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19. December 2009 by admin.
I have faced this problem twice now and it is so oddball that I decided I needed to catalog it for future use. It just so happens that a couple of my users had messages stuck in their outboxes - one had some read receipts that were showing in the outbox and not sending while the other had an empty outbox but their Outlook stated it was trying to send 1 of 77 messages. It turns out that there is a tool designed to troubleshoot and assist in the development of Outlook add-ins that is very suited to help in this particular situation - it is called Outlook Spy and is totally free. I would like to give credit to Andrew Culture who posted here - http://lawsie.blogspot.com/2008/11/delete-invisible-messages-that-outlook.html and the owner of http://www.outlook-tips.net for this post - http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/delete_rr.htm. Here is the gist of what they are saying:
This post is not for the faint of heart but did fix the problem with both of those rare issues with Outlook.
Posted in MS Outlook Tips, Troubleshooting | No Comments »
12. November 2009 by admin.
Even with the safeguards of virus protection, firewalls and backup systems there is one thing that you cannot protect your computer from – time. Because the computer still contains mechanical workings it is prone to failure at any time and has a definitive life expectancy of about 3 to 5 years in the home. The major software companies have taken a queue from this and started to require that new software be purchased every 3 years with the threat of no longer supporting older versions – Quickbooks comes to the top of the list on this one. Microsoft is also trying to match this schedule with the release of a new operating system every 4 years, but as we all know Vista was a flop so Microsoft has worked diligently to make this year’s operating system better.
From all the press I have been reading there are more people willing to praise Microsoft’s latest offering, dubbed Windows 7, as “Vista done right” than there are those bad mouthing it. With the cravat that there is a steep learning curve to be had for those moving from Windows XP, I would also recommend moving to Windows 7 for those that are buying a new “home” computer or for those unable to get Windows XP anymore for their business machines. Also before taking the leap make sure that all important software/ hardware is compatible with Windows 7/ Vista and if moving to the x64 version of Window 7 that you computer is compatible (a wonderful Microsoft tool is located here for that purpose - www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx). With that said, I have had many clients come to me lately and ask for my opinions about what they will need in a computer and I wanted to extend my thoughts to those faithful few who read my articles.
I hate to lump people into categories but for the purposes of this article I will be using the following groups:
· Light Users – These are the users who generally check their email and do some website surfing. They may have some other software they use but don’t keep too many programs open at once.
· Regular Users – These are the users who have many different programs open at once and use all of them constantly to get their day to day computing or business done. These may include light desktop publishing or simple games but their programs are not graphics / resource intensive enough individually to warrant expensive high end equipment.
· Power Users – These are the users that include cutting edge gamers and production class graphic designers. They are in need of the most cutting edge hardware because the programs they use demand it to function at a normal level.
For the light users out there the specs will be simple and the price range should be less than $500 for a standard desktop or $750 for a laptop. The internal components will include any modern processor (as always dual core or better is preferred), at least 2GB of RAM to efficiently run the operating system and basic software, and a decent sized hard drive around 100GB or more depending on the amount of pictures and other files the user plans on saving. Most of the other components will be standard and generally unused by the light user, so don’t worry about them unless aesthetics or functionality is a concern.
Regular users will need to be willing to spend a bit more to gain the needed computing power to function properly and have an uncomplicated computing experience with the price range being around $1000 for a desktop and $1,200 -1500 for a laptop. The internals of a regular user’s computer will need mid-range processor (my personal preference are the new i7 line from Intel but the multi-core line-up from AMD is starting to look better), as much RAM as the user can afford (be aware that anything over 4GB means the operating system is x64 and could mean issues with older software and hardware), and these users typically download music, video and edit photos so they will need more on board storage generally 250 – 500GB will do the trick for all but the most hungry consumers of online media, and finally the regular user will want to really take a look at the additional components of the computer to see if it has all that they need to get their work done.
