How To Rid Your PC Of Malware

Is Something Hiding Inside Your Computer?                           I personally have had to rid my laptop of viruses at least twice. Both times I think it took me about 2 days before I figured out what needed to be done. That's why I thought I'd share this handy article which was sent to me by :  Real Estate Industry Solutions, LLC, 7025 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822. I hope you never have to use it, but I know it will help if you do find yourself with pesky Malware.

Malware, short for 'malicious software,' often plague business PCs and cause time-sensitive work to be set aside while measures are taken to find a solution. Many times these solutions can be expensive or drastic, such as going out and buying a new computer. You may be surprised to find out that many of these can be fixed with a few well coordinated steps.  Safe Mode:   The first important step to a safe and virus-free computer is getting the computer to a safe environment state where it has the least power over your actions as a user. Safe Mode allows users to diagnose and repair problems with their computers. To enter Safe Mode, shut off the computer, and upon turning it on, tap the 'F8' key, which is located near the top of the keyboard. Continue to tap it until you receive an 'Advanced Boot' menu. This menu will have many options on how to start the PC. The options you want to consider are Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking. The 'with Networking' option gives your computer Internet access.  Tools of the Trade: At this point, the wisest tools to take advantage of are those you may already have available. If you own any security software, such as Norton, McAfee, AVG, or Avast, it's best to open these tools now that you're in a safe environment. Running full scan options would be the best option to follow first. These scans can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to forty-five minutes, depending on the computer and the severity of the infection. A very popular option, even before running your own security software's scan, is to use Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware software to run a scan of your computer in the same Safe Mode environment. If you opted for Safe Mode with networking, you can download this tool at www.malwarebytes.org. The tool does not cost anything and catches most infections that many popular paid-for products fail to find. Overall, these steps give you back control over your own computer. If you don't have any security software, AVG and Avast both have complimentary editions for download that are well known and powerful. You can find these software suites at www.avg.com and www.avast.com.

All About Painting Your Home

So You Want To Paint Your Home?

How much paint will you need for your project?



•Calculate the area of each wall (height x width)

•Subtract the area of each window and door (height x width)

•Calculate the area of the ceiling (length x width)

•Painting over very dark colours will likely require a primer coat. To improve the hiding quality, you might want to have your primer tinted to match the finish coat.

Note: As a rule of thumb, calculate 37m2 (400 sq.ft.) for each four-liter (4 gal) can of paint.

Look for the manufacture date on the container and buy the most recent. Latex paints have a shorter shelf life.


Tools

Brushes and rollers are rated for the type of paint and for the application, e.g. ceilings, trims. Good quality brushes deliver less visible brush strokes.



Preparation

Proper preparation while it is the most labour intensive; it is the most important part of the job. You’ll spend about 80% of your project time on preparation and clean up.


1.Inspect the surfaces that you are going to paint. Look for popped drywall screwheads and replace or re-screw them. Remove any poster tape, or picture hooks or anything else protruding from the walls. Patch larger holes with glass fiber mesh (tape). Use a spackling or repair compound to fill these holes. Ensure each layer is dry before adding another layer. Smooth the material as much as possible to reduce the need for sanding.


2.WEAR A MASK when sanding the patches. Use #100 or #120 grit sandpaper if using wall repair compound and #220 grit for spackling compound.


3.Damp mop the floor and vacuum the whole room. For heavily soiled or greasy areas, or rooms where there were smokers, wash the surfaces with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate.) WEAR GLOVES and EYE PROTECTION when using TSP. Rinse with clean water. Ensure all surfaces are dry before painting.


4.Vacuuming may be the only cleaning option on textured walls or ceilings.


5.Prime all new drywall or plaster. Unpainted wood can be stained, painted or urethaned.
Covering crayon marks, water stains, knot holes. All these marks will bleed through most latex paints. Sparingly, apply a stain-blocking sealer before you paint. You may need to use shellac, alkyd or polyvinyl primer. Use only on affected areas. Because these products emit an odour, ensure that you direct a fan toward an open window and ventilate the area well.

Peeling paint must be scraped and sanded before painting. It is the result of moisture under the paint or using the wrong type of paint. Identify the cause of the moisture and correct the problem before repainting.

Mold appears on painted surfaces as dark spots. They are the result of moisture. Identify the cause of the moisture and correct the problem so that it does recur. Wash with soap and water and dry it thoroughly before painting.



Painting Pointers

•After patching, sand thoroughly

•Clean the surfaces after sanding

•Take a lint brush to a new roller before using

•Use paint at full strength, to ensure the paint resists washing and wear. Thinning the paint affects its durability.

•Paint with an open window when the temperature is above 10°C (50°F)

•Use vegetable oil to remove solvent-based paint from your skin

•Seal leftover solvents in a container and take to local toxic waste centre. DO NOT POUR SOLVENTS DOWN THE DRAIN.


This information was provided by:
Key Home Inspections
Tel: (905) 851-0824
Toll Free: 1-866-559-6100