MUCH ADO ABOUT EVERYTHING

Interview: Adesola Adebawo, Communications Manager, Chevron

2015-09-28T08:51:00.001+01:00

Adesola Adebawo heads the Chevron Nigeria’s overall corporate communications portfolio: strategic

planning, developing, and coordinating elements of the company’s communications and publicity programs for customers, stakeholders and business/joint venture partners through various media in support of Chevron Nigeria’s business plans. He has the responsibility for promoting and proactively managing the reputation and image of Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Strategic Business Unit. The position is critical to ensuring “the Partner of Choice” image of Chevron and positive perception of the Chevron brand and reputation. It requires excellent understanding of the local environment, Business Unit issues and stakeholder expectations.

INTERVIEW

1. You joined Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) 19 years ago when you came on board as a Public Affairs Field Representative. What was the rationale for making the decision to join CNL, as against everything else you had going?

Thank you for that question. It was an easy decision for me, considering the strength of the Chevron brand. CNL is a well distinguished blue chip corporation in Nigeria’s most prestigious industry. As a young journalist reporting politics and national issues in the 1990s, you desired the good life that a well-paying organization like CNL could afford you and the global reach of its operations. You wanted to work in a diverse environment where ethics were more than a sound bite. CNL represented all these and more, so I was ecstatic at the offer to join the work force and I celebrated the opportunity.

2. While in school, you studied Mass Communications. It seemed you had a clear-cut objective that you were going this route without any consideration of change or detour? What informed this decision?

Well…I had always wanted to study Mass Communications since my teenage years. This was due, in part, to my love for adventure and natural inclination to communicate values purposively. Originally, my family suggested that I pursue a career in law. But my teenage conviction was that legal practice was not for me. I am a natural communicator. Though this would have been awesome in the practice of law, yet I felt I wanted to influence life from the stand point of mass communications which has a wider impact. This was why I majored in journalism (news editorial and broadcasting). Additionally, the presence of media legends like Sola Omole and Deji Haastrup in Corporate Reputation Management was a major inspiration to me and confirmation (in my view) that my calculations made sense. That Mass Communications provides robust opportunities for this also. Did I hear you say I have not considered a change? As far as change and detour go, life is a dynamic reality. So the possibility of change has always been, and is always there. It just depends on the nature and form of the change. For example, I have transitioned from journalism to community engagement, and now to public affairs and reputation management. See! Change is always there, even when you are not quite conscious of it.

3. What does your role as Communication Manager of CNL entail?

Okay. This role puts me at the head of Corporate Communications for the company in the Nigeria/Mid-Africa Strategic Business Unit. It means that I manage strategic communication of the company’s business values and management of the company’s reputation from the communications stand point. It involves my providing strategic communication advisory to the leadership of the company in support of established business objectives. It also includes executive communications (speeches, talking points etc.), media engagement, and all external communications, crisis communication, overall range of internal communication platforms and activities, the company’s entire range of marketing communication. Very importantly, I speak on behalf of the company when it is necessary to do so. I am also responsible for ensuring compliance with the company’s policy on external and internal communications. These and more are the activities that keep me busy from day to day.

4. How much does technology, especially information technology impact your work, and the company at large?

I can tell you that CNL deploys superior technology in the daily operations of the company with outstanding results. From the use of a robust IT system to intricate oil and gas technology, CNL continues to deliver value to its stakeholders and Joint Venture partners. But the greatest value is delivered by the company’s world class workforce. This is the human energy that fires the success of the company.

5. Your company has regularly made the U.S Fortune 500 (100) list as #3, a whole lot of algorithm is used, and Forbes places your company at #16 as of May 2015. Either way that makes you a great global player. How does that make you feel? And what has translated into these figures from your privileged perspective as communications manager?

I can unequivocally tell you that I am proud of the success Chevron has consistently achieved. Not just in terms of results, but also in terms of the business values that drive those results: values of integrity, diversity, high performance, protecting people and the environment, ingenuity, trust and partnership. To us, it’s not simply about the results; it’s also about getting results the right way.

Our company’s foundation is built on our values, which distinguish us and guide our actions. We conduct our business in a socially responsible and ethical manner. We respect the law, support universal human rights, protect the environment and benefit the communities neighboring to where we work.

Integrity: We are honest with others and ourselves. We meet the highest ethical standards in all business dealings. We do what we say we will do. We accept responsibility and hold ourselves accountable for our work and our actions.

Trust: We trust, respect and support each other, and we strive to earn the trust of our colleagues and partners.

Diversity: We learn from and respect the cultures in which we work. We value and demonstrate respect for the uniqueness of individuals and the varied perspectives and talents they provide. We have an inclusive work environment and actively embrace a diversity of people, ideas, talents and experiences.

Ingenuity: We seek new opportunities and out-of-the-ordinary solutions. We use our creativity to find unexpected and practical ways to solve problems. Our experience, technology, and perseverance enable us to overcome challenges and deliver value.

Partnership: We have an unwavering commitment to being a good partner focused on building productive, collaborative, trusting and beneficial relationships with governments, other companies, our customers, our communities and each other.

Protecting People and the Environment: We place the highest priority on the health and safety of our workforce and the protection of our assets and the environment. We aim to be admired for world-class performance through disciplined application of our Operational Excellence Management System.

High Performance: We are committed to excellence in everything we do, and we strive to continually improve. We are passionate about achieving results that exceed expectations – our own and those of others. We drive for results with energy and a sense of urgency.

6. What is the best part of your job and what causes you the most frustration? Is it technology? Is it people? Is it process?

The best part of my job is communicating the invaluable contributions my company is making towards improving the lives of people everywhere we work. I will say the most frustrating part is watching many others who could do same, not doing so. People are quite complex in every vocation and mine is certainly not an exception.

7. When it comes to meeting the challenges of your part of the IT world, what hard and soft skills are required?

My IT requirements in my role are quite basic. Knowledge of office suite is sufficient while other specialized skills are used on as-need basis and the CNL IT support team is quite strong and capable in this regard.

8. What has been your work ethics, and slogan?

In Chevron we say, “do it safely or not at all…there’s always time to do it right”!

9. What sort of advice would you give a college or university student interested in getting into the IT or Communication field after graduating?

My candid advice will be to understand what you want out of life and pursue the career that fits into your vision of your future. That way you don’t have to struggle to keep a job you do not enjoy performing.

10. In your spare time, what sorts of hobbies or special interests do you enjoy?

Hahaha…hobbies… I read controversial authors, discuss politics and for the most part, I pastor a growing cross-cultural church on the Lekki Peninsula in Lagos, called TOTAL GOSPEL BIBLE CHURCH (House of Goshen). We amiably refer to ourselves as the warmest people on the peninsula. You should come with your friends sometime.

Interview: Dr Femi Oyenuga, MTN Nigeria

2015-09-28T08:49:00.000+01:00

Dr. Olufemi Oyenuga, is an expert Information Management Business Intelligence specialist

responsible for delivering value-add BI Analytics solutions that power a $5b turnover YOY (year on year), and still growing. As a Prince 2 Certified BI/EA Program Director (12yrs) with Strategic, Operational, Management competencies with proven benchmarks, milestone in public, private and Blue Chip sectors notably: Healthcare, Telecom, ICT and Industrial Manufacturing sphere plus working knowledge of financial services. He is a certified intelligence Analytical Modeler, with proficiencies in Forensic Data Intelligence Technical skills, data lakes and Shared Services.With advent of strong ecommerce and need to improve customer experience, he is currently leading a work stream on customer experience analytics to help improve customer satisfaction, business net promoter score which ultimately drive bottom line revenue, brand equity and ROI.

INTERVIEW:

1. You joined MTN Nigeria in 2006 where you serve as Senior Manager Specialist, Business Intelligence Information Management, right after NELMHT-NHS Trust in London. What was the rationale for making the decision to join MTN in Nigeria, as against a more comfortable life in the UK?

It was driven from a position or perspective of exploration rather than lifestyle. I was single and at that time have lived in Europe for 10years. When I got a wind to help run the operations of a DWH (Data WareHouse) in Nigeria and for Telco, I evaluated that opportunity and took it.

2. While in school, you studied medical-related topics such as dental surgery and you had your Masters in Bio-Engineering, but you ended up working in the IT space. Was this intentional or did you start out with a medical-related career as the goal — only to catch the IT bug?

I actually wanted to mature my career toward plastic surgery in the US. With life, it is always a story that ends well when you put your trust in God and work hard. I dare say I am not a regular IT professional howbeit I combine a requisite knowledge base of human science and mathematical derivatives hence my planning was always to have a branded story line. I enjoyed being referenced to as a Dr. and Engineer, it is actually a complimentary career set skill that is rare and most certainly unique.

3. What does your role as Enterprise Information Senior Manager entail?

Challenging and demanding. It encompasses strategic and operational management of the largest BI DWH (Business Intelligence Data WareHouse) in Africa and an ecosystem of operational data storage. The entire space allocation and used storage in my space is with 5PB. The need to be operationally on point is a given, and excellence has no finishing line. Every day in the role, I paint a canvass of the intelligence or informatics required to take or make management decision across all tier of the Group or organization with zero tolerance to failure and upbeat on quality of my job.

4. Your company made the “BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2015”. What is the secret of this success from your perspective as the man in charge of Africa’s largest data warehouse, bearing in mind that you are the only company who made that list from Africa?

Understanding our customers, listening to them and applying best practice within our organizational processes. We learn, we fail, we react, we plan, and we succeed and repeat all winning formula, of course powered by Analytics.

5. What is the best part of your job and what causes you the most frustration?

I solve a business problem with insight and add value that unlocks business potential. This I get to do every day. Never a dull moment in the BI (Business Intelligence) space. Either, we are dealing with revenue at risk, analysis, or customer information optimization. It is always rewarding to take the back seat. My frustration is when the team do not work like an A TEAM. Not connecting to the vision or signature moment can be frustrating.

6. When it comes to meeting the challenges of your part of the IT world, what hard and soft skills are required?

I am not a natural African as you may have noticed during the cause of discussion. I am also part European because of my dual nationality hence I apply some hybrid skills in living in the part of the world. I guess am growing strong in the application of adaptive leadership and SOFT POWER. I believe in influencing positively but then again I can call tough decision when required.

7. There are lots of IT Telecom services companies out there in Nigeria. What is it about MTN Nigeria that makes it a better choice than its rivals?

I believe the agile nature of our operations, MTNGroup guidance and strategic rationalization of enterprise program to maximize revenue. We have also created a strong brand over the past 14 years, so I believe it’s payback time to be honest.

8. What sort of advice would you give a college or university student interested in getting into the IT field after graduating?

Be positive, passionate, and open-minded and be ready for challenges but build up skills in disruptive innovation to create a statement in an ever changing IT field.

9. In your spare time, what sorts of hobbies or special interests do you enjoy?

I enjoy traveling for conferences, was recently in Croatia Dubrovnik delivering a paper, cycling, reading and meeting people for tea. I also speak Spanish and play the violin and piano but most relaxing and encapsulating interest is when I pray and listen to good Christian worship music.

Interview: Rasheed Adegoke, Director of Group Information Technology, United Bank for Africa

2015-09-28T08:46:00.000+01:00

Rasheed Adegoke is a technology strategist and business executive with hands-on expertise in the

design and delivery of high-performance information technology and business process improvement solutions to address complex business problems. His core competence are in Information Technology, Process Improvement, Systems Integration, e-Business Solution Designs, Strategic Planning, Operations Management, Project and Change Management, and Organizational Restructuring. He has over two decades experience working with successful businesses especially in Financial Services, and Oil and Gas industries. He is currently the Director, Information Technology for UBA Group and was Chief Information Officer at First Bank of Nigeria Limited until July 2013. Rasheed is an industry expert who has also served on a Presidential committee on National Broadband Strategy and the TechLaunchPad initiative of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology.

