer computers running Windows 7).

For home users, if your computer is able to run Windows 7, (you can follow the instructions here to figure out if your computer is compatible) I think it is quite important to take the steps necessary to upgrade your system in the near future. If you have a computer that is ready to be replaced, please give Apple’s line of Macintosh computers a hard look. To date, there are no malicious infections in the wild that affect Macs. If you’re just using the Internet, checking email, and storing digital photos and home movies, you really can’t get a better computer than a Mac. Otherwise, a Windows 7 based computer is still a good choice. While Windows 7 isn’t rock solid and there are still plenty of security threats that affect it, it‘s a heck of a lot more secure than Windows XP.

If moving away from Windows XP is just not an option for you in the near future, the least you can do to help prevent infections is to make sure you keep your Windows updates current, make sure your anti-virus software is up to date, and for Heaven’s sake, please stop using Internet Explorer for browsing the web. I have been using Mozilla Firefox for years, but it too has fallen victim to malicious attacks as of late and I have found myself using Google’s Chrome browser a lot on my PC’s instead. I could write another article on reasons to stay away from Internet Explorer, but just understand that it is the most popular browser because it comes with every PC and it’s tightly integrated into Windows, and those are two major factors that make it the first point of attack in most malicious infections. Abstinence is the best protection, so stop using Internet Explorer and get one of the better and faster browsers out there.

How Long Should My Computer Last?

Last modified on 2010-02-04 04:51:21 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Today I had a customer ask me over to take a look at her computer for a routine check-up. She then popped the question – she wanted me to tell her how long it has to live. It sounds very morbid, but unfortunately in my line of work that question comes up quite a bit. The answer is not always a simple one either.

Every computer user has different needs, but not every computer is designed to specifically fulfill those needs. Furthermore, as time goes on and life does what it does best and steers you into different directions throughout its course, your computing needs may change as well. A journalist may take up photography and then their underpowered netbook they used for word processing and email is no longer sufficient to run a program such as Photoshop. A photographer may move on into the world of motion pictures and now their requirements to run an Avid workstation are a bit higher than when they were just pushing still pixels.

Back when I worked for MTV Networks we had a policy to determine the life cycle of a computer. Basically if the hardware failed after the 3 year warranty expired, we replaced the machine. If a machine didn’t die of natural causes, eventually it would fall off of our supported standards list and get replaced, so we didn’t have many machines older than 5 years running. This might be very aggressive for the average home PC, or it might not be aggressive enough for someone who’s whole livelihood is based on how fast a computer can do its job. The idea of such a policy is to minimize the downtime suffered by computers that fail in the middle of an important function (such as producing a live TV show). It is a good idea to create your own personal policy to address future problems before they happen.

Apple computers can tack on a couple of more years to their expected life because they really don’t sell budget machines. That’s right, if you bought a $300.00 computer from WalMart, don’t expect it to run forever. If you bought a $3,000 Mac Pro, well, I think you should expect a good six year usable life from the beast (but maybe only half that if you’re a creative professional who uses it to make their living).

OK, so let’s get into the math of this. If you own a computer for your home and you’re just getting online, checking email, and balancing your checkbook, you really don’t need a very expensive machine. In fact, I would advise you to buy a cheaper computer in this situation because if your path in computing changes, you’ll be able to jump into a newer computer without much of a financial loss. If you go and buy an expensive computer to do menial tasks, you might find that when things change you’re either behind the curve or your computer isn’t right for the specific job anyway. For some people, the idea of change is downright scary and they want their computer to run for 8 years. That is perfectly OK, just buy the more expensive decked-out computer because it will show its value when it is still running reliably after a cheaper computer would normally start to fail. Another scenario is the hobbyist or creative family who uses a computer to create home movies and store and edit photos and music. In that case you want a “prosumer” type of machine such as an iMac or media PC. These machines are in the mid-range of pricing and are great for doing said tasks. These are usually good for about 5 years before they start showing their age. See how complicated the question of life expectancy is? You need to figure out what your computer is going to be used for before you buy it, and what kind of return on your investment you plan to get.

So, what happens when you have purchased a computer that fits your need and at some point before the time you planned to replace it something breaks. Well, the decision of whether to repair or replace is simple now, isn’t it? If your hard drive fails after two years and you only had a one year warranty, and you planned to keep the computer for four years, then by all means call us up and let’s get that hard drive replaced. Now if the same thing happens closer to four years, you might consider replacing the whole computer instead of throwing good money into an outdated machine.

What do you do with your old machine after you replace it? Let’s face it, computers at the cheap end are becoming like cell phones – they get replaced so often that there is a stockpile of unused machines that are going to waste. Contact your local Salvation Army or church and see if they would like it. Most major manufacturers will also recycle your old computer when you purchase a new one from them. Just make sure you securely erase your hard drive or remove it completely before you give it away!

As always, feel free to contact us if you need some help determining your needs and what the best computer for you may be within your budget.

