US Advanced Technology

Automating Things with Batch Files
They Work on Today’s Computers Too!

If you’re familiar with MS-DOS at all, you’ll recall that it’s a command-driven operating system that performs functions issued at the C:> prompt. The only way to get an MS-DOS computer to do something was to type a command at this prompt and if you can imagine, it was a rather cumbersome way to use a computer.

As an example, to load up Microsoft’s simple editing program, you had to type the name of the drive that the program was on, the directory that the program was in, and then the name of the program. So if Microsoft Edit was in a directory or folder named “Process,” you could start the program by typing, “C:>processedit.com” Then, and only then would the program load up for use.

This is a small command, but just imagine if you had a program that was deeply nested within a series of folder. You could end up typing a command as wide as your computer screen or worse, long enough that the entire command would have to wrap onto the next line! Now imagine having to type these long commands every time that you wanted to start a program. Yikes!

That’s one of the reasons why batch files became so popular. Batch files are small text-based documents that contain a bunch of these commands on their own lines. When executed, they would process each command without the user having to type each and every one of them.

When Windows was developed, the need for typing commands was essentially eradicated thanks to the introduction of the point-and-click (mouse) interface. But this didn’t stop the batch file fever that started under MS-DOS – and in some small circles, batch files are still as popular as they were in the beginning.

Even though you may use Windows XP or Vista, batch files can save you tons of time by automatically starting multiple programs and performing different tasks at the single click of a button. They don’t require any extensive programming background and they don’t need to be encrypted with some weird, expensive compiler. Batch files are plain text files, and you can build one for your own personal use with Windows’ Notepad.

You could make a batch file that loads up your favorite websites at once for example, or you could make a batch file that fills your desktop with the most important applications for the day. To do so only requires a little knowledge about the locations of these applications.

Let’s say that every day we need to load up the Yahoo web browser, Microsoft Word, and then the calculator that comes with Windows. Instead of doing this by hand, we could write a batch file to do it for us.

First, we’d load up Notepad and type in the following:

START “http://www.yahoo.com”
START “c:/program files/microsoft office/office/winword.exe”
START “c:/windows/calc.exe”

We would then save this data into a file named, “mytasks.bat” onto the Desktop for easy access. Each time we double-clicked on this file, the Yahoo website would load up, Microsoft Word would start, and the simple calculator would pop up.

Since we want these programs to load every day, we could create a shortcut to this file and then place the shortcut inside our computer’s Start Up folder. That way, these three programs would load every time we turn on the computer. If you wanted these programs to start minimized, you could type the following into a batch file instead:

START http://www.yahoo.com /m
START “c:/program files/microsoft office/office/winword.exe” /m
START “c:/windows/calc.exe” /m

This will run all three programs as before, however the “/m” parameter will minimize them so that they don’t clutter up the desktop.

Other people have found much more creative and effective ways to use batch files, but the important thing is that you know they’re a resource you can use to save a few seconds or minutes in performing important tasks. We’ve come a long way from MS-DOS, but it’s still a valuable source of automation that anyone can use with no programming knowledge at all.

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As more and more people make the switch from wireless networks to secure networks in their homes, there are a whole new range of security issues to be aware of. Too often people set up their wireless network and forget about the security implications.

However, this can be a serious oversight as people can easily access your personal information and is a common cause of fraud. In this article we advise you on some of the steps you can take to make sure your wireless network is secure.

Almost all computers with recent operating system and wireless capabilities will have the option to turn on a built in firewall. If you are using an older operating system you may want to install a third party firewall. Although this alone will not stop third parties from accessing your network, it will act to secure each computer on the network from unwanted network requests.

Creating secure user accounts is also advisable. Weak username / password combinations are exploitable should a hacker try to gain access to your networked computer via your wireless network. Stronger passwords will generally contain mixed case alphanumeric characters. You can easily find advice on writing secure passwords on the internet.

Most wireless routers allow you to access their configuration with your web browser. Be sure to change the default username and password that allows you to administrate your router to prevent unwanted access. If you do not, almost anyone could breach your network.

In addition, every network capable computer will have at least one MAC address that identifies it on your network. Granting access to your wireless network based on MAC addresses will filter out unwanted users and network capable devices. It is not foolproof, but it will discourage most would-be hackers.

Wireless routers also broadcast an SSID which is basically a name of the network that appears when a computer picks up its signal. By default, this will usually be the name of the manufacturer of your wireless router. Many companies identify their networks using the SSID and it can be a handy way to identify Wi-Fi hotspots when you are out and about. However, for the sake of your home network it is not really necessary so it is a good idea to stop broadcasting it entirely.

