For some reason, IT consulting firms (both large and small) and the modern small business have become two ships passing in the night. The modern small business will often have very few employees, often less than 20 or 25 at any given time. These small businesses have evolved and become settled into and focused on a very specific niche, often sub-niche. This means that they have very specific needs which may not mirror other larger businesses within the same industry.

Here is a quick list of what small Businesses now expect from their IT Consultants.

1.Hardware Knowledge

For an IT consultant to be effective, they need to know their hardware. However, with a small business, consultants will often be expected to know much more than computers. They should have a wide birth of knowledge including notebook PC’s, PDA’s, a variety of printers/faxes/and the like, switches, servers, cable, or DSL. small businesses expect their IT consultants to be able to assist them with more than computers, but the wide variety of technology that any employee may need to use.

2.Software Knowledge

While software should never be the main focus of an IT consultant, understanding the specific software needs of a small business will give the consultant a huge leg up. Many small businesses will choose to outsource various aspects of their business and will need to be able to choose software that allows for this to happen easily. Since a small business has a hyper-focused sub-niche, they may need unique and flexible software that would not be considered an “industry-norm.” In addition, it’s a good idea to constantly research for new software. This way, you can provide good alternatives in the event that the client is not satisfied with one.

3.Operating Systems

Every IT consultant should have a more than strong understanding of a variety of operating systems. As with software, a small business are increasingly using alternative operating systems to run their business. For example, the accountant may be running PC while the marketing director may be dedicated to their Mac. This means that being an IT consultant for a small business can actually require a strong foundation across all operating systems to ensure the network runs seamlessly.

4.Networking

For a micro-business, the IT consultant needs to have a strong understanding of secure networking. They should also be able to make decisions about anti-virus software, firewalls, and remote solution software that are unique to each business. Small businesses will always thrive because they have a level of flexibility that their larger counterparts will never be able to touch. Therefore, their IT consultant must be able to do everything that needs to be done on the technology side, to maximize the companies flexibility.

The bottom line is simple. If more IT consultants understand how to provide exactly what a small business needs, then they will have a leg up over their consulting competition. It is also important to keep in mind that the small business owner is not always tech savvy. Therefore, it’s essential that IT consultants communicate effectively. Take the Geek Level down a notch and explain the situation in basic terms. However, keep in mind that this does not mean that you should talk down to anyone. We have big problem in the IT industry with talking down to people. Let the EGO go and you’ll have more success in your industry.

Computers can now be found in almost every home, in fact many homes have more than one. However, just because you own a computer or two, doesn’t mean that you are computer savvy. Don’t feel bad, many people aren’t.

One of the most common problems or complaints that people have is that their computer has started to run slowly. Fortunately, by following a few simple tips, there is a good chance that you can have your computer up and running a top speed within a matter of minutes.

Here are 3 common occurrences that will slow down your computer, and that you can fix even if you less about computers than anyone else on your block.

1.Cluttered Registry

A cluttered registry will slow down your computer faster than anything else because it overloads your computer with registry files that are no longer important but still taking up valuable space. Registry files are critical to your computer as they hold all of your information regarding preferences and settings. To this end, every time you add software or hardware to your computer, additional files are added. When you remove software or hardware, these registry files will remain on you computer.

The easiest way to solve this problem is to use software that is designed to clean your registry. We like to recommend JV16 Free Registry Cleaner as our cleaner of choice. This software simply scans your computer and removes any registry files that are no longer used. By getting rid of these files, you will immediately notice that your computer is running much faster.

2.Spyware

Spyware continues to get a lot of attention and for good reason. Spyware refers to programs that are designed to be purposely malicious and they attach themselves to your computer. This allows other people to monitor what you do online.

Spyware seems unavoidable to many people, however quality anti-virus software can prevent Spyware from attacking your computer in the first place. If you already have spyware on your computer, anti-virus software will scan your computer and remove all spyware and other viruses immediately. Almost every anti-virus program can also be set to scan your computer once a week, to ensure continued protection and remove spyware.

You may be wondering why additional spyware may be found on your computer after the scan. The answer is simple. Anti-virus software checks for and prevents damage created by all known viruses and spyware. This software will automatically update when new viruses and spyware is discovered. There is always a chance that spyware could find its way into your computer before the anti-virus software has been made aware of it. Fortunately, weekly scans will take care of this issue quickly. We recommend using on-demand scanners in addition to your normal scanner.

3.Overbearing Desktops

Many people fill up their computers desktop with tons of shortcuts and fancy backgrounds. All of this takes up precious memory and space on your computer. This tends to be more noticeable on older machines. However, by shutting off your background and keeping your shortcuts to a minimum, you could see a big increase in your computers speed.

Everyone wants a fast computer. By keeping these 3 tips in mind, you will be able to keep your computer running quickly and efficiently.

It is always a stressful time when you computer crashes and you need to get it fixed immediately. Especially once you have struggled to fix what you can on your own, but still no running computer.

You are stressed, anxious, and probably more than a little irritated. It is time to pick your Indianapolis computer repair service, but who to choose? Our single best advise is to not only decide based on price. Consider some other important factors as well.

Here are some tips to helping you choose your Indianapolis computer repair service.

1. The Right Mindset

You need to approach choosing your computer repair service the same way you choose a car mechanic. Just like a car, your computer is a machine that runs a specific way. Choose an Indianapolis computer repair service that understands your needs is knowledgeable and confident about repairing your computer. Choosing someone to repair your computer is a serious decision, so do not make it lightly.

2. Referrals

Always try to get input from friends and family that have had any experience with any Indianapolis computer repair services. This will let you know not only who to choose, but more importantly who to stay away from. Generally, there are many more quality computer repair services than poor ones. However, choosing a poor one can potentially ruin your computer. If you have access to the internet from your phone or other computer, don’t hesitate to go online and look for customer feedback about Indianapolis computer repair services.

3. The Big 3

Try to make a list of two or three computer service repair companies that you are confident in. Then compare their overall level of service, customer service, proficiency, how long average repairs take, and rates. All of this information should be used to make an informed decision.

One important question that most people do not ask is if the Indianapolis computer service repair company will add anything to the computer. If you computer needs to be wiped clean, reformatted, etc. They may need to re-install the operating system. Unfortunately, this also means they may add anti-virus software and even programs that you do not want. Make sure that they do not add anything that you do not want. Additionally, make sure that they will not charge you for what they install outside of what you have agreed upon.

Just like some auto-mechanics, they may do more than they are told to do and then charge you for it. So make sure to clear everything up and agree upon what services you want them to perform before hiring them.

By following these three simple steps, you will always land a trust Indianapolis computer service repair company.

The buildup to the release of Windows 7 was as big as any Windows operating systems launch the public has seen in a long time from Microsoft.

This sent Microsoft devotees scrambling to get their OS upgrade as soon as it was on the market. However, as with any new OS launch, the big question is should I do the upgrade now or continue with my computer maintenance?

The short answer is “NO”. As with any Microsoft launch, there are a number of problems that have encircled a large percentage of users. So far, the most common problem is known as “the continuous reboot”. This problem has primarily risen from users that are upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 regardless of how much computer maintenance you do to your computer. Unfortunately, there is no single solution that has been able to solve this problem yet.

The potential of windows 7 is huge, and once the bugs have been worked out, it looks to be a great OS for anyone who relies on Microsoft products. Unfortunately, as with any new OS release, there are often more bugs than benefits. Once the inevitable, comprehensive service pack has been released and proven to fix a large majority of the problems, Windows 7 will become a viable option. If you are buying a new computer and Windows 7 is already installed, you should not have a problem, but if you are looking to upgrade, it would be better for you to hold off a little longer.

Instead, Microsoft users need to utilize proper computer maintenance to extend the life of the Operating System.

Here are 5 easy ways to extend the life of your computer and your OS:

1.Let Windows Shut Down Properly

Do not try to get in a hurry and prematurely shut down your computer, it can create long term damage to your hard drive.

2.Backup Everything

Whenever you think you might need to backup your information, you are right. It is always better to backup your information more than you need to than to lose important information.

3.Defrag

Use your scan-disk or defragment your computer at least once a month, ideally once every two weeks.

4.Don’t Choke

Make sure that you keep 400-600 Mb of free space on your hard drive. This prevents windows from choking. When this happens, Windows will automatically dump data to your hard drive or just slow down to less than a crawl.

5.Dirty Viruses

Make sure to use continuous anti-virus software, or at least use a free online virus checker every 2 weeks. This will keep unwanted viruses from covertly hijacking your computer.

Have you upgraded to Windows 7 yet?   What do you think?

Share some helpful computer maintenance tips!

Many people find computer diagnostics to be complex and, at times, downright overwhelming…

In reality, it is as simple as any other program that you use on a daily basis. At the most fundamental level, a computer diagnostics program is simply a piece of software that checks your PC’s health and fixes problems like performance problems (like running slow or freezing), recovering missing data, and creates reports and diagrams to help you understand how well your computer is operating.

To keep things simple, think of it like this: Computer diagnostics software is like an auto mechanic. You pay the mechanic to tell you why your car isn’t running like it should and he looks at everything under the hood, tells you what is wrong, and then fixes the problem. With computer diagnostics software, you open the program, let it run and discover what is wrong with your computer and what can be done to optimize it. Then, with your permission, the software will fix all of the problems that it finds and optimizes your computer for you.

Why does this matter to you? You need to understand the benefits of running a routine diagnostic on your computer.

1.Prevention

Many programs are designed to let you know of a potential problem before it actually happens. This can range from system instabilities like having your computer consistently freeze up, getting the dreaded blue screen, slow performance, and even data loss.

All of these problems are symptoms of much larger and more serious problems. By preventing these problems from happening in the first place, you not only save yourself time, money, and a big headache, but also prevent much larger and more serious problems from happening in the future.

2.Faster Performance

All computer diagnostics programs have the ability to increase your computer speed and responsiveness. This is done by cleaning up your registry, which contains a large percentage of useless data that most people do not even realize exist. This data can come from almost anywhere including hidden spyware and even data from programs that were uninstalled months ago. All of this data will slow your computer down seconds at a time, which at the end of the week can equal hours or even days.

3.Finding Lost Data

Computer diagnostics programs are able to help you find data that may have been accidentally deleted or lost in when your computer unexpectedly crashes. If you are not tech savvy, the only other option would be to pay a technician hundreds of dollars an hour to do the same thing.

These are just some of the reasons that everyone needs to have their own computer diagnostics software on their computer. Don’t be intimidated, it is no different than any other software and will always walk you through the process every step of the way.

I want to know…

What computer diagnostics software do you use?

Do you use it regularly or only when it is an emergency?

PDF stands for Portable Document Format, originally a file format used for print publishing as a tool for proofing print jobs. Today, it has become the standard for sharing print-ready documents via the Internet. PDF is now accepted as an open standard, and is widely supported by several software vendors (Adobe, FoxIt, Microsoft).

Several characteristics of a PDF make it a great choice for sharing or publishing documents over the Internet.

1. Retain Original Formatting
PDF allows the original presentation and formatting of any document to remain exactly as its original author intended it to look, including images, fonts, and layout.

2. Security
With PDF documents, you have full control over users’ ability to open, print, copy,modify, or share documents. You can selectively enable or disable these actions for each document according to your preferences.

Note: It’s not completely impossible to break the security permissions applied to PDF documents. There are several softwares available to remove certain security limitations. However, it’s a risk most business users are willing to take after reviewing on case per case basis.

3. Easy to Create
Because PDF has become an open standard, many software vendors support the format.You don’t necessarily need Adobe’s Acrobat software to create PDF documents. Many plug-ins for Microsoft Office, print drivers, or online conversion services are available free.

Free PDF Conversion
1) Office 2007: PDF conversion built in.
2) Office 2003: PrimoPDF
3) Online Service: Scribd

4. File Size Compression
PDF file sizes can be shrunk to suit the needs of target users. PDF documents can be packaged and compressed while retaining the original quality, or can be down-sampled and compressed to dramatically reduce file size, making it quick to download over the web.

5. Powerful and Flexible
You can add interactive elements including form fields, hyperlinks,electronic signatures, and multimedia such as sounds and videos to your PDF documents. Although these features are also available with other formats,they are not as easy to package and share as PDF.

So consider switching to PDF when you want to share or publish documents over the Internet. If you need assistance, let us know – we can help.

We think this is the easiest, least expensive way to successfully burn the downloaded Vista Recovery Disc image we wrote about yesterday.

Thanks to the freeware burning software, CDBurnerXP, you’ll be able to burn the Recovery disc in a few clicks.

Please consider donating to the developer(s) of CDBurnerXP to assist with further development. It really is a great software and is compatible with both XP and Vista operating systems. Here’s a quick description of the software from the developer:

CDBurnerXP is a free application to burn CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs, as well as a multilanguage interface. Everyone, even companies, can use it for free. It does not include adware or similar malicious components.

First, install the CDBurnerXP software with the default settings and then restart your computer. Once restarted, find the Vista Recovery Disc file (Vista_Recovery_Disc_x86.iso) you downloaded earlier and double-click on it. A CDBurnerXP prompt, similar to the picture below, should appear.

Insert your blank CD-R media and click on burn. You should have a successfully burned recovery disc when complete. Feel free to leave us a comment below if you think we overlooked an important fact in the process.

Image Source: Softpedia and CDBurnerXP

This weekend, one of our clients was shopping for a new personal computer and contacted us, frustrated about having to pay extra for the Vista recovery disc.

Yes, if you weren’t aware, PC manufacturers no longer provide customers a tangible OS recovery disc. Not surprisingly, Geek Squad wanted to charge her $70.00 to create one for her…lame.

