Tech Talk With Sherif The Computer Guy

Windows 10 End of Life: Why It’s Time to Upgrade Now

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:40:16 GMT

After nearly a decade of service, Windows 10 is approaching its official end of life. For millions of users worldwide, this marks a critical turning point—not just for performance and features, but for security, compliance, and long-term usability. If you’re still running Windows 10, now is the time to start planning your next move.

What Does “End of Life” Mean?

When an operating system reaches end of life (EOL), it no longer receives security updates, bug fixes, or technical support from Microsoft. This doesn’t mean your computer will suddenly stop working—but it does mean it will become increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, malware, and compatibility issues over time.

For businesses and individuals alike, continuing to use an unsupported system introduces real risks:

Security vulnerabilities with no patches

Software incompatibility with newer applications

Compliance issues in regulated industries

Decreased performance over time

Why Upgrading Matters

Technology doesn’t stand still—and neither should your systems. Newer operating systems like Windows 11 are designed with modern security standards, improved performance, and enhanced user experiences in mind.

Upgrading ensures:

Stronger protection against evolving cyber threats

Better performance and speed

Access to new features and updates

Compatibility with modern software and hardware

Staying current isn’t just about convenience—it’s about staying secure and productive.

Is Your System Ready?

Before upgrading, it’s important to check whether your current device meets the requirements for newer operating systems. Some older hardware may not support the latest versions, in which case upgrading your device might be the smarter long-term investment.

Key considerations:

Processor compatibility

RAM and storage capacity

Security features like TPM support

The Cost of Waiting

Delaying your upgrade may seem harmless, but the risks compound over time. Cyberattacks often target outdated systems specifically because they lack modern defenses. What starts as a small delay can quickly turn into costly downtime, data loss, or security breaches.

For businesses, the stakes are even higher—impacting customer trust, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance.

Make the Move Today

Upgrading from Windows 10 isn’t just an IT task—it’s a strategic decision. Whether you’re an individual user or managing an organization, taking action now will save time, reduce risk, and position you for the future.

Don’t wait until support ends. Call us to start your upgrade journey today.

We will evaluate your systems, plan your transition, and ensure you’re running on a platform built for tomorrow—not one stuck in the past.

RIP Windows 7 2009~2020.

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:20:33 GMT

Windows 7, 10 years old, died of natural causes this January. Survived by 180 million machines, it leaves behind many users who are now scrambling to secure their machines with Windows 10.

Beloved kin of the late Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 8, Windows 7 leaves this world and much bleaker place due to the security issues users will now face if they do not upgrade to Windows 10. With the official retirement of Windows 7, Microsoft will no longer be releasing updates, making the end users more vulnerable to viruses and security issues.

What does this mean for our customers?

A complementary, remote consultation regarding the Windows upgrade will allow us to tell if your machine capable of running Windows 10.

To schedule a consultation, click here .

Always Use Protection.

183:695739293 (Sherif Mikhail) — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 23:05:10 GMT

We’d never thought we’d have to tell our clients, “Don’t use a plastic grocery bag as a computer bag”, but here we are. True story.

How we store our prized possessions says a lot about us. When it comes to protecting your laptop, always use bag that is specifically made for the size of your machine. Too tight and you won’t be able to fit all your accessories and chargers. Too big and your laptop will move around and get damaged.

Keep comfort in mind. We’re New Yorkers and we walk… a lot. Choose a wide, padded shoulder strap to minimize strain on your shoulders and back.

If your bag will be exposed to the elements, make sure you invest in a water proof bag. Even if you have no intention of going out in the rain – you could get caught in it during a long walk to class or commute to work. Soggy computers are the worst.

Material. Look for tough materials and that have well stitched zippers. The zipping and un zipping of your bag will take a toll on cheaper hardware. Better zippers use a heavy-duty slider made of metal, not plastic. Thicker teeth will also allow for a long life of the bag.

Don’t fall for the TSA Compliant. These bags feature a butterfly opening to show the computer easily. However, most agents will ask you to remove the laptop from the bag anyway. Save the dollars and go with a style that has a couple of useful compartments so you can carry your cell phone, wallet, chargers, water bottles, pens and notebooks.

Here are some of our favorite laptop bags:

eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack
$90 Amazon

Osprey Men’s FlapJack Backpack
$85 Amazon

Tumi Alpha Bravo Andersen Slim Commuter Brief
$395 on Amazon

Weatherproof Mission Workshop HT500 Sanction
$205 Mission Workshop

JanSport Right Pack American Classic
$42 Amazon

Kopack Slim Business Laptop Anti Thief Tear/ Water Resistant
$36.99 on Amazon

KEEPWE Water Resistant Lightweight
$29.99 Amazon

Now that you know what to look for, go get your shopping on!

And remember, protect your tech.

Mac vs. PC

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 21:06:11 GMT

What's right for you.

The most frequent question we get at Sherif, The Computer Guy is “What computer should I get?”
The answer is simple… it depends.

Start by asking yourself a few questions.

What will be the main use of your computer?
Are you just surfing the net and answering a few emails, or are you editing the next J.J. Abrams movie?
What’s your budget?
How long do you plan on keeping it? Keep in mind, the lifetime of a computer is 5 years—tops. Running the latest OS will be too difficult with a machine older than 5 years.

Now for the first big question… Mac vs PC

This comes down to the user preference and budget. Gone are the days where creatives are strictly Mac and the rest of us are PC users. Most programs run on both systems. Let’s take a deeper dive.

One of the misconceptions about a Mac is that they don’t get viruses. This is false, but they do get A LOT less. This is because most viruses are written for PCs due to the amount of PC users.

Mac’s are known for a sleeker user interface user and attractive product design.

PC’s have more customization options than Macs. PC’s cost less, because there is more competition and more manufacturers. A PC with the same specs cost ¾ the price of a Mac.

Make sure you know all the programs you will be running and if they can be used on a PC or Mac. There are some programs that will only run on a PC, such as Microsoft Access. While Keynote will only run on a MAC. There are online versions of these programs, however they are limited. Our techs can help guide you to which programs run on which system.

Crossing platforms is another thing to think about. If you are use to a PC and want to switch to a Mac or vice versa, it can be a bit of a learning curve. Luckily, we have you covered. We offer one-on-one classes for first time Mac or PC users.

The second thing to decide is a desktop vs laptop. This all depends on what you will be using your computer for, and where you’ll be using it. Will you be doing a lot of travel? Then a laptop is for you. Do you like writing on your porch while sipping your favorite beverage? A laptop will give you the freedom to do this. Perhaps screen size is important to you, desktops allow for large screens and plenty of viewing room.

Now, on to the nitty gritty… the specs.

Processor.
Stick with an Intel® processor. Trust us, it’s worth the extra money.

Intel® 3 is your basic processor for those users who are using office software and internet.
Intel® 5 is for users who do slight video or photo editing.
Intel® 7 is for professional users who do heavy video editing and work with large file formats (graphics) in Adobe Applications.

Memory
The minimum you should look for is 6 gigs of ram. If your budget allows for more, get it. The more the better!

Hard Drive
Solid State HD are a popular choice and a good one. There are no moving parts which makes the machine run faster. Another plus for our laptop users is that it prolongs the battery life. When choosing the size of your hard drive try to get at least 1 terabyte. Bigger IS better here, folks! And don’t forget, you should always have a cloud based back-up solution for your files and photos. Read more about choosing a cloud provider here , in our earlier blog.

Still undecided? Help is on the way! Give us a call for a consultation. We can help you chose which system best fits your needs, transfer all your files to the new system and provide you an overview lesson on how it all works.

Don't Take The Bait.

183:695739293 (Sherif Mikhail) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 02:07:49 GMT

The Do's and Don't of Cyber Security

Cyber Security… we’ve all heard this term used a million times.

Just read the news and you’ll see another major company whose security was breached. We, the consumers, are left feeling hopeless that our private information has fell in to the hands of a faceless villain who is quick to sell our priceless information on the dark net. We’ve heard of family and friends whose computer has been encrypted or infected with a virus. This next level of viruses are very destructive and are known as Ransomware.

Once executed on your computer, ransomware can either lock the computer screen, or, in the case of crypto-ransomware, encrypt your files. In the first scenario, a full-screen image or notification is displayed on the infected system's screen sometimes claiming to be from the FBI, IRS or some other authority, preventing victims from using their system. It commonly shows instructions on how users can pay for the ransom. The good news is that most of the time, these files can be recovered without having to pay the ransom.

The second type of ransomware, crypto-ransomware is much more destructive. It prevents access to your files by encrypting them and holding them for ransom. Yes, we said RANSOM! Without the encryption “key”, there is no way to unlock your files. Ransoms can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, usually asked for in bitcoin or gift cards. If you thought it couldn’t get worse, it does… there is no guarantee they will send you the “key” after paying their ransom. You can’t exactly trust these criminals.

Most computers get infected by clicking malicious links via email, opening infected attachments or visiting compromised websites.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Always be cautious. We’re New Yorkers, we are cautious of everything. Embrace the NYC way when it comes to cyber security.
Most viruses happen when people search for a specific topic and misspell it. The most commonly searched words are the most dangerous misspellings.
Below is an example of a bait email our CTO, Sherif Mikhail, received. At first look, it looks pretty official. Your first instinct may be to click the link. However, it should be determined if the email is legit. This email was pretty easy to spot as a fake, just by looking at the sender’s email address. Take a look below, not so official. Always check the senders email address before clicking any link or downloading any files. While this is not a sure way to determine its legitimacy, it’s a start. If you are still unsure, call the company directly or go to the company’s website to check to see if they’ve recently sent emails asking for that information.

Since no one, not even the best Tech Gods are fully protected, you must be prepared. Having a backup of all your files and photos is extremely important. External hard drives were a common back up solution, but today’s viruses are far too advanced and can infect those drives as well.

For a secure backup, we recommend a cloud provider that archives previous copies of your files, most of these will back up your files automatically daily or a few times a day, depending on how you set up your backup. Many also offer an email report of your backup jobs so you know your files are being safely protected. A provider such as Google Drive, only keeps current files, thus resulting in the possible upload of your infected files. There goes the back up! Your photos and files are priceless, so it’s best to invest few dollars and pay for a backup solution that offers an archive of your files.

Now that you’re in the know, be prepared. Our techs can help with a backup plan, so you don’t find yourself a victim.

Remember… Don’t Take The Bait!

Welcome

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:32:32 GMT

TechTalk - tips, tutorials and reviews... oh my.

Hello everyone and welcome to our new redesigned website. We are very proud to announce we have grown our team, expanded our services and will be blogging on a regular basis. TechTalk, our blog will cover tips, tutorials, reviews, Q&A and more! Please let us know if there is a specific topic you'd like featured.

Now, without further ado... let's meet the team!

Click here for team bios.