Using Computer Technology to Increase Business Productivity

April 2003 Computer Newsletter

Spring has arrived, finally. Sitting indoors is becoming harder to do. Here are a few more tips and suggestions to make your PC’s more productive and your life simpler so maybe you can play in the sun shine more and loose that deathly winter pallor.

 

Tool of the Month: Windows Update

Microsoft maintains a Windows Update website to distribute automated software updates to the Windows operating systems (OS’s), including all OS’s from Windows98 to XP. Through this site you can download security and performance updates for your operating system for FREE. Microsoft has suffered much criticism over the years for releasing new software riddled with imperfections. The pressure to get software to market has pushed Microsoft and other software designers to release software without exhaustive testing and then provide a web site for all the software updates and bug fixes. Microsoft builds a link to the Windows Update website in the “start” popup menu, or you can find it here: http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

When the Windows Update site has loaded, you click on “Scan for updates” and your PC is checked to see which software updates are available for your machine. Three types of updates are listed: Critical Updates and Service Packs, Windows OS Updates and Driver Updates. Clicking on any category presents you with a menu of the available updates. Critical Updates and Service Packs are selected for update automatically. OS and Driver Updates must be selected individually for installation, but can be downloaded and installed concurrent with any Critical Updates.

Some updates, like the new version of Internet Explorer and ActiveX must be downloaded and installed separately, and the web site will guide you through the process. If you haven’t downloaded updates in a while (or ever), expect to go through several downloads, installations and reboots before you catch up on all the available updates. If you have a dedicated Internet connection for your PC, consider installing Automatic Updates, which will automatically download critical updates and inform you when they are ready to install. With Automatic Updates you will never miss an important security or performance revision to the software.

Regularly downloading Windows Updates from Microsoft will improve your PC’s security, stability and performance, and it’s a FREE service. Microsoft’s operating systems are far from perfect, but Windows Updates can help keep your operating system running at the highest possible level.

 

Network File Sharing 101

Setting up file sharing between PC’s on a local area network is easy to do and will eliminate the need for “Sneakernet”, that is, physically carrying a floppy or CD from one computer to another.  First, check to see if file sharing is turned on. Go to the Control Panel and open “Network” or “Network and Dialup Connections” or “Network connections” (the name varies between different versions of Windows). In Win 95/98/ME, you will see a number of “Network Components” listed. In Win 2000/XP, you will need to right click on “Local Area Connection” and choose “Properties” to see the “Network Components”. If you see “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks”, you’re home free. If you don’t see “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks”, add it by clicking “Add” or “Install”, double-clicking “Service” and double clicking “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks”. Click “OK” buttons until you are out of the Control Panel. Win 95/95/ME users will need to reboot.

Next, you need to turn on sharing for individual files or devices. You can share anything on the network from hard drives or CD-ROM drives down to individual folders by right clicking the icon and selecting “Sharing” or “Sharing and Security”. In Win 95/98/ME click the “Shared As” button and choose between “Read Only”, “Full” or “Password Protected”. In Win 2000/XP, check the “Share this folder on the network” box and decide if you want to give others the ability to change your files. You can also pick a different network name for the shared folder. File sharing is a feature built into the Windows operating systems that can save time and increase productivity. A little configuration time will get rid of “Sneakernet” permanently.

Quick Tips:

When shopping for Random Access Memory (RAM) be sure you get the correct type for your computer. Since the advent of upgradeable/replaceable RAM several dozen different types have come out and many computers are only happy with a single type of RAM. Also, all computers have an upper limit on the total RAM capacity. Check the literature that came with your computer, the manufacturer’s web site or ask where you buy the RAM for the correct size, type and speed to meet your needs.

Consider replacing your older and slower CDROM drive with a newer DVD-ROM drive. For a few dollars more than the cost of a replacement CD-ROM, you can read CD-ROM disks and watch DVD’s on your computer. If you have a few hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket, consider also replace your CD-RW drive (aka the “burner”) with a DVD-RW drive and transform your PC into a DVD production studio. DVD burners are still beyond the reach of most casual or business PC users, but the price is steadily falling and DVD burners are showing up in new high end PC’s. If you need a practical argument to convince your boss or significant other, a DVD can also store up to 4.3 gigabytes of computer data, making a DVD burner a less expensive alternative to tape drives for system backups.

As LCD monitor prices continue to fall, so do the prices of the standard picture tube monitors. Companies stuck with production lines for old technology monitors figure they can get the last bit of amortization from their quickly obsolescing equipment by drastically lowering prices. Although not as flashy (or light!) as the new LCD monitors, terrific bargains can be found on both new and used large screen old technology monitors. But don’t wait too long. Within two years, all picture tube based monitor production is expected to end.

Have unanswered computer questions? Give us a call. Corvus can help!

 

Brought to you by Bill Radmer at Corvus Networks, Inc. We welcome feedback!

You can find back issues of the newsletter at http://www.corvusnetworks.com/

651 287-0849

 

The Corvus Newsletter is a free service and the PC software and techniques mentioned have been checked on our computers and work fine, but hey, we can’t be responsible for all the weird things that may occur on your machine, so anything you read in this newsletter and try on your machine is at your own risk.