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

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.

This morning my staff at Schrock Innovations received the final and official build of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 – both the 64-bit and the 32-bit installations.

Schrock will be offering a $45 installation service later today. This service pack is available on various torrents around the Internet. Some are legitimate and some are not. Most are earlier releases relabeled as the final release.

Microsoft will be pushing out the Service Pack on their download website on February 16th and then through Microsoft Update on February 26.

Directly Download the Service Packs From Our Servers

I have uploaded the verified Service Packs to my web server and have made them available for download now.

This will be a direct HTTP download. No ads, no modifications, no verification codes, just click the link and save the file to your computer.

How to Download the Service Pack Now

NO ONE is doing this online at the moment, so to help keep my bandwidth costs under control I am asking for a $5.00 PayPal donation to obtain the direct one-time download link.

This is NOT a charge for the Service Pack its self. Service Packs are available FREE from Microsoft if you are willing to wait until the 16th.

To obtain your single-use download link, Click the Donate button below. You will receive a download link immediately after your purchase.

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!

This morning an article ran in the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper stating that one of Schrock Innovations’ local competitors, QuickTEQ computers, is being sued by Microsoft for allegedly intentionally selling counterfeit Windows XP Professional products and improperly using Microsoft’s trade marks.

The basic outline of the story is that QuickTEQ sells a lot of refurbished laptops and Desktops. According to the article, Microsoft detected QuickTEQ was selling copies of the company’s Windows XP Professional operating system in ways that did not conform with the company’s licensing rules.

Microsoft warned QuickTEQ with a letter, and later sent an undercover investigator to follow up and see if QuickTEQ was still improperly selling Windows XP Professional.

After the investigator returned his findings, Microsoft hired Omaha attorney Richard Jeffries to file a suit against QuickTEQ.

Exactly What Did QuickTEQ do Wrong?

That is hard to say at this point. Microsoft’s licensing rules are complex in refurbished computer situations. QuickTEQ sells refurbished computers that were sold coming off leases, at auctions, or in other situations when companies and government entities are done using them.

As a rule, when a computer is purchased and it has a copy of Windows pre-installed on it, that software is licensed under certain conditions. For example:

• You can’t remove the hologram sticker and reapply it to another computer owned by someone else
• You can’t transfer ownership of the Windows Operating system without the manuals and the original hologram CD or recovery media
• You can not resell an Enterprise installation of Windows (big business copy) to a home user

The article doesn’t say exactly what QuickTEQ is accused of doing wrong, but I was personally really surprised to hear about Microsoft filing this suit.

QuickTEQ Was Reportedly Trying to Be Careful

I had herad through the grapevine that QuickTEQ had received a letter from Microsoft about licensing. My understanding from my sources was that the company was taking the letter very seriously.

I spoke to a couple former QuickTEQ employees this morning and they reported that as employees they were aware the company received a letter from Microsoft and that QuickTEQ was “trying to be careful.”

What is Going to Happen Now?

In these situations, Microsoft is likely to ask for a temporary or permanent injunction against QuickTEQ to prevent them from selling any additional licenses.

According to the Journal Star, Microsoft is seeking information that will allow them to identify their exact monetary loss in the situation. I am not certian if that means they want a tally of the number of licenses sold, or they want the information about who bought the licenses.

Generally, Microsoft does not go after individual consumers for buying counterfeit software. They prefer to go after the players who they believe are putting the counterfeit software in the market for others to buy.

With that said, QuickTEQ has not told their side of the story yet. They did not comment to the Journal Star, and are probably just learning about the suit as well. QuickTEQ and its owner, Kevin Knudsen, are honorable staples in the Lincoln business community and I personally believe there is some misunderstanding here that will eventually be settled out of court.

How Can I Tell if My Software is Genuine?

Microsoft maintains a website that helps users determine if the Windows Software on their computer is genuine. Here are a few of the key things from that website to look for so you can put your mind at ease. Signs your Microsoft software may not be genuine:

1. You did not receive any documentation or manual with your software
2. Your computer does not have a holographic Windows sticker applied to its case
3. You did not receive a hologram disc or recovery media with your computer
4. Was the software properly licensed (home user buying Enterprise license for example)

Microsoft is releasing six new updates today that will impact all Windows users in some way.

The updates, scheduled to be automatically downloaded and installed tonight on most Windows systems, patch severe security issues in Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8, and Microsoft Office. Because of the Internet Explorer 7 component, just about every Windows System made after 2001 will be impacted.

This set of updates will address a critical security flaw that could allow users to take control of your computer, so it is important you get these installed.

If your computer is having trouble installing updates for any reason, contact us in Lincoln or Omaha, or seek the assistance of a technician who can get them installed before your computer is infected.

On September 12, 2006 a new security vulnerability was discovered in Internet Explorer that was confirmed by Microsoft Security Advisory (925568). This vulnerability has been used by websites to take control of a user’s computer. Microsoft has stated that they will not release a patch for the VML rendering security vulnerability until October 10, 2006. This security problem affects all Windows users from Windows 98 to Windows XP, even if you use a browser other than Internet Explorer.

The only way to protect your system at the present time is to completely disable VML rendering in your Internet Explorer browser.

We have created a small utility that easily turns your VML rendering on or off. If you use this utility to turn off VML rendering, the utility will automatically re-enable it on October 11, 2006 – the day after Microsoft’s expected patch release. This is accomplished by adding a start-up item that checks the current date each time your computer is booted. After October 11, 2006 the start-up item is automatically removed.

We have been on a quest for the past two months to find firm pricing numbers on Window Vista that has lead us to Microsoft conferences, channel partner phone calls, and countless blogs. Ironically enough, the answer came today on Amazon.com.

After numerous delays that pushed the retail availability of Windows Vista back beyond Christmas, Microsoft has set a firm release date of January 30, 2007.

Amazon had a list of 16 different ways you could purchase Windows Vista, based mostly for the 6 different full and upgrade versions of the operating system. Here’s are the basic prices for those of you who plan on being in line when stores open on the 30th.

Microsoft released 12 new security updates on Tuesday, and the Department of Homeland Security is urging Windows users to install them as quickly as possible to plug a new security vulnerability similar to the one that the MS-Blaster virus exploited.

Homeland Security is urging Windows users to install Microsoft’s MS06-040 patch as soon as possible. Viruses that exploit RPC vulnerabilities like MS Blaster did tend to cut through antivirus programs like Swiss cheese, resulting in a potentially hefty repair bill.

Between now and January – and even a bit beyond that – I will probably be asked a thousand times if it is wise to immediately purchase Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows Vista, as soon as it is released.

My answer is always that the pioneers are the ones who take the arrows, so sometimes it’s ok to wait a couple months so you know if the product lives up to the marketing hype. While this was true of Windows XP (remember Service Packs 1, 1a, and 2?) it will be an even greater concern in Vista. Many pieces of Vista have been completely rebuilt from the ground up to be more secure and stable according to Microsoft, but the new code is fresh and not tested to the extent that Windows XP’s core has been over time.

Alltel has announced today that they are no longer supporting dial-up or high-speed internet users who have computers running Windows 98, 98SE, or ME. This shouldn’t be a problem for most people. For those who have these operating systems, it is just one more reason to upgrade! Here is an excerpt from the Alltel email: