Biden PC's Small Business IT Blog

Mozilla Firefox gives you many more options on how to deal with cookies than Microsoft Internet Explorer does. You have the options of:

• Accepting all cookies
• Not accepting 3rd party cookies
• choosing on a site by site basis which cookies to accept.

You also have options as to how long to keep the cookies that you do accept.

• Keep them until they expire
• Keep them until you close Firefox.
  

ITCSNY points out a few reasons why we should be more careful with the cookies that we accept.

So here are some easy instructions (for Windows Users) to change your default Cookie rules.

1. Go to the"Tools" menu and choose "Options".
2. Click under the "Privacy" tab at the top of the window and look under the "Cookies" section.
3. Choose your settings then click "OK".

Cookies can be very helpful so I don't delete them all but I do recommend AT LEAST removing the check mark from "Accept third-party cookies". I also choose "Ask me every time" under "Keep Until" just so that I can actually see who is requesting the cookies.

Remember, cookies help you log into websites and some absolutely require cookies so I don't recommend blocking them all, but you should at least learn about who is giving them to you.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: Desktop Support, General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts, Tech Talk

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I recently ran into a blog by a guy named Sean Daniel. He is a member of Microsoft's Windows SBS Product team. That means that he is intimately familiar with Windows Small Business Server 2003 and 2008.

Sean posts new factoids to his blog just about every day. Some posts are about new features, others are about training opportunities and still others are actual "how to" posts. I am excited about his blog and I wanted to share it with you in the event that you are also interested in Windows Small Business Server 2003 and 2008.

Labels: Computer Networks, Computer Upgrades, General PC Advice, How To, SBS 2003, SBS 2008, Tech Talk, Windows Server Tips

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Today I was assisting a remote desktop client who wanted to have multiple accounts set up in Microsoft Outlook. Usually this isn't a problem but the way she wanted it just can't be done.

Here is what she wanted... She wanted to be able to have 1 Microsoft Outlook window open with her personal account and a completely separate Microsoft Outlook window open with her business account.

This is not an unreasonable request. It just can't be done. You can create separate outlook profiles and have the choice of which to open, but when you open another window it remains in the same account as the first that was opened. This does not accomplish what she wanted.

Fortunately this client was easy to please (Thank you if you're reading this...) and we set her up with an IMAP account so that she could separate her 2 accounts into different folders located on the left hand side in the "Mail Folders" window of Outlook. That pleased her. Now she just has to get used to the delete and purge issue with IMAP.

If she had Outlook 2007, she could have done the folder separation with different POP3 accounts but since she had an earlier version of Outlook, going with IMAP was our only choice.

If you are looking for a way to separate your different POP3 email accounts within Microsoft Outlook 2007, look to this page to find out how to do it. Look for the "Directly assign the account a Folder Set" at the bottom of the page. Thank you to howto-outlook.com for the info!

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: Desktop Support, General PC Advice, How To, Microsoft Office, software

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I've been receiving lots of hits to my website asking how to change passwords in Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003.

If you don't have the legitimate Administrator password you (or your client) either forgot the password or you're trying to hack in to it. And if you're not my client, I won't tell you how to get in.

If you do have administrator access to your Small Business Server 2003 computer, changing users' passwords is extremely easy. Just follow these simple steps.

1. Go to the Server Management Console and click "Users".
2. Choose the user whose password you want to change and right-click on their name then click on "Change Password".
3. Type the new password in both boxes and click on "OK". Now the user can log in with their new password.

Simple huh? I thought so.

And if you are interested in a new server for your small business, Biden PC can install one (depending on your current computer network infrastructure) for less than $2000.00.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: Computer Networks, How To, SBS 2003, Services Offered, Tech Talk, Windows Server Tips

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Do you have computer networking questions? Do you have computer system problems that you haven't gotten answered. Send us an email at sales@bidenpc.com. We answer your computer questions in our blog just a few days.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: Computer Networks, Computer Repair, Computer Upgrades, Desktop Support, Free, General PC Advice, Hardware, How To, Tech Talk

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If you are like me, you have a few different email addresses that are being managed by Microsoft Outlook. I have 2 IMAP email addresses that I have to check but Outlook defaults to opening the standard inbox first.

To correct this and setup Microsoft Outlook to open the folder you want open first, just follow these easy steps.

1. Go to the "TOOLS" menu and Click on"OPTIONS".
2. Click on the "OTHER" tab at the top of the new window.
3. Now click on "ADVANCED OPTIONS" then click on the "BROWSE" button.
4. Highlight the folder that you want to see opened when you first open Outlook and click "OK".
5. Now click "OK" and click "OK" again.
6. Reboot your computer and when you start up Microsoft Outlook it will start up in the folder that you chose.

