Be Careful About Which Android Apps You Download

As reported by Ars Technica, all Android phones currently have a flaw that puts them at risk of being hacked. The oddly named "Dirty COW" flaw exist within the heart of every version of the Android operating system and can give attackers essentially full access to your phone.

Attackers will first have to get you to run an application you download to your phone so it might pay to be extra careful about where download apps from. Hacked free versions of games are always a big risk, for instance.

Google runs automated screenings on every app it allows on its Play Store, so downloading from there is generally considered safe, even though some virus laden apps have shown up there in the past.

A fix for this Dirty COW flaw should be out some time in December, so until then it might be best to stick to apps made by companies you know.

by Computer Repair

Is My Old Computer Worth Repairing or Fixing?

See This Old Computer?

It's a 14 Year Old iMac G4.

A customer brought this old computer in for us to recover his data from the hard drive. Since we work on out-of-warranty Apple machines, we were able to help him with his problem. The computer was completely dead, but we were able to retrieve all of the data from the hard drive so that he could easily transfer the data to his new machine.

You may be asking yourself, "how do I know if my old computer is worth repairing or fixing?". There are several things to consider:

  • Q: How old is your computer and how is it configured?
  • A: You probably already know how old your computer is, but we can take a look at it and determine the configuration and scope of the repair.
  • Q: How much are new computers selling for?
  • A: We can let you know how much a repair would be for your old computer, and offer to find costs for new computers so that you can have options. Many times, we do the leg work and find new computers for customers.
  • Q: How much is the diagnostic or repair cost?
  • A: We will throw our diagnostic fee out the window if you decide to let us do the work.
  • Q: How long will the repair take?
  • A: We have very fast turnover on most computer repairs. Many times, our customers are surprised how quickly we are able to get their computer back to them or find a new one.
  • Q: How soon do I need my old computer running?
  • A: We would imagine you need it soon, and that is why we are so punctual.
  • Q: How soon do I need a new computer if my old computer is unrepairable?
  • A: Again, we know having a working computer is paramount to almost everyone - we can help you find exactly what you want affordably and quickly.

At Computer Repair in Tyler, we can take a look at ANY machine, new or old, and offer solutions and recommendations for what you should do next. Most people replace or upgrade computers every 3-5 years on average. If your computer is older than that, then it may not have the most current hardware features to make repairing worth while. If your computer is running old versions of Windows or macOS, then Microsoft and Apple may have possibly stopped supporting those versions. Currently, Windows XP is no longer supported and extended support for Windows Vista will end on April 11, 2017. Additionally, Apple's only supported versions of macOS are OS X El Capitan and macOS Sierra, which was just released a couple of months ago this year. If you are running unsupported operating systems on your old computer, and it can be upgraded to a current version, your system's performance may benefit from an upgraded operating system. In that case, you should bring it into us for the upgrade.

If you are wondering what you should do with that old computer at your home or office, give us a call at (903)858-4383. Additionally, you can fill out our contact form to start your information gathering process. We respond to all requests very quickly! If you just want to stop by, we are open from 8:00 - 6:00 every weekday, and we are centrally located in Tyler on South Beckham close to the hospitals.

 

by Computer Repair

November Deal of the Month

TV & Home Theater Setup | Connected Home Services

We are aware that this time of year many of people will buy new electronics for their home because of good deals and holiday specials, and we are offering to take out the headaches and help you set them up! If you are in need of a professional TV or home theater setup his month, or any of our various connected home services, we are offering 10% off of hourly labor for any of those services including:

 

  • Setting up a secure Wi-Fi network
  • Cabling and networking solutions
  • Home office solutions
  • Setting up your routers to maximize performance and optimize security
  • Firewall setup
  • Connecting your various wireless devices
  • Recommend solutions for dead spots or slow speeds
  • Home entertainment solutions
  • Home theater setup
  • Set up your TV and connect it to your video components
  • Smart TV home network setup
  • TV mounting
  • TV calibration
  • Connect and position audio components for optimal sound
  • Remote control programming

Our experienced, reliable technicians will work with you to set up a day and time to come to your home and complete any projects you may have. Our technicians are polite, clean-cut and responsible and will treat your home as if it were there own.

We service anywhere in Tyler and are able to come to surrounding East Texas towns upon request. Our technicians routinely make house calls in Henderson, Lindale, Bullard, Flint, Longview, Kilgore, Palestine, Gresham, Noonday, Ben Wheeler, Van, Chapel Hill, Whitehouse and Gladewater, just to name a few. If you don't see your particular need listed above, just give us a call at (903)858-4383 to discuss the details of your situation with an expert - we are flexible and able to take on a wide range of home installation projects. You can also fill out our contact form to get your request for information started. We answer all requests quickly to get you the information you need. Thank you for considering Computer Repair in Tyler for all of your home networking and home theater setup needs!

 

by Computer Repair

October Deal of the Month

Halloween Costume Contest

During the month of October, Computer Repair in Tyler is offering a fun and festive way to save some money on our computer repair services - and a way for you to win an extra $100 by participating in our Halloween Costume Contest! To participate and have a chance to win, simply come in wearing your Halloween costume when you drop your computer off. You will get 10% off of any hourly services, including virus removal, hard drive replacement and data recovery, and software and operating system upgrades just to name a few. If you have kids, get them in their costume too when you stop in. In addition to the discount, we will take a picture of you and share it on our Facebook page. Whichever picture receives the most Likes at the end of the month will win a $100 Visa Gift Card that you can use anywhere. You will up your chances of winning by sharing with your friends and family and getting them to like your picture. Second place will also receive a $50 Visa Gift Card.

Click the following links to see more about the services you can save on this month:

We are located at 1331 S. Beckham Avenue in Tyler, just down the street from ETMC and Trinity Mother Frances hospitals. If you'd like to call in advance, the number is (903)858-4383. You can also get your computer repair service started by filling out our contact form, which you can access by clicking here. We will answer your request quickly!

Save yourself some time and money by bringing your tech issues to us - our expert technicians do the highest quality of work with a quick turnaround. Help us make the Halloween Costume Contest fun and win yourself some extra money too! We are looking forward to seeing all the costumes this month!

 

by Computer Repair

Prepare Your Mac for MacOS Sierra

On September 20th, 2016 Apple will release it's new operating system, MacOS Sierra. There will be several new features included in the upgrade including Siri integration, optimized storage via iCloud Drive, a universal clipboard, and auto unlock via Apple Watch and Apple Pay. MacOS Sierra will be a free upgrade to current Mac users and will be available in the Mac App Store.

Not all machines will be able to install the new operating system. According to Apple, the cutoff sits at models that were released in late 2009 and later. With the release of MacOS Sierra nearing, here are some things you can do to make sure your Mac is ready to take the leap:

  1. Check to see if your Mac makes the cut
    • The very first thing to do is to see if your system is compatible with the MacOS Sierra upgrade. If your Mac is from early 2009 or earlier, you will not be able to enjoy the new upgrade. According to Apple, "All Macs introduced in 2010 or later are compatible. MacBook and iMac computers introduced in late 2009 are alsocompatible."
    • The models that will be compatible are:
      • MacBook: late 2009 and later
      • MacBook Air: 2010 and later
      • MacBook Pro: 2010 and later
      • iMac: late 2009 and later
      • Mac Mini: 2010 and later
      • Mac Pro: 2010 and later
    • To find what year your computer was introduced, click the Apple in the upper-left corner and click About This Mac. Under your current OS, which will be displayed at the top of the window, you will see the year of your model next to the model name.
  2. Make sure you have room
    • There have been no official releases regarding the size of MacOS Sierra download, but Apple has been successful in continuing to shrink the size of the installer packages in recent years. OS X Yosemite was about 8GB, El Capitan was just over 6GB, and the public beta for Sierra sits just under 5GB.
    • Delete old apps or files you don't need or use, or move some files and folders to the cloud via iCloud Drive or any other preferred cloud storage service you may use.
  3. Back up your Mac
    • Before performing major upgrades like installing a new OS, backing up your system to protect your data is always a safe practice. In the event that something goes wrong during the installation process, you won't lose important files, photos and music if you have successfully backed up your machine. Macs include a tool called Time Machine, which makes backing up simple and easy.

Of course, Computer Repair in Tyler is always here to help you with installing MacOS Sierra, or any other software and system upgrades you are unsure about. Click here to see current upgrade alerts and a comprehensive list of software we can help you safely install. Call us at (903)858-4383 if you would like to schedule a time to bring your machine in to one of our expert technicians. We also offer on-site work if you are unable to make it to our storefront location on 1331 South Beckham Avenue, Tyler, TX.

by Computer Repair

September Deal of the Month

For the month of September, Computer Repair in Tyler is offering all students a 10% discount on all of our hourly services. We all know getting ready to go back to school can be a hassle. Thankfully we are offering back to school specials for all of our local students. If you have noticed that your laptop or desktop is not performing up to par we can help you. Our location off of South Beckham Drive in Tyler is easily accessible from both the University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College. To take advantage of our Back to School Specials, simply visit our store with your valid student ID and we will honor the back to school specials on all of our hourly services. Some of our most popular services include virus/spyware/malware removal, data recovery, hard drive upgrades/replacements, full system reinstalls and software/operating system upgrades.

We also fix cracked laptop screens at a flat rate of $59.95 + parts (non-touchscreen devices) and $69.95 + parts (touchscreen devices).

