FAQs | Business

In-depth advice and questions are addressed throughout the site and on the advice and fees page. Peterborough PC Support, t/a PCWorkspace all the same includes some service questions here. The business also endeavours to develop resource and support within the site whenever conceivable, so please by all means email or call if you have any questions, or content perhaps that you would like considered?

Are you VAT registered?

We are not VAT registered, but we do provide a detailed receipt to all customers and clients. Business can of course offset up-to 100% of IT fees against their tax threshold, consequently might like to contact their accountants for advice.

If a call out takes 30 minutes, will I have to pay for the hour?

No, moreover time taken problem solving is not charged, but we must invoice an engineers' fee of £15.00 on call out though this will be offset against the repair cost.

What experience do you have?

After a change in direction in the mid nineties, Steve qualified as a further and adult education teacher (Computing), studying a range of application and skill in support of business and education, further gaining from educational consultancies, schooling and developing information technology; combining ICT, teaching and technical experience in establishing the business in 2002.

Earlier working as an ICT/ECDL Distributed Electronic (Distance) Learning Tutor, he had taught, and supported tutors, in further education for a number of years including activities in retirement, with a spell lecturing in computer science at Stamford, more recently adding to his know-how while on contract with BT as a field (IT and Broadband) engineer in the East Midlands.

Now with over ten year practical experience, many of them as a field engineer, Steve has gained a wealth of knowledge in computing, and in providing personal computer services to the end user, home and enterprise.

What computers do you support?

We support all personal computer types, laptops and broadband, including: Acer, Asus, BT (E.g. Mobile; AOL; o2, Orange; Plus.Net; Sky; TalkTalk; Other…), Compaq, DELL, HP, Sony, Toshiba, Virgin Media, Windows 7, Vista and XP…

What methods of payment do you accept?

We currently accept payments in cash, company or guaranteed cheque only.

Why Peterborough PC Support?

PCWorkspace, our trading name, was founded in 2002 following a sustained period of information and communication technology, computer training, development and test trading, the name, stemming from the computer workstation – We are a professional, friendly, helpful and reliable business that contnues to grow, expand its knowledge base and improve services.

FAQs | Computing

Can I retrieve my data from a damaged USB stick?

It is not inconceivable to recover data from a damaged USB stick. The cost of recovering data however, may far outweigh the value of the files.

What is the solution?

Always ensure to leave a copy of the file(s) at the source as a back-up, at least until the data has reached its destination. Assess the value of your damaged data, conceivably arrange to bring in your USB stick for evaluation. Also consider a USB hard drive instead of, or in addition to, a USB stick and, in any event, always safely remove hardware.

Why didn't I experience similar (USB) data loss problems with my floppy disks?

A floppy drive has a mechanism locking the disk in place and lifting the head from the media before it ejects, though floppies are more vulnerable to environmental damage, whereas the correct procedure for safely removing USB hardware from a laptop or PC is often simply ignored. Moreover, one didn't generally move the disks from A to B as is now more likely with a USB stick, consequently they were less likely to be sat on!

Of course technology is much more advanced today, nonetheless a USB stick might more appropriately be referred to as a 'data traveller' because flash drives are equally if not more susceptible to damage or data loss, and consequently not suitable for storage, but instead simply intended to temporarily house, or transfer data from one device or location to another.

Is it legal to connect to any available wireless network?

While there may be some grey area in law regarding unsecured networks, there is nonetheless a clear distinction between free access in McDonalds and logging onto your neighbour's wireless network for some free surfing without their permission.

Dishonestly using an electronics communications service with the intent to avoid paying is breaking the law, and it is a matter that the police are taking increasingly more seriously. Moreover, it is likely your door that the authorities will knock on if someone is downloading material, on your service, that they perhaps shouldn't!

What is AMD64?

AMD64 is AMD’s 64-bit platform that extends the industry-standard x86 instruction set architecture and defines a class of computing. The AMD64 platform was the first designed to deliver full compatibility with existing x86 solutions and world-class 64-bit performance. In April 2003, the AMD Opteron™ processor for servers and workstations became the first milestone in establishing this new class of computing. AMD introduced the world’s first Windows®-compatible 64-bit desktop and mobile processor, the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor, in September 2003. The range of AMD64 processors for servers, workstations, desktops, and mobile PCs allows pervasive adoption of the AMD64 platform. AMD64 replaces terms such as "Hammer" ("AMD64 Platform") and "x86-64" ("AMD64 ISA").

What is a firewall?

An Internet firewall is software or hardware that helps block hackers, viruses, and worms, which potentially infect your computer via the Internet. If you are a home or small-business user, installing a firewall (incorporating anti-virus) is the most effective and important first step to protecting your system and its contents. It is increasingly essential to have this type of security software installed and enabled prior to connecting to the Internet.

What is open learning?

A program of learning untaken at home or at a local library perhaps. Unlike Distributed Electronic Learning (DEL (Formerly Distance Learning)), no specific prior qualification are needed.