INTERVIEW:

You have had a long promising career spanning over 20 years plus in the banking and financial services sector, from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to being CIO of several banks in Nigeria. What was the rationale for making the decision to join United Bank for Africa (UBA) from First Bank of Nigeria (FBN)?

My career choice has always been driven by a continuous quest for major conquest. I have always taken on a Transformational CIO role and felt we had taken First Bank’s IT transformation to a level where most of what was needed is continuous improvement. UBA however presented an opportunity to make a more significant impact.
While in school, you were a Computer Science major at a time in the history of information technology when it was all new, and not many saw the promising future it holds, at least within the Nigerian context. Did you see it coming?

I would say yes. I was lucky to discover computing through some of my Dad’s magazine subscriptions which I always read. I was supposed to study medicine and actually needed the support of my mathematics teacher to convince my Dad to allow me enter for computer science. Even when I was enrolling in University of Ibadan, a number of the lecturers offered to assist me to switch to the college of medicine because I had all-A’s in my GCE and a JAMB score of 307 when the cutoff for Medicine was 280.
What does your role as Group Director of Information Technology entail for the bank?

As Director of IT, I have overall responsibility for UBA IT. What this means is that I am responsible for developing or updating the IT strategy of the bank and most importantly for driving the execution of the strategy to ensure IT enables the bank achieve business success.
What is the best part of your job and what causes you the most frustration?

The best part of being responsible for IT in a bank is that you know you are the heartbeat of the business and therefore you are always alert to the enormity of the responsibility. One of the key frustration is the scarcity of talents in the local market and most of the service providers are also at a low level of maturity when it comes to supporting the needs of large enterprises like banks.
When it comes to meeting the challenges of your part of the IT world, what hard and soft skills are required?

To be successful as a CIO, you need a number of skills including strong business skills, strategic planning, negotiation skills, systems evaluation & selection, relationship management, process and organizational design skills and you need to be strong in communication skills. It is also helpful to be on top of researches on emerging technologies and trends.
What sort of advice would you give a college or university student interested in getting into the IT field after graduating?

The key to having a successful career is passion, so I will always advice upcoming college or university students to pursue their passion in school. As far as one can see, the future remains very bright for an IT career especially if you have strength in building applications or solutions to real world problems.
In your spare time, what sorts of hobbies or special interests do you enjoy?

I unwind by playing table tennis, scrabble and writing short notes on contemporary issues. I also use my spare time to mentor younger professionals and I am currently building up my golf skills and still do a lot of reading.

Interview: Dapo Ladeji, IM&T Manager, Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production

2015-09-28T08:41:00.002+01:00

Dapo Ladeji is an IT Manager with a proven track record and 20+ years experience in identifying and

implementing IM&T based solutions to business processes in the oil and gas industry. He is an innovative IT professional able to manage large projects and lead high performing technical teams. He is a facilitator of IT and operational improvements across organizations. His specialties include Business Analysis, Project & Program Management, PMP, PRINCE2, MSP (Managing Successful Program), IT Governance with COBIT certifications, IT Service Management with ITILv3 expert certification, Change Management with the APMG Change Manager Practitioner certification.

You joined Shell Exploration & Production in 1997. That’s a long road in IT, from being a Systems Analyst/Programmer to Project Manager for Windows NT Server integration. Tell us about that necessary forward step.

I was just doing things I enjoy doing and I still am. Opportunities tend to come your way when you love your job and just apply yourself to it.

While in school, you studied Chemical Engineering. Then you took a detour to Information Science at your Masters level. What informed this decision?

I was introduced to using computers to process information as part of my chemical engineering studies. I loved these courses and I decided to explore further studies in information science when the opportunity came for me to do my masters.

To be able to lead a high performing team of information technology team, what key considerations should one have, especially if such a person is a budding entrepreneur, needing to balance IT skill with business skill.

If you are a budding entrepreneur, the first thing you have to do is ‘keep your eye on the ball.’ Be clear on what the things that your clients are going to be or are already paying for. You might probably need to do a course on management. An MBA is a good idea because with this kind of courses, you learn the importance of analyzing your competition, analyzing the industry, know how to protect and market intellectual property and such like. Then we are in an age of technology where what counts is innovation. You need to eventually get a niche skill and market that. Then when others latch on to it, you move on to another innovation. Apple is a good idea of this.

In the past decade we have seen people like Bill Gates transcend from core IT skills to business skills. And in more recent times we have seen IT experts combining Business Analysis and Project Management. What do you think is responsible for this?

If you do not have business skills, you would not be able to make enough money from your techy IT skills. You need to know what your customers want and charge them appropriately for that. If you do not make enough money, you will eventually go out of business. That is why you need to know about management, intellectual property and such like. Also project management is about doing projects right while business analysis is about identifying what exactly is the right project to do. You can be doing the wrong project in the right way which at the end of the day, after spending so much money and other resources, you do not get enough value out of the project because it was the wrong thing to have done. This is why you need both business analysis and project management. Project management starts after business analysis is finished.

When it comes to meeting the challenges of your part of the IT world, what hard and soft skills are required?

Hard skills – you need to have a working knowledge of contemporary IT trends and how to take advantage of the trends for the benefit of your organization.

Soft skills – you need to be able to relate with people well and bring out the best in them. You need to be able to articulate your ideas clearly and develop win-win proposals. Then you need to be able to influence and motivate people in line with these proposals.

You’ve been working in the IT space for the better part of the internet boom. What are some of the major trends in the industry now compared to the status quo when you first got started?

Mobile devices. There were no such things as tablets and even mobile phones when I first started working. Now the laptop, mobile phone and tablet are ‘converging’. I have a tablet that can do pretty much all that my laptop can do. This has changed the game entirely for the technology field.

What sort of advice would you give a college or university student interested in getting into the IT field after graduating?

Get hard certifications in modern trends. Certifications in things like Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle, etc. depending on your area of interest. Then have a passion and ‘push the envelope’ in that area of interest. Getting the relevant certifications are a necessary first step.

What advice would you give to someone who looks up to you as a mentor, if for instance, such a person is out of job and frustrated by having job offers not up to his expectation in salary?

The important thing is not to be idle. It is important to find something you can do at the moment and keep doing that. But be on the lookout for more opportunities. Sooner than later, the fact that you are doing something will connect you to better opportunities.

In your spare time, what sorts of hobbies or special interests do you enjoy?

Travelling/driving and watching detective shows.

SETTING YOUR MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION GOALS FOR 2013

2013-09-10T08:05:00.001+01:00

At the beginning of every year,
people across the globe make
resolutions on what to achieve, or
what to do better, or what they want
to quit doing. It’s called the New
Year resolution. This is the year
2013, a time when technology is
crossing boundaries and innovations
meet possibilities, a year when
Microsoft is consolidating on its
cloud offerings with emerging new
certification trends. How do you
shape up for the challenges of this
year? I want to show you a series of
paths you can take to ensure that
you remain relevant as a technology
specialist and solution provider.
I am going to discuss your options,
categorized depending on where
you’re at, so you can make the
appropriate decision:

1. First-level technology entrants – the
very basic career options and
certification paths.

2. Mid-level technology professionals –
how to move up the career and
certification paths available.

3. Senior-level technology professionals
– how to upgrade your current
certifications to the new on-premise
and cloud-based standards.

FIRST-LEVEL TECHNOLOGY ENTRANT
If you are absolutely new and you
want to make a career in IT, I
welcome you to the new exciting
world of Microsoft offerings. I
recommend you take a shot at the
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
certification. The first good news
here is that the MTA does not expire
and it is a single examination
course. The beauty of this is that it
exposes you to infrastructure,
database design or software
development; it is not combined, so
you have to choose your area of
interest, and that is dependent on
your career goals.

----------------------TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE, VISIT:
Intense School

JUST FOR FUN...A RETURN TO THIS BLOG

2012-11-21T00:48:00.000+01:00

Redmond WA, (AP)

Microsoft (MSFT) has announced a 54 million dollar lawsuit against Tomagotchi maker, Bandai. Microsoft is claiming that the Tomagotchi (the Japanese electronic pet that's all the rage with the kids) is an infringment of its intellectual property.

Microsoft spokesperson, Erik Loregard stated "Software that needs constant, even hourly attention, or else it dies? Sounds like Windows to me. This is clearly an infringment on our technology."

The Bandai company spokesman refused to comment on the suit.

I RECEIVED MICROSOFT MCC AWARD 2011

2011-03-18T16:32:00.000+01:00

I was not very surprised when I got the Microsoft Community Contributor Award 2011, but I was excited to have been recognized with it. I knew Microsoft was aware of everything going on in the forums, but did not quite envisage that I would get something this valuable -- not in terms of money, but the resources (Microsoft Press E-Reference Library) that comes with the package! That's something to shout about!

The Microsoft Community Contributor Award seeks to recognize notable contributions to Microsoft online community forums such as TechNet, MSDN^® and Answers. The value of these resources is greatly enhanced by participants who voluntarily contribute their time and energy to improve the online community experience for others. Each day around the world, Microsoft Community Contributor Award recipients contribute to Microsoft online technical communities in a range of ways, including providing helpful answers, translating online resources into local languages and serving as moderators.

Through the Microsoft^® Community Contributor Award, Microsoft expresses their thanks to individuals who freely volunteer their time and energy to help improve the Microsoft online technical community experience for others.
More and more technology users are seeking ideas and solutions for enhancing their technology experience through online resources. At Microsoft, customers find answers when and where they want them through online forums such as TechNet, MSDN^® and Answers.
Today, up to 4,000,000 people gain valuable information through Microsoft online forums–and that number is growing.
These valuable resources are enhanced by the contributions of Microsoft Community Contributor awardees, who help other participants in a range of ways, such as providing helpful answers, translating online resources into local languages and serving as moderators.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the Microsoft^® Community Contributor Award?

A1. It is an award offered by Microsoft which is designed to recognize notable contributions to Microsoft online community forums such as TechNet, MSDN^®, and Answers.

Q2. Do Microsoft Community Contributor Award recipients represent Microsoft?

A2. No. Awardees are not Microsoft employees, nor do they speak on Microsoft's behalf. Awardees are independent third-party individuals who have received an award from Microsoft that recognizes their notable contributions to Microsoft online technical communities.

Q3. How does Microsoft select recipients of the Microsoft Community Contributor Award?

A3. More and more technology users are seeking ideas and solutions for enhancing their technology experience through online resources. Microsoft reviews the contributions of participants who offer their time and energy to online technical communities such as Answers, MSDN and TechNet to identify those who make notable contributions for possible recognition as a Microsoft Community Contributor. In addition, Microsoft Community Contributors can be recommended by Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals, who serve as deep technical experts and thought leaders in the community.

Q4. Do Microsoft Community Contributor Award recipients receive any payment from Microsoft?

A4. No. Recipients of the Microsoft Community Contributor Award receive a small benefit which can serve as a resource for their participation in technical forums, but they do not receive any monetary payment from Microsoft.

Q5. What does Microsoft expect from Community Contributor Award recipients?

A5. Because the Microsoft Community Contributor Award is awarded based on past contributions, Microsoft has no expectations of awardees beyond the normal expectations of courtesy, professionalism, and adherence to the community rules that we ask of all Microsoft online community members. These rules can be found on the Microsoft Communities Rules of Conduct page.

Q6. How long does the Microsoft Community Contributor Award last?

A6. One year from the date of the award, which can be found on the award notification email.

Q7. How can I be considered for the Microsoft Community Contributor Award?

A7. Individuals are considered for the Microsoft Community Contributor Award by Microsoft, or as recommended by Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals, based on their contributions during the previous year to Microsoft online technical communities.

Q8. Can I recommend someone to receive the Microsoft Community Contributor Award?

A8. No. Microsoft Community Contributor Award recipients are identified by Microsoft as a result of their notable contributions to Microsoft online community forums and can be recommended by Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals as part of their role as leaders in technical communities.

