Montreal Computer and Laptop Specialists - (514) 836-7408

Posts by Sheldon

Where can I get a Laptop Battery or Laptop Adapter in Montreal?

Apr06
2012 Written by Sheldon

Montreal Laptop Adapters and Batteries

Where can I get a Laptop Battery or Laptop Adapter in Montreal? At HCS we offer Laptop Batteries delivered to our Montreal clients in 48 hours.  If you need an adapter we have Universal adapters in stock and you can pick them up at one of our service depots (Call to confirm it will work with your laptop).  We are able to get you batteries or adapters for your laptop usually within 24-48 hours and have then available at our service depot.

 

Call us at 514-836-7408

Posted in AC Adapter, battery, Computer Hardware, Laptop - Tagged , ,

Montreal Off-Site Backups

Oct18
2011 Written by Sheldon

 

Safe secure off-site backups at HCS Montreal

Safe secure off-site backups at HCS Montreal

 

Who does off-site back up in Montreal?  Who has a secure remote backup system here in Montreal?

Well Les Specialistes HCS does.  We have teamed up with PC Montreal to offer an off-site remote backup solution that is both secure and easy to use. All you have to do is….well nothing.  We will install the off-site backup software (which has 128 bit encryption) on whatever machine you wish whether it be a server or just a simple desktop.  The software runs as often as you like (ideally every evening) and you and HCS are notified daily whether the backup was successful by email.  IT IS THAT EASY!!!!

At Les Specialistes HCS we have our Controlled Goods Directorate (CGD) with the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and offer 128-bit  encrypted backup to ensure your data is secure and protected. 

The data is easily restorable at any time you need it with or without our support.  Just call HCS Montreal for an off-site backup solution that serves your need at 514-836-7408.

 

Posted in back-up, Internet, Montreal, security - Tagged , , , , , , ,

The Jiggling AC Laptop Adapter or Why My Laptop has a Power Problem.

Oct11
2011 Written by Sheldon

I was recently emailed “my laptop only works if I jiggle the wire.” 

This is a common problem which could be 1 of 2 things.

The first thing it could be is that the laptop adapter wire might be defective and you are in need of replacement of a replacement laptop adapter.  Power is not getting to the motherboard, for this you can test it by testing the Laptop Adapter with a volt meter and comfirm you are receiving power even when you are shaking the wire.   At HCS we sell AC Laptop Adapters for most laptop brands and models (if you don’t see your model give us a call).  We offer next day delivery to your office or home, or next day pick up at our service depot.

The second thing that could be causing you to jiggle your laptop adapter wire to get it to work is that the DC Jack attached to your laptop’s motherboard is defective.  We can replace all brands DC Jacks and get your laptop working again.  Just fill out our form and visit our service depot.

Posted in AC Adapter, DC Power jack / plug replacement, issues, Laptop - Tagged , , , , , ,

Laptop Hard Drive Replacements: The Defective Hard Drive Syndrome

Oct06
2011 Written by Sheldon

So your laptop will not start up.  Your laptop hangs or loops.  You get a blank windows desktop and then nothing.  You get a blue screen or a black screen before Windows starts up.  The first thing you should do is simple hard disk repairs (scan disk, defrag or use third party software).  This often corrects the problems, however if you find that this does not repair your hard drive then it is time to fix it the only way possible which is to replace your hard drive.

Replace Yout Hard drive in Montreal for Your Laptop or Desktop

At Les Specialistes HCS we replace your hard drive or do what ever repairs are necessary to fix your computer.  Call us for more information at 514-836-7408.

Posted in back-up, computers, Hard Disk, issues, Laptop, Microsoft, Montreal, Slow Computer, slow computers, slow laptop, software - Tagged , , , , , , ,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOOGLE: GOOGLE CELEBRATES ITS BAR MITZVAH

Sep27
2011 Written by Sheldon
Happy Birthday Google

The Google Bar Mitzvah: Montreal's HCS wishes Google a Happy Birthday.

Today Google is a man.  Google is celebrating its 13th birthday.  And on this festive occassion we must look at the portrait of the Search Engine as a young man.

For 13 years Google has provided us the best searches, it has become a verb and it has made our lives easier.  It also has helped us embrace Big Brother in a way we never really thought was possible.  We have left ourslves (our information) out there for all to see and Google has organized it and referenced it to make things easier for those who want to trace us.    Google has our photos, our jobs and anything that may have put on line during the past 20 years and beyond.  And for that we thank you.

