Slow computer? Don't feel like lugging it down to the shop? No problem. Travel teK owner David Barron can fix your slow or broken computer, and neither of you need to leave the house. Just get to his web site at www.computershoppe.net. That 1997 Gateway that's crammed with 200 songs and videos from Napster and Kazaa is not going to surf the net as fast as it once did. Barron said he uses a what's called a "shadow program" to get inside your computer. You download the software from his site and you relay your problem to a technician at the company. An icon appears on your computer's desktop.click on it and the technician is in. While you sit at your desk you can follow everything they do (your computer's mouse moves where he moves it and you see everything he opens and searches), and a dialogue box in the upper corner keeps a running exchange of conversation. First, the technician goes to the device manager, looking for errors. Then he will move on to advanced programs and check your memory. The technician will ask you if it's okay to do everything he does. "I'm going to go into your Kazaa files. Is there anything you don't want me to look at?' is one thing they'll say," Barron said. "Then you can answer, 'Only look into the audio files.'" The technician will respect your privacy, and all communication is documented and sent to you in an e-mail after the service is complete. A six-month subscription for continuous, 24-hour-a-day service support costs $169; a three-month subscription costs $49.95; and a one-time, one-problem resolution costs $19.95, no matter how long it takes. Barron said most slow computers are caused by one of three things: running a small hard drive that's packed with useless downloads, not enough RAM, and the speed of the hard drive. "The first thing we do is look at the hard drive and see how much free space you got. Second, we see how fast your RAM is set up to run. We go in and change the speed of the RAM; that alone speeds it up a little bit," Barron said. Barron also offers competitive prices on notebooks, operating systems, hardware, and software on his web site. For more information, call 234-6106. FAST FACTS See? You got your computer fixed. And it's a good thing you didn't actually pull all your hair out, because now you can donate it to a great cause. Join bartender Mary at Ralph & Duane's Office and Cocktails for A Cut For The Kids. Bartender Mary and a few others (who don't chicken out) will donate 12 inches of hair to the Wigs for Kids Foundation. If you wish to donate your hair, please leave your name and phone number with the one of the bartenders at Ralph & Duane's, located at 108 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande. For more information, call 481-2871. ... ... As soon as your computer's fixed, 13 at 8:30 a.m. at Laguna Lake Park in SLO. The heart walk is a 5K walk, run, or stroll at the lake, complete with music, food, and a health fair. Various prizes will be awarded for fund-raising, and 90 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to support cardiovascular research and education. If you're interested in registering a team for the heart walk or would like to help out and volunteer, call the American Heart Association at 544-1505. ... ... After all that exercise you'll need a good meal. You can eat your heart out at an open house put on by Madeline's Restaurant on Sept. 17. Madeline's owner, Susie Frades, and the restaurant's chef, David Stoothoff, partners in the new venture, want to celebrate their grand opening by treating the public to their diverse menu of steak, seafood, lamb, pork, and more. They admit it's not a huge menu, but it has a bit of heaven for everyone. . This week's Strokes and Plugs were compiled by Staff Writer Matt McBride. Send information to New Times Strokes & Plugs, 505 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401
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