Peanuts to Profits With Thor Schrock
Peanuts to Profits With Thor Schrock

For one week only (through April 9) Schrock’s most popular service, our Preventative Maintenance Checkup will be on special for nearly 60% off the normal price. Schrock’s Maintenance Checkup is the best value in town when it comes to tuning up a slowing computer – especially when it is on sale for only $34.99! Take […]

The world we live in is getting more and more dangerous every day (as evidenced by Monday’s post about the latest banking crimeware) so it is important that you take the measures necessary to keep your technology safe. There are always the basics like keeping your Windows Operating System updated and running good anti-virus software […]

While many people think about surge damage during severe weather season, the truth is that surges do not have a season – they attack your equipment all year-round and you need to have surge protectors to keep your valuable electronics safe.

Today I was a guest on KMTV’s Morning Blend show where we discussed real examples of surge damage that Schrock Innovations has repaired in their Service Centers and how you can keep your equipment safe.

Microsoft has released a new Service Pack (SP1) for Windows 7. Your computer will automatically attempt to download and install Windows 7 SP1.

About 80% of the time that installation should go just fine. The other 20% of the time problems that exist on your computer might prevent the Service Pack from installing or could even result in serious problems with your computer.

By taking these simple steps you can increase the odds that your Windows 7 computer will successfully install Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

With that said, if you would rather have a professional technician install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 for you, Schrock Innovations can do it for you over the Internet with the Schrock Desk.

The entire installation is a flat-rate $45 cost regardless of the time involved in preparing your computer or getting the Service Pack installed correctly. If you are interested, contact Schrock Innovations at 866-496-8772 or call our Service Centers in Omaha or Lincoln directly.

How to Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Properly:

This process can take up to three hours to complete. Please allow enough time to perform all steps.

Step 1: Preparing your computer

Before you install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 you need to prepare your computer. Your computer needs to be free of any viruses or malware. Even if you have anti-virus software installed your computer can be infected.

To check your computer I recommend a program called MalwareBytes. It is a completely free program that will scan your computer and allow you to automatically remove most infections.

To check your computer do the following:

• Download Malwarebytes (unless you already have it installed on your computer)
• Double click on the downloaded program to install it
• Run an update – THIS IS IMPORTANT
• Perform a Full Scan – not a Quick Scan
• Remove any infections that are detected
• Restart your computer

Step 2: Perform Other Windows Updates First

Windows 7 SP1 is a Service Pack. A Service Pack is made up of enhancements and other previous updates.

Ironically enough, Microsoft releases a Service Stack Update that helps ease the installation of a Service Pack.

Installing this small update first will increase the odds of a successful Windows 7 Service Pack 1 installation.

To install all available Windows Updates, do the following:

• Left click on Start (the circle in the lower left corner of your screen)
• Left click on All Programs
• Left click on Windows Update
• Left click on Check for Updates in the upper left corner of the window
• Select all available updates (except Windows 7 Service Pack 1)
• Download and install the updates
• Restart your computer
• Perform a second check for updates to ensure they all installed successfully. Repeat as needed.

If for any reason any update will not successfully install, your computer may have a problem requiring the assistance of a technician. If you would like Schrock Innovations to help, we will install the Service Pack for you for a flat rate $45 fee using our Schrock Desk internet-based support service. Just contact us for an appointment time.

Step 3: Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1

The final step in the process is to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1. Perform the following steps to download and install the Service Pack:

• Left click on Start (the circle in the lower left corner of your screen)
• Left click on All Programs
• Left click on Windows Update
• Left click on Check for Updates in the upper left corner of the window
• Select Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and click on install
• Allow the process to complete
• Restart the computer as instructed

If everything went well, your computer should restart with the latest service pack installed. If for some reason the computer does not restart properly, you might have the opportunity to restore your computer to a previous date.

We can not connect to your computer if it can not get on the Internet. If you have questions or need help, please feel free to contact our Service Centers anytime.

As you can see, properly installing Windows 7 SP1 can take anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire afternoon depending on the speed and health of your computer.

For only $45 Schrock Innovations can take care of the entire process for you – in most cases right over the Internet. We only have 24 appointment slots each day, so please contact our Service Centers to secure your spot before we completely fill up.

Most computer users try to be safe when they are online. Many people won’t open emails from people they don’t know. Some only go to websites they know they can trust.

But if you think you are safe online because you are careful, think again.

Microsoft has announced a new security vulnerability was discovered that allows hackers to install malware on any computer from Windows XP up through Windows 7 and all you have to do is visit a website to infect yourself.

This means that you (and 900 million other people) just became a target and all the hackers have to do is get you tto visit an infected website, deliver an infected ad to your computer, or just wait for you to make one fatal typo in your browser’s address bar.

How Can my Computer be Attacked?

With this specific vulnerability an attacker needs to get your browser to load something from an infected website. Some possible ways your computer could be infected include:

• You click on a link in an email taking your to the infected website
• A trusted website displays an advertisement from an infected website
• You mistakenly type an incorrect URL in your address bar
• Your visiting crazy Uncle stupidly just goes to the site an infects your computer

Once your computer is attacked it can sit for hours, days or even weeks before exhibiting signs of infection.