Happy Birthday Google for making us smarter and making us unable to think at the same time.

Posted in google, Montreal, Search Engine, website - Tagged , ,

The Weakest Link is You: Computer Security and Hacking in the times of iPhone, Email, Facebook, Linkedin, Google+ and Twitter.

Sep12
2011 Written by Sheldon

You are your own worst enemy.  You don’t know it yet but everyday you keep the status quo is another day something bad is happening to you or at the very worst, something bad is going to happen to you.  What am I referring to?  The strongest or weakest defense of your cybersecurity: your password.  You should take your passwords that you have seriously and try to change them on a regular basis.

Breaching computer security is easy if you have a simple password or use the same password EVERYWHERE.  What you have to take into consideration is that your password can be compromised and therefore your identity on the web can be obtained by malicious intruders. 

“1-2-3-4-5? That’s the stupidest combination I’ve ever heard of in my life! That’s the kinda thing an idiot would have on his luggage!”

Password Rules

 8 Letter Passwords Are Passé

A Georgia Institute of Technology found that with the GPU’s C programmable language, a hacker would easily be able to program a brute force password cracker that would easily be able to crack an 8 character password in less than 2 hours and significantly quicker for shorter passwords. It is highly recommended that you use a more robust password of at least 12 characters.  If you are unsure what password to use. try using a random password generator.

Don’t Use the Same Password

Use different passwords in different places.  Get into the habit of having various passwords.  Also try changing your password for your mail, social media and banking a few times a year.

But Sheldon How am I going to remember all those passwords?

If you have the memory of a gnat and having more than one password is too many perhaps you should consider using Password Gorilla, which will keep track of your passwords.

Posted in Montreal, Password, security - Tagged ,

Cool Little Computer Tricks: Instant Password

Sep08
2011 Written by Sheldon

Ever need a new password for a site (or for your office)  and can’t quite come up with the right one?  Sometimes there are rules for a password such as it must have an uppercase character or a single numeric value and no matter how hard you try you can’t seem to fulfill the requirements.  Well thanks to my new favorite website Wolfram|Alpha, you can use their password generator to create the required password and just copy and paste it.

Posted in Password, website - Tagged ,

Watch out Google here comes Wolfram|Alpha, A Different Kind of Seach

Sep07
2011 Written by Sheldon

Best Search Engine since Google

Everybody knows I love Google.  In fact I wanted to name one of my children Google but my wife voted against the idea and pretty much told me I am not allowed to decide on anything related to matters concerning our children ever again.

Recently I discovered Wolfram|Alpha which is the coolest search engine since Google.  Rather than try to compete with what Google does well (which is pretty much everything) it goes after a field of knowledge that Google has never really tried to explore; scientific and quantitative searches with specific answers.  For example if you wanted to search for the average age of a citizen of Canada, you can use Google’s search and get hundreds of webpages or you can use Wolfram|Alpha and get the figure immediately.  The site is in Alpha mode but the potential of the site is incredible.  Statistics, measurements, mathematics and general information can be quickly obtained on the search page rather that searching webpages for the specific information. 

The idea of sorting through documentation for the specific answer you need is something we have been waiting for since the beginning of the computer age.  Wolfram is more like Ask.com than Google but with the information we want.  Wolfram|Alpha’s mandate is to offer us searched of objective information.

The site still has flaws (which I have already found such as “What is Quebec Sales Tax” but it found “New York Sales Tax“) however with the help of those testing the site, Wolfram|Alpha should have the potential to be a great source and wealth of information outside the searches that Google already dominates.

Posted in google, Search Engine, speed, website, Wolfram|Alpha - Tagged , , , ,

Free Estimates for Laptop Repairs in Montreal

Aug25
2011 Written by Sheldon

At Les Specialistes HCS, we have offered a Laptop Repair Service in Montreal since 2002.  Presently we have a service drop-off depot in NDG near Vendome metro where you can leave your laptop after filling out the form.  You can call us at 514-836-7408 for any laptop, desktop or server issue you may have. 

We specialize in handling software and hardware issues for all brands of laptops.

