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Tips on Organizing Your Computer Files

2010-01-13T18:53:20Z

When I began using computers it was easier to sort and store files as we saved them all to floppy disks and we would place a label on the disk and write on the label the file type, or name, etc. Because the files were so much smaller back then I would typically save my word processing documents to one location and my spreadsheet files to another disk, etc. However, this was also back in the days before the office quite came along and a 20MB hard drive was over $300.00. So space was a premium and it was rare that my spreadsheet information was incorporated into my word processing document because that would require about 5 hours of special conversion, etc.

Nowadays with Office Suites, sharing the same space and Operating Systems that provide a person a specific profile and space to save documents it seems that we don’t pay much attention to organizing the files. We just keep saving them to the ‘My Documents” folder in hopes of finding the files later. For the most part, this works, but there is still a better way. At least in my opinion, and here are a few of my suggestions and tricks to make life easier at times.

It seems that all things make their way to the “My Documents” folder, but for me I like to limit this space to only legitimate documents. Believe me I have all types in “My Documents” folder; from Word, Excel, Database, PowerPoint, graphic files, PDF and even just plain text files in this folder. What I do not like to put into this folder and sub-folders are downloaded programs, drivers, and zip files. I like those to live in a different place. Why not? Because these files tend to be on the larger, side and are harder for the index utility to sort out.

The operating system has a built in file organizer called an indexer and this utility goes through your files to gather key words, name, and other attributes to help you find them faster later on. Nevertheless, the indexer does not always like zipped files or executables. Therefore, I like to move the files elsewhere. Another aspect is that when your profile loads (kinda, more or less is keeping track of) these items into memory, and this can slow down your system. Therefore, I place all my program files and zip files somewhere else on my hard drive.

Because files are related or used in other documents these days, meaning that your Excel sheet has info that you copied into the Word doc, I like to store my files by project or same subject. A good example might be my doing my taxes. I have an Excel sheet that I am using to sort out some of my deductions and I have some PDF or Word doc that is a receipt or document needed for another part of my taxes. Therefore, I would save these items under 2009 taxes because all items are for the purpose of my taxes.

Nonetheless, I like to take this a bit further and make document cleanup easy. When dealing with documents that have a lifespan, so again I will use my taxes as an example. I am working on my taxes, and I know that I need to keep all documents for seven years after the year that I submit my taxes, so I am submitting my 2009 taxes in 2010 and want to add seven years for good measure, well that is now 2017 before I can even think about deleting those files. I have a folder called “Important Tax Files”. Under this folder, I have another folder called “2009 Taxes Discard after January 2017.” The benefit of this folder name is two-folder. First, you know that this folder contains your 2009 taxes. Second that the folder can be deleted after January of 2017. Therefore, in a few years when you are looking through your folders to see what you have out there, it will remind you to look for files and folders that are ripe for deleting and you will quickly know which tax folder to send to the trashcan.

Make your life easier, name your folders a good name that make sense and then keep only those items in that folder. With a little work, you will be able to organize your files and folders, be able to find things quickly, and even be able to determine items that you can delete. If the file is not needed for a long length of time, place it in a folder that is labeled for deletion and give it a deletion date. You can always change the date, etc if needed.

I too am trying to take my own advice as I have lived with the attitude of just keep everything indefinitely, since they are only electronic documents and not taking up real space in my file cabinet.

5 Items to consider with Microsoft Windows 7 and Small Businesses.

2009-12-10T07:22:33Z

If you are a small business, there are a number of items about Windows 7 that you might want to consider before just making the leap to the new OS. Here is a list of the ones that I think might influence your decision the most.

· Computer Upgrade Needs

· Features of your Old OS compared to Windows 7

· Deployment options

· Long Term Productivity

· Network / Server Configuration

The resources needed to run Windows 7 are a 1 GHz Processor (CPU), I Gig Ram and a DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. However, I recommend at least four Gigs of Ram and a Dual or Quad processor to utilize the speed of the newer OS. For Windows XP Mode you will also need an additional one GIG of Ram, 15 GB hard Drive space, and a processor with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on. If you are running a 32-Bit, OS then that maximum memory that you can install is 4GB’s. When running 64-bit you are limited to the Main board, but must have at least 2 GB. To find out if your processor support VT or V technology you will have to look that up on Intel’s or AMD’s web site. Therefore, your first hurdle is if your hardware will support the newer OS.

There is a great # of new features within Windows 7 to make it very attractive platform to move towards. Here are some newer features that I think are a worth while option to upgrade to Windows 7>

· Home Group Networking – a new utility that makes it easy to share printers, files and resources across any computer running Windows 7. Sharing files and resources have become easier.

· Bit Locker, this utility helps to ensure that your data is secure. Whether it is on an USB drive or your hard drive, you can now rest easy knowing that someone cannot gain access to your files.

· Improved Desktop Navigation, this makes getting around easier by letting you look into folders without having to open the entire folder. Plus you can add tools to your desktop that you use everyday.

· Aero Shake - you can quickly minimize all open windows on the desktop except the one you want to focus on. Just click the title bar of the window you want to keep open and drag (or shake) the window back and forth quickly, and the other open windows are minimized.

Deployment of Widows 7 is an area that you will want to examine, and this might determine how quickly that you decide to switch to the new OS. For example if you are running Windows XP there is no easy way to upgrade. You will be required to complete a new (Clean) install of the operating system. If this is something that you do not want to do, as perhaps you do not have all the original application install CD’s; then you might want to wait till you are purchasing a new computer. Likewise, depending on what version of Windows Vista that you currently have and what version that you want to go to, you will have to consider the options before going forward. A good example is this… you have Windows Vista Home and want to go to Windows 7 Professional. This will require an new install of Windows 7. One way around this would be to purchase the Vista Business with the automatic upgrade to Windows 7 Professional. So you would then upgrade twice. Once from Home to Business then from Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional. Another way to go would be to purchase Windows 7 Ultimate, which has it all, as it can upgrade any version of Windows Vista. The down side would be the additional cost associated with the Ultimate version.

Another facet is Long Term Productivity, meaning simply, how long will it take you to upgrade and are the features being gained going to compensate for the time. Not overlooking that not all your older software is going to work 100% with Windows 7. If you are running a very old program (meaning it was meant to run on Windows 98 or Windows 2000) then I would assume that this program might not work as desired under Windows 7. Yes, you can use the Windows XP mode, but that is going to be extra time to use specific apps in that way. So think about what you are going to gain, and not gain. Think also about speed of the newer OS and future applications. If your computer is just barely above the minimum system requirements, then the speed at which things will run will have a direct impact on your productivity. Now if this is a home computer and you are not so concerned that might be ok. However, if this is a business computer and the speed at which things are working has a direct impact on productivity, then this will end up being a huge item to consider.

