Manchester Small Business Remote Support
Manchester Small Business Remote Support can control any PC on the web, even through firewalls!
We can even reboot the remote PC into SAFEMODE !
Manchester Small Business Remote Support System lets us support our customers even if they are behind firewalls and routers. With RSS we can transfer files, chat, re-boot & auto-reconnect and remotely control their PC in real-time without pre-installing software or any network changes on their side. We can even reboot the remote computer into “Safe Mode”.
Manchester Small Business Remote Support Is Easy As 1-2-3
- The customer clicks a link on our own website ( or run it from an email attachment, from disk, or one of many other possible scenarios )
- The customer selects “Run” A single .exe file is hosted on your website. When the customer clicks the file, they will choose “Run” which will begin the Remote Support Session.
- The customer picks a technician Remote Support can allow a single .exe file to connect to multiple technicians or locations. The user must simply choose the desired tech. Simple as a value meal.
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Common Faults with Laptops
Common Faults with Laptops
If you like many people have become dependant on your laptop for work, school or play you will know how irritating it is to have you laptop go faulty because of either wear and tear or accidental damage. Laptops have become very popular for the simple reason that you can carry them around with you.
The main components of a laptop are the LCD display, random access memory (RAM), battery, keyboard, and hard drive. Other than the LCD display, the other parts of a laptop can easily be replaced.
Common Laptop Hardware Problems
Here is a list of common problems laptop users experience:
- Broken case as a result of a drop
- Laptop Overheating – The production of heat can be the cause of computer shutting down unexpectedly. Some laptops automatically shutdown when excessive heat is generated to protect the computer. May also be related to a fan failure.
- Damaged LCD screen or does not display the image properly – The screen may look distorted or some of the pixels may not display properly indicating damaged pixels.
- Failure of the backlight – a faint image on the LCD screen is a key clue
- Sticky or broken keys on the keyboard – spilled beverages
- Loose or broken LCD hinge
- Damaged USB ports – improper insertion of USB devices into the port is the major source of damage
- Hard Drive failure – malfunction are usually caused by vibration and shock associated with the portable nature of how laptops are used
Laptop Repair Solutions
Many of the problems listed above can be repaired for less than the cost of a new laptop! If you are handy, replacing a keyboard, a hard drive or adding memory to a laptop is not difficult. If you don’t feel comfortable performing these tasks, then we can help with the repairs / upgrade at reasonable prices but stay away from retail stores because guess what … they will try to sell you a new laptop.
Recent Laptop repairs that we have completed:
Below you can see a laptop that experienced problems with constantly shutting down without warning, this is a sure sign that it is overheating and can be caused by the cooling fan being faulty or blocked. In this case the fan was blocked with dust which was preventing air flow to cool the processor.
In the next pictures below you can see a laptop that had Coca Cola spilt on the Laptop Keyboard, this caused the input key to be very sticky and in most cases unusable. Fortunately it did not go any further than the keyboard and was a simple case of replacing the keyboard. You will notice that the screen has been removed also this is because we replaced the screen at the same time and although the owner never said we believe a temper tantrum was performed on the screen as a consequence of the Coca Cola spillage. 
The DC3217IYE our smallest computer project.
The DC3217IYE our smallest computer project.
Another one of our clients who run a respite care home wanted a computer to show presentations videos to residents, staff and board members but did not want a full computer that was going to take up space. Rather they wanted it to be hidden, small and compact with the least amount of disruption during installation.
After doing some research we came across the DC3217IYE, at first I didn’t think much of this unit whilst reading reviews and it’s specification. Firstly it has some downsides like no sound card only two USB ports and if you want Wi-Fi you need to purchase the upgrade version. However if this unit was to be hidden away and it uses HDMI to connect to a Television it doesn’t really need sound built in as the HDMI sound driver takes care of that. Two USB ports posed no problem either if you purchase a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse as it only uses one USB port leaving one free for an external HDD.
The Unit comes with a mounting a kit so that you can mount the computer on any modern flat screen TV and it’s very quiet in fact there is no noise from it all. This computer is very fast when it boots up and is a dream to work with, the unit comes with Windows 8 but seems pointless to me unless you have a touch screen, so we ordered it without any OS as the client has a site licence for Windows 7 and it installed like a dream. One thing I should mention is that if you intend to install the OS yourself make sure you have an external CD Drive.
This computer is ideal for schools, board rooms, display stands in fact anywhere you want small, fast and easy to transport with all the power of a full size computer then this unit is what you want. With an i3 Intel Processor, up to 8GB’s memory and SSD Drive this computer will handle anything you can throw at it.
This was another interesting project which the client had a specific criteria and need that we were able to provide a viable solution and a cheap one too with the DC3217IYE costing under £300.
Part 4 of our Custom Built Computer
Custom Built Computer which we have named Hercules: Conclusion and thoughts.
Now you have seen the critical components of what’s inside our clients custom built computer you should have a good idea of the planning and quality this build is. There are more parts and numerous software goodies that came with the motherboard and Graphics Card but we’ll save that for another article.
