Resolve IT Solutions Articles

Windows Browser Ballot

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Microsoft have released a Windows Update that allows the user to choose which browser they would like to use to surf the internet. You may have seen this already and thought, what is this about? Well, Microsoft have had to create this browser ballot as the European Union declared that Microsoft has an unfair monopoly in the browser market, due to the success of its Internet Explorer browser that comes installed with Windows. Therefore Microsoft have designed the browser ballot so that other, less known, browsers have the chance to increase their market share.

The update works by displaying a simple window, asking you to choose which web browser you would like to use. There are 12 options; Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera, Internet Explorer, K-Meleon, Sleipnir, Maxthon, Avant, FlashPeak, Flock and GreenBrowser. Simply click on 'Install' under the logo of the browser you wish to use and follow the installation prompts. You may be happy with Internet Explorer, if so then simply close the window. If you wish to choose a different browser at a later date, simply double click the 'Browser Choice' shortcut on your desktop.

Awarded AVG Gold Reseller

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A few years ago we started recommending AVG to our customers. We like it because:

It only has a small impact on your system speed - because, unlike some other antivirus products, it only needs a small amount of your system memory, it doesn't slow your system down noticeably.

It is cost effective - It is one of the best value solutions on the market, without compromising on quality.

The technical support is good - with fast e-mail support being included in the price.

Well, our customers seem to agree and we have recently been awarded AVG Gold Reseller status.

This comes only a month after being re-awarded our Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status.

Andrew Makes Front Page News

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In case you haven't seen it yet ... Andrew has made the front page of the Sheffield Chamber Magazine, FFB.

Feel free to read the magazine - Andrew is on pages 13 and 9.

Andrew Becomes a CITP

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

After five years of hard work and a number of even harder exams, Resolve IT Solutions are pleased to announce that Andrew Seaton has become the first in our team to become a Chartered IT Professional ("CITP").

We even have the Sunday Telegraph listing to prove it!

(Click to enlarge)

This win is another high note for Andrew this year, after winning the Sheffield Business Awards Sheffield Hallam University's Young Business Person of the Year award earlier this month.

Becoming a CITP is not easy; it is only awarded to professionals who have a depth of experience in IT (8-10 years) and have proven that "at least 3 of the last 5 years.. have been in a challenging, complex position in which (they) have significant influence and responsibility".

For more information on CITP status, visit the British Computer Society http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.10973.

About Andrew

Andrew Seaton is the director of award winning Resolve IT Solutions Ltd, an IT consultancy firm in Sheffield. He is a Chartered IT Professional (CITP), a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and has an Honours Degree in Computing Networks. In addition to this, he has worked on many IT projects and regularly advises a variety of clients on the best IT systems for their needs.

Resolve specialises in consultancy to help educational establishments and small to medium sized businesses develop their IT systems in line with their business objectives.

Windows 7 - Is It Any Good?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0200

It’s been two and a half years since Windows Vista was released and Microsoft are about to launch the seventh version of Windows, but is it better than Vista? It is better than XP? Or is it a shinier version of Vista?

Boot Times

Anyone who has ever used Vista will know that it takes an age to boot and shutdown. You could quite happily boil a kettle and make a cup of tea within the time it takes for Vista to boot up, the same can be said for the shutdown times. With Windows 7 things are slightly quicker but not by much. Without a clean install of the operating system you probably will not see a difference in start up or shutdown times. Windows XP still has the fastest boot times compared to both Vista and 7.

Interface Changes

Taskbar

Like Windows Vista, Windows 7 has some shiny new features. The first difference you will notice is the taskbar, it has been made taller to accompany the new style program icons. The ‘Quick Launch’ toolbar has had a major revamp. The small icons have been replaced with larger high quality ones, hovering over the icon displays the open window in real time i.e. if it is playing a video you can see it playing on the taskbar popup.

You can ‘pin’ shortcuts to the taskbar, which is a nice feature, but if you wanted a separate icon for your documents, music and pictures folders then you are out of luck, they are all pinned to the same icon which does mean you have to remember which pinned icon houses the shortcut you want. To access the pinned items menu you simply right click on the icon.

Aero Shake

This feels like a bit of a gimmick but if you click and hold the title bar of a program and ‘shake’ it, all the other Windows minimise. Shake it again and all the windows maximise.

Aero Snap

This is probably the handiest feature of the new Aero interface. Aero Snap allows you to click and hold the title bar of a program and by moving it to the top of the screen it will automatically maximise the window. Again, by simply grabbing hold of the title and moving away from the top of the screen, this reduces the size of the window to what it was originally. A similar action is performed when you move the window to the side is the screen, the window will ‘snap’ to the left half of the screen and the same on the right hand side.

Start Menu

The Start Menu has hardly changed, the search feature has been improved but isn’t as comprehensive as Mac OS X Spotlight search feature, but it’s not bad.

Day-to-Day Use

Probably the biggest problem with Vista was the fact it was so slow it took an age to do anything unless you had a really beefy machine. Windows 7 has been optimised much more efficiently. It is now as fast as Windows XP was. It will take a while to get used to the new layout and the control panel has again been messed about with making it more difficult to find what you need. What would be nice is if Microsoft designed an interface theme that was the same though out Windows and told developers to use the same interface this would make Windows much easier to use.

User Account Control (UAC)

For anyone who has ever used Vista you will have come across the UAC. It popped up every time you wanted to do some and asked ‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ and the answer was always ‘Yes! That’s why I clicked on it!’ Sadly UAC is still present in Windows 7 but you have more flexibility about how often it notifies you. Rather than the on or off selection of UAC in Vista, which either meant being annoyed every two minutes or being open to potential threats, there is a slider with different levels of notification. We have found the second from bottom to be the best for everyday use.

Windows Explorer

Anyone who has used Windows before will have used Windows Explorer in a very regular basis. Windows 7 has changed the way files are stored and managed. There are now libraries for Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. This means that if you have documents in multiple locations you can set the Documents library to look in those locations when you click on the Documents link. You can create your own libraries with your own locations. The only problem we have with this is that you never truly know where you files are and can lead to files being all over your machine. Personally we like the documents to be in one location it just makes things easier.

Internet Explorer (IE)

Avoid like the plague on Windows 7. We have been using Windows 7 since mid August and IE crashes numerous times on a daily basis. Not only is the new version (8) slow but it does not conform to the new internet standards and therefore some websites simply will not work. Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox all put IE to shame and are the much better choice when browsing the internet. For pure speed we recommend Chrome or Safari.