Finally, I would be also looking at what the impact that this will have on your network and your network server. For small business, that have a dedicated Small Business Server or a Domain controller you will need to look at the large picture of security between Windows 7 and the server. One of the first considerations is what server OS you are running. For example if you are running Windows 2008 Small Business Server, then you are most likely not going to have a huge issue? If you are running Windows 2003 Server or Small Business Server, there might be some issues to consider in regards to logon scripts, certificates needed for live calendaring, and other requirements needed to ensure that DNS is working properly. There are too many types of issues that can arise to add them all to this article.

These are 5 items that most small businesses need to consider. Obviously this is not a complete list, but the most common items that will cause you heartache and pain in implementing a new operating system within your office.

Installing a Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless –N Range Extender

2009-12-06T09:04:33Z

Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless –N Range Extender

Recently a client came to me because he was having issues with his current wireless extender. He had his wireless router upstairs in his office and the signal worked ok for the second level, but when he went down stairs to work in the kitchen on his laptop he had almost no signal, showing only 1 bar. This seemed odd due to his kitchen being almost directly below his office upstairs. Obviously, there was enough interference with electrical and AC ducts, etc that he had no signal. Therefore, he tried a range extender and had that unit plugged in downstairs between his kitchen and family room, and still he had only one bar. Therefore, he called me in to investigate and deliver a solution.

I thought it best that I do some research and bring with me a solution that I think would work the best and solve the issues. After much reading on the Internet and looking at extender specifications and reading the fine print...Yes I read the fine print and look for the hidden gotcha of the different products, I finally settled on what I thought would be the best extender for my client. I opted for the Hawking Hi-Gain HWREN1 Wireless-300N Range Extender. This unit is not the least expensive on the market, nor the most expensive, but at $100+, one expects the unit to function well, be easy to install, and work consistently.

Upon arriving on site at my client’s house, the first thing that I wanted to do was to see what was currently going on with his network and his wireless connectivity. Again, he was only getting a single bar downstairs, but I wanted a better way to benchmark what we were seeing to be able to show any positive progress going forward. In order to do this I installed WiFi Signal Strength Monitoring software onto my laptop. After much trial and error of testing different Signal Strength analyzing software from my office, I had finally settled on inSSIDider’s Wi-Fi network scanner. I found this software to be rather user friendly and easy to gage progress.

One of the features that I like with the network scanner software is the ability to gauge dB signal. dB is the abbreviation for the power ratio in decibels of the measured power referenced to one milliwatt (mW). Since it is referenced to the watt, it is an absolute unit. Therefore, this is a great way to benchmark progress and the current network as well as how the new device is working. In looking at my client’s current wireless network downstairs, we were showing between a -80 and -90 dBs. Being a negative number the lower one goes the worse the network. The typical wireless network has a range of -10 to -70 dBs. This showed us that the current network was very low, and gives us an absolute reading to compare to rather than just the “1 bar” that the network card was showing.

After benchmarking, we were off to do the install. Installing the Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless –N Range Extender installs rather fast, but it does require being plugged into the current router and a PC/laptop near by. Therefore, I plugged the Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless –N Range Extender into his current router, and then put the install CD into the drive bay. At this point, you will be asked for several pieces of information so be prepared to know your current router’s user name and password, know your current SSID name, as well as your WPA or WEP passphrase. The automated install will do the following steps.

1.) The install software will scan and find your range extender; you will have to verify that this is truly your extender.

2.) You will then give your Range Extender a name

3.) The setup wizard will assign the extender an IP address, or you can manually enter an address into the software.

4.) Then you will have to choose the network that you will be extending.

5.) The security setting will have to match those on your current router, so here is where you will need that info mentioned above.

6.) Finally, the setup wizard will tell you that your range extender is completely setup and ready for relocation to where ever you want to extend your network.

7.) Go ahead and unplug from the current router, and exit out of the setup software, as you are ready to extend your network.

I did find one gotcha during the installation that is not mentioned in the documentation that is you might need to change the SSID on your current router. The range extender could not find the current SSID from my client’s router as the name was in two parts. His SSID was “Jones House” (I am changing the name to protect the client). So I would recommend that your SSID be all lower case as well as all one name. Once we changed the name to “joneshouse” the Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless –N Range Extender was able to find the SSID and talk to the router.

We then went downstairs and removed his old extender and plugged in the new one. Right away, we saw a huge improvement as his laptop was showing 5 bars. However, I wanted to see the results of the inSSIDider’s Wi-Fi network scan. The network scan showed a signal between -40 and -50 consistently downstairs. I roamed all over the downstairs area with my laptop and we had a good strong signal. It was good that we used this software to produce a benchmark as well as final test of the signal strength as the outcome proved the value of this wireless extender. By using, the wireless scanning software on a laptop is was easy to walk around and see the dB, thus showing areas that are stronger than other areas. Overall we gained between 40 and 50 dB’s by using this extender.

Microsoft Windows 7 XP Mode Support Considerations

2009-11-19T08:19:31Z

We have all waited for Microsoft Windows 7 release date so we can all look under the hood at the new XP Mode. We are all excited about being able to run our older programs in a Virtual technology spectrum. As a systems administrator I am looking beyond just the fact that I can run my older programs in this VT (Virtual Technology) mode, I am thinking about support issues. I look at what will ultimately be required to maintain this VT called XP mode, and how can I do this efficiently as well as effectively while not compromising the entire Windows 7 computer system. The other area that I am concerned with revolves around when there is an issue on the system, and how to go about recovering from that issue.

What I would like to start with is an explanation of how I like to reduce issue while making recovery quick and easy. First, I start with where I store my files. For small businesses and home networks, I find that a NAS RAID works the best. A NAS is Network Attached Storage, some type of hard drive that connected to your network not a specific computer. The Advantage of this is that everyone in the office or at the house can access the storage from their computer and either store or backup their files to this device. I then like to have the NAS unit utilize RAID technology. There are many types of RAID, but in this case, I will be referring to a RAID 1. RAID 1 is a mirror. So 2-hard drives share the same information, data and are complete replicas of one another. The reason that this is important is so that one drive cannot fail and you lose all your data. Both drives would have to fail, which is rare to happen at the same time. Thus, this helps to protect your data.

XP mode will allow you to connect to other computers on the network including NAS devices. Therefore, from a support perspective I think that I would want to keep my data in a safe place and not in the XP Mode Drive. XP Mode take part of the hard drive where Windows 7 has been installed and allocates space for the XP operating system, all programs installed, and all files stored within the user’s profile. Most software when installed (even in XP Mode) will default to the user’s profile for file storage. My first concern is what happens if that VHD (Virtual Hard Drive) space on Windows 7 fails. Will I be able to get to my data files that I was working on within XP Mode? By having those file saved to a NAS drive or a server, I can at least know that I have a safe location, one where I can quickly gain access when I need the file. If do not have a NAS or another computer, then the next best option is to create a folder on the root of C drive of the Windows 7 operating system. When you are in XP mode, there is a virtual C drive, but this C Drive is the Virtual Hard Drive. There is also another C Drive for where Windows 7 as a whole resides. By placing the files on that drive, then if something happens to the XP Mode profile, you can at least know your data is safe. This option still does not help you if there is a hard drive issue, but it is better than leaving the data in the VHD.

Next, after I have a good safe place to store my files, I use some of that space to store backups of my computer system. By installing a program like Symantec Ghost, I can backup my entire system including the registry, boot files, etc. Therefore, if I were to have an OS issue I can reinstall the OS, install Ghost, then take the ghost image that I created, and restore the entire system back to the way it was before the issue occurred. This can save hours and hours getting a PC back into operations when there is an issue.

Looking at the specifications of the new Symantec Ghost it appears that the software will be able to backup and restore VHD data sections along with the backing up of the OS. This will allow you to restore your XP mode system and all files without too much of an issue. I will have to so some testing on this and report my findings. At this time, looking at the specifications sheet of Symantec Ghost it discusses VHD’s and virtual machines. There are other ways to back this up as well. The backup utility from within Windows 7 should also do the trick. There is also the ability within XP mode to create the mode, install software and then to share the VHD configuration across a number of computer systems. Therefore, for an example if you are in a small business office and you want all users to have the same layout and feel of the XP mode, you can create one and then Copy it over to other computers for them to use the same programs, etc. This might be a way to at least make a backup of one’s XP mode after installing all software to ensure that if something does happen that one could just restore from the original VHD file and be back in business quickly. I can see the being extremely helpful for in the situation of the XP mode getting a virus. One just kills off the current XP mode, this killing off the virus, and then restoring a known good and clean XP mode VHD and thus being back to working condition in less than an hour or two depending on the size and location of the VHD file.

After looking at ways to ensure that data and the profile are safe and secure this still leaves a few areas to review. There are still Anti-virus, Malware, Spyware and firewall items to ensure that the system is safe, and more importantly that the entire computer systems remains clean. Most Virtual systems work in their own little box with no real ties to the outside world. In another words, they do not have easy access to the Internet or other hard drives where data can be stored. This is not the case in regards to XP Mode. Microsoft built this with immediate access to the Internet, access to both the VHD of “C” as well as connections to all the other drives within the computer system. For all intense and purposes XP Mode is just like running a dual boot system, but from within a windows on Windows 7. The benefit is that you can access things like the Internet and printers, USB devices, and anything else on the network. The down side is that these are potential risks.

Just like when installing Windows XP, I would start with the same basics. Once the initial install of XP mode is up and running, I would install Anti-virus software. I have a couple of recommendations on this aspect. One, there are many free-ware Anti-virus programs out there. Do not spend monies that you do not have to, go get a freeware version. Second, remember XP mode is 32 bit, so you just need a good 32-bit Anti-virus program. You might find yourself trying different versions as some might work better than others might with XP mode & Windows 7.

Next, make sure to enable the firewall. This is a simple step within XP Mode; actually, it will keep popping up windows screaming at you to do so when you install the XP mode package. Go ahead and enable. There is no harm in using this built-in utility to help keep your computer safe.

Just as you normally would, install your favorite spyware and malware program. I would also allow the program in immunize the files. Test this first before you begin to install your programs just in case it would cause any issues.

You will also want to keep on top of all the software updates and patches just as if you were running the regular version of XP. As mentioned prior, you are in a sense running two different operating systems, and you will in turn being needing to maintain two separate operating systems.

CPU considerations for Windows 7 and XP Mode

2009-11-18T07:30:56Z

If you are looking into purchasing a new computer and you know that you want to use the new XP Mode, you need to make sure that the processor is compatible. You also want to be sure that you meet the other system requirements from Microsoft. Here are the XP Mode requirements from the Microsoft site:

Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on.

Even new computers sold today may or may not have the new Intel VT or AMD-V technology. I was recently looking at a HP laptop with a client. Knowing that he might need the XP mode for some older software I did some additional investigation to find that the Intel Chipset that he was originally looking at did not have the VT option. Looking at the specifications of the next ship up did have this technology. By the way, the next CPU up cost only $40.00, but a well worth the investment now if one knows that they will need this technology going forward.

If you have a PC that is a dual or quad core, but not sure about the V or VT technology option, then go out to Intel or AMD’s web site and lookup your processor. The Intel web site is easy once you know the processor #. Mine for example is the Q9300. So from the main page I just did a search putting in “q9300” into the search box, minus the quotes of course. I then had a number of available documents/links. I then clicked onto the link: http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=33922 your link should look about the same. The page then tells you all the information needed for your processor 32 or 64 bit, speed, cache, FSB (Front Side Bus) speed, as well as, if it supports Intel Virtualization Technology.

To find the same information out about your AMD CPU takes a little more work. You can try putting in the chip # in the main search area on the main page. I was using 9950 as an example in case to see how easy it was to find the information. Look for link to a page called Model Number and Feature Comparison, click on that link. From there I clicked on a link on the upper right hand side called “Compare Phenom Specs”. The page that is displayed has a bunch of criteria options on the left hand side. Choose the Virtualization option and make sure it says “Yes”. This will now limit your list to all the Phenom chips that have Virtualization capabilities. Now just look for your processor number under the model section. In looking for the chip 9950, I see that it is on the list. Therefore, it is capable of virtualization.

Whether you are buying a new computer or upgrading to Windows 7 in hopes of running XP Mode, check out your CPU to make sure that you are able to use this new technology. As a final note only Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate can run XP mode. If you have Home edition, you will need to upgrade to take advantage of this new feature.

Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition Missing Features

2009-11-10T23:52:27Z

Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition lacks some basic functionality and features. These items include being able to use dual monitors. DVD playback, ability to change the default background image.

The Windows 7 Starter Edition is only for netbooks; actually, Starter is being installed on 23 of 28 netbooks available today on Amazon.com according to an article by Infoworld.

Microsoft has put this version of Windows 7 together to specifically work on netbooks, with the intention that you are using this as a small computer, not a normal laptop/notebook. For this reason, Microsoft stripped a number of features out of the OS and left you with the items that you really need. You can also install things like office and other browsers if you wish. But this is really a way to travel on the light side and not carry the 15+ in laptop screen weighing in at 7+ lbs. Most netbooks are lower priced units using 10-inch screens. These devices range between $300 and $500 dollars depending on what software is installed, etc. The main reason to buy is for ease of use, compactness and usually for price. They are a lot cheaper than a laptop, but can do much of what most laptops can for as little power and memory that they posses.

I think that these are great units for students! They are small, so they can travel well almost anywhere. They are light, so they don’t require an entire laptop case adding a huge amount of additional weight. They have built in WIFI.. Not only can these netbooks connect to regular wireless networks, but most are setup to be able to connect from any where via cell/3G data services. What is better than that when looking into a device such as the netbooks.

If you do not upgrade then you do have to live with some of the limitations, as those mentioned above. Not to forget only being able to have three applications open at one time. If you want to go one step further, you can always upgrade to Home Premium Edition for about $80.00 more. This will give more of the functionality that you are familiar with on your home PC or laptop. But beware, your netbook will still need to meet the standard system requirements for Home Premium, and because of the added features, you might find Home Premium to be slower and thus not as productive.

The Network Guy's July Blog Winner

2009-08-05T08:16:01Z

First, thank you to everyone that submitted a question and participated in this contest. I appreciate the questions, and guess what? You can continue to submit your question and have them answered for free. The winner of the contest is Cilla Green. She asked the question titled; “I'm looking for an External Hard Drive”. This was a great question, one that is producing several different articles related to backup options. One such article has already been written and is available via this blog site “Options for backing up Multiple Computers”. Thank you all again for your questions. Please let me know if answered your question to your liking.

I am having issues connecting to my WRT54G Wireless Router

2009-07-30T21:38:42Z

Having a wireless network available and being able to roam about the house and work anywhere is a great advantage, but only when things are working correctly. You actually have several issues to contend with:

· First, you cannot remember password, and therefore you cannot configure the router.

· You are not sure about the firmware

· I wonder about wireless compatibility.

· Finally, I think that you need to look at the security options

Password Reset:
Looking at the instructions for resetting the password to the wireless router, there are a couple of options/ways depending on firmware.

Option 1)

You unplug the power from the router, hold the reset button in, and plug the power back in, wait about 30 seconds and release the reset button. This should reset the IP address to 192.168.1.1 with a username and a password of admin.

Option 2)

Push in the reset button for 30 seconds on the router. This should reset the IP address to 192.168.1.1 with a username and a password of admin.

Upgrading Firmware:
The first step in upgrading firmware is to determine the current firmware. Open a web browser and log onto your router, in the upper right hand corner is your firmware version. Go to the Linksys web site www.linksys.com, go to support, and put in your router model #. Then select “Get Downloads”, select from the list your version # (version# can be found on the front of the router) all firmware upgrades available will be shown on the left hand side of the page. Download the file, then using the web admin utility for the router, go to the Administration page, and select the sub page of Upgrade Firmware. On this page, browse to the location of the firmware file, make sure to select the file, and then click the upgrade button at the bottom of the page.

Wireless Compatibility:

One thing that I wonder is the networking protocols used on your router and on the laptops. The wireless router that you have supports 802.11g / b. Although these are the most common these days, the new laptops have been shipping out with 802.11n. They laptops should be backward compatible with the

802.11g & b, but I have seen some rare conflicts where laptops with 802.11n just do not connect well with the 802.11g / b. I have seen this more on the security end, which I will address in the next section.

Security Options:

Finally, you will want to look at your security settings. Most of the new WRT54G routers support WAP security while some older ones do not. Then there are the different portions of the WAP security that can hang up the system. For an example, I have a newer laptop (under 2 yrs old) while my wife’s laptop is about 3+ yrs old. She can connect fine to the wireless router, but as soon as I enable WPA security, she can no longer connect. I had to work with the wireless router, play with all the different options available, and then do a lot of trial and error until I was able to find a solution.

Final thoughts:

You might find that your router is at end of life, meaning that it is just not working properly. Alternatively, that there is an issue with the firmware, but no fix available. Before purchasing a new route; I would reset the password, and update the firmware (this will need to be done with a direct-wired connection to the router from another PC or from the lan port on the laptop). Then make sure there is no security setup for wireless connectivity. Try connecting both laptops to the router via wireless. If both laptops can connect to the router ok, get IP addresses and browse the Internet you are most of the way towards fixing your issues. Next, try setting up WPA security and see if the laptops can connect. If one does, but not the other then you know that you are having some sort of compatibility issue. Therefore, you might have to do some tweaking.

If you have reset password, updated firmware, and ensured that there is no security for wireless connections, and you still have issues connecting via wireless, then it is most likely time for a new router. Be aware that a new router might not solve all issues; there could still be some compatibility issues between the network protocols.

Options for backing up Multiple Computers

2009-07-29T23:57:00Z

In a previous article I wrote about the different ways to backup a single computer. I discussed single drives to RAID sets, internal and external. One of the questions that came from that article was concerning backing up multiple computers. So In this article, I would like to develop our previous topic on backups and bring in the situation about multiple computers. This is always a challenge for some offices and nowadays for home computers users. It use to be that the only place that one would find 3,4 or 5 computers not connected in a network but sharing some resources was in a small office. This is no longer true as the prices of computers have fallen dramatically. Where a family felt lucky to have a single computer we have evolved to families where everyone has a computer/laptop. Add to this the larger and larger hard drives that are being installed in these new computers and we have a recipe for disaster. One where someone has lost all of their documents, photos or music; without a backup in place.

So what are the options for this type of situation? One of the fundamental issues that co-exist with this one is how does one build a home network, without spending a fortune, all the while maintaining some sort of security. So to answer the first question we first have to answer some others before moving forward. Home networks typically fall into the ad-hoc variety, meaning that they are not logging into a Domain Controller to gain special authentication to talk to other network resources. Ad-hoc also means that the computers are typically in a workgroup mode with each computer taking care of its own security, file sharing, etc. This is all good and so forth, until one need to share documents, etc. Being in an ad-hoc mode can also create issues with doing backups, and in ways of protecting your data. If you have a backup drive such as we talked about in the article “I'm looking for an External Hard Drive” how do you connect your other computers to the one with the backup drive? Better yet how does one maintain security, because if you share out the drive to others so they can backup their files, then that computer is now vulnerable?

Now that we have talked about ad-hoc networks, we need to answer some questions that will help to shape your solution.

· Can I create an ad-hoc network and maintain security?

· Are there other options to ad-hoc networks?

· Can I use a simple USB Drive?

Yes, you can have an ad hoc computer network system and maintain security! The best way to accomplish this is to keep the firewalls enabled on your computers/laptops and to use a NAS (Network Attached Storage) unit for saving data. This is a special unit that you install on your network and it handles its own security. You can then logon to the NAS unit and upload your files. There are several vendors that provide these units and the prices are not too bad ($300 - $400) Not including drives. This solution will allow all computers to connect, and each user can have their own password, etc. Some units even will act as a print server solving that issue as well.

