PNW Computers' Recommended Hardware

After years of working with small and medium businesses across the Pacific Northwest, I've learned one fundamental truth: the right hardware makes all the difference. Whether you're building out a new office network, upgrading your storage infrastructure, or simply need a reliable mouse that won't quit on you during a critical deadline, choosing the right equipment saves time, money, and headaches down the road.

This guide represents my go-to recommendations for devices that consistently deliver performance, reliability, and value. These aren't just products I recommend; they're the equipment I trust for my own infrastructure and confidently recommend to clients.

New Computer Setup; Our Process

When you get a new computer, it should feel exciting; not stressful.

At Pacific Northwest Computers, our goal is to make your new system feel familiar, functional, and secure, while minimizing downtime and surprises.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what we typically do during a new computer setup & migration, whether we’re working in-shop, onsite at your home or office, or remotely where possible.

Ryzen 9800X3D NO POST on B650 Motherboards

 

Ryzen 9800X3D NO POST on B650 Boards:

What You Need to Know

Upgrading to the new AMD Ryzen 9000-series is exciting; especially the 9800X3D, which promises top-tier gaming performance thanks to its stacked 3D V-Cache technology. But over the past few months, a trend has emerged: a noticeable number of these chips simply refuse to POST, even on fully compatible AM5 motherboards.

If you’ve dropped a 9800X3D into a B650 board and you’re staring at yellow + red debug LEDs (CPU + DRAM) with zero video output, you’re not alone. This article breaks down what’s going on, what’s not the problem, and whether switching to a 7800X3D or another CPU might save you a ton of trouble.

Bitwarden Password Vault Cleanup Guide

Bitwarden CLI Vault Cleanup Guide

A comprehensive guide for cleaning up your Bitwarden vault using the CLI, based on real troubleshooting sessions.

Prerequisites

• Bitwarden CLI installed in C:\Tools\Bitwarden (or your chosen directory)
• Windows PowerShell (works with PowerShell 5.x)
• Navigate to the Bitwarden directory in a Windows Terminal: cd C:\Tools\Bitwarden

 

What To Do If You Are Compromised By A Scam/Scammer

A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Digital Life

Online security is becoming increasingly critical as more of our daily lives move onto the internet. Whether through hacking, phishing, tech support scams, or other malicious activities, account compromises can happen to anyone. This comprehensive guide provides detailed steps to help you respond effectively, recover your accounts, and protect yourself from future incidents.

IMPORTANT:

If you are in immediate danger or feel threatened,

Call 911 immediately.

Quickbooks Multi-User Hosting Troubleshooting

QuickBooks Multi-User Troubleshooting:
Workstation(s) & Server

Please follow these steps to make sure only your server is hosting QuickBooks, and that the QuickBooks Database Server is working correctly.

Offline AI LLM System (TrueNAS Hosted)

 

TrueNAS Hosted Offline LLM:
Dolphin, Ollama and AnythingLLM

Introduction

Running AI models on your TrueNAS server provides centralized access to powerful language models for your entire network. This guide walks through deploying Ollama with Dolphin models and AnythingLLM on TrueNAS, making AI assistance available to all your devices while maintaining complete data privacy.

By the end of this guide, you'll have:

• Ollama running as a Docker container on TrueNAS
• Dolphin models stored efficiently on your ZFS pool
• AnythingLLM accessible via web browser from any device on your network
• Persistent storage that survives container restarts
• Optional GPU passthrough for accelerated inference

Offline AI LLM System

Create a Completely Offline LLM:
Using Dolphin, Ollama, and AnythingLLM

Running a Large Language Model (LLM) completely offline gives you privacy, control, and independence from cloud services. In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through setting up a fully functional offline AI assistant using three powerful tools:

• Dolphin - Uncensored, instruction-tuned language models
• Ollama - Simple, efficient local LLM runtime
• AnythingLLM - User-friendly web interface for interacting with local models

By the end of this guide, you'll have a ChatGPT-like experience running entirely on your own hardware, with no internet connection required!!

Portable Sysinternals Windows System Tester Utility

 

Portable Sysinternals System Tester Utility v2.2

The USB Toolkit Every IT Professional Needs in Their Kit!

For years, I've been carrying USB drives to client sites loaded with various diagnostic tools - Sysinternals utilities scattered across folders, batch files I'd written years ago, and a mental checklist of tests to run. It worked, but it was messy, inconsistent, and time-consuming. Every diagnostic session meant running tools manually, copying outputs, and cobbling together reports.

I thought: "There has to be a better way."

That frustration led to the creation of the Portable Sysinternals System Tester. A zero-dependency PowerShell solution that transformed my thumb drive into a comprehensive, professional diagnostic toolkit. What started as a personal automation project has evolved into a production-ready tool that IT professionals across the region now rely on for field diagnostics, baseline health checks, and client handoff reports.

Version 2.2 is OUT NOW!

https://github.com/Pnwcomputers/SystemTester/tree/Version2.2

DeployWorkstation v4.0 - Microsoft Windows 11 Debloat & Basic Setup Utility

Introducing DeployWorkstation v4.0

From Alpha to Enterprise-Ready: A Journey in Windows Deployment Automation

After months of community feedback, real-world testing, and countless iterations, I'm thrilled to announce DeployWorkstation v4.0!! 

The evolution of a simple debloating script into a robust, enterprise-ready Windows deployment solution.

