At this time I am not recommending that users install the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 update. I generally advise waiting 30-90 days after a service pack is released before installing so as to avoid any early bugs in the update that may cause major problems with your system.
If you wish to proceed anything, here are some useful links and info to make sure you're prepared for the update before you run it.
Windows 7 SP1 Update Fails to Install
The quickest and easiest repair option is the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Open Control Panel, click in the search box, and type troubleshoot. Click the Troubleshooting link at the top of the search results, then click System and Security, and finally click Windows Update. The troubleshooter runs quickly. On my system, which had no noticeable issues with recent updates, it detected a minor problem and fixed it.
Taken from:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/microsoft-notes-windows-update-inconsistencies-provides-fix/3044
The entire process took less than 90 seconds and did not require a reboot.
If you're experiencing Windows Update errors and that troubleshooter doesn't work, haul out the big guns: the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7. According to a Microsoft support document published just a few days ago:
This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software. This tool checks your computer for such inconsistencies and tries to resolve issues if found.
If you're unable to apply the Service Pack 1 update to Windows 7, consider downloading and running this utility. Choose the version that applies to your installation:
32-bit Windows 7
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=44e15787-66b0-4e9c-9c3b-1fc9ea40f69f&displaylang=en
64-bit Windows 7
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=914fbc5b-1fba-4bae-a7c3-d2c47c6fcffc&displaylang=en
Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit only)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=c4b0f52c-d0e4-4c18-aa4b-93a477456336&displaylang=en
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tips, Tricks and Software Recommendations
Software Tips, Tricks and Recommendations
Valued Clients,
I've put together a brief summary of program tips, tricks and recommendations that I've come across over the past few months and would like to share with you to help enhance your productivity, pleasure and profitability of your IT investments.
Email
Have you ever been traveling with your laptop only to find that you can receive but not send emails from your Sympatico, Aliant, AliantZinc, Eastlink or BellAliant email address? This is a regular question I get from clients. The reason this happens is that most internet service providers block the sending of email (even if it is an email account under their domain) through their outgoing mail server if you are not using their internet connection. Finally, there is a way around this!
If you use an @eastlink.ca email address, all you have to do is enable authentication (login) to your outgoing mail server, change your outgoing server port to 587 and enable SSL.
For ANY email account (including Eastlink) Google's Gmail outgoing mail server can also be used. What you need to set this up is a gmail.com email address, and then enable authentication (login) to your outgoing mail server using your gmail.com address and password, change your outgoing server port to 465 and enable SSL.>
This setup works because the block put on by your internet service provider only applies to non-authenticated logins on port 25 of the outgoing mail server.
Too nerdy for you, but still want this setup? For the remainder of the month I'm offering on-site setup for $89.00+tax or remote for $69.00+tax. Save yourself time, frustration, and increase your mobility and decrease your reliance on webmail and enjoy a high return on investment!
Windows 7
Windows 7 is here and it is a great operating system – night and day compared to Windows Vista. In fact, Windows 7 runs faster than Windows XP on the same hardware. Other reasons for recommending Windows 7 include much improved security, home and business networking, performance and user experience. I am actively promoting the migration to Windows 7 for all home users and for most business users. Business users need to ensure that any special applications they use, such as point-of-sale or client relationship management have versions that are Windows 7 compatible. All users should also be aware of what programs and hardware might not be compatible with Windows 7 by downloading and installing the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Antivirus
I am currently recommending and installing Microsoft Security Essentials and >Avast for free antivirus solutions. I do recommend ClamWinAV as well, but for advanced users only as additional post-install configuration is required for highest security. Past recommendations such as BitDefender and AVG have fallen from grace in my opinion. AVG Free 2011 works well but is quite slow and intrusive relative to others and BitDefender has installation problems on many WindowsXP computers.
As for paid antivirus I continue to recommend ESET NOD32 Antivirus – with 3 years in the top 3 antivirus solutions (AV Comparatives) and 2 Year subscriptions as low as $65.00+tax and significant discounts for multiple computer licenses, ESET is hard to beat. It runs quickly on old and new computers alike – unlike the more commonly used programs such as F-Secure, McAfee and Norton which tend to only work quickly on new computers.
If you are considering changing antivirus programs, please remember to uninstall your current antivirus first, before installing the new one!
Office Productivity
I wholeheartedly recommend OpenOffice 3.3 for those who need to be able to open, edit, and create Microsoft Office format documents but don't want to spend the $150-$500 for the latest version of Microsoft Office. OpenOffice is a great product and has a very familiar user interface, similar to Office 2003.
I also want to take this opportunity to address a common misperception about Microsoft Office. Many people incorrectly assume that Microsoft Windows comes with Microsoft Office. This is absolutely false. These are two separate programs and unless you've paid extra when buying your new computer to have MS Office licensed and installed on your new computer, don'texpect that it will be there for more than a 30-90 day trial version. Again, I stress Microsoft Windows is NOT the same as Microsoft Office.
One big change I'm now recommending to clients is abandoning Adobe Reader in favour of FoxIt Reader. FoxIt is smaller, faster and more lightweight than Adobe Reader, without the constant updates, and has less security holes in it. If you decide to switch over to FoxIt Reader, one thing to watch out for is that during the installation, when you are presented with an option to install the Ask Toolbar, be sure to click "Decline" so that an unneeded Toolbar does not get installed.
