Computer BYTES

Electricity and Your Computer: A Deadly Combination

matt — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:03:23 +0000

Storm season is upon us again in San Angelo, which means that it is more important than ever to make sure your computer is protected. While a direct lightning strike can be fatal to any system, even minor electrical surges and power fluctuations can cause harm. The best way to protect your computer during storms is to simply unplug it from the wall, but there are other safety measures as well.

One of the best things you can do to protect against power problems is to install a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) protection. A UPS will keep your computer on when the power turns off, but the extra functionality of an AVR ensures that your computer will receive a steady supply of power during surges and fluctuations.

A UPS/AVR is a cost-effective way to keep your equipment safe. Come by our store today to see what we have to offer!

Five-Year Anniversary / Business Showcase

matt — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:34:15 +0000

October will mark the five-year anniversary for Computer BYTES! We would like to thank all of our customers who have helped us grow over the years. Your business is truly appreciated, and we hope we can continue to do business with you for many years to come.

Also coming up in October is the 16th Annual Business Showcase. The Showcase will be held Tuesday, October 2nd from 11am to 6pm at the Wells Fargo Pavilion (next to the Coliseum). This years theme is ‘Around the World’. Once again, Computer BYTES will have a booth set up so feel free to drop by and find out more about what we have to offer. More information on the Business Showcase can be found at http://www.sanangelo.org/.

Welcome back students

matt — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:27:47 +0000

A brand new school year has arrived! We hope that everyone had a spectacular summer break. ASU students can stop by our office to receive a free 6′ ethernet cable and take advantage of our back to school specials.

Acer America Announces Voluntary Battery Recall

matt — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 03:30:38 +0000

San Jose, Calif., April 25, 2007 – Acer America, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 27,000 rechargeable lithium ion batteries containing battery cells manufactured by Sony Energy Devices Corp. Under certain circumstances, these batteries may overheat and create a potential fire hazard. Read more….

Daylight Saving Time Change

matt — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:47:20 +0000

As most of you may know, this year daylight saving time starts on March 11th instead of in April. The change is due to the US Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extends daylight saving time by a month, starting this year. Daylight saving time now begins on the second Sunday of March and ends the first Sunday of November. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour.

For those of you using a Windows operating system, Microsoft has released an update which will adjust your time accordingly. Windows Vista does not require any update to be installed for the DST changes. However applications running on Windows Vista may need to be updated (e.g. Outlook, etc.). If you are using Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 the update can be downloaded through Windows Update. If you have automatic updates enabled you may already have the patch installed. You can confirm by navigating to start -> control panel -> add or remove programs -> check the box next to show updates at the top of the window -> scroll to the bottom and look for Update for Windows XP (KB931836). For more information on the update, you can view the knowledge base entry here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836/

Those who have not installed SP2 or are using previous versions of Windows are no longer supported and will not be receiving the update. Thus you will have to make the adjustments manually. Microsoft has a Time Zone Editor program (TZEDIT) that will allow you to adjust Daylight Saving Times (DST) settings for computers running Windows 98/ME/NT/2000. You may download the file direct from Microsoft: http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/8/a/58a208b7-7dc7-4bc7-8357-28e29cdac52f/tzedit.exe

Other Microsoft products will require an update, so please visit the Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center. http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst

Certain versions of the Mac OS will also require an update. You will find more info here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305056

If you use Linux you can go to the support web site of the company or organization that provides your Linux distribution.

The problem goes beyond Microsoft and other software. Think of all the routers, alarms, cell phones, handhelds, locks, thermostats, and everything else that a home or business might have that could be affected by this. Be sure to make a list and implement the changes now in order to avoid potential headaches.

Closed due to bad weather

matt — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:13:57 +0000

Unfortunately the bad weather hasn’t lifted yet and and roads were extremely dangerous in the morning hours. Our office will reopen for business on Thursday Jan. 18th at 9am. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and icy conditions

matt — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 15:23:48 +0000

Martin Luther King Jr.’s work, words, and wisdom mean many things to many people. As we celebrate the life and times of this American hero, who led millions of people in the fight for racial equality, it’s a time to remember the message of change through nonviolence.

On this special day San Angelo is experiencing hazardous weather, and the icy roads make for unsafe driving conditions. An ice storm warning remains in effect this morning for San Angelo and surrounding areas. Our office will be closed until noon today.

Happy New Year!

matt — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 14:41:46 +0000

The staff at Computer BYTES hopes you have a spectacular 2007. Beware of fake greeting cards in your email that contain an attachment.

Last minute Christmas shopping?

matt — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:58:25 +0000

It’s less than two weeks until Christmas and many people haven’t decided what to get their friends and family. Computer BYTES has a robust selection of computer hardware, MP3 players, and much more. Order a custom-built computer before Dec. 20th and we’ll have it ready to put under your Christmas tree. Don’t wait it until the last minute when Santa is just about to hop onto his sleigh. Avoid scams & fraud by dealing locally with a store that you can trust!

Happy Thanksgiving

matt — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 05:03:07 +0000

As the Thanksgiving holiday draws near the Computer BYTES staff would like to wish all who observe this day a safe and happy holiday. Our office will be closed Nov. 23 - 26 and will reopen on Monday Nov. 27 @ 9am.