Finally the group of people I like to call power users which will need to invest a great deal of money to extract the greatest possible computing power for their extensive computing needs. For the avid gamers the need for a high-end video card that will be able to crunch out the most demanding games at great speed to the largest monitor available is a must. For those doing production graphics the need for a production class video card is needed to do their work with manipulating video and 3D animations. All the internals will have to be top of the line or at least as close as possible to the top with as many processor cores as will fit on the motherboard (currently 8 are possible) and as much memory as will fit. Large arrays of hard drives in the terabytes of storage will be needed to house the massive files needed to play games or that are created by those in production. For the gamer on the go there will need to be lots of bells and whistle to intimidate their opponents but for the production people the money will always go towards more horsepower.
Take the time to consider all the options available and decide which category of user that best suites, then do lots of shopping both in-store and online to find the deal worth taking. Once the shopping experience has begun, remember that the advice of a trusted professional should always be free – as it will help them to better serve you in the future.
Posted in General Knowledge | No Comments »
1. October 2009 by admin.
Had a clients laptop that came back to me after virus removal / fan replacement because of the wireless network adapter not picking up an address aka it was stuck trying the “acquiring network address” part of the DHCP initial handshake with the router. After going through all the usual steps of updating drivers, uninstall / re-install, and netsh winsock reset / netsh int ip reset the only place left to turn was Google for the answer. I have to give great big ups to Rashem’s Troubleshooting Windows Site for the following post originally located here:
The DHCP Client Service in Windows XP, depends on these three components:
If one of the above drivers fail to start, then the DHCP Client Service may not start.
Open Windows Explorer and navigate to %Windir%\System32\Drivers folder. Make sure that the following files are present in the folder:
If one or more of the above driver files are missing, extract them from the Windows XP CD-ROM or from the ServicePackFiles\i386 folder, whichever is the latest version.
From other sources in the Web, I’ve found that installation of Norton Antivirus (NAV) adds an entry to the DHCP Service dependencies, and removing NAV does not remove the corresponding entry from the DHCP Dependencies.
To view the dependency services registered for DHCP Client Service, type the following command in Start, Run dialog:
CMD /K SC QC DHCP
Verify the output. It should be exactly as below:
[SC] GetServiceConfig SUCCESS
SERVICE_NAME: dhcp
TYPE : 20 WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
START_TYPE : 2 AUTO_START
ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL
BINARY_PATH_NAME : C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
LOAD_ORDER_GROUP : TDI
TAG : 0
DISPLAY_NAME : DHCP Client
DEPENDENCIES : Tcpip
: Afd
: NetBT
SERVICE_START_NAME : LocalSystem
If additional entries are listed under DEPENDENCIES…
If any other additional drivers or Services are mentioned in the DEPENDENCIES section, you need to remove them via the registry. Follow these steps:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ Dhcp
Tcpip
Afd
NetBT
Next step is to verify that the three dependency components are running. Follow the steps below:
- TCP/IP Protocol Driver
- NetBios over Tcpip
I got it to finally work using the regedit portion of the fix. I didn’t see any portion of their site to rate the fix but thanks a million to the owner of that site.
Posted in Troubleshooting | No Comments »
15. September 2009 by admin.
Most people would think of fire as a destructive force of nature that consumes all in its path, but in the realm of networking a “firewall” is a means to protect internal networks from external threats. The word firewall might be one that has been mentioned before, but its purpose as part of the network might not be clear, so in a nutshell here is a simple definition. A firewall, in the networking sense, is software which looks at all the traffic going between the computers on the internal network and with the outside world. The software contains a set of rules and traffic patterns that are used to govern which communications are allowed and which are dropped. This sort of protection is highly recommended no matter what the size of the network in order to prevent unwanted intruders from accessing internal network computers and keeping internal network traffic from being broadcast to the outside world. Also, depending on the type of data that is stored on the network there may be governmental regulations about the type and scope of the firewall needed to meet security compliance. This firewall protection comes in two general categories – pure software firewalls and hardware firewalls with each having a security niche to fill.
