Our premises is located at
49 Robinson Road East, Virginia, QLD 4014.
Until our signage is completed, look for CON-FORM Concreting Solutions (we're
upstairs), opposite the Arnotts Biscuit factory and just east of the main
business banking centres for Westpac, NAB, Commonwealth Bank etc.
Click here for directions and a photo of our
premises.
NB: Having an office enables us to grow the team of people that support
you, however we still prefer to save you the hassle of a trip and come and visit
you at your place instead.
Q:
WHAT
ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS?
A:
As our customers usually
prefer us to visit them, our office is open by prior arrangement only, so call
us on 1800 332 032 so we can ensure that someone will be there at a time that
suits you.
We're available to take
your call between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, and prefer to visit you
during these hours also. However, we understand how busy life can be
(especially if you work full-time) so we're open to meeting with you outside of
regular business hours, by prior arrangement.
Because your time is
important, we do everything we can to keep to our schedules.
Unfortunately, technology can sometimes throw up complications that cause delays
but you'll receive a courtesy phone call if our technician is running
unavoidably late.
Q:
WHAT
MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SERVICE COMPANIES?
A:
We understand how hard it
can be to choose from all the computer service companies out there.
Unfortunately with no regulation in our industry, anyone can place an ad
advertising $40 per hour rates, with no qualifications, company backing or any
obligation to provide decent customer service. So how do you know who to
choose and who you can trust?
Our passion is to get technology working for
you, without hassle or a bill that requires a second mortgage. If your
computer is not cost-effective to repair, we'll tell you. We'll work to
your budget and get your approval on any unexpected expenses so there are no
surprises. We'll offer you advice and even intercede on your behalf if
you're being mucked around by other companies (especially internet providers!).
We're determined to empower you with tools and education to prevent problems
from recurring. We've even setup a 1800 freephone number so you don't have
to pay for the call to talk to us. And don't be surprised when we call you
some time after your job has been completed, to double check that things are
still running as they should be.
Don't take our word for it though - see what our customers have to say on our About Us
page.
Q:
WHAT
AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?
A:
We service northern
Brisbane suburbs including Eatons Hill, Albany Creek, Bridgeman Downs,
Carseldine, Aspley, Zillmere, Geebung, Boondall, Virginia and surrounding areas. If you need service
outside of this area, please call our Queensland State Office on 1300 662 664
and enter your postcode to be automatically transferred to
your nearest franchisee.
Q:
DO
YOU SELL COMPUTERS OR PARTS?
A:
Our focus is providing you
with the best possible service without a 'hard sell' to convince you to buy a
new computer. We also keep our prices competitive by not carrying large amounts
of computer stock. However, by special request we can give you a quote on
a custom built system that meets your exact needs using either new or
second-hand components. We can also supply a full quotation for the supply
and installation of other technology components (eg broadband modems or wireless
networks).
Q:
CAN I BRING MY COMPUTER TO YOU?
A:
We save you the hassle of
unplugging cables and lifting heavy computer parts as we come to your home or
office. This also enables us to see the problem 'in context' with all the
rest of your computer's own devices attached (monitors, printers etc).
However, you are also welcome to call us on 1800 332 032 to arrange a time to
drop your computer into our office in Virginia.
Q:
DO
YOU NEED TO TAKE MY COMPUTER AWAY TO REPAIR IT?
A:
It all depends on the
nature of the problem and your specific requirements. If your computer is
clogged with viruses, spyware and other nasties it can be more cost-effective
for us to 'clean it' back in our workshop. This offers you the following
additional benefits at no extra cost:
• Peace of mind knowing
your important files are protected as all computers are 'backed up' as soon as
they come through the workshop door.
• We'll use our high speed internet (not your download quota) to download
critical updates to Microsoft software and other programs .
• You pay only for the time we physically 'touch' your computer (e.g. to
initiate a scan or analyse results). You're not paying for us to sit there
and watch the scans running.
• We'll return your computer to you, plug everything back in again and show you
that it works and we won't charge you an additional call out fee for this return
visit.
Similarly, hardware problems that are proving difficult to pinpoint can benefit
from some workshop time, as our specialised diagnostic software tools can run in
the background for hours to give your computer a thorough examination.
We're committed to providing you with the most cost-effective solution to get
your computer back up and running. Once onsite, we'll diagnose the problem
and discuss with you the best options for repair or replacement, taking into
account your individual needs.
If you run a business or have a deadline that means you can't be without your
computer, just talk to us. We can arrange to service your computer over a
weekend (at a slight extra cost) or we may be able to provide a 'loan' computer
until yours is back up and running again.
Q:
WHY ARE YOU MORE EXPENSIVE THAN XYZ
COMPANY?
A:
When choosing someone to
help with your technology needs, price is indeed an important factor. But
unfortunately rates and callout fees do not indicate the kind of service you
will receive. When looking at computer support companies, you need to ask:
- How much real-life experience do they have?
- Can they call on a larger team for help if they
get stuck?
- How thorough is their service?
- Will they recommend the most cost-effective
option?
- Are they easy to deal with or do they talk in
jargon?
We know that you deserve the very best and our helpful, knowledgeable team
works hard to ensure that you get results for your hard-earned money. We
know you will find companies that are cheaper - we just don't think you'll find
any that can match our customer service. Don't take our word for it though
- see what our customers have to say on our About Us
page.
Q:
WHAT
FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
A:
Payment is expected on
completion of your onsite job or on return of your computer and you will be
issued with an invoice for your records. Cash or cheque payments are
preferred.
For your convenience, you can also direct deposit using
internet banking or pay via Visa, MasterCard or Bankcard. To protect your
important details, our technician will relay your credit card information over
the phone to our office (you can even listen while they make the call).
Our office will process the transaction through our bank EFTPOS terminal and
confirm that it has been approved. You will also be asked to sign a paper
copy of the credit card transaction so you have a receipt for your records.
At no stage during the process do we send your credit card details over the
internet.
Q:
WHAT
IS A VIRUS?
A:
A computer virus is a program
– a piece of 'instruction code' – that has the unique ability to replicate.
Like biological viruses, computer viruses can spread quickly and are often difficult
to remove. They can attach themselves to just about any type of file and are
spread as files that are copied and sent from individual to individual.
In addition to replication, some computer viruses share another commonality: a
damage routine that delivers the virus 'payload'. Payloads can range from displaying
messages or images to destroying files, reformatting your hard drive, or
causing other damage. If the virus does not contain a damage routine, it can cause
trouble by consuming storage space and memory, and degrading the overall performance
of your computer or network.
Historically most viruses spread primarily via floppy disk, but the Internet
has now taken over as the most effective virus distribution mechanism. Broadband
internet at home increases your risk due to the increased amount of time that
your computer is connected to the internet. With email now used as an essential
communication tool, viruses are spreading faster than ever. Viruses attached
to email messages can infect an entire global corporation in a matter of minutes, costing
companies millions of dollars annually in lost productivity and clean-up expenses.
Viruses won't go away anytime soon: More than 60,000 have been identified, and
400 new ones are created every month, according to the International Computer
Security Association (ICSA). With numbers like this, it's safe to say that most
organisations will regularly encounter virus outbreaks.
Q:
WHAT
IS A WORM?
A:
A worm is a computer program
that has the ability to copy itself from machine to machine. Worms normally move
around and infect other machines through computer networks. Using a network, a
worm can expand from a single copy incredibly quickly. For example, the Code Red
worm replicated itself over 250,000 times in approximately nine hours on July
19, 2001. A worm usually exploits some sort of security flaw (or 'hole') in a piece of software
or the operating system. For example, the Slammer worm (which caused mayhem in
January 2003) exploited a hole in Microsoft's product 'SQL Server'.
Worms use up computer time and network resources when they are replicating, and
they often have some sort of evil intent. A worm called Code Red made huge headlines
in 2001. Experts predicted that this worm could clog the Internet so effectively
that things would completely grind to a halt.
The Code Red worm slowed down Internet traffic when it began to replicate itself,
but not nearly as badly as predicted. Each copy of the worm scanned the Internet
for computers running Windows NT server or Windows 2000 server which had not had
a Microsoft security
patch installed. Each time it found an unsecured server, the worm copied itself
to that server. The new copy then scanned for other servers to infect. Depending
on the number of unsecured servers, a worm could conceivably create hundreds of
thousands of copies.
Q:
WHAT
IS A TROJAN?
A:
A Trojan is a piece of code
that performs unexpected or unauthorized (often malicious) actions. Coined from Greek mythology's Trojan horse,
they typically come in good
packaging but have some hidden malicious intent within their code. When a Trojan
is executed you will likely experience system instability and sometimes loss of valuable
information.
Q:
WHAT
IS SPYWARE?
A:
Spyware programs sneak onto your
computer when you download some file-sharing services, open infected e-mails, or
click on dubious Internet pop-up ads and links. They can manipulate your system, record
your habits, and steal your passwords and banking information. Depending on their
degree of aggressiveness, they can even violate your privacy and steal your
identity.
Q:
HOW
DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A VIRUS/WORM/TROJAN OR SPYWARE?
A:
Computers are complicated
little things with many different hardware and software components, any of which
can fail and cause a problem. An infection from a virus, worm, trojan or
spyware isn't always the culprit. Here are some classic symptoms that one
of those nasties may be the source of your grief:
You can't open websites - 'page cannot be
displayed error or just a blank window';
When you do try a website, you get a different
page than the one you wanted, or a number of extra website 'windows' open
too;
Your computer background (wallpaper) is
different than what you set;
Your computer takes longer than normal to
start, run programs or shut down.
To diagnose an infection, your computer needs to be scanned with several
up-to-date detection programs. If your computer has been very badly
infected, sometimes this scan needs to be initiated from another computer which
can read yours.
Q:
HOW
CAN I PROTECT MY COMPUTER FROM BEING INFECTED AGAIN?
A:
The most secure computer is
one that is not connected to the internet and never has any new files put onto
it. Unfortunately this makes for a rather boring computer too!
After eradicating any current infections, we are committed to immunising your
computer to prevent future problems. However, your computer's
immunisations must be kept up to date. We automate this as much as
possible, with the software protection tools that can be automated. You'll
also receive step-by-step instructions on how to run the world-class detection
tools installed on your computer. You'll find a link to this information
on your 'desktop', clearly labelled "Maintain & Protect My PC". Your time
invested in this maintenance once a month will help to keep your computer
running smoothly and save you another clean-up bill!
If you don't have the time or think it's too complicated (even with our easy
documentation, packed with screenshots), talk to us about a regular visit and
we'll maintain your computers for you.