If you have other computer support needs or questions, please feel free to contact Biden PC.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: Desktop Support, Free, General PC Advice, How To, Microsoft Office, Services Offered, Tech Talk

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Since everyone wants more business, it pays to be on the first page of Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Website rankings and their placements are always changing which is why we must perform SEO. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.

I've been learning quite a bit about SEO in recent weeks and I would like to share just the basics with you.

1. The wording on your page is extremely important, especially the H1 and Title tags.
2. Inbound links are are also extremely important. Not only how many you have but also what the anchor text (the text you click on that takes you to the link) says. For example, if your link anchor text says "Biden PC", that will only get you SEO credit for the term "Biden PC". That means, to find you, your prospective client must type in "Biden PC". Instead, if your anchor text says "Computer Networking" (which gets a lot more searches per month) you will now be found under that term. The more that you get with specific anchor text, the better off you will be.
3. Who links to you is also extremely important. If you have a page that has a Google Page Rank of 1, you don't get a lot of SEO credit for that. If a site with a Google Page Rank of 3 or 5 links to you, that carries more weight. But even better, if a site with a Google Page Rank of 6 to 10 links to you, that carries a whole lot more weight.

This is why I am enrolled to be listed with Total Blog Directory under their Tech Support Blog Directory section. It has a page Rank of 3 (which is higher than my page rank of 1) and that will help me to get a higher Google Page Rank.

For more on SEO, check out Hubspot's Website Grader and their SEO Blog.

Happy computing,
Tim

Labels: Free, How To, Search Engine Optimization, Services Offered, Tech Talk

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Regular computer maintenance will keep your computer running faster longer and over time that will save you both stress and the price of a new computer. Here are a couple easy computer maintenance procedures that you can quickly do on your own in less than 10 minutes.

Remove all the dust from the inside of your computer.

1. All you need is a can of compressed air. Take your computer outside and remove the side cover.
   
2. Using your can of compressed air, blow all the dust out of the inside of your computer. Point it at the CPU Fan, Power Supply, air vents and anywhere else there is a build-up of dust and/or animal fur.

Run CCleaner.

1. CCleaner is a free program that cleans up many parts of your version of Windows. You can download CCleaner here. You have many options when running CCleaner. Here are my favorites... I will assume that you start with the defaults then modify them. When you start CCleaner you have a number of check-boxes and some of those are checked and some are not.
   
2. To start with, under "Internet Explorer" uncheck cookies, history recently typed URLs, and AutoComplete Form History.
   
3. Under "Windows Explorer" uncheck Recent Documents.
   
4. Under "System" uncheck Startmenu Shortcuts and desktop Shortcuts.
5. Now, check the box that says "Advanced". Click "OK" to the boxes that pop up. We will turn off problematic ones.
6. Under "Advanced" uncheck Menu Order Cache and Custom Files and Folders.
7. Now click on "Run Cleaner" and then click on "OK".
8. Off to the left side, you will see a bunch of blue building blocks that say "Registry" under them. Click on that then click on "Scan for Issues". This will take a minute. When the process is completed, click on "Fix Selected Issues".
9. Now reboot your computer and know that your computer is cleaner both physically and in the software.

See, performing your own computer maintenance really isn't that hard. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable doing this, Biden PC is available for this and many other computer support services. These can be performed onsite at your office or home or they can be performed remotely over the Internet.

Happy computing,
Tim

Labels: Free, General PC Advice, How To, software, Tech Talk

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Yesterday my wife needed to create and edit some videos for her class (she's an art teacher) on how to work with water-color paints. We have a Sony DCR-DVD 105 camcorder that records to the mini DVDs. It doesn't have a Firewire or USB connection on it so this presents a bit of a problem... How do you get the video onto your computer? Here's what I do.

First you'll need a bit of inexpensive software (sorry, not free this time) called AVS Video Converter. It is only $39.95 right now and it does a great job of converting the DVD files to almost any video format you would like. I usually choose .wmv, but the choice is up to you.

So here are the steps to converting the DVD video to any format you would like so you can edit your videos.