But what if I do not want an Ad-hoc system? What can I do for my house that will not cost me a fortune and allow me to share resources and maintain security? For this solution, I recommend Home Server by Microsoft. The home server does not run AD (Active Directory, commonly used in business locations), but it does provide a central security system. You will want to make sure that the user account on your PC matches the user account on the Home Server. Accounts on the Home Server are for accessing data only, they do not allow for access to other computers. So you will want to makw sure that you have your own account on all computers that you will need access.

Home server will allow for RAID, so you can ensure that you have data redundancy, allows for up to 10 users, and has an easy to use interface for sharing our documents, folders, etc. The best part is now you will be able to get to your files from any computer on the network. Remember that you will still want a firewall running on your computers or between your ISP and your router.

Yes, you can use a USB drive to store data, but this solution does not allow for access to files from any computer at the same time. Therefore, when you are trying to find your photos from the last vacation, your kids cannot be accessing their MP3 files and listen to their music.

Both the NAS solution and the Home Server solution will provide data redundancy, access to files, and for the most part rather cost effective. Both will require a little setup and configuration, but overall the labor and time involved is no too bad, even for a true novice.

I'm Looking for an External Hard Drive

2009-07-15T00:18:37Z

As hard drives become larger and larger and the amount of digital media keeps growing on all of our computers, we find ourselves in a quandary as to how to store these items long term as to not lose them. If you are like me, you have many types of media; from photos to music to movies to podcasts, and they all take up a lot of room, and the files sizes are growing daily. Once was the day that hard drive space was such a premium that every file was kept as small as possible. We all ran compression utilities to ensure that even the graphic/photo files on our computers were as small as possible. At the same time, we were all thrilled when the first CDRW’s came out…. Sure, it took four or five tries to get a CD to write properly, but it was worth it because we could then take 600 to 700 MB off our hard drive. Now with DVD-RW units we are removing 4.7 to 8GB’s of data, but we are still not happy, as we want those items to be accessible at any moment in time to view, listen, watch…Etc.

This brings up two fundamental questions. Where are we today with storage? In addition, where are we going with storage, in reference to backing up data, and making sure we do not lose those digital photos? Use to be the day that we would at least have a print of our photo so if we lost the negative, well we could scan the photo back into our computer. Now with the digital age with one hard drive failure there goes all the photos of the entire family, all the music and video’s downloaded, and much, much more.

For this article, I am going to go with the parameter of a single computer situation. I will address multiple computers in a later article. For a single computer we will discuss the following options (yes, I know there are others, but these are the most common)

Backup to a Flash Drive
Backing up to another Hard Drive
Backing up to an external Hard Drive
Backing up to a External RAID Set
Backing up to an web (online) service

Flash Drive:
As described above the amount of data that needs to be backed up is growing and will continue to grow, so because most flash drives are around 8, 16 or 32 GB (yes there are larger ones; but the ones listed are more cost effective) These sizes will accommodate some people, but most often our media files will need more room that what can be accommodated. This option is a good one for transferring files between computers at home and work. My suggestion is to keep your flash drive around for your file transfers, but look at other options for true file backups. I will address in another article my thoughts on Flash Drives. A 16GB flash drive for instance will run you about $35.00 (for a reputable one)

Backing up to another Hard Drive.
The technological changes made to hard drives make this option a little more feasible even for the average computer user. Previously there were many challenges to making this option viable for most people; cost of drive, knowledge needed to install, software to back up files.

Nowadays this option is one to consider. Yes, you are backing data up to yet another hard drive, but the odds that 2 drives would fail at once is very rare. Therefore, if either your main drive or your backup drive fails, you simply replace the drive and copy the data/media files back.

With the new SATA drive, if you have a little mechanical ability (familiar with hand tools), able to follow some technical instructions, and can put your fear aside for a moment, you too can install a drive. The new SATA drives have a power cable, and a connection data cable. The cables can only be plugged in one way, and you no longer need to move jumpers on the drive. So you mount a drive into a storage bay and plug 2 cables in, and then start your computer. When you go to access the drive for the first time, the OS (operating system) will even ask you if you want to format that drive. This option is fairly inexpensive, but it does not allow for file transfers between say a work and home computer. This option will only help to backup your current system. Cost of say a 500GB hard drive will run you around $75.00 depending on your location. Not too bad of a price to ensure your data is backed up. I will write and article describing how to go about implementing this option. I will even include pictures. I think that your flash drive, especially due to cost is a better option for moving files from work to home and back again.

Backing up to an External Hard Drive:
There are a number of external hard drives on the market with a number of different options. They are handy, come in many sizes, are transportable, and even have built in utilities and security. Most of the external hard drives today are priced around $100+ all depending on size. Most have software to automate your backups. I have found that some of the drives are on the proprietary side, so if the external drive fails, then you have to buy a replacement drive from that manufacture or often times, send your drive into that company to be repaired. I would caution against a system that requires you to purchase a replacement drive from the manufacture, as this can be time consuming and might jeopardize confidential and/or private information. The benefit of the external drive is that you connect via USB or Esata, so the drive is usable on multiple computers. For the more adventuresome, there is also the option to build your own external drive. You can purchase an USB or Esata drive bay and install a hard drive of your choosing (there can be some minor limitation, such as size) and have the same functionality as other external hard drives. You will also need to purchase your own backup software, or use what has been built into the OS. However, this is a very common option, and fairly cost effective. In addition, by having a non-proprietary drive installed you have the ability to obtain a hard drive from your local computer store and not having to go back to the manufacture. I will discuss this option further in an upcoming article. There are several disadvantages to this type of backup:

There is only one drive, so if the drive fails, there goes all the data
The item could be lost or stolen
Hard Drives are still fragile (you do not want to transport excessively) or the unit could be damaged, etc.

Backing up to an External RAID Set:
Thankfully, the prices of hard drives have come down enough that using 2 drives in a mirrored RAID set is an option, even in an external unit so you can move the data from one location to another. In a mirrored RAID set there are typically 2 hard drives, and they mirror each other so that if one drive fails, the other will still retain your data. If a drive fails, you simply install a new hard drive and the RAID software will copy all the data onto the new drive to ensure that the mirror is exact again and you have a proper backup of your data. There are some manufactures that sell this option, but mostly this option is built by you or your computer professional. Like the option prior, you can choose the size of the hard drive (within reason) and with a little knowledge build the external storage unit. This option allows for both Esata and USB, can be transported between site (although like above, you want to keep to a minimum). This option does have the disadvantages of being lost or stolen, or a hard drive being damaged due to transporting. At least with dual drives the chance of both drives failing at once is rare. The cost to implement this option ranges between $150 and $200, but can go higher depending on the hardware that you choose.

