Windows Home Server Solution
Microsoft apparently now agrees with me. They are advocating use of Windows Home Server for businesses and offices of 10 PC's or under. See Microsoft's website at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/soho/default.mspx
I am working on putting together a "platform" of software and services using WHS for Small Offices/Home Offices that fit the 10 pc or less criteria. Stay Tuned.
Peace,
Dave
http://www.davepickel.com/
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The New Year
Windows 7
I got a new laptop with Windows 7 on it. I like it. I am recommending it to my clients. It is not too different from Vista so Vista users won't be totally lost. XP users will have a steeper learning curve but will still benefit from upgrading to 7. I recommend if your pc can handle the upgrade, then proceed. If not and you are ready to upgrade your hardware, buy a new pc with Windows 7 already installed.
Remote Control Programs
Why do you need to know about them if you don't do desktop pc support? We all have friends and relatives who are constantly asking us to fix pc problems. With remote control programs we can fixe many of these problems without going to their homes or offices. This saves a LOT of travel time and money, especially if we aren't getting paid for our services.
I use a program called logmein (that's log me in) for more permanent remote control that may require me accessing pc's without the owners being present. All of my clients have agreed to allow me access to their pc's when they are not present. I can do repairs, training, and routine maintenance.
For situations where the client may want a less permanent program, I use either crossloop, or Fog Creek Software's copilot program. Crossloop is part of a pc help site that connects pc technicians to users in need of help. The crossloop remote control (screen sharing) software will work without having to create a login id on crossloop. Fog Creek Copilot software is free to use on weekends. And, you can get a $ 5.00 day pass during the week.
All of these programs work very well.
Peace,
Dave
http://www.davepickel.com
I got a new laptop with Windows 7 on it. I like it. I am recommending it to my clients. It is not too different from Vista so Vista users won't be totally lost. XP users will have a steeper learning curve but will still benefit from upgrading to 7. I recommend if your pc can handle the upgrade, then proceed. If not and you are ready to upgrade your hardware, buy a new pc with Windows 7 already installed.
Remote Control Programs
Why do you need to know about them if you don't do desktop pc support? We all have friends and relatives who are constantly asking us to fix pc problems. With remote control programs we can fixe many of these problems without going to their homes or offices. This saves a LOT of travel time and money, especially if we aren't getting paid for our services.
I use a program called logmein (that's log me in) for more permanent remote control that may require me accessing pc's without the owners being present. All of my clients have agreed to allow me access to their pc's when they are not present. I can do repairs, training, and routine maintenance.
For situations where the client may want a less permanent program, I use either crossloop, or Fog Creek Software's copilot program. Crossloop is part of a pc help site that connects pc technicians to users in need of help. The crossloop remote control (screen sharing) software will work without having to create a login id on crossloop. Fog Creek Copilot software is free to use on weekends. And, you can get a $ 5.00 day pass during the week.
All of these programs work very well.
Peace,
Dave
http://www.davepickel.com
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Free Software - Really Free??
A family member frequents a site of a "Digital Guru" who often gives out bogus information. This person is supposed to be an "expert" on all things computer. However, every time this person recommends something and my family member attempts to do it or use it, the product or technique backfires and it is ME who has to come bail the family member out. I have seen this happen with other people too. I should be charging the Guru for the time I spend correcting things that the Guru recommended and that ultimately blew up!
Example, this so-called guru recommends free Anti virus software. I personally do not. I am emphatically opposed to these "free" av, malware, adware, etc programs. I have found that the free versions simply "detect" (and god knows if they are detecting or fabricating) problems. The software will hapily "remove" your problems and correct your issues if you "register" and pay a fee. And often, you will find that these programs that find problems are indeed phishing programs that infect your computer in an effort to get credit card information from you. The authors then use this information to rack up vast charges on your credit cards.
To be sure, I recommend using ONLY reputable, professional programs to protect your PC from threats. These include Norton products (anti-virus, internet security, 360, etc). I use "log me in" for remote control, along with some other remote control programs. These programs ARE free. But I have been using them for years and they deliver on what they promise and don't do anythimg malicious.
Bottom line is in most cases, common sense dictates that you go with reputable software, and be careful of sites with free antivirus, registry scanning, or other types of software. And be careful what the "Digital Gurus" or "Goddesses" tell you to do. Sometimes they only recommend the programs that advertise on their sites.
Peace,
Dave
Example, this so-called guru recommends free Anti virus software. I personally do not. I am emphatically opposed to these "free" av, malware, adware, etc programs. I have found that the free versions simply "detect" (and god knows if they are detecting or fabricating) problems. The software will hapily "remove" your problems and correct your issues if you "register" and pay a fee. And often, you will find that these programs that find problems are indeed phishing programs that infect your computer in an effort to get credit card information from you. The authors then use this information to rack up vast charges on your credit cards.
To be sure, I recommend using ONLY reputable, professional programs to protect your PC from threats. These include Norton products (anti-virus, internet security, 360, etc). I use "log me in" for remote control, along with some other remote control programs. These programs ARE free. But I have been using them for years and they deliver on what they promise and don't do anythimg malicious.