1. When you're finished recording video, finalize the DVD.
   
2. After it is finalized, put the DVD into your computer's DVD drive.
3. go to "My Computer" and Right-Click on the DVD drive.
4. Choose "Explore".
5. A new window will be opened and you will see some files.
6. Copy the files that end in ".vob" to your desktop because AVS Video Converter can't read directly from the DVD.
7. Start AVS Video Converter and choose the file format that you want to convert the DVD files to.
8. Click "Browse" to choose your .vob file.
9. Look under "Output File name" and you will see "... Profile" click on the box there to choose your exact output method within your video type.
10. Now you are almost finished. click on "Convert Now" and it will start it's magic. Obviously the software will take longer to convert larger files but it will do it.

When the program is finished, you'll be able to watch your video on your computer or edit it any way you want.

Happy video editing,
Tim

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Labels: Entertainment, General PC Advice, Hardware, How To, software, Tech Talk

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Recently I was asked how to make a DOS application print from Windows Vista or XP if there is no Parallel Port. This is actually quite easy and takes only a few simple steps.

1. Install the printer on another printer and make sure it prints.
2. Share the printer and note the computer-name and printer's share-name.
3. On the printer that has the DOS program, create a batch file that looks like this:

net use lpt1 /delete
net use lpt1 \\pc-name\printer-name
c:\folder\dos-application

Now in Windows XP, all you have to do is run the batch file and it works.

With Windows Vista, there is a slight catch. when you run it, you may not get anything or you may get an error that asks you for a password. If either of these happen to you:

1. close it out and go back to where the batch file is located.
2. Right-click on the batch file and choose "Run As Administrator".
3. You can now run the program and print to LPT1.

If you need to print to LPT2 instead of LPT1, simply change the commands in the batch file to sat LPT2.

Happy computing,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, Tech Talk, Windows Vista Irritations

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As I have had 2 clients in the week that have Hard Drive Problems, I would like to talk a bit about what these problems are and how to recover data when they occur.

First, hard drive problems are typically bad spots on the internal platters (think of CDs inside a metal box with metal arms that run across them reading data) that can no longer be read from or written to. These spots are called sectors and when a sector cannot be accessed, your Operating System (probably Windows) ignores it and writes data around it instead of in it.

There are 2 different types of problems that cause bad sectors. We'll start with the type that is the most common and least problematic.

Software errors are exactly what they sound like, problems with the data on the drive. A software error can be caused by a small number of things. This includes:

1. a write-head not writing in the exact space that a sector is located in, therefore causing 2 sector errors.
2. a piece of data being written and the master record (for the drive) not being updated or incorrectly updated.
3. loss of power while writing data.

There are a number of ways to fix or recover data from these software hard drive problems. Lets go over those now.

1. Chkdsk - No that is not a typo. Chkdsk is short for CheckDisk and is a Windows native application that performs a scan of your hard drive and maps out bad sectors. This allows your drive to continue performing and reduces the probability of more sector problems. Click here to see how to run Chkdsk in Windows.
   
2. If data has been lost, there are many free programs that can be used to recover them with decent reliability. Many can be found on the Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows. If you don't feel comfortable creating a boot cd, then check out Recuva. I have recently used to to recover many files from a client's PC.
3. As well as data recovery, the Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows can also perform hard drive scans and fix many errors. If you need a copy, please contact me via my business website.
4. After recovering your data, I recommend backing up your data and completely formatting (Not a quick format) your hard drive. This will cause the system to ignore the problematic areas and rewrite the data elsewhere. Now, we hope, those hard drive issues should be gone.
   

There are also hardware errors that can occur in hard drives. These are more problematic but in most cases, data can still be recovered from the damaged sectors.

Hardware errors also have a number of causes that we'll discuss a few of those here.

1. There can be dust or metal flakes (caused by the movement of the internal parts) inside the hard drive that get onto a platter. This can cause a small magnetic blackout of a sector. If it moves along with the head it can cause small scratches like on a CD. Also, like a CD, the data can usually be read using different methods (Please don't use toothpaste inside your hard drive.).
   
2. Dropping Computer or Laptop - If you drop your computer, in many cases it will be safe from harm but there is the chance that the read head (which is kind of like the needle and arm on a record player) can scratch the surface of the platter. These will require special Data Recovery facilities to retrieve the data.

Here are a few ways to fix or recover data from more serious hard drive problems.

1. You've heard me say it before and you'll hear it again, the Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows is a godsend and the same programs that can retrieve software error sectors can also retrieve hardware error sector. TestDisk and Disk Investigator (both on the UBCD4Win) recently saved my hide.
   
2. SpinRite - Gibson Research Corporation makes a great piece of software that can fix the drive so you can retrieve data from damaged hard drives. I have used it quite successfully many times.
   
