Phone Medics

Anybody who’s ever suffered a data loss knows the importance of keeping your stuff backed up. In a previous post, we gave you a basic guide to keeping your computer backed up using a combination of on-site backups and cloud-based backups. Today we’re going to go a little more in-depth on the cloud backup piece of the equation. There are a lot of cloud backup services out there, so today we’re going to take a look at some of the best options. What To Look For The two main factors to consider when you’re looking for an online backup service are storage capacity and price. The first thing to do is figure out how much data you want to backup and decide how much (if any) more space you might need in the future. Once you’ve done that, you can start looking at prices for the amount of storage you need. Of course, there are other factors to consider. You want to make sure that the service offers a software client for your operating system, and look into how they plan to get your data ...

We’ve talked a lot in previous posts about how to keep yourself safe when you browse the internet. We’ve talked about avoiding malware , what to do if you get malware , and how to avoid phishing scams . In today’s post we’re going to go a little more in-depth with some of the tools you can use to protect your computer by giving you a quick rundown of some of the best antivirus software available for your computer.  All of the programs we’re talking about today are completely free, full-featured anti-malware programs. There are plenty of other paid programs out there that are as good or better, and that have more features, but today we’re focusing on ways you can protect your computer for free. Bitdefender Bitdefender is excellent at detecting and removing malware, it offers real-time virus protection, and protects you from fraudulent websites and phishing scams. That said, there are a few features you might like that are missing from the free version, including a password mana...

We live in an increasingly DIY-focused world. When something goes wrong, we tend to want to take care of it ourselves, rather than pay someone else to take care of it for us, and the age of the internet makes that easier than it's ever been. If you want to learn to do it, chances are there’s somebody on YouTube who’s eager to teach you. We’re big fans of DIY solutions at Phone Medics Plus, but the truth is that when it comes to your electronics, DIY repairs can get pretty tricky. The truth is, sometimes you're just better off bringing your phone or computer problems to a professional. In today’s post, we’ll tell you a few reasons why that's the case. Identify the problem quickly We’ve seen it all, so if you’re not sure exactly what’s wrong, we have the experience and knowledge to quickly troubleshoot the problem. Help you understand the problem and the best way to fix it Some problems have more than one solution, and some solutions are easier or cheaper than other...

In previous articles we’ve talked a lot about ways to keep your computer “clean” in a metaphorical sense: clean from malware , clean from junk files that will slow down your computer , etc. Today, we’re going to talk about the importance of keeping your computer clean in a literal sense, as in, clean from dust and dirt and debris. Before we get started it’s worth noting that most of this article applies to desktop PCs a lot more than it does to laptops. Laptops can get plenty dusty on the outside, but on the inside they’re typically sealed up a lot tighter than desktops, so they don’t tend to have as much problems with dust as desktops. Why Dust Is Bad So, you might be wondering why keeping your computer clean is a big deal. Well, it turns out that dust on your computer isn’t just unsightly, it can actually impact your computer’s performance. As dust builds up inside a computer’s case, it can act as an insulator, causing components to overheat. This is especially true for ...

There comes a time in the life of every PC when you find that you want or need to move on. Whether your computer needs a repair that’s too costly, or it’s getting older and outdated, or a shiny new model just catches your eye, eventually you’ll find yourself with a computer that needs a new home. At Phone Medics Plus , we want to give you the tools and knowledge you need to make the transition to your new PC as smooth and painless as possible. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to the things you need to do before selling your computer. Backup Your Stuff The first thing you need to do before selling your computer is backup your stuff. There are a few different methods for doing this, but for the purposes of selling a computer, the best and simplest way to backup your data is to simply transfer it to an external hard drive. Make sure you have a drive large enough to store the files you want to save, plug it into your computer, then you can just copy the files and folders you ...

In previous posts we’ve told you about how lithium ion batteries work  and discussed some of the benefits of replacing the battery in your phone. Today we’re going to talk about why some lithium ion batteries expand, and what you should do when that happens. The battery on this iPhone 8 has swollen and popped the phone open. This is a topic that’s been in the news a lot the last couple years. As you may recall, in late 2016 Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 phones experienced severe battery problems, to the point that some phones actually burst into flames. Then in late 2017, as Apple began shipping their new iPhone 8, there were reports that some customers were experiencing battery swelling - sometimes after charging their phone, and sometimes right out of the box. In some cases, the swelling was so bad that it actually caused the screen of the phone to separate from the casing. So the big question is, why does this happen? Why lithium ion batteries expand? Well, as it turns out...