  • ACER 
  • ALIENWARE
  • APPLE
  • ASUS
  • COMPAQ
  • DELL
  • FUJITSU
  • GATEWAY
  • HP
  • IBM Thinkpad
  • LG
  • LENOVO
  • Mac
  • Panasonic
  • SONY Vaio
  • TOSHIBA
We are able to repair most laptop issues and we will not charge YOU 
  1. UNTIL YOU APPROVE OUR QUOTE
  2. UNTIL WE FIX YOUR LAPTOP

So there is no risk when you bring us your laptop because you will know how much you are paying for a working computer.

We have repaired many common laptop issues such as:

  • DC Power jack / Plug replacement
  • Laptop LCD Screen Repair / Replacement
  • Laptop Keyboard Replacement
  • Laptop Virus / Spyware Removal
  • Laptops unable to turn on due to spills
  • Laptop Motherboard Repair
  • Laptop Fans Replacement
  • Motherboard Overheating
  • Unexpected Laptop Shutdowns
  • Wireless Network Security for Laptops
  • Email Setup, configuration and Troubleshooting
  • Laptop Boot Problems 
  • External Hard Drive and Off-Site Cloud Backup
  • Hard Drive Recovery and Replacement
  • Operating System Upgrades:Windows 2000 -Xp – Vista -  7
  •  Privacy / Security Solutions
Just call us at 514-836-7408 or visit our website or fill out our form.
 
Posted in AC Adapter, Apple, Computer Hardware, computers, DC Power jack / plug replacement, IBM, Internet, Ipad, Laptop, LCD Screen replacement, Microsoft, Montreal, Motherboard repair, repair, Slow Computer, slow computers, slow laptop, software, speed, VPN - Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Montreal Canadiens who aren’t in the Hall of Fame: The Best five

Aug23
2011 Written by Sheldon

An interesting premise was proposed on the Team 990 this afternoon: who are the best Montreal Canadiens not in the Hall of Fame.  Like usual I want to say this site promotes my Montreal laptop and computer repairs computer consulting firm Les Specialistes HCS, however every now and then I like to get away from computers and discuss something relevant to Montrealers and myself such as sports and in  particular: the Montreal Canadiens.

I have always felt that getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame was too easy in comparison to the other major sports leagues and therefore many borderline Hall of Famers make it whereas if they had the same skill and prestige in another sport the would not.  I will not name the players who I feel aren’t deserving because that is not fair to them because they were excellent players but I can tell you that a selection of one or two players per year would have corrected the lower standards for the Hall. 

Maybe I am biased but I felt that all the players from those 4 consecutive cup winners of the 1970′s deserved to get in and no one was forgotten.  I also felt that the only numbers that should have been retired by the Canadiens should have been: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, and 16 with maybe 19 and 29 getting consideration and NO NOT EVER to 33 (but that’s because I am strict and he left the Habs midway in his carreer).  So my list contains players who I think are great but not necessarily deserving of the Hall of Fame.

So Who are the Best 5 Canadiens not in the Hall of Fame.

My first 3 selections are players that I think are deserving of Hall of Fame considerations, while the remainders are just the best players who have not gotten into the Hall.

Claude Provost How does a man with 9 Stanley cups and 11 All-Star appearences and not get into the hall of fame?  I have never seen Provost play, but from I have heard he was the Bob Gainey of his time and the fact he made it to the all-star game 11 out of 15 times indicates he was one of the better players of his era.  I guess his biggest mistake was not being born in Toronto and playing for the Leafs.

Guy Cabonneau  This three time Selke award winner and former Captain had a great carreer as a Hab.  He was an important part of the Canadiens 1986 and 1993 improbable runs to the cup and should definitely be considered a Hall of Fame candidate if not a Hall of Famer.

Chris Chelios  I know I am cheating here because he will make it into the Hall when he is finally eligible.  He was a great defenseman on a young defensive corps, and did a great job taking over as leader of the defense from Larry Robinson when he left the Habs.

Mats Naslund  Naslund replaced Guy Lafleur as my favorite Hab after Lafleur’s first retirement.  He was fun to watch, fast and seemed to score when the Canadiens needed it most. He led the Habs in scoring during their 1986 Stanley Cup run.

Yvon Lambert Great stache and and great overtime goal against the Bruins to win game 7 in the famous 1979 semi-finals series.  He had great numbers, 5 seasons 20+ goals.

Posted in Canadiens, Hockey, Montreal
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