Our client has been using the computer for over two weeks now and is absolutely thrilled with it’s performance, although it has to be said the client was more impressed with the fact their IPhone could connect to the computer via Bluetooth tut!!
We have provided the client with exactly what they asked for plus a few additional features they were not expecting, the storage space should last a good few years to come and the upgradability of the computer is second to none.
See some pictures of the finished product
Total cost for Hercules the custom built computer was nearly £3,300 so it’s not your usual desktop computer. The total weight of the computer when we finished was nearly 90ibs and took two people to lift it in to it’s new home. This kind of computer we built for our client is usually used for serious gamers who play high end games but we adapted it to the clients needs. It was a really good interesting project something if we are ever approached with again we would certainly relish the challenge.
Some pictures of the computer in the studio of our client:
Video of our Custom build
So I hope you enjoyed our article and come to read our latest article on the smallest computer we have fitted which is the size of a small CD case. Click here
Part 3 Custom Built Computer
More about what’s inside our custom built computer:
Although the Rampage IV motherboard is capable of supporting 64GB’s we installed Corsair Vengeance 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 PC3-15000 C10 1866MHz XMP Quad Channel Kit. This is more than sufficient to meet any software requirements installed on the computer but will allow future upgradability.
For the processor there was only really one choice which is an Intel Core i7-3930K 3.20GHz (Sandybridge-E) Socket LGA2011 Processor – Retail. Six Core Technology, 3.20GHz clock speed, 12MB L3 Cache, Hyper-Threading Technology, Quad Channel DDR3 Controller, 3 Yr Warranty.
We chose the retail version because we didn’t want to use the standard cooling fan but instead one of our own choice which is the Thermaltake Frio Advanced Cooler and by coincidence the colour scheme was black and red the same as the other components so we got a bonus, features below:
- Heat-pipe Direct Touch Technology, Supports 230W Cooling Performance
- Dual 13cm Over-clocking Fan, PWM controllable with 800~2,000 RPM Speed
- Universal Socket Compatibility & Accessory Package
- Universal socket support : Intel: LGA 2011, LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA775AMD: FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2
For storage we installed 4 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6 Gb/s 7200rpm hard drives making a total of 8 terabytes storage space. However since we installed the computer and the client transferring all externally stored archived data this has used 6 terabytes of the 8 terabytes.
So with this in the mind the client asked for more storage so an additional x4 3 terabytes have been installed making a total of x8 HDD’s with a total of 20 terabytes storage.
This posed no problems as the Cosmos II case allows for 12 HDD’s leaving 4 HDD housing bays spare, which is exactly how we planned the custom built computer, even if upgrading storage was a lot sooner than we expected.
Click here for last and final part 4 with pictures of the finished custom build.
Custom Built Computer
Hello all, firstly apologies for the long absence of posts, fortunately we have been busy with new clients and some interesting projects that has prompted us to write about them. The first project we have been working on has been a real joy because of the 2,700 pound budget we were given to build a custom built computer for one of our clients.
Our client is a professional photographer and is well established in the magazine and catalogue industries, so the client is very busy at all times and has a specific requirement for their business needs in the way that the client edits the photographs and stores all the pictures.
Our client who has been with us for around four years and in that time we have provided support to her computers and have when needed upgraded the machines to suit their needs. This usually involved adding extra storage and memory, however after us pushing the machines to their limit the client has finally taken our advice to upgrade their equipment.
So we were given specific instructions on the criteria and requirements the computer needed to meet which were:
- High performance
- Plenty of storage space
- High end graphics
- Upgradability
- Multiple HD Monitor capability
- Plenty of USB 2 and 3
- Windows 7 64bit
So the first thing we had to decide was what kind of hardware we would use and the upgradability it would provide. So lets break it down, we knew the hardware required would not fit just any case but would require plenty of space to work inside, plenty of cable management, lots of cooling fans, maybe even water-cooled and most importantly lots of HDD slots.
After some searching and reading reviews we chose the Cooler Master Cosmos II
- Stylish and streamlined race-car inspired design
- Brushed aluminium and steel for strength and elegance
- Airflow optimized design
- Supports up to 10 fans and 13 HDDs (2 from X-dock)
- Supports 4 Way SLI/CF
- Supports XL-ATX / SSI CEB / SSI EEB boards
- Advanced Control Panel:
- 4 channel fan speed control
- I/O (USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 4, e-SATA, Fan LED on/off switch)
The case is Cooler Masters flagship and at £300 for the case and £120 for the PSU it’s not cheap however the case is a real joy to work with and the design and thought that has gone in to it is second to none. Having said that the case is no lightweight and weighs in at 50lbs when it’s empty and the dimensions are 344(W) x 704(H) x 664(D)mm / 13.5 x 27.7 x 26.1 inch, so I wouldn’t recommend one of these unless you were spending some real money on what’s going inside it.
Click here for Part 2 of our article
IT Support Testimonials from happy clients
Testimonials about our excellent IT Support
We pride ourselves on our excellent customer services and response times and we think that our clients testimonials about our IT Support speak for themselves and is our best advertisement.
Steve Cole at Small Business Support has provided and serviced all our computers for the past four years. He also designed and set up my website www.paulvallely.com . In all he has done he has been effective, friendly and good value for money. There is no problem he has not solved and he has been persistent in working on the trickier ones. I work from home to urgent deadlines and he has ensured, in one way or another, that I have never been unable to work. He works both by remote access via the internet and by visiting my office when necessary. I would have no hesitation in recommending him and his new company to others. January 21st 2015
Paul Vallely | Associate Editor. The Independent.
“Small Business IT Support has provided us, as a company, IT support for some time allowing us to maximise our time and systems. When appropriate he has helped extend the lifetime of separate machines and, equally, Steve has been instrumental in the installation of a top range server on SBS 2011 together with full integration within the office and on all our numerous mobile devices. I would highly recommend Steve to anyone looking for honest and knowledgeable IT support.” January 8th, 2015
Martin Hood | Platinum Independent Finance
“ Manchester Small Business Support has looked after our It for the last 12 months or so. Our business is dependent on our IT system working all the time and its so reassuring to know that Steve is making sure that it does. Plus whenever we have a query Steve is always on hand to give his jargon free expert advice and help. Can’t recommend Steve highly enough.” December 4, 2013
David Swarbrick | Kim Marlor Associates
” IT Small Business Support did some repair work on my laptop just before Christmas 2009 – his response was very quick, he collected and delivered the laptop to me and more importantly, the work was first class and solved the problems first time. He also managed to get my wireless connection working – something which nobody else had managed to do! I highly recommend him and won’t hesitate to use his services again.” October 24, 2012
Joanne Siddall | Girl Friday
“Small Business Support has given myself and friends who I have recommended Steve to a really good service. The work has been done straight away without delay meaning I could get back on with my work. I can strongly recommend Steve to anyone needing IT support at home or work.” February 24, 2012
Jane Morgan | Positive Posture
“Manchester Business Support was fantastic sorting out a virus problem we had on our home PC – the repair was done within 24 hours and the remote access facility is brilliant – he was able to ‘complete’ the work without actually coming back out again. First class service and a really lovely person to deal with too – thank you, Steve!” February 25, 2012
Suzanne Stolberg | Word of Mouth
“Small Business Support has recently installed a Small Business Server for our company that has increased our office efficiency 100% and removed the worries of our data being lost. The install and migration was performed with absouloute professionalism and without any business interference. We would highly recommend ResolveIT to any business considering their services.” March 23, 2011
Robert Bevin | Bw Agencies
IT Support Infrastructure Review for Small Business
Infrastructure Review from Manchester Small Business IT Support.
- any opportunities for improvement in your IT Support
- the anticipated benefits of making the improvement
- the solutions that are available to your business
What does the infrastructure review look at? The infrastructure review will give you an assessment of the following aspects of ICT usage in your business:
- core technologies including network/server architecture
- systems and data security
- software use across the business
- business continuity
- ICT policies
- security issues
The review can also identify opportunities for introducing specific technologies into your business to improve its operations. Some examples of the types of technology that could be considered include:
- client relation management tools
- financial management tools
- manufacturing and resource planning tools
- e-commerce and its use with back-office administrations
Taking the next step At the end of your infrastructure report you’ll see a high-level ‘statement of requirements’, which will help you make key decisions about ICT in your business. The report will contain the important information you need to approach potential solutions providers and procure the specific hardware, software and services your business requires.
Our IT Support Services go beyond fixing problems as they occur as you can see from our Infrastructure Review. We believe in pro-active measures, which is why we think we are the best small business support company.
Small Business Support for your companies IT Systems
Who are Manchester Small Business IT Support?
Hi! my name is Steven Cole and I am the owner / director at Manchester Small Business IT Support. I have been working in IT support and web development for around 15 years, and I’ve been based in Manchester all that time. For the majority of that time I’ve worked in IT support roles for education establishments and more recently in the legal and financial industries. I now work with small businesses to offer them my experience that I have accumulated in my career. Typically our ideal client base are small businesses with One to Fifty staff who we can provide with websites, social media, Microsoft Small Business Server and small business support in and around the North West Manchester areas.
Why should we contract you to manage our IT Support?
Good question. The fact that we have specialised in small business support in Manchester for the last four years gives me an unique insight to what kind of IT Support you will need, along with a network of other specialists that we have built trusted relationships with to call upon puts me at the front of the line when you make a decision on your IT Support Specialist.
Whats different from other Small Business Support companies?
We believe in quality not quantity and as we only provide small business IT Support in Manchester we know what works best. We know that every company requires a different level of support and specialism. It maybe enough for one company with three users to have telephone support but a company with 25 users or more will almost certainly require additional on-site support. With this in mind we provide a bespoke personalised service with more than just a voice on the other end of the phone.
Interesting… what next?
You can contact us on 0161 408 6219 or 07825 269 391 alternatively you can email me at info@smallbusinessitsupportmanchester.co.uk or you can use our contact page to send me a quick message.
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