  • Computer Repair in Tyler offers these services on out-of-warranty Apple machines in addition to all Windows/PC machines

If you would like more information, or are unsure of what your particular problem might be, you can contact us in advance by calling (903)858-4383. Additionally, you can click here to fill out our contact form and we will respond to your request promptly. Being a student, it is likely that you use social media as one of your primary forms of communication - we've got you covered there too:

by Computer Repair

Active Military, Veteran, and First Responder Discount

At Computer Repair in Tyler, we are proud to support those who support us. To show our support, we offer a 10% discount off our normal labor rates for active military personnel, veterans, and local first responders. This discount applies to all our hourly work and includes:

- Computer Repair
- Custom Built Computers
- Virus Removal
- Software Upgrades
- Data Recovery
- Network Setup

To get this discount, just just come to our South Beckham location with official ID showing which group you are a part of. Veterans, we'll accept your DD214.

by Computer Repair

August Deal of the Month

For the month of August, Computer Repair in Tyler is offering all students a 10% discount on all of our hourly services. We all know getting ready to go back to school can be a hassle. If your computer partied a little too hard this summer, it may not be ready to go back to school with you! Our location off of South Beckham Drive in Tyler is easily accessible from both the University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College. To take advantage of our Back to School Special, simply visit our store with your valid student ID and we will honor the back to school discount on all of our hourly services. Some of our most popular services include virus/spyware/malware removal, data recovery, hard drive upgrades/replacements, full system reinstalls and software/operating system upgrades.

We also fix cracked laptop screens at a flat rate of $59.95 + parts (non-touchscreen devices) and $69.95 + parts (touchscreen devices).

  • Computer Repair in Tyler offers these services on out-of-warranty Apple machines in addition to all Windows/PC machines

If you would like more information, or are unsure of what your particular problem might be, you can contact us in advance by calling (903)858-4383. Additionally, you can click here to fill out our contact form and we will respond to your request promptly. Being a student, it is likely that you use social media as one of your primary forms of communication - we've got you covered there too:

by Computer Repair

July Deal of the Month

For the month of July, ETV Software's Computer Repair in Tyler is offering 10% off our home and business networking services.

Connecting a couple of computers, phones, or tablets to your own Wi-Fi hotspot is generally pretty easy these days. Setting up a full home or business network, however, can still raise questions such as:

  • Is a wireless network up to the task of connecting all your devices? And if not, which devices need to be on a wired network to get the most out of them?
  • What is the best way to add one or more printers to your network so that everyone can print to them?
  • If you do have a Wi-Fi network, what is the best way to secure it? Is a good password enough or should you employ tighter restrictions?
  • What should you do if your network is having problems? Does the fault lie in your cabling? Or your router? Or one of your connected devices?

At Computer Repair in Tyler, we are networking experts. We can assist you with every aspect of your network from initial planning to connecting your newest printer, computer, or mobile device. We do network cable installation, network testing and repair, and can help you make sure your network is hardened against outside attacks.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions about any aspect of your home or business network. You can reach us at 903-858-4383, by email at info@computerrepairintyler.com, or by visiting our Contact Page.

by Computer Repair

HP Battery Recall on Select Laptops

HP has issued a recall of 41,000 of their batteries inside of select laptops.  The HP battery recall involves the lithium-ion batteries that come with HP, Compaq, HP ProBook, HP ENVY, Compaq Presario and HP Pavilion notebook computers.  The primary concern is that these battery cells have been found to have a tendency of overheating to the point that they pose a risk of fire and burn hazards.  So far, HP has received seven reports of battery packs overheating to the point of melting, and even charring.  HP is also reporting four instances of property damage totaling roughly $4,000.  These particular models could have been purchased at Best Buy, Wal-Mart or Costco, at authorized HP dealers nationwide, or online at www.hp.com from March 2013 through August 2015.  The batteries were included in a wide range of notebook computers with costs ranging from the entry-level price points (about $300), all the way to the top of the line machines ($1,700 roughly).  The following bar codes are what you'll need to look for if you have one of these models of notebook computers.  The bar codes are located directly on the battery, so you'll want to pull the battery from the bottom of your laptop and check:

  • 6BZLU
  • 6CGFK
  • 6CGFQ
  • 6CZMB
  • 6DEMA
  • 6DEMH
  • 6DGAL
  • 6EBVA

Consumers are urged to immediately stop using models which contain the recalled batteries.  The best course of action to take is to contact HP for your free replacement battery, which you are entitled to if your laptop model and battery were one of the affected units.  You can reach HP toll-free at (888)202-4320 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.  You can also visit www.hp.com/go/batteryprogram2016 - the official HP Battery Recall page, where you can request your replacement battery there.  Of course, if you're confused or unsure of what you have, you can always call your friendly, local computer technicians right here in the heart of Tyler, TX!

ETV Software's Computer Repair in Tyler

1333 South Beckham Avenue, Tyler TX 75701

(903)858-4383

by Computer Repair