Q9. Are Microsoft employees eligible to receive the Community Contributor Award?

A9. No, Microsoft employees cannot receive the Microsoft Community Contributor Award.

Q10. Are Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) eligible to receive the Microsoft Community Contributor Award?

A10. No. Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals can recommend individuals for the Microsoft Community Contributor Award as part of their role as leaders in technical communities.

Q11. Are there any requirements to receive the Microsoft Community Contributor Award?

A11. Yes, all Microsoft Community Contributor Awardees must be 18 years or older.

Q12. Why must Microsoft Community Award Recipients be 18 years or older?

A12. Microsoft is committed to the safety and privacy of minors. Minors are defined as anyone who is not 18 years or older. To help ensure this safety, the Microsoft Community Contributor Award has a policy that all Microsoft Community Contributor Awardees confirm they are 18 years of age or older.

Q13. How do I contact Microsoft about the Community Contributor Award?

A13. You can send questions to the Microsoft Community Contributor Global Administrator at MCCGA@Microsoft.com.

Q14. How do I change or request a duplicate copy of my award benefits?

A14. Contact Microsoft Community Contributor Global Administrator at MCCGA@Microsoft.com.

Q15. Do I have to pay for the Microsoft Press^® E-Reference Library?

A15. No. As a Microsoft Community Contributor awardee, Microsoft is pleased to offer you a 12 month subscription to Microsoft Press E-Reference Library at no cost as our way of saying thank you for making a difference in Microsoft online technical communities.

Q16. What is the Microsoft Press E-Reference Library?

A16. The Microsoft Press E-Reference Library, which is hosted by Safari^® Books Online, contains over 400 books from Microsoft Press and offers you the most current technical information about Microsoft products in an easy-to-use online format.

Q17. How do I sign up for the Microsoft Press E-Reference Library at no cost?

A17. As an awardee, you will be invited to accept the complimentary 12 month subscription to Microsoft Press E-Reference Library when you accept the Microsoft Community Contributor Award on www.microsoftcommunitycontributor.com. Simply check the box to confirm your acceptance of the Microsoft Press E-Reference Library and within three business days you will receive your log-on information directly from Safari Books Online. To ensure you receive your log-on information, safe list the sender noreply@safaribooksonline.com.

Thank you MS!

100 SKILLS TO HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVES...continued

2010-08-02T20:14:00.001+01:00

Previously I mentioned 5 skills to have...today I am going to touch 10 more skills that you should have up your sleeve. This time I want to touch a very dangerous and sweet part of an operating system, the REGISTRY. If you read any article that involves editing the registry, you will no doubt see ominous warnings telling you that you can destroy Windows and/or your applications if you edit the registry incorrectly, and that you should always make a full system backup before performing a registry modification. While these statements may be true, the fact remains that there are things that you can do by editing the registry that you simply cannot do with the GUI. I want to share with you 10 handy registry hacks for Windows XP and Vista.

The bulk of what I will be doing here is from the registry, so you need to know how to get there. Some of you already do, and some of you don't. Then there are those of you who do but in your environment, domain policy restricts you from launching the registry editor, so I will show you a work-a-round.

FROM A SYSTEM WITHOUT DOMAIN POLICY RESTRICTIONS
Start > Run > Type "regedit" (please don't use the quote except I say you should do). Hit the Enter key.

FROM A SYSTEM WITH DOMAIN POLICY RESTRICTIONS
Open the C: drive, Open the WINDOWS folder (in some environments they change the default name of this directory to some other name, you should identify which one it is), open SYSTEM32, look for the item called cmd , right-click it and choose Run As , type the credentials of a known administrative account (sad that you need to have that really). In the command window that opens, type regedit. This window shown below opens up

1: Disable AutoPlay

I always find it a bit annoying to insert a CD or DVD and have Windows open Internet Explorer and display a bunch of information I don’t care about. I would rather just be able to navigate through the disc’s file system and go directly to what I need. Fortunately, it’s easy to create a registry setting that disables AutoPlay:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
Create a DWORD named NoDriveTypeAutoRun.
Set the value to 000000FF.

PS: HKLM is short for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the registry editor window.

2: Increase the maximum number of simultaneous downloads

As a technical writer, I’m constantly downloading files. Sometimes I need to download a lot of files, and Windows’ limit on the number of files that can be downloaded simultaneously gets in the way. If you’re in the same boat, you can tweak the registry so that Windows will let you download 10 files at a time:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings.
Create a new DWORD named MaxConnectionsPerServer and assign it a value of 0000000a.
Create a new DWORD named MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server and assign it a value of 0000000a.

PS: HKCU is short for HKEY_CURRENT_USER in the registry editor window.

3: Change the name of the registered user

When you install Windows, you’re prompted to enter a username and a company name. But since it’s fairly common for companies to merge, you may want to change the name of the company Windows is registered to by using this hack:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion.
Change the values that are assigned to the RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization keys to reflect the new ownership information.

4: Prevent the Recycle Bin from being deleted

If you’ve ever right-clicked on the Windows Recycle Bin, you know there’s a Delete option, which can be used to get rid of it. If you want to prevent the Recycle Bin from accidental deletion, follow these steps:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to HKCR\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}.
Create a new registry key called Shell.
Create a new registry key named Delete and put it beneath the Shell key. The path should look like this: HKCR\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\Shell\Delete.
Modify the Default key and assign it a value of Recycle Bin.

PS: HKCR is short for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT in the registry editor window.

5: Eliminate cached logons

Windows is designed to allow users to log on using cached logins if no domain controller is available to authenticate the request. If you want to make sure that a login request is always authenticated by a domain controller, you could change the number of cached logons that are allowed from 10 to 0 (or you could increase the number of cached logins allowed to 50). To do so, follow these steps:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\winlogon.
Create a new REG_SZ setting named CachedLogonsCount.
Assign this new setting a value that reflects how many concurrent cached logins you want to allow.

6: Encrypt and decrypt from a shortcut menu

Normally, when you want to encrypt or decrypt a file in XP Pro or Vista, you just right-click on the file or folder and choose the Properties command from the shortcut menu. When the properties sheet appears, click the Advanced button on the General tab and then use either the Encrypt or the Decrypt option.
If all that seems like a lot of work, you can add those options to the shortcut menu you see when you right-click on a file:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
Create a new DWORD called EncryptionContextMenu and assign it a value of 1.

7: Delay Windows Activation

Typically, when an organization deploys Vista, it will create a master image, run SYSPREP, and deploy the image. The problem is that it might be a while between the time that SYSPREP is run and when Vista is actually deployed.
Microsoft will allow you to extend the activation period by 30 days, but you can do that only three times. You can, however, use a registry hack to get around this limitation:

Navigate through the registry to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SL.
Change the value associated with the SkipRearm key to 1.
Open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command: slmgr -rearm.

8: Relocate your offline files

When you use Vista’s Offline Files feature, the offline file cache is automatically placed on your C: drive. But my laptop has two hard drives in it, and I wanted to configure Vista to place my offline files onto my secondary hard drive. I accomplished the task by following these steps:

Open the Control Panel and click on the Network And Internet link, followed by the Offline Files link. Windows will display the Offline Files properties sheet.
Disable offline files if they are currently enabled.
Click OK and reboot the machine.
When the computer reboots, open the Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\CSC.
Create a new string value named Parameters.
Assign this value to the Parameters key:

\??\e:\csc

where e: is the drive letter you want to use.

Exit the Registry Editor and reboot the computer.
When the machine reboots, enable offline files.
Reboot the computer one last time. Now, you can start making folders available offline.

9: Disable User Account Control

One of the things about Vista that seems to irritate a lot of people is the User Account Control feature. In essence, an administrator is treated as a standard user. Administrators who attempt to perform an administrative action receive a prompt asking whether they initiated the action. I think that this prompt is a valuable safeguard against malware, but since a lot of people don’t like it, here’s how to use the registry editor to suppress the prompt:

Navigate through the registry editor to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
Change the value of the ConcentPromptBehaviorAdmin key to 00000000.

10: Don’t display the last user who logged in

Windows Vista is designed so that when you press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to log in, it will display the name of the user who logged in most recently. This can be a bit of a problem if multiple users share a common PC. They may forget to check to see who was logged in previously and key in their own password in association with another user’s login name. If they try this enough times, they could lock the other user out. You can get around this problem by using a simple registry tweak to tell Windows not to display the name of the user who was logged in previously:

Navigate through the Registry Editor to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
Set the DontDisplayLastName key to a value of 1.

See you again next time....to be continued

100 SKILLS TO HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVES

2010-07-03T19:55:00.006+01:00

"To err is human, but to forgive is not company policy."- Anonymous

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"I HAVE THE BEST COMPUTER SKILL" -- a thousand time "No!" you don't, because that is a fallacy of hasty generalization! In this industry, there are more than a thousand and one other people LIKE you who think and said the same thing. So you couldn't possibly be the best skilled person. However, you are simply one of the best self-conceited and self-deceived persons who think they are the best skilled professional.

So, what am I getting at? Whatever the level of your self-deception, it doesn't matter, you are still as needed as a hot sizzling drink in a zero-degree weather. That is the good news. Computer skills are always needed, certified or not. There are a hundred and one certified people out there who can't carry out certain tasks, at the same time there a thousand and one non-certified people out there who know how to get the job done. What matters, in my opinion is the skill set - the ability to answer a bold "Yes, I can" to a "Can you do this..." That's why I want to talk about the 100 computer skills you should have up your sleeve's tricks.

The computer is a very simple complicated piece of artwork. The beauty of it is in understanding the framework and mindset of the developers, dead or alive. It's framework starts from understanding the hardware pieces, then the drivers (softwares, firmwares) that power the hardware. And most importantly the digestive system (infrastructure, set pieces, framework, skeleton, layout, modus operandi) of the operating system that everything runs on. Remember also that Windows isn't the only product out there. As much as I would have loved to talk on those other goodies, I am limited by the mere fact that I'm not a professional in those products - that is enough reason for you and me not to be the best skilled person.

Those in search of eternal life need look no further than the computer industry. Here, last gasps are rarely taken, as aging systems crank away in back rooms across the world. So while it may not be exactly easy for Novell NetWare engineers and OS/2 administrators to find employers who require their services, it's very difficult to declare these skills -- or any computer skill, really -- dead.

Let's get cranking on the first 5 skills you need to have up your sleeves. it is important to know I am not prioritizing here, there is no order to it. I will list them as I feel here which sometimes may mean the items that tickle my fancy...hope we are clear on that? There's no such thing here as starting from hardwares, to configuring hardware cables, jumpers, switches or whatever...the moving on to how to select operating systems and how to evaluate the requirements for installing, configuring and administering...bla bla bla bla bla bla...NOOOO! I won't be doing that. I will in these few weeks just give them to you on-the-fly as it comes to me. So, thank you for your understanding.
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NO.1

Never Get Mad @ A Computer

It may be a sizzling romance from the first, but when things start to get sour, please don't get mad the computer. Don't fling it away, don't break the lid or the screen, don't punch it, don't try to drown it in the tub, and don't send it on vacation in the basement. This is especially true if you are a Windows user with a very high affinity for all species of softwares in your craze to pimp the PC, you will only end up in "lagbaja" (if you know what that means). You don't need all softwares, and if you must, have different PCs (maybe even a virtual) for different things.

NO.2

Know How To Check Your RAM Size

There are quite a few ways to do this. The first one is to: Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, choose Properties. On the System Properties dialog box that pops up (shown in the exhibit) observe the RAM size. However, if you are in a domain environment where your ability to see the "Properties" on the drop-down menu has been disabled (that is my current working scenario, these screenshots were taken using my privileged admin account via RDP protocol).

