Speed up Your Computer's Startup Time

One of the most irritating issues when using a computer is a slow start up time. For most it is as quick as hitting the login button, but for others, it’s a dreadful time. If you ever Google “how to speed up my computers start time” you will come across thousands of articles, all with different suggestions and ideas on what to do. Though I don’t agree with all of them, I went through and compiled a list of my top 7 suggestions that I find to be the most helpful.

7)      Disable Start-up Programs:

The first thing I do when I hop onto a user’s computer for the first time is check out what programs they have loading on startup. To check this out in Windows XP go into your start menu, click run and type in MSCONFIG. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 open up your start menu and in the search box type MSCONFIG and enter. Now click on the STARTUP tab. This will tell you what each application is so that you can decide which you would like to turn off.

6)      Uninstall Unused Applications:

Your system is greatly affected by the amount of hard drive space available to it when it starts up. If you notice your computer’s hard drive is getting full or is in the red, it is time to clear out some of those programs. Go into the Start Menu, and press Control Panel; for Windows XP -  Add and Remove Programs, and for Windows Vista/7 - Programs and Features. Right click any applications you don’t use and click Uninstall. 

5)      Remove Unused Fonts:

This one I had never heard of before, but after looking at countless articles and blogs suggesting their removal I am a believer. When windows starts it loads EVERY font you have installed. Go to the Control Panel and find Fonts. For Windows XP if you find fonts you do not use delete them. With Windows 7 you can now hide fonts from start up. While holding down the CTRL key you can click on each font you don’t use. When done just click hide on the top of the window. Note that disabling a few fonts won’t make a difference but with Microsoft Office installed Windows will have over 300 fonts installed. Fonts to keep? Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma and any other fonts you like the previews of. 

4)      Installing New RAM:

As the saying goes after you buy a new PC it is out of date. But for most users, their computers can be between 3 – 5 years old and may have not been upgraded to meet the new requirements of applications and operating systems. RAM is a cheap and effective way to not only speed up the start up of your computer but the overall experience as well. 

3)      Scan For Viruses:

Many people are unaware that their computer has been infected with a virus. They take up computer resources to run and propagate. Running antivirus software and scanning software found online can remove the infection and bring your computer back up to speed.

Alright so you have tried all of these, but your computer is still running slow. There are two more suggestions to help make your computer run faster. 

2)      Reinstall the Operating System:

Yes it is what we like to call a wipe and reload. Erase the hard drive and start from scratch. Before you do this make sure you have backed up all your data to an external hard drive for safe keeping. This allows a baseline installation with no overheard to start over and only install the programs that you need. 

If this is not doing do the trick then there is only one more thing you can possible do...

1)      Buy a New Computer:

This day and age computers are mass produced and cheap. Often, for the price of a technician’s time to look and fix these issues, you can have yourself a nice new computer tower or laptop. If you purchase a system from Northern Computer, we can transfer over your data with your purchase. It may take some getting used to, but once you, do you will love it!

-Keenan F, Network Support Technician

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca

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Healthy Networks are Happy Networks, Part II

In the first article we explored what comprises a network, and how maintenance is important.  In this article, I want to expand on what is involved in the maintenance of a network.

Network health needs to be maintained.  An unhealthy network will eventually begin to experience problems and performance will be affected, to the point where significant down time will be experienced. 

Physical structures:

These are the visible parts of the network - workstations, switches, servers, printers and any other devices that make up the network.  Ensure workstations are replaced at the end of life.  A single slow computer can pull down the performance of the entire network.  Switches are notoriously reliable and can last for years and years, but a faulty or poor performing switch can be difficult to diagnose.

Backup systems:

Backups are like insurance.  Nobody seems to care about them until they are needed.  Check your backups regularly.  You should regularly verify a backup by restoring a file, and also monitor the size of the backup and how long it takes to complete. 

I once discovered that a client had not been getting a backup for over a year because of changes that were made in the system.  The problem was not detected because the backup was completing successfully. When the client reviewed the logs, he had failed to notice that the size of the backup had dropped to almost zero.  Backups are a great way of monitoring network health.

Updates:

This is a more difficult aspect of a network to maintain.  All computers, INCLUDING the server need to have windows updates applied regularly and event logs checked for errors.  Many updates are security fixes for weaknesses and potential faults that hackers will explore and exploit.  Failing to keep up with these updates can have serious consequences.  New viruses often take advantage of these faults and can consume the entire network, resulting in days of downtime while the problems are resolved. However, there can be a downside with installing updates. Sometimes the updates result in changes to the system, and various services need to be adjusted.  Windows updates, or even software updates, can fail to install correctly and cause problems.