Windows Gadgets

One noticeable absence is the Windows Sidebar which came with Windows Vista and allowed the user to have ‘Gadgets’ informing them about the weather, what the time is, and a whole host of others. This has been replaced by Windows Desktop Gadget which is basically the same but without the side bar. Sadly though the Gadgets do still take up a lot of system resources and are best avoided of less powerful machines.

Windows XP Mode

Microsoft is making a big thing of this. Windows XP mode is a virtual machine running on your Windows 7 computer, that allows you to use software that was designed for Windows XP and doesn’t run on Windows 7. The idea is that the application will look like any other application in Windows 7 but run on the Windows XP virtual machine allow users to use older software that they still use. The concept sounds great, it fixes the problem that Vista had when it couldn’t run older pieces of software, but there is one major flaw with this. You need a processor capable of running the Virtual Machine. It must be either a AMD-V or an Intel VT chip. We have three machines that were bought in the last 3-6 months and none of them were capable of running XP mode and only a few processors are currently able to run this. This is a major flaw and means you have to buy a new computer to run older software, it just doesn’t make sense. It’s a great feature but sadly the execution is poor.

Upgrading

Most people are not going to be buying new machines when upgrading to Windows 7. Sadly though you aren’t going to be able to upgrade with the UK version. Microsoft has decided that the European version of the operating system will not have the upgrade feature but the US version will. What this means is that you will have to back up all your files, wipe your hard drive, install Windows 7, install all the software you used before (if you can find the CDs!), restore your files and then customise the layout to what you had before. This seems ridiculous to us and to numerous people we have spoken to.

So, is it worth upgrading?

If you have Windows Vista then yes definitely, you will see a massive increase in speed and productivity without the nagging of UAC. If you have Windows XP then its yes and no, if XP does everything you need then there is no point and over 90% of businesses are still on XP. Windows 7 does give you some nice new features and makes use of the new Quad/Dual core processors along with new technologies such as inbuilt GPS. Sadly the biggest problem is the fact that you cannot upgrade and have to perform a fresh install, which for the typical user is a daunting task. Microsoft always seem to get 90% there but miss or don’t understand the last 10%, hopefully one day this will change...

As with any new piece of software, especially operating systems, we wouldn’t recommend upgrading straight away. There are usually a few bugs to be ironed out when it is first released therefore we would recommend that you wait for at least 6 months before installing.

Trouble Installing Server 2003 SP2 Admin Tools Pack?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Sometimes something just goes wrong and you need to re-install basic Windows components, perhaps you may even find yourself in a sticky situation following a failed update or just simply wanting to install the most recent Administration Tools Pack.

But if you are working with the most recent version of Windows Server 2003's Administration Tools Pack from Microsoft in a Terminal Services environment, you might find that you have trouble getting it to install properly.

In fact; this probably isn't just a problem for this specific package, and could be useful advice for any installations in a terminal services environment; the bottom line is that you need to find another way to access the machine other than via Terminal Services, because you might not see system messages prompting for user input being displayed.

Recently, a client of ours contacted us to assist them in their installation of the Administration Tools Pack, and logging on and installing in a non-terminal services fashion showed up a user interaction box that wasn't being displayed when trying to install the Pack via TS. Simply when logged on via TS, the installation seemed to have just stalled, for us when trying to install imadmui.dll. Perhaps this tip might save you some time and effort in troubleshooting - for some installations you need to have non-terminal services access to the server machine.

"I do a lot of work remotely, and it's impossible for me to log on locally to server machines we need to administer"

If you are asking the above question then more than likely you need to investigate a way to gain non-terminal services access to your machines, perhaps you might consider:

Remote Control Software that will allow you to connect to the server machine via the internet - type "Remote Control Software" into Google.com for a plethora of possibilities.
Asking someone local to the machine to log on and perform the work on your behalf.
Remote Management Cards/Devices are another great way to manage your devices, giving you a separate IP address to connect to and independent access to the server in a non-terminal services way. These devices can also control power functions for the machine you are administering, allowing you to reboot and power up a machine that is remotely un-responsive.

Naturally, this is only one, very specific tip for users struggling with installations in Terminal Services environments; at Resolve we have the ability to work to resolve issues affecting a wide variety of hardware and software. We take great pride in our work and relish the opportunity to provide high quality support to appreciative clients, please do contact us if you'd like to discuss the services we offer or evaluate the difference we can make to the IT in your business.

tnpuxd9kqm

Simple and Free Content Filtering

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 +0200

One question that we get asked a lot is how to filter websites that are either inappropriate or time-wasting. There are lots of systems and bits of software that will filter websites for you, but these will cost you money, and also take time to setup.

For a while now we have been recommending to our clients that if they want basic web filtering then they use OpenDNS. This is a system that works at a "Domain Level". DNS is the technology that makes the internet have memorable names (eg www.google.co.uk) rather than IP addresses (eg 216.239.59.104). Without getting too technical, you basically change your DNS Settings to use the servers at OpenDNS.

This has a number of advantages:

1. It is simple to setup, with no complex software to configure.

2. It is free.

3. It works when new devices are connected to the network.

The great thing about OpenDNS is that you can configure the level of filtering and block or allow specific websites - below is a screenshot of the level of filtering available.

You can also get reports on the internet usage, and which sites have been viewed the most.

OpenDNS is fairly easy to setup, and there are guides for a wide range of computers on the OpenDNS Website.

If you need help setting this up, or you need give different users different access to websites, then feel free to drop us a line - we would be more than happy to help you!

tnpuxd9kqm

Do UK Homeplug or Powerline Adaptors Work Abroad?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 +0200

"Powerline Communication" is a relative boom industry in the computer networking sector at the moment, the quality, speed and security of connection boasts enviable attributes over the much wider recognised Wireless Communication.

Wireless communication has its positive points too, but as we probably all know too well has a number of negatives "to boot"; Powerline communication too has a number of negatives (portability, cost and potentially compatability).

Powerline Communication in its conception is very simple; plug a source powerline adapter in one socket in your house, and your mains electricity supply becomes a data network, plugging another adapter in at the required destination effectively gives you a ethernet connection to the source adaptor.

The precise operation and operational standards for Powerline Communication are governed by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), and those who are interested can read more about the history of Powerline Communication on its Wikipedia Entry Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication

Standards are incredibly important in all aspects of life, not only in the computing realm; but specifically relating to Powerline Communication this article set out to outline UK Homeplug operability whilst abroad. Owing to the numerous possible electricity supplies/facilities offered in the 195 countries of the world a typical Powerline adaptor user might be forgiven for asking the question "will my homeplug adaptors work abroad?"