This shows a complete disregard to the fact that you’re often paying over a thousand dollars of your hard earned cash. It’s probably not a big deal until you’re actually reading this post for help. We know it can be a frustrating ordeal when you need the original installation disc to repair your computer and you don’t have the disc.

Today, depending on the PC manufacturer, the set of recovery tools is often included on a separate area (partition) of the hard drive that can be accessed during computer startup (i.e. press F2, F12, etc). However, older machines may not have this feature, or you were instructed to create your own disc, which never happened. Either way, the disc is important because it contains computer repair features that can only be found on the disc.

According to NeoSmart, Microsoft has released a downloadable Vista recovery disc for users that don’t have access to the original. However, due to what we assume are bandwidth issues, NeoSmart only offers a torrent of the download, which may stand as a technical barrier to many in the “Do-It-Yourself” crowd. As a result, for those of you who don’t want to learn about torrents, we’ve decided to help out the community by releasing a mirror of the download.

We’ll keep it up as long as our allotted bandwidth can support it being hosted here. Please say thanks if the download helps you out. Need help burning the recovery disc? Please see our Burn Vista Recovery Disc tutorial for instructions on how to use the free burning software, CDBurnerXP, to successfully burn the disc image (iso).

Technology is at the forefront of our daily lives. Whether it be a cell phone, laptop, or GPS unit we have become accustomed to having access to information quickly. In business, access to your data at any time of day can be the difference between a lost sale and a bonus. Having always-on access to your data on the go can give you the edge you need in this competitive market.

Recently, I was in a meeting regarding our company’s service performance. The client threw a zinger at me and requested statistical information regarding his website. At first, I panicked, knowing that I didn’t have the information in my presentation. I think he noticed and was prepared to use my lack of preparation as an example. Before he had a chance, I accessed my office computer with remote desktop software to access the data he needed. He was impressed and the meeting ended successfully.

Remote desktop software, like LogMeIn and GoToMyPC, enable users to access their desktop computers when away from home or the office. You have access fast, always-on, and secure access to your desktop computer anytime of day. Many of our readers may be more familiar with GoToMyPC by Citrix due to their amount of marketing and length of time in the market. However, GoToMyPC charges a monthly fee that may not be feasible for every user.

As a result, our technicians often recommend the Free alternative, LogMeIn Free. The LogMeIn software solution is installed on every machine you want to access remotely. Once installed, it places an icon in the bottom right corner of your computer to signify the software was installed successfully. When the software is running, you can access that computer remotely through the LogMeIn website. You’ll have to install a browser plugin the first time you connect but after that you should be good to go. LogMeIn Free is fairly basic and doesn’t provide advanced options such as remote printing or secure file transfer. For those features, you’ll need to upgrade to their pro version (which we highly recommend).

In addition, they recently launched an iPhone application ($30.00) that provides the flexibility to connect when a laptop isn’t available. Either way, in our opinion, you can’t go wrong with the LogMeIn product line. It may save you in your next meeting.

A few years ago I was introduced to the highly skilled industry of data recovery and forensics. Darren R. Miller of Recover Data Now, an Indianapolis based data recovery company, has played an instrumental part in helping us learn the trade.

Darren, a seasoned Forensic expert, has assisted our clients with the recovery of both personal and business data.

In his experiences, Darren has found that often times data becomes unrecoverable (or more expensive to recover) due to user error. As a result, Darren has been nice enough to share his tips when it comes to data recovery.

If you think you may need professional data recovery services do not:

Power up a device that has obvious physical damage.

Hard drives that make mechanical fault noises such as clicking, scratching, or grinding should not be repeatedly powered on for testing. These actions often times cause more damage. It may seem to obvious to mention but I’ve had clients call me to hear the sound….. click click click

Use free data recovery software.

Free data recovery software can ruin your chances for a successful data recovery. No, it’s not because data experts want your money. It’s because the professional tools can often times recover data that free software cannot find. Using a professional service can at least provide the confidence in knowing whether your data is definitively recoverable or not.

Attempt to run off-the-shelf disk repair programs.

Attempt to run off-the-shelf disk repair programs: such as scandisk, chkdsk or disk doctor to try to fix your hard drive. These programs can often times do more damage than good.

Try to open the hard drive case.

Don’t be a hero and think you can open the hard drive case yourself. This isn’t the faucet in the bathroom or the chair at your mothers house. This is high tech work that requires a professional work area. Professional data recovery experts have to use a clean room to open hard drives. If not, the data is subject to damage in uncontrolled environments.

In the event that you’ve already lost data, we are recovery experts. We’ll arrange to see your system, run a few tests, determine the problem, plan a course of action, and then (YES, really) call to fill you in on the details and provide an accurate estimate.