Orange County Computer Celebrates 15 Years of Service

It’s hard to believe how quickly 15 years have come and gone since Orange County Computer began back in 1998. 2013 marks the start of Orange County Computer’s 15th Anniversary.

Major Events in Technology within the past 15 Years

We have seen both the good and the bad from:

• The Start of the Internet
• The Birth of Google
• The .Com crash
• DVD Players and Video Editing
• The County  Bankruptcy
• The Financial Fallout of 2008
• Smartphone and Tablets
• Dual and Triple Screen Display
• And most recently, the doom and gloom of the Fiscal Cliff

Regardless of the current social and economic events, Orange County Computer has stood the test of time.

We began back in the day when the Pentium 4 Desktop was the latest and greatest and Y2K was the biggest threat that the technology industry had encountered.

Microsoft had launched Windows 98 and Lotus was the greatest form of “Business Intelligence” ever seen. Back then, the concept of accessing company data files and processing credit card payments on an i-Phone would have been as inconceivable as the Mars Rover landing a few months back.

What is to come for the Future

Technology and consumer trends continue to  evolve and Orange County Computer has been there every step of the way. We will continue to evolve our business model to meet the IT Solutions for 2013 and beyond.

So fast forward 15  years from now, I wonder how Cloud Based Solutions, BYOD (bring your own device) and Windows 8 will be remembered…..

Stay tuned for our 15 Year Anniversary Specials in upcoming blogs.

Computer Repair Services Gift Card Specials

Computer Repair Solutions & IT Services

Give the gift of Computer Repair Services this Holiday Season.

We all have someone dear to us that just can’t get their computer functioning properly or who often complains about how slow their computer is running.

Computer Repair Services is the perfect gift idea for: (more…)

Holiday Canned Food Drive

Orange County Computer Inc. would like to continue the support of preventing Hunger & Homelessness with South County Outreach by hosting a Canned Food Drive at our Tech Repair Center in Lake Forest.

Preferred items list of canned foods

Most Needed Holiday Foods:

Help us help those in crisis by providing these items from our “Preferred Food Items”:

Bring 3+ Food Items & Receive $10 OFF your Computer Repair bill!

Success & Overview

In 2011 South County Outreach distributed almost 1 million pounds of food and provided 58,836 services to 9,400 South Orange County Residents.

Provide Holiday Meals & Toys for families in need by supporting Orange County Computer Inc. & South County Outreach’s combined efforts to prevent hunger and homelessness.

Drop Off Center Location

Our Drop off Center is located at :

21092 Bake Parkway Suite 100

Lake Forest CA 92630

Call us for more inforamtion about our services or speak to a live technician @ 949-699-6619

Have a Blessed Holiday Season

Mission Viejo Nadadors: Annual Turkey Classic – Nov 16-19 2012 Event

Sponsored By Mission Viejo Nadadores

Swim Meet & Charity Event Info for The Annual Turkey Classic

Hundreds of swimmers will flock to the Mission Viejo Nadadores Pool November 16-19, 2012 for the Annual Turkey Classic event sponsored by the Mission Viejo Nadadores.

The Annual Turkey Classic, a 4 day swim meet has been renamed in honor of Jessie Rees, The “Jessie Rees Turkey Classic 2012 Never Ever Give Up”

For more information about Jessie’s incredible story and the blessings that have come from her life…
http://www.christianpost.com/news/12-year-old-dies-of-cancer-still-inspires-thousands-to-never-give-up-66647/

Follow the Jessie Rees Foundation: Never Ever Give Up

<http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/JessieReesFoundation

Orange County Computer proudly sponsors the Mission Viejo Nadadores and supports the Jessie Rees Foundation. NEGU!

Windows XP Support to End & Why

When Windows XP will End

In less than 1,000 days, Microsoft will take Windows XP to the Operating System Graveyard to rest aside Windows 98, ME and 2000.

Of course, Windows XP is one of the most favored Operating Systems of our time. It has dominated the OS market since it’s release in 2001. This outdated platform is still a mainstay in both homes and small businesses. However, in 2012, the Redmond company will discontinue all support for Windows XP.

Traditional support was discontinued back in 2010 and is operating on borrowed time.

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Computer Problems After a Power Outage?

The City of Lake Forest recently experienced a power outage which affected over 700 residences last week.

Edison working on power outage in Tustin

Computer problems after power outages is not only inconvenient, but they can cause both short and long term damages to electronic components, especially computer systems and printers. Power surges or Spikes can easily damage or destroy internal hardware components, thus causing a series of possible issues such as:

• System lag time (system working slower to complete tasks) – Sign of component damage
• Missing Files – Signs of possible hard drive damage
• System won’t power on – Sign of component damage

These symptoms may be noticed immediately or over a period of a few weeks, depending on how much the system is used and how badly the unit was damaged. If you have noticed immediate changes in the operation or functionality of your system, contact the expert Technical Team at Orange County Computer and we will properly diagnose your issue.

