A client has dropped off three old family movies on DVD, that she has been unable to play on her TV’s built-in player. They all start, but then freeze after a few seconds.
Turns out they were originally recorded on DVD+R Disks, in the DVD-VR Format, both of which can be problematic with modern equipment.
As DVD is a bit of a dying format these days, I enquired whether her TV has a usb port & how old it is. That way I was able to offer a conversion to a digital file, so that she can easily play them back on pretty much any device, or even upload to YouTube/Facebook etc.
For the Tech Heads out there, I chose an MP4/H.264 format for ultimate compatibility & reasonable file size. I personally prefer MP4/H.265 for better compression, but only the latest kit can play it back at the moment.
Second job today is an old client who has fallen prey to those darned pesky “Fake PC Service” calls.
He was innocently looking for some guttering, and a window popped up, supposedly from “Microsoft”
It scared him into calling the number, and within a few clicks, the swines were in his computer, and demanding hundreds of pounds to remove a whole host of viruses and other problems with his computer. Thankfully after the call, he realised it was a scam & phoned his bank to cancel his card.
They advised him to seek assistance locally to clear out the Remote Control software that the scammers had installed.
It took about an hour to remove the dodgy software, a few other bits of malware and to install my fav’ Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes Premium.
Also did a few windows updates & gave the Pc a quick service whilst it was in, to keep it running smoothly.
A client has been having problems with the PayPal Payment System on his website. It’s not been sending his customers contact number, which can cause problems with deliveries etc. These issues prompted some necessary Website Updates to improve the site’s functionality.
After little to no help from PayPal (Grrrrr), we found out that it was a problem with the payment software, it was a matter of safely backing up the site, removing the offending Plug-In, replacing it, setting it up, test, test & test again!
All done in 2 hours flat, another happy customer.
Now, time to update my own website, as I’m extending the opening hours to 5:30 pm, due to customer demand. Then it’s off to Google, Bing & Apple Maps to inform them of the new times.
Then I’ll have just enough time to get some scheduled maintenance done on the other websites that I look after. A lot of it is done automatically, but I also like to do a thorough check-up of each website and a complete backup manually too, every month, to be archived securely off & on-line.
Now the websites are nicely updated, time for a coffee!
✨ Need help with a website that’s misbehaving or due for an update?
Alongside friendly website design in Newtown, we also handle website fixes, payment system issues, updates, and ongoing maintenance — keeping your site running smoothly and your customers happy.
Now I’ve got the print jobs out of the way, it’s time for some computer repairs. Today, it’s an HP EliteBook battery repair.
One of my very first clients is back with a laptop that won’t hold it’s charge.
It’s a HP EliteBook 840 that he bought refurbished from Amazon, on my advice, about 4 years ago.
I really like the EliteBooks. So easy to work on, as the back panel just unclips in a few seconds. This way, you have access to pretty much everything.
As I’ve had a lot of problems with after-market batteries in the past, I only supply OEM batteries. These can cost £75-£150+. However, as he’s a pensioner, it’s a bit pricey for his budget. So I pointed him to the correct battery on Amazon for just £25. He’ll bring it back next week for me to fit.
The service went easily, as it’s got 16Gb of RAM, an i5 CPU & fast SSD.
A quick virus scan, bunch of Windows updates, clean-up of start-up programs, disk clean-up & optimise the SSD, and it’s ready to collect in about 45mins.
Modern computers, with solid state drives are so cheap to service. Last week, an almost identical machine only had 4Gb of RAM, a Celeron CPU and a traditional mechanical HDD. It took me nearly 3hrs to do the same job.
🛠️ Expert Repairs Without the “Big Brand” Price Tag
There is a lot of life left in older machines if they are treated right! This HP EliteBook is a perfect example of how a quick, professional service and an honest approach to parts can keep you up and running for years. This can be done without breaking the bank.
Whether your laptop is struggling to hold a charge or has become “painfully slow,” we provide straightforward, jargon-free support. Our goal is to get it back to its best.
Why bring your tech to Bluesdigital?
Honest Advice: If a part is too pricey, we’ll help you find a reliable, budget-friendly alternative.
Fast Turnaround: Modern SSD-based machines can often be serviced and optimised in under an hour!
Local Trust: We look after your tech so you don’t have to worry about “big brand” upsells.
Your Local Digital All-Rounder 💻🔧
From reviving tired laptops to building affordable web design in Mid-Wales, we make technology work for you. If your computer needs a “spring clean” or a hardware boost, pop in and see us at Frolic House.
Get your tech sorted today: ☎️ Call: 01686 610 106 📱 Text: 0783 222 7823 📍 Visit us: Frolic House, Newtown (Between the Medical Practice & Driving Test Centre)
Next job is for a client who had been let down by an “Artist.” This “Artist” had taken over 3 months to produce an expensive sample for her Save The Date Wedding Cards.
The sample had been printed on some rather cheap & nasty “cereal box” type card, at very low resolution. Also, it was stained & dog-eared.
I knew that scanning & cleaning up the image would have taken a long time to give a fair result. Therefore, I did a quick scan & dropped the image into Google Pic Search….
Within a couple on minutes, I found the original (Royalty Free) image at no cost. The “Artist” had charged my client £100+ for an “Original” design.
After a few tweaks in Photoshop, I printed it on “the “Faux Canvas” 220gsm” Faux Canvas” 220gsm paper. The difference was nothing short of amazing. The colours were so much richer & the detail was off the scale. These save-the-date cards are looking really stunning now.
Another happy customer, who has saved nearly £200!
This client had purchased a couple of VERY overpriced school photo’s, and wanted some larger ones for a Fathers Day present. As anyone with children will know, the school photography game is very lucrative for the photographer, but can make a severe dent in a family budget, often costing well over a £100 for a couple of large prints.
After scanning the customers photo’s in @ 600dpi, I was able to reproduce three 6″x 4″ & four 7″x 5″ on some thick glossy paper for just £20, saving my client about £150.
First job of the day is printing some certificates/diplomas for the Swedish Match Commercial Academy. Certificates Printing is an essential part of professional events like this.
My client’s colleague usually sorts these out, but due to being struck with a heart attack, he’s not able to help. Bluesdigital to the rescue! Fortunately, certificate printing is something I can take care of quickly.
I had to come up with a design from scratch to include the company logo & colour scheme, and get them sorted within a couple of days. When it comes to printing certificates, design and branding are very important.
Within just an hour, I found a hi-res company logo & graphics (Public Domain-Free to use) and completed the design.
Next up was the print. I used a nice Faux Canvas 220gsm art paper, which really makes the colours pop & gives crisp text reproduction. It also has a great “Feel” to it, which really adds to the finished print. In conclusion, printing certificates on quality paper delivers a professional and impressive result.
Then a few min’s on the guillotine to finish, and we are done.
