Blog | Concept Computers | North Vancouver

Computer related tips and tricks as well as industry news and alerts to keep you safe while connected.

Dec 21, 2020
1 min

Last-minute Shopper? We Can Help!

You're down to the last-minutes friend! Let us help you... In a year where computers have become our lifeblood, we are sure to have the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Concept has everything from new and used computers, to tablets, accessories and service packages! To speak to us about all your last-minute Christmas needs, visit our showroom at 1257 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, or give us a call at 604-986-7680. #christmasiscoming #christmascomputer #giftsforgeeks #

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Concept Computers

May 12, 2020
1 min

Replace Your Screen, Not Your Computer

Cracked, defective or blanks screens don't need to mean the end of your laptop. Often they can be replaced, saving you money and helping you do your part for the environment. They key word here is, often. As computers get smaller, it is becoming increasingly difficult to replace laptop screens. Some screens are adhered to the besel with proprietary adhesives that require heat guns to remove, often resulting in the entire upper besel needing to be replaced. Planned obsolesc

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Why You Should Upgrade Your Operating System

Concept Computers

May 4, 2020
2 min

Why You Should Upgrade Your Operating System

You've been using your version of Windows or Mac OS for a loooong time. You know it. Your comfortable with it. Why bother to change it? Well, there's a few reasons actually. 1. Security - Microsoft and Apple do their best to provide updates for the valid operating systems they offer, but in general you're getting the best security updates on the most recent version of operating system. After a while, these companies will stop creating updates for these operating systems (an

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Correct your CAPS LOCK... without re-writing the whole sentence

Concept Computers

Apr 29, 2020
1 min

Correct your CAPS LOCK... without re-writing the whole sentence

Have you ever written a paragraph in a document with the caps lock on? Maybe it was intentional at first - you thought it would help emphasize your point. But then, you looked back and it just looked like you were yelling at your reader. Maybe you were just multi-tasking and didn't really notice, or maybe you were just being lazy and didn't want to turn the caps lock off... Whatever your reason, if you decide those caps lock sentences aren't doing much for you, there is a li

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Accessible Computing

If you or a loved one is living with a disability, computing can be a challenge. Thankfully, advances in technology have made the task infinitely more accessible. There are a variety of software and hardware available including: - screen readers - dictation software - adapted and on-screen keyboards - inhalation / exhalation (sip and puff) systems - joysticks - trackballs - body wands and sticks - tongue mice - electronic pointing devices - touch screens - adapted keyboards

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
2 min

Be Virus Saavy

We're all aware of the global pandemic right now, but that hasn't slowed down the viruses available to your computers. Here are a few of the top recent badies you should watch out for: 1. Cyborg Ransomware (AIDS - Aids Info Disk Trojan) - this is a new variant of an old virus that uses fake Windows 10 software updates to install a ransomware. Ransomware threatens to publish the victim's data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid. Protect yourself by not o

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Upgrade Your Wifi

You're stuck at home, so naturally wi-fi is essential. But are you stuck in one small corner of your house? You've called your internet provider, they've taken you through their motions and still... not much to write home about. It may be time to upgrade your wifi hardware. We upgrade from weaker and unstable wi-fi routers to ultra high-speed wireless mesh networks with far greater speed and range so you can comfortably take your laptop from one end of the house to the other

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What is Reserve Storage for Your Operating System?

Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
2 min

What is Reserve Storage for Your Operating System?

Did you know that your computer automatically sets aside 7 (or more) GB of storage space just in case space becomes scarce? It is called "reserve storage" and it is set aside because when storage space is low your computer can stop functioning optimally. Updates can fail to download or install properly and then all those bug fixes, patches or updates that are supposed to keep your operating system working tickity boo... don't. The storage space isn't just sitting there doing

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Regular Maintenance to Prevent Disaster

The best way to prevent this... is with regular service and maintenance. That means making sure you have all the right updates and packages, remove junkware, monitor the performance of your system, keep on top of anti-virus updates and scans and be on the lookout for any other tell-tale signs of viruses or other performance problems. Yeah, it's a lot. But the alternative is often costly and endlessly frustrating. Concept Computers offers monthly service plans that takes those

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Integrating the Old with the New

Is your old reliable not working with some of your newer peripherals or programs? Integration of old technology with new can be a frustrating issue. The fact is, newer technologies often have higher demands than old ones. Without proper integration, programs or accessories could not run properly (if at all), data can be corrupted, lost, scattered or duplicated or you could face program and computer crashes. The good news is, that up to a point many components can be upgraded

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
2 min

Troubleshooting Your Game Crashes

Are you dealing with constant game crashes? While visual artifacts / glitches can be a pain in the behind, the upshot of dealing with them is that you can still usually play your game. Crashes on the other hand, take you right out of the fun. So let's look at a few possible fixes to get you back in the game. 1. The good ol' hard restart: it can't hurt to try! Games can crash due to temporary problems, updates that haven't installed etc. Eliminate this fix before you move on t

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Combat Screen Tearing

Ever notice this while you're gaming? This type of visual artifact is called "screen tearing". It happens when your screen displays multiple frames at once, which do not align. There are a couple of players at fault here: your video card and your display's refresh rate. When they do not sync up, your video card will submit another frame or image, before your screen is finished displaying the last one, which means you're seeing two broken images at a time. It can also occur wh

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Hanging with your Game

Are you hanging while you game? It's not as cool as it sounds. Hanging refers to when your offline game freezes while it catches up to the commands you've given it. In this case, there is a process or piece of hardware that is causing a "traffic jam" of data. Make sure you've closed other programs that may be bogging down your computer. Check the available space on your storage drive - if you are full, chances are your system is at max capacity. Try lowering the graphics sett

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Troubleshooting Online Gaming Lag

You're gaming online and you're 100% sure you just took out your opponent - but wait, he just blasted through your line of fire and that arrow just sailed right into the trees behind him. You may be suffering from online lag. What to do? 1. Have a look at any processes that may be bogging down your bandwidth - are you downloading / uploading anything? Streaming any other content? If so, stop now and resume post-game. 2. If you're on wifi, consider hard-wiring your connection

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Troubleshooting Artifacts

If you're into gaming (or even if you're not) you may have heard the term "artifacting". But what does it mean?! Artifacting refers to visual distortion or glitches in gaming graphics when the frame is being rendered. It can come in the form of corrupted textures, geometry, visual anomalies, colours and so on. It is most often an issue related to your graphics processing unit (GPU) or graphics card. If you are seeing any of these visual anomalies, check that your graphics car

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

What to Do if your Game Won't Run

So you heard about a new game, waited patiently while it downloaded, fired it up.... crash. WTF??? Try again... crash. Enter frustration station. Sound familiar? What to do when a game won't run on your system? Here are a few things to check: 1. Check the minimum required specs for the game - this can usually be found on the site you purchased it from. If you don't know your system's specs, type "system information" in your start menu's search bar and have a look at the syste

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Extreme Weather Computing

So we're in a bit of a deep freeze at the moment. Can this harm your computer? Your machine is more likely to be damaged from heat rather than the cold, HOWEVER - going from cold to hot can cause condensation. As you likely no, water and electronics are not friends. Many of you may not have made it into work today, opting to work at a nearby cafe instead of braving a lengthy drive on the treacherous roads. If you spend some time walking to the cafe, or need to leave your comp

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Windows 7 Reaches the End of Its Support Life

Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Windows 7 Reaches the End of Its Support Life

Still running Windows 7? It's time for an upgrade... On January 14th, 2020 (that's in less than two weeks) Microsoft will end its 10-year support for the operating system. What does that mean? It means that security updates for Windows 7 will no longer be developed or released leaving your computer at greater risk for security breaches. Technical support from Microsoft will also no longer be available should you need to troubleshoot an issue with the developer. You can also e

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Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
1 min

Staying Safe with Web Conferencing

The video conferencing platform Zoom has taken off during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It is an excellent tool for staying connected with loved ones, taking meetings, hosting webinars. It's success has not gone unnoticed. While we are highly supportive of the platform, however, we want you to be aware of recent security issues and how to protect yourself from them. The security breaches involved individuals hacking into and taking over group meetings, speaking over the at

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Is Your Computer Becoming a Thing of the Past?

Concept Computers

Apr 24, 2020
2 min

Is Your Computer Becoming a Thing of the Past?

How long should your computer last before you should seriously think about replacing it? In a nutshell, 3-5 years is the average lifespan of a computer BUT that strongly depends on what you use it for and the type of computer you have. In general, computers are (unfortunately) designed to have a limited lifespan to the benefit of the manufacturers and other associated companies. A computer that was top-of-the-line when you bought it, won't likely be able to keep up with softw

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CONCEPT

COMPUTERS

North Vancouver

Vancouver

Burnaby & New West

604-986-7680

604-971-5250

Last-minute Shopper? We Can Help!

Replace Your Screen, Not Your Computer

Why You Should Upgrade Your Operating System

Correct your CAPS LOCK... without re-writing the whole sentence

Accessible Computing

Be Virus Saavy

Upgrade Your Wifi

What is Reserve Storage for Your Operating System?

Regular Maintenance to Prevent Disaster

Integrating the Old with the New

Troubleshooting Your Game Crashes

Combat Screen Tearing

Hanging with your Game

Troubleshooting Online Gaming Lag

Troubleshooting Artifacts

What to Do if your Game Won't Run

Extreme Weather Computing

Windows 7 Reaches the End of Its Support Life

Staying Safe with Web Conferencing

Is Your Computer Becoming a Thing of the Past?

Concept Computer Corporation