Plugin on Scott Larson

Bleeping Computer

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:01:07 -0700

#1 - Bleeping Computer

Bleeping Computer® is a information security and technology news publication created in 2004. Millions of visitors come to BleepingComputer.com every month to learn about the latest security threats, technology news, ways to stay protected online, and how to use their computer more efficiently.

In addition to news, we provide a wide array of free technical support services, downloads, and self-education tools that allow a user to resolve issues on their computer. Whether you are a novice user here to learn basic concepts about computers or an advanced user infected with ransomware, BleepingComputer can offer custom solutions to your problem for free.

One of it’s focuses is also to allow the novice computer to have a place that they can come and discuss computer/technology problems with their peers and at the same time have a rich resource in which to learn the “basics” about computers and technology.

They have found, with extensive experience in helping users that most technical support problems lie not with the computer, but with the fact that the user does not know the “basic concepts” that underlie all issues of computing. Once a user learns the basic concepts of technology they will be able to express what problems they are having in a more understandable manner, making it easier to be helped by a more experienced user.

The basic concepts of computer technology do not only apply themselves towards fixing problems, but also to every day life. In today’s age, computers are here to stay and are only going to be incorporated into our daily life more and more as time goes on. Understanding the basic concepts will allow you to communicate more intelligently about your computer and technology needs and allow you to use your equipment more efficiently.

Ultimately, their goal is to turn your #$@!* computer that never does what you want, to one that you praise as a well tamed tool.

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

We are a country of laws

No person, organization, company, or corporation is above the law. America is a country of laws, applied equally to all people, whether you are a person without a home or hold a position in government or business. If you set unlawful policies or make unlawful decisions, you are accountable for your actions. If you care about the future of the next generation, please get in touch with your representatives and demand enforcement of anti-trust legislation and an end to Citizens United.

See my “I Will” commitments for more information on who I will, and will not provide services to.

I stand with Ukraine & Palestine

I support all people’s right to freedom and sovereignty from repressive colonial systems through non-cooperation. Please speak out against tyranny in your own way as we all share this Earth. Using violence, or the threat of violence, to subjugate a people for political gain, or any other reason, is unacceptable. Humans were born with the right to be free from oppression.

Current Services

I repair and provide solutions for:

Computers and software that are not performing as expected
Gamers and creative artists that need a quality experience with a custom built computer
Data loss due to accidental removal operations and hardware/software failures
System/Data transfers from/to old/new hardware

I provide recommendations for:

Quality Laptops and Custom PC’s for Gamers and creative artists.
Productivity Software solutions
Disaster Recovery Backup solutions

I provide deployments for:

Desktops and workstations for small office environments.
Gamers, creative artists and office professionals that require reliable and performance tuned Home/WiFi networking environments
Printing/Scanning and Virtual/Augmented Reality hardware

Location, Hours, Pricing and Turnaround Times

If you require an immediate response, it’s best to reach me by phone or text. I operate Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and my turn-around times for my standard 1st class service is 3-7 business days. I also have Priority Service with a 1-3 day turnaround along with availability on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. If you require a higher priority than my normal operating hours and turn-around times, please make special arrangements with me ahead of time. Finally, if you do not require 1st Class or Priority service and can wait a week or more, talk to me about my 2nd Class special reduced rates if you are looking to save money. Contact me if you have questions. You can schedule an appointment with me to have your device serviced at my office, or to setup a home/office consultation.

Out-of-Office Dates

Recurring

Day	Month/Year	Operational Status
Thursday	November 24th 2026	Thanksgiving (Closed)
Saturday	December 24th 2026	Christmas Eve (10am-2pm)
Sunday	December 25th 2026	Christmas Day (Closed)
Saturday	December 31st 2026	New Years Eve (10am-2pm)
Week	January 2nd through January 8th 2027	Open for drop-offs and at-location appointment scheduling but services will continue on January 9th

Short Notice

Day	Month/Year	Operational Status
Friday	May 1st 2026	Closed (Authoritarianism Non-Compliance Activism Day: https://freedomtrainers.net/)

Memory Price Changes Update: 2026-01-19

Because the US administration is being run by criminals, AI companies are being allowed to artificially inflate prices, causing a huge demand on components like ram and storage. This will abnormally increase pricing for all technology in the next year or two. This will effect my custom built computers and any replacement services that involve those components. If you have any questions about this, reach out to me.

You can do a search online to confirm this, but here is a source I trust that corroborates what I am seeing.

2024 OEM Computer Service Changes

Many current Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), Dell, HP, Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba, and Apple recently have been making design changes to their products that impact my services to you. If you plan on upgrading to, or purchasing a new computer, I will recommend a custom-made computer, instead of an OEM Computer that you purchase from a computer store. This will affect some of my services to you. I can still handle most repair issues with OEM computers, but I will no longer be performing hardware upgrades to any OEM Models…more

Apprenticeship Opportunity

I am interested in training an apprentice in my field. If you, or someone you know, are/is interested in an in-depth understanding of how hardware and software computer technology works to be able to troubleshoot your own computer problems, or build your own computer, this apprenticeship opportunity is for you. …more

We Have the Right to Repair Everything We Own

Once you’ve paid money for a product, the manufacturer shouldn’t be able to dictate how you use it—it’s yours. Ownership means you should be able to open, hack, repair, upgrade, or tie bells on it. Support the right to repair and sane copyright legislation.