It should also be possible to encrypt the data that is sent between computers on your wireless network. However, you must ensure that all computers have the same encryption settings.

One of the main reasons that wireless home networks can have security issues is because the signal can often reach beyond the boundaries of your home. One major financial institution recently lost millions of credit card records because it did not have its wireless system properly secured.

Another method that is commonly used to secure wireless networks is static IP addressing. IP addresses are often assigned automatically on wireless networks. However, networks are much more secure if the IP addresses of all computers on a network are set by hand. This is not foolproof but will keep out casual hackers.

If possible, place your wireless router in a part of your house or apartment where the signal will not travel too far beyond the boundaries of your home. If your home overlooks a street, do not put your router too close to this part of your home. In addition, if you are going on vacation or are going to be away for an extended period of time you should turn your router off while you are gone.

Even if you do not have a wireless network in you own home, it is important to know how to keep your notebook secure when you are out and about. You should make sure that your notebook does not auto-connect to other wireless networks. By default, both Windows and Mac OSX will display a warning before connecting to unknown networks and both will allow you to identify which networks you trust for automatic connection. When you are connecting to outside networks that you do not know, make sure that your firewall is turned on.

Too many people overlook the importance of securing their wireless networks. The steps outlined above should not take long to implement. While they may not guarantee 100% security, they are likely to deter any would-be hackers.

These are just some of the steps you can take to make your home wireless network more secure. There are millions of networks out there that are very poorly protected so if you take the time to put even a few of these safeguards in place you will most likely deter any would-be hackers.

Every new computer that’s brought home from the store has an operating system installed onto it. But what most new computer users don’t realize, is that without an operating system, that computer would be a simple shell of possibilities. A powered computer lacking an operating system wouldn’t display anything more than a bunch of confusing text messages that describe the computer’s boot process. At the very end of this process, the computer looks for an operating system and if not found, it will prompt the user to tell it where it is.

Earlier computers didn’t have an operating system and if you have experience with the computers of the early eighties, you’ll remember that most to them didn’t even have a hard drive! These old computers booted an MS-DOS type operating system from drivers stored onto a floppy disk, and in order to use a program, users would remove the boot floppy and then insert a new floppy that contained the program. The floppy not only stored the program

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The Motherboard is the largest component in your PC and the Central Processing Unit is its brain. But when your input devices go on the blink, you’re shut down for awhile. When Computer Mice problems come, we don’t panic as fast when we cannot access our hard drive.

When you grab your Mouse and either click or roll the buttons and nothing happens,your computing fun stops. Even though the mouse is a little input device, you will wish you understood its every aspect when it dies.

When input device failure occurs,the problem may lie with the computer’s hardware,the mouse, the OS or Operating System. Let’s take a look at what you should check when mouse failure occurs. If you need help with mouse components, http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com contains photos of every component in the computer.

When the mouse dies,you should be able to perform the same functions with the keyboard. It may be a little closer but you won’t be shut down completely.

NO MOUSE MOVEMENT

First… If the mouse has no movement,first look at the mouse connection at the rear of the computer. Be sure it is plugged in completely.

Second..remove the plug and inspect for connectors or pins that may be broken or bent. The connector is color coded with green being that of the mouse.

If your mouse uses the USB or Universal Serial Bus connector,check the connectors for any damage and be sure it is plugged in.

MOUSE STOPPED DURING OPERATION

Should your mouse quit in the middle of computing, save your work immediately. Press the ALT key to access your program and save your work.

Check the connection in the rear to be sure it has not worked itself loose.If the connection is tight, inspect the mouse components for birt.

Remove the retain and trackball inside the mouse. Clean the Ball with a mild solution and be sure all residence is removed.And clean the Ball Cavity with a cotton swab. Replace the ball and secure it with the retainer.

Connect the mouse to the system unit and boot the the computer.Try clicking a program to see if the mouse wotks.If the mouse fails,check the device driver for the mouse.

MOUSE POINTER MISBEHAVING

This problem may be the result of your computer be affected by a virus.Use your Anti Virus software to scan your sysem for viruses.

You can go to http://www.free-av.com to download a free version of anti virus software if you don’t have anti virus software installed on your system.

A corrupt device driver can also cause the mouse to misbehave.Check the device driver by opening the Control Panel,and open the System folder.

Select the device driver tab and use the down arrow key to scroll down to the mouse. Expand the mouse to see if the driver is installed.

