Bob's Computer Service

08/31/2026

Thinking about factory resetting your computer because something just isn’t working right?

Be careful before you click that button.

A Windows reset can remove programs, settings, email archives, accounting data, and other important information that may not be stored where you expect them to be.

Even the option labeled “Keep my files” does not mean that everything you care about is protected.

Before wiping your computer, make sure you know what is actually causing the problem and that everything important is safely backed up.

Read my latest article before you reset your PC. It could save you from a much bigger problem.

A factory reset erases more than you expect. Before you factory reset your Windows PC here is what to back up first, what a reset will and will not fix, and when it is the wrong answer.

08/28/2026

This Week in Tech History

In August 2003, a little program called Skype was released, and it changed the way the world talked.

Before Skype, international calls were expensive, clunky, and limited. But Skype broke the mold by using the internet to connect people through free voice and video calls. For the first time, families, friends, and businesses could see and hear each other across the globe without worrying about long-distance charges.

What led up to it? Skype was built on the peer-to-peer technology that powered file-sharing apps like Kazaa. Instead of trading music, though, it traded voices and faces in real time. That innovation set the stage for the explosion of video calling we take for granted today.
The impact? Massive. Skype wasn’t just a tool, it was the beginning of a digital shift that influenced the rise of Zoom, FaceTime, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, and even TikTok’s live streaming. Microsoft eventually acquired Skype in 2011, solidifying its presence in the business world.

Today, whether you’re video chatting with family across the country, holding a virtual meeting, or streaming content live, you can thank Skype for paving the way.
Do you remember your first Skype call?

08/27/2026

Think Macs can’t get hacked? Think again.

A recent macOS security flaw allowed attackers to gain root access on vulnerable Macs and install malicious software.

The bigger lesson is simple: Mac, Windows, or Linux, no computer is invincible.
What matters is how well it is protected, updated, and monitored.

Read my latest article to see what happened and what every computer user should learn from it.

Think your Mac can’t get viruses? The latest Apple security flaw in Screen Sharing proves otherwise. Here’s what every computer user and Springfield MA small business needs to know.

08/24/2026

Imagine getting a call from a client asking, “Did you really send me this?”

The email has your name. Your address. Maybe even your normal signature.
But you never sent it.

Business Email Compromise can enable criminals to impersonate your company, take over a legitimate mailbox, monitor conversations, and send convincing messages to people who already trust you.

And that is what makes it so dangerous.

The damage is not always a locked computer or a ransom screen. Sometimes the first sign is a client receiving a fake invoice, suspicious link, or fraudulent request that appears to come directly from you.

In my latest article, I explain how these attacks happen, what warning signs businesses should look for, and why MFA, email authentication, monitoring, and proper investigation all matter.

Your clients trust emails carrying your company’s name.

Make sure criminals are not using that trust against them.

Read the full article on our website.

Business email compromise does not rely on malware, it relies on trust. Here is how the attack works and the controls that stop it.

08/21/2026

This Week in Tech History

August 1982 – The First Compact Discs Are Produced!

In a factory in Langenhagen, Germany, the very first commercial Compact Disc (CD) rolled off the production line—an album by ABBA, fittingly titled The Visitors. What seemed like just another music format at the time turned into a revolution.

Before CDs, most of us relied on vinyl records and cassette tapes, both of which wore down with every play. CDs, with their shiny digital surface, offered something game-changing: crystal-clear sound, instant skipping, and a longer lifespan. The format wasn’t just about music, it was a stepping stone toward how we store and share data.

By the 1990s, CDs had moved beyond the stereo and onto the desk, CD-ROMs made it possible to distribute software, games, encyclopedias (remember Encarta?), and even early internet installers (yep, AOL CDs in the mail). This tiny disc reshaped both entertainment and computing, paving the way for DVDs, Blu-ray, and even the USB flash drives and cloud storage we use today.

👉 Though streaming has mostly replaced CDs, its influence on how we consume media and handle data is undeniable. For many of us, sliding a disc into a drive was our first authentic taste of the “digital future.”

Have you ever made a mix CD for someone special or backed up your files on a stack of blank discs?

08/17/2026

Does your computer suddenly sound like it’s getting ready for takeoff?

That loud fan may be more than just annoying. It could be your computer trying to tell you something.

Dust buildup, blocked airflow, demanding software, too many browser tabs, background programs, or an aging cooling fan can all make a computer run hotter and louder than it should.

The good news? A loud computer does not automatically mean you need a new one.

Sometimes a cleaning or relatively simple maintenance can help a computer run quieter, cooler, and potentially extend its useful life.

But if you are hearing grinding, clicking, or rattling, or the computer is overheating, slowing down, freezing, or shutting itself off, it is worth having it checked before a smaller problem becomes a bigger one.

Read my latest article to learn what that fan noise may be trying to tell you.