Monitoring:

It is very common to overlook checking the event logs on a workstation or server.  Often everything seems to be working correctly and it can be several days, weeks or even months before an underlying problem causes the network to degrade. A common problem that I have seen is when a hard drive, which is used to store information, begins to fill up.  One of the first problems that occurs is the inability to print.  You restart the computer, and printing is restored for a period of time, only to fail again.  The event logs are full of errors, but they aren’t always visible to the user.

Northern Computer offers two programs to assist with maintaining network health.  IT Manager assigns a dedicated technician and sales associate  to your site that are responsible for looking after some or all of the above tasks.  We assume some of the responsibility for maintaining network health and the cost becomes a fixed monthly price.

We are also offering a new service where we will monitor and advise you of potential problems, allowing you to control what work is performed.  Talk to us about these programs and how we can assist to ensure your business has a reliable network. 

 

- Mark S, Network Support Technician

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca  or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca

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2 x The Monitors = 2 x The Work Efficiency?

Many people spend a good part of their day at their computers and most will have multiple windows open, moving from one screen to the next. I find that I will sometimes have so many windows open that I spend too much time looking for the window that I need. Adding an extra monitor can help to increase productivity when you are multi-tasking. I often compare documents or cut and paste from one document into another and I find it very productive to have two the windows open side by side.

Setting up a second monitor is easy too. If you do not have Windows 7, Vista or XP installed, you may have to install a display driver from your computer’s manufacturer.

Can you really increase productivity with multiple monitors?

1.      Do you ever spread out different items over your desk in order to organize?

2.      Do you often have to flip between an email and a related document?

3.      Do you find yourself having to copy or cut and paste from one document to another?

4.      Do you ever have to review two versions of the same document at the same time?

5.      Do you spend a lot of time switching between programs?

6.      Do you edit photos in a folder and refer back to the originating folder for more pictures?

7.      Do you use information from the web or documents when composing an email?

8.      Do you waste time trying to sort through different widows to find the application or document that you need?

If you answered yes to any of the above, an additional monitor will most likely help you to be more effective at multi-tasking.

Benefits of Multiple Monitors

1.      Eliminate the need to print pages of wasted paper that is thrown away after reviewing it.

2.      Increase efficiency, productivity and save time. Stop wasting time sorting through open applications and documents.

3.      Easy comparison of documents.

4.      Share data easily between applications.

5.      Use multiple programs simultaneously.

6.      Keep your email, POS system or other commonly used program open on one screen at all times and use the other screen for the project you are working on.

Dual Monitor Setup

In order for your computer to support a dual monitor, you must have more than one monitor connection on the back of the computer. The connections will need to match the monitor cables. These may be DVI connectors, VGA connectors, HDMI connectors, or S-Video connectors (for using your TV as a monitor). See the chart below for a description of the different ports. A laptop, if manufactured in the last several years, at a minimum should have a VGA port for setting up another screen.

1.      All that needs to be done at this point is to plug in the monitor cable to the corresponding port on your computer and make sure that the monitor is turned on. Your computer should automatically detect the second monitor. If not you may have to restart your computer first.

2.      Lastly, you may have to configure your displays if you are connecting a laptop or your desktop does not automatically detect the second monitor. For a desktop,  your settings should be set to automatically extend your display, but just in case, follow these instructions for Windows 7 (Vista and XP may vary a bit).

·        On your desktop, right click and select screen resolution or click on the start icon and click on the control panel, then select appearance and personalization. Click on adjust screen resolution.

·        Select extend these displays from the multiple displays drop down menu. This will allow you to spread your desktop over two screens. Other options include only using one of the monitors or duplicating the monitors.

To move windows between displays, click on the title bar of the window and drag the window to a new location.

Monitor prices are much more affordable than in the past (19” LCD for $150.00) and LED monitors are energy efficient. So how do you get your company to implement dual monitors? Start with the boss. Have him/her connect a second monitor and then after a month, ask how he/she would feel about having that second monitor taken away. After discovering how much more efficient they have been, they may panic and tell you that they could never go back to one monitor.

We have both LED and LCD monitors and a variety of mounting options. If you would like help on deciding on a size, mount or setup of an additional monitor, give us a call or send an email and we’d be happy to help out.

- Janet F, Marketing Coordinator

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896 Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca

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What is the Cloud?

