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For a fixed
price of only £175, the PC-FirstAid.com New PC Set-up and Transfer
Service consists of the following tasks as a minimum:
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Completing the Windows set-up
routine;
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Installing all the latest
Windows updates and patches;
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Optimising Windows and Internet
Explorer settings both for best performance and for Internet security
purposes;
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Installing a firewall (Zone
Alarm, which is free for personal use);
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Installing anti-spyware
software (such as Microsoft AntiSpyware, Spyware Guard, Spyware
Blaster, Spybot, and Ad-Aware, all free for personal use), with their
respective latest updates;
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Updating the antivirus software
if pre-installed, if you do not have your own, the free AVG program
could be used, but I recommend Norton Antivirus 2005 at a cost of £25
including 12 months virus definitions updates subscription;
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Partitioning your hard disk
into at least three partitions: the first partition for Windows and
Programs; a dedicated “utility room” partition for the Windows Swap
File, Temporary Files, and Temporary Internet Files, thus minimising
disk fragmentation in the main (first) partition; and a partition
solely for all your data, including Favorites, email and address book,
My Documents, My Pictures, etc., so that backing up is simpler.
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If appropriate and feasible,
the hard disk from your current computer will be transferred to the
new computer, in which case the partitioning arrangement will be
different: this second disk will be partitioned into two with the
“utility room” as the first partition, which will help make the system
more efficient and thus faster; and your data on the second partition.
The corresponding partition on the main disk will then become a
data-backup partition (free backup software will be installed), which
will address the main risk in computers, viz. hard disk failure. Note
that if your existing hard disk is not suitable, a new compatible hard
can be procured at cost instead.
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Installing all your main
programs (e.g. Microsoft Office) and downloading the latest updates;
note that I do not install games. Also if you do not have a Microsoft
Office CD, I can install Open Office, an open-source (and thus free)
suite that mimics the Microsoft product and can open and save files in
Office formats. Open Office includes word-processor, spreadsheet, and
presentation components that look an feel like their MS Office
counterparts; it also includes a drawing module and dictionaries for
most modern languages.
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Installing a number of free
additional programs that I have discovered over the years, that serve
to increase your productivity and/or enjoyment when using your
computer. These would include an alternative Internet browser with a
number of additional features; an electronic Windows Desktop “Post-it
Note” program; and a program that will catalogue all the picture files
on your hard disk in one easy-to-use interface.
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Installing your peripherals
(e.g. printer, camera, scanner), after downloading the latest Windows
XP drivers if necessary.
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All the data on your current
computer (including emails, address book, photographs, music, videos,
etc.) will be transferred ready for use on the new computer. This
assumes that your current computer's hard disk is not dead and thus
unreadable.
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Re-instating your Internet
connection if applicable.
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In essence, while the fee is
fixed as above, the services that this includes are flexible within
reason; thus anything else not explicitly stated above that could and
should be part of the transfer exercise, and which would only involve
minimal extra effort, will be included. For instance the floppy and/or
CD (or DVD) drives from your current PC may warrant transfer to the
new computer as well.
All the processes above will be
carried out in my workshop; I will collect all components from your
premises, and you should allow around a week between collection and
delivery.
“Delivery” will take between one
and two hours, during which time I will set up and test the whole system
including your Internet connection, and give you a comprehensive
demonstration of the new features, functions and programs on your new
system.
This will be followed by a
further one-hour visit some two weeks later to “top and tail” the
system, and deal with any queries and minor issues that may have arisen
in the meanwhile.
This service includes a
three-month set-up warranty, and in any case all my clients are entitled
to indefinite free email and telephone support.
Finally if you wish to upgrade to
a broadband Internet connection at the same time, my normal Broadband
Installation Service fixed-price fee of £50 will be reduced to £25. In
which case we would sign up to your preferred Broadband Service Provider
(BSP) during the delivery visit, and arrange the second visit to
coincide with the corresponding activation date, normally some 10
working days later. I will help you choose a BSP if necessary, and of
course I will deal with any initial connection problems that might
arise.
You might also wish to consider
purchasing you own web domain and email service; this has the effect of
separating your email service from your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
– Broadband or otherwise - so that any future change of ISP will not
require you to advise all your contacts of yet another change of email
address. There is also the kudos of having your very own private email
address!
Costs are surprisingly cheap, so
for instance domains such as
www.robin-beck.co.uk or
www.robin-beck.me.uk currently cost only £1.99 per year to register.
There are several other possible suffixes to choose from (such as .com,
.net) and you may choose any domain name that has not already been
registered.
The corresponding email package
would cost a further £8.28 per year and provides up to five individual
email mailboxes, each with antivirus and anti-spam protection built in.
In the example above, one possible email format would be
email@robin-beck.co.uk. Further details can be obtained from my
current preferred web hosting service
www.1and1.co.uk who are one of the largest such companies in Europe.
My fee for organising this is £20.
Finally it is my policy that all
components, software any other purchases made on a client's behalf are
invoiced with no profit margin to PC-FirstAid.com Ltd thus preserving
the integrity of any recommendations I may offer.
My three main rules of business
are:
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That my clients should spend as
little as possible;
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That what is spent should
represent value for money; and
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All goods and services thus
acquired should be fit for purpose
If this is your
requirement,
or telephone 01604-870394, now.
(Note: Emails without a name, address, and a valid telephone number
in the body of the message, will be treated as spam and ignored). |