Backing up to a web (online) service:
Many ISP these days are offering customers a web back up solution. For some this might be a good option, for others check out the fine print. Living in the Seattle area I know that Qwest is offering this feature, so I looked into what they are offering and some of the fine print, so as to share in this article and to help others not in this area by knowing what to ask their ISP provider. For example, they are offering 25GB of data storage online with any other their services, but you will have to pay extra depending on what kind of encryption/protection that you want to have. In addition, this service will only allow a single computer to be backed up, so you might be able to get to your home files from work, but you will not be able to backup your work files to this storage option. This vendor offers an unlimited amount of storage for a fixed monthly price, but then states that if your storage exceeds 150GB they might fall under other restrictions and maybe forced to open another account. They also indicate that this service is neither for business nor commercial activity. So do not expect to store your business accounting information thinking that this is a safe place. They also are not guaranteeing this storage, meaning that if a file is lost, well that is part of the risk of using their service. The benefit is that the provide software to backup your data and make it easy, and so long as you do not need encryption then you get 25GB free. The downside is that your data is on the Internet and the website might be compromised and there is a potential that someone might hack the site and have access to all your files. There is also the potential that something happens to their server, and you lose all data, thus negating the reason that you were backing up in the first place. If your ISP offers this service, find out about encryption, allocation of storage space and how many computers can access the files and how many can store.

Conclusion:
I think that backing up to another internal drive, external drive or an external raid drive set are the best options for backing up data on a single computer. With the price of drives today, you can easily have a 1TB Raid Storage Set for all your important files, and even a snapshot of your OS and programs. For moving files from office to home and back again, leave the external drives at home and invest in an USB Flash Drive and use that device for transporting files as it is smaller, easier to use, lowers the risk of losing data (no moving parts) and are more universal (no special software needed).

July Blog Promotion

2009-07-11T09:43:55Z

During the month of July all questions submitted via the Question form will be placed into a drawing to win a 8GB Super Talent Flash Drive. It is that easy! I will answer your question - Free of Charge, and some lucky winner will receive a Super Talent 8GB Flash Drive for the price of asking a computer question. You don't want to miss this great opportunity.

I look forward to your questions, and even more so providing an answer to you and the others readers.

http://www.thenetworkguy.net/ask.htm will take you to the form to ask your computer question tody

Problems installing a new Dlink Dir 655 router with Comcast

2009-05-05T00:46:57Z

I have had an older Linksys router running my network for quite some time, and everything has been running like a nicely tuned clock. My router has gets an IP address from my high speed interenet provider Comcast and the router has been giving out IP addresses to my internal computers on my network so all computers can access the internet.

Finally, my router has been showing some of its age; I have been rebooting it almost daily, it drops some wireless computers not allowing them to access anything, while wired computers are working as normal. It has not always been keeping track of DHCP properly. So at times, the router will give out the same IP address to two different computers causing a network conflict.

Therefore, after some research and talking with some friends on what they have had success and failure with, I finally decide on the make and model of my new router (Dlink Dir 655) and I go purchase the unit. Being a prepared individual, I looked at the installation instrauctions before I got started. The instructions consisted of about a page, one side showing the cabling of the new router and on the other side, how to run the install utility.

Thinking that this should not take too long, I went into my office, unplugged the old router, and put into place the new router. I then proceeded to run the install wizard. The wizard completed up tostep three (looking for the internet) and failed. The only help provided at this time was to call tech support. Not wanting a router to get the best of me, I went into the router settings using the web browser and user name and password provided. So far, so good! Everything looked normal, except when I went to the Status page and found that I was not getting an IP address from my Cable modem from Comcast. I did not even have the option of release/renew as the options are grayed out on the screen.

Therefore, I resolved to call tech support. I have to admit that I was not all that happy having to call them, and I was less happy with thequality of tech support received. I talked to the tech for about 30 minutes. I found that it I put the old router back into place, I was getting an IP address. If I connect, direct to a computer (only recommended for testing purposes) or when connecting to a router (other than the old one I had been using) I was not able to get an IP address. I even had a spare router, and tried that, still a no go. The advice from tech support…. Take back the router and exchange it for another one.

I am glad that I did not take the advice, because I would have been unhappy. First, I would have wasted time going back to the store (Costco) and we all know how long it can take getting through Costco. Second, I would have returned to the exact same issue. Third, I would have wasted so much time between goings, explaining, and re-setting up the new one, I would want to change brands.

So I did the next best thing, I did some research on the internet. I plugged the old router in and began to look for issues connecting with Comcast. Although, I did not find anything definate, nor anything that spelled out my issue; my gut told me to call Comcast. Somewhere I remember having some issue similar when I was setting the original router up years ago.

I explained all the steps that I took to the tech support person. He listened patiently, which is always nice, and told me that we needed to reset the cable modem. He said that fortunately, I had done all the heavy trouble-shooting and he knows that the issue is the Cable modem. He then told me that the cable modem remember the MAC address of the router in the system and will only give an IP address to the router that it remembers. Therefore, we need to reset the modem and allow it to find the new router.

His first set of instructions included the Cable Modem, the new router, and a PC. The PC only caused issues, so we are going to go through the steps in the way that I found that worked the best. First, plug the network cable between the Cable modem and router. Next, make sure the router is unplugged. Third, do not plug any PC’s into the router just yet. Have the PC on, just not plugged in. Now, press and release the Cable modems reset button. Wait for the unit to fully recycle and where all the lights are on as normal. Now, plug the power into the router, allow the router to fully boot-up. Now that both units are up and running, plug the nework cable from your PC into the router. If you are running Windows Vista, it may pop-up with a screen asking you to determine what kind of network you are joining. Cancel this window. Now, run the install CD for the Router, this ensures that the router is getting the IP address from the Cable modem. Once the install is complete, check the ip address on the PC. To do this, go to Start>Run, put in cmd, and click ok. When the black window comes up put in “ipconfig” without the quote marks. This will show the IP address for the computer.

So you have out grown your tape drives, what now?

2009-03-14T00:45:54Z

In looking to solve your issue I came across two main solutions. Solution 1 is to purchase a larger tape drive and continue to work within a tape structure.

The second solution uses RAID NAS Storage devices to solve the backup issues. Let us explore both options and the costs involved for eash as well as some pros and cons. In order to evaluate the two different media styles it would be best to list some objectives / criteria for the items being backed up.

1. We want the backup system to be able to backup all data as well as OS configurations so that the OS of any machine can be restored.

2. We want the backup system to not require someone to contantly be monitoring or having to require multiple tapes unless the tape handles the tapes automatically.

3. The backup solution needs to be able to backup all data nightly and specific servers/workstations once a week.

4. The backup system needs to accommodate 100% growth in data/os storage.

5. Small businesses with 3-5 workstions and 1 server, total storage needs to backup all OS’s and data equals between 200 and 300 GIGS.