Unfortunately at Resolve we were unable to verify functionality of homeplug adaptors in all 195 countries in the world, but we can give this conclusion - The Homeplug Adaptors we tested (COMTREND PowerGrid 902 - N.B. Standard Issue with a BT Vision Box) function perfectly in Germany.

Obviously the end user is required to use travel adaptors to fit the UK 3 pin plug into the German 2 pin socket, but the functionality of the Homeplug was consistent with that found in the UK.

Resolve would love to hear from any other users who have tested their Homeplug Adaptors (or similar) in any other countries; subsiquent submissions will find themselves added to this article.

Backtrack 4 DVD .ISO Burning

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0100

LiveCD/DVDs (Bootable CD/DVDs) are incredibly handy, especially those which give some variety of full operating system usage without needing to change/install anything on your hard drive.

Backtrack 4 (http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack.html) is the latest Beta release of Remote-Exploit.org's Security Analyst aimed Distribution. Although Backtrack is a specialist distribution, and we never use most of its tools (of which it boasts over 300), occassionally Resolve finds Backtrack very useful when checking local computer components. Having been long time users of Backtrack's previous versions, Beta 4 attracted our attention as something to experiment with and learn about.

Unfortunately, and from a simple Google search we know we weren't the only users suffering from this problem, the Beta4.iso download from http://www.remote-exploit.org/cgi-bin/fileget?version=bt4-beta-iso gave us an .iso image that Nero was not happy with. Specifically, Nero requested CDR / RW media to be inserted into the drive to burn the iso image, rather than DVDR / RW media - which as you can deduce from the download size/description, is required due to the size of Backtrack 4.

Whilst with other "burning" programmes you may not experience issues - www.burn4free.com is rumoured to not have this issue - like us, you might actually just want to be able to use the piece of software you have a license for, and trust.

So, for those of you out there who are also suffering from this same DVD / CD Media problem, heres how we managed to successfully burn a DVD from the downloaded ISO.

Step 0) We assume you already have downloaded the .iso image!
Step 1) Download/Install WInRAR - or any other software that will allow you to examine the contents of the .ISO file
Step 2) Open the .ISO in WinRAR and extract the contents (two folders - boot and BT4) to your preferred location (C:\ ??) N.B. This may take a while to process.
Step 3) Within the BT4 folder, there is a .bat file called "make_iso.bat", we need to run this in order to re-make an ISO for burning.
Step 4) Open up command prompt on your machine (Start --> Run --> cmd)
Step 5) Within the command prompt, navigate to the extracted BT4 folder, using the cd command - e.g. cd c:\bt4
Step 6) Run the "make_iso.bat" file using the following command - make_iso.bat C:\BT4 - Again this will take a while - N.B. you can alter the C:\BT4 within this command to specific a different place to make the new .ISO in - be sure that you have enough space to create this new ISO!
Step 7) When the batch file has completed, check the specified location for a new .ISO file - This may be 3GB in size...or more.
Step 8) Load Nero Express (or whatever Nero you like/another burning application) - Specify the new .ISO location as an ISO to be burnt, and now it will ask for DVD media, rather than CD Media.
Step 9) Enjoy Backtrack 4 responsibly.

Whats new in Exchange 2007?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The latest version of Exchange, Microsoft’s flagship Messaging and Collaboration server was released at the end of 2006. But what does this new release offer?

Whilst it did meet with some initial criticism regarding some of the choices made by Microsoft, including being 64bit only, and the (initial) removal of public folders, it was generally well received. With the release of Service Pack 1 it has become an even better messaging system.

This article is going to take a look at the client side improvements and benefits Exchange 2007 can offer to your users.

Outlook Web Access

Outlook Web Access has received a complete overhaul. When ran in internet explorer, it offers an experience very similar to the desktop outlook client, but accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Using the latest web technologies and relying heavily on AJAX and ActiveX, it provides a much smoother user experience then the previous incarnation.

In a browser that does not support ActiveX, such as Mozilla’s Firefox, a cut down interface is available. This lacks some of the smoothness that is apparent in the Internet Explorer version, but is still a big improvement over 2003.

With the introduction of Service Pack 1, Public folder access is now available in OWA.

Outlook Web Access 2007

Outlook Desktop Client

When working in the office, integration with the outlook desktop client is as seamless as ever. Coupled with the latest version of Outlook it offers a complete messaging solution.
When working outside the office, connectivity has been greatly improved. Outlook Anywhere (previously MAPI over RPC) has been improved to allow a much smoother experience for user looking to connect from remote locations but still get full desktop connectivity.

The new Auto Discover service means that when attempting to connect to Exchange for the first time, all users need to enter is their email address and password, Exchange takes care of the rest, meaning an end to having to supply users with complicated RPC connection strings, certificates and proxies.

Outlook 2007 using Auto Discover

Activesync

Activesync has been improved to give users a much more outlook like experience on their mobile device. It continues to allow full push email functionality to any Activesync enabled mobile device, including Windows Mobile based phones and now the iPhone. It also now integrates Meeting Attendee information, enhanced Exchange search, allowing you to search your whole mailbox, rather than just local emails, and the ability to access SharePoint and SharePoint document stores.

The remote wiping functionality has been improved and now allows users to instigate a remote wipe of a lost or stolen device directly from inside Outlook Web Access.

OMA

Outlook Mobile Access has been removed completely from Exchange 2007. With Activesync now able to fulfill all the roles previously taken by OWA, the somewhat clumsy cut down web interface was no longer needed. Even if Activesync access is not available, the simple version of the Outlook Web Access interface is more than enough to allow access to your mail over a mobile device.

Conclusion

Whilst some of the changes in Exchange 2007 may take a little getting used to, overall it is a great improvement over the previous versions, as Exchange gets more and more user friendly. Microsoft’s attempts to make configuration simpler, and access more consistent over an array of devices and access methods, can only be a good thing for users and administrators alike.

Resolve Re-Awarded Gold

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We are delighted to have been re-awarded the highest Microsoft Partner Level - "Gold Certified Partner" for 2009-2010. This is the second year in a row that we have been awarded this level of partnership with Microsoft, and we are understandably very pleased.

Gold Certified Partner is the highest level of partnership available with Microsoft, and is only awarded to companies that show the highest level of expertise with Microsoft products. It means that our key technical staff have passed a number of technical exams, and we have a number of Microsoft Certified Professionals working for us.

In addition, we must make sure that our customer service and out project delivery is up to scratch.