The 2nd way to be able to view your RAM size:
Start -> Run ->Type "msinfo32" (don't type the quote signs with it please). Hit the ENTER key or click the OK button. The System Information dialog box in the area shown reveals your Total Physical Memory among many other things. It also shows you stuffs like your Available Physical Memory, Total Virtual Memory and Available Virtual Memory.

If your environment is extremely hard boiled and there exists die-hard Zedicus Zul-Zorrander (from Legend of the Seeker) computer users for whom domain policy has disabled msinfo32 Another way is to use the command prompt. The procedure is:
Start -> Run -> Type "cmd" (don't type the quote signs with it please). On the evil, neo-void, black screen of the command prompt, type "mem". This is a bit crazy because it returns results that's a bit difficult to interpret, especially if you are not comfortable with byte measurements this will definitely put you off.

The last option I want to show you for finding your RAM size information is to use the Task Manager (if it's not disabled by your company policy or by malicious program). Guess you know how to call up the Task Manager. Use the:

CTRL + ALT + DELETE key combination OR

Start -> Run -> Type "taskmgr" (don't type the quote signs with it please). OR
Right-click the Taskbar, on the pop-up menu select Task Manager. In the Windows Task Manager dialog box, on the Performance tab page, observe the details in the section labelled Physical Memory (K) as shown in the picture.

NO.3

Know How To Check Your HardDrive Size

There are a few ways to achieve this as well. The very first that comes to mind is open up your My Computer windows and observe the screen for size by either mousing over the partitions/drives showing in the window and waiting for screen tips that reveal their sizes, or observe the details shown if your windows explorer's view is set to Details.

This brings to memory a story of a disgruntled, non-computer savvy woman who asked a friend of mine to clone (piece together a desktop) for her. She wanted an 80GB PC (back then that was a huge size). Well, my buddy did just that. Days after she brought the police to arrest my buddy for getting her a system less than the stipulated requirement. Well, what happened to the 80GB of HDD space? In the My Computer windows explorer she could see only 40GB. Windows explorer doesn't authoritatively tell you the total hard drive space you have, it only shows you the partitioned and formatted (sometimes unformatted, if the partition's been created but not yet formatted) space. Well, she did bring the police, and unfortunately the police wasn't computer savvy as well (bigger mess that is)! Her authoritative source was a family member who was into computers but who had no clue about diskmgmt.msc (disk management console). Disk Management console shows you the whole hard disk drive(s) you have, it shows you what part of it is partitioned as usable space and what part of it is unpartitioned.
How do you get to disk management console?

A couple of ways to do that, but I will show you just one, the fastest I think.
Start ->Run -> Type "diskmgmt.msc"
In the Disk Management console window that pops up you will see the total size of your hard disk.

NO.4

Know How To Check Processor Type and Speed

This is procedure is the same as number two mentioned above. There are quite a few ways to do this as well. The first one is to: Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, choose Properties. On the System Properties dialog box that pops up (shown in the exhibit) observe the circled area. However, if you are in a domain environment where your ability to see the "Properties" on the drop-down menu has been disabled

The 2nd way to be able to view your processor type and speed:
Start -> Run ->Type "msinfo32" (don't type the quote signs with it please). Hit the ENTER key or click the OK button. The System Information dialog box in the area shown reveals your Processor details among many other things.

NO.5

Know How To Check Your IP Address
like every Microsoft product, you are given a couple of ways to get a task done. The first one here is using the system Tray otherwise also known as the Notification area. The only thing is, if you have multiple network adapters (both physical and virtual), you will need to be able to identify which one you need its details.

In the shots above, I have a wireless that's been disabled, I also have two (2) LAN adapters (using common sense - scarce these days and not as common as it used to be - and discretion) double-click the network icon. It pops up the Local Area Connection Status dialog box. Click the Support tab. Observe the figures shown under Connection Status.

A similar work-a-round is to use the Control Panel window.

Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections
In the Network Connection window, double-click the icon that represents the adapter whose IP address you want to determine.
The result will be the Local Area Connection Status dialog box shown above. Click the Support tab and observe the figures shown under Connection Status.

The 2nd way to know your computer's IP address is from the command prompt. Depending on the number of network adapters, physical and virtual that you have, the result can be quite messy and you will have to filter that with a keen sharp eyes.
From the command prompt, I assume you know how to get there already, right? Type "ipconfig". It returns results for your adapters that are currently connected to a network and that are active.

If, however, you want details for other adapters, active or not, and you also want more details than just the iteration of Connection-specific DNS Suffix , IP address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway...meaning you want to see the more gory details, stuffs like MAC addresses, Node Type, Primary and Secondary WINS Server addresses, DNS, DHCP and Lease information, then you will type "ipconfig /all".

I have covered up some details in my shots here, reason? Well, it reveals company information, and you never can tell what the nitty-gritty of company policy is...and indictment is not in my list of career achievements as yet. You can read up on something I put up about protecting company information here.

So, this is where I call it quit for now. See you next time

Just by the way, what the heck happened with Brian Burton's Danger Mouse? Anyone remember?

...TO BE CONTINUED...

TCP/IP OVERVIEW

2010-07-01T20:06:00.004+01:00

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the most popular network protocol and the basis for the Internet. Its routing capabilities provide maximum flexibility in an enterprise-wide network. In Windows XP, Vista, 7, TCP/IP is automatically installed.

On a TCP/IP network, you must provide IP addresses to clients. Clients may also require a naming service or a method for name resolution. This section explains IP addressing and name resolution for Network Connections on TCP/IP networks. It also describes the FTP and Telnet tools that are provided by TCP/IP.

Assigning IP addresses to dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections

Each remote computer connecting to a remote access server on a Windows TCP/IP network is provided an IP address by the remote access server.
If you use a specific IP address, the remote access server must be configured to permit users to request a specific address.

Name resolution for network and dial-up connections

In addition to requiring an IP address, network and dial-up connections on a TCP/IP network may require a mechanism to map computer names to IP addresses. Four name resolution options are available: DNS, WINS, broadcast name resolution, and the Hosts and Lmhosts files.
In small networks where IP addresses do not change, network and dial-up connections can use a Hosts or Lmhosts file for name resolution. By using these files on the local drive, you do not need to transmit name resolution requests to a WINS or DNS server and wait for the response.

Internet tools

TCP/IP provides File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Telnet. FTP is a character-based utility that permits you to connect to FTP servers and transfer files. Telnet is graphical application that lets you log in to remote computers and issue commands as if you were at the keyboard of the computer. Multiple variations of FTP, Telnet, and other programs based on earlier Internet standards are also available on the Internet or commercially.

INSTALLING, SHARING AND CONNECTING TO A SHARED PRINTER

2010-06-28T21:22:00.001+01:00

One of the tasks that should come easy to do is installing a printer. Why? Because you want to print! Ok, you are an earth lover, you don't want to hurt the environment, so you want a paperless world. That's fine by me too, I want a paperless world. But sometimes you get into stuffs and that information on the screen, that dashboard, that table or that pictures really needs to come alive in your hand on paper! So that's why you need a print device, and printer software installed for use. So how do you go about that.

Typically, most companies, print device manufacturers make things a whole lot easier for you by supplying or shipping your print device with a CD or DVD with very easy click-and-go setup process. That is cool. But you see, there is also the old fashioned way. This old fashioned way is more like an IT pro kind of stuff. I am talking about installing a printer software from your operating system, especially your Windows XP operating system. I know that sounds crazy, how in the world would anybody still be using Windows XP when Vista is smiling at us all and Windows 7 is at every corner beaming smiles at us as well.

Truth be told? Windows XP is still gonna be around a long time.I mean long enough long enough, you understand? May be you don't. But there are still a lot of people out there who still need Windows XP support and this comes as way of help to them.Many corporate organizations still do as well. In fact, I work in one where XP is still actively 101% supported. So, let's dig into this stuff.

Let's use a case study that you have bought an HP LaserJet print device and somehow you have lost the installation disc that comes with it and now you need to get your print device to work so you can print on paper. OR You have just borrowed your friend's, whatever his name is, print device to use because he is off a trip, vacation or something and now you need to get it working. OR worse still, you just stole this really cool print device from an HP store (I'm trying not to laugh at my foolishness here) and you need to get it working, after all, that was the reason you stolen-ly borrowed it to return on a date the cops aren't interested in.

1. Click START --> CONTROL PANEL

2. In the Control Panel window, look for "PRINTERS and FAXES". Double click it. It will open the Printer and Faxes window below. In the Printer Tasks section highlighted in the screenshot, click the "Add A Printer" link.

This will bring the Add Printer Wizard shown below. This screen informs you that you don't need to go through this procedure if your print device comes with an installation disc. Well, in our scenario you have to continue with the procedure. Click NEXT

The next screen of the Add Printer Wizard asks you if you want to install a local printer or a network printer.

A local printer is one attached physically to your PC, while a network printer is one attached physically to another PC somewhere (maybe on the network) and that printer has been shared by the owner because he is in good spirit, likes giving and sharing, company policy forces him to or whatever else reason you might want to think of. in our case the printer is physically attached to your PC, so that makes it a local printer.

Observe the highlighted areas. De-select the option that says "Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer". That is only going to waste your time searching for something it will eventually not find (if you haven't installed the printer before BUT if you have installed it before it may find it. But 100 out of a 100 it won't find it (funny isn't it). Truth is, if was ever going to find it, it would have done so the moment you connected your print device to the PC, PnP it's called.

So uncheck that option just like I did down here and click NEXT.

The next screen is the Select a Printer Port dialog. Here is the tricky one.

If your printer is the one shown on the dialog box, then simply proceed and click NEXT.

But, that isn't likely going to be the case. Your printer 100 out of 100 would be a USB. So open the dialog box shown below. Look for USB on the list, you may find quite a few depending on the number of USB ports you have plugged the printer's USB cable into before.(I don't have any USB option in my screenshot...sorry about that, I use a network printer that's why.)

Locate the USB option on your own and click NEXT.

On the next screen under the Manufacturer's section, locate your print device's maker and under the Printers section scroll through the options for your make and model's number. If you do not find it because it's a new model, then select the closest in model number to your type of model.The only bane of that is you will not get very advanced features printing options that distinguish your model from others but you will get the basic features (which 100 out of 100 is all you need! It's all very amusingly crazy).

In my case I have chosen HP as the manufacturer and HP LaserJet 2200 Series PCL as the my print device model because that is exactly what it is (or closest to it...remember?)

On the Name Your Printer page leave the suggested name as default (best practices for easy identification). Decide if you want to print a test page or not. Well I don't want to print a test page. So, choose No, click NEXT.

Next is the Printer Sharing page. Accept the default. But this is really a good time to share it if you want to, otherwise choose NO and click NEXT.

If it prompts you to print a test page after this screen, well that's up to you to decide, otherwise choose NO and continue.

After that is the Completing the Add printer Wizard page.

Click FINISH.

The system copies the driver files from the Windows repository into the system directories where it will be required.

When completed you will observe the installation of the printer in the Printers and Faxes window as shown below.

All you need to do now is type a document and send it to the printer for printing as shown below.

In your application use the key combination CTRL+P or Click the FILE menu --> PRINT option.

It will show the print dialog box, simply look for the printer you just installed from the dropdown list

and click OK...your print device should start whirring and vomiting the printed paper...voila!

Now we aren't done yet, what about the sharing part?

That's as easy as it comes as well.

Go back to your Printer and Faxes window in Control Panel.

Right-click the printer and from the dropdown menu choose PROPERTIES or SHARING. Both options take you to the same place.

On the Sharing tab, select the Share this printer radio button, accept the default name OR give it a name that helps those who are going to be using it with you to identify it, then click APPLY and OK. That's all, the printer is shared!

So, the next thing is how do I connect to a shared printer. That is easy as well.

Open the RUN command. You know where to get that right?

START --> RUN

In the RUN dialog box, type the address of the computer that the shared printer is physically connected to. Typically, anytime you want to access a resource on the local network, you use the double backslash "\\". So you will type the double backslash followed by the name of the computer (or its IP address). In my case the name of the computer is what I've typed.