What Do I Need to Do to Stay Safe?

It is always a good idea to employ the safe computing practices I listed at the beginning of this article.

The only security software that Schrock Innovations recommends for its customers is Norton 360 because it is literally the only software program that we have installed for our customers that keeps them safe.

In fact, if you are running Norton 360 you don’t have to worry about the vulnerability discussed in this article at all because Norton has already covered it for you.

If you are not running Norton and want to switch to keep your computer safe, Schrock Innovations has Norton 360 on sale through February 6, 2011.

For only $79.99 Schrock will log into your computer over the Schrock Desk remote support service, clean any infections in your computer, install Norton 360 and configure it for only $79.99!

Contact Schrock Innovations to take advantage of this special offer before it runs out!

You can win Apple’s latest creation, the iPad just by being a part of the nationally-syndicated Living Digital radio show! The Living Digital show covers today’s technology from cell phones, to 3D TV to your personal computer with a special focus on how your technology impacts your life. The show airs from 2-5 PM CST […]

This month you could win a $1,500 Schrock Innovations 2009 Holiday Special PC with Solid State Hard Drive Technology just for watching the morning News!

Here is the spot that is running on Channel 10/11 to promote the contest:

Excitement is building for the launch of our 2009 Holiday Special computer featuring Windows 7 and a solid state hard drive.

With the launch party coming up on Saturday the 17th in our Lincoln Service Center, our commercials promoting the new system started running this week on TV and radio.

The official specifications will be released soon on the Schrock Innovations website, but until then watch this commercial to get a sneak peek at the most advanced computer available in Nebraska this Holiday Season!

We have been hard at work for the past few weeks designing the Schrock Innovations 2009 Holiday System, and the first prototype testing is underway.

This year’s Holiday Special will feature 2 new technologies that have never before been used in a Schrock build. The result is a new Modular PC that is faster (not seconds faster but STUNNINGLY faster) more reliable, and better prep[ared for tomorrow’s technology than ever before.

What is the Holiday Special?

Schrock’s Holiday Specials are always highly anticipated because the systems push the limits of technology at an unbelievable price. We offer a complete system (including monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse, and speakers) for only $1,499.

These systems are configured with amazing specifications. This is not the typical Dell up-sell routine, where you are lured in for $499 and end up spending way more than you planned.

These computers are configured to rock your PC experience with no modification required.

This year’s Holiday Special Modular PC is no exception. We are keeping the exact details close to the vest at the moment, but I can tell you it will be running Windows 7.

Faster than Anyone Expects

ONe of the big reasons we are so excited for the 2009 Holiday Special is because one of the new pieces of technology we are introducing will bring MASSIVE speed increases to the table that will be unavailable anywhere else in Nebraska (even by special order form Dell).

This new technology will unleash AMAZING speed that most computer users have only imagined. In our tests this technology has cut processes that used to take HOURS down to mere minutes.

We get excited whenever a system we produce can dramatically improve a PC users’ experience. To put it bluntly we have not a game-changing PC since we introduced Lincoln to Windows XP and LCD displays ion 2001. This system will be just as revolutionary.

Reliable Beyond Anything You Have Imagined

The 2009 Holiday Special is going to be faster than anything we have ever built before at Schrock, but it is also the most reliable system we have ever built.

This system runs COOLER (temperature wise) than any previous computer we have built, even though it sports a quad core processor. Because it runs cooler, it also uses LESS POWER than other quad core systems we have released in 2009.

Another new pieces of technology cuts the odds of a PC breakdown by an amazing 75%. This PC has more up-time, less lag time, ind its overall cost of ownership is dramatically lower over its expected 8-year lifespan.

Power for Today and Potential for Tomorrow

As always, this Schrock system is Modular. That means your computer has everything it needs to meet your demands today, and it can grow with you as your needs change in the future.

Schrock Innovations is the only company in the country that offers Modular computers, and that is why our Holiday Special systems last more than 8 years while other manufacturers are lucky to get three years out of their builds.

How Can You Learn More About This Computer?

Unfortunately, you will have to wait a little while longer before we let everything out of the bag. But there are some things you can do to make sure you catch the tidbits when we do let them out.

1. Subscribe to the RSS Feed on this blog. You’ll get an email as soon as we release anything.
2. Follow me on Twitter – I am prone to moments of weakness. If something slips, it will happen here
3. Get on Schrock Innovation’s mailing list – Contact Schrock and ask to be added. It’s free and rumor has it there is a coupon involved 🙂
4. Listen to Compute This every week. Chris Goforth has a way of getting me to talk

Only 2 days remain to get Schrock Innovations’ Preventative Maintenance Checkup on sale for only $19.99! This is the FINAL maintenance checkup sale of 2009, so it you miss this one its a long wait until 2010!

We are “officially” launched the sale on last weekend’s Compute This radio show, and our staff has done an amazing job keeping up with the workload. Unlike the previous sale, our turn around times are very reasonable (3 days or less).

A PC Maintenance Checkup is a complete head-to-toe examination of a computer that takes between 8 and 12 hours of bench time to complete. Our Maintenance Checkup is normally a great deal at its usual price of $60, but for next week only we will be discounting that price to an amazing $19.99.