If you see a yellow icon,the mouse has a problem and you can try to re-install the device driver. First uninstall the mouse from Windows and reboot the PC.

After the system reboots,the operating system will find the mouse and re-install the driver. If you have a wireless or USB mouse, re-installing the special software may be in order.

A misbehaving mouse may occur when you install another device on your system.If this happens, the mouse and new device may be conflicting with each other by using the same address.

Unplug any hardware you installed and uninstall any software recently installed.See if the mouse operates properly.

Use the System Restore utility to set your computer back to a time when the mouse was working as it should.The Registry can be the culprit of the mouse behaving badly.

You can connect your mouse to another computer to verify it is bad.If the mouse works on another system,check the problems mentioned in the PC’s operating system.

MAINTAINING YOUR MOUSE

To keep the mouse performing at its very best, you should take the time to clean the components of your mouse.Regularly clean the mouse, both inside and out.

Clean the outside of the mouse with rubbing alcohol. This solution is best since it does not leave any residue.Take the time to clean a small area first, to certain any damage to the plastic will not occur.

The components inside the mouse to be cleaned are the Rollers, as well as the Ball.These two parts are the most important to be kept clean and always take great care in doing so.

Carefully take apart the mouse by turning the retaining ring counter clockwise to unlock it. Remove the Ball and clean it with warm water and not alcohol.

The rollers inside the moise cavity can be cleaned with alcohol by dampening a Q Tip and wiping the rollers gently.

With clean hands,insert the ball back in the mouse and replace the retaining ring. Now enjoy your mouse and should it cause any problems,you’re armed with the knowledge of how to diagnose and repair most problems.

Dust Kills
Cleaning the Unit Fan is Essential Computer Care

Between taking care of the household, the kids, the pets, and the district PTA, computer care is probably one of the last things that you think of doing on a regular basis. Without a regular maintenance schedule however, you could find out (the hard way) that a neglected computer is an energy hog – one that works harder than it needs to and one that could be a financial burden to replace.

Let’s talk about maintaining hardware. So much emphasis is put on maintaining a computer’s operating system that we sometimes forget how important it is to maintain a computer’s hardware components. Since there can be quite a few components to take care of, let’s talk about the most important one.

The most important component of a computer’s hardware system is its fan. The fan is located on the computer’s CPU unit and when that thing gets clogged with dirt and dust, it can run down a computer faster than you can say, “Something’s wrong with my computer and I don’t know what it is!” In short, the fan is responsible for keeping a computer’s motor cool and this motor is what keeps the computer’s hard drive and peripherals functioning the way you need them to, which translates to “fast.”

A dirty fan doesn’t rotate fast enough to keep that motor cool and a completely clogged fan just stops rotating altogether. This causes the computer’s motor to work harder – and a harder working motor can raise the electric bill! Worst case scenario: the motor can overheat and stop working as well. No motor equals no computer.

Keep your computer’s fan clean by preventing the fan from getting dirty or dusty in the first place. Use the computer in a dust-free environment and never smoke around it. Nicotine and tar mean certain death when it comes to computer fans, however should you find a need to clean the fan, do so with extreme care.

It’s quite easy to cause more damage from cleaning so if you’re not comfortable with cleaning your PC yourself, take it to a shop for servicing. Otherwise, you can unplug and disassemble the computer to do it yourself.

You’ll need a can of compressed air and an anti-static rag to remove stubborn clumps of dust. Hold the can perfectly vertical and spray the fan being careful not to spray the dust off the fan onto other sensitive parts of the computer like circuit boards or inside the motor casing. Wipe up remaining dust with your anti-static rag and then reassemble the computer.

One thing that you certainly don’t want to use to remove computer dust is a vacuum cleaner. Although using a vacuum cleaner seems to make more sense, the strong suction of a vacuum cleaner can actually spark damaging static electricity or dislodge loose cables. You also don’t want to use oil-based cleaners. Although Pledge may dust your wooden tables and cabinets to a perfect shine, the oil inside a cleaner like this will erode sensitive computer parts. Stick to a liquid-free dusting method and your dusting routine will be safe enough to repeat as often as you need.

As previously mentioned, preventing dust from entering the computer is extremely important and will reduce the need to open and dust your system in the first place. The severity of outside elements (smoking, humidity, pets, etc.) will ultimately determine how often you’ll need to de-dust your machine. But as an average, you shouldn’t need to perform this procedure any more than once or twice a year.