Netbooks – Massive Value, Minuscule Size

Last modified on 2010-01-25 05:58:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I have been suggesting Netbooks to my customers for a while now. For some people, the Netbook fulfills all of their needs while saving them a lot of money. What is a Netbook, you ask? I’m sure by now you have seen these tiny laptops in Best Buy, Target, or any other place that sells computers. They are about the size of a portable DVD player and do just about everything a lot of computer users use their computers for these days. They are stripped down of the stuff most people don’t even take advantage of anymore, such as an optical drive (CD or DVD drive) and a modem. They also strip out high performance graphics processors and CPU’s. They pack in just enough power in a small form factor to get you on the internet, check your email, and run some general office programs like MS Office.

The reason I’m bringing this up right now is that I decided to pick one up for myself today as I’ve grown tired of lugging around my full sized laptop all day. I took inventory on what I used my laptop for during the day and found that I really don’t need anything more than what a Netbook has to offer on most occasions. In fact, I can only think of a couple of times I’ve needed anything more than the USB ports and/or a network connection while on site. When I’m working in my office it is a totally different story, but out in the field, a Netbook should serve me well. The best part? It only cost me $228!

I’ll give you a quick overview of my impressions of Netbooks in general (as well as my thoughts on mine). I am using an eMachines EM250, which is identical to the Acer d250 with the exception of the color and name printed on the case.

First of all, the keyboard is small. Smaller than you are used too, and it may take a while to get accustomed to. The trackpads on Netbooks are usually pretty horrid, but the newer ones have really improved the experience with added features like two-finger gestures to simulate a scroll wheel and back/forward buttons. I have quickly grown accustomed to both, but luckily there are a few USB ports available so those of you who hate trackpads can hook up a mouse.

My Netbook computer came loaded with Windows 7 Starter Edition. It is a somewhat stripped down version of Windows that most people won’t even realize is stripped down (with the exception of the inability to customize your wallpaper – luckily there are some applications to overcome that hurdle).

Most ship with 160GB of hard drive space, the eMachines came with 250GB – both of which are plenty of space for most people’s needs. The current line-up also boast only 1GB of RAM, which so far seems to be OK for the job. On a regular computer I wouldn’t settle for anything less than 4GB’s, but with a Netbook, we are talking about a machine honed for a specific function, that is getting online. Speaking of connectivity, they all come with a built in WiFi card for wireless and an Ethernet port for wired connections. Wireless performance is on par with full sized laptops, and a lot of cellular companies are offering Netbooks with built in WWAN cards to hook up to their cellular network so you can have internet access anywhere you can get a cell signal.

The screen is at a smaller resolution than some applications were meant to display on, so you’ll want to be familiar with how to change that in case you run into a program that refuses to play nicely. On some models, such as the Asus EeePC line, there is a dedicated button to quickly change your resolution. For others, such as the eMachines, you will have to head into the control panel and look under the Appearance section to change the screen resolution.

The speakers are OK for viewing videos on YouTube and getting notification beeps from Outlook, but for actually enjoying music, I wouldn’t rely on the tiny tinny speakers that are built in. Most do include a headphone jack so you could hook up traditional computer speakers. That said, I found that iTunes does run well on a Netbook, as does Windows Media Player.

For photo enthusiasts, a Netbook is a great way to backup your memory cards in the field, but running something like Photoshop or Lightroom might prove to be a dismal experience. I would stick with Picasa for organizing an performing light editing tasks, or even Pixlr.com, the free online photo editing application. In fact, you will find there are a lot of online applications and advanced web services that are making the idea of a stripped down computer a lot more plausible than maybe even 5 years ago. I can store my photos on Flickr, my videos on YouTube, and write and manage spreadsheets and documents on Google Docs. I can use Logmein to remotely control my home computer and I can use Skype to have a video chat with my wife.

I’m only scratching the surface of what is available and more importantly what is to come with online services, and one thing is clear – the power of the client machine has become less important and the power of being connected has skyrocketed. Because of this, coupled with a very affordable price, the Netbook has become the next big thing in computing technology. I’ll update you if my feelings change after using mine for a while.

View the rest of our news here.

Quick F.A.Q.

• Does Charleston Tech Support service my area?

We service the greater Charleston, SC area. This includes the barrier islands such as Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, & Wadmalaw Island. It also includes Wando, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville, Ladson, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, James Island, West Ashley, Hollywood, and Ravenel. If you are not sure, just give us a call and we’ll let you know.

• Are there any hidden fees?

No. We charge an hourly rate and if parts are needed you pay for the cost of the part as we are not a reseller. We are not currently affiliated with any software vendors either, so we will not push any unwanted software on you.

• Do you support my systems?

We support a large variety of the latest (and oldest) information technology. This includes servers, laptops, and desktops running Apple and Microsoft operating systems. We support and install networks, both wired and wireless, including installation, addition, and repair of your medium’s infrastructure and routers. We support mobile devices such as Blackberry devices, iPhones, Windows Mobile, and PC air cards. We also repair and maintain laser printers, scanners, and just about anything that plugs into your network and/or computer (yes, we support iPods too).

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