3. If the above tools can't do it, I would recommend sending the drive to a data recovery specialist. There are many to be found. Simply google "data recovery" and you'll find plenty. As I've never had to use one, I really can't recommend one.
   

Now that you have recovered your data, I recommend backing up your data and completely formatting (not a quick format) your hard drive. This will cause the system to ignore the problematic areas and rewrite the data elsewhere. Now, we hope, those hard drive issues should be gone.

May all of your hard drives have long lives,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, Hardware, How To, My Thoughts

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As a professional computer technician, I always have people describing different problems to me. Due to a lack of details, I often have no idea what they are trying to tell me and that just makes things more difficult for everyone. In light of this, I want to help you describe your issues to a technician.

Here are a few things to consider when thinking about how to describe a technical problem.

1. How often does it happen? Timing can be a big help when trying to figure out what is causing a problem.
2. How long has the problem existed? This could signal a change to your system that can be removed or fixed. Maybe a new program was installed or a new PC was added to the network.
   
3. Can you reproduce the problem at will or is it random? If it seems random, it is harder to find. If it can be reproduced by following a series of actions, that narrows down the issue quite quickly.
4. Is there an Error Message? If there is, please note exactly what it says, not just the color. The color tells us very little except for the fact that there was an error. The message will usually tell us at least something about the error.
   
5. What caused the error to occur? If you had just opened or closed a program and the error appeared, odds are the problem is with that program.
6. Are there any common factors that make it happen? For example, does it only happen when you're connected to the Internet or when you change your speaker volume?
   
7. Has someone else or another company worked on your computer? Believe it or not, computer technicians often have their own ways of doing things and if we know the other technician, we may know what programs they use and how they do their work.

These are just a few ideas to help you communicate with your computer technician. The more details you can give him or her, the less time it will take them and the less you spend. Being more exact can save you money.

Happy computing,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts, Tech Talk

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So you're probably wondering why I called this post Anti-Virus instead of Virus... Well, the wrong antivirus software can slow your computer down immensely.

As you may or may not know, you have many different options for antivirus software. You of course have the big 2, Symantec (Norton) and MaAfee. Then you also have antivirus programs from

• Microsoft
• Panda
• TrustPort
• Sophos
• AVG Grisoft
• Trend Micro
• Dr Web
• ClamAV
• ZoneAlarm
• AVK (G Data)
• Avast
• Avira Antivir
  
• Kaspersky Labs
  

There are tons of antivirus programs and they all catch different viruses and different percentages of them. Yes, some are better than others.

Symantec (Norton) and MaAfee (and probably many others) have a bunch of background process happening at one time, therefore reducing the speed of your computer. They do this to provide as many services to you as is possible. They provide a firewall, active virus scanning, active spyware scanning, online child protection, online personal data protection, and others. Expect to see them protecting you from traffic accidents and the flu in future releases. (Just kidding about the traffic accident and flu protection.)

There are other AntiVirus programs that find and remove more viruses than they do and they do it faster without the large strain to your system resources. Check the most recent test results from av-test.org at Virus Bulletin.

So there is a lot of data at the above sites. You're probably wondering which ones I use or recommend. In the past I have recommended Grisoft's AVG but I've recently switched to Avira Antivir and I've been quite happy with it. It performs active scanning on every file that is written and read from any drive but doesn't slow the computer nearly as much as the big 2.

If you think you would like to try another product, I encourage you to examine the test results from av-test.org at Virus Bulletin and make your own informed decision from them. But if your subscription has not yet run out, I would recommend you keep your current anti-virus software so you can save your money until the subscription runs out.

Also Norton and Symantec can be difficult to remove and if you do so, you do it at your own risk. Click here to remove Norton and here to remove McAfee.

I hope this has been informative for you. If you have any questions or feel that this may be best left to a computer service professional, please email Biden PC here.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts, Services Offered

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How to Speed Up Your Computer - Part 2

Other things that will slow your computer down are viruses and spyware. For this blog post, we'll focus on the spyware end of things.

Spyware: what is it? Spyware has become an umbrella term that covers many different types of software that install themselves on your computer without your permission. It has many different functions such as spying on your web-browsing habits, creating pup-ups to advertise products or services, redirecting or hijacking your web browser... Spyware can be quite nasty and it should never be welcome on your computer.

So how do I get rid of it? Good question! For the sake of this blog, we are only talking about free methods of removal. As spyware writers probably know more about the inner workings of Microsoft Windows than most people do, it is quite safe to assume the software is difficult to remove. They create registry settings to call files. They create multiple files with names that change from computer system to computer system. They can have backdoor systems that reinstall the software if it is removed.

