Education

RedCross PC offers computer training and internet related classes for both the newbie and the net-savvy or anyone that falls between. 

Give yourself an edge! our 1 on 1 training is the best way to master your PC and get ahead of the competition. Great rates and professional instruction will make a huge difference to productivity at work and home.

Personal Training gets results! We will tailor a class to your needs. Learn what you need and make the most of your time.

• Computer Beginner
• Windows XP
• Basic Maintenance
• Surf the Web 
• Scanning & Printing
• Digital Photography
• E-Bay / Online Auctions
• PC Hardware
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• And More....

Tips

Should I Replace My Computer?

At RedCross PC, we are not shy to suggest that you buy a new computer instead of fixing the old one you have when that is your best move. That seems odd coming from a company that makes its living fixing old machines. After all, if we suggest you replace your machine, we lose a potential service call. But it is our way of building trust with you so that you know when you call us that you are getting good advice.

So, should you replace that old machine? Here is how to know.

When you have a problem with your computer, it is either going to be software or hardware that is failing you. In other words, the issue is going to stem from either a) corruptions in the operating system (from virus', spy-ware/ad-ware, or general deterioration or, b) in failures of the physical parts of the machine (i.e. failures in the modem, network card, the hard drive, the processor or the motherboard, etc.). Knowing were the problem generally stems from will help you to evaluate this decision.

You also need to know what the replacement cost of your machine is. Chances are if your machine came with Windows 95 pre loaded, it is a good bet that even without looking at a machine like that is too expensive. If it is a Windows 98 or Windows ME era machine, it may be worth working on - depending on what it needs. Generally with software corruptions or virus infected machines that can be cleaned up with a couple of hour’s attention will be worth servicing. If the computer requires a small part, like a network card or a modem or memory then that would be worth doing as well. But, if the motherboard or processor needs to be replaced in almost all cases it will be time to upgrade the machine.

What about my data, my personal information?

If you do decide to buy a new machine, you don't need to worry about your personal information. In almost all cases, transferring your email, word processing documents, financial data, music, and video files is a breeze. We can often move your entire hard drive of information over to a new machine in less than an hour service call and have you up running on a faster, easier to use machine in no time.

Can you help me to decide?

If you want a free, no hassle evaluation of your machine, just request a service call. Your initial consultation with a RedCross PC service manager is provided at no cost. In almost all cases we can help you determine over the phone what a benchmark value for your machine is and what the likely causes of its issues are. It costs nothing and you will gain the knowledge and information you need to make a good decision.

Routine PC Maintenance

Performing these preventive measures will significantly decrease the probability and frequency that your hard drive will crash, or the likelihood that viruses will ruin your system.

Note: The following is intended only as a set of guidelines. Consult the documentation that came with your computer for additional guidance.

Weekly:

1. Run Disk Cleanup.
2. Scan, or check, your disk:
3. Run Disk Defragmenter

Monthly:

1. Download and install anti-virus updates. Run your anti-virus main program and follow its instructions.
2. Download and install system updates to obtain the latest Windows software bug fixes. This should be located on Start menu as "Windows Update," or go directly to the Windows Update website.

Quarterly:

1. Perform a virus scan of your entire hard drive

Yearly:

1. Perform a complete re-install of your OS after you backup your entire hard drive. A brand new fresh minty clean feeling.

NICKS TOP 10 PC TIPS

TIP #9 - Do not let every program load when you start your computer. Most of these programs have icons that are located on the bottom right of your screen on the taskbar. Each program that starts up automatically, uses a piece of memory. By having all of these programs load automatically, you may just slow down your computer or at the worst, cause your computer to crash due to software incompatibility. Most of these programs do not need to be started automatically & shouldn't. You can just put an icon on your desktop & open it after the operating system loads. Some of the programs that need to open automatically are virus software, and most system software (ex. Norton anti-virus & Systemworks programs). It's also a good idea to have your firewall software load automatically so you don't forget to open it later.

TIP #7 - Run Scandisk & a full Defrag on your hard drive at least once a month. This will check your drive for errors & correct them & organize your data for quicker retrieval. You will be surprised how much this can speed up your computer. These utilities are included with all Windows operating systems except Windows NT. They also have third party programs available for all versions of windows. Norton Utilities & Diskeeper are 2 very popular ones. They are much faster than the one included with your operating system but you will receive the same result with any of them.

TIP #5 - Never turn your computer off without shutting it down. The only exception is when your computer locks up. Make sure the hard drive light is not blinking before you do this. You will lose your data but you will prevent your hard drive from being ruined. Always try to press Crtl+Atl+Delete & reboot first. If you can't because of a system lock up, make sure the hard drive light is off & then press the power switch.

TIP #3 - Dust kills. Kills your PC that is. Your computer will always pick up dust, smoke or other foreign particles but an excess of these particles can destroy your computer. Drives will fail, fans will stop operating, or components can short out. Repair will always cost you more than preventive maintenance. Clean your computer. If you do not feel comfortable doing it call us or any computer service company that offers preventative maintenance services. Open your PC's cover or look at the fan that is on the power supply. If it is caked with dust, your PC needs to be cleaned.

TIP #1 - Always have virus software installed on your PC and keep it up to date. We stress keep it up to date. Most people think that just having virus software on their computer is good enough. This is not. Your virus software must be kept up to date & expires 1 year after you installed it. When you log on to the internet you can either open the virus software's update program or set the software to automatically download when an internet connection is sensed (preferred method). This is not a 100% guarantee that you will not have a virus infect your computer but close to it. You could be one of the unlucky few to be infected before a virus has been recognized & a detection routine has been released by your virus software company. The top software manufacturers for the home are Symantec (Norton Anti-Virus) & McAfee (Virus Scan). These are the best so try not to purchase anything but one of these packages.