We will also continue to be a Microsoft Small Business Specialist, and an Authorised Education Reseller.

This puts us in a unique position - we are one of the only IT support providers in Sheffield to have this level of partnership with Microsoft.

Winner Andrew Joins the Business Revolution

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Andrew Seaton of Resolve IT Solutions is this year's winner of Creating a Revolutionary Business (CARB), a three month long business development programme funded by Sheffield Technology Parks.

Andrew beat 12 other South Yorkshire creative and technology based companies to the prize which includes £1500 worth of business consultancy from Adele Hanna of Inspire Services Ltd., who ran the course. The course was aimed at transforming the performance of those businesses attending by increasing their focus on customer service and delivery and revolutionising their sales process to be far more effective and results driven.

Andrew said at the final session, called Seize the Day: “The whole course has been great for everyone involved. The CARB programme has had a big impact on my business with the biggest change in targeted marketing, networking and cost saving operations.” Resolve IT Solutions provide IT support for businesses and schools and have been running for two years. Andrew credits the course with helping him achieve a much higher success rate on the sales side of the business including helping him to secure two new contracts worth £10,000.

The CARB programme has been running for the past few years and is part of the incubation and new businesses support activity funded by Objective One at Sheffield Technology Parks. Peter Wood, Chief Executive of STP, said: “It was a hard decision to make as all the people on the course moved their businesses forward and it had a really positive impact. However the prize had to go to the business that had achieved the most in transforming their sales processes and delivered real improved results, and Andrew is a worthy winner.”

Last year’s winner, photographer Jack Eames, presented the 2007 award and says the course helped him grow his business. Jack said: “For my business the course came at a crucial time – as well as teaching me vital selling skills and closing sales, it gave me confidence to take on a member of staff, and gave me the knowledge to deal with the legal issues involved.”

Article From the Sheffield Star, Originally here: http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/business/Winner-Andrew-joins-the-business.3392640.jp

Resolve Your Problems

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The following is a clip from the Sheffield Telegraph. We are always looking for ways of helping people achieve what they want from their IT systems - as such we will try any answer any questions you may have. Simply go to the articles page and click on "Ask a question now."

Dynamic Duo Land Awards

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

TWO of Sheffield's most dynamic entrepreneurs have been recognised for their energy and commitment with Sheffield Technology Parks' latest awards. Glenda Kirby, the founder of Charibags, won the award for Most Revolutionary Business and Andrew Seaton, Managing Director of Resolve IT Solutions, was named Best Contributor at the end of the 'Developing a Revolutionary Business' course.

The course was delivered by Sheffield Technology Parks as part of its remit to support innovative, high growth businesses to succeed, and was supported by Objective 1 funding. The course focused on helping participants to increase sales and customer attraction. Charibags makes re-usable eco bags with a social conscience for a range of clients including schools, businesses and charities. Glenda Kirby said, "Doing the course was a brilliant experience – it moved my business forward and gave me confidence. We've got a lot more clients since doing it, not just in Sheffield but up and down the country."

Andrew Seaton added, "It was really good to have this sort of support from Sheffield Technology Parks. "The course was really worthwhile – it consolidated my thinking, and as a direct result of taking part we have taken on one new contract already with another four or five due to start in the next few weeks." Andrew Seaton also won the 'Creating a Revolutionary Business' award from Sheffield Technology Parks in 2007. Resolve IT Solutions delivers high quality technical support to schools and businesses across the region.

Article From the Sheffield Star, Originally here: http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/business/Dynamic-duo-land-awards.4112830.jp

Change Timeout In Outlook 2007

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

This week one of our clients has been having issues with irratic e-mail delivery and this was because their mail server was very busy. Outlook was giving up (or "timing out"") leading to the e-mails being delivered irratically.

Outlook has a built in system that will automatically stop trying to connect if it reached a limit - This is by default 1 miniute.

We simply increased this limit, and the e-mail delivery became consistant again. To do this in Office 2007:

1. With Outlook open, click "Tools" and click "E-mail Accounts". You will see the Account Settings screen

2. Double-Click on the account you wish to change.

3. This will open the Change E-Mail Account window. Click "More Settings"

4. This will open up the Internet E-Mail Settings Window. Click the tab titled Advanced.

5. On the section that says "Server Timeouts", Adjust the setting by moving the slider to the right.
6. Click OK to save the setting.
7. On the E-mail Accounts window, click Next, then click Finish.

USB Device Not Recognised in Windows XP

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Have you ever connected your Flash Drive or some other USB removable storage and it just doesn't show up in XP?

One of the reasons for this peculiarity is that Windows XP will sometimes try to assign the removable storage device the same drive letter as another device that already exists on your system (i.e. CD Rom drive or even a mapped network drive).

Fortunately you can easily resolve this problem. From the Control Panel, open Administrative tools, then Computer Management. Then under Storage click on Disk Management.

From there you should be able to see the device, by right clicking and selecting ‘Change Drive Letter and Paths' you can change the drive letter assignment for the device - Just make sure that you look in My Computer or Explorer first to see what drive letters are already being used.

You may receive a warning notice that changing the letter might prevent some things that are seeing it currently will no longer be able to see it. Since it's not viewable anyway you can click yes to change the letter.

Have another look in My Computer - Hey Presto it's back.

Antivirus 2009 Removal Instructions

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Antivirus 2009, is a rogue anti-spyware program that uses false spyware results to lure you to purchase its full version and It can be most annoying in it's attempts to do so!

Antivirus2009 is an updated version of Antivirus 2008. Other Antivirus 2009 aliases that have recently appeared on the Web are: XP Antivirus 2008, Vista Antivirus 2008, Ultimate Antivirus 2008 and System Antivirus 2008.

Antivirus 2009 is usually promoted via a ZLOB/MediaAccess Codec installer found on adult websites. Zlob has been the trojan of choice to infect users with pop ups disguised as system notifications that lead to websites with rogue anti-spyware programs. You can also install Antivirus 2009 manually on the rogue website antivirus-scanner.com.

Antivirus 2009 may use its system scanner to display bogus virus results which work as an incentive to make unsuspecting users purchase Antivirus 2009's commercial version.

Do not click on any link provided by Antivirus 2009. Once you click on the link provided, you'll be redirected to Antivirus 2009's website (antivirus2009.com) to download and purchase Antivirus 2009's rogue anti-spyware program. Antivirus 2009 has the ability to recreate itself after reboot and its "System scan" messages may continue to pop up on your task manager.

It also appears as a notification on a fake Google home page.

