The Apheus Blog

3Jun

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers, Tech Talk

Troubleshooting a Computer Problem Isn’t Always Successful

Tech Talk show notes for Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Listen live Tuesday mornings on WTCA FM 106.1 and AM 1050 in Plymouth, Indiana. One of the sad truths about computer repair is that we can't fix every problem. Sometimes we fail to even identify the problem. It can be frustrating for the end user, but can be even more frustrating for the IT guy. We're not infallible and we are quite human. Most experienced computer gurus have a set of tools and procedures that we utilize to troubleshoot a computer hardware problem. Some arsenals are quite extravagant, while others (like myself) utilize a pretty basic set of tools. The procedures we use for diagnosing a problem change depending upon the situation (or at least they should). I'm going to highlight a few of the common things ...

26May

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers, Tech Talk

Protect Yourself from Data Loss with the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy

Tech Talk show notes for Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Listen live Tuesday mornings on WTCA FM 106.1 and AM 1050 in Plymouth, Indiana. The 3-2-1 backup strategy has been around forever. It's a simple and effective method to keep your data safe. It works to protect data loss from fire, flood, tornado, ransomware, hard drive failure, or a multitude of other problems. So let's break down what the 3-2-1 strategy actually is and how it can be applied to home users and small businesses. By the way, this strategy is endorsed by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Three copies of your data. So in a typical home or small business environment, you're going to have one copy of your data on your computer. Follow this up with two ba...

19May

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers, Tech Talk

Keep Your Computer Cool and Clean this Summer with Proper Airflow

Tech Talk show notes for Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Listen live Tuesday mornings on WTCA FM 106.1 and AM 1050 in Plymouth, Indiana. Airflow. It is one of the most important things to remember about your computer. Your password is essential, too, but if your computer is dead, you won't have to worry about remembering your password. Proper airflow is crucial because it helps keep the components inside of your computer nice and cool. Maybe not ice-cube cool (install a liquid-cooled system for that), but relatively cool to the touch. The problem comes when the components inside of your computer begin to overheat. While there are mechanisms inside the computer to prevent a meltdown, it can still suffer serious damage. It doesn't matter if you have a laptop or a desktop; both types of sys...

12May

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Internet, Tech Talk

Debunking 5G Conspiracy Theories and How 5G Will Actually Benefit Users

Tech Talk show notes for Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Listen live Tuesday mornings on WTCA FM 106.1 and AM 1050 in Plymouth, Indiana. There are a number of conspiracy theories floating around the internet these days. A year ago, people were claiming that 5G causes cancer, even though the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have determined that there is no connection between brain cancer and mobile phone usage. Of course that won't stop the conspiracy theorists from making that claim. In fact, some people are so terrified of 5G towers in the United Kingdom, that they've actually starting setting them on fire. The fear comes from yet another conspiracy theory linking 5G technology with the spread of the coronavirus. Again, that claim is ...

11May

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers

Are you still using a computer running Windows 7? It may be time to upgrade.

Back on January 14, 2020, Windows 7 reached its end of life. However, those of us who work in the IT field still see plenty of older computers in our day-to-day work. Many businesses have been reluctant to upgrade or switch to Windows 10. Frankly, I understand the concern. Hardware and software can be a huge investment, especially for SMBs who are budget-crunched. But it may be worth the investment to avoid potential pitfalls down the road. Eventually, Windows 7 will not be a viable operating system. But why? End of life for a product basically means that your operating system will no longer receive updates from Microsoft. You won't receive any technical support from Microsoft. But most importantly, your computer won't receive security updates, patches, and fixes necessary to k...

6May

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Internet, Tech Talk

E-Learning for Adults During the Pandemic

Tech Talk show notes for Tuesday, May 6, 2020. Listen live Tuesday mornings on WTCA FM 106.1 and AM 1050 in Plymouth, Indiana. E-learning is nothing new. In fact, it's been around for decades in one form or another. It's only come to the forefront now that millions of school children are stuck at home during the global pandemic. But e-learning is just for kids, right? Wrong! There are a number of e-learning opportunities for adults. It doesn't matter if you're a student, a business professional, or a retiree. Many of these resources are available for free or at low cost. In fact, you could earn a degree entirely online, if you so desire. Here are a few of my favorite resources for learning online: Udemy offers a broad range of courses primarily geared towards business and ...

5May

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Internet

Back to Blogging

Several years ago, I took down the original Apheus blog because I simply could not manage all of the comments. I felt a responsibility to personally respond to my readers. Even with thousands of visitors each month and the fact that it was actually generating revenue, I had to take it down. That was a mistake. So after much consideration, I have decided to start blogging again. Of course, I'm going to be using WordPress as my blogging platform, but with some major changes. As many people already know, I have talked at length at how much I dislike WordPress for building general websites. However, I have to admit that it is perfect for blogging. It was built as a blogging platform and that's how I intend to use it. One of the changes I decided to implement was segregating the host...