Frequently Asked Questions
on our Power Solutions CD

We designed this CD to provide both information and a collection of proven software utilities to help any user address many of the common computer problems. But there is no magical CD that can solve any problem I'm sorry to say. With the unlimited combinations of different software and hardware components, it's impossible to have every possible driver or software for each every computer.

However, if you have a problem that you can't find a solution for on our Power Solutions CD, just send us an email and we will provide any possible solutions.

A recent customer survey showed that 30% of our buyers bought to fix hard drive problems, 30% bought due to spyware or adware issues, 20% bought to solve password problems, and the last 20% were Windows OS problems. Over 25% of our buyers were from outside the US.

What utilities included on the Power Solutions CD?

We currently have four categories of utilities. Disk & File Management (hard drive and file recovery utilities), Internet (email, spyware protection and removal, browser add-ins, firewalls, and virus utilities), System ( back up, boot disks, drivers, password recovery, and diagnostics ) Miscellaneous (PDF maker, programming instructions, video and photo editors, CD and DVD software).

The software utilities and information you will find on our CD was chosen, and sometimes created, by us to use in our daily repair tasks. Every piece of software and advice has been proven in real world repair and service calls.

Are these utilities available elsewhere on the Internet?

Some of the utilities are created by friends and associates who do offer them free to all. We have developed several to address very specific problems, and some we have licensed from commercial vendors under a special arrangement. A few of the utilities were shareware or freeware that have since been sold to large companies and we have the last free version.

Each program is tested and updated every quarter. Information is added when new problems develop and solutions found. A lot of research and effort is put in to every review and the selection process.

Does the CD work on any brand of computers?

The brand of the computer doesn't matter as long as you are running a Microsoft version of Windows (98-W2000-WinXP-Vista).

Can your CD be used on more than one computer?

Yes, you can use this on any computer you want. Help friends, family, neighbors, or whomever. We want you to use this as much as you want.

Is there any difference between the CD and download area?

Convenience of having everything on one CD. The CD and the download area match exactly in all information and utilities. Although we update the download area 4 times a year so it's always good to check back for new programs or updates to programs and information.

Can I download the entire CD in one file?

We used to provide a single file download and too many users had problems downloading a file over 200 megs. Even with a broadband connection it can take up to 50 minutes and with that large of file, CRC errors can easily occur.

The download area is to allow buyers to immediately download individual utilities for a quick solution. We also update once a quarter so that allows all buyers to get the latest and greatest version of any software in the future too. 

All buyers have lifetime access to all updates, which means next year if you have a problem you can come back and find a solution. No other vendor offers this kind of open end access at any price, probably because they rarely update =8~).

Do you include any version of Microsoft Windows?

Nope, can't do that. We do provide boot disks for all versions of Windows but no operating systems files.

What About Spyware, ADware, and Security Issues?

We have a special section dedicated to computer and data security. If you read and follow our suggestions, install our recommended software, and use a little common sense you will never have to worry about security again. Security is the number one issue on the Internet and we treat it as such.  

How Do You Break Password Protection?

We don't provide any "cracking software" or utilities that breach the security of any software. Our utilities use the system access methods recommended by many of the vendors for computer technicians. Some methods were developed by us or friends in the computer repair business. All our methods and software are designed to be used to retrieve or change lost user passwords, not illegally access hardware or software.  

What about startup or Bios Passwords?

Ok, there is a lot of confusion about startup passwords protection and Bios passwords. Some newer laptops (manufactured in the past 5 years) have a security password that uses an Eprom on the motherboard to store boot up passwords to protect against theft. These password methods are designed to protect unauthorized access to data if a laptop is stolen.

If you have a password screen that comes up immediately and your laptop is fairly new, that is probably the security Eprom scenario. You may be able to  contact your manufacturer customer support and they can provide a work around or specific password to reset your laptop. You will have to provide some proof of ownership but they are pretty reasonable about used laptops.

A word of caution here. If a vendor says they can break the password there are other issues to consider. The hard drive is also embedded with the password and all data can be lost during the hack to break security. Some even sell a replacement chip so that you can unsolder and replace the original Eprom on the motherboard. The chances of this going very badly are high since even an experienced repair technician can fry a motherboard. 

If in fact it is a Bios password, our utilities can reset it. But you need to be careful when using this since the default settings on specific hardware might be different than the settings on your computer.   

Why is your CD better than any competitors?

We take pride in our software and advice and try to stay as current as possible with new utilities. We test everything to ensure the value and security of each utility. 

When you buy our CD or our download version you get lifetime access to all updates. We update about 4 times per year, adding new utilities or upgrading to new versions. We are currently working on our Vista utilities and should have many tested and approved in the next few weeks.

We also provide excellent support via email and have 1000's of satisfied customers all over the world. We do computer repair for a living and enjoy helping our customers. We have also priced our products so anyone can afford them and we will do everything we can to help.

The real difference between our product and some others is our desire to produce the best possible product and support for an affordable price. Plus, we provide complete contact information, I even have my picture and phone number are right on my web page.

If you take a look at some of our would be competitors, they don't even have contact information or use a blind email address.  

Is the Power Solutions CD sold at any retail outlets? 

No, we have talked to several but never took it any further. We decided that we could keep the price down and offer better service by selling direct to the consumer. 

Once I pay, how do I get the download information?

When you have completed the transaction (paid) you see a button on the bottom right hand side that says "return to merchant". Click on that and you will then be transferred to the download area. You will also receive an email with your receipt number and the download url. Please keep this email for future reference. Also make sure that your email address is current and working or there is no way you can receive the confirmation email.

If you do not receive the email confirmation, just email us with receipt (or day of purchase and name) and we will resend it as quickly as possible.

How long does it take to receive the Power Solutions CD?

Most CD's are received in 3-5 working days in the lower continental 48 states. If overseas, 5-8 working days is the norm. We send all CD's the next day of order receipt and by USPS first class. Please double check the address you provide to prevent shipping problems.

What's the best way to contact you for pre-sales or support?

We have both phone and email support for both sales information and support on our utilities. The fastest way to get an answer is probably email since we may be on service calls and not able to respond as quickly by phone. Email is the best way to find us since we carry BlackBerry's and can respond from anywhere.
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