The entire exercise should take no more than twenty minutes tops and once complete, you’ll immediately see and hear the difference in your machine. The computer’s keyboard and mouse will run more smoothly, hardware won’t take as long to connect, and the entire machine won’t be as loud as one that’s corroded with ugly dust bunnies.

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I just read an article about a lady whose computer was deluged by adware. It was such a problem that she spent thousands of dollars on computer repair fees to try to clean up her computer. The said thing is that she could have restored her computer by herself in less than a few hours and for free.

Somewhere down the line, there will be problems with your computer (adware, spyware, viruses, good software gone bad, etc,). Obviously, you should use protection software to prevent as much as possible. However, you will most likely eventually find yourself in a mess. Relax! Don’t worry.

Don’t spend thousands of dollars on a computer guy to fix your computer if it breaks down. The first rule of thumb is, dont spend more than $300, which would buy you a new computer today. But don’t throw away your computer yet — there is another solution.

If you are unable to access programs like MS Office and Quicken you may have a hardware problem, or your data may be so corrupted that you may have to call in a computer expert to get to it and he may not be able to access it in a cost effective way. Decide ahead of time how much your data is worth to you and find out how much you will pay the expert.

If you can still access your data, try the following:
First, back up all the saved data from programs like MS Office and Quicken. Make sure you have the original program discs because later you will need to reload these programs, and any backed up data. Then, just reload your Windows XP operating system (or upgrade to Windows XP). Bypass any warnings it gives you about your existing data. It will wipe your computer clean and you can start again. Go online and load the FREE security programs listed below. Then load the programs you wish to re-install and then their backed up data. Your computer will run like brand new (or better!). Warning! You will lose everything on your computer when you install Windows XP, and all the programs have to be re-loaded.

Here is the plan.

1) Starting now if it is not too late, you should be saving your important files and data to a disk or better yet to an online file folder. The online file folder sign-up can be found in the godaddy e-mail area. This way your files and data are safer. I enjoy accessing my files remotely from any computer as well. You should also neatly save and organize your important software so it is easy to reload.
2) Reload or load for the first time Windows XP Home edition or Professional.
3) Now download for FREE Microsoft Defender Anti-Spyware from microsoft.com.
4) Now download for FREE Avast Anti-virus.

These three work great together. You can find great information on in the free stuff forum at dealking.com. They list many of the above solutions.

I even suggest for older computers that are running sluggishly to load Windows XP right now to clean it up your system and make it work faster before problems occur. Your computer will work like new. CAUTION: You will lose everything when you re-load the Windows XP on you computer, but that is good if you have a bunch of junk. SAVE YOUR IMPORTANT ITEMS FIRST.

I did the above on 2 older Dells. One was plagued by an overload of junk and adware that popped up constantly. The other was just old and slow. I loaded the new Windows XP and started from scratch, and they work even better than the brand new Dells at my office that are loaded with a paid McAfee security package. McAfee seems to try to trick you into paying twice for the subscription, but the above solution is free and does the same thing.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on any of the above, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night. For hardware problems or to restore data, you may need a computer guy (expert). Also, you may have a computer guy who is very cost effective and efficient (they are around), but there are just as many that spend to much time and money (yours) to fix something their way.

Avoiding Data Loss A Guide To The Best Online Data Storage Websites

We all know the effects of data loss but exactly what is it?

Data loss – A crash in computing is a condition where a program (either an application or part of the operating system) stops performing its expected function and also stops responding to other parts of the system. Often the offending program may simply appear to freeze. If this program is a critical part of the operating system kernel the entire computer may crash (a system crash).

Having noted the definitions for data loss Ill note a few reasons why it occurs, and how to recover the data, as well as a few links to specialized sites.

1. User error – A simple mistake on behalf of an employee could lead to the loss of megabytes of critical company data. From the deletion of a critical file to the accidental deletion of database records, your customers could face large expenses and significant down time recovering the disaster created by a simple mistake.

2. Employee theft – Employees need access to sensitive data in order to perform their jobs. Your customers have to limit the information to which employees have access, ensure that terminated employees no longer have access to sensitive data, and be able to track who’s touching what, when and how.

3. Disaster – What natural disasters or unfortunate accidents might affect business? Magazines daily contain news of organizations that have faced unbelievable catastrophes. In the event that your or your customers’ organizations are hit with a fire, flood or other disaster, how will the data be protected?

