If you are interested in selling your items and would like to know more details, please feel free to contact us at eBay@bestpcreno.com

For a limited time, we offer Free Listing that means there is no upfront cost to you.

1: Will you guarantee your service and re-work on my computer if I find something I don’t like after the repair?

Even for professional computer repair shops, it’s very difficult to be 100% sure that all problems, especially infection, are solved.  There are some occasions that a problem remains in a computer when it’s returned to a customer, and the problem will come up on the screen a few days later.  It’s a really frustrating situation.  However, if you are given a service guarantee that a repair shops re-works on your computer, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed at the end.  Also, please make sure to ask how many days will you have to bring your computer back.

2: How soon can I get my computer back?

Getting your computer fast doesn’t necessarily mean the best as a sloppy job hurts your computer and personal data.  At the same time, you cannot afford 10 days of downtime without a computer as a great portion of daily tasks needs a computer.  Also, you need to ask what if you cannot get your computer back on time.  Will they give you a sort of discount?

3: Will you call me when a new problem is found and before a change is made to an estimate ?

Have you been surprised when you were given a final invoice?  A big jump from an estimate?  In some cases, a new problem is found when a computer is being repaired.  It includes a failing hard drive, memory, video card, sound card, network card, power supply unit, and even motherboard.  A responsible repair shop will call you when that happens, give you the descriptions of a problem newly found, explain options you have to choose from.  Unethical and unprofessional repair shops tend to hide a unforeseen problem because they are afraid to discuss and be accused for not mentioning the problem when they give an estimate.  It’s impossible to know all problem 100% accurately before an actual work is performed, but a courtesy call must be made before a change is made to an estimate.

4: How will you protect my equipment and identity while my computer is in your shop?

Protecting customers’ equipment and privacy must be #1 priority to any computer service provider.  You don’t want to leave you computer with a disk full of personal data with someone you cannot truly trust.  Do they secure the facility all the times, have guidelines to protect your identity and prevent ID breaches, assign a particular technician to each repair job, have liability insurance in case of stolen or damaged equipment and data?  A responsible repair shop is happy to answer any of these questions.

5: Will you advise  me how to prevent further problems from happening?

Does your computer repair shop charge you for every bit of service and/or information and never give you complementary advice?  They make profits by providing services, but that doesn’t mean they deserve to charge you for everything.  A provider who cares customers’ need first is willing to show you how to protect your computer from any further infection, maintain its performance, perform simple repairs, know when you really need help from a pro.  Please do not fall into a trap that you are told “You have pay us for this, this, and this, and we are the cheapest in town”

6: Finally, how much does it cost?

Many people first ask how much a repair costs.  The cheapest repair shop in your list says “BINGO !!!  We got a new customer !!!”  Please do not ask the price before you ask how your computer will be repaired (refer to the questions above).  A responsible repair shop will explain a list of repair tasks to be performed and the expected result as well as an alternative solution in case something unexpected is found. You could also ask a guaranteed max.  You don’t want to spend $100 for repair while your computer is worth only $100.  Moreover, a cheap quick repair is often done by wiping your system and reinstalling pirated programs.  After the repair, you probable have a nightmare of “where are all my favorite, emails, documents, homework, tax papers, financial documents, programs?”

In conclusion, Best PC Reno is proud to be one of the responsible computer repair shops that cares our customers’ needs first.  We answer YES to all questions above and are happy to answer any questions and concerns you may have.

I’ve heard many people saying they hated Windows Vista and upgraded to Windows 7.  Even Microsoft didn’t seem to make any efforts to sell Vista after people began complaining about it.  If you go to a big-box retail store having an issue with a Windows Vista computer, I guarantee you will be recommended to buy a Windows 7 computer in the most cases (even though every hardware is working properly).  They usually tell “Windows Vista is bad”, “Nobody is using Windows Vista”, “Windows 7 is much better”, and so on.  It is their natural behavior because that’s how they are trained to make profits.  They are trained to sell products and retain customers by offering additional services.  Nothing wrong for selling, but sometimes the customers are taken advantages due to the lack of their knowledge.  The computers users just want their computers to run properly all the time, and if they are told “Windows 7 will run much better that what they currently have,” they take the advice.

Is Vista Good ?

Unless your computer is not too old to run Windows Vista properly, I would say you don’t need to upgrade to Windows 7.  Upgrading from Vista to 7 doesn’t give you any major advantages.  More importantly, switching to a new computer requires the rebuilding of your desktop environment.