The pure software firewall itself comes in two varieties – one for the single computer home network and one installed on servers for use on more robust networks. The software suited for the single computer home network contains a very strict set of rules and traffic patterns that harness some of the computer’s resources to restrict all but the most rudimentary traffic to cross the network. Many of the major security software vendors’ internet security” programs do have the ability to be altered to allow other more advanced network traffic to traverse the network but it does take some knowledge of networking and /or the software to make these changes. This kind of software is suited for a single computer because maintaining the advanced settings needed for a more robust network on multiple machines becomes exceedingly difficult if not impossible using this single computer software firewall system. For those that do want a pure software firewall on a more robust network it is advised to install advanced firewall software like Microsoft’s Internet Authentication Service on the network server. This server then becomes the portal through which all network traffic is passed and the power of the server’s resources is utilized to monitor the traffic across the network. As with the advanced settings on the single computer software, this server firewall’s settings will have to be set by someone with advanced networking experience in order to tailor the rules and traffic patterns to meet the needs of the individual network and company software.
The main downside to pure software firewalls is that they use the resources of a computer to monitor the traffic and depending on the amount of traffic this can burden the system. In order to take this burden away manufactures have made mini computing devices tailored specifically to run firewall software. This usually allows for easier setup of multi-computer home networks as the manufactures have developed smaller less robust versions of these mini computing devices that out of the box allow the typical network traffic to traverse the network while providing protection from the outside. The major network security hardware manufactures also have product lines that get more complex and customizable based on the size and particular needs of the network. Using these hardware firewalls is considered to be the best practice in network security for all but the single computer network, especially in an office network environment. As with real fire, these firewalls should be handled with care and it is best to have someone trained in their use in order to avoid being burned.
Posted in Security, Networking | No Comments »
15. September 2009 by admin.
The threat of cyber crime has been on a steady increase ever since criminals figured out that their con games and extortion tactics would work across the internet. Spam emails advertise false claims of a better life through the use of their products at unheard of discounts, but they are seldom more than a front for a con man taking your money and possibly your credit card or personal information for use in other endeavors. Viruses, spyware and malware are used in various ways to subvert your security, to broadcast what you thought was private and to use the information gathered to make money by whatever means are available. Computer users are able to stem the tide of these attacks by purchasing security measures from various vendors, but these threats continue to change and become more advanced in order to try and thwart that security. So what can be done?
There are some basics to look for when contemplating security for your systems. The security should include regular updates to help protect from the constantly evolving threats, it should both passively and actively scan for viruses at scheduled intervals, it should scan incoming emails for both viruses and scam emails and it should provide a form of firewall to protect from network based attacks. For the home user or small business user the choice boils down to which software vendor to purchase their protection from. Some examples are Symantec’s Norton 360 or Internet Security, McAfee Total Protection, Grisoft’s AVG Internet Security, etc. Each of these vendors touts an extensive list of features that go beyond the basics to include identity management, system optimization and even online backup which leaves it up to the customer to decide if these features are needed. The downside to this type of software is that the computer itself has to pull the double duty of monitoring security on all levels and providing processing power for regular computer usage.
As the small business grows into the use of a server these duties of security management can be migrated to the server, with only a small program left on the computers themselves to communicate with the security management software. Again most of the previously mentioned vendors have security management software tailored for a small office network with a single server such as Symantec’s Protection Suite Small Business Edition, McAfee’s Total Protection for Endpoint solutions, Grisoft’s AVG Internet Security Network Edition, etc. These too suffer from the downside of making the server pull double duty with security management and application / file serving on the network. This hurdle is finally able to be overcome with two product types that are gaining ground in this security arena – hosted security management and Unified Threat Management (UTM) hardware.
Hosted security management is a recent development that is born out of the “cloud computing” or Software-as-a-Service community. The idea is to simplify management and reduce cost of ownership by having the central portion of these solutions taken off the computers and servers and placing it on the servers of the security provider. The only thing left on the local computers and servers is a small program to communicate with the security providers servers. This places the burden of managing and maintaining the security management software in the hands of the provider which lessens the need for IT services and management thereby reducing costs. The other product to help ease the burden on servers is UTM hardware which are surprisingly coming not from the typical security software providers but from manufactures of routers and firewalls. Examples of these vendors would be SonicWall’s TZ 190 with UTM Services, ZyXEL ZyWALL 35 UTM, D-link DFL-860 NETDEFEND SECURITY UTM, etc. This concept is fairly new to the security market but is gaining some ground as it allows the security management to remain local but takes the burden of the servers and computers. The upside to these UTM hardware products is the centralization of both the typical spam / virus protection and the advanced protection of a hardware firewall.