Many of the questions we get here at Phone Medics Plus relate to phone batteries. Why does my battery stop working? How can I improve my battery life? Why isn’t my battery charging/holding charge? With that in mind, we’ve put together a quick primer on just how your the battery in your phone, tablet, or PC works. How Batteries Work Every battery - from the button battery in your watch to the AAs in your remote control to the battery in your car to the battery in your phone - has three basic components: a negative electrode (the anode), a positive electrode (the cathode), and an electrolyte. In a fully charged battery, the anode is holding onto a bunch of electrons. When the battery begins to discharge, those electrons start to move from the anode to the cathode, through the electrolyte. That movement generates the electricity your device uses. The more electrons make their way to the cathode, the less power the battery puts out. Once the battery isn’t putting out enough po...

Data recovery is one of the biggest worries most PC users face. Most people will encounter a situation at some point where they find themselves no longer able to access data they need. Fortunately in many situations there are ways to access your data, and at Phone Medics Plus we can help you get your data back. Unfortunately, data recovery can be a little tricky, and the amount of data you can get back depends on what is preventing you from accessing your data. For example, if your computer isn’t booting, there could be a problem with the motherboard, the RAM, a corrupted file that Windows needs in order to boot, or some other issue. In that sort of situation, your data is intact on your hard drive and all we need to do is access it. That can be done by repairing the issue that’s keeping the computer from booting, or it can be done by removing the drive and plugging it into another computer. Sometimes, however, the issue is that the files you want to access have been deleted. Fo...

Here at Phone Medics Plus, we’re not just committed to repairing your phone or PC when something goes wrong. We want to help you keep your devices running smoothly and keep yourself safe from some of the technology-based threats out there. In our last post, we gave you some tools for identifying email-based phishing scams . Today we’re going to talk about ways to recognize the same kind of scam when it comes via phone call instead of email. Phone scams generally follow the same basic script as phishing via email: a scammer claiming to be from a trusted organization contacts you and says there’s a problem, then tricks you into surrendering sensitive information. The most common format for phishing phone calls is the tech support scam. In the tech support scam, the scammer claims to work for a company like Microsoft or Apple. They tell you that they’ve detected a problem with your computer, and try to convince you to give them remote access to your system so they can "fix"...

At Phone Medics Plus, we’re committed to helping you keep yourself safe as you experience all the awesome things the internet has to offer. In previous posts we’ve talked about how to avoid getting malware  and what to do if you think your computer has become infected . Today we’re going to change gears a little and talk about a threat that doesn’t typically attack your computer directly, but uses your computer as a platform for scamming you: phishing. Not that kind of fishing. What is Phishing? Phishing is social engineering scam that tries to trick you into surrendering sensitive information. With a typical phishing scam you receive a legitimate-looking email that appears to be from your bank, your credit card company, PayPal, etc. The message claims there’s a problem with your account, and provides you a link so you can sign in and fix it. But when you click the link, it doesn’t take you to your bank or credit card company’s actual website. Instead it takes you to a ...

At Phone Medics Plus, we aren’t just committed to fixing your phone or PC when something goes wrong, we also want to give you the tools to keep your devices running well, and to help you minimize the inconvenience when something does go wrong. That’s why we’re going to spend our next few blog posts talking to you about how to keep your data backed up. Today we’ll cover backing up the data on your computer. In our next couple of posts, we’ll discuss backup options for the data on your iOS and Android device. Data Loss: Not If, But When The unfortunate reality of life in the electronic age is that it isn’t a question of if you’re going to suffer a data loss on your PC or mobile phone, it’s when. Data loss happens to all of us sooner or later - a hard drive fails, important files accidentally get deleted, a laptop gets misplaced or stolen or damaged, and suddenly all the family photos, important documents, and other data on your device are gone. If you don’t have backups, the l...