Hit the ENTER key or click the OK key.

Something like this should pop up, a window showing all the items shared by that computer.

The important item you need here is the printer icon. That is the shared printer you just configured.

Double-click it.

This shows up when you double-click.

This means you can now print using that shared printer. Simply follow the procedure for printing we talked about earlier on this blog. That's all. The End...Go home...We're done here!

MICROSOFT UNLEASHES OFFICE WEB APPS

2010-06-14T18:39:00.001+01:00

Officially joining the browser-based productivity game, Microsoft late last week Monday 7th June, 2010 released the browser-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.A feature that is already being tremendously enjoyed in SharePoint.

The Office Web Apps, as the programs are dubbed, are slimmed down versions of the desktop counterparts, allowing for document viewing, sharing, and lightweight editing. Consumers get free access to the tools, along with 25GB of storage as part of Windows Live's SkyDrive (online internet storage facility), while businesses can also host their own version of the Web Apps using the latest version of Sharepoint. The main catch is that using the browser-based versions require an active Internet connection.

It's amusing to me that the first document I am creating with this feature is my CV (it's crazy i have to do that)...anyways I did...and sorry to those who may not like that, it's also the screen shots (I think that is personally lame)...anyways I still did.

What are the features?...Not of my CV but of the application. There are no advanced features, just the basics to get a document task done...even add pictures (including clip arts of course), tables, and every other thing that this control (below) can afford you.

It provides five (5) tabs "FILE", "HOME", "INSERT", "VIEW"and picture format option "FORMAT" that appears when you click a picture object in the document area.
In my opinion that's quite sufficient and we know that subsequently user's will demand more functionalities and we can see that added as the years roll by.

Clicking the FILE tab opens a web drop down menu enumerating opening the document in your installed office application suite, saving, sharing, viewing the properties of the file, give a workflow feedback and a very important security feature, privacy.
Some shortcut key are still available.

Thereafter you can decide to share with your social community. It offers you levels of sharing from the secure to the very public using a slider divided into 5 parts. Just below that slider lies another section you can use to add specific people and save your settings.

Like Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007, versioning is part of this web app's great feature, that means you can revert to a different content of the file in the event of undesired 3rd party or self modification.

Microsoft's Web apps is designed to work on Macs, Windows PCs, and Linux-based computers using Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari (though Google's Chrome and other browsers may work as well).
Microsoft has also built the Web apps into a new version of Hotmail and created a labs effort called Docs.com that allows the sharing of Office documents over Facebook.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE...

2010-06-14T11:26:00.000+01:00

I READ AN ARTICLE THIS MORNING, here's the excerpts by Erik Eckel from TechRepublic:

"Clients develop new ways of challenging IT consultants every year. My consulting firm has been asked to install and configure VoIP phone systems; we’ve been charged with physically moving server racks and equipment between facilities; I’ve even found myself installing and terminating Ethernet cabling in new buildings. But just because IT consultants are asked to complete ancillary projects doesn’t mean they should.

It’s a hard lesson to learn. Not many IT consultants want to tell a client no, even when the client requests services outside the consultant’s area of expertise. Not all consultancies specialize in building Web sites, developing proprietary applications, installing or configuring VoIP systems, moving server rooms, installing associated electrical and HVAC systems, or running cabling; however, many consultancies are still tempted to say, “yes, we can do that for you” in response to almost any client request.
Do what you do

The trouble is many of the ancillary tasks clients request require specialized skills and expertise. Cabling is a perfect example. While a well-meaning consultant might agree to run three or four new cable drops for a long-time client to save delays and the hassle of identifying a qualified cable installer, such favors can prove troublesome. I know because I’ve run my share of cabling.

Some cabling adventures remind me of lessons I learned from installing drywall myself during a home remodel. Hanging four or five sheets of drywall took me an entire Saturday. First I had to get the drywall from the home improvement warehouse to my home, and I didn’t have the right truck, which complicated the effort. Then I struggled to maneuver the drywall, hang it in place, and secure it properly. Taping and mudding consumed another day. Later I watched a home improvement show in which professional drywall installers completed the same work in approximately one hour.

The lesson is simple: Different professions require different skills, tools, and expertise. That’s why I don’t think most IT consultants should install cabling. IT consultants who are used to wearing business dress clothing and not to carrying a toolbox are probably not well suited to hefting rolls of cabling up stairs, running plenum-grade wiring in tight spaces, or fishing Ethernet through finished walls. It’s a dirty job that requires specialized tools and a solid understanding of industry standards and even building codes.
Establish a value-added partnership

This doesn’t mean that you need to leave clients who require cabling assistance out in the cold. Instead, consider establishing a tight partnership with a cabling contractor. By working closely with a qualified contractor, your office can assist clients in addressing all their cabling needs, going so far as to serve as the centralized contact and invoicing party. If you cut a fair deal with the contractor, you can even make some extra money in the process.

Have you ever run cabling for any of your clients? What other ancillary projects or dirty jobs have you worked on for clients? Do you partner with contractors for any type of work that falls outside your area of expertise?..."... DON'T TRY TO PROVE ANYTHING, LET IT OUT TO SOMEONE ELSE...they will even be grateful to you for it...and on top of that you KEEP YOUR LIFE SIMPLE

How to Fix Common Computer Network Issues

2010-05-28T19:16:00.000+01:00

While trying to put up this write-up, I was a bit doubtful, it seems it was too basic a topic to write about. I really didn't want to do this article. For one, I am in a bad mood, someone got me really pissed off, so I'm not in a writing mood. Plus that, the topic is too basic, or so I think, or maybe my bad mood isn't just cleared yet. On second thought, the most annoying problems in information technology are little little things...very annoying little little things. Some of these so called little little things can make a rubbish of your certifications before a customer...so beware of them.

Are you experiencing problems with your computer network? Are these error messages appearing?:

Unable to clear the DNS cache
Unable to renew your IP address
An operation was performed on something that is not a socket
Unable to clear the ARP cache

If so, here are some potential solutions for Windows XP/Vista.

Steps

Check to make sure your computer is on and is connected to a network.

HOW?

Check the cable is plugged in. Check the green led light of the network cable pin is on or is blinking to indicate activity.

Check the system tray/notification area for signs of connectivity or disconnection. If you have multiple network adapters, check to see the correct one is connected.

TIP: If you use VMware, try to identify the virtual adapters and not miss them up with your physical connections.

Be aware that Windows has a built in function to repair a network connection. This function can give valuable information in the form of an error message if you know what you are looking for. Some common error messages given are:

Unable to clear the DNS cache
Unable to renew your IP address
Unable to clear the ARP cache

Deal with a message that states "Unable to clear the DNS cache." When you get the message “Unable to clear the DNS cache”, this usually means that the DNS client service has been disabled. Follow these steps as an administrator to re-enable it:

Open the Services MMC plugin, located under Administrative Tools in the Control Panel;
Find the “DNS Client” service in the list presented and enter it's properties by double-clicking it;
Change the Startup Type from Disabled to Manual or Automatic then click apply;
Either reboot or click “Start” to start the service;
Verify by attempting to repair the connection again

Fix a problem related to an IP address. If the repair process reports that it has been 'Unable to obtain an IP address', it is probable that more information can be obtained through the command line. Open a Command Prompt by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt, then type 'ipconfig /renew' to attempt to obtain an IP address from the command line.

Follow up the error messages that will likely appear. There is a high likelihood of an error message similar to the one below occurring, the remainder of the guide will focus on this error.

“An operation was performed on something that is not a socket"

Fix the error message "An operation was performed on something that is not a socket.": This is a Winsock corruption generally due to spyware. The fixes are:

A simple fix can be done with Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista (Start > Run > cmd > netsh winsock reset), then reboot your computer. If you do not have SP2, you can download a small program to reinstall Winsock: winsockfix.exe.

5 Ways To Keep Users From Stealing Corporate Data

2010-05-26T17:16:00.000+01:00

External network intrusions may grab the headlines, but don't let protecting against these attacks sidetrack you from an often more dangerous threat -- employee data theft.

The first place to start with your users is to have a clear policy regarding the treatment of company data. Not everyone is a budding corporate spy, but a lot of damage can be done by careless or clueless users.

You may think it would be obvious to employees that they shouldn't copy important company information and take it home or email it outside the internal network without permission. But if you don't put such policies in writing and have workers sign for receipt, you may be hard pressed to penalize them for later violations.

Your policies should be specific and give examples of prohibited activities. Workers may not understand, unless you spell it out, that emailing a restricted company document as an attachment to someone outside the network (or even to their own home account) is just as much a violation of policy as copying that document to a USB drive and physically taking it out the door.

Wording of the policy, however, should make it clear that the prohibition is not limited solely to the examples you give.

The next step in protecting your data, once policies have been made clear, is technological enforcement of those policies.

Make sure you set the appropriate permissions on data files and folders. It goes without saying that data on Windows networks should normally be stored on NTFS-formatted drives so you can apply NTFS permissions along with any share permissions.

NTFS permissions are more granular than share permissions and apply to users accessing the data on the local machine as well as over the network.

In keeping with the principle of least privilege, you should give users the lowest level of permissions possible for them to get their work done. For example, give Read Only permissions to prevent users from modifying files.

You should also consider auditing files and folders that contain highly-sensitive data so that you can see who accessed it and when. You can do this with Windows Server's built in auditing tools or a third-party auditing solutions, such as:

• NTP Software File Auditor
• Blue Lance LT Auditor +
• ISdecisions FileAudit

Another advantage of storing data on NTFS-formatted drives is the ability to apply Encrypting File System. And, using encryption is tip number three on our list.

EFS is supported by Windows 2000 and later operating systems and will prevent other users from being able to open the file even if they have NTFS permissions. With Windows XP/2003 and later, encrypted folders can be shared with other users by assigning them special permissions through the encryption dialog box.

And in the case of an entire computer being stolen, such as a laptop, Vista and Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate editions offer BitLocker full drive encryption to protect data in case of theft. And there are plenty of third-party encryption solutions, such as PGP Whole Disk Encryption and Check Point Full Disk Encryption.

The fourth way to prevent data from walking out the door is properly configuring of your firewall. Not only do firewalls keep undesirable traffic out of your network, they can also keep specified traffic from leaving your network. You can set up your firewall to block certain types of outbound protocols, such as those used by peer-to-peer software.
You can also set up your mail server to block sending of outbound attachments. And you can block outbound content by keywords using content filtering appliances, software, or services, such as:

• Microsoft ForeFront
• McAfee's MX Logic
• GFI Mail Security
• Google's Postini

Last, while taking care of the fundamentals, remember that your data can walk out your door in many different formats, some more creative than others.

A user can print out a document and carry it out in paper form or a thief can steal printed documents from trashcans if the documents haven't been shredded.

Even if you've implemented a technology such as rights management to prevent copying or printing documents, someone could take a digital or film photograph of the content onscreen or even sit and copy the information by hand. Be aware of all the ways your data can leave the premises, and you'll be one step ahead of the criminals who may be lurking in your midst.

And if you've come across an interesting or unique way that data can walk out the door, be sure to share it with your hierarchies.

Five Dumb Mistakes IT Pros Make In The Field

2010-05-25T12:29:00.000+01:00

The first mistake you should avoid is rushing blindly into an upgrade. As an IT pro, you've probably handled lots of upgrades, but no matter how good your track record has been, the unforeseen consequence of a software change is one of the most common culprits of client dissatisfaction.

1st It's the nature of complicated systems and software that one small change can break some crucial feature or functionality that your users depend on. How many times have you upgraded Windows XP to SP3 (including IE8) only to find out after the fact that something in the upgrade has broken a feature your users need to do their job? Before performing any upgrade, you must make sure that all the client's critical applications will work with the new software.

The 2nd mistake on our list is editing configuration files without backing them up first.

