Frequently Asked Questions
Buying a computer
Dear Priyta,
There are not many places which offer used routers. One place you might try is online at amazon.com. If you have never shopped on the Internet, we recommend you have a friend or relative help you through this process.
Thanks for the question.
General
Hello Again George,
What is happening is that your computer cannot locate the files and folders which are required to run or open whichever programs you are clicking on. This may be because those files have been moved or deleted. Are these programs you were able to open at one point or are they programs that you are just now trying to open? It seems like some of the files were delted and you should try to reinstall them if they are things you need. Please feel free to give us a call if you need further assistance 718-363-1707.
Dear George,
In order to answer your question, we'll need some more information. What were you trying to do when this happened? It sounds like you were trying to open a file, folder or drive. This message usually appears in regards to folders on a shared network drive. If you can, the next time you receive this message write down everything you were doing when it appeared. Thanks.
Try using this link to download AVG:
It can be a bit confusing because there are several links from this page, many of which are advertisements. Click on the link to the left of the screen that says "Download Now Tested Spyware Free." This link should automatically start the download process. Good luck.
Great Question!
For those of you interested in signing up for Verizon DSL, or any other DSL service, it is important to know what these numbers mean. There are two options that Verizon offers for DSL Speed, 1mbps and 3mbps. MBPS stands for MegaBytes Per Second. This refers to the amount of information that can be sent to your computer per second. So what does all that mean?
If you use the Internet for email, surfing the web, research, reading the newspaper, blogging, etc., you won't notice much of a difference between the two speeds. The only time you will notice the difference is if you are trying to watch movies online or upload large files onto the internet. With the faster speed, this will take less time. However, DSL at its lowest speed is sufficient and the time difference is really only a matter of seconds not minutes or hours.
You will notice a difference between Cable and DSL because the average Cable speed is 10mbps. But you won't really notice too much difference between 1mbps and 3mbps. The OATS office is run on a DSL line and we use 3mbps. We stream videos and upload large files without a problem.
One last comment I have is for you is that Verizon promises "up to" 1mbps. Once you get the service, you should use their online speed tester to make sure you are getting the right speed. See the link below.
There are many programs that start when you turn on your PC. Often when you install a new program there is an option to "start automatically." You should always make sure this is off when installing a new program. Some common programs that "pop-up" automatically are Skype, AOL, and AIM. If you have already installed the program you will need to open the settings, for that particular program, and make the change. The steps to do this vary for each piece of software.
If you can tell us what the Window is, we might be able to help.
Thank you for your question. There are many free anti-virus software programs you can download and use. What happens many times, is that after a while software companies update their products. When this happens they try to get you to buy the new version, but you don't have to. There is still a free option. Here is a link to download the most recent FREE version of AVG, one of the most popular free anti-virus companies.
http://free.avg.com/ww-en/download?prd=afg
Make sue you click on the button that says "Download Now" on the left hand side. Do not click on the "Premium Upgrade" that is for those wishing to buy the product.
There are other free anti-virus software companies such as Avast and Avira. These are also good at protecting your computer. However, updating them could be tricky as you have to make sure to search for the free version.
I hope that answers your question. Thanks again.
Dear Maureen,
Back up drives work just like USB drives or CDs. They are meant to store information. Some drives come with software to automatically backup your computer every day, week or month. That software changes from company to company. However, when you plug the drive into your computer, your computer will automatically recognize that there is a new drive attached to it. It will walk you through where to go from there. Sometimes it's just a matter of clicking and dragging files from your computer to the drive.
To answer your other question, her name was Abby Stokes and her website is abbyandme.com
OATS stands for Older Adults Technology Services. OATS runs SeniorPlanet.org. For more about OATS click here.