“Cloud Computing”.  You may have heard or seen this new catch word that many organizations have adopted in to there line up of services. What is “Cloud Computing”? This can be a hard question to answer as many people have their own definition on this type of computing.

The items that Cloud Computing Services provide that intrigue most organizations are the following: saving your company money, access to the latest technical advancements in software, and anywhere access via the internet to your hosted cloud services, that operate on a very reliable/redundant hardware platform.

The infrastructure that allows us to provide Cloud computing is still built on server hardware similar to what you may have in your office. The main differences are the hardware is more reliable, components are redundant, and for the most part, the software is the most feature rich release from the vendors. Small and Medium size business now have Enterprise software available to them that is normally out of reach, as normal IT budgets would not be large enough.

Now the best part of all this technology is you don’t have to purchase any of it. All of the services in the “Cloud” are provided for a monthly fee. These services can scale up and down as your business grows or shrinks. You can think of it as an elastic environment.

Instead of the hardware being in your office, it is now located in a secure building called a data center. Security is of the highest importance in data centers. Data centers should only allow access to individuals that pass criminal record checks and technicians that are highly qualified. All access in and out of the data center should be recorded and monitored via video cameras. You will find that many of these data centers are located in concrete bunkers protected from fire and theft. Multiple levels of access are required to gain entry to the equipment.

If you have a server or application that you need to run that operates your business, in many cases we can host this server in a “Cloud” Environment. There are some applications that require more work than others but for the most part if the application runs on Windows it can also run on Windows in the “Cloud”.

Hosted servers can run Microsoft and Linux operating systems and access to these servers can be provided via multiple secure methods. If the workload increases on the server and it starts to run slow, we can scale up the hardware resources providing a better performing system suited to the workload demand. Your data backups will also be looked after for you with out the need to take home tapes or hard drives.

Storage can also be provided via Cloud hosted servers. There are some applications that require a back end SQL server or database of some kind. These databases can be setup on a server in the data center and secure access can be provided to the resources. We have multiple ways of providing access to these types of data. You can host almost any type of data that resides on a windows environment, from Microsoft Office Documents, to Simply Accounting or Quickbooks Databases.  Dedicated or Secure Shared storage can be provided based on the customer’s requirements.

Cloud hosted servers and applications can be bundled with system maintenance packages. There are some services where all maintenance is looked after for you. Instead of having an Exchange Email server in your office that you have the expense of maintaining, this can all be looked after for you via Hosted Exchange in the Cloud. The maintenance to run any server in your office can be costly over the long run. The ability to have a set cost on your IT/Cloud Services is a very attractive concept for most organizations.

The operational costs vs investment costs should be reviewed when looking at purchasing new equipment. When you acquire expensive hardware to run your services it is considered as a capital expenditure and can be a large one at times.  Also, the acquisition depreciates over the years. The Cloud computing model allows you to spread your expenses over several operational cycles, becoming part of operational costs. Your accountant will most likely tell you this is a much better alternative.

To summarise, cloud computing is growing at a phenomenal rate, both in the range of services offered by cloud vendors and also in the way companies are using these services to improve their own business.

Please contact us at Northern Computer and we can provide a consult to see if Cloud Computing fits your business needs.

- Martin O, Network Support Technician

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca

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LED vs. LCD

For many years, we have been supplying our clients with flat screen monitors with the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology. But what about this new technology called LED (Light Emitting Diode)?

LED monitors are a form of LCD monitors that use the same technology but with a different kind of backlight to produce the displayed image. There are many factors to consider when comparing the two. And of course, there are always those who prefer one or another, but we will stick to the facts.

We will start with the black levels and the contrast as one of the more important factors for producing high quality images and then compare color, weight, power consumption, size and cost. I believe that looking at all of these factors should be enough to create the whole picture in the LED vs. LCD monitor comparison.

One of the biggest problems with displaying the proper black color on LCD monitors is that backlight is always turned on during usage which usually results in a low contrast and a pretty poor display of the dark areas and black colors on the display screen. In order to display black color properly, LCD panel needs to block backlight and make it totally black which in most cases is not possible.

In terms of producing good quality colors, both LED monitors and standard LCD monitors are pretty much the same. Color reproduction of LCD displays depends directly on the quality of the particular panel, while LED displays do not have any specific advantage over them. However, if you are using tri color LED monitors, they have the ability to change backlighting colors when needed according to the scene. Only those displays are capable of producing more accurate colors.

Power consumption on LED displays can be as much as 30-40% less than that of LCD’s and thus they are more green- friendly for the environment.