Whether you're tinkering with the Windows registry or migrating a Linux server from one box to another, back up the configuration files before making any changes. Also, make sure you're clear about what's a backup and what's a currently working configuration file. Do not let these files cross paths (or confuse the filenames). Get into the habit of copying and renaming backup configuration files so you know exactly where that working backup file is.

The 3rd, dumb and totally avoidable mistake on our list is forgetting to document.

Regardless of how many clients or users you support, you should have basic documentation on their environment, such as administrator account passwords, network addresses, machine names, standard software, and so forth.

Now, I know each situation is different, and you will need to tweak your documentation based on how much information the client wants you to hold and how much liability you want to assume. For example, you may want the client to store the password to their admin accounts.

But in general, the more documentation you have, the better.

The 4th pitfall I see IT pros make, especially with external clients, is doing things without explicit permission. It might be easy to fall into the trap of thinking, that since you're the expert, you know what to do, and the client will be okay with your actions.

But no matter what you re working on, whether it's a software upgrade or hardware install, you should ensure the client has given a clear thumbs up before starting the job.
You certainly don't want to end up doing work that you won't get paid for because you didn't get permission first, or worse, doing something without permission that goes horribly wrong and causes the client to lose valuable data.

The 5th mistake on the list is experimenting on a client's machine.

I know, you might be tempted to try that new fix you heard about that can shave a few minutes (or hours) off your job. Don't. Testing out new techniques or tools is something for your test lab, not a client's environment.

The only time you should consider bending this rule, is you've already exhausted all other options, the action can't make things worst, and the client has given their approval first. If you do try an untested fix, remember to make a system backup first.

IS WINDOWS A COMPLETE OS?

2010-02-27T17:18:00.000+01:00

The raging battle between Windows and Linux/Unix is...,"Sorry, my bad!" There is no raging battle between the OSs BUT with their users, sometimes, aggrieved users. So, the raging battle between the Microsoft freaks and the open source adherents is that Linux/Unix is a complete OS, and that Windows isn't. Is that true?

Lets take a look at one of the things that make Windows OS a complete operating system.Have you ever heard of LIVE FILE SYSTEM?

It is simple. It means I don't ever again have to bother about looking for 3rd party software when I need to backup my files, "burning" is what some people call it. So, here I am, needing to backup, and looking through my desktop and all programs menu, I don't seem to have a burning software like Nero, PowerISO, PowerGO, Alcohol120%, Roxio or just name it. You may say, "Hey dude! Those shits come bundled when you buy a system!" That may be true. But what if, for whatever reason whatsoever, I don't have them installed? Or worse still, I don't have anyone within range to give me, or there is no internet connectivity for whatever reason for me to download a trial copy, just so I can burn this all-so-important-file-of-mine to CD/DVD? What do I do?

You don't have to look far. It's right there like a sitting duck on your Windows PC! Live File System!

"Stop screaming at me and just tell me where it is and how to use it!"

OK! I got your attention now. Simply take a blank CD/DVD and put it in your drive. Right click the files you need to take a backup of, copy, and paste your files right on the CD/DVD drive icon in your My Computer window, that's all. Then something like this [image on your right, pops up].

The pop up dialog box comes with a default name for the recording (burning) that you are about to do in form of a date, that day's date. Simply type in your preffered label and click on the Show Formatting Options.

It shows you two (2) options for burning:
1. Live File System
2. Mastered

Leave it at the default, which is the live file system, which means you can click and drag, and copy and paste into the CD/DVD just as if the CD/DVD was a removable flash drive. Now, that is totally cool!...and even better, you can delete as well...that is even cooler!

When the writing, recording, burning or live-ing (whatever you want to call it) is done, go back to the My Computer window, right click the CD/DVD drive and choose "Close Session." The OS closes your session and ejects the drive, ready to be used on any NT system, covering Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Dare I say it again? Windows is a complete operating system!

NOTE:
Having trouble? Follow this link.

Microsoft: Malware Behind XP update BSoDs/Reboots

2010-02-19T18:34:00.000+01:00

The use of a computer system in this 21st century is essentially for activities dubbed serious work. a serious work is relative to the individual involved. It could be a money generating work. It could be a job-threatening work. It could a job-enhancing and integrity-driven work. Our computer systems, be they in desktops, laptops or tablets have become our brain, our headquarters, our database of work-related rich resources, and even our source of relaxation and entertainment. It is akin to a heartbreak or divorce-threat if that system ever breaks down for whatever reasons.

Microsoft says:
We wanted to provide you with an update on our ongoing investigation into the “blue screen” issues affecting a limited number of customers who installed MS10-015. We have been working around the clock with our customers, partners and several teams at Microsoft to determine the cause of these issues. Our investigation has concluded that the reboot occurs because the system is infected with malware, specifically the Alureon rootkit. We were able to reach this conclusion after the comprehensive analysis of memory dumps obtained from multiple customer machines and extensive testing against third party applications and software. The restarts are the result of modifications the Alureon rootkit makes to Windows Kernel binaries, which places these systems in an unstable state. In every investigated incident, we have not found quality issues with security update MS10-015. Our guidance remains the same: customers should continue to deploy this month’s security updates and make sure their systems are up-to-date with the latest anti-virus software.

I cannot stress enough the importance of system and security updates. Yes, certain updates may compromise your system, as in the case under review but it's one of those in-a-thousand-year occurrence.

Microsoft says:
Customers continue to emphasize the importance of quality updates, and that high quality updates encourages quicker deployment. While the issue customers are experiencing with MS10-015 was caused by a malware infection and not a problem with the security update, we wanted to use this event as an opportunity to explain why this issue was not caught during testing, and how we respond to reported issues in our security updates.
This issue was not caught as part of our testing because oftentimes when malware is present, infected systems are put in an unstable state. These types of infections often leave the machine in such an unstable state that it cannot be reliably tested. This is because Malware writers use unsupported and potentially destabilizing methods for compromising machines because they want to keep their malware hidden from anti-malware software. In the particular case of Alureon, malware writers modified Windows behavior by attempting to access a specific memory location, instead of letting the operating system determine the address which usually happens when an executable is loaded. The chain of events in this case was a machine became infected, during which the malware made assumptions as to the layout of the Windows code on the machine. Subsequently MS10-015 was downloaded and installed, during which the location of Windows code changed. On the next reboot the malware code crashed attempting to call a specific address in Windows code which was no longer the intended OS function.

Isn't that always the truth with malwares? Yes, it is! These mal files have gotten too smart for many antivirus products that in turn leads to many people's dissatisfaction with their protection mechanisms. In carrying out support, i have ran into questions, I am talking about question I am tired of hearing about, "What is the best antivirus to use." Seriously, the solution isn't always in the antivirus to use, if not in the the updates your system has to use. But the bane of many people is access to the internet to get these medical OS files (I know I shouldn't be saying that, it's unheard of that people don't have access to the internet...in my context I am speaking of Nigeria).

Microsoft further says:
Microsoft has taken steps to deter tampering with the Windows Kernel using technologies like Kernel Patch Protection (sometimes referred to as PatchGuard) and Kernel Mode Code Signing (KMCS), both of which are enabled in 64-bit systems. These technologies make it possible to detect when integrity checks fail. The different versions of Alureon that we have investigated only infect 32-bit systems and would fail to infect 64-bit systems. That said, it is important to note that running as a standard user instead of using an administrator account is a best practice that in most cases will prevent kernel mode malware from infecting a system. Similarly, keeping anti-virus signatures current will also prevent most malware from infections. Additionally, since we have determined that 64-bit systems are not affected, we are opening Automatic Updates for these platforms.
Customers who are interested in additional technical details of what the Windows Kernel is can learn more here.
Even after security updates are released, the Microsoft Security Response Center’s job is not done. In conjunction with Microsoft Customer Service and Support (CSS), we monitor forums and track customer calls to ensure we respond to reported issues as quickly as possible. On Wednesday, February 10th, we became aware of reports regarding Windows XP SP2 and SP3 systems becoming unable to restart successfully after the installation of MS10-015. The reports were first identified by the MSRC’s monitoring of various online community support forums, a spike in support call volume and telemetry from our Consumer Security Support Center. After reviewing the information we had available, we stopped offering Automatic Update distribution of MS10-015 in order to minimize the potential for widespread customer impact while we investigated these reports. Even though we have stopped distribution through Automatic Update, we have seen a large number of deployments as customers can still deploy the update through Windows Update, WSUS or SMS.
In this situation, our teams needed to get information directly from the affected systems in order to understand the cause. Because we had so few reports and needed to examine the state of the affected systems, the CSS team even drove to customer locations to retrieve machines for analysis.

This past weekend, we worked with the Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) on the systems that were delivered to Redmond last Friday, and confirmed that all of the affected systems had the Alureon Rootkit installed. The Windows Engineering team then began working to build a test matrix to determine if the malware was related to the reports we have been receiving. To ensure we had identified the root cause of the issue, Windows Engineering tested machines using the test process covering all 32 bit versions of Windows. While this issue could impact any 32bit Windows system that was infected with the malware, since reports are predominately on 32bit versions of Windows XP this test process is described at a high level focusing on that version in the beside table:

SO,WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
As indicated in the table, the presence of Alureon does not allow for a successful boot of the compromised system. The Windows Engineering team continued testing different configurations, as well as retesting several third party applications, leading to our firm conclusion that the blue screen issue is the result of the Alureon rootkit.
A malware compromise of this type is serious, and if customers cannot confirm removal of the Alureon rootkit using their chosen anti-virus/anti-malware software, the most secure recommendation is for the owner of the system to back up important files and completely restore the system from a cleanly formatted disk.

10 PHRASES THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR CAREER

2010-02-17T18:03:00.000+01:00

More people get into trouble by opening up their mouths than any other way. Don’t believe me? Think about all the times you’ve screwed up in your career, or even in your personal life, and think about the most common cause.
Okay, so actions count a lot too. I get it. But you have to admit, what you say and how you say it carries a lot of weight in life. And it can make all the difference in your career and your business.
Unfortunately, most of us weren’t born with the management communications gene nor had the benefit of an executive coach to mentor us on the finer points of “soft skills.” Looking back at the early days of my management career, it’s almost shocking how demeaning and arrogant I sounded at times.
You know what I’m talking about. You know how it feels when it happens to you.
You show up at your boss’s door with a cheery, “Hi there; got a minute?”
He slowly looks up from his desk and in a steely tone says, “What is it now?”
Or worse, he’s got that annoyed look on his face, as if to say, “What the hell is an insignificant gnat like you doing bothering an important big-shot like me?”
The truth is that managers who act that way are shooting their own careers in the foot. Nothing demoralizes and demeans employees or causes customers and investors to lose confidence and run for the hills faster than when an executive acts like a rude, self-important jerk who thinks he’s God’s gift to business.
Now, I’m not saying you should sugarcoat how you feel, be apologetic when you’re not, or use politically correct euphemisms like “with all due respect” all the time. That does more harm than good. But you can be genuine, honest, and straightforward without sounding like a self-centered, disrespectful moron.
Here are 10 phrases that, when used in the proper context (which I’m sure you can figure out), will enable you to expediently get to the heart of an issue while showing genuine respect for the other person’s perspective.

1: “You may be right, but here’s how I see it…”

2: “Tell me what’s working and what’s not working.”
3: “What do you think we should be doing differently?”
4: “Give it to me straight; no BS.”
5: “Please don’t tell me what __ thinks; I’d like to know what you think.”
6: “What does your gut tell you?”
7: “How can I help you?”
8: “That may be true, but look at it this way… ”
9: “Don’t worry; I’ve got plenty of time.”
10: “How would you do it?”
More than wordsOf course, how you act should match your speech. Great leaders behave in a relaxed and confident manner and never take themselves too seriously. The object is to set the other person at ease. When you’re with someone else, you should:
Give your full undivided attention.