Best PC Reno currently runs two Windows Vista computers and know major issues with Vista is not Vista itself.  The most common problems come from pre-installed programs.  Whenever you buy a computer from a retail store (online or local), the computer is loaded with many (usually unwanted) programs and utilities.  They slow down the computer and often cause issues.  The same happens to Windows 7 computers as well.  You’ve been probably told something like “This computer come with this, that, that, that, and that . . . . oh and that too”  That means those “eye candies” just slow down your new computer . . . . plus do you want to learn entirely new programs every time you buy a new computer?

Concluding this section, I believe Windows Vista provides you with far better computer experience that what you are told and/or believe.  It just takes some steps to make it happen.  Well . . . every computer needs cares anyway.

Unload Unwanted Pre-Installed Programs

Not all pre-installed programs are as harmful as other programs.  The most harmful and wasting programs are ones that start by themselves when you start a computer and keep running in the background with your knowledge.  Those programs dramatically slow down the computer startup and ongoing processes.

You could uninstall unwanted programs from Control Panel, but there is a free tool designed to remove unwanted pre-installed programs.  It’s called PC Decrapifier and can be downloaded from its official website at http://pcdecrapifier.com/.  It scans your computer for known software that is pre-installed at a fctory and lets you choose which software to uninstall.  You will be surprise to see how many pre-installed programs have been loaded  in your computer.

Install Service Pack 1 & 2

Having the latest service packs and updates is essential to maintain computer performance and security.  For Windows Vista, Service Pack 1 and 2 have been released in addition to uncountable updates that reinforce security, stabilize system, enhance useability, etc.  Vista is known to have some compatibility issues with certain programs and hardware, but those Windows updates tend to fix the issues.

Windows Vista sometimes fails to install a Service Pack because the system lack prerequisite updates.  If you encounter the problem, you can fix it by running System Update Readiness Tool provided by Microsoft (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821).  Microsoft is trying to make your Vista experience better by providing a solution for this known problem !

Consider Cost-Effective Upgrade

At least 2GB of RAM are recommended to run Windows Vista, and I personally prefer to have some more (like 4GB) as I usually run programs simultaneously.  The most Vista computers have 2 or 4 memory slots on the motherboards, and each slot usually recognizes at least 1GB or RAM.  So, that means your computer can be loaded with at least 2GB of RAM.  Some computers can be loaded with more than 8GB, but the most computer users don’t need that much.

One quick note for memory upgrade: 32-bit edition of Windows (How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system) recognizes up to only 4GB of RAM (Windows Vista Starter 32-bit: 1 GB max) while 64-bit recognizes up to 128GB with some exceptions.  Even though you install more than 4GB to a 32-bit computer, it recognizes only 4GB worth of RAM.

The memory chip market has been greatly fluctuating, but you could easily buy 1Gb RAM for less than $50 in these days.  And, the memory upgrade can be done fairly easy.

Go with Free Tool

There are numerous system tuning programs (free and paid).  Best PC Reno recommends Advanced System Care Free by IObit.  You can read more info about the tool on our previous post (http://www.bestpcreno.com/2011/10/08/i-am-looking-for-easy-way-speed-up-my-computer-any-suggestion/).

Need Help?

I hope I gave you some useful information and made you a happier Vista user.  If there is something Best PC Reno can help you with, please feel free to contact us at our 24/7 customer care center 775-825-8761 or email Help@BestPCReno.com.

We are often asked what computer brands Best PC Reno can work on.  We offer services to all computer brands, except Apple Mac (we might be certified to service Mac in the future):

• Acer, eMachines, Gateway, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, Hitachi, IBM, Lenovo, NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, Shuttle, Sony, Toshiba
• Off-brand computers
• Custom-built computers

Best PC Reno’s Advantages

1. Everything Personally Guaranteed: If you bring your computer to a big-box retailer or a so-called geek who is just good at computers, you never know how the person will service your computer.  How do you know he/she is trustworthy and capable to repair your valuable computer?  Do you really want to leave your computer with someone you don’t know or ship it to a distance away?  At Best PC Reno, all our customers get to know us personally before they leave a computer with us.  If you are a new customer, we will first make sure you feel comfortable with who we are and how we run our business.  If you are a returning customer, we will make sure you feel confident of our services and willing to bring your computer to Best PC Reno when it has a problem.  In case you have any concern or issue, you know who you want to talk with at our store.
2. People First: Yes, Best PC Reno is a business that makes profits by providing services.  However, we are NOT a business that first thinks to grow our bank account.  We deliver the quality computer services with a mission in mind: People First.  And, we mean it !  Please feel free to bring us any computer-related problems, and we will give you the best solutions possible.  Even though you don’t know what’s wrong with your computer, that’s our specialty to determine a problem you have.  We will diagnose your computer for FREE and you will be notified of any repair options before you incur any service charge.
3. We Are Fast: We will repair your computer within 3 business days, or the repair is free (subject to the part availability).  That’s our promise to our customers.  We value your time by minimizing the downtime of your business and daily activities.  For the most common repairs like virus removal, operating system reinstall, and computer tune-up, you will get your computer back as soon as the following day.  At Best PC Reno, you can count on us that the job will be done accurately, quickly,and professionally.