If you are unfortunate to become a victim of this deceiving program, we would advise using a program called Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to remove it.

You can download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer.

Double-click mbsetup.exe within the zip you have downloaded. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.

When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.

Malwarebytes will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK to close that box and you will now be at the main program window.

On the Scanner tab, make sure the Perform quick scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Antivirus 2009 related files.

MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so this may be a prime opportunity to put the kettle on and periodically check on the status of the scan.

When the scan is finished a message box will appear, click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the Antivirus 2009 removal process.

You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.

A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown the program window.

Now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted and you are logged in, continue with the rest of the steps.

When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.

It is recommended that you run the Malwarebytes program a few times to be absolutely sure all infections are removed.

Your computer should now be free of the nasty Antivirus 2009 program!

Another free and useful program that helps remove adware from your system is Ad-Aware and can be found here - http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Don't forget to ensure that you have a reliable and up-to-date Anti-Virus software installed on your computer. We recommend using AVG Antivirus which can be purchased at a reduced price from http://www.discountavg.co.uk

If you are still having problems with Antivirus 2009 after completing these instructions, you can follow the steps below to manually remove any associated files:

These steps are a little bit more advanced so proceed with caution and remember to backup the registry before making any changes - if in doubt please call us.

Kill processes:

av2009.exe av2009[1].exe AV2009Install.exe Antivirus2009.exe

Delete registry values:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Run\15358943642955870504508370025739

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Antivirus

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"Antivirus" = "%ProgramFiles%\Antivirus 2009\Antvrs.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Antivirus

Unregister DLLs:

shlwapi.dll wininet.dll

Delete files:

av2009.exe av2009install.exe av2009install_0011.exe av2009[1].exe Antivirus2009.exe ieupdates.exe scui.cpl %program_files%\\antivirus 2009\\av2009.exe %startmenu%\\antivirus 2009\\antivirus 2009.lnk %startmenu%\\antivirus 2009\\uninstall antivirus 2009.lnk winsrc.dll %desktopdirectory%\\antivirus 2009.lnk winsrc.dll ieupdates.exe av2009install_0011.exe av2009install.exe %program_files%\\antivirus 2009\\av2009.exe

Delete directories:

C:\Program Files\Antivirus 2009

Tips to keep Windows XP in great condition

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Keeping XP clean if you don't want to move to Windows Vista

Many users are unwilling to make the move from Windows XP to Windows Vista due to its need for better hardware and the fact that is has some compatibility issues with older software and hardware. Nearly all new PC's ship with Vista, so we will give you some tips on how to keep your XP installation in pristine condition to prevent you having to upgrade to Vista just yet.

Online Threats
A very common way to corrupt your Windows XP installation is to contract a virus. You may have had experience with viruses in the past - they are at best, annoying, at worst destructive. Either way they are unwanted and you need protection against them. Home users can get themselves a free copy of AVG anti-virus, in our experience we find it one of the best. You can find this at http://www.discountavg.co.uk/page/avg_free

If you are a business you would need to buy the pro version of AVG which includes a firewall and spyware remover. This can be purchased from http://www.discountavg.co.uk and includes a 10% discount!

Taking care of your Hard Drive
To keep your hard drive running fast and efficiently we recommend defragmenting every month. Basically this moves little pieces of the data around so it's all grouped together, this will increase read speeds and potentially reduce wear on the drive. It's a little difficult to understand what is happening with these bits of data so I will attempt a small explanation.

Let's imagine we have a hard drive with 20 ‘blocks' of data on it (realistically there's a huge amount more). We install some software which uses blocks 1-7. We install some more software which uses blocks 8-10. We then remove the first piece of software and install another program which is 12 blocks. Obviously you can't fit 12 blocks into 7 so it overflows onto the next empty blocks. Now we have a piece of software which is using 1-7 and 10-14. This means that the drive has to look for longer than it should for these pieces of data. Defragmenting re-sorts the hard drive and puts all appropriate blocks together.

Disk defragmenter is packaged with Windows and can be found in Start Menu >All Programs >Accessories >System Tools.

Restoring your system
By creating restore points on you system, if you do end up having issues you can roll the PC back in time to a point when it worked. The beauty of it is that you will still keep all the files, photos and music you have put on since.

System Restore comes packaged with Windows and can be found in the same location as Disk Defragmenter.

Keeping your keys!
If worst comes to worst and you do need to reinstall, don't forget your licence keys! Many users have had issues where they wipe their hard drive to install Windows and find they don't know their licence key. Without a licence key you cannot install Windows.

Most shop bought PC's have an OEM sticker on them displaying the Windows key, if not you can run a piece of software called Jellybean (www.magicaljellybean.com) which will find your key for Windows and Microsoft Office. Make sure to keep a copy of the keys somewhere safe.

Backing Up
All hard drives will eventually wear out, so unless you want to lose all your music, photos documents etc, we would recommend backing up. Backing up to the same hard drive could prove pointless as you will lose your backups when that same drive fails, so we recommend backing up to an external Hard Drive.

An excellent free piece of software called Cobain Backup (http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/) can be scheduled to back up your important files on a daily/weekly/monthly routine, as long as you leave your PC running when the backup is supposed to occur.

If you feel like having a better backup solutions we point you to Acronis TrueImage Workstation with Universal Restore. (http://www.acronis.co.uk/promo/backupandrestore/resolve/). Universal Restore can back up a complete image of your computer and restore it pretty much any other machine, and it should all work exactly how you left it at your last backup. You will, however, need to install the drivers to this new machine.

Humax Foxsat HDR - Review

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Setup

After much hassle and waiting I finally got my hands on the new Freesat recorder from Humax. On first impressions it feels well built and fits nicely with the rest of my media equipment (PS3, Panasonic Surround Sound). After connecting it all together and plugging in both LNB's the Foxsat performed an update without any problems, apparently if you only have one LNB plugged in the update fails with an E0-S error. The setup wizard is easy and quick to use, you simply enter your postcode, select the HD resolution (if you have a HD TV), in my case 720p, and it picks up all the available channels. One quick note is that it takes roughly 5-8 seconds to boot, even from standby which is quite a long and hopefully will be shortened in future updates.

Audio + Image Quality

Once the setup is completed I went straight for BBC HD and the image quality was a vast improvement on the Vista Media Centre that I used as my Freesat recorder previously. SD channels are sharper in appearance than in Vista Media Centre, although I'm not sure how they compare to a standard Freesat receiver. Audio quality in HD is as good as Blu-ray movies, especially if connected to a surround sound system. You can notice the difference between SD and HD channels but it is still crisp and clear on SD.