Whichever method of security ends up meeting the needs of your organization, remember that no method is fool proof and the best strategy for security is to be as proactive as possible.
Posted in Security | No Comments »
2. July 2009 by admin.
Every business that uses computers has data saved on one or more of them that is critical for their day to day operations. If this information was lost it could take weeks or months to recover the information and in the worse case could sink the company completely. Thus the idea of backup was born to help prevent or guard against the loss of that critical data by providing a separate copy stored in a secondary location. These days there are several types of data backup scenarios that each has its own variety of implementations – the major trade-off being between the speed of recovery verses safety of the backup copy.
The backup with the quickest means of recovery is the idea of redundancy in hardware that allows a secondary platform to take over for the failed one. Redundancy provides an instant recovery in this case and allows the users to fix the errant hardware at their leisure. This implementation is seen in hard drive arrays called RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) where two or more disks work in tandem to keep the data safe in case one of them fails. The trade-off of this implementation being that although there are multiple disks, if more than one disk fails it can often take the whole system down. Another implementation is called a failover cluster which uses multiple computers that keep an up-to-date copy of all the information and programs needed to conduct business so that if one fails the others are aware of it and another takes its place almost immediately. The trade-off here is that even though the recovery time is nil, if the data ever becomes corrupted there is no previous copy of the data to go back to and the corruption spreads across the entire cluster.
The next form of backup provides quick recovery times of minutes to hours by using some form of physical storage media to house the separate copies. The oldest means of doing so is via a tape drive that writes to magnetic tapes, using software to automate the process, which can be swapped out and stored off-site. This particular form of backup probably has the most balanced approach to data safety but is becoming increasing expensive as the technology is being phased out over time. Another physical storage medium is direct copy backup where all or part of the information on the computer is copied to the secondary location and like the tape media this process is often automated with software to run at specific intervals. This is also the most common form of backup for small businesses and often the least expensive as they use media such as thumb drives or CD/DVD disks to house the separate copies. The trade-off here is that recovery time increases exponentially based on the amount of information stored and the temporal nature of the media itself are balanced with the fact that there are often multiple copies of the information to protect against data corruption.
Finally the latest form of backup is called “online” backup which stores a copy of the information “online” over the network or internet with pre-determined updates being made over time. There are countless providers of internet based online backup which can be very cost effective even though they do put restrictions on the types of files that can be store on their systems. The major trade-off is that even if there are multiple copies “online” of the information to protect from corruption the recovery time is limited to speed of the internet connection or in some cases the shipping method they use to send physical media for recovery. Another “online” backup is done through attaching the storage medium to the network via a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device or SAN (Storage Area Network) device. These devices use elements of the “online” backup model with snapshots of the information being moved across the network at scheduled intervals to the devices which use redundancy to protect themselves from physical failure. The trade-off of this implementation is although the speed of the recovery is increased by putting the device on the office network it also suffers from the data corruption possibilities seen in other redundant backup systems.
There is no bullet proof backups system but there is one that is a best fit for any organization and the benefits need to be weighed against the risks in order to find that solution. It is not a matter of if data loss will happen, it is a matter of when – will your organization be prepared to recover from data loss with the proper backup solution? Only time will tell.
Posted in General Knowledge | No Comments »
23. May 2009 by admin.
The traditional image of servers is that of rooms of machines crunching numbers or large racks of computers serving the business computer needs of enterprise users, but even as these particular situations still exist to serve those larger segments there is a new meaning for server. As history has shown us, technology is able to grow smaller and more agile as time progresses – this holds true for servers as well. The major technologies used by larger enterprises have been made available to smaller companies so that they can leverage the power of server class computing power, centralized management / storage / backups, companywide email, business websites, and remote access. With the costs of getting a server dropping below the $2,000 mark even companies with as few as five workers are able to utilize these advanced technologies to have a larger more impressive presence in their industries. But that raises the question, “Is your business ready for a server?” Take a look at the following and decide if the investment is worth the incredible benefits.