To remove spyware there are some free spyware removal programs that you must know about.

1. Shutdown the SYSTEM RESTORE because spyware attach themselves to your system’s restore files. This is an easy way for them to reinstall themselves, even after you restore Windows to a previous configuration. To disable System Restore, follow these steps.
1. Right click on ‘MY COMPUTER’, then click on ‘Properties’.
   
2. Click on the ‘System Restore’ tab at the top of the window.
   
3. Check the box that says ‘Turn off system restore on all drives’. Click ‘APPLY’, then ‘OK’.
   
4. Reboot your compuyter. That’s all there is to it.
5. Now run the following programs.
   
2. Spybot - Search and Destroy. Spybot is a free program but if you feel so inclined, you can donate to the cause. You can download spybot at the link above. I would recommend running spybot at least once a month if not once a week.
3. AdAware 2008. You have 2 options to get it free. There is the standard free version and the enhanced free version but for that you must create a TrialPay account. Once again, I would recommend running AdAware at least once a month if not once a week.
4. ComboFix. Combofix eliminates some nasty extortion-ware programs. These are the ones that create a problem saying that your computer is infected by a virus or spyware and if yu purchase their software, they'll remove it for you. That is a scam, don't fall for it! Instead, download and run ComboFix. Instructions for it can be found HERE.
5. FireFox. This is a web browser like Microsoft's Internet Explorer but it is more secure against many types of spyware. Download it, install it, and use it for all of your web browsing. Just one note...
1. When installing it, instead of choosing to import your Internet Explorer settings, choose "Don't Import Anything" so that you don't import your issues from Internet Explorer to FireFox.
6. Now you can restore the SYSTEM RESTORE because you have already deleted all of its files and removed your spyware. To enable System Restore, follow these steps.
1. Right click on ‘MY COMPUTER’, then click on ‘Properties’.
   
2. Click on the ‘System Restore’ tab at the top of the window.
   
3. Unheck the box that says ‘Turn off system restore on all drives’. Click ‘APPLY’, then ‘OK’.
   
4. Reboot your compuyter. That’s all there is to it.

Your computer should now be free from most types of spyware and therefore be running faster.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, Services Offered

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How to Speed Up Your Computer - Part 1

If you're like everyone else, you want your computer to be faster. I go through these steps quite often myself, just to keep things clean.

Before we move into the processes below, I want to give the disclaimer that I am giving these instructions for informational purposes. If you follow these and your computer doesn't run correctly afterwards, it is your responsibility.

Startup Programs Slow Your PC Down and Increase Boot Time
Look at the bottom right corner of your computer monitor. You'll see the open taskbar applications. This shows you what programs are running in the background. If there are more than 6, you probably could cut some fat here. I currently have 4. If you see a left-arrow or a < symbol you have even more programs running. A great program to see all the processes that are running, as well as kill them temporarily, is Process Explorer.

So if you download, uncompress and run Process Explorer, you'll see a window that looks like this.

The processes that you can more safely kill (their term, not mine) are (when organized by process) below explorer.exe. You should know recognize most of them because they will correspond to programs on your computer. This program should make no permanent changes to your computer. If you kill something that shouldn't be killed, your computer will most likely freeze or shutdown.

A great program to stop programs and processes from running when you boot up is Autoruns. Both Process Explorer and Autoruns are programs created by Sysinternals which is is owned by Microsoft.

If you download, uncompress and run Autoruns, you'll see a window that looks like this.


Autoruns can make more dangerous changes to your computer. This program edits the registry and essentially removes settings so that programs and processes don't run when you boot up your computer. If you cancel a program from running, it will not run until you start it. This is great for iTunes helper, Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher, and anything else that you commonly run by clicking on it. This DOES NOT include your anti-virus programs. If you disable those, you will be unprotected and I do not recommend that. If your anti-virus program is slowing your computer down, email me and we can talk about it.

General rules for using Autoruns...

1. Don't disable anything that says "Microsoft Corporation" under the "Publisher" heading.
   
2. If it has to do with Norton, Symantec, McAfee, or anything else security related, Don't Disable It.
   
3. If you don't know what it is, Don't Disable It.
   

Ok, this is the first of a series on how to speed up your PC. I'll write more later.
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, Services Offered

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Though it may seem obvious, or it may not, the more programs and services you have running at one time, the slower your computer will be. This is much like you having to get to work. If all you have to do is drive there, you might get to work in 5-20 minutes, 2 hours if you live in Los Angeles. Now let’s add on to that amount of time all the other things you may have to do on your way to work.