End Creative Monopolies

Big Tech and Big Content are oppressing creativity. It’s time to #EndCreativeMonopolies by reimagining our archaic copyright laws to put artists before Disney, Amazon, Spotify, & News Corp. Take action in support of artists everywhere.

Stack Exchange

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:09:35 -0700

#2 - Stack Exchange

Launched in 2010, the Stack Exchange network comprises 173 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Since then, the Stack Exchange network has grown into a top 50 online destination with Stack Overflow alone serving more than 50 million developers every month. Stack Overflow also partners with organizations that seek to leverage technology to innovate. Our products and services are focused on enterprise knowledge sharing, technical recruiting, and advertising.

Ifixit

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:22:26 -0700

#3 - IFixit

iFixit is a wiki-based site that teaches people how to fix almost anything. Anyone can create a repair manual for a device, and anyone can also edit the existing set of manuals to improve them. The site empowers individuals to share their technical knowledge with the rest of the world.

I use the ifixit site for disassembly reference for laptops. But I also purchase parts from the site I cannot find anywhere else. I support

Make Use Of

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:34:58 -0700

#4 - Make Use Of

Make Use Of is a website that reviews many technologies and offers guides and solutions that make life easier. This is one of my top 5 sites that I recommend to my customers.

Founded in 2007, MakeUseOf is an online publication that issues tips and guides on how to make the most of the internet, computer software, and mobile apps. Our mission is to help users understand and navigate modern trends in consumer technology.

Repair Photos

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:42:31 -0700

Wilders Security Forums

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:38:05 -0700

#5 - Wilders Security Forums

The Wilders Security Forums is a Community Based Discussions board about Online Privacy, Security and Data Protection.

The Wilders Security Organization is a not for profit group that has its public face at Wilders Security Forums. The forum is more than 12 years old with nearly 130,000 members participating in general computing related discussions.

Founding date: 2001

Techbro's Photo of the Day

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:24:27 -0800

OneDrive works on you, not for you.

Today I was visited by Microsoft’s OneDrive goons. Pay now, or pay later. I chose the former, but they’ll be back.

Luthen's Rising

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 13:37:34 -0800

“Luthen’s Rising” is a deep dive video essay into the Character Luthen Rail and how his choices and sacrifices paved the way for the success of the rebellion and ultimately freeing the people of the galaxy from repression. The writers of the TV series “Andor” have a lot to say about our world, especially with the current rise in Authoritarianism. This video is part of a series of videos I am making called “Andor In Our Time”, which focuses on what we can learn about our world from the characters of the series.

Luthen's Rising

[ Visual Essay - Web ] - [ Visual Essay - PDF ] - [ Video Essay - Cloud Share ] - [ Video Essay - Magnet Link ]

Selected Publications

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Your Own Personal Trouble-shooter

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:46:07 -0700

Imagine that you have your own personal knowledgeable computer troubleshooter that has your back throughout the day, who has a wide range of expertise, and communicates technical subjects in a simple to understand manner? That also cares about your needs like his own, and keeps excellent records of all your service visits?

As your own personal troubleshooter, I excel in following up with in-progress projects and services, I stay abreast with the latest technologies that matter to you and I keep you in the loop on what you need to know to help you stay productive.

Check out my recommendations, articles and publications on technology to see how I can help you shortcut many lapses in productivity. Don’t waste your time and money on repair shops that don’t staff experienced technicians, have your computer serviced right the first time.

Rates

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 14:54:39 -0700

Check my hours for availability.

Payment Terms

Ongoing service rates are determined by the immediacy, or the day/time a service is requested. Services that require a faster turn-around time are priced higher than services that can wait. I also offer flat rates, price ranges and quotes for project based services. For in-shop services, if you require a more specific out-the-door cost and want to know more about what kinds of services I offer, check the main menu of my website.

I offer discounts for Senior Citizens, Non-profits, Non-business Residential, and Homeless customers for all my services upon request. Call, Text or Visit my office for more info.

I accept cash, check, or credit card via paypal using the mobile app, or online website. Payments are due before the device is released, or before I leave the service location. The exception is if I have an on-going relationship with you as the business owner to provide a service, or I draw up a proposal/quote for an on-going project. In this case the max payment cycle is two weeks. Please be prepared to pay me for my time after the work requested is complete. Not having the proper payment method, or amount, may halt any work in progress, prevent me from starting any work, or prevent you from picking up your device. Payments that are late incur a $0.50 charge per day and payments late over 30 days has a %20 fee of the total cost of the service (On top of the daily fee) per month.

I only provide services directly to individuals/people, and individuals/people who operate small operations with 10 or less employees.

In-Shop Service

Diagnosis/Analysis Service Turn-Around Range Rates

1-2 Day

$103-$178

3-7 day

$87-$153

1 week+

$63-$108

Weekend

$101-$173

Off Hours

$113-$193

Evaluations

Free

Repair Service Per Hour Turn-Around Rates

Most devices require a diagnostic/analysis before any repairs can be performed.

1-2 Day

$158.00

3-7 day

$123.00

1 week+

$103.00

Weekend

$173.00

Off Hours

$203.00

Evaluations

Free

In-Office Consultations by Priority Scheduling

Schedule an appointment.

1-2 Day

$158.00

3-7 day

$123.00

1 week+

$103.00

Weekend

$173.00

Off Hours

$203.00

Evaluations

Free

At-Your-Location Consultations by Priority Scheduling

Repair/Resolution Rates Per Hour (1hr minimum)

Schedule an appointment.

1-2 Day

$178.00

3-7 day

$153.00

1 week+

$128.00

Weekend

$203.00

Off Hours

$228.00

Training, or File/Folder Organization Visit Rates Per Hour (1hr minimum)

Schedule an appointment.

1-2 Day

$103.00

3-7 day

$78.00

1 week+

$53.00

Weekend

$128.00

Off Hours

$153.00

Online Repair & Resolution Rates Per Hour (1hr minimum) (3hr maximum per day)

Schedule an appointment.

1-2 Day

$98.00

3-7 day

$78.00

1 week+

$53.00

Weekend

$118.00

Off Hours

$141.00

Pick-up/Drop-Off Service (Within 5 miles of Downtown SR) Some services require work to be performed in my office.

Schedule an appointment.

1-2 Day

$103.00

3-7 day

$51.00

1 week+

$27.00

Weekend

$127.00

Off Hours

$156.00

Off-Hours Pickup/drop-off service is suspended until further notice.

Pick-up/Drop-Off Service (Within 15 miles of Downtown SR) Some services require work to be performed in my office.

Schedule an appointment.

1-2 Day

$153.00

3-7 day

$101.00

1 week+

$77.00

Weekend

$177.00

Off Hours

$206.00

Retainer Packages For Small Business (1-10 End Points)

Basic Retainer At-Location/Remote/Phone Support Package (Quarterly) (No Weekends or Off-Hours)

Schedule a free evaluation.

4x Phone/Remote

$200.00

1x At-Location

$100.00

Intermediate Retainer/Priority Service Contract At-Location/Remote/Phone Support Package (Quarterly) (No Weekends or Off-Hours)

Schedule a free evaluation.

8x Phone/Remote

$400.00

2x At-Location

$200.00

Advanced Retainer/Priority Service Contract At-Location/Remote/Phone Support Package (Quarterly) (No Weekends or Off-Hours)

Schedule a free evaluation.

12x Phone/Remote

$600.00

3x At-Location

$300.00

Project Based Fees

If you have a question about a specific service, please see my menu of services at the top of my website.
In-office research fees are $40.00 an hour. Used in situations where you need a report, or recommendation delivered to you on a product, or concept idea. I offer free 30 minutes of research time for customers that have already purchased a diagnostic, or repair service, if the requested research will be related to the device I am servicing. There are no additions to this fee unless you require face to face contact, or have follow-up questions that exceed more than 10 minutes per service.

Reflections on the Home Computer Golden Age - Part 1: My First Computer

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 11:00:52 -0700

I have been a technology enthusiast since I was 10 years old, today I repair computers and provide solutions to everyday computer challenges for home users and very small businesses. To find out more about me, visit my home page.

If you want reach out to me about this article, use retrogaming O scottrlarson.com

This article is the first part of a three part series:

Part 1: My First Computer
Part 2: The C64 & A500
Part 3: Amiga Games, The BBS Days & 3d Modeling

Introduction

This article is about my experience with the first home computers. My history starts with gaming on the consoles of the time, starting with the Atari 2600. I played games like “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Donkey Kong”. When the first Home Computers were released, I played one of the first dungeon crawlers, “Tunnels of Doom” on the TI99/4A. After the Commodore 64 was released, I played games like “Wasteland” and “Ultima IV”. Most of my surviving memories center around the Commodore Amiga. What memories of your game history has survived the aging process? Games like “Another World” and “Flashback” bring me back to a time of story-driven 2D side-scrollers, with the first use of cinematic cut scenes. I also touch on the era of the BBS. Computers hosting Bulletin Board System software were the first forum like experience allowing enthusiasts to communicate with each other. Finally, I recall my experiences with the first 3d Modeling applications on the Amiga.

Take a journey back in history with me. The year is 1982, just after one of the first home computers was released, the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A. I was about 12 years old. Relatively expensive, but affordable to many middle-class families, Home Computers ranged around a thousand dollars in value.

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

Click title to view specifications


Manufacturer	Texas Instruments
Type	Home computer
Release date	June 1981 (1981-06)
Introductory price	US$525 (equivalent to $1,560 in 2021)
Discontinued	March 1984
Units shipped	2.8 million^[1]
Media