The Tape Unit Solutions:

Most small businesses used the Travan Tape Style for years because the tape drives used an IDE interface and would accommodate either 20 or 40 Gigs of data, but this really was a solution to cover the data and not the OS of the server, or any of the workstations. At the time these units were very popular and the amount of data being backed up was within the contraints of a single tape. Now with the data explosion as well as high speed internet, downloads are larger, files are larger and as we can see from the information above, we really need a device that can handle several hundred gigs per tape.

Hardware options:

· Tape Drive that can handle between 200 and 400GBs data ranges from $700 to $1800.00 depending on tape cartridge type

· Tape Drive to manage between 800 and 1400 Gbs data range in price from $ 1200 and $3500, again depending on type.

Software:

In order to backup the OS’s of the server and the workstations we will need special software that can connect to workstations on the network.

Software for the server cost $600, and $80 per workstation to begin backed up process.

So the going with average prices of a 400GB tape drive, adding in 10 tapes, software and client licenses (5) the solutions cost approximitely $2700.00 not including tax and labor to have the solution installed and tested. How did we do concerning the objectives?

· It will backup all servers and workstations – Objective met

· It requires user intervention, but will only need 1 tape – objective partially met

· The software will do this without an issue, objective met

· So long as the client is on the lower end (closer to 200GB date) then this solution will met this objective. Otherwise the objective was not met

Overall this soltion meets the goals about 50 to 75% of the time.

Pros:

1.       Easy to take media off-site for storage in a safe place
2.       To add some additional capacity one can run backups across multiple tapes, more human intervention, but allows for data to be backed up.
3.       Great tool to archive items for legal purposes. Special backups can be run for example to capture all accounting data then stored off-site, or email, or projects.

Cons:

1.       Tapes are not always trustworth, they can fail at the worst possible time
2.       Data location change, folders move around, office environments are not static
3.       Most server based applications require specialized software to back them up, thus adding to the cost and the amount of time needed to massage the data to tape.
4.       Security issues, data on tapes is usually not encrypted.NAS Raid Storage Solution:

NAS (Network Attached Storage) Solution:

As businesses grow and the amount of data grows, businesses are looking for places where all computers on the network can connect to store large amounts of data. The NAS Storage solution helps solve the problem, and is a good back up strategy for some businesses. My recommnedation would be the following:

Hardware Options:

·         NAS Storage device that uses 2 hard drives in a RAID 1 (mirror configuration) ranges from $190 to $250.00 and up.
·         NAS Storage device that uses 4 drives in a RAID 5 (striped disks with parity) Which allows for both speed and data protection range from $350.00 and up depending on what features that one wantes.
·         Disk Drives, average cost of a 1TB hard drive is $130.00, price varies on model, make, etc.

Software:

· Symantec Ghost, the price varies depending on the number of licenses needed but average price is $69.95 per workstation.

In building out the NAS solution, I started with a dual drive bay and 2-1TB drives. I then wanted to make sure that I would be able to backup the server and five workstations. The average cost for hardware and software for this solution came in around $870.00. This does not include the labor and taxes that would be charged. So the initial savings is around $2000.00 between implementing a NAS solution over a tape drive solution. But how did we do on the other objectives.

· Using the Ghost software we can create a full image of all server and workstation systems on the network – Objective met

· By writing a few scripts and utilizing the tasks features within Ghost we can fully automate this process – Objective met

· Using schedules all data and OS will be automated to a specific time slot- objective met

· As for accomodating growth, this solution allows for about 3 times the amount of data being stored currently, objective met.

Overall this solution met all goals at 100% met, and the price was right.

Pros:

·         System can be fully automated, no tapes to worry about, no further expense.
·         Additional NAS units can be installed later to accommodate future data
·         Data retrieval is fast; one just finds the files need and copy and paste them back to where they are needed.
·         Can go to local computer store if a drive fails to replace failed mirror drive. No need to special order any hardware.·         Maintains security·         Easy to maintain

Cons:

·         Cannot take NAS Unit off-site easily for off-site storage
·         Cannot add more drives to RAID system, would need to add second NAS unit for more storage.
·         Archiving data would require a DVD drive to burn data to a disk to be stored off-site.

For my business needs, I think that the NAS solution provides the best resources wile staying within a budget.

Which Version of Windows Vista Should I Use?

2008-12-03T23:25:22Z

There are four version of the Windows Vista Operating System on the market, which one makes sense for my business? This article will discuss the different versions so you can make an informed choice.

The Four Versions of the Vista Operating System are as follows:

· Home Basic

· Home Premium

· Business

· Ultimate

As with all software, you pay for more features, and so it is true with the different versions of Microsoft Vista. Each version has overlapping features and the more money spent the more features you will have. So the big question is which version will give me what I need, but to where I am not spending monies on “Features” that I do not need.

The Home Basic version we might as well cut off the list. This version has the bare minumum, some of the feature that it is missing are not suited for laptops, cannot use secondary screen on laptops, and cannot share documents. This is the most stripped down version, think of a Geo Metro with the cheapes interior and manual everything.

The Home Premium Edition might be an option for a number of small businesses depending on your specific needs. The Home Premium Edition, built around the Media Center technology, so this version is great for artists and graphic designers. This version allows you to burn DVD’s and create high-definition movies right out of the box. Both features are not available in the Business version. This version works well with laptops and will automatically backup your files, and has an easy to use networking connectiivty installation wizard.

The Business Edition is what I believe that most businesses will want to use in their office, due to the added features that set it apart from the Home Premium. Although the Business Edition does not have built in DVD burning capabilities that can easily be remedied by installing the software that came with your DVD burner. Here are the features that I think make it a good investment:

· Protection against hardware failure, by using the PC Backup and Restore software. Here you can ensure that all your data is backed up and safeguarded on a backup tape or a file on a portable drive. Either way, knowing that your data and all your system configuration settings are saved and easily restorable makes this feature very valuable to your peace of mind at the end of the day. You can even backup to your DVD drive, how nice is that? The best part is that you can easily make a backup schedule further ensuring your data.

· Shadow Copy allows you to select files or folders that are automatically archived. This allows you to be able to restore a previous version quickly. So you are working on a file and the file has become corrupt. You can bring up a previously archived version and restore that to your working directory.

· Scan, Fax and receive images with Windows Fax & Scan, which allows for multiple user accounts, so you can say good-bye to genereic faxes because of several employees share the same computer. All faxes and scanned items are easily found, as they are stored in the same folder. The new Fax & Scan software has the look and feel of one’s email folder, thus making this feature easy to navigate, and it even has built in cover pages and works with your current contacts from email.