One way is to have backups. Using an Iomega REV drive powered by Iomega Automatic Backup Pro software, configure a full backup to REV 35GB disks once a week. Once this backup is done, you can secure the full backup offsite. With your data now backed up in two locations, no single event will be able to damage both sets of data. This backup can be done through backing software, like Argentum Backup , which automatically detects and locates the proper paths, folders and files under any Microsoft Windows (95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP and 2003) platform. Argentum Backup does it for sure, without any mistake or occasion. Argentum Backup is designed to be suitable for both beginners and advanced users

But, the best and newest way are the online backup solutions, which help you protect your data on a regular basis (daily, weekly or monthly). One of this sites is Iomega iStorage, from one of the best backup companies. This site offers a feature-rich, highly secure online storage vault designed perfectly to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Includes administrative abilities that give you control of content shared and accessed. It creates multiple logins to the same account, giving members their own login and storage space and creates logins for guests to use with restricted access

Another site is www.backup.com, where you can find another on-line backup system, called @backup. Its main features are:

simple finding and selecting of files is made easy with our right mouse click options or with our explorer-like interface;

You dont have to remember to do a backup. @Backup remembers for you. You set your backup schedule and we do the rest;

They encrypt your data with bank level security procedures before transferring over the Internet to our data centers. Your data is stored encrypted and only accessible with your password.

You can restore files anytime. In the event of a crash, a virus infection, or a simple user error your backups are a click away. Additionally you have access to your files from any PC anywhere.

These are just two of the sites that offer you on-line backup system. The internet is packed with offers that vary from the size of the backup they provide to the monthly cost of the service. For your help, Ive included a few links, to other sites, where you can find details and prices for on-line backups.

www.livevault.com
www.dataprotection.com
www.xdrive.com

Don’t wait until it’s too late – make a back up plan now!

Avoiding Data Loss A Guide To The Best Online Data Storage Websites

We all know the effects of data loss but exactly what is it?

Data loss – A crash in computing is a condition where a program (either an application or part of the operating system) stops performing its expected function and also stops responding to other parts of the system. Often the offending program may simply appear to freeze. If this program is a critical part of the operating system kernel the entire computer may crash (a system crash).

Having noted the definitions for data loss Ill note a few reasons why it occurs, and how to recover the data, as well as a few links to specialized sites.

1. User error – A simple mistake on behalf of an employee could lead to the loss of megabytes of critical company data. From the deletion of a critical file to the accidental deletion of database records, your customers could face large expenses and significant down time recovering the disaster created by a simple mistake.

2. Employee theft – Employees need access to sensitive data in order to perform their jobs. Your customers have to limit the information to which employees have access, ensure that terminated employees no longer have access to sensitive data, and be able to track who’s touching what, when and how.

3. Disaster – What natural disasters or unfortunate accidents might affect business? Magazines daily contain news of organizations that have faced unbelievable catastrophes. In the event that your or your customers’ organizations are hit with a fire, flood or other disaster, how will the data be protected?

One way is to have backups. Using an Iomega REV drive powered by Iomega Automatic Backup Pro software, configure a full backup to REV 35GB disks once a week. Once this backup is done, you can secure the full backup offsite. With your data now backed up in two locations, no single event will be able to damage both sets of data. This backup can be done through backing software, like Argentum Backup , which automatically detects and locates the proper paths, folders and files under any Microsoft Windows (95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP and 2003) platform. Argentum Backup does it for sure, without any mistake or occasion. Argentum Backup is designed to be suitable for both beginners and advanced users

But, the best and newest way are the online backup solutions, which help you protect your data on a regular basis (daily, weekly or monthly). One of this sites is Iomega iStorage, from one of the best backup companies. This site offers a feature-rich, highly secure online storage vault designed perfectly to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Includes administrative abilities that give you control of content shared and accessed. It creates multiple logins to the same account, giving members their own login and storage space and creates logins for guests to use with restricted access

Another site is www.backup.com, where you can find another on-line backup system, called @backup. Its main features are:

simple finding and selecting of files is made easy with our right mouse click options or with our explorer-like interface;

You dont have to remember to do a backup. @Backup remembers for you. You set your backup schedule and we do the rest;

They encrypt your data with bank level security procedures before transferring over the Internet to our data centers. Your data is stored encrypted and only accessible with your password.

You can restore files anytime. In the event of a crash, a virus infection, or a simple user error your backups are a click away. Additionally you have access to your files from any PC anywhere.

These are just two of the sites that offer you on-line backup system. The internet is packed with offers that vary from the size of the backup they provide to the monthly cost of the service. For your help, Ive included a few links, to other sites, where you can find details and prices for on-line backups.

www.livevault.com
www.dataprotection.com
www.xdrive.com

Don’t wait until it’s too late – make a back up plan now!