How can I prevent these issues from happening in the future?

A reliable power surge solution which will protect your systems from electrical surges and outages is to use an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). There are several different types to choose from, but typically there are 2 mainstream options depending on the type of components you are planning to protect.

Standby Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

The Standby UPS is recommended for smaller systems and is a type of battery that is waiting “on standby” until needed. When the Standby UPS senses a power problem, the transfer switch changes to the secondary power source. When line power is restored, the UPS switches back.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Unit protects your devices against Power Surges associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages

Cons:

• Limited power conditioning
• Recommended Use: This is a cost effective alternative for smaller systems, such as individual desktops, etc.

Continuous Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

The Continuous UPS is suggested for Network Environments. The Continuous UPS is a type of battery that is plugged into a power source and computer to continuously supply uninterrupted power flow. It is used to keep a system running for a period of time after a power failure allowing for either enough time to properly power a system down or to enable a company network to continue working for a specified period of time.

Pros:

• Battery provides constant power to loads
• Provides Power Conditioning
• Unit protects your devices against Power Surges associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages
• Savings on the replacement of expensive system components, servers, etc.
• Can protect valuable data from potential crashed hard drives

Cons:

• Costly initial investment
• Additional electrical costs incurred

Recommended Use: Provides a layer of disaster prevention for Networks running several processes etc.

For more information about computer problems after power outages and how you can protect your valuable data and hardware investment, contact a member of the Orange County Computer Technical Team at 949-699-6619 or visit us online at orangecountycomputer.com

Make It Work Clients skittish after sudden close for Business.

Recent inquiries submitted by former Make It Work clients to Orange County Computer Support, reported that their sudden business closure left them support-less and leary of IT Services Providers. The most common concerns mentioned were how much money clients invested in pre-paid tech repair hours, and how there was no indication of refund.

“I’m sorry to see anyone go out of business and I’m especially sorry for all the employees who lost their jobs. I wish all of you good luck. At the same time, as a regular Make it Work customer who for years resisted the pushy service agreement hard sell but finally gave in last year (against my better judgment) and bought five hours upfront (only one of which I’ve used), I’m feeling a little bit screwed. I thought it was a little weird when MIW announced it was scrapping its service agreement policy right after I bought mine. Just FYI to anyone out there in the same line of work, I’ll gladly transfer my business to anyone who’ll pick up the MIW service agreement…” Clients Comment: Frankielee via “Santa Barbara Independent”

I feel for Eric, since he was obviously working hard to keep the place going. However (seems like there’s always one of those), his reputation as a local business owner was completely destroyed by his failure to inform his prepaid customers of the company’s demise. Instead, after a daily blitz of offers to buy even more prepaid hours, his emails suddenly stopped, short of telling anyone that the company disappeared. He chose to slink away. While perhaps not in the proverbial night, he still acted like a thief. He left the holders of prepaid hours holding an empty bag. I only found out about MIW’s disappearance today, a month later, when I got mail from Costco. I gave some MIW vouchers for Christmas, and Costco told me that I can get my money back from them. Pay heed, Eric. That’s how a responsible business owner acts. Shame, shame! “” Clients Comment: Sorryconsumer via “Santa Barbara Independent”

After Make It Work’s recent close, Orange County Computer has provided support for several clients that were left high and dry.

Details of the recent support inquiry:

Original Message—–
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 8:33 AM
To: support

Subject: Contact Page at orangecountycomputer.com

Phone Number: ***-***-****

Client: “Hi, I’m one of the Make it Work casualties – when they died they died holding a lot of money for me, so frankly, I’m a little skittish. Also, they’ve been the only ones working on my computers since 2008, so again, skittish…

What I am experiencing now is hesitation when I play an on-line game. It also seems that some pages are taking longer than normal to load, and some not really able to load at all.

For the most part, everything else is working well. I have two computers an IBM and a MAC, it’s the IBM that’s giving me problems.

So a few things I need to know up front are do you come to the house, what are your fees, and what kind of turn around do you usually have?”

In this situation, a member of our Technical Repair Team was able to provide a remote option that fit the criteria for this particular client. We resolved the issue and found that the client trusted our knowledge, and complemented us regarding our Technician’s quick  turn-around and resolution.

Orange County Computer has continued to serve Orange County for over 14 years, and welcomes clients that have been affected by Make It Work’s sudden close. We provide several support options, and will provide clients with the best solution that suites our client’s needs.

Contact our Tech Repair Center @ 949-699-6619 by email: Support@orangecountycomputer.com and find out more about our services OrangeCountyComputer.com

Orange County Computer Receives 2012 Best of Lake Forest Award

LAKE FOREST August 9, 2012 — Orange County Computer receives 2012 Best of Lake Forest Award for Computer Service and Repair by the Lake Forest Award Program.