Major Applications

Quickbooks and Quicken from Intuit are two most famous accounting and bookkeeping programs.  Usually the former for business use and the latter for personal.  They are loaded with a wide variety of functions (sometimes more than we really need) and are compatible with some other accounting programs.  There are several different packages from the starter package (Quicken Starter: approx $40) to the premier / enterprise package (Quickbooks Enterprise: approx $430).  Some computers even have Quickbooks and/or Quicken pre-installed (either a basic package or a trial software of a more expensive package).

Free Alternative

About a year ago, I have a conversation with one of our customers on how to run business using freely available programs and services.  He’s owned a commercial cleaning service company for years and has been suing Quickbooks.  We talked about some examples:

• Microsoft Office to Open Office or Google Docs
• Photoshop to GIMP
• Storage media to Google Docs
• Contact, calendar, and task management to Google Sync

Finally, his question moved to whether we could replace Quickbooks with a freeware.  He has been using Quickbooks 2005 that provides him with enough functions for running his business.  Upgrading to the latest edition costs him more than $400, so there is no big reason for him to upgrade.  Back then I was using Quickbook 2010.

After the conversation, I did a quick online search for a free accounting program or service.  I found several online accounting services, and I chose to try Wave Accounting (based in Toronto).  It’s been adding new features since it was launched and is now close to a full-blown accounting program.

Why Wave Accounting?

1. Always 100% Free: Wave Accounting is 100% free for the end users.  It generates revenues by offering sponsoring partners (Dell and American Express included) advertising opportunities.  Every time a new feature is added, I can try it immediately and see if I like it.  The development team is actively listening to the users (Facebook and Twitter) and make a lot of efforts to make the users’ wishes happen.  Of course no charge for new features !
2. No More Manual Entries: Wave Accounting is designed to eliminate manual data entries by automatically importing transactions from a bank account(s) and then automatically categorizing transactions into proper accounts.  Every time I manually specify an account, it learns and will categorize a similar transaction accordingly.  The initial setup took me some time to have Wave Accounting learn the spending patterns of my business (like we buy office supplies from Company A while Company B sells us computer parts), but once it was done, everything became automatic.  Only time I manually specify a transaction is when I have a new supplier that has not been in the database yet.
3. Easy and Secured Access: No installation is required.  All I need is a computer with the Internet access.  Everything is securely stored on Wave Accounting server and can be accessed from anywhere.  The security of users’ data is Wave Accounting’s #1 commitment.  All data transmissions are protected by 256-bit encryption that many online stores and online banking use.  The data servers are guarded by several layers of physical and electrical protection to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Easy to Start: No small business has time (and money) to learn a new program.  Everyone wants to focus on what they are the best at.  A main screen called Dashboard on Wave Accounting is really simple with some tabs in plain English – imported transaction, income, expense, report, and setting.  Dashboard visually shows how a business is financially managed – income vs expense, open invoices, bills owed, etc.

What’s Expected?

Wave Accounting is not a complete accounting solution for all businesses . . . yet.  Some most-commonly-used features are missing as of this writing, but I expect they will be integrated to Wave Accounting in the near future.

• Payroll
• Check Printing
• Inventory Control
• Tax Filing (it now gets you detailed reports for filing tax returns)

Want to Know More?

You can find more detailed information on Wave Accounting website at http://waveaccounting.com/

Best PC Reno has been using Wave Accounting as our primary accounting program, so you may want to contact us at Help@BestPCReno.com.

The key benefits include:

• Speeds up PC performance and internet access
• Defends PC security with extra protection
• Built-in tools for everyday PC maintenance
• Extremely easy to use
• Ultimately speeds up with turbo boost
• Monitor your PC performance in real time with shortcut to quick fix!
• Powerful hard drive defragmentation

Where to download ?

http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html#none

Need help ?

If you have hard time with the process, please feel free to contact us at our 24/7 customer care center 775-825-8761 or email Help@BestPCReno.com.

Best PC Reno is in no mean liable for any damages to your computer caused by the use of the above mentioned software.  Use it on your own risk.

• Complete system backup: It backs up not only data but also entire computer image.  With the complete system backup, even in case of hard drive failure, we will be able to get back in business in no time like this:
• Install a new hard drive
• Run a recovery tool to restore the most recent backup
• THAT’S IT !!!  All our data and programs are on the new hard drive.
• Set-and-forget backup: Not many people realize the importance of backup until their computers stop working and they are in a big trouble.  We just don’t backup our computers unless it’s automatic . . . who can remember to run a backup program at the end of every single day, week, month, etc?   EaseUS Todo Backup Free provides you with an easy-to-follow backup scheduling that lets you specify what, how, and when you want to backup your computer.  Once you setup a plan, your computer backs up itself automatically.
• Easy recovery process: As mentioned above, complete system recovery is as easy as 1-2-3 . . . actually there is no 3rd step.  It can be done in 2 steps.  You can also recover your computer data by data.  That means you can restore a particular file or folder off of a backup data file.
• Advanced tools: EaseUS Todo Backup Free offers several advanced tools such as drive cloning, drive image convertor, and partition editor.  The drive cloning tool is used to copy an entire hard drive into another hard drive.  In case of system failure due to hard drive mechanical, you can swap it with a cloned hard drive.

How to start ?

You need to have two things to use EaseUS Todo Backup Free:

• A data storage device: It could be a flash drive (only if you want to backup a small amount of data), an external hard drive, or a network-attached storage (you could backup more than one computers into a network-attached storage).
• EaseUS Todo Backup Free software (http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm) installed into your computer.

Having a hard time ?

Please feel free to let us know if there is anything we can help you with.  We are dedicated to provide the most reliable and friendly computer services to become a trusted computer service provider for all computer users.  We can be reached at 24/7 customer care center 775-825-8761 or email Help@BestPCReno.com

Shu’s Brief Bios:

• Born in Aichi, Japan
• Came to Reno to study engineering at the University of Reno, NV in 1999
• Obtained Associate’s Degree in Engineering Drafting and Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management
• Worked for Reno Engineering Corporation as a senior designer
• Married to Mayu in 2009
• Partnership with Print Design & Factory

• Scan any attachments or downloaded files by an anti-virus program.  Even though they are from someone you know, his or her computer could be infected and spreads infections.
• Never trust any popup windows that say your computer is infected.  Some of them even pretend to be legit security programs that scan your computer and detect hundreds of infections and system errors.  They are called roguewares that try to trick you into panicking, steal your identity making you pay using a credit card, etc.
• Stay away from file sharing programs and websites.  Files you get from them are often intentionally programmed with malware.
• Know who you buy from.  Not all online stores are trying to steal your identity, but there are more than a countable numbers of fraudulent stores.  They are more knowledgeable at con jobs than you ever imagine.  If you are uncertain, just search some reviews about the store on Google or Yahoo before you give me your credit card number.

• AVG Anti-Virus Free (http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download)
• Avast Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download)
• PC Tools AntiVirus Free (http://free.pctools.com/free-antivirus/download)

• Super AntiSpyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/)
• MalwareByte’s Anti-Malware (http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free)
• Spybot – Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)

Keep Windows security patches updated.  By default, Windows checks the updates and notifies you of any available updates.  Sometimes you receive a update notice one after another, so please keep downloading them until there is no more critical update available.   In case your computer fails to check the available updates, you can manually check them by starting “Windows Updates” found in the START menu.

• Zone Alarm Free Firewall (http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm)
• Comodo Firewall (http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/free-download.html)
• Filseclab Personal Firewall Professional Edition (http://www.filseclab.com/eng/products/firewall.htm)

• Sun Java (http://java.com/en/download/inc/windows_upgrade_xpi.jsp)
• Adobe Flash Player (http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer)

Information Purpose Only – Best PC Reno is not liable for any damages to your computer and equipment.  Use the programs recommended above at your own risk.

• Free
• Commercial (paid)

In many cases, our clients just need basic anti-virus protection.  All they do include:

• Browsing the Internet
• Checking e-mails
• Watching online videos
• Listening to online radio and music
• Doing homework

So, they don’t need comprehensive protection because their risk of being exposed to non-traditional online and offline threats is slim.  Here is a free anti-virus program we recommend to our clients:

• AVG Anti-Virus Free (http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download)

On the other hand, if you run your business from your computer; bank online, send and receive files frequently; or want more comprehensive protection for whatever reason, we recommend:

• Kaspersky Internet Security(http://usa.kaspersky.com/products-services/home-computer-security/internet-security)

The key features of Kaspersky Internet Security include:

• Combines our essential antivirus protection with premium Internet threat defense
• Prevents hacker attacks with two-way firewall
• Secures your identity while online banking & shopping
• Checks instantly for file, application & website safety
• Rolls back most harmful malware activity
• Keeps your children safe & responsible with advanced parental controls

Regardless of what option you choose, the most important thing to remember is to keep the security program up to date.  New computer threats are being created every second, you want to stay current to the change.