Bottom line is in most cases, common sense dictates that you go with reputable software, and be careful of sites with free antivirus, registry scanning, or other types of software. And be careful what the "Digital Gurus" or "Goddesses" tell you to do. Sometimes they only recommend the programs that advertise on their sites.
Peace,
Dave
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Nasty Viruses
There have been a few going around recently. They are phising viruses that disguise themselves as ligitimate anti-virus software. So if you get an official looking pop up that says it's a system message with buttons like unblock, continue blocking (both grayed out) and another button saying enable protection, DO NOT click on any of them. Click on the RED X in the top right corner OR use ALT-F4 to close it. If you do click on Enable Protection or similar button, you will be presented with a "purchase" screen asking for your personal information (name, address, credit card number, etc). You AREN'T buying anything! You would be giving your personal information to a thief!
If one of these viruses installs itself on your pc, you may get those pop up warnings every minute or so asking you to "enable protection" or "register". If your PC is running Windows XP or Vista, you can try restoring it to date BEFORE the infection took place. If that does not work, CALL Norton support. They will charge $ 99.99 but it is well worth it. If you are like me you don't poke around in your registry every day. The norton folks will take control of your machine and get rid of the virus by deleting registry keys associated with it, deleting the virus and scanning your hard drive when completed. It is WELL WORTH the $ 99.99 they charge.
LET'S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE...
If one of these viruses installs itself on your pc, you may get those pop up warnings every minute or so asking you to "enable protection" or "register". If your PC is running Windows XP or Vista, you can try restoring it to date BEFORE the infection took place. If that does not work, CALL Norton support. They will charge $ 99.99 but it is well worth it. If you are like me you don't poke around in your registry every day. The norton folks will take control of your machine and get rid of the virus by deleting registry keys associated with it, deleting the virus and scanning your hard drive when completed. It is WELL WORTH the $ 99.99 they charge.
LET'S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE...
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy 2009
Happy New Year!! Here's hoping 2009 is better than 2008 was.
Windows Home Server (WHS)
Yes, I am still using it and it's still working great.
Using Local Businesses
I recently heard a statistic that when you use a local small business, $.45 from each dollar spent gets directly into your local economy. In comparison, when you use a large company like Best Buy only around $ .15 from each dollar gets into the local economy. The message here is clear. Use your local businesses!! Would you rather preserve Best Buy or the small business down the street who will go out of their way to give you personal service??
Windows Home Server (WHS)
Yes, I am still using it and it's still working great.
Using Local Businesses
I recently heard a statistic that when you use a local small business, $.45 from each dollar spent gets directly into your local economy. In comparison, when you use a large company like Best Buy only around $ .15 from each dollar gets into the local economy. The message here is clear. Use your local businesses!! Would you rather preserve Best Buy or the small business down the street who will go out of their way to give you personal service??
Sunday, November 23, 2008
November-December
The holidays are almost here. Have a happy holiday season.
Windows Home Server
I bought an inexpensive Dell machine and installed the OEM version of Windows Home Server. At first I was having difficulty with the network as WHS did not recognize the on-board network adapter. So I installed a linksys gigabit network card. And it worked. So far the machine is running great. I added a 500gb Mybook external USB Drive. I was able to add the drive into the "storage pool" without problem. The OS even asked how I wanted to use the drive; to increase overall storage or use it to back up the server. I chose backing up the server.
So this configuration is working great. I use Logmein to get into the desktop remotely. Again, outstanding, no problems, and Logmein is FREE!! The only problem I see so far is there appears to be no anti-virus software that will run on it besides the server software for enterprise servers. Remember that the foundation of WHS is Windows Server 2003 & Small Business Server. I know for a fact that the Windows XP/Vista version of Norton AV won't work. I will check other AV Software companies. Until then, I don't use the browser on the server.
All for now,
Remember, USE AMERICAN COMPUTER TECHS!! Don't use those foreigners and H1B Visa types. Our economy needs us to BUY and USE AMERICAN!!
Peace,
Dave
Windows Home Server
I bought an inexpensive Dell machine and installed the OEM version of Windows Home Server. At first I was having difficulty with the network as WHS did not recognize the on-board network adapter. So I installed a linksys gigabit network card. And it worked. So far the machine is running great. I added a 500gb Mybook external USB Drive. I was able to add the drive into the "storage pool" without problem. The OS even asked how I wanted to use the drive; to increase overall storage or use it to back up the server. I chose backing up the server.
So this configuration is working great. I use Logmein to get into the desktop remotely. Again, outstanding, no problems, and Logmein is FREE!! The only problem I see so far is there appears to be no anti-virus software that will run on it besides the server software for enterprise servers. Remember that the foundation of WHS is Windows Server 2003 & Small Business Server. I know for a fact that the Windows XP/Vista version of Norton AV won't work. I will check other AV Software companies. Until then, I don't use the browser on the server.
All for now,
Remember, USE AMERICAN COMPUTER TECHS!! Don't use those foreigners and H1B Visa types. Our economy needs us to BUY and USE AMERICAN!!
Peace,
Dave
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