Let your sense of humor shine through.

Show some humility, as opposed to arrogance.

And never, ever accept a phone call or an interruption unless it’s a true emergency. If you’re expecting an important call or have an upcoming appointment, let the other person know in advance.
Sure, there’s a knack to this sort of thing. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at the effect these skills will have on your career and your business.

culled from http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1335&tag=rightCol;topRated

MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS ANTIVIRUS!

2010-02-13T17:28:00.000+01:00

Malicious softwares is one of the biggest banes of using Microsoft's Windows operating systems. It is a sad story really. Nonetheless, it does not mean the Windows is a bad buy, on the contrary, that Windows is a good buy. A great man once said, "Problems gravitate towards their solutions." How true that is; it is very true, and that is the story of Microsoft Windows products.

This past few weeks have been the most terrible for me considering the magnitude of malicious software attacks I have experienced. I mean total destruction of programs and components. Over the years i have mastered and have always believed in work-arounds when tackling issues. For instance, I don't just take an HDD (harddisk drive) and format as solution to whatever the disk may be giving as problem. Another instance, I don't just re-install products, be it OS (operating system) or 3rd party softwares. When malwares and viruses took over my system, I wanted to work-around the problem, and one of the most powerful tools is the command prompt and powershell, alas! I lost them too to the viruses! My browsers aren't just crashing, my windows explorer crashes a thousand and one times!

This is where Microsoft's Security Essentials come in. Previously, my standard practice is to deploy the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) before using my antivirus program. Now those two steps have been combined into one.

How To get Microsoft Essential Security Antivirus
It is available for free download on the Microsoft website. That you get it free does not mean you will be able to use it though, especially if you are running pirated Windows. Click Here to download your free copy of the software from Microsoft.

How To Install
Installation is quite simple. Run the download after download completion and it will take you through the simple install process shown below:

First,is the welcome screen, where you click NEXT

On the License Agreement screen, click I ACCEPT

On the Validate Your Copy Of Microsoft Windows page, click VALIDATE

If your validation succeeds, on the Ready To Install Microsoft Security Essentials page, click INSTALL

On completion of the install, it will prompt you to download the latest definitions and updates.Accept the default on the last install screen and click FINISH

When the update is completed, simply enjoy a wholesome computing life. I look forward to this product being the best around. I look forward to its been labelled Best Antivirus Software Year 2010.

Keep up the good work Microsoft!

Click the links to see reviews on the product
Joe Wilcox on Betanews
Emil Protalinski
Nakodari ADDICTIVE TIPS

PAESSLER NETWORK MONITORING SOFTWARE TRIAL DOWNLOAD---HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

2010-01-08T13:54:00.002+01:00

http://www.paessler.com/prtg/download

PRTG Network Monitor is the powerful network monitoring solution from Paessler AG. It assures the availability of network components and measures traffic and usage. It saves costs by avoiding outages, optimizing connections, saving time and controlling service level agreements (SLAs). PRTG Network Monitor is the next generation monitoring tool that combines the whole experience of the network monitoring company Paessler with a modern AJAX-powered, webbased interface and a new state-of-the-art monitoring engine which is suitable for networks of any size. Paessler network monitoring tools have proven their value in more than 150,000 installations.
One Solution For Everything
PRTG Network Monitor covers all aspects of network monitoring: up/downtime monitoring, traffic and usage monitoring, SNMP, NetFlow, packet sniffing and many more,
combined with concise reporting and analysis features —one solution for everything.

Network Monitoring —Fast, Easy, Self-Explanatory
No courses, no training, just network monitoring — PRTG is consistently optimized for easiest installation and
configuration.

Your Network At A Glance
Clarity is everything — PRTG delivers exactly the data you need — clearly, individually and in an appealing manner.

Pure Relaxation
Leave the monitoring of your network to PRTG and create free time for more important tasks. As long as PRTG does not get in touch with you, you know that all systems are working perfectly.

Modesty Counts
Moderate demands for hard- and software and, last but not least, the good prices make modesty PRTG’s middle name.

Basic Features
■■ Bandwidth, usage, activity, uptime and SLA monitoring
■■ Powerful network monitoring engine
■■ Suitable for all networks
■■ LAN, WAN, WLAN, and VPN monitoring
■■ Monitoring of different networks/locations by probes (= agents)

Sensors And Protocols
■■ More than 40 sensor types including PING, HTTP, WMI, SNMP, SMTP,
POP3, FTP, RDP, DNS and many others
■■ Network traffic and behavior analysis using Netflow, packet sniffing
■■ Smart sensors (e.g. automatic cognition and monitoring of multiprocessor
systems)
■■ Preconfigured device templates for Cisco routers, SQL servers, exchange
servers, network printers, etc.
■■ Automatic network discovery & sensor configuration
■■ Programmable triggers and custom sensors

Display And Reporting
■■ All new elegant, fast and powerful web based interface (Ajax, Flash)
■■ Various dashboard layouts for fast overview
■■ Monitoring results viewable through various perspective options
■■ Hierarchical view (groups , devices , sensors , channels)
■■ List of sensors (alphabetical, fastest, slowest, by tag, by type, etc.)
■■ Reports & logfiles (detailed logs of all activity and results)
■■ Appealing graphs (for sensors, devices and groups) showing the monitoring data of the last 2 hours, last 48 hours, last 60 days and last 365 days
■■ Customizable “maps” that bring together monitoring stati, graphs and tables using personalized layouts

Alerting
■■ Alerts according to individually configured criteria
■■ Periodic reports (HTML, PDF)
■■ Various means of notifications (email, SMS, pager message, HTTP request, syslog, etc.)

System Requirements And Data Storage
■■ HTTP-based API for interfacing with other applications
■■ Data is stored in Paessler’s own powerful data storage system, highly optimized for monitoring data
■■ Small download, easy to install
■■ Attractive licensing packages from freeware to enterprise level
■■ Runs on Windows XP, Vista, 2003 or 2008
■■ Web interface optimized for all common browsers and the Apple iPhone

Follow this link for a shareware personal edition, trial edition or commercial version
http://www.paessler.com/prtg/download

I simply love its easy usability and web mobile support!

TECHREPUBLIC'S TRANSCRIPT ON "THE FIVE MOST LUCRATIVE CERTIFICATIONS FOR IT LEADERS"

2010-01-06T18:54:00.000+01:00

The five most lucrative certifications for IT leaders

TechRepublic's 2009 IT salary and skills survey has good news for IT pros but also showed the effects of the global recession. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives shares the key findings, including the five most lucrative IT management certifications.

Jason Hiner: For the second straight year, TechRepublic and Global Knowledge have partnered on a comprehensive IT salary and skills survey. Our 2009 survey showed some surprisingly strong increases in compensation for IT professionals, but also showed the effects of the global recession that's now gripping the business world.

I'm Jason Hiner, and today on Sanity Savers for IT executives, I will share some of the key findings from our 2009 salary survey, including the five most lucrative IT management certifications.

We had over 14,000 U.S. IT professionals that participated in this year's survey, nearly double the 7,200 we had last year. These IT pros answered questions about their overall job satisfaction, base salary, benefits, bonuses, certifications, industry, and geographic location.

This year's survey was conducted from October 20 to November 11, 2008, so it does take into account some of the effects of the current recession, which of course turned into a full-blown crisis last September.

Ultimately, there are two pieces are very good news in this year's report. For IT leaders, the most positive development is that 78% of IT workers reported that they were Satisfied, Very Satisfied, or Extremely Satisfied with their jobs. For IT professionals, the best news is that you reported that your average base salary has increased by 10% to $81,600, compared to $73,900 in our 2008 report.

While the average base salary increased last year, the numbers aren't completely rosy. The number of participants who reported receiving raises or bonuses actually decreased. 70% of participants in this year's survey reported receiving a raise, compared to 80% in last year's report. Meanwhile, 46% of participants reported receiving a bonus, down from 49% last year.

Although a lower percentage of participants reported receiving a raise or bonus, the average amount of each was actually higher. In our 2009 report, the average raise was 6 percent compared with 4% in our 2008 report. The average bonus in the 2009 report was 8,575 dollars compared to 3,937 dollars in the 2008 report.

So why the discrepancy? I think there are two possible reasons. First, the larger average bonus is likely due in part to the fact that we had a much larger pool of respondents this year and pulled in more CIOs and department heads, who skewed the numbers a bit.

The other thing that could be going on is that as companies scale back their IT staff, they may be providing raises and incentives to their most valuable IT workers in order to keep them around, knowing that they will likely be working more hours and having to stretch their resources even further in 2009.

Now, let's take a look at what the report said about the average salaries for specific job roles. Here are the IT leadership jobs that commanded the highest salaries:

CIO = $134,000
IT Director = $100,000
IT Consultant = $96,000
General Project Manager = $93,000
IT Project Manager = $90,000
IT Manager = $88,000
IT Supervisor = $77,000

As you look at this list and compare your salary to the average, you need to keep three things in mind: industry, company size, and geography. The industry you work in has a major impact on salary. Take a look at Figure 11 in our report to see the average IT salary in various industries.

Company size is also important. For example, project managers average higher salaries than IT managers. That's because it's usually only large organizations that can afford full-time project managers. Meanwhile, IT managers are typically generalists who work in small and medium businesses.

And one of the most important determiners of salary is always going to be geography. Remember that the coasts -- and particularly New York and San Francisco -- skew the numbers. So if you're in the South or the Midwest and your salary is much lower than the average, don't overreact. You may actually have a higher standard of living and more disposable income than someone making 20 thousand dollars more who's living on the East Coast.

And, finally, for the money shot: The most lucrative certifications for IT leaders. These are important because one of the best things you can do during an economic downturn is to invest in your own skills, training, and marketability.

So here are the top five management-level certifications with the highest average salaries:

ITIL Service Manager = $103,900
ITIL Practitioner = $103,700
CISSP = $103,500
Project Management Professional = $103,100
ITIL Foundation = $98,900

You probably noticed a common theme: ITIL certification is hot right now. That's because ITIL -- the IT Infrastructure Library -- is a methodology that can help tackle two big issues: IT-business alignment and compliance.

CISSP -- Certified Information Systems Security Professional -- might seem like a strange fit for this list but it's there because some IT leaders are getting this certification to demonstrate their broad understanding of enterprise security. This can be useful for IT leaders to show that they are capable of effective risk assessment and risk management which is all today's IT security is.

So, there they are. The most lucrative jobs in IT leadership and the most lucrative certifications that can help you advance your career. One thing that came through clearly once again in this year's survey is that IT professionals believe training and certification can positively affect their salaries. Likewise, hiring managers believe that certifications affect the salaries of potential employees.

We've covered just a few highlights from our 2009 IT Skills and Salary Report. For a breakdown of average salaries by region, a full list of salary by job title, a full list of salary by certification, more information on bonuses and benefits, and other factors that affect salary, you can download the full report as a PDF from salary2009.techrepublic.com.

I'm Jason Hiner and this has been an episode of Sanity Savers for IT Executives. For more, go to sanity.techrepublic.com. And if you have feedback or your own sanity savings tips, e-mail them to us at sanity@techrepublic.com. For those of you on Twitter, you can find me at twitter.com/jasonhiner. Thanks for watching. See you next time.

To watch the video, follow this link: http://video.techrepublic.com.com/2422-14074_11-272328.html

BROWSER HIJACKING

2010-01-06T17:26:00.001+01:00

"Browser hijacking" is a type of online fraud. Scammers use malicious software to take control of your computer's Internet browser and change how and what it displays when you're surfing the Web.

If you keep your computer updated with the latest security software and updates, and practice safe Internet browsing you're already doing a lot to keep the hijackers away.

But if your browser has already been "hijacked," there are several ways you can free it from the hackers and restore its settings.

How do I know if my browser has been hijacked?

