Symptoms of a faulty, bad laptop power connection:

• Your power cord feels very loose when plugged into the internal jack on laptop.
• Does you power cord when plugged in "wiggle" up, down, left and right.
• The laptop only runs when you keep the power cord in a certain direction.
• The laptop only runs on battery power.
• The laptop will not charge the battery.
•  The laptop switches from AC power to battery power intermittently.
•  The unit suddenly shuts off.
•  There are no power indicators, lights, or worse, your laptop "sparks" out the back on unit.
   Or all of the above

How laptop internal power jacks break:

• Some power jacks fail under normal operation of your computer. After a year or two of usage, parts just 'come loose' on certain models. 
•  Sometimes the laptop gets dropped and the cord "yanks" the internal power jack loose.
• People, pets and vaccum cleaners all trip over laptop power cords on a daily basis, pulling, loosening, damaging the internal connection.
• The laptop is moved around a lot. After the jack is moved back and forth enough times, it comes loose.

An internal power jack on a laptop "unseats" from the solder joints, or the thin prongs snap away from the board causing the electric circuit to stop or be intermittent.
Most repair shops will diagnose this as a bad motherboard which can be a $450-$600 estimate repair by them, replacing the motherboard.
Manufactures charge $500 for power jack repair on laptops, once again by replcaing the entire motherboard. (mainboard)

In most cases, 90% of the time, the internal power jack on a laptop can be replaced, if completely broken, OR repaired. Sometimes, it can very well be a bad, faulty motherboard in the laptop. If the power connector within the laptop is completely broken, cracked, it could of "shorted" out, or power surged the motherboard. Causing damage to the motherboard (mainboard). Operating a laptop WITH a faulty power connector (if you move the power cord into the right position, it powers on, for example) can also eventually short, and damage the motherboard (mainboard) 

Depending on your model laptop, the extent of damage of the internal power connector, your internal power jack (connector) can be repaired at $125-$165

Includes part, labor, dis-assembly, re-assembly and a complete test of your laptop.

For more information:
Lightspeeds Computer Repair of Augusta
http://www.augustapcrepair.com
(Look under the Laptop PC Repair link on left side of main page)

Feel free to contact with any questions.

"The Conficker worm is finally doing something--updating via peer-to-peer between infected computers and dropping a mystery payload on infected computers, Trend Micro said on Wednesday."

Full Article Here

 Propaganda? Scare tactics? The Risk?

"This is another of those things that one learns from unwanted experience. If you are in the majority who has experienced a system crash, then you will empathize with the hair tearing fits that accompany the loss of saved mails, contacts and sundry email data.

For those whose preferred email client is Microsoft Outlook 2007 on a standalone machine, here are five ways to backup your Microsoft Outlook data, avoid stress and save your data. Please note that the following applies to data files only and not to toolbar settings, signature files and profile entries."

5 Easy Ways To Back Up Your Microsoft Outlook Data

There are all sorts of things you can find in your email box. In the "destructive" and/or "annoying" category go e-mail attachments that contain:

• Trojan horses
• Worms
• Viruses

A Trojan horse, aptly named after the seemingly harmless tool of destruction in Homer's Iliad, secretly carries often-damaging software in a "plain wrapper." The plain wrapper is normally an e-mail file attachment from someone you may or may not know. The file attachment name itself can also be very misleading. When you run the attachment, it can do all sorts of things, from erasing files to changing your desktop. It then sends itself along to other people in your address book so that it can propagate itself.

Here are two examples to help you understand how e-mail viruses work.

Worm.ExploreZip is a worm that contains a malicious payload. The worm utilizes Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Exchange to mail itself out by replying to unread messages in your Inbox. The worm will also search the mapped drives and networked machines for Windows installations and copy itself to the Windows directory of the remote machine and modify the WIN.INI accordingly.

The payload of the worm will destroy any file with the extension .h, .c, .cpp, asm, .doc, .ppt, or .xls on your hard drives, any mapped drives, and any network machines that are accessible each time it is executed. This continues to occur until the worm is removed.

You may receive the worm as an attachment called zipped_files.exe, masquerading itself as the usual self-extracting zip file. But, when run, this executable will copy itself to your Windows System directory with the filename Explore.exe or to your Windows directory with the filename _setup.exe. The worm modifies your WIN.INI or registry such that the file Explore.exe is executed each time you start Windows.

Symantec offers more technical information and explains what you need to do if you suspect Worm.ExploreZip is in your system.

In certain special cases, e-mail attachments can execute even without your interaction.

VBS.BubbleBoy is a worm that works under Windows 98 and Windows 2000. The worm will also work under Windows 95 only if the Windows Scripting Host is installed. The worm will only work with the English and Spanish versions of the operating, and not with Windows NT.