If you've been following the project since the v2.0 Alpha release, you've witnessed a transformation. What started as an ambitious step toward all-users functionality has matured into a reliable, production-ready system with comprehensive error handling, rollback capabilities, and configuration management that IT professionals can trust.

Version 4.0 is OUT NOW!
https://github.com/Pnwcomputers/DeployWorkstation/tree/Version2-AllUsers%26NewAccounts

Third-Party Email App Access in 2025

 

The Complete Guide:
Third-Party Email App Access in 2025

The End of "Less Secure Apps"

If you're trying to connect your email account to a third-party application like WordPress, Thunderbird, or older versions of Outlook, you've likely encountered authentication errors or warnings about "less secure app access." The email landscape has dramatically changed over the past few years, with major providers eliminating traditional username/password authentication in favor of more secure methods.

Key Changes Timeline:

• Gmail: Completely discontinued less secure app access as of May 1, 2025
• Microsoft Outlook.com: Ended basic authentication September 16, 2024
• Yahoo Mail: Requires app passwords for all third-party access since 2020
• Apple iCloud: Mandatory app-specific passwords since June 15, 2017

This guide will walk you through setting up secure access for each major email provider.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2W General Setup 101 (Headless)

 

Setup & Configure Your Raspberry Pi Zero 2W:
The Ultimate Headless Setup Guide

The Raspberry Pi Zero, a marvel of miniaturization, offers incredible computing power in a tiny, affordable package. But its small size often means less direct interaction – no built-in screen, no bulky keyboard. This is where the magic of a headless setup truly shines.

Imagine a silent, power-efficient micro-server, tucked away in a corner, diligently running your automation tasks, hosting lightweight applications, or providing secure network services, all without needing a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. This guide will walk you through transforming your Raspberry Pi Zero into exactly that: a robust, optimized, and secure headless server.

We'll cover everything from the initial OS installation using the intuitive Raspberry Pi Imager, through critical system updates, essential package installations, crucial performance optimizations like ZRAM, and fundamental security configurations. By the end of this journey, you'll have a lean, mean, server machine ready to tackle your projects. Let's dive in and unlock the full potential of your compact companion!

The Computer, IT & Cybersecurity Guide & Manual(s) Trifecta

 

Announcing Three "IT Guide" Projects!

I am thrilled to announce the launch of three new, powerful resources on GitHub designed to help you navigate, understand, and master the world of technology, from fundamental computing to advanced cybersecurity. Whether you're a complete beginner, an aspiring IT professional, or a seasoned enthusiast, this new collection has something crucial for you.

AI Is Just Google 2.0

 

AI Is Just Google 2.0
(And That's Actually Good News)

Remember when Google first arrived on the scene? It felt like magic. Suddenly, we had this oracle that seemed to know everything. Ask it anything, and boom!!! Answers. We crowned it the all-knowing arbiter of truth, the solution to every question, the end of "I don't know."

Except it wasn't. Not really...

Setting Up OPNsense as a Private DNS Server with Intrusion Detection (ProxMoxVE)

Setting Up OPNsense as a Private DNS Server with Intrusion Detection in a Proxmox VM

Transform your network security with a dedicated DNS server and real-time threat detection

New Insurance Industry Technology Requirements

Is Your Business Meeting New Insurance Industry Technology Requirements?

Insurance Providers Are Changing the Rules

More insurance carriers are now requiring regular IT maintenance; even if you're not experiencing any active issues. This isn't just a recommendation anymore; it's becoming a mandatory condition for maintaining coverage under HITECH, HIPAA, and other technical compliance standards.

The reason? Preventative maintenance significantly reduces the risk of data breaches, system failures, and costly downtime. Insurance providers recognize that businesses with regular IT check-ups file fewer claims and recover faster from incidents.

Preventative Maintenance Isn’t Optional;

It’s Business Survival

Imagine walking into a client's office only to find their entire operation grinding to a halt, all because they're running a 26-year-old software suite... 

Sound extreme? 

It's not. 

It's a reality for many IT professionals.

Account Hacking at All-Time Highs

SECURITY ALERT:

Account Hacking at All-Time Highs

The numbers are alarming:

• Cyberattacks happen every 39 seconds
• Password attacks have surged to 7,000 attempts per second
• 40% of cyberattacks are now AI-driven and more sophisticated than ever
• 75% of attacks start with your EMAIL

Your accounts ARE being targeted,
RIGHT NOW!

Windows 10 & 11: Security Policies Block Unauthenticated Guest Access - FIX!

Fixing SMB Guest Access Issues on Windows:

 Registry, Group Policy, and Server-Side

If you're trying to access an SMB share from Windows and getting blocked due to guest access restrictions, you're not alone. Microsoft tightened SMB security in recent versions of Windows, disabling insecure guest logons by default. While this improves security, it can break access to older or misconfigured servers — including setups like CasaOS or ZimaBoard.

Here are a few ways to fix it, ranging from quick registry tweaks to more secure server-side adjustments.

OPNsense Installation Guide

 

OPNsense Installation Guide (ISO)

If you're looking to take control of your network with enterprise-grade tools, installing OPNsense is a powerful first step. Whether you're setting up a home lab, securing a small business network, or just want better visibility and filtering, this guide walks you through the full installation process; from hardware prep to post-install configuration. With just a few components and a bit of time, you’ll be ready to deploy a firewall and DNS solution that rivals commercial offerings.