The Ekaru Technology Advisor Vol 7-5 October 2007
Welcome to this month's issue! The Technology Advisor provides technology advice, strategy, tips and trends to help you manage and grow your business!
Daylight Savings Time (DST) - Changes in 2007 - Reminder!
Just a reminder - Daylight Savings Time is ending one week later starting this year, on November 4, 2007 (the first Sunday in November). If you're running Windows Vista, or if your updates are up to date on other Microsoft operating systems, you should be all set. If you went through updates in preparation for the earlier start of DST (March 11), you should also be all set for the change in the Fall schedule. If you were not up to date, you probably noticed some computer time problems this week, since your computer "thought" the clocks changed this past Sunday.
For full information from Microsoft regarding the time change, go to Microsoft Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst.
We are also recommending printing out a hard copy of your appointment calendars on Friday and checking all times carefully starting next Monday, just in case.
E-Mail "CatchAll" - How to handle all the junk mail!
In many small businesses, one person is assigned to the "catchall" email mailbox - the mailbox where all mail that isn't specifically assigned to a user mailbox goes. This includes important emails from customers that include perhaps a misspelling in the recipient's name, and unfortunately, a LOT of junk mail, since this mailbox will catch all the randomly generated SPAM that is addressed to your domain name. If a user's mailbox is assigned as the catchall, this can become overwhelming.
A simple (and free) alternative is to set up a separate "catchall" mailbox. If you have access to webmail, and the discipline to clean up the mailbox periodically (and often enough to catch the "real" mail that slips in), then just go on line, review the mail, delete the junk, and forward the rest. You must clean up this mailbox or eventually it will fill up.
Another simple approach is to set up an additional account in Outlook (or whatever email client you use) and then set up a "rule" to automatically put all the mail in your "Junk" folder. You will need to check it, but now it's all in one location, and your "In Box" won't be cluttered.
Using Google for "HelpDesk"
When someone phones in with a computer problem, one of the first things we want to know is if there is an error message, since often the exact error message is the starting point for solving the problem. If you're stuck on your own, try typing the exact error message into Google. In some cases what looks like a completely frozen system could be a problem as simple as a wireless mouse that lost communication with the system. A few simple steps to disconnect and reconnect the mouse will solve the problem. Keep in mind that not all error messages are as "intelligent" as others, but this is a handy trick to try. Increasingly, there is more and more useful information available on line. In fact, even when we search the Microsoft technical databases, we often start in Google.
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Sincerely, Introductory Technology Assessment Over 250 local
small businesses have chosen Ekaru to manage their computers and
networks. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation to get
started. We'll visit your office, review your network, and make
recommendations. Call us at 978-692-4200 or email us to schedule a
no-obligation assessment. If you know someone who could benefit from this offer,
simply forward this email to them. Thank You!
Happy Halloween!
Team Ekaru
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