Microsoft Outlook (or Express) with Internet Explorer 5 must be used in order for the worm to propagate.

The worm utilizes a known security hole in Microsoft Outlook/IE5 to insert a script file, UPDATE.HTA, when the e-mail is viewed. It is not necessary to detach and run an attachment.

UPDATE.HTA is placed in Program-StartUp of the Start menu. Therefore, the infection routine is not executed until the next time you start your computer. UPDATE.HTA is a script file that uses MS Outlook to send the worm e-mail message to everyone in the MS Outlook address book. By patching the known security hole in Microsoft Outlook/IE5, the worm will no longer propagate.

Keep your virus software up-to-date with the latest virus signatures from the software vendor, since the anti-virus software cannot detect new viruses without an update. If you use Norton AntiVirus software, ensure that Auto-Protect is enabled. Current Norton AntiVirus software automatically alerts you when your virus signature files are over 30 days old. Norton's LiveUpdate can also automate updating.

If you think a virus has infected your PC thanks to an e-mail virus that mails itself to people in your address book, call those people and tell them not to open the messages or attachments -- that is the only effective way to stop the spread.

Since its beginning in 1969, the Internet has grown from four host computer systems to tens of millions. However, just because nobody owns the Internet, it doesn't mean it is not monitored and maintained in different ways. The Internet Society, a non-profit group established in 1992, oversees the formation of the policies and protocols that define how we use and interact with the Internet."

How Internet Infrastructure Works - Full Article Here

Beware of rogue security software

Win Antivirus 2008, Win Antivirus 2009, Win Antivirus Pro, WiniGuard, Internet Antivirus Pro, AntiSpyware Pro XP, AntivirusPro 2009, Brave Sentry, Micro Antivirus 2008, Defender 2009, Vista AntiVirus, AntiVirGear, AntiVirusGold, DriveCleaner, EasySpywareCleaner, Malware Alarm, PestTrap, SpyAxe, SpySheriff, Spyware Quake, VirusHeat, VirusProtectPro, WinAntivirus2006, WinFixer, Antivirus 360 

These listed above are the latest bogus, virus, spyware downloading software.

Unless you have had the bad experience of installing this type of malicious software, you may not be aware that such a class of software even exists. But it does. Rogue security software is software that uses malware, or malicious tools, to advertise or install itself. Often, after installation on a system, an attempt is made to force users to pay for removal of nonexistent spyware. Rogue software will often install and use a Trojan horse to download a trial version, or it will perform other actions on a machine that are detrimental such as slowing down the computer drastically.

Rogue security software, also known as "scareware," is software that appears to be beneficial from a security perspective but provides limited or no security, generates erroneous or misleading alerts, or attempts to lure users into participating in fraudulent transactions.

How does rogue security software get on my computer?

Rogue security software designers create legitimate looking pop-up windows that advertise security update software. These windows might appear on your screen while you surf the Web. The “updates” or “alerts” in the pop-up windows call for you to take some sort of action, such as clicking to install the software, accept recommended updates, or remove unwanted viruses or spyware. When you click, the rogue security software downloads to your computer. Rogue security software might also appear in the list of search results when you are searching for trustworthy antispyware software, so it is important to protect your computer.

What does rogue security software do?

Rogue security software might report a virus, even though your computer is actually clean. The software might also fail to report viruses when your computer is infected. Inversely, sometimes, when you download rogue security software, it will install a virus or other malicious software on your computer so that the software has something to detect.

Some rogue security software might also:

• Lure you into a fraudulent transaction (for example, upgrading to a non-existent paid version of a program).

• Use social engineering to steal your personal information.

• Install malware that can go undetected as it steals your data.

• Launch pop-up windows with false or misleading alerts.

• Slow your computer or corrupt files.

• Disable Windows updates or disable updates to legitimate antivirus software.

• Prevent you from visiting antivirus vendor Web sites.

Rogue security software might also attempt to spoof the Microsoft security update process. Here's an example of rogue security software that's disguised as a Microsoft alert but that doesn't come from Microsoft.

These progrqams listed above ARE ALL fake, rogue, bogus, false security programs! In the last 4 weeks all computers I have service have all had either 1 of the above programs or multiple spyware/virus files on there computer. Customers have had a legit anti virus program (Norton, etc) which was usually disabled by this spyware listed above.

• Make sure your laptop has an account that requires a password. Many users disable this option.
• Want more security? Go into your BIOS and enable a password there. The thief can't even get into the OS.
• Of course, they could always pull the hard drive. What then? Use encryption on the hard drive. TrueCrypt is open source, and free. It's also highly regarded. It's supported by Mac OS, XP / Vista, Linux. You don't have to encrypt the whole drive, either.
• You can encrypt folders from within XP and Vista, as well.