Menu and Navigation

The menus are clean, simple and straight forward to use. For example, when viewing a channel, information can be displayed about the current program such as whether subtitles are available, what resolution it's in e.g. 1080i, or what age rating the program is aimed at. You can create your own favourites list which contains all the channels that you watch the most frequently and saves you trailing through all 140 channels when searching the TV guide. The TV guide is again clean and simple, from here you can create a reminder to tell you when your favourite TV show is on and browse the next 8 days worth of programs. On minor irritation is that every time you want to look at the TV guide you have to select a Genre first and then you can see the channels relating to that genre, this can be switched off in the settings menu.

Recording

This is obviously the main reason to buy the Foxsat-HDR and, as you would expect, it is painless to set programs to record. For example, simply open the TV guide by pressing Guide button on the remote, move to the program you wish to record and press the record button. A neat little feature that has been introduced by Humax is that if the program is available on another channel in HD it will ask if you want to record that one instead e.g. Heroes is one BBC Three and BBC HD on Wednesday at 10pm, so if you select the program on BBC Three it will ask you if you want to record the HD version on BBC HD instead. As you would expect you can record a single program or an entire series, Heroes in HD was the first program that I recorded and it all work beautifully.

Build Quality

The Humax Foxsat-HDR feels well built and has a host of connections to fit most televisions. The Foxsat boasts two scart sockets, HDMI, RCA, 2x LNB in, LNB out, 2x USB ports, SPDIF out and Ethernet port. The only disappointment with the build of the Foxsat is the extremely bright display on the front of the box, which can be a distraction when watching TV. Hopefully the next update will allow the ability to change the brightness of the display. The Foxsat also allows the use of a Common Interface (CI ) M odule which you can use to insert cards that allow decryption of other channels such as Setanta, similar to Top-Up-TV. The remote control feels robust and has a gloss black finish, one criticism with it though is that the numbers are a reasonable distance from the arrow buttons, but that is an extremely minor issue.

Interactive Services

Currently the text services only work on BBC but in the future this will spread to other channels. A useful feature is the ability to record ITV-HD which officially is not a channel but an interactive service, mainly so that Sky cannot add it to its list of available channels. At the moment there are very few programs on ITV-HD but this will undoubtedly increase when Freesat becomes more popular. It has been rumoured that BBC iPlayer will come to the Foxsat in spring of 2009 but this is unconfirmed.

Radio

As you would expect the Foxsat is able to receive Digital radio via Satellite, the audio is crisp and clear and is very noticeably different to analogue radios.

Music

Another great feature of the Foxsat is the ability to play MP3 files, you can copy files from a USB stick or hard drive and play them happily on the Foxsat. This is simply done by plugging in your USB drive, selecting the device on a menu that pops up and then within the ‘File Manager' pressing the Green button to copy the file(s). You can also create your own playlists.

Pictures

What better than when you come home from a well earned holiday than to show your holiday snaps on your 37" LCD TV? That is exactly what the Foxsat can do. Again by using a USB stick you can view all your photos either by manually going through them all or using the slide show feature in the Photo Viewer.

Conclusion

Overall the Foxsat is an essential purchase for anyone who currently has Freesat or doesn't want to pay a monthly fee to Sky for HD and a recorder. Even though the price tag is a bit steep at £300, compared to Sky's packages it'll pay for itself in 6 months. With the added ability to play MP3's, view photos and in the future watch programs from BBC iPlayer, the Foxsat is an attractive product for anyone wanting to record and watch HD TV for free. The amount of interest at this early stage will undoubtedly make Sky a bit wary of Freesat; let's hope some more big channels make the move from Sky to Freesat i.e. Channel 4 HD.

How to Change the Sage VAT Rate

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

From the 1st of December, the VAT rate for businesses is has changed from 17.5% to 15%. Sage have published a rather useful PDF which details the changes. This is a simple guide to help you through these changes.

To change the VAT rate from 17.5% to 15% in Sage Instant Accounts:

1. Open Up Sage Accounts.

2. From the Menu, Select "Settings", and then "Configuration"

3. In the Configuration menu, select the "Tax Codes Tab" and then Select T1 (or your standard Tax Code), and Click "Edit"

4. In the "Rate" box, change this from 17.50 to 15.00 and Click OK.

Your VAT code is now changed - make sure you don't change this before the 1st of December!

Notes:

We have done this guide on Sage Instant v12, whilst the older and newer versions of Sage are very similar there may be small differences - If in doubt, please contact your accountant.

Resolve Awarded Gold

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0200

We are delighted to have been awarded the highest Microsoft Partner Level - Gold Certified Partner. This is the highest level of partnership available with Microsoft, and is only awarded to the very best IT Solution Providers.

Gold Certified Partners represent the highest level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies and have the closest working relationship with Microsoft. As a Gold Certified Partner, we have passed a number of technical exams, and we have a number of Microsoft Certified Professionals working for us. In addition, we must make sure that our customer service and out project delivery is up to scratch.

This puts us in a unique position - we are one of the only IT support providers in Sheffield to have this level of partnership with Microsoft.

Choosing Printers

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

There are so many printers out there – so how do you know which one to choose?

There’s also a lot more to consider than just the cost of the printer alone, such as the cost of consumables for the printer. Here’s some guidance on what to look for when choosing a print device.

Inkjet Printer

Inkjet printers are ideal if you only print small numbers of documents out. They’re generally small and compact and have the advantage of being quiet as well as printing to a high quality. They require no time to warm up meaning you can be printing documents in under a minute. The disadvantages are they can often be expensive to replace consumables and slow compared to higher end printers.

For a small printer, depending on the print quality and if you want it to print to the edges of the page, you’re looking at between £40-100. The consumables are generally between £30-50.

Laser Printer

For people who find they print out lots of documents, such as direct mail outs or information leaflets, a high capacity Laser printer is a more ideal investment for printing.
With prices ranging from £150-£600 (and upwards for bigger models), they are more expensive than inkjets but do a great job printing large of documents, and often the quality of the print is better. While the consumables can be quite expensive it does cost you less per print than a InkJet in the long run.

Printing Costs

Here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with both InkJet and Laser printers.