1. Low speed limit - 2 Minutes
2. Too many cars on the road, causing traffic - 10 Minutes
3. Drop the kids off at school - 15 Minutes out of your way
4. Traffic lanes merge together - 3 Minutes

Now your commute has increased by 30 minutes. But why?!?! Because you had other things to do and factors you couldn't control. A computer is no different. But you can have more control if you read on

A computer has a few factors that dictate its speed.

1. Processing Speed - How many GHz it runs at. (I am not going to get into the difference between different chip manufacturers and their different processes, this is general information.)
2. Bus Speed - This is how fast one component can send data to another component. (It is often the largest bottleneck in the computer.)
3. Amount of RAM - This is how much general info can be placed in a "To Do" folder for the computer. Remember, too much RAM is not possible, more than what can be used is possible.
4. Speed of RAM - This is how fast a component can send data to the RAM and later receive it back. (It is the other large bottleneck in the computer.)

So you're wondering, "What does this have to do with my computer being slow?" I'm glad you asked.

Just like you, your computer can only do a limited number of things at one time. Fortunately, if they're running right, they can do many more things at one time.

Did you notice that each list has 4 issues that slow us down? Each number correlates to the same number in the opposite list. This means the processing speed is like the speed limit.

1. Your car can only (legally) drive the speed limit. The same is true with computers. The CPU can only (supposedly) process information at (whatever your processing speed is) GHz. This speed is not easily (or safely) changed. I’m not going to tell you how to change this.
2. Though you can’t tell everyone else to get off the road when you want to drive, you can do this with computers. Close all unused software programs and startup programs. Also spyware and hard drive fragmentation problems can add to this issue and slow a PC down. I’ll tell you how to fix and repair these in my next post; How to speed up your computer for free.
3. If you can’t decrease the number of things that you have to do, increase how many things you can do at one time. This is like increasing the amount of RAM in your computer. It will allow you to do more and do it faster. (Some computers may already have the maximum amount of RAM available to the computer so this is not an option. But it can’t hurt to check it out.)
4. Find a shortcut or a route that has a higher speed limit to your kids’ school. If you can also increase the speed at which you do things, you can get them done faster. This is like increasing the processing speed of your RAM. (Some computers may already be at the fastest speed available to them so this is not an option. But it is worth a look.)

So to speed up your computer, the way we mentioned here is either adding more RAM or replacing it with a higher speed of RAM. For an easy way to see what you have and could use, go to crucial.com.

Be sure to check my next blog post: how to speed up your computer for free. I’ll tell you how to reduce the number of programs that run without your knowledge.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts

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Did you know that you can view your FTP files like a normal Windows folder?

Instead of using a standard program to do FTP, you can map a network drive to your FTP account and view your files like you would a normal Windows folder.

Since CyberNet already posted excellent instructions and pictures on how to map a network drive to FTP (primarily in Vista), I'll post about how to do it in XP.

1. Important: First install this fix from Microsoft.
2. Open “My Computer”
3. In the “Tools” menu, go to “Map Network Drive…”
4. In the Setup Wizard, select the “Sign up for online storage or connect to a network server” link at the bottom.
5. Another Wizard will pop up, choose “Next”.
   
6. The new screen should have an option highlighted to “Choose another network location”. Click “Next” again.
7. Enter in "ftp://your-domain.com" as the network address.
8. Unclick "Logon Anonymously" and enter your account logon when asked for a username.
9. Now create a name for the drive, maybe something like "Work FTP" or whatever you would like.
10. To open your new network drive/FTP site, go to “My Network Places”. You will see a drive with the name you gave it in the previous step.
11. If prompted for your username and password, again account details and click "Save Password".

To access it again is simple!

1. Go to your Window "Start Menu" and click on "My Network Places".
   
2. Choose the object with the name that you entered previously in step #9 and double click on it.
3. You are now looking at your FTP account like it is a normal folder in Windows.
   

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: Computer Networks, General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts

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I believe that the most important thing that you can put into your small business computer network to ensure its security is time. Yes, I said time.

Windows Small Business Server 2003 has recommended security measures that should be taken called "Best Practices". Another measure that should be taken is running MSBA (Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer) and following the suggestions it makes. Most of these must be done only once or infrequently.

Another feature called the "Server Performance Report" tells you what features aren't functioning properly and not working as well as who has had failed attempts at logging into your server.

So what does this have to do with time? This report is emailed to you every morning at 6:00 and I seriously recommend that you read it.It takes time (just a couple of minutes) to read it and see who is having password problems or whose account is being hacked.

