September 10th is Windows Update Tuesday! Thursday the 12th is the day to install Windows updates.
Windows 10 Users. Microsoft is still rolling out the 1903 May update.
These twice a year updates take hours on slow computers and take a LOT of hard drive space. Microsoft makes a complete copy of your current Windows 10, then downloads a LARGE file (the new Windows 10), then installs the new 10 and moves in your "files". Again this can take hours and a LOT of hard drive space! Many old computers have performance problems during this update. You must be aware that this is happening and leave the computer running until it is finished. DO NOT interrupt this process. Computers with very full or small hard drives will fail this update.
We can do the 1903 Windows 10 update here for you. You will have to leave the PC with us.
Windows 10 Users: Check your Updates closely. Again there are updates causing problems,.
Everyone else. (Windows 7 & 8.1) Only install all Important updates.
Google Chrome pops up Microsoft's Save As window. Make sure you know where it is going (the folder name) before you save.
Watch quickly the small pop-up that opens in the bottom left corner of my blog web page. Run the downloaded file by clicking on its name in the bottom left corner.
As always, watch each screen closely as you install. Don't let them install anything else! Uncheck any Avast check-boxes.
Delete the downloaded file after you are done.
All ideas for improvements to this document are welcomed. Email me at service@pcbitsnews.com
What should you do if you suspect you have a virus?
First you must know your PC. What is "Normal" behavior? What is your web browser's "Home Page"? What does normal Internet traffic look/sound/feel like? How fast is the Internet? How fast do you get/send emails?
One of the first symptoms of a virus is a "change"! The Internet is "Slow". The PC is acting "funny"! There seems to be lots of activity going on over the Internet wires but "you" aren't doing anything. Your "Home Page" changes to some other web site, either porn or a site that tries to sell you something. You can no longer get or send emails. Google searches that don't show you the right "results" is a frequent complaint.
The obvious symptoms are "pop-ups". These can happen anywhere and at random times. They pop-up inside web pages, they pop-up in the system tray (down by the time/clock), they just pop-up on top of everything and they won't go away! These fraudulent pop-ups can be "official" looking warnings, or advertisements claiming that you are "infected". They FALSELY claim that they have "scanned" for viruses and found a "Trojan" or some such thing. Another type of virus pop-up claims that your hard drive and/or RAM is failing. To prove it the virus begins to erase your icons!
You have Avira AntiVir Guard. Just who is claiming to have found something? You should only respond if the warning pop-up is from Avira! (Look for the Red Umbrella and the Remove button.)
If you suspect a virus Immediately shut down the PC using the Power Button then call me immediately at 763-360-2163.
Dean