Printer	Average Colour Pages Per Minute	Average Total Overall Pages	Average Cost of Consumables	Average Cost per Page
InkJet*	18	400	£30	0.075p
Laser**	20	3000	£160	0.053p

*Based on Midrange InkJet Printer HP DeskJet D4260 printing colour only
**Based on Midrange Laser Printer Oki C3200 printing colour only

Multifunction All-In-One

Finally, there’s one other type of printer to consider. They come as either an InkJet or a Laser. Do you find that your office is cluttered by fax machines, scanners, printers and photocopiers? They can take up a lot of space as well as expensive and time consuming to maintain. This is where multifunction devices come into play.

There’s also the advantage of only having to purchase consumables for, and maintain, one device. A good multifunction printer will also have the hardware built in for networking. This makes it easy to setup your printer across a small network. For small capacity printing these devices are ideal. They print invoices and various documents off at a decent quality.

Generally for a decent multifunction device you’re looking at £200-300, which isn’t bank breaking when you take into account the cost of all the separate devices.

What printer do I need?

Well – as with anything in IT – the big question is “what will you use it for?”

When it comes to considering a printer it depends on the amount you print, and if what you print it is black and white (also known as mono) or colour. This will affect the type of printer that you need - while high end Laser printer consumables may seem to cost more, it will cost you less per page than a smaller printer with cheap consumables as you will get more prints.

Put simply – if you only print mono, then buy a mono laser, if you need to print colour occasionally or need to print high-quality photos then buy a colour inkjet, and if you need to print in colour and you need the best quality, or you print lots of documents then buy a colour laser.

If you need to scan, fax or copy then you should also consider a combined printer / scanner / fax copier – also known as a “multi function device”

Hopefully this guide will help you when it comes to the decision of choosing a printer. As always, if you need any help or advice please feel free to give us a call on 0845 8990099.

Legal Obligations under the Companies Act

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Since the start of 2007 there have been a number of amendments to the Companies Act. If you are a limited company (these changes do not apply to sole traders or partnerships) you will need to comply with the new amendments. These changes included the legal requirement for all business e-mails and websites to include:

• Company Registration Number
• Place of registration
• Registered company address

The easiest way of doing this is by way of an e-mail signature, which is then automatically added to all your outgoing e-mail. We have a simple guide on our website for adding signatures to Outlook Express here, as well as Outlook 2003 here.

It is also a good idea to think about a simple disclaimer on the bottom of your e-mail – perhaps something like this, which many companies are now doing:

“This email and its attachments may be confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of "Your Company LTD"
If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone. Please contact the sender if you believe you have received this email in error.”

In addition, if you have a website you will need to include this information on the site. You need to make sure that the information is clear, and in legible characters.

If you have any questions about how to add this information to your e-mails or websites, then please don’t hesitate to give us a ring on 0845 899009 or drop us an e-mail – we would be only too happy to help.

Remote Access

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

What is Remote Access?

Remote access is a method used to access information from one computer from on another computer. This could be, for example, viewing your work e-mails on your home computer, or being able to work from home on important documents.

Remote access can happen anywhere around the world as long as you have access to a computer, an internet connection and the right setup in place.

There are a number of ways that remote access can be achieved. We have briefly outlined 3 methods below. Each method will give you different functionality, and a different result – it all depends on what you wish to do. Each one has their own individual benefit to you and your business.

Web Mail

Essentially, web mail gives you the ability to check your e-mail through the internet. As long as you have internet access, you can check and reply to e-mail.

A good example of this is using Microsoft Exchange Server which comes built in to the Microsoft Small Business Server operating system.

When set up, it works very much like any other web based e-mail such as Hotmail, G-Mail and Yahoo Mail.

VPN

Connecting over a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a method used to gain access to your files and folders from a remote location. It requires you to set up a secure connection from one location to another location over the internet.

A VPN will allow you to access the computer network you are connecting too. Often this is used for home workers, to be able to access all the resources on the network at an office.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop gives a person visual command of a computer i.e. they can see the screen and can take control of their mouse/keyboard.

This is very useful if you need access to a program that only runs on your desktop machine at work. Meaning you can go off site with a laptop and still have full access to your required information and programs.

It is also a great way for company's to diagnose and fix problems remotely, saving the time and expense of having to send an engineer out on site.

If this article hasn't made things clearer, or you would like more information on how to get remote access yourself- simply give us a call on 0845 8990099. We will be happy to give you free advice on what solutions are best for you.

Yet more recognition for Resolve

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0200

As well as being a Microsoft Certified Partner, Resolve IT Solutions in Sheffield is also recognised by Microsoft as having achieved the “Information Worker Solutions” competency to add to our current “Network Infrastructure Solutions” competency.

According the Microsoft, the “Information Worker Solutions competency better equips Resolve to address key customer challenges by helping them develop solutions and deploy services based on the 2007 Microsoft Office System and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.”

What does this mean in English?

Well, simply this - that Microsoft has recognised our skills as a team to deliver solutions for companies based on their best interests. It means that we have passed official Microsoft exams and requirements, designed to test our technical abilities.

It is just part of our ongoing commitment as a team to continue to offer the best IT support to our clients.

If you are looking at installing a new IT system, upgrading your current network, or wanting a different class of IT support, then feel free to give a Microsoft Certified Partner - Resolve IT Solutions a call on 0845 8990099 or by use the contact us form.

Create PDFs easily and for free

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Many people would like to create PDFs for many different reasons - be it to stop someone editing a document proof or just as a professional way to send a document in an e-mail. One of the easiest ways is to use a free program called PDF995. This is a free program, which puts up an advertising screen when it prints – if you want to get rid of this screen, you can buy the software for $9.95.

This program acts like a virtual printer, in the sense that when you’ve finished your document, you go to print (Figure 1) and select the PDF995 as the printer (Figure 2) then press Ok. Once you have done this, PDF995 gets to work into converting your document into a PDF, which you can then save to anywhere on your computer (Figure 3).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

The best thing is, you can use PDF995 with any program that has the functionality to print

To install PDF995 you need to download and install 2 files, they automatically install and do not require any user input.

Click here to download file 1

Click here to download file 2

Resolve IT Solutions is here to help you and your IT needs. If you require any clarification this article, or have any queries about PDF or printer support in Sheffield, simply give us a call on 0845 8990099 or use the Contact Us page to drop us a line.

E-mail Signatures in Outlook 2003

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Fed up of having to write your name in your e-mail every time you send one? There is an easier way, creating a signature saves time and makes all your e-mail footers standard.

Below is an illustrated guide on how to add signatures to your E-mails in Microsoft Outlook 2003.

Select Tools, then Options.

Once in the Options, select the Mail Format tab.

Click on the Signatures button.

Select the New button.