Home page or other settings change on your computer. Links are added that point to Web sites that you'd usually avoid.
You can't navigate to certain Web pages, such as antispyware and other security software sites.
A seemingly endless barrage of ads pops up on your screen.
New toolbars or Favorites are installed that give you icons and links to Web pages that you don't want.
Your computer runs sluggishly. Malicious software can slow down your computer.

Help restore a hijacked browser

The following six tips can help restore your browser's settings:

Stop cascading pop-up windows. If endless pop-up windows appear on your screen, you'll probably want to stop the deluge first. To do this in Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 while using Internet Explorer:
- Press CTRL+ALT+DEL, click Task Manager, and then click the Processes tab.
- Click IEXPLORE.EXE, and then click the End Process button.
This closes all instances of Internet Explorer. Then you can re-open the program to continue browsing as usual. To help prevent future attacks, you should also have a pop-up blocker turned on. To turn on the pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer 7:
- Click Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Privacy tab.
- In the Pop-up Blocker box, select the Block pop-ups check box. Click OK.
If you still experience the other effects of a hijacked Web browser, try the following:
Install preventive software such as the kinds mentioned in the preceding Preventing browser hijacks section. Many browser hijacking programs can be identified and removed by downloading, installing, and running these programs.
Run the Malicious Software Removal Tool. This can catch some, but not all, kinds of hijacking software.
Reset Internet Explorer settings. If you're using Internet Explorer and your home page has been changed, you can often reset it yourself.
- Close any Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer windows that are currently open.
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
- In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
- When Internet Explorer finishes restoring the settings, click Close, and then click OK
- Close Internet Explorer.
Disable add-ons. Many browser hijackings come from add-ons, also known as ActiveX controls, browser extensions, browser helper objects, or toolbars. These items can improve your experience on a Web site by providing multimedia or interactive content, such as animations. However, some add-ons can cause your computer to stop responding or display content that you don't want, such as pop-up ads.

To learn how to disable add-ons in Windows Vista or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), read How do browser add-ons affect my computer?
Removing unwanted programs with the Add/Remove feature. If you're ready to try some advanced removal methods, the Microsoft Help and Support article Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software provides additional steps you can take, including how to use the Add/Remove feature, the built-in program remover, and the program finder in Windows Explorer.
Empty the Recycle Bin when you've finished these steps, especially if you've removed an unwanted program. Then restart your computer.

10 COOL THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FLASH DRIVE

2010-01-05T15:41:00.000+01:00

1: Run portable applications
In addition to storing your data, you can run portable applications from a USB flash drive. For example, OpenOffice, which is a complete office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package, and database, is available as a portable application. Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird are also available as portable applications. When you combine the office suite with the ability to surf the Web and check email, you'll be able to take your most vital computing applications with you wherever you go -- right in your pocket.
If that's not enough, you can choose other applications to install on your USB flash drive from PortableApps.com (Figure A). You can even install an entire prepackaged suite of applications that includes such things as an audio player, games, an antivirus utility, and a handy menu system.

2: Boot an operating system
If you want to do more than just run your own applications, you might want to consider booting an entire operating system from your USB flash drive. You can boot either Windows or Linux from a USB flash drive; however, the process is not an exact science and you may be in for a technical adventure.
Fortunately, there are some guides you can follow. To learn how to boot Windows XP from a USB flash drive, see the article Creating a bootable USB flash drive for Windows XP. To learn how to boot a version of Linux from a USB flash drive, see the article Puppy Linux teaches an old dog new tricks.

3: Connect to a wireless network
If you have a wireless network, you can use the Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP or the Windows Connect Now (WCN) feature built into Vista to save wireless network configuration information to a USB flash drive. You can then use your drive to quickly and easily connect another computer or a WCN-compatible device, such as a router or printer, to your wireless network. To learn more about using the Wireless Network Setup Wizard, see the Help And Support Center, which is accessible from Windows XP's Start menu. To learn more about using the Windows Connect Now feature, see Windows Help And Support, which is accessible from Windows Vista's Start menu.

4: Create a password reset disk
A password reset disk can really come in handy if you forget the password to your user account on a Windows system that is not a part of a domain. If you find yourself in that situation, you can use the password reset disk to reset your password and quickly get back into your user account. In Windows Vista, you can use USB flash drive rather than a floppy disk as a password reset disk (Figure B). For details on how to do so, see the article Create a Vista password reset disk using a USB flash drive.

5: Boost performance
If you're running Windows Vista, you can use a USB flash drive to speed up your system with the ReadyBoost technology. ReadyBoost can use the storage space on a USB Flash drive as an additional memory cache to aid the memory cache on your hard disk. And because flash memory is more responsive than a hard disk, with its physical moving parts, the memory cache provided by ReadyBoost can significantly improve system responsiveness.
Using ReadyBoost is easy. You just insert your USB flash drive into your Vista system and follow the onscreen prompts to configure and use ReadyBoost. If you want more details, check out the article How SuperFetch and ReadyBoost work together.

6: Manage it
If all you really want to do with your USB flash drive is transport data, and you're running Windows XP, you can do so more efficiently with the Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager (Figure C). Once you have installed this manager, you can easily copy files to and from your drive, back up and restore the entire flash drive to and from your hard disk, change the drive label, and even create an autorun.inf file to launch Drive Manager automatically when you plug in the drive. To learn more about and download the USB Flash Drive Manager visit the Microsoft TechNet Magazine site.

7: Use it as an MP3 player
Would you like to be listening to music when you're using a computer at the office, but you don't have an MP3 player? If so, you can use a USB flash drive as an MP3 player along with Windows Media Player and a set of headphones. Just copy your MP3 files to your USB flash drive, plug it into your computer, and direct Windows Media Player to build a library of the songs on your drive. You can use all of Windows Media Player's playback features, such as playlists and favorites, to easily customize your music listening experience. And best of all, you won't have to worry about running low on battery power.

8: Password-protect it
If you use a USB flash drive to transport sensitive data that you would prefer to protect from prying eyes, should you lose the drive, Rohos Mini Drive (Figure D) can safeguard that data. This security tool allows you to create a secret partition on the drive and then password-protect/encrypt that partition, thus protecting any documents you copy to that partition via the utility's file manager. You can download and read a review of Rohos Mini Drive at CNET Download.com.

9: Run a Web site from it
If you are a Web developer, you may be interested to know that with Server2Go, you can easily run a Web server that supports Apache, PHP, MySQL, and Perl right from a USB flash drive. You can use Server2Go right out of the box without any installation. It runs on all versions of Windows, supports most common browsers, and is completely free. To a developer, the benefits of having a portable Web server on a USB drive are numerous. For example, imagine being able to carry a live Web site demo into a sales pitch meeting. For more information about this package, visit the Server2Go site.

10: Lock your PC
Have you ever seen a movie in which a person in some secret government installation simply inserts and removes a card to log in and log out of a PC? If you thought that idea was cool, you'll definitely want to investigate Predator (Figure E). Once installed and configured, this little freeware utility will allow you to turn a USB flash drive into a key you can use to lock and unlock your computer.
While the USB flash drive is connected to your computer, everything works as it normally would. Once you remove the USB flash drive, your computer is locked down -- the keyboard and mouse are disabled and the screen darkens. To unlock your computer, you just plug in the USB flash drive and the computer will be unlocked and you can begin using it.

HOW TO CONFIGURE INTERNET CONNECTION SHARING (ICS) IN WINDOWS XP

2010-01-04T15:54:00.000+01:00

This article describes how to set up and use the Internet Connection Sharing feature in Microsoft Windows XP. With Internet Connection Sharing, you can use networked computers to share a single connection to the Internet.

How to use Internet Connection Sharing

To use Internet Connection Sharing to share your Internet connection, the host computer must have one network adapter that is configured to connect to the internal network, and one network adapter or modem that is configured to connect to the Internet.

On the host computer

On the host computer, follow these steps to share the Internet connection:

Log on to the host computer as Administrator or as Owner.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Network and Internet Connections.
Click Network Connections.
Right-click the connection that you use to connect to the Internet. For example, if you connect to the Internet by using a modem, right-click the connection that you want under Dial-up.
Click Properties.
Click the Advanced tab.
Under Internet Connection Sharing, select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.
If you are sharing a dial-up Internet connection, select the Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet check box if you want to permit your computer to automatically connect to the Internet.
Click OK. You receive the following message:
When Internet Connection Sharing is enabled, your LAN adapter will be set to use IP address 192.168.0.1. Your computer may lose connectivity with other computers on your network. If these other computers have static IP addresses, it is a good idea to set them to obtain their IP addresses automatically. Are you sure you want to enable Internet Connection Sharing?
Click Yes.

The connection to the Internet is shared to other computers on the local area network (LAN). The network adapter that is connected to the LAN is configured with a static IP address of 192.168.0.1 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 To view a video about how to configure the host computer for Internet Connection Sharing, click the Play button (

) on the following Windows Media Player viewer:

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/3061261.asx

On the client computer

To connect to the Internet by using the shared connection, you must confirm the LAN adapter IP configuration, and then configure the client computer. To confirm the LAN adapter IP configuration, follow these steps:

Log on to the client computer as Administrator or as Owner.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Network and Internet Connections.
Click Network Connections.
Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
Click the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the This connection uses the following items list, and then click Properties.
In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box, click Obtain an IP address automatically (if it is not already selected), and then click OK. Note You can also assign a unique static IP address in the range of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254. For example, you can assign the following static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway: IP Address 192.168.0.2 Subnet mask 255.255.255.0 Default gateway 192.168.0.1
In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click OK.
Quit Control Panel.

To view a video about how to confirm the LAN adapter IP configuration, click the Play button (

) on the following Windows Media Player viewer:

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/3061262.asx

To configure the client computer to use the shared Internet connection, follow these steps:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Network and Internet Connections.
Click Internet Options.
In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Connections tab.
Click the Setup button. The New Connection Wizard starts.
On the Welcome to the New Connection Wizard page, click Next.
Click Connect to the Internet, and then click Next.
Click Set up my connection manually, and then click Next.
Click Connect using a broadband connection that is always on, and then clickNext.
On the Completing the New Connection Wizard page, click Finish.
Quit Control Panel.

When you now start Microsoft Internet Explorer, the client computer will try to connect to the Internet by using the host computer's shared Internet connection. To view a video of how to configure the client computer to use the shared Internet connection, click the Play button (

) on the following Windows Media Player viewer:

http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/ShowMeHow/3061263.asx

Troubleshooting

When you turn on Internet Connection Sharing on the host computer, the host computer's LAN adapter is automatically assigned the IP address of 192.168.0.1. Therefore, one of the following situations may occur:

IP address conflict Each computer on the LAN must have a unique IP address. If more than one computer has the same IP address, an IP conflict occurs, and one of the network adapters turns off until the conflict is resolved. To resolve this conflict, configure the client computer to automatically obtain an IP address, or assign it a unique IP address.
Loss of network connectivity If your network is configured with a different IP address range than Internet Connection Sharing uses, you will lose network connectivity with the host computer. To resolve this issue, configure the client computers to automatically obtain an IP address, or assign each client computer a unique IP address in the range of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.2

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100 SKILLS TO HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVES...continued

1: Disable AutoPlay

2: Increase the maximum number of simultaneous downloads

3: Change the name of the registered user

4: Prevent the Recycle Bin from being deleted

5: Eliminate cached logons

6: Encrypt and decrypt from a shortcut menu

7: Delay Windows Activation

8: Relocate your offline files

9: Disable User Account Control

10: Don’t display the last user who logged in

100 SKILLS TO HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVES

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BROWSER HIJACKING

How do I know if my browser has been hijacked?

Help restore a hijacked browser

10 COOL THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FLASH DRIVE

HOW TO CONFIGURE INTERNET CONNECTION SHARING (ICS) IN WINDOWS XP

How to use Internet Connection Sharing

On the host computer

On the client computer

Q1. What is the Microsoft^® Community Contributor Award?

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