We all know how frustrating it can be when your computer runs too slowly. At Phone Medics Plus, there are plenty of steps we can take to help get you back up to full speed. Hardware upgrades like new RAM, a faster processor, and a bigger, faster hard drive can all give your computer a major speed boost. But we also know that sometimes you’re not quite ready to invest in hardware upgrades. For those times, there are a few tools we can give you to help you keep your computer running more smoothly until you’re ready to upgrade. Clearing Out the Junk Lots of things can impact your computer’s speed, and a couple of them have to do with your hard drive - the place where your computer’s data is physically stored. One of the simplest things you can do to improve your system’s speed is by simply cleaning up your hard drive. The more full your hard drive is, the longer it takes your system to retrieve data from it, which can slow your system way down. A nearly full hard drive will often ...

In our last post  we told you about the best ways to keep your computer safe from malware. Safe browsing habits, keeping your computer up to date, and using a few basic software tools like an antivirus program with real-time monitoring, a backup antivirus scanner, and a few basic browser extensions will all go a long way toward keeping your computer safe and healthy. Unfortunately, just as with real germs, it isn’t always possible to avoid every infection. Sometimes, even when you take every precaution to keep your hands and your work space clean and avoid sharing breathing space with people who are sick, you still end up catching that cold that’s going around the office. The same goes for your computer. Sometimes, even if you’re doing everything right, you can still find yourself bogged down with malware. So the big question is, how do you know if your PC is infected, and what do you do about it? While your computer won’t get a fever or the sniffles or complain of a tummy ...

Here at Phone Medics Plus, we’re committed to helping you get your computer back in top form after a virus or malware infection, but we also know how much you rely on your computer, and how inconvenient it can be to go without it for a day or two while it’s being repaired. With that in mind, we wanted to give you some tips on the best way to keep your computer safe and healthy and free of malware. Safe Browsing Habits Your first and most important line of defense when it comes to keeping your computer safe from malware is to establish safe browsing habits. If we think of malware as germs, then this is like avoiding contaminated surfaces. You don’t eat food off the floor, you don’t let your baby lick the grocery cart handle, and you practice safe browsing habits when you’re on the internet. The first step to safe browsing is simply to avoid questionable websites. These sorts of sites take many forms – some offer you too-good-to-be-true deals on vacations or impossible deals on pr...

At Phone Medics Plus, we strive to be as open and transparent as possible when handling your repair. When you leave your phone, tablet, or computer with us, we want you to know that it's in good hands. With that in mind, we've recently added a new feature to our website: a customer portal. If you're curious about how your repair is going, you can login and see where we are in the process. To access the customer portal, just head on over to our website and click the link at the top that says Customer Portal . This link will take you to the login page, where you'll enter your ticket number and last name. There you can see the status of your current ticket, along with invoices for previous work we've done for you. At Phone Medics Plus we're always looking for ways to improve our service. That's why we recently added a way to book appointments online . It's also why we've added our new Customer Portal feature. Our goal is to perform quality work...

At Phone Medics Plus, we pride ourselves on being as accessible to our customers as possible. We work hard to make your repair experience as smooth as possible, and to make sure you have a variety of ways to get in touch with us and bring us your device when it’s convenient for you. Our customers can simply walk in, or you can contact us via phone, Facebook Messenger, or the contact form on our website to ask questions, request quotes and schedule appointments. As of this week, we’ve added a new way for you to schedule your repair: online appointment booking. When you visit our website, you’ll see that we’ve added a new “ Book an Appointment ” option to the links along the top of the page. When you click that link, you’ll be taken to our appointment booking page. Simply click on the time that works best for you. You'll be asked for your name, email address, and phone number, then after you click Next, you'll be asked for a brief description of the issue you're having wi...

At Phone Medics Plus, we pride ourselves on providing our customers the best service at an affordable price. We also strive to make your repair process as smooth and convenient as possible. That’s why we recently began offering our customers house calls for certain computer and home entertainment services. At Phone Medics Plus, we know that it isn’t always easy to get your electronics to us for repair. Sure, a phone, tablet, or laptop can just be dropped off at our facility, but other things are harder to bring in. Desktop computers are bulky, and sometimes unhooking them and loading them into your car can be difficult. And some things aren’t really portable at all. If you’re having problems with your home wireless network or connecting a set-top box like a Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or FireTV to your television, then coming to our facility isn’t really an option. That’s where our house call service comes in. For a reasonable hourly fee, our experienced technicians will come to you...