In the Enter a name for your new signature box, give it a meaningful name and then click Next

In the Signature text box, type in what you require your signature to say, then click Finish once you are happy.

Review your signature and then click Ok, if you wish to change what it says simply click the Edit button.

Make sure the Signature for new messages and Signature for replies and forwards drop down menus have the name of your signature, then finally click Ok

As always, Resolve IT Solutions is here to help you with your IT. If you require any clarification on signatures, or have any queries about E-mail support in Sheffield, simply give us a call on 0845 8990099 or use the Contact Us page to drop us a line.

E-mail Signatures in Outlook Express

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Fed up of having to write your name in your e-mail everytime you send one? There is an easier way, creating a signature saves time and makes all your e-mail footers standard.

Below is an illustrated guide on how to add signatures to your E-mails in Microsoft Outlook Express.

Select Tools and then select Options.

Select the Signatures tab.

Click New to create a new signature.

Make sure that Add signature to all outgoing messages is ticked and that Don't add signatures to Replies and Forwards is unticked. Input the text you require into the Edit Signature box, click Apply and then click OK.

Why bother with an IT consultant?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Why bother with an IT consultant?

Simply because they are likely to know more about IT than you do, and they should help you develop your IT in line with your business objectives.

If you get a good IT consultant - like a good accountant or marketing advisor, they can really help you as a business.

Who can be an IT consultant?

The reality is that anyone can call themselves an "IT Consultant". The key to finding out if they are worth listening to is to ask them about their credentials.

What should I look for in an IT consultant?

The two key things to look for are qualifications and experience - the latter is probably more important than the former, as IT moves on quickly, but ideally you will have a good mixture of both.

On the qualifications side, these include a degree in a relevant subject (i.e. computer related), and then membership of a relevant professional body - for example the British Computer Society (BCS). The BCS has a number of different levels of membership, but all require entry exams and anyone who is a member will also need to uphold the code of ethics.

You could also look into the individuals credentials in specific areas. A number of major IT companies now have there own accreditation programme. If, for example, you wanted some advice on a Microsoft Server, then you would look for someone who is a Microsoft Certified Professional.

What about experience?

All the qualifications and accreditations are great, but you also want someone who has recent real-world experience on consulting for clients. Ask to see references or testimonials from clients, as what projects similar to yours the consultants has work on. Ask them what benefits they bought to the businesses they worked with. This will help you get a clear picture of the kind of work they have done, and also how they can help you.

"Free Consultancy?"

Sometimes companies offer "free consultancy". This is often at the start of a relationship but as a sales tool. They will come in, look at the system and then tell you all the things that you need to do (and, inevitably, how much they will charge you for fixing it!). This should really be called a "free quote"!

Independent consultants who charge a fee will be working alongside yourselves and will often be more objective.

About Andrew

Andrew Seaton is an IT Consultant based in Sheffield working for Resolve IT Solutions LTD. He is a Chartered IT Professional (CITP), a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and has an Honours Degree in Computing Networks. In addition to this, he has worked on many IT projects, and regularly advises a variety of clients on the best IT systems for their needs.

He specialises in consultancy to help small and medium sized businesses develop their IT systems in line with their business objectives.

He can be contacted on 0845 8990099 or by the contact us form.

How to secure your wireless network

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Why you should secure your wireless

Wireless networking has become far more popular in recent years. The advantages are clear - it makes surfing the Internet or accessing your network anywhere in your office or home easy. It removes the need for lots of expensive and messy cabling in place, and most laptops now come with wireless built in. Unfortunately security risks have also increased with the expansion of wireless technology.

Unsecured wireless gives hackers an easy time gaining access to your network, from where they can steal passwords, data and even cripple your network. However, most people will simply try to get into your network to use your broadband. If this happens, then not only are they using your bandwidth, but they could be downloading anything (legal or illegal) via your broadband; it is you that ultimately gets the blame for this.

How can you tell if your wireless is secure?

It’s fairly easy to tell if your wireless network is secure and not open to allowing anyone to access it. In the notification area there should be a wireless network icon (figure 1), double clicking on this will bring up a list of wireless networks as well as the one you’re currently connected to, if the one you’re currently connected to says “Unsecured Wireless Network” (figure 2), then your wireless is not secure and you have a security risk on your network.

Figure 1

Figure 2

What’s the best type of wireless security?

The best form of wireless protection is WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) – which protects and encrypts the data and stops anyone getting into your network.

WPA is a passphrase which also locks your wireless network. It can be any word from 8-63 characters long. Ideally your passphrase should be something completely obscure rather than a word found in the dictionary, otherwise it would be quite easy to gain access to your wireless through cracking.

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is another, older type of wireless security which can be effective but is less secure than WPA

How to secure you wireless network

Securing your network is usually done through the web interface on your router or Wireless Access Point. Once you’ve gained access, you can setup one of the encryption types with a strong password/key and then grant access to the required machines.

It is also good practice to take precautionary steps such as:

1. Educate all employees that use the wireless network on wireless security.
2. Secure all wireless devices within the business.
3. Monitor your wireless for breaches and weaknesses.

How can you get wireless?

If you don’t have wireless and would like to have the benefits of wireless, it is fairly easy to setup. You will require a wireless router and wireless cards for the machines you are using to get started. You will also need to configure and secure your wireless router and grant access to the required machines. Depending on how many machines you have, this can take between 2-3 hours to setup.

If this article hasn’t made things clearer, or you would like your own wireless network setup or securing - simply give us a call on 0845 8990099, or head to our contact page. We will be happy to give you free advice on what solutions are best for you as well as how to secure your wireless and keep your network safe and secure.

Protect your data

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

80% of businesses who suffer a significant data loss are out of business within 18 months (Source - London Chamber of Commerce).

What is a backup?

A backup refers to making copies of data, in the event of loss of the original data; you can restore it from a backup copy. Backup systems can contain at least one copy of all worthwhile data, meaning the requirements for data storage are quite large at times.

Why should you back up?

Simply put, your data is the most valuable part of your IT system. Think about your database - what would happen if you lost it? How about your accounts data, or all your excel spreadsheets? Most businesses would struggle, and some would completely grind to a halt. Backups protect you from this. Hardware and software is easy to replace, your data isn't. Backing up is especially important if you have a network server.

What can happen to my data?

There are 5 main causes of data loss:

• Theft - Someone steals your computer or server. The data on there is lost.

• Fire - Unfortunately a reality, and the heat destroys your data.

• Virus - Some viruses target and delete your data

• Hardware Failure - Data is held on a hard drive, which is a mechanical device. these can fail

• User Error - Someