<<Previous Compare maintenance plans

<<Return  Go to start:  Ensure prompt service

Frequently asked questions

Why provide different maintenance plans?

Do you offer support during the evening and weekends?

AWCconsulting offers clients the option of maintenance plans to address their specific service needs.  One computer user may be fine with their computer going down for a day, while other users can not afford to be without their computer for even a few hours.  If you have mission critical computing needs, the Gold service plan assures you of prompt service;  we become you own personal IT department ready to help you as soon as possible.  

The service plan structure now lets clients determine how quickly they expect service on their computer equipment. The service contract also lets AWC prioritize appointments and allows time to be made available to clients that enter a service plan.

Yes. Support is available on a limited basis during these times. If you require support to be available during a critical time or over a weekend while completing a large project, arrangements can be made to have an analyst available to provide assistance. Support is typically not available during statutory holidays.

For companies that require support consistently outside daytime weekdays, please call to receive a custom quote to meet your service needs.

Operating systems and applications are huge and complex programs that take years to develop. Despite significant testing before the software is released, certain unexpected bugs and errors are discovered after the software is released to the general public. In order to correct these problems, the software manufacturer releases updates to deal with the problems that are discovered in the software. The software manufacturer sometimes adds new features to the software and releases updates to provide these new features. Finally, security problems are often found in applications that allow others to easily attack your computer. For example, the original Microsoft Windows XP has several bugs in it that allows an external person to attack your computer. Microsoft has released updates to deal with these problems.

Unfortunately not. A brand new computer only has the latest CD release of the operating system installed onto the computer. For example, Windows XP is over one year old. Significant updates and a large number of critical updates must be installed onto your brand new computer to bring it up to date. The hardware drivers are also likely out of date for the same reason. Any applications preinstalled on your computer likely also require updates to bring your computer up to date.

This is very dependent on the company that provides the software. Major application vendors such as Microsoft, release updates and patches on a regular basis to deal with problems as they are found. Other companies only release updates for severe bugs on an occasional basis.

Typically, software updates are installed overnight while no one is using the computers. Updates can also be scheduled to be installed over weekends. All you need to do is use your computer during the day and rest easy knowing your system is being kept up to date.

The remote maintenance software allows AWCconsulting to connect through the Internet to the workstations at your location. AWCconsulting can control of the computer to install the required applications. The remote control software on your computer is kept turned off and is only turned on when maintenance is scheduled. This allows you complete control of your computer and allows you to determine when AWCconsulting can connect to your computer.

If you are, you are not alone. Computers are incredibly complex machines that require careful maintenance to run reliably.

Operating system: The operating system is the underlying software that ties together the software drivers and applications and allows them to run together. Examples of operating systems include Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Linux, and Macintosh OS X. The operating system provides the basic features of the computer such as the graphical interface and a way to handle applications. Operating systems also offer basic utilities and programs to give you basic functions. Updates to operating systems are released on a regular basis to deal with system stability, to add features and, most importantly, to deal with significant security issues discovered in the operating system after the software is released.

Drivers: These are pieces of software that tell the computer CPU how to “talk” with other pieces of equipment in or attached to your computer. For example, you must install a driver to be able to print to a new printer. Until the driver software is installed, your computer has no way of knowing how to communicate with the printer. Hardware drivers are updated on a regular basis to improve stability, improve performance and/or to add new features. Out of date drivers can cause significant problems with your computer being able to operate correctly. Examples of drivers for your computer include a video driver, sound driver and printer driver.

Applications: Applications are the programs that you use to perform tasks on your computer. For example, Microsoft Word is an application that allows you to write letters. And Microsoft Outlook is an application that lets your read and write Email messages. These applications are typically purchased separately from the operating system. (The biggest exception to this are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Outlook Express that are included in all new versions of Microsoft Windows.)

<<Previous Compare maintenance plans

<<Return  Return to start:  Ensure prompt service