Computers Archives

May 2, 2024April 27, 2026

🦠Anti-Virus Subscriptions

It’s a bit of a Grumpy Old Man topic, but the “Subscription” based revenue stream explosion over the last few years, kinda grinds my gears.
The best deals are pretty much always for new subscribers, leaving current customers of anti-virus subscriptions to pay full whack or more!

My latest grump is with AVG and their Anti-Virus Subscription

A good customer of mine has been with them for many years, and she is currently paying £160 for a two-year subscription.
It’s bad enough that they prey on the nervous by bombarding them with pop-ups, employing scare tactics about “Hackers” and the like attacking them, so that they can upsell even more doubtful security “add-ons”.
Shame on you, AVG. You used to be so good.

What I would advise is buying a non-subscription version from a friendly computer shop or Amazon.
That way, you get the best price, and they don’t have your card details to “Auto-Renew”

My personal fav’s are:

1: Malwarebytes

2: Kaspersky

3: BitDefender

🛡️ Take Control of Your Security (and Your Wallet)

Don’t let “big tech” scare you into paying over the odds. If your anti-virus is constantly pestering you with pop-ups or your subscription feels like a ransom, it’s time for a change.

As your local computer shop in Newtown, we believe in honest security that protects your PC without draining your bank account. We can help you ditch the expensive “auto-renewals” and get you set up with a reliable, straightforward security solution that puts you back in the driving seat.

Pop in for a Security Health Check:

Fair Pricing: We’ll help you find the best protection without the hidden “loyalty tax.”
No Pressure: We give you the facts, not the scare tactics.
Local Support: If you have a question, you can talk to a real person, not a bot.

Visit us at Frolic House: ☎️ Call: 01686 610 106 📱 Text: 0783 222 7823 📍 Find us: Frolic House, Newtown (Between the Medical Practice & Driving Test Centre)

Because Some Viruses We Can Fix

April 19, 2024April 27, 2026

💻The “Quick” Back-Up

A client I’ve not seen for a while just called to ask if I could back-up her “Lightroom” Files to an external drive.
If everything runs well, this should take 30>60min…

As it turns out, the laptop is running VERY SLOWLY.
With it taking over 10 mins to fully boot up, and Lightroom taking another 5-10, this is going to be a bit of a slog.

The first file to save is the “Catalog” file via Lightrooms own back-up utility, as just copying the file from the system can lead to errors later.

Then it’s time to make a copy of everything else.
At nearly 500Gb in size & a transfer speed of 5-20Mb, we are looking at 5-6hrs!

With the state of the laptop, getting this data copied was urgent, as a failure would be horrible for my client.

The fastest way to transfer data in this case would be to remove the drive and use a direct SATA connection, for grabbing the files.

Now it’s averaging 50-120Mbs, e.t.a about an hour or so. But still kind of slow (Cheap n cheerful ADATA..Hmm).

Once that has completed, rebuilding the laptop…
While I’m doing that, I’ll move the files over to my clients external drive at a steady 90Mbs (1hr 25min.)

Quick check that it’s booting okay,before screwing the case down.
“Preparing Automatic Repair”, “HP System Bios Update Failure”, Oh Dear.

Looks like I’ll be on the late train, as usual 🙂

The client has advised me that she’s looking to replace this laptop,
so I’ve sent her an example of what to look for in a good photo editing computer.
(i7/Ryzen7 cpu, 32Gb DDR4/5 ram, 1Tb NVMe-SSD)

But with a new SSD & maybe a memory upgrade too, refurbishing her old laptop may be a better option, as it’s got great graphics & decent CPU…..

🛡️ Saving Your Data When Seconds Count

What looks like a “quick back-up” can quickly turn into a data recovery mission. When a laptop slows to a crawl, it often signals that the hardware is on the brink of failure.

Don’t wait for the “Automatic Repair” screen to appear. If your laptop feels sluggish or struggles with heavy tasks like photo editing, secure your files.

Reliable Tech Support & Professional Print 💻🗄️

At Bluesdigital, we specialise in laptop data recovery and SSD upgrades in Newtown. We don’t just suggest expensive new replacements; often, a professional refurbish—upgrading your RAM and moving to a lightning-fast SSD—can make your current machine outperform a brand-new budget model.

Whether you need to save years of photos or require high-quality business printing in Mid-Wales, we provide the technical grit to get the job done right.

Is your tech underperforming?

Data Recovery: We rescue files from failing or slow hard drives.
Refurbishment: SSD and RAM upgrades to give your old PC a “supercar” feel.
Buying Advice: We help you find the right specs for demanding tasks like Lightroom.