Hackers and script kiddies (junior hackers) have enumeration tools that can scan a network to find out what operating systems networked computers are running as well as what accounts are on those computers. Yes, they can tell if you're using Windows XP Pro or XP Home. They can tell if your server is Windows Server 2003 or Windows Small Business Server 2003. They can even tell if you have an account on your server that is still called "administrator" and if the notes designate it as the main admin account.

These tools are dangerous because they can see what accounts are on your server. As a small business, you probably don't have the funds to spend on a large intrusion detection system. You also can't afford to have your server to have your server hijacked and your data stolen.

This is where the time and "Server Performance Report" come into the picture. Take the time to:

1. Perform the "Best Practices"
2. Run MSBA
3. Enable password requirements
4. Require passwords to be changed on a regular basis
   
5. Enable account lockout policies
6. Rename and change the description of the "administrator" account
7. Setup (once) and read the "Server Performance Report" (daily)

If you don't read the report, it does you absolutely no good and it becomes just another piece of spam... But this one you send to yourself.

Happy computing,
Tim

Labels: How To, My Thoughts, Windows Server Tips

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There is some nasty "extortion-ware" on the loose that neither SpyBot nor AdAware can get rid of. If you have it, in your taskbar (the icons at the bottom right corner of your screen), there is usually a red circle with a white "X" in the middle. It will pop up a warning that says "Warning! Potential Spyware Operation. Your computer is making unauthorized copies of your system and Internet files. Run full scan now to prevent any unauthorized access to your files. Click here to download spyware remover...."

DO NOT CLICK ON IT OR CLICK YES!!! The creators of this are trying to get you to buy their software through extortion. They create a problem, tell you that it's there and then want you to buy their software to make the problem disappear. That is illegal and you shouldn't have to pay them to remove the problem that they created.

What you need to do is download a program called ComboFix. Instructions for using it can be found here and the program can be downloaded here. How much does it cost? Nothing. ComboFix is a free software created for the purpose of removing spyware (software that shouldn't be on your computer in the first place).

There is disclaimer that says approximately 1% of the computers that use this software aren't repaired correctly. The case is similar with most malware repair software. There are always computers that are overly infected and can't be repaired. If that is the case, your only options are to buy a new computer or have everything, including Windows, reinstalled. But before you throw your computer out the window, try the ComboFix free software.

Happy Computing!

Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts

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When you purchase a new store-bought PC, it comes with the Operating System and other software preinstalled. But, how many CDs does your computer come with? Probably just 1. If you call the manufacturer immediately after you buy it and ask for the OS (Operating System) discs they'll send them to you for free. They don't want to give you the discs because it costs the manufacturer more money (about 1 dollar) but you are entitled to them.

In order to save money, they put a "restore partition" on your hard drive so that if you corrupt your system you can restore it. But what happens if your hard drive dies and you lose both partitions? You're out of luck because you don't have any CDs to restore from.

Of course you should always back up your system but we all know that not everybody does this.

So Contact the manufacturer as soon as possible. Below are phone numbers for different computer manufacturers.

HP or Compaq: (800) 474-6836

Dell: (800) 879-3355

Toshiba: (800) 457-7777

Gateway: (800) 369-1409

Emachines: (408) 273-0888

Sony: (800) 282-2848

I hope this helps you all. Don't forget, these companies are just trying to save themselves about a buck and you shouldn't have to be short-changed just to keep their stock prices up.

Happy Computing,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts

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As a computer networking professional, I keep lots of private data on my USB Flash Drive and I can't have it falling into the wrong hands. I have been looking for a good, quick program that I can use from my jump drive, doesn't require admin rights on other PCs and is secure.

Just the other day I found FolderLock. It is exactly what was looking for. You have different options on how to use it. You can hide, scramble or encrypt folders. Even the encrypt option, which they say is a little slow, is MUCH faster than the other programs that I found. It is compatible with Windows Vista, Server 2003, XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, and 98SE and works on all kinds of disk types like FAT16, FAT32, NTFS.

FolderLockhas the ability to use it in free version. It has a short waiting period of approximately 5 seconds before you can enter your password to view your files but this is certainly acceptable. If you do decide to purchase it, the cost is only $35 and you get the advantage of additional options that include Stealth Mode, Hacker Attempt Monitoring, Shred files, AutoLock, Auto Shutdown PC, Lock your PC, Erase PC tracks, 256-bit Blowfish Encryption and Context Menu in Explorer.

