Alternatively you may want or need a home visit as your computer or laptop needs a repair.  We can arrange to come to you, often within hours of your call.

We will troubleshoot and repair any of your hardware currently not working properly, and provide replacements if necessary. We can also reconfigure any software that appears to be “misbehaving”.

We have a no fix, no fee policy so if we can’t resolve your problem you don’t pay a penny, and for home users we never charge for more than 2 hours work so there’s a cap on what you pay.

Computer service doesn’t get better than this. Call us now on 01604 812 999 or 07580 134461 to receive support or get a quote.

Would you like to play the latest games but can’t due to incompatible hardware or software?  Or perhaps you are simply running out of disk space?

APF IT Solutions can give your PC a new lease of life by upgrading some of its key components. We can expand its capabilities by upgrading the hardware, add additional features or increase your efficiency and productivity.

Even if you’ve just purchased your computer at Christmas or over the new year, you may need a few enhancements to accommodate your growing collection of digital photos, movies, files, or video games.

You may also want the latest operating system i.e. Windows 7 or want to prepare for the release of Windows 8.

We will come to your home or place of business and advise you what improvements can be made to your computer system(s).

Call us now on 01604 812 999 to discuss your requirements in more detail or click here to request a call.

One of the most common support requests I have received this year is regarding computer users losing their files due to hard disk failure or loose management.  It surprises me that the one important task these users have ignored, is backing up their data.

Users are now storing vast amounts of data on our hard drives which includes personal information, music, videos, photos and documents.  Some of this data is purchased from online stores i.e. music and films.  You wouldn’t want to purchase and download all of this again if it was lost, damaged or stolen.

These files stored on your computer should not be taken for granted.  They can be accidently deleted or corrupted by a software issue, virus, theft or accidential physical damage.

Backing up your files should be, and is, straight-forward to do.  It doesn’t have to be too costly either.  There are many different options and here are two that you should consider first before backing up to USB sticks or DVD’s.

Buy an external hard drive

External hard drives are affordable and they come in many shapes and sizes.  I would recommend you look at the size of your internal hard drive and then purchase an external size that matches or is bigger.  Have a look around, you should be able to pickup something online for £50-£100 that varies in size from 500gb to 1000gb.  Budget yourself with the rule of £10 per 100gb.  Most external hard drives will come with backup software which is useful.  However, your Windows or Mac operating system will have the tools to backup your files already.

The key is to plan your backups.  If your external hard drive is permanently connected to your computer then you have the ability to schedule automated backups using Scheduled Tasks in Windows or Time Machine within your Apple OS.  However, you should also consider removing the hard drive and storing somewhere secure in the event of some form of local disaster i.e. flood, fire or theft.

Online options

Online file storage options are now very popular and cost effective.  Many Mac users will already be uploading their critical files to iCloud.  However, there are many options out there available to Windows users too.  There are online services providers who will offer a free account with limited online storage space to trial.  You can then see if your internet connection allows you to backup all of your files, but you must be willing to pay for it. This type of back-up is also very useful if you plan to share files with other people over the internet.

Final thought

Backing up your data should be a vital part of your housekeeping and should not be ignored.  Choosing the correct storage type, backup method and plan can be difficult for some.  So, if you want advice that meets your personal requirements, please feel free to contact us as we’re happy to help.  We can supply backup hardware as well as help you with your own disaster recovery plan.