Free PC Troubleshooter From Microsoft

Microsoft has just come out with a free computer troubleshooter at their FixIt Center. It’s still in beta mode but I gave it a whirl. The video below is a quick demo of the PC troubleshooter…

It works on the following Operating Systems:

• Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
• Windows XP Pro (64-bit) Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Windows Vista, Windows 7
• Windows Server 2003 SP2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 R2

The tool is fairly limited right now but we’ll see if they expand it in the future.

Two other resources I’ve found for solving computer problems are:

The Windows Secrets Lounge. This is a forum dealing with Windows covering the last 10 years. They’ve just modernized it so it can be spidered by the search engines but there’s still unindexed stuff you can find by searching the forum directly.

Another option if your system is all screwed up and you don’t want to have to reformat and reinstall Windows is called Reimage.

You download and run it on your Windows computer and it ‘refurbishes’ your operating system without having to reinstall all of your data and software.

It used to just work on XP computers but now works on Vista and Windows 7 as well. We’ve used it on several client’s computers and it works like a charm, especially after a virus infection.

It’s less than $50 for one key (good indefinitely on that one computer) or less than $70 for three keys. You can also create a boot CD with Reimage on it for computers that won’t load Windows at all..
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Windows 7 32 bit vs 64 bit

A client recently bought a computer off the shelf loaded with a Windows 7 64 bit OS. Why? That’s just the way it came. Later he asked us if that was the right decision.

We are in a transition period from 32 bit to 64 bit systems. As with any transition there are disadvantages for the early adopters of the newer technology. First came 64 bit processors, then 64 bit operating systems, then other 64 bit software to take advantage of the new processors.

The main disadvantage of 32 bit systems is the limitation on RAM. 32 bit computers are limited to using 4 GB of physical RAM with 3 to 3.4 GB available to you, the user. It sounds like a lot of RAM, and it is, unless you are working with large files as in video editing or major scientific work. But hell, watching a DVD on your computer can have a 4 GB file.

The advantage of 32 bit is that it’s accepted technology – everything works. Read more.
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Using Your Browser To Save Passwords Is Not Secure

Using the autocomplete function in Internet Explorer to save user names and passwords or having Firefox remember passwords for sites is not a secure method of storing passwords.

I was recently checking out a handy little utility program called System Information for Windows when I clicked on an icon called ‘Secrets’ and BAM! there were all of my user names and passwords that were stored in my Firefox browser.

Eeek! I did a little research and found free utilities that can access your Firefox and Internet Explorer saved passwords – a potential security hole a mile wide. The video below shows the problem and what to do about it.

The solution for Firefox passwords can be adding a master password that you enter each time Firefox starts and you go to a page that needs your user name and password. It stays in effect until you close Firefox.

There’s no remedy for Internet Explorer other than to disable autocomplete. While the passwords are encrypted, all you need is to be logged into your Windows profile to access the passwords.

The video also shows how to turn autocomplete on and turn autocomplete off in IE and to clear your autocomplete file.

One solution discussed is RoboForm. It cost $29.95 but may be worth it. It sits in your browsers and stores encrypted passwords, name, address, etc. for use as needed.

If anyone out there has another solution please comment below..
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A Rolltop Laptop

With the new technologies coming online such as OLED flexible screens, designers are putting that technology to use in some strange and wonderful ways.

I haven’t been able to get any information on the Rolltop laptop like a production date, etc. but it provides food for thought.

It’s like the Amazon Kindle book reader. All it does is let you read books. Where’s the portable tablet that will let you read books, watch movies and listen to MP3′s through an online subscription?

Steve Jobs, we need you. On second thought, if Apple came out with one it would be very expensive and you would have to send it in every year to replace the battery..
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Is Google Chrome OS Right For Small Business?

Google Chrome OS is not right for everyone, nor is it right for every computer. What Chrome OS does is put the “net” in netbooks.

These are small, lightweight computers (I wouldn’t even call them laptops) for use on the road or for quick access to the Internet. The operating system is really an advanced web browser.

The advantages are faster boot and load times and less computer power (read battery power) to operate.

The disadvantage is everything is done on the web. No programs or files are stored on the computer.

Now, a cynical person might think that Google is leading everyone into cloud computing, especially Google Apps. But the trend is probably headed in that direction anyway.

Google Chrome OS is set to release an early ‘bare-bones’ version of the OS. I don’t recommend getting in too early. They will be continually updating the OS until it has reasonable functionality over the next year.

But, for planning purposes, small businesses need to see whether they can integrated it into their IT structure.

If your business uses Microsoft Office or other computer based software to do most or your work (Outlook sharing, Word documents, etc.) then you may want to stay with something like Windows 7 Starter edition to integrate with the other office applications.

If your business is moving into the cloud for most of its applications then Google Chrome OS may be worth a look for your road warriors.

Further Reading:

Google’s Chrome OS: Will you give up desktop apps?

Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their money

Is imminent Chrome OS launch reckless?

Small Business and the Cloud

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2 “Must Haves” For Your Business Computer

If you are running a home office or small business, your computer is no longer just a toy – it’s a vital part of your business. What happens to your business if your computer is down for a week or, worse yet, all your business data is lost forever?

There are two things you must have on a business computer… an Internet security suite and a data backup system.

A security suite contains, at its core, a software firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware. There will be add-ons like Identity Theft protection, spam protection and parental control, but the main things you NEED are the first three. Read more.
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New Intel CPU Chips

As a home office or small business owner you’re thinking… Why do I need to know about computer processors? Won’t most any off the shelf computer do?

Well, this is just a quick and dirty overview of the new CPU’s from Intel so when the salesperson at Best Buy is talking to you, you have at least some idea of what they’re talking about.

When I build a computer, I usually go with a processor that’s 2 levels or so below the high end. It’s a lesson I learned from my father, who always used to buy 2 year old Cadillacs – he got a good ride for about half the money.

Intel has just come out with some CPU chips that are a level below their top end, what’s called the i7 900 series. (Sounds like a car from Saab, doesn’t it?)

Here’s the highlights on the new quad-core chips:

Read more.
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