Visit the experts at Frolic House: ☎️ Call: 01686 610 106 📱 Text: 0783 222 7823 📍 Location: Frolic House, Newtown (Between the Medical Practice & Driving Test Centre)

🍛 Ghandi Indian Take-away Newtown Menu 📋

October 18, 2023February 15, 2026

The 1982 Nostalgia Trip 💾🕰️

They say you never forget your first… 🎞️ Tandy/RadioShack TRS-80 | 1982. That was the first time I sat down in front of a computer! ⌨️

P.S. Did you know? 💾 The original TRS-80 was nicknamed the “Trash-80” because it caused so much radio interference. If you put an AM radio next to it while a game was loading, you could actually hear the data “singing” through the speakers! 📻🎶

Fast forward to today, and while the tech has changed, the passion for solving problems hasn’t. Whether you’re still rocking a classic or need a 2026 high-speed workstation, for the most experienced Newtown computer services, we’ve got you covered.

What was your “Model 1” moment? Drop your first computer in the comments! 👇

Get in touch: ☎️ Call: 01686 610 106 📱 Text: 0783 222 7823 📍 Visit us: Frolic House, Newtown (Right between the Medical Practice & Driving Test Centre)

🌐 Dodgy Website Orders 💻

July 31, 2023April 27, 2026

🕵🏻How to set up computer security for your parents🔐

If you want to tighten up your parents’ home cybersecurity as much as possible, you’ve come to the right place. After all, you’re no doubt the family IT person, and first point of contact if trouble arises.

Consider a Chromebook. If someone is looking for a new computer system for regular, non-demanding purposes, such as browsing, social media, and email, you can help with recommendations. For such a person, who isn’t invested in heavy gaming, a Chromebook would be a good option, as it will save them some money and can perform all those functions, plus allows them to play browser-based games if needed.

Turn on auto-update. Installing software on a system usually comes with the task of having to keep it up-to-date. Therefore, any software program, operating system or browser that has an option to auto-update should be set to do this. We know this isn’t always recommended in a work environment, but for the computer illiterate person in their own home, it’s perfect. One less thing to worry about.

Configure their security software. In addition, selecting security software that allows users to minimize notifications to only dire warnings will keep users from getting confused. Notifications coming from programs can have strange effects on the less computer savvy for several reasons:

They don’t understand to which program the messages belong, which takes away the context for them
The text in the notifications is designed to be short, which means they’re not always maximized for clarity
Technical terms used in the notification may be unfamiliar

When there are too many notifications, people can get fatigued. Most will simply want the pop-ups to disappear, no matter what they have to click on to accomplish this. So, any software that can be set to only issue a warning when something is really amiss deserves a big plus.

Disable Remote Desktop. If you’re dealing with a Windows computer, disable Remote Desktop. Remote Desktop is sometimes used by scammers in things like technical support scams, so if you don’t need it you may as well turn it off. You can do this in Settings. Here’s how to do it in Windows 10:

Launch the Settings app. (shortcut Win + I)
Under the System section, scroll down and click on the Remote Desktop option.
Then, click on the toggle next to the Remote Desktop option to turn it off.

Windows will prompt you to confirm your decision.
Click on the Disable button and exit the settings app.

Use an easy to maintain blocklist or firewall. This can keep a lot of harm at bay. Alternatively, make use of security software that includes a web protection module. (We use Malwarebytes)

Configure the router/modem accordingly. Make sure to configure the home router and access points with unique usernames and passwords and do not use the default ones that come with the equipment. Many botnets will attempt to take over such devices by trying default credentials.

There are some other basic settings that can enhance the security of the home router without hindering the users:

Turn off remote management if enabled.
Use WPA2 or WPA3 (if available) encryption on Wireless routers.

Hang up, close the tab, and call your bank. A Dutch bank ran a very effective campaign that advised customers to “Hang up, close the tab, and call your bank.” This is very easy to remember and very effective at the same time. Tell your parents to remember that phrase when they see “urgent” warnings online or get cold calls from Microsoft, their bank, or any other entity that seeks access to personal or financial information. It’s good to teach your parents they shouldn’t trust that friendly voice with a concerned tone, if they can’t verify their identity. The same is true for text and chat messages. Even if the sender claims to be you on your new phone.

To VPN or Not to VPN? Honest Advice from Your Newtown Tech Specialists

March 31, 2023April 27, 2026

🌎 World Backup Day 🌍

Today is World Backup Day!

