Computer Buddies Hoole

15/10/2026

🚨 Can't open your Microsoft Publisher files anymore? 🚨

Microsoft officially killed off Publisher this week. If you use Microsoft 365, you can no longer open the .pub files you spent years making.

For schools, charities, and small businesses around Chester, this is a massive headache. You might have decades of newsletters, posters, and menus suddenly locked away.

Microsoft says you should convert them to Word or PDF. The problem? Word ruins your page layouts, and you cannot easily edit a PDF.

Here is the good news: your files are not lost.

You can use a free, safe program called LibreOffice. Its built-in tool, LibreOffice Draw, opens your old Publisher files so you can view, edit, and save them again.

Even better, it saves your work in an open format. That means no big tech company can ever lock you out of your own documents again.

If you are stuck with old .pub files you cannot open, or you need help getting LibreOffice set up on your PC or Mac, pop into the shop in Hoole or give us a ring. We will get you sorted! 🖥️👍

15/10/2026

🖥️ GAMING PC FOR SALE | £899

A capable gaming PC with an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM and an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super graphics card. Ideal for 1080p gaming, everyday use and multitasking.

Specifications:

🎮 Processor: Intel Core i7 (8th Generation)
🎮 Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super 8GB
🎮 Memory: 32GB DDR4 RAM
🎮 Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
🎮 System Drive: 256GB NVMe SSD
🎮 Motherboard: ASUS TUF B-Series Gaming
🎮 Power Supply: 500W
🎮 Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Connectivity:

* USB-C (front and rear)
* USB-A ports
* Ethernet
* HDMI and DisplayPort

Other stuff:
* RGB Fans

🎁 INCLUDED: 24-inch 120Hz gaming monitor.

💷 £899 including monitor
🛡️ 12-month warranty included

Available from Computer Buddies in Hoole, Chester.

Pop in to have a look or send us a message if you’d like more information.

14/10/2026

Laptop Re-stock alert
We have 3 Lenovo Thinkpads L14 Grade A (like new) with Intel i7 CPU @ £349
and 1 with an Intel i5 @ £329
8GB RAM , 240GB NVMe storage
Windows 11 Professional
Batteries above 90% health
Professionally refurbished - meaning entirely new vinyl added to top, palm-rest and keyboard.

09/10/2026

Thank you 😍

23/09/2026

📧 VIRGIN MEDIA OR NTLWORLD EMAIL? IMPORTANT NEWS

If you still use a Virgin Media email address, there are some big changes coming.

This affects email addresses ending in:

• .com
• .co.uk
• .net
• .com

Virgin Media is transferring its email service to a separate email provider called Junara.

You’ll have three options:

1️⃣ Move your existing email address to Junara
2️⃣ Download your emails and move to another email provider
3️⃣ Close the email account

⚠️ The important bit: don’t ignore the emails from Virgin Media.

Customers will have at least 45 days after their first notification to decide what to do. There is then an additional recovery period, but after the full 165-day window, accounts where no action has been taken will be permanently deleted.

Virgin Media says it will start contacting affected customers in phases from September.

🔐 WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS

Virgin Media says its notification emails will NOT contain clickable sign-up links. You’ll be directed to the official Virgin Media website instead.

If you’ve had the same NTLworld, Blueyonder, Virgin.net or Virgin Media address for years, keep an eye on your inbox.

And if changing email providers, backing up years of email or working out what you need to do sounds like a headache, Computer Buddies can help.

📍 Computer Buddies, Hoole, Chester

Alan Stott, Chief Operating Officer, Virgin Media O2 Email is something most of us use to manage everyday life, keep in contact with friends and

01/09/2026

⚠️ WINDOWS USERS: SAVE YOUR BITLOCKER KEY

There’s currently a Windows update circulating which, on some affected PCs, can trigger the BitLocker recovery screen and ask for your 48-digit recovery key.

Normally, that’s fine. You enter the key and Windows starts.

The problem comes when you don’t know where your key is. 😬

If your drive is encrypted and Windows asks for the recovery key, there may be no way to access your files without it.

So, while your computer is working normally, take a couple of minutes to check yours.

🔍 Search Windows for Device encryption settings or Manage BitLocker

From there, you can check whether encryption is enabled and back up your recovery key.

🔑 Save it to your Microsoft account
📱 Take a clear photo of it and keep it on your phone
📄 Print a copy and put it somewhere safe
💾 Save another copy somewhere secure

Even something as simple as taking a photo of the key now could save you a massive headache later.

Don’t wait until the blue recovery screen is staring back at you asking for 48 numbers you’ve never seen before. 😳

Computer Buddies | Hoole, Chester

24/08/2026

📌 A quick Bank Holiday heads-up

Just a little advance notice for anyone planning to pop in later this week.

We’ll be closed from 5pm Thursday 27th August for the Bank Holiday weekend, reopening at 9am Tuesday 1st September.

We’re open as normal Monday to Thursday this week. 👍

13/08/2026

HEAT + COMPUTERS = NOT A GREAT MIX! ☀️💻

Due to the high temperatures inside our workshop, we’re closing early today at 12:30pm.

We’ll be back, hopefully a little cooler, at 9am tomorrow, Friday 14th August.

Sorry for any inconvenience, and thanks for understanding!

Computer Buddies

12/08/2026

Refurbished Laptops Coming Soon

Currently going through refurbishment and our testing process:

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1
AMD Ryzen 3 • 14” Display • 8GB RAM • 240GB SSD • Windows 11 Pro - £329 - Grade A
⭐ One of our best-selling ThinkPad models

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 1
Intel Core i5 10th Gen • 13.3” Display • 16GB RAM • 256GB SSD • Windows 11 Pro - £389 Grade A

HP EliteBook 840 G6
Intel Core i5 8th Gen • 14” Display • 8GB RAM • 256GB SSD • Windows 11 Pro - Check our website for grading and pricing soon

Dell Latitude 5410
Intel Core i5 10th Gen • 14” Display • 8GB RAM • 256GB SSD • Windows 11 Pro - Check our website for grading and pricing soon

All laptops are currently being refurbished, tested and prepared for sale. Check back soon for availability, condition and pricing.

03/08/2026

⚠️ Still using Microsoft Publisher? Time to make a plan.

Microsoft has confirmed that Publisher reaches end of life in October 2026. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you'll no longer be able to open or edit your Publisher files using the app after that date.

If you've got years of newsletters, menus, price lists, brochures or other .pub files, don't leave them until the last minute.

Our advice:
• Find all your Publisher files now.
• Convert important ones to PDF for archiving.
• Convert documents you'll need to edit into a more modern format, such as Word, where possible.
• Check that everything still looks as you expect after conversion.

If you've got hundreds of Publisher files, there are ways to speed up the process rather than opening them one by one. Microsoft has even provided guidance for bulk conversion.

Need a hand? Bring your PC or files into Computer Buddies and we'll help you work out the best way to preserve them before Publisher disappears.