What we check

The work we do during a Computer Health Check isn't a trade secret - it's just good practice that should be done on every computer. We find, however, that the task is often too tedious for most users, or is not easy to do when you aren't familiar with all of the processes and items to check for. Here's a list of what we typically check during a CHC.

The Process

	System Updates We make sure that your computer has all of the latest security patches and service packs, for every product supported by the Microsoft Update Center, or updates for Mac OS X if you use a Mac.
	Anti-Virus Definitions We make sure that your antivirus software is up to date. If you don't have anti-virus software, we can install a free anti-virus program for you. We'll also perform a quick or full system scan as needed.
	Anti-Spyware Definitions We make sure that your anti-spyware is up to date. If you don't have anti-spyware installed, we can install a free anti-spyware program for you. We'll also perform a system scan if needed.
	Firewall Depending on the type of internet connection you have, we can also examine and test your firewall to make sure that it's blocking access to your computer from the internet the way it should.
	Internet Safety We will check your Internet Explorer, Firefox or Mozilla browser settings to ensure you have your internet settings at safe levels for the type of work you do. This may also involve setting up a pop-up blocker, and removing search engine toolbars that are known spyware, ad-ware, or other security hazards.
	Wireless Network Review If you have a wireless router and network, we will review the settings on that router to ensure that you are adequately protected against unauthorized access through your wireless connection.
	Startup Checks We check for all of the software that is scheduled to run at startup, to verify that each program is starting as expected, and that no software is starting that you don't need running when your computer boots. This helps to reduce the amount of memory consumption when you first boot your computer, and can also improve the time it takes to boot up.
	Running Service Review We check all of the services (programs and components that run "behind the scenes") to make sure that you don't have anything running that you don't want running. This helps to keep memory use low, and can improve the overall performance of your computer.
	Disk Space Check We check to make sure you have adequate disk space, and that your files are stored in the appropriate places. We can also clean your temporary files, internet cache and cookies, depending on your needs or requests. If we notice that you're running low on disk space, we can also suggest a course of action for freeing up more space, or for installing a new hard drive.
	Disk Defragment One of the last checks we will do is to either run, or schedule a disk defragment. Defragmenting is primarily a preventative method that should be done regularly when you first get your computer, or after a fresh reformat. This item is not provided for Mac OS.
Optional Checks
	System Backup System backups are not a regular step in a computer health check, but we can optionally provide this service for you for a small fee. If you already have a backup solution in place, we can verify whether your backup is running properly at no charge. Optionally, we can back-up your data to CD, DVD, additional hard drives, other computers or flash media, depending on what hardware you have available. If you don't have any of the above backup methods, we will connect via laptop and create a CD or DVD for you.
	Genuine Software Analysis Some clients have asked us how they would know if they had pirated or illegal software on their machine. If you'd like, we can help educate you on how to tell if the software you have on your computer is legitimate or not. If we do find that you have software installed that does not conform to the license agreement for the software, we can let you know what steps you need to take to resolve it, but we will never under any circumstances share that information with anyone else. Most people with pirated software simply don't realize that it is, and will happily take measures to make everything legal. Even if you do not take any measures to resolve the issue, we will never share the results with anyone else, even within our own company. Note: Some of the services that we provide cannot be performed if you do not have legal copies of your software. For instance, Windows Updates will fail if your software fails to meet the "Genuine Windows" test that Microsoft requires. As well, other software such as Norton Antivirus or Internet Security may not be able to be updated if your license is not valid. We will not take any measures to circumvent the protection mechanisms built into these programs. If a particular test fails because of that reason, we will be unable to provide that portion of our service, but this does not affect our pricing.

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