One of the true benefits of bringing a server into your networks will be the pure computing power that it will bring to the table. The server itself harnesses the muscle of advanced processors, error correcting memory and high speed storage to allow the needs of your software to be in an environment where it can thrive. If your company currently uses any form of software that communicates over the office network then the productivity benefits seen from moving this software off of one of the local workstations onto a server is astonishing. Another way in which the server can take burdens off of the local workstations is providing a central location for network resources like file and printer shares. This allows the local workstations to focus on the foreground activities of getting business done instead of processing network requests in the background. A server also provides a principle location for the management of network computer policies, a centralized location to store user files for a unified backup solution and the principal location to administer anti-virus / anti-spam software for the entire company.
Bringing a server into your company will also bring in what is known as “presence” to change the way outsiders look at your organization. Although the thought of hosting the company website in-house might not be appealing because of cost-of-ownership and security issues, there is something to be said for having a company intranet website. It affords an electronic copy of corporate policies and allows collaborative efforts to be centralized and managed by giving employees the tools to share project information and track document changes. These tools give both the employees and customers the impression that you are a well organized and mature company. Hosting your companies email is something that can sound daunting but by making the change from a “@youremailprovider.com” address to a “@yourcompanyname.com” address provides the customer with a company “brand” that provides further proof of the maturity of the company. “Branding” aside, the ability to share company contacts and calendars across the network eases the burden of appointment / meeting scheduling and staying in contact with clients across the organization. The final piece of the “presence” puzzle is to expand your company beyond the four walls of the office by allowing remote access to company resources and email access – which is another task servers are best suited for.
If any of the preceding sounds like it will be of benefit to your company then it is likely that the investment in a server will bring a strong return on investment. Taking your business to the next level of technology does not need to be scary – it should be an exciting move into the future bringing safety, manageability and productivity to your organization.
Posted in General Knowledge | No Comments »
21. April 2009 by admin.
For those who read last month’s article about taking your office with you on the road, there is another lower cost option available - moving into your new virtual office. A new standard in computing is taking hold in cyberspace called “Cloud Computing” and allows suites of office productivity as well as many other types of software to be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have started to offer these services. They have also created platforms that other companies can use to develop custom software for the individual needs of their customers. The main focus of these tools is to allow access to your resources on the go and to allow collaboration between the employees and customers without the confines of office walls.
Google Apps is a free suite of online office productivity tools that include basic word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software which you can share with others who use their services. They offer free web-based email that allows access to their proprietary email and any other email accounts you might have plus it includes spam filtering and search capabilities. The calendar program allows sharing of calendars, updates to be sent from your mobile phone, syncing with current mainstream calendar programs, RSVP with response tracking and event reminders to be texted to your mobile phone. It also includes an instant messaging tool and website builder. All these tools can be used together to allow workers to stay completely connected and able to collaborate on projects remotely.
Microsoft Office Live Workspace is a free service that allows users to use their current Microsoft Office applications with a shared space online for collaboration and can also act like an online storage space for documents that are needed on the go. Microsoft goes one step further with Office Live Small Business to include free email for up to five users with a “@yourwebsite” address, free website designer, free website hosting, the same online collaboration / storage as the Workspace and the option to upgrade to expanded paid service at any time. Finally for those who want the ultimate in virtual office capabilities Microsoft offers a pay per user version of some of its enterprise class tools which are made available online, segregated secure space for each customer and fully integrated with current Office applications. This includes options like Exchange email server, SharePoint for a private online collaboration website with private web application capabilities, Office Live Meeting for a virtual board room experience, Dynamic CRM for customer tracking and relationship management, and Office Communication for an enterprise class instant messaging experience. These online tools in their tiered format allow each level to be added for continued growth of the virtual office to suit the needs of an expanding business.