Size is the biggest thing that you will notice. LED monitors are much thinner than LCD units. LEDs also weigh less if you wishing to mount them on a wall or hang from a ceiling in an office waiting room or other areas.

Pricing at the moment is less expensive for the LCD units, but that is not due to the cost of the technology, but the fact that LCD’s are being mass produced compared with LEDs.

Northern Computer recommends LED units when your budget permits, as over time with less energy, your return on investment will be faster.

- Ken H, Account Manager

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca/

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POS and the Customer Experience

I’ve been installing Point of Sale Systems in businesses for almost 20 years now and have come to the conclusion that no matter how powerful the system is, it’s how it’s used that makes a world of difference to the customers of those businesses.

Some companies simply use a POS software package like a cash register – setting up minimal items to sell, processing sales to “cash” customers, and printing out the reconciliation (“Z total”) report at end of day. Others focus on the inventory side of things – making sure they keep track of what they have, but neglect to capture client information at the point of sale.

To truly unleash the value of your point of sale software, no matter what it is, you need to think from the customer’s point of view. As a customer myself, I want a quick and painless process to buy products. That means barcoded items that have prices prominently displayed and scan in easily at the counter. Also important is an itemized receipt showing each product, price and any discounts or loyalty points that I have.

At the same time, if I’m buying a major item like a computer, I would want a record kept of the serial# and a proof of purchase – just in case I have a problem. It’s frustrating to phone in to a store and not being able to find out the date I purchased a product or any relevant information on it. We use a product called CISPro that we developed ourselves and enter every bit of information we can when selling products. When a customer phones in to inquire about what they bought a month, a year or 3 years ago – the information is at our fingertips. That’s a good customer experience and well worth the time invested in the system to provide it.

More companies are investing the time and resources to provide these types of experiences for their clients – it’s just good business to make sure your point of sale system can do the same for your own customers.

Jim C. – Point of Sale Specialist

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca

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Healthy Networks are Happy Networks!

The last 20 years of business have been radically transformed by computers.  They are everywhere and they are connected and they talk to each other!   Fax systems are on the decline, having been replaced by email.  Tills are gone, and replaced by advanced POS (Point of Sale) systems.  Everything is available online, and nobody is working when the internet goes down. Many businesses have ominous black boxes, humming away in a forgotten corner, labeled as ‘The server’ and nobody seems to know what it does, until it fails, then everybody is aware of what is affected.

A network is not only the physical connections between individual computers, but also how the computers are configured.  It includes components called switches that provide the connection point from the various computers.  Most networks these days are called a Star Topology, with cables running from the central switch (or switches) to each device.

Many networks include a server, which can provide a number of resources to the workstations connected to it.  Servers can manage printer usage, handle email flow, manage file access and a number of other tasks.

Networks usually include a device to connect everything to the internet, called a router or firewall.  These can be relatively cheap devices for under $50, to sophisticated ones costing thousands.

Several years ago, I was meeting with the Accountant and General Manager at a business that I looked after.  We were discussing purchasing another computer.  The GM, in frustration said “we need to get rid of these damn computers and go back to paper and pencil,” and the accountant replied “well, I’m going to need a few more staff in the accounting department”.

Computers automate so many tasks that the effect is hard to measure.  My brother worked in a coal mine his whole career, and during his time there, the engineering department went from 30 staff to 2 because of automation.

It’s not until the network fails that you discover the value of maintenance.  Running your car without replacing the tires or doing oil changes might work for a while, but everybody agrees that you are better to maintain a car than replace it frequently.  Networks are very much the same.  Sometimes we setup computers and walk away.  Often the computers will run for some time before they experience problems.  The same is true for networks.  It is possible to do zero maintenance, but in the long term, the cost of maintenance is recovered in increased productivity and longer life.  A single day of downtime for many organizations isn’t feasible. 

At Northern we see new clients come in, frustrated with their network performance.  Often the problem isn’t who is looking after the network, it is how well maintained the network is.  Healthy networks are happy networks, and so are the staff that rely on them for their jobs. At Northern Computer we aim to promote healthy networks.  We offer different programs to assist customers in maintaining healthy networks.  Ask about IT Manager contracts and our new Monitoring package.

Click here to read Part 2.

- Mark S, Network Support Technician

Northern Computer - Your Trusted Partner
#1 - 495 Banks Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6A2
Phone: 250.762.7753 Fax: 250.861.1861 Toll-Free: 1.877.257.2896
Email: sales@northerncomputer.ca or service@northerncomputer.ca
Web: http://www.northerncomputer.ca

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