Browser
By now you've been inundated with ads, pop-ups and programs trying to get you to install Google Chrome browse. I have to say I finally made the leap last week and now use Google Chrome as my primary browser. It is lightning fast, takes advantages of unique page caching features and of course works great with other Google services such as Blogger, Gmail, Google Docs, Analytics, and AdSense to name a few.
One disclaimer is that some websites will not work in Chrome meaning you should still have a backup browser available for these few sites. The main site that keeps me going back to Firefox is LogMeIn.com. Currently, LogMeIn remote access does not work in Google Chrome.
Backup
I really love the backup program called Allway Sync for local file backups. It is a super powerful and flexible program that can backup sets of files to an external hard drive or network share manually, on a regular schedule, or on specific cues (like auto-start backup if nobody is at the computer for 10 minutes). I highly recommend this program and it is well worth the $20USD for the Pro version if you find the freeware version too limiting.
I'm also keeping my eye on a new backup service from LogMeIn, aptly named "LogMeIn Backup". I will be testing this out over the next month or two. The program essentially allows you to remotely backup computers to your local computer/network. This is really handy for people with a home and office computer in two different locations that need to be backed up. You can remotely back up the computers to one another over the internet. Sounds really slick!
Love Snow Days, Hate Snow Days?
Whether you love them or hate them, snow days do happen. As a business owner you face lost productivity, rescheduling and a general interruption in day to day operations. But you also care for the safety of your employees, yourself and your families.
As an employee you miss appointments, meetings, and due dates on tasks due to circumstances beyond your control, making for a hectic rest-of-week. You also have time to spread work and leisure throughout your day and accomplish specific tasks or objectives you may have had for that day that you’d prefer not to miss out on.
An easy to implement way to balance the needs of an employer to minimize losses, maximize employee safety, and proactively enable employees is setting up a remote access solution at your home and office.
Remote access solutions allow you to access your computer(s) from any other computer in the world that has an internet connection as if you were sitting right in front of it (you can even send a fax from the office if you have the right type of printer!).
There are a number of solutions available that break down into these broad categories:
i) Web based portal – LogMeIn, GoToMyPC, etc
ii) Enterprise level – VPN/Server connectivity and Remote Desktop Connections (RDP)
iii) VNC based – opensource VPN-like service
Most small businesses, homes and home offices can suffice with free or low-cost web-based remote access applications. Be careful though, some free services don’t allow copy/paste between local/remote computers or allow you to print to your local printer.
Generally, enterprise and RDP based solutions are only needed in environments that have a server and domain based environment. In all cases routers settings must be modified to implement these types of solutions.
If you think that remote access might be a solution to the consequences of “snow days”, as an employer or employee, give me a call at 902-980-0989 or email ben.wiper@nerdsonsite.com and I would be happy to provide a free no obligation quote to deliver a solution tailor-made for your specific needs.
Solutions start as low as $89.00+tax if you have me set it up remotely for you, $119.00+tax for on-site service. Compare that to what one day of lost wages costs and multiply by the number of snow days on average per year. I’m sure you’ll find the return on investment to be very high.
Finally, here are a few links to studies on the increased productivity and retention rate achieved by executive an effective telecommuting environment:
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/remoteworklifestyle/Remote_Work_Lifestyle_Productivity.htm
http://www.bnet.com/blog/teamwork/ha-i-knew-it-remote-working-boosts-productivity/1101
6-Part Video Webinar about Remote Access Solutions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnuU0P93zl4
As an employee you miss appointments, meetings, and due dates on tasks due to circumstances beyond your control, making for a hectic rest-of-week. You also have time to spread work and leisure throughout your day and accomplish specific tasks or objectives you may have had for that day that you’d prefer not to miss out on.
An easy to implement way to balance the needs of an employer to minimize losses, maximize employee safety, and proactively enable employees is setting up a remote access solution at your home and office.
Remote access solutions allow you to access your computer(s) from any other computer in the world that has an internet connection as if you were sitting right in front of it (you can even send a fax from the office if you have the right type of printer!).
There are a number of solutions available that break down into these broad categories:
i) Web based portal – LogMeIn, GoToMyPC, etc
ii) Enterprise level – VPN/Server connectivity and Remote Desktop Connections (RDP)
iii) VNC based – opensource VPN-like service
Most small businesses, homes and home offices can suffice with free or low-cost web-based remote access applications. Be careful though, some free services don’t allow copy/paste between local/remote computers or allow you to print to your local printer.
Generally, enterprise and RDP based solutions are only needed in environments that have a server and domain based environment. In all cases routers settings must be modified to implement these types of solutions.
If you think that remote access might be a solution to the consequences of “snow days”, as an employer or employee, give me a call at 902-980-0989 or email ben.wiper@nerdsonsite.com and I would be happy to provide a free no obligation quote to deliver a solution tailor-made for your specific needs.
Solutions start as low as $89.00+tax if you have me set it up remotely for you, $119.00+tax for on-site service. Compare that to what one day of lost wages costs and multiply by the number of snow days on average per year. I’m sure you’ll find the return on investment to be very high.
Finally, here are a few links to studies on the increased productivity and retention rate achieved by executive an effective telecommuting environment:
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/remoteworklifestyle/Remote_Work_Lifestyle_Productivity.htm
http://www.bnet.com/blog/teamwork/ha-i-knew-it-remote-working-boosts-productivity/1101
6-Part Video Webinar about Remote Access Solutions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnuU0P93zl4
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