Each year, the “Lake Forest Award Program” identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Lake Forest area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2012 Lake Forest Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Lake Forest Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About The Lake Forest Award Program

The Lake Forest Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Lake Forest area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Lake Forest Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

Thank you for choosing Orange County Computer  for ” The 2012 Best of Lake Forest” award.

For more information on Orange County Computer Repair, and Business Services contact us:

Tech Center 949-699-6619

Support@orangecountycomputer.com

OrangeCountyComputer.com

21092 Bake Parkway Suite 100

Lake Forest CA 92630

Back to School Repair Offers & Discounts!

It’s Back to School season and Orange County Computer  is teaming up with South County Outreach to provide back to school supplies to children in need.

Kids are headed back to school and parents are scrambling to arm them with all the necessary tools to succeed in the upcoming school year. Just as school supplies are a necessity, so is technology. Buying a brand new computer is costly and it can dent your pocketbook. This is where Orange County Computer comes to the rescue. We want to help parents ensure that students are using their laptops and desktops with proper antivirus protection, that they are working with a healthy hard drive and proper software licensing. A system failure during mid-terms or finals can be catastrophic and we can help decrease the likelihood of this possibility altogether! Allow us to help your students succeed!

Systems can be brought into our Tech Repair Center for a Tune-Up, where our technicians will provide an array of system tweaks that will increase speed and processing times. A member of our Technical Team will install critical system updates to protect your student’s computer against security threats.

Spend 80% less on a System Tune-Up rather than spending hundreds on a new computer by bringing systems into our Tech Repair Center. We’ll get it running at its original speed or faster!

Our Complete System Repair Services include:

• Hard Drive Failure/Replacement
• Data Recovery – We are one of the few companies that can successfully recover data from damaged hard drives when the majority will give up. We perform Level 1-3 Recovery Services. Bring your drive to us for a proper diagnosis before you pay thousands of dollars in recovery costs.
• Virus Repair/Removal
• Software Licensing Solutions
• Hardware Replacement (power supply, fans, motherboards, memory, etc.)
• If repair costs exceed the value of the system, we will let you know! We also offer new and refurbished systems to meet your needs!

One of the greatest benefits in choosing Orange County Computer as your dedicated computer repair company is our outstanding service and superior turn-around time on repairs. We understand that technology can be your life-line. Depending upon the extent of your repair, you can have your system back that SAME DAY or within 1-2 days.

This Summer, Orange County Computer is supporting South County Outreach  in their goals to provide back to school supplies to children in need.

For our Annual Back to School Promotion we’re asking our Customers for 3+ items on our prefered supplies list.

Receive $10 Off “LABOR” when you submit back to school supplies while checking your system in for repair.

Thank you for supporting our “Little Clients” with much needed backpacks & schools supplies during these economic times.  For more info go to OrangeCountyComputer.com

Visit our Drop Off Center Located at:

21092 Bake Parkway Suite#100

Lake Forest, CA 92630

(949) 699-6619

Lake Forest Kicks-Off the Annual Shop & Dine Event Sunday, August 12th

Support your city at the Lake Forest Shop & Dine Event from 12pm-3pm

Orange County Computer has proudly served the Lake Forest Community since 1998, and proudly supports this event by offering Raffle Prizes and valuable discounts! Great food and promotions are available from Businesses Citywide! A mailer was distributed a few weeks ago to all Lake Forest businesses and residents that features all participating vendors and the amazing discounts that are available during this event.

Shop & Dine Lake Forest Week begins today, August 12. Join local businesses for the first ever Taste of Lake Forest, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Foothill Ranch Towne Centre Food Festival where you can sample delicious food from 20 Lake Forest restaurants for only $5.00.  Entertainment will include a live appearance from American Idol Season 5 contestant Ace Young, a Caribbean Drum band, Hula Dancers, face painting, balloon artist, princess makeovers, and many great raffle prizes donated to you, by Orange County Computer and other participating businesses!

Also join us on Sunday, August 19, for the Celebration Event from noon to 3 p.m. at The Orchard Shopping Center on El Toro Road and Rockfield Blvd. Entertainment includes a live appearance by American Idol Season 9 contestant Didi Benami and Playlist 92.7 FM, family-fun games and activities, and many more raffle prizes!

Look out for our Shop & Dine Lake Forest Promotion for a Free Computer Diagnostic ($85 value)

Visit us to redeem your Free Diagnostic at our Tech Repair Center and receive a stamp to earn a chance to win our raffle prize offer of:

*Free External Hard Drive & Setup*

For information on how to participate in this citywide event,� contact us at (949) 699-6619 or the City of Lake Forest at (949) 461-3400. For a complete listing of all businesses and deals, visit the City Website at � http://lakeforestcachamber.com/LakeForestShopAndDine.