How to Set Up a Laptop Security System

1. NickelCadmium(NiCd) is the most prevalent and rugged type of rechargeable battery on the market. NiCd batteries perform better in extreme temperatures and can endure approximately 750 charge and discharge cycles. However, they are prone to "memory effect" (discussed later) when they are not completely discharged each cycle.
2. NickelMetalHydride(NiMH) is a step up from NiCd batteries. It offers up to 40 percent additional capacity compared to a NiCd battery of equal size. NiMH batteries are not as subject to memory effect degradation. These batteries generally have a life expectancy of approximately 400 charge/discharge cycles.
3. LithiumIon(LiIon) is the newest technology in portable power. LiIon will deliver roughly twice the run time of a comparable NiMH battery. LiIon batteries are more expensive, however, and are available for a very limited number of devices. They must also be charged by a charger designed specifically for LiIon batteries. LiIon technology also has a life span of about 400 charge/discharge cycles and is completely immune to memory effect.

What is memory effect?
NiCd batteries, and to a negligible extent, NiMH batteries, suffer from what is called "memory effect." Memory effect occurs when a battery is only partially discharged before being recharged. The battery "forgets" that it has the capacity to further discharge all the way down. For example, if on a regular basis, you fully charge your battery and then use only 50 percent of its capacity before the next recharge, eventually the battery will become unaware of its extra 50 percent capacity, which has remained unused. The battery will remain functional, but only at 50 percent of its original capacity.

The way to avoid memory effect is to fully charge and then fully discharge the battery at least once every two to three weeks. This can be done by letting your laptop or cell phone run on the battery until it ceases to function. Avoiding memory effect, however, is only one step toward maximizing the life of your battery.

Maximizing means maintenance
Once you have determined the type of battery that you are using, or will use, you must provide the necessary maintenance for the battery in order to maximize its life and usefulness. This begins when you take the battery out of the box and before its initial use.

Initializing: New batteries come in a discharged condition and must be fully charged before use. NiCd and NiMH batteries should be charged for approximately 16 hours initially, and LiIon batteries should be charged for about five to six hours. For NiCd and NiMH batteries, you should run your battery through at least two to four full charge/discharge cycles before putting it into ordinary service. This will help obtain maximum capacity of the battery.

When charging the battery for the first time, the device may indicate that charging is complete after just 10 or 15 minutes. This is normal with rechargeable batteries. New batteries are hard for the device to charge because they have never been fully charged and are not “broken in.”Sometimes the device's charger will stop charging a new battery before it is fully charged. If this happens, remove the battery from the device and then reinsert it. The charge cycle should begin again. This may happen several times during the first battery charge. Don't worry. It's perfectly normal. Batteries that have been in storage or out of use for long periods of time should be re-initialized before being put back into service.

Conditioning: NiCd batteries must be fully discharged and then fully charged every one to three weeks, depending on frequency of use. Failure to do so will result in "memory effect" and will significantly shorten the battery's life. To discharge, simply run the device under the battery's power until it shuts down or until you get a low battery warning. Then recharge the battery as instructed in the user's manual. Because the NiMH battery has negligible memory effect and the LiIon battery has no memory effect, they do not require conditioning.

Exercising: The workload on a battery directly affects its run time. In order to maximize battery life, users can apply the following tips to increase the usage time and life of their batteries.

Laptop users
How can laptop users conserve battery power? Here are some tips:

• Optimize the power management features provided on your system. Managing the power used by the hard drive will save significant amounts of power and will extend your usage time.
• Decrease screen brightness. On color systems, you can save quite a bit of power by changing to black-and-white (monochrome) mode.
• Turn off the modem, if possible, and remove any Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) cards not in use.
• Don't leave the power cell in the system with the AC adapter plugged in unless you're charging it.

 A few more pointers
Be sure to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device. Also, if you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. NiCd, NiMH, and LiIon batteries will self-discharge during storage. Remember to recharge the batteries before use.

When it's time to say good-bye
Most people don't think of a battery as being consumable. After a certain number of charging cycles, your battery will no longer charge fully and will not give you its initial performance. This is due to normal wear and tear, and unfortunately, you can do nothing about it. You do have a couple of options at this point, however. You can dispose of your battery and buy a new one, or you can have the worn-out battery refurbished.

Proper maintenance is the key to a battery's longevity. Only you can control that. Whether you are someone who depends daily upon your portable devices or if you use them on an as-needed basis, implementing the aforementioned maintenance tips will give you confidence and security that your laptop or cell phone won't die when you need it most.

Other Miscellaneous Laptop Battery Tips: