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How The FixMeStick Cleaned My Desktop Computer, A Review

12/07/2015 By Hakan Can

FixMeStick Review

What The Heck Is A FixMeStick?

I’m going to repeat myself for literary sake. What the heck is a FixMeStick? This was the exact question I asked when I first learned of the product, long before I began this FixMeStick review.

Now whenever I mention it, people ask the exact same question. Based on their responses, I’ve compiled a list of what the FixMeStick can’t do.

  • It doesn’t repair your car.FixMeStick
  • It can’t fix your love life.
  • It doesn’t pay your bills or college debt.
  • It has nothing to do with a selfie-stick.
  • It can’t actually fix you. Sorry folks.
  • And it definitely can’t keep your family from arguing during holiday gatherings. (How I wish.)

What the FixMeStick can do is suck out viruses from your computers. It did so on mine.

How Does The FixMeStick Actually Work?

Set it and forget it, as Ron Popeil of Ronco Rotisserie Oven fame used to say.

The FixMeStick works very much in the same way. (See the 6-step process below.) Once you’ve gotten through the initial steps, which take between 5-10 minutes, you can let the product do the rest. Some hours later, which varies for every user, you’ll see the results.

FixMeStick in action.As you can see from the image to your right, and the video below, the FixMeStick functions very much like a vacuum. It sifts through all your files, finds the infected ones, and cleans them.

The stick uses 3 of the most common anti-virus engines available:

  • Kaspersky
  • Sophos
  • Vipre

Now, the stick isn’t designed to work as a stand-alone item on your computer. It complements the internet security, anti-virus, and anti-malware programs you already use (or should already be using.)

Let’s say this is your first time using the stick and you’re using Windows OS. (It’s available for Apple OS too.) Run the RunFixMeStick.exe file. A dialog box will appear stating “The FixMeStick is good to go!” Now click the Reboot and Launch FixMeStick button. This leads to another dialog box with the FixMeStick License Agreement. Click the Accept and Run button.

Once running, you’ll see a Scan dialog box on your monitor. The scan goes through a 6-step process. Now register your product and proceed.

  1. Checking Internet Connection
  2. Checking For Product Updates
  3. Updating Malware Definitions
  4. Initializing Malware Scanners
  5. Scanning Computer
  6. Results

Once the scan is complete, you can choose to Clean Computer or See Results. Give both a try. Once cleaned, exit the program and remove the stick while the computer is powered down. Upon restart, go back to using your computer as you normally would.

Here’s a quick one-minute video on the stick.

 

How-To Set Up a Remote Connection.

From the Run FixMeStick dialog box, click the Settings tab. Then hit your keyboard’s Control Key 3X.  Click the Initiate Remote Support button. A new window will appear with a 9-digit ID and a 4-digit password. You should see a green light below the password stating “Ready to connect (secure connection)”. Provide these numbers to the FixMeStick agent and the remote connection will be established to your computer. Easy as pie. [Tweet “What the @FixMeStick can do is suck out viruses from your computers. It did so on mine.”]

Running Into Complications.

While unlikely, it’s possible that one of the three following scenarios occur.

  • The FixMeStick fails to update itself.
  • Scans are quitting unexpectedly.
  • Scans are freezing.

To remedy this, conduct a factory upgrade of the stick and you should be good-to-go. If you’re still running into problems, the visit the FixMeStick Support page and/or call 1-800-530-6125.

The FixMeStick Review Results.

My desktop and laptop computers consist of the following protection software:

  • A major internet security/anti-virus program. (Oddly enough, 1 of the 3 engines listed above.)
  • An anti-malware program.
  • And multiple cleaning programs.

After an overnight scan time of 7 hours, 23 minutes, it produced the following results for my desktop computer:

  • It caught the Trojan.W32.Generic!BT virus.
  • It quarantined two files: AutoPico.exe and KMSELDI.exe.

While the quarantined files are questionable in nature, the Trojan is not. The latter is a problem and good-sized one at that.

Read:   Patriot Announces Ignite Series M2 SATA Solid State Drive

Where to find the FixMeStick.

It’s more like where can’t you find this product. There are so many options available.

The FixMeStick comes at three price points. You can choose $9.99 for the one month trial or $59.99 for one full year. Both of these choices allow for the product to be used on up to three computers. The third and final choice, an all-you-can-eat option, allows for the use of the product on an unlimited number of computers for $299/year.

You can purchase yourself one here on the FixMeStick website at the prices stated above. If you would rather use one of your favorite retailers, feel free to check out the Find a Store link and choose. Retailers in North America are pretty well represented on their heat map.

Note: I have seen significant discounts during holiday sales, so you may want to subscribe to those Fry’s and Newegg newsletters.

Here’s a partial list of major online retailers:

  • Best Buy
  • Fry’s
  • Newegg
  • Staples
  • Walmart

The warranty is a pretty good one. It comes with a 45-day return policy with a money back guarantee. And did I forget to mention the unlimited free support?

Conclusion.

Initially, I had doubts about this product and its claims. Heck, I was already using 3+ software programs to keep my computers safe.

While it took longer than expected to scan my desktop computer, (more than twice the time according to the FixMeStick literature,) it did so while I slept through the night. So, it never interfered with my daytime work. The FixMeStick did catch the Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT virus. None of my current software programs were able to do this.

The scan on my laptop produced no viruses, which is a good thing.

So…can I recommend this product to you readers? Oh Heck Yeah! Who wants an infected computer that allows for unauthorized remote access? Certainly not I.

While many of you (myself included) may feel that the $59.99 price is too steep, might I suggest looking at the 30-day purchase. After all, the product does come with a 45-day return policy and money back guarantee. It’s tough to beat a guarantee like that.

In the end, the decision is yours. Regardless of how you proceed, always and I do mean ALWAYS, protect your computers.

All photos and/or videos are the property of and copyrighted to FixMeStick Technologies.

FTC Disclosure: Beantown LLC received one FixMeStick for review purposes. We are not a paid sponsor or ambassador of the product.

Filed Under: Kool Stuff Tagged With: FixMeStick, review 12/07/2015

Northeast Comic Con 2015, Collectibles, Pop Culture & More

04/21/2015 By Hakan Can

Northeast Comic Con June 20 & 21, 2015

What will you be doing the first weekend of Summer?

How about visiting Northeast Comic Con 2015 in Wilmington, MA?

Update: By now you’ve heard that actor Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, Andromeda) has bailed on the NECC. The reason for his departure is that he’s in the middle of filming. According to IMDB, which is dependent on user input, the films currently in production are Jesse James: Lawman and Poison Sky. I’m sure these films will be critical and financial successes. (Insert laughter here.) Sadly we won’t get to meet him. I wish Mr. Sorbo well.

I get it. It’s the last day of Spring and the first day of Summer. And you like to spend the weekend up in New Hampshire or down in Cape Cod or the Islands. I don’t blame you, I enjoy those places too. It’s the annual weekend pilgrimage to put the shorts and sandals on, take the boat out, and get some sand between your toes. But, you can do this any weekend in the Summer. Now for a moment take yourself back 10-20 years. Recall watching Hercules or Andromeda on the weekend? How about watching reruns of the original Batman series? If you’re a guy you know you did both. And if you’re a gal, I’m sure you had a thought or two about Kevin Sorbo. I have no problem stating this. He’s a handsome dude. So how would you like to meet one or better yet, both of them? Well you can at one of VIP meet and greet events at the Northeast Comic Con 2015.

Northeast Comic Con 2105 Adam WestOn Friday, June 19, you can meet and have photos taken with Kevin Sorbo himself. Per the press release: “Tickets are now on sale to fans of Kevin Sorbo, the handsome and talented star of Andromeda as well as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys celebrating its 20th anniversary of the first episode. Also held at the Shriners Auditorium Fez Room the evening before the Comic Con begins, tickets to the Kevin Sorbo VIP experience are $90, and limited to 100 fans. These VIP tickets include weekend admission to both weekend days of the Northeast Comic Con (June 20 & 21) as well as a photo opportunity with Sorbo, and a chance to watch the first episode of Hercules TV program, as introduced by Sorbo himself.”

On Saturday, June 20, you can meet and have photos taken with Mayor Adam West himself. Per the press release: “Fans of the legendary Adam West, the original Batman (and now on Family Guy), can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the star’s first episode with a VIP event at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 20th at the Shriner’s Auditorium Fez room. The $100 VIP ticket provides fans with a chance to get their photo with West and then screen the first episode of the 1966 “Batman” TV program, introduced by West himself.”

VIP packages as well as show ticketing are available here. Want to see past articles on Northeast Comic Con? Then feel free to click here, here, and here.

Per the Press Release: “This year’s event features a 40,000 sq. ft. entertainment experience for all nerds and the people who love them. Highlights include cosplay for all ages with “Create-A-Hero/Villain/Character” contests and a Cosplay Death Match and Cosplay Dating Game, free-play video game arcade and tournaments, workshops for K!DZ, and celebrity autograph signings and panel sessions. Guests can shop at 150 vendors of vintage and modern toys, comic books, collectibles, art, jewelry, fashion and pop cultural artifacts. In between Father’s Day shopping, guests of all ages will enjoy music, contests and entertainment to marvel at between sessions and booths.

With free parking, regular Northeast Comic Con admission ticket prices are among the lowest in the industry. Advanced tickets are now available for purchase online; ticket prices will be higher at the door. Children under 7 are free when accompanied by an adult.”

That’s not all. What Batman fan wouldn’t want the opportunity to sit in the original Batmobile? Well you can. It’ll be there. And so will the Batcycle along with Back to the Future’s DeLorean Time Machine.

Batmobile Northeast Comic Con 2015 Batcycle Northeast Comic Con 2015

And just announced last week, the addition of Gigi Edgley who played Chiana on the SyFy TV show Farscape. Something tells me with two months remaining until the show, there will be more guest and artist announcements.

Northeast Comic Con 2015

All photos are the property of and used with the permission of Northeast Comic Con.

Now how about this great shot from yes, 50 years ago. Enjoy the expo. We at Beantown sure will.

Northeast Comic Con Adam West as Batman

Filed Under: Kool Stuff Tagged With: Adam West, Batman, Hercules, Kevin Sorbo, northeast comic con, steampunk 06/03/2015

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