Always keep your personal or business data safe.

Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To, My Thoughts

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I just posted an article on how to install PHP in Windows Server 2008 or IIS7 that included a Batch File. I just thought that maybe some of you that are reading this don't know how to create a batch file. So here are step by step directions on creating a batch file under Windows XP or Vista.

1. Go to the blank desktop and right-click on it.
   
2. Choose "New" then choose "Text Document"
   
3. Name it whateveryouwant.bat. The ".bat" is the important part.
   
4. Copy your text commands into it and save it.
   

Viola! You have a batch file. Now just double-click it to run it.

Enjoy.
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To

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I was recently attempting to install PHP into Windows Server 2008 Web Edition with IIS 7.0 and I had to google how to do it. I found a few pages that gave instructions but all were incomplete. Whatever I tried I repeatedly got the message "The specified module required by this handler is not in the modules list." What the heck does that mean?

Well, in short I found a page by David Wang that tells you what text to put inside a batch file that installs PHP ISAPI in IIS7 (IIS 7.0). The text for the batch file begins right after where he typed "//David". So copy from "@IF ?%_ECHO%?==?? ECHO OFF" to "ENDLOCAL". Run the batch file after you close the Server Manager.

When you restart the Server Manager, you will then see "PHP-ISAPI" under your Handler Mappings heading. Once you see this, you know it's installed.

Tim

Labels: How To, Windows Server Tips

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Windows Vista has a "Safety Mechanism" called the User Account Control or the UAC for short. The UAC pops up tons of unnecessary windows asking you if you want to do this or that. Of course you do. That's why you clicked on it!

In computer networking it is often necessary to perform an "ipconfig /release" or "ipconfig /renew" but Windows Vista won't allow you to perform the necessary "ipconfig /release" if you have the UAC turned on. You'll get a message that says "The requested operation requires elevation." What do you mean it requires elevation? I'm already logged in as an administrator. Yes, you guessed it, the UAC overrides the Admin rights. So let's turn the UAC off.

1. Go to the "Control Panel" and choose "User Accounts".
   
2. Click on "Turn user Account Control on or off."
   
3. Get the stupid pop-up and choose "Continue".
   
4. Uncheck the box next to the sentence "Use User Account Control (UAC) to manage your computer."
   
5. Click OK then choose to reboot now or later.
   

After you have rebooted you can once again use the "ipconfig /release" command.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Labels: How To, Windows Vista Irritations

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I don't know about you but there are many things in Vista that, in my opinion, just aren't quite right. I know that this is pretty minor in the grand scheme fo things but it bugs me none the less. The "All Programs" menu has WAY too many icons in it so I decided to remove the ones that are irrelevant to me.

There are 2 ways to do this... The fast way and the complete way.

First I'll touch on the fast way.

1. Go to the Control Panel and choose "Folder Options".
2. Click on the "View" tab and look for "Show hidden files and folders". Click the button next to it then close that window as well as the Control Panel. Click here for an example image.
   
3. Now navigate to "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" and start deleting any icons that you aren't interested in.
4. Be sure not to remove any programs or folders that you may want to be there later.
5. Some of the extraneous icons aren't listed there so you may still have to do the complete way. But this way you can remove many more much faster than the other way.
   

Now it's time for the complete way.

1. Click on the "Start" menu and then click on "All Programs".
2. Right-click on any of the unnecessary icons and choose delete.
3. A pop-up will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click yes.

Pretty simple huh? I thought so too.
Tim

Labels: How To, Windows Vista Irritations

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Do you use Microsoft Office 2007? If not, this is a great reason to start!

With no expensive or additional software, you can easily create Abobe Acrobat .PDF conforming files within Microsoft Office 2007.

Simply download a simple plugin to allow this function. You'll have to download and run a program that verifies that your copy of Office is legitimate, but you should be able to handle that. Then after you confirm your version of Office, you will be taken to another page to download the actual plugin.

Once it is downloaded, run the plugin and agree to the EULA. After the installation process is complete open any of your Office, Excel, Publisher or anything else you want and choose "Save As" and change the format to PDF. That's it!

So create all the PDFs you want, for free!

Enjoy,
Tim

Labels: General PC Advice, How To

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Yesterday I had a client whose Windows XP computer downloaded the latest patches from Microsoft and the computer rebooted. And rebooted. And rebooted. And rebooted. I think you get the picture.

When we couldn't get it to boot I attempted to do a System Restore to the previous day and the computer froze upon shutdown. Very bad sign. It wouldn't boot after that so I tried booting from the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows</