February 2017 - Geek for Hire

Why Isn’t My Printer Working?

Posted on February 28, 2017January 16, 2020 by Gail Eddy in Printer, Tips, WiFi

You printed a document last night and now, this morning, your computer can’t seem to talk to your printer. What gives? It’s a common problem which has several possible causes.

Power?

Check to make sure your printer is on. Is the printer securely plugged into the outlet? Is your house experiencing a power outage? You can try a different outlet too.

Printer Cable Securely connected?

If your printer has a cable connecting it to the computer, is it securely fastened? Check the connections at both the printer and the computer.

WiFi?

If you have a wireless computer, check to see that your WiFi is working. Does your computer have the WiFi turned on? Is the signal strong enough? Is the WiFi working on the printer?

Is it Wednesday?

If you have a Windows machine, Microsoft sometimes sends out updates on “Patch Tuesday”, the second Tuesday of every month. (Microsoft has been talking about discontinuing “Patch Tuesday” for the past year or two, in favor of automatic updates, so this may not be a reliable indicator in the future.) Occasionally, the update will change some of your computer’s settings. Try reinstalling the printer. You can also check to make sure you have the proper driver installed for the printer. Even if Microsoft moves from a monthly update to automatic, any update can still mess with your printer settings.

When All Else Fails:

Turn your computer off and back on. Turn the printer off and back on. Sometimes that will reset whatever bug was preventing you from printing. If you still can’t print, it might be time to bring in the services of an independent IT professional.

Time to purchase a New Printer?

If you’re thinking of a new printer, check out our Buyers Guide.

Information about Geek For Hire, Inc.

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Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has been providing computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PCs for the past eighteen years. Angie’s List and the BBB rate Geek For Hire very highly. You can find more on our website, or give us a call 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area as well as remote service throughout North America.

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My Power Went Out!

Posted on February 21, 2017February 18, 2017 by Gail Eddy in Internet Service, Router, Tips

It’s winter here in Colorado and that means blown down or frozen power lines. The power goes out at our home about once every four to six weeks in the winter and we’ve learned what to do to keep our equipment safe.

Power Lines Down | Source: WikiMedia — Power Lines Down Source: WikiMedia

It’s really simple:

When the power first starts to flicker – the lights turn off for a half second or the smoke detector beeps – we go around the house and unplug everything from the wall. This includes the computers, printer, TV, stereo, entertainment system, everything that would be expensive or inconvenient to replace.

What about a Surge Protector?

Surge protectors are okay, because you are not always at home when the power goes out and they do provide a small amount of protection. Just know that they are not always able to provide 100% protection to all of your equipment.

Don’t forget your Router:

Remember to unplug your router as well. Many times, we’ve been called to a client after a power outage and they’re no longer able to get their internet service. Sometimes the power surge will “fry” the router and there’s nothing to be done but to get a new one.

If your power had been out and you need help adjusting your settings for your printer or router, just let us know!

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has been providing computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PC’s for the past fifteen years. His company is highly rated by both the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and by Angie’s List. You can find more on our website, or give us a call 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area as well as remote service throughout North America.

We’ve been using Amazon Prime for the past few years. We like the free 2-3 day shipping and the online streaming. I haven’t tried the Kindle lending library yet. I’ll try that next! Prime is normally $99/year, but you can try it for 30 day for free by clicking on this link: Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial (Yes, we’ll get a small commission when you sign up.)

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My WiFi Isn’t Working!

Posted on February 14, 2017February 9, 2017 by Gail Eddy in Internet Service, Modems, Router, Tips, WiFi

It sure is frustrating when your WiFi isn’t working. We rely on it to get work done and keep in touch via email. Facebook and Instagram, of course, rely on a good solid connection to the internet too.

If the WiFi itself isn’t really broken, then there are a couple of quick things you can do to get it working again.

My WiFi isn't working! — My WiFi isn’t working!

Airplane Mode?

First, is your device in Airplane mode or has the WiFi been turned off? On some laptops there is a simple switch (usually in the front) that is easy to accidentally turn off. On other machines you’ll need to hold the function key and “radio” key down at the same time to toggle it on or off.

Forget the connection

Tell your device to “forget” the connection, then reconnect and reenter your WiFi password.

Router

If you have access to the router, turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on again. Then, relog into the wifi on your computer or other device.

Call Your ISP

If you’re still not having any luck, call your Internet Service Provider (CenturyLink, Comcast, Xfinity, Rise Broadband, etc.). Let them know that your WiFi isn’t working. They should be able to tell you if it is something they can fix, or if you need to call in outside help.

You’ve followed these steps, but still your WiFi isn’t working? Give us a call!

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Acronyms for Texting

Posted on February 7, 2017March 20, 2018 by Gail Eddy in Tips

Are you ever mystified by some of the acronyms that show up in your text messages, or sometimes on Facebook as well? More than once I’ve had to look up an odd string of letters to figure out what they mean.

Most of us have figured out OMG, BFF, ETA, and LOL. Even ROTFL and LMAO are fairly common. But how about other acronyms like AAMOF, L2M, L8R, ENAT,

Here’s a run down of some of the acronyms you might see:

911 – Emergency
AAMOF – As a Matter of Fact
AFK – Away from keyboard
BAE – Before Anyone Else
BFF – Best Friends Forever
BRB – Be Right Back
BTW – By The Way
ENAT – Every Now and Then
ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
FML – F* My Life
FR – For real
FTW -For the win
GTFO – Get the f* Out
GTG – Got To Go
HBD – Happy Birthday
ICYMI – In Case You Missed It
IDC – I don’t care
IDK – I don’t know
IDRK – I don’t really know
ILU – I love you
IMO – In My Opinion
IMHO – In My Humble Opinion
IMU – I miss you
IRL – In Real Life
JC – Just Chilling
JK – Just Kidding
L2M – Listening to Music
L8R – Later
LMIRL – Let’s meet in real life
LMK – Let me know
LOL – Laugh out loud
LMAO – Laughing my a$$ off
LY – Love You
MY – Miss You
NMU – Not much, you?
Noob – Newbie
NM – Never mind
NP- No problem
NSFW – Not Safe For Work
OMG – Oh my goodness
OMW – On My Way
PAW or PRW- Parents are Watching
POS – Parent Over Shoulder
QT – Cutie
ROTFL – Rolling on the Floor laughing
SLAM – Stop Looking At Me
SMH – Shake My Head
SOS – Help me
STFU – Shut the f* Up
TBH – To be honest
TGIF – Thank Goodness for Friday
TMI – Too much information
TT4N – Ta Ta for now
TTTT – To Tell the Truth
TTYL – Talk to you later
TMSAISTI – That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
THX – Thanks
WTH – What the heck
WYD – What are you doing
WYM – What do you mean

For parents wondering what their kids might be saying, here’s a list of sexting terms.

And finally, YW. (You’re welcome!)

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has been providing computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PC’s for the past fifteen years. His company is highly rated by both the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and by Angie’s List. You can find more on our website. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area as well as remote service throughout North America.