· Remote Desktop Connection allows you to access the files you need while you are away. By connecting to your desktop via remotely it is as if you were sitting right there, all your programs are accessible to you. From the comfort of your home you can remote onto your work computer whether on the same network or though the internet and get your work done. Perhaps you need a co-worker to verify that something has been done correctly, they too can remote onto the computer. There are many uses for Remote Destop Connection and it is only in the Business and Ultimate Editions.

· Windows Meeting Space, this is a unique tool that allows you to create an ad-hoc meeting environment with other people perhaps your customers also on Windows Vista, allowing them to view the presentation being hosted from your laptop. This feature also allows you to share files.

Vista Ultimate has all features from Basic to Home Premium to Business. So if you think that you need the media features of Home Premium along with the features from the Business version, then you will want to purchase the Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate version has one feature that is not found in any of the other versions and that is Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker prevents a thief who boots another operating system or runs a software hacking tool from breaking Windows Vista file and system protections or performing offline viewing of the files stored on the protected drive. This security is available by encypting the entire hard drive. Therefore, if you have to have ultimate data security, then Windows Vista Ultimate is your version.

All versions have the same basic system requirements.

· 1 GHz or better CPU either (x86) or (x64) bit.

· 1 Gig of system Memory

· 15GB Hard Drive Space

· 128 MB Video Card

· DVD-Rom Drive

However, having worked with Vista I would recommend the following items

· 2.0 Ghz CPU or greater

· Minumum 2 Gigs of Ram, Ideally you would want 4 Gigs or more of RAM

· Ensure that your hard drive is 100GB or better with 20 Gigs free space, the more free space the better.

Business Save money by purchasing Computer Maintenance Plan

2008-10-10T21:34:19Z

Small Businesses today are getting hit hard by the credit crunches and the speculations that are all about Wall Street and the financial markes. Although small businesses (defined by the Small Business Administration as employing fewer than 500 employees) make up 99.9 percent of the 27.2 million businesses across the nation, banks are holding back loans and other funds needed to operate and expand.

It is these same small businesses that rely on technology to operate and to keep moving forward. However as us small business owners are aware the cost of IT support keeps going up and up, especially the larger number of computers that you have at the office. So the great question is what can be done to lower IT costs?

Network Virtual Support has the answer to that question. We offer maintenance plans that allow for several aspects. First these plans allow for you to budget your IT expenses. Secondly by having a contract one receives a lower hourly rate by having a fixed contract. Third, with a maintenance contract service agreements are made so that someone can help within a set amount of time. Fourth you are receiveing services from a highly trained professional that can often times resolves issues much faster due to one’s caliber of knowledge. Finally by having someone monitor your systems on a regular basis, they can spot and often fix things before they become a full blown outage.

How nice it is to be able to plan and budget for your IT expenses. My clients enjoy knowing that they can budget their IT budgets, and that they will get the service that they need. By having a support contract they have the peace of mind that their IT solutions will not break the budget, but at the same time they are receiving service when they need it, on their terms (see maintenance plan sample below).

Everyone likes a good deal, and the maintenance plans offered through Network Virtual Support are just that, a great deal. By electing one of the maintenance plans you are guranteed to pay less per hour for the service you receive. Same great service, but with lower hourly rate if you go past your plan hours. We customize a plan for your business and ensure that you are getting the best deal possible. On average clients are saving 15 to 20 % of the cost of IT support by maintaining a maintenance plan. Over the course of a year this can add up significantly and on average is saving my clients between $500 and $1000 a year.

What if you could have an internal IT person on staff and ready to fix your issues as they arise, lowering your overall downtime and helping to keep productivity high; that sounds great but you cannot afford someone fulltime. Well with the maintenace agreement that we offer, we gurantee both remote and on-site service times. 90% of most issues that my cleints have can be solved via a remore solution in under 20 minutes. With high speed internet being as common-place and the telephone for most businesses I can offer a service guarantee that allows me to keep their computers running smoothly, thus increasing productivity and allowing your business to remain more profitable. As for the times that I am needed on-site, my maintenance agreement covers that as well. So you don’t have to call around looking for help and getting the same answer; “I can be there in a couple of days or next week.” I offer real-time solutions that keep your office humming. I offer service delivery times that allow me to be on-site when you need me, not when I have a free moment. By having a contract you are always on the top of the list when it comes to priority and service.

Furthermore you are getting high quality service and support from someone with over 25 years experience. Someone that has worked with a variety of types of businesses and people. From non-profit organizations with 5 to 40 employees to large corporations with over 250,000 employees I bring the lessons learned from all the places that I have worked with to provide you the highest quality service possible. Because I have worked with so many diverse industries from medical to engineering and from Data Centers to non-profits, I know how to provide solutions that fit your needs. My experience allows me to “know the answer,” rather that guess with the response of, “I think I know what is going on.” My clients have told me over and over again that they love that I am well versed in hardware and software and can solve the problem quickly and completely. Another way that I save you monies is by my ability to solve quickly. Whereas other technicians often need 2 or more hours to resolve the issue, I can usually fix the issue in less time. This helps maintain productivity and lowers IT cost to your business.

I am often asked what the value to a small business to having a trained professional monitoring their network and computers. For one of my clients I was able to save them over $2000.00 in labor. By observing how their 7 yr old server was functioning I was able to build them a new server and migrate all the Active Directory settings before their old server finally died. I was able to due this because as a trained professional I am able to recognize the downward spiral of the server. By moving everything I saved the company $2000.00 in labor by not having to re-create the Active Directory settings, users, accounts, etc. By migrating when we did; we also reduced significant downtime that would have occurred had the old server died. Oh by the way the 7 yr old server had a unrecoverable main board failure 2 days later. So had we waited any longer the bill would have been more money, not to mention the impact to overall productivity as all the company files were on that server. This has not been an isolated case. Being a trained professional and having spent so many years working with computers and servers I can often spot problems before they arise and resolve them before they cause an outage. One huge benefit of having a maintenance contract. Monthly I look at log files, verify what patches are needed and test them before I install on client’s computers, I keep a look out for hardware issues and check the status of Raid’s sets, backups, as well as the health of AD, DNS, Firewalls, etc.

So how does this all work? What does it cost?

The answer is that I customize you r plan to meet your specific needs. However here is an example:

Description	Custom Plan Details	Savings
Monthly Fee	$400.00	$170 saved compared to not having a Plan
Onsite & remote support hours	6 hours Per month	$28.00 Per Hour Savings
Emergency Server Down	Response within 2 business hours	Increasing Productivity
Additional Hourly Rate (over monthly hours)	$70.00 Per hour	21% Savings per hour
After Hours / Weekend Support	Included	Reducing Downtime
Minumum on-site Visit	2 Hours	Included in Plan
Travel Charges	Depending on Area	Travel charges are reduced for clients with a maintenance plan
Prevenative Server & Workstation updates, patches & fixes	Included	Professional Services have shown to save clients substantal $$ over time