What, you didn’t know it was World Backup Day? Hmmm, perhaps that’s not a surprise. If there was an award for “most overlooked really important thing in computing”, backups would win. Every year. To get you off on the right foot we’ve got three tips to help you backup your devices.
•
Make backups – Yes, our first tip really is “make backups”. Why? Because backups are the dental floss of cybersecurity—the thing that everyone knows they should do, that everyone intends to do, that nobody actually does.
•
Make them automatic – Once you decide that you’re going to make regular copies of your data you are, in all likelihood, going to get bored of doing it and slip up on your rigorous, well-intentioned schedule. Humans just aren’t good at doing the same thing, the same way, every day. But you know what is? A computer.
•
Make sure they work – If you’ve followed tip two and automated your backups then you can sit back and relax right? Sure, you can. But if you want to know for sure that your backup solution will be there for when you need it most, you need to test it.

🚜 Hafren Hedging Society – Hedging Match 2024 🌳

February 27, 2023April 27, 2026

🦠 Virus Removal Tools 🦠

Here’s some of the best virus & malware removal tools, And they are all FREE!

Norton Power Eraser LINK Yes, I’m not the biggest fan of Norton. But this should be your first line of attack if you think your system may be infected.

Kaspersky KVRT LINK Next up would be this Kaspersky tool. Though the company may be under a bit of scrutiny, KVRT is a mighty killer of nasties!

Hitman Pro LINK The third line of attack would be Hitman Pro. Owned by the makers of “Sophos” AV.

(You have to fill out a little reg’ form to access this download, but you don’t have to be too honest!)

Adware Cleaner LINK After Hitman, run this little bit of magic to help cleanse anything that may still be hiding.

Malwarebytes LINK Once all the other scans have completed, Install Malwarebytes as a “Trial” version to give your system one last scan.

One of the best places that I know for Virus Removal tutorials etc is “Bleeping Computer” Click on the link link to take you there: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/

If after running that little lot you still feel uneasy, give us a shout.

🚧 REVISED OPENING TIMES 🚧

February 13, 2023April 27, 2026

🛜 Broadband Social Tariffs 💻

Did you know that you may be eligible for a discounted broadband service?

If you are in receipt of certain benefit’s (like Universal Credit and Pension Credit), you may qualify for a substantial discount on your internet connection.

Here’s a link to a very good article by Which? that could help you save a lot of money!

Article Link: All you need to know about broadband social tariffs: Which?

or copy/paste:

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/broadband/article/all-you-need-to-know-about-broadband-social-tariffs-awnIU5c9XS7G#full-list-of-broadband-social-tariffs-and-providers

The article has a list of all the suppliers that offer a “Social Tariff”, but even if your supplier is not listed or you are a different benefit to those shown, It’s worth giving your provider a call to ask what help may be available during this cost of living crisis.

We’re going Ultrafast….At Last!

February 13, 2023April 27, 2026

We’re going Ultrafast….At Last!

An image depicting high speed fibre broadband connections within a city

They have finished the upgrade to Full Fibre here on Frolic Street in Newtown, so I’ve booked Bluesdigital in for a major speed increase.

Next month will see a big jump from our already reasonable 80Mb internet connection to just over 1Gbps. This will allow us to work faster & help us to develop even more services to assist our clients.

Zoom, Zoom!

BTW, we’ve been using TalkTalk Business for our connection for over 10 Years, and have always rec’d great customer service. If you may be interested in changing over to them, click on the following link, and we could both get up to £200 of Amazon vouchers!

LINK: https://refer.talktalk.co.uk/Rl82y5

🤯 “Just wanna Pick your Brains….” 💭

February 13, 2023April 27, 2026

Windows 11 Installation & Tweaks

If like me, you find Microsoft’s latest & Greatest Operating System, Windows 11, a little bit bloaty & nosey, You should try using Debloos! (LINK)

It’s a great little tool to help you quickly & safely remove some of the “Bloatware” & Pseudo Spyware that is packaged in Windows 11.

I would always advise you to do a back-up of your important files before using ANY tweaking tool, just in case!

If you fancy trying out a “Clean Install” of your Operating System, and you want to make a better USB Bootable installer than what you get with Microsoft’s own “Media Creation Tool”, you should give “RUFUS” a try. (LINK)

Among many of it’s very useful features, it will allow you to download the required operating system ISO’s safely. Furthermore, you can remove those pesky requirements for 4+GB RAM and Secure Boot. TPM 2.0 & the need for a Microsoft account, just to install Windows!

For more computer services, pop in to see us at Frolic House ( between Newtown Medical Practice and Driving Test Centre ) | Call 01686 610 106 | Message 0783 222 7823

Old Laptop, New Windows? Here’s What Customers Want to Know About Windows 11