Amazon Web Services is something completely different for those who are in a development environment like e-commerce websites or have the occasional need for huge computing power. Amazon has a scalable “server” type platform that allows its customers to use as little or as much computing power and website bandwidth as needed. For those who need large amounts of space for online backup, large amount of computing power to run simulations or large amounts of bandwidth to host their online events this time of service is invaluable and saved many companies thousands of dollars.
For those who are looking to cut down on costs, still have the interaction that comes with having a physical office, or need take their business to the next technological level these options can be a perfect fit. Imagine a business world without walls and boundaries or the cost of keeping those walls around – it can happen by moving into your virtual office in the cloud.
Posted in General Knowledge | No Comments »
29. March 2009 by admin.
During these hard economic times companies are forced to work harder and for longer hours to gain the advantage over the competition and in some cases just to keep the same customers. For those of us that are not tied to our offices it becomes more difficult to take care of the day to day administrative duties during normal business hours and the prospect of taking on additional staff to do so may not be an option. But what if you could take the office on the road with you? Imagine a world wherever the business is happening you are connected to all the computer resources you need to conduct business – from bookkeeping to making presentations to editing and printing contracts to be signed on the spot. With the new developments in high speed cellular internet access and the mature software known as remote access this can easily become your business reality.
This bold new reality is made of essentially two parts – the in office computer and the point at which you remotely access it. There are several companies that provide the first part of the equation – the software needed to remotely access the in office computer. The major players with the most reliable and time tested approach are LogMeIn.com, GoToMyPC.com and Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection. Both LogMeIn.com and GoToMyPC.com are websites that offer the ability to login to the in office computer from anywhere with an internet connection with all the capabilities of sitting in the office for a monthly fee and small software package installed on the in office computer. They are easy to setup and access with only minor slowdown when connected to the in office computer when connected over most broadband internet access providers. This solution is suitable for the office that only has a small number of remotely connecting users as the monthly fee becomes prohibitive as more users are added. The other solution for those who need more than a couple remote connections is the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection which comes standard with the Business / Professional / Ultimate editions of the current Microsoft operation systems. This solution does take some technical know-how to setup but once it is setup there is no additional monthly fees, the experience is nearly identical to being at the in office computer and the it can be accessed from any Windows based computer with a broadband internet connection.
The second part of the equation is being able to access the in office computer – and in both the preceding cases a Windows based computer with a broadband internet connection is the best case scenario. This can be done from the client’s computer while onsite but if there are no computers onsite then a laptop computer, an internet sharing enabled phone or wireless broadband adapter, and the optional mobile printer will need to be procured for this purpose. These pieces put together allow the in office computer experience to be extended beyond the walls of the office and into the field where business is more apt to take place. When business can take place anywhere, it allows spare time in the field to be converted into productive time that eliminates the need to work after hours to catch up on administrative duties. It also allows business meetings and documentation to take place wherever business is happening at the time instead of making the client travel. This is only the beginning of the ability to take business with you as more companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft have been taking business capabilities into an internet based “Cloud” space accessible from anywhere with online access. Imagine the future of mobilizing business through remote access.
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29. March 2009 by admin.
I recently had a customer who was unable to open or save attachments from their email in Microsoft Outlook 2003. In particular the error listed was, “Cannot create file: %file name%. Right-click the folder you want to create the file in and click Properties on the shortcut menu to check your permissions for the folder.” At first glance I was stumped as usual, but with a little research the solution was not only easy, but actual makes some since - unless I am just getting too used to Microsoft’s idiosyncrasies.
According to the Microsoft article there is a “secure” folder that Outlook uses to store the temp folder, and as re-assuring as this may be for some it seems to cause problems. There are some fixes that the Microsoft article suggests that may work for some, but I found another solution that will make life easier. As the article suggest you will need to go to the registry and find the following key - HKEY_CURRENT_USER..Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\Security\OutlookSecureTempFolder. If you double click on this key you will find the location of the folder in question and can copy and paste it into the “Start” menus “Run…” command. The folder that opens is the contents of the “OutlookSecureTempFolder” and if they are deleted the problem goes away inside Microsoft Outlook 2003. Hope this helps & happy emailing.
Posted in MS Outlook Tips | No Comments »