And if your computer does not sound like it used to, Bob’s Computer Service can come to you, diagnose what is happening, and explain your options in plain English.

A suddenly loud computer usually is not dying. Why is your computer suddenly so loud and what you can clean up yourself, and the sounds that need a technician.

08/14/2026

This Week in Tech History

August 12, 1981 – IBM Officially Releases the IBM PC
When IBM introduced the IBM 5150, better known as the IBM PC, on August 12, 1981, it didn’t just release a computer; it launched a revolution.

Up to that point, personal computers were mostly niche machines for hobbyists or small businesses. But IBM was a trusted name in the corporate world, and its entry into the PC market legitimized the idea that a computer wasn’t just for scientists or tech geeks, it could be for everyone.

🔹 What led up to it:
IBM recognized the growing popularity of systems like the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 and realized they couldn’t ignore the personal computer market. But instead of building everything in-house, IBM took a different approach: they built the PC using open architecture—off-the-shelf parts, Microsoft’s new MS-DOS operating system, and expansion slots that encouraged third-party developers.

🔹 The impact:
That decision changed everything. By making the IBM PC more “open” than previous machines, they created a booming ecosystem of compatible hardware and software. Suddenly, entire industries of PC clones, software companies, and peripheral makers sprang to life. Businesses standardized on the IBM PC, and homes soon followed.
Fast forward to today, and nearly every Windows PC out there can trace its lineage back to the IBM PC’s DNA. It shaped the business world, put computers on desks across the globe, and defined what a “PC” even means.
👉 Did you know? The original IBM PC sold for approximately $1,565 in 1981 (roughly $5,000 in today’s dollars) and came with a whopping 16KB of RAM—less memory than your average smartwatch today.
The IBM PC didn’t just enter the market, it set the rules for it.

08/10/2026

That computer at the front desk might be a bigger security risk than you think.

Everyone uses it. Someone checks email. Someone else prints an invoice. Another employee logs into a scheduling system. Maybe a customer even uses it to enter information.

And because everyone uses it, sometimes nobody is really responsible for protecting it.

Over time, saved logins, downloaded documents, outdated programs, old browser extensions, and access to shared business files can quietly pile up.

If that computer were compromised today, what could someone get to?

My latest article looks at one of the most overlooked computers in many small businesses and some simple ways to make it more secure.

Read the full article and take a look at the computer everyone in your office uses.

The front desk computer is the most shared and least managed device in most small businesses. It's the computer nobody protects. Here is why that is a risk and how to lock it down.

08/08/2026

Computer problems rarely happen at a convenient time.

Slow computers, unreliable WiFi, email issues, printer problems, network trouble, and backup concerns can quickly interrupt your day. Bob’s Computer Service provides professional onsite support for homes and small businesses throughout the area.

On-site service means I can see how your computers, network, printers, and other technology are actually working together, which often makes it easier to find the root cause of a problem rather than just treating the symptoms.

As the owner and technician, I personally come onsite, explain what I find clearly, and help get everything working the way it should.
Reliable local technology support, right where you need it.

08/07/2026

This Week in Tech History

August 3, 1977 – Tandy/Radio Shack Introduces the TRS-80

Back in the late ‘70s, if you wanted to get your hands on a personal computer, you usually had to be an engineer, a hobbyist with a soldering iron, or spend thousands of dollars on something that looked more like lab equipment than a "home" machine. Then came the TRS-80.
Launched by Tandy Corporation and sold through Radio Shack’s 3,500+ stores, the TRS-80 was one of the very first mass-market personal computers. With a price tag under $600 (including a monitor!), it suddenly made computing accessible to everyday people.
Why was this such a big deal?

👉 Radio Shack’s Reach: At the time, Radio Shack was the place to get electronics. From CB radios to cassette recorders, they had a loyal customer base and a retail presence in nearly every town. That meant the TRS-80 wasn’t just for tech geeks in Silicon Valley—it was on Main Street across America.

👉 The Computer Boom Starter: The TRS-80 joined the Apple II and Commodore PET as part of the “1977 Trinity” of personal computers. But thanks to Radio Shack’s scale, the TRS-80 outsold both in the early years. For many, it was their very first experience with programming, games, and storing data on cassette tapes.

👉 Shaping the Digital World: The TRS-80 sparked the idea that a computer could be in every home and small business. It helped push computing from hobbyist clubs into living rooms, classrooms, and offices—laying the foundation for the PC revolution of the ‘80s.

Did you know? The TRS-80 was nicknamed the “Trash-80” by fans and critics alike, but despite the jab, it became a beloved pioneer in home computing.

From RadioShack being the go-to place for every battery, wire, and gadget, to Tandy launching one of the first genuinely affordable computers—this moment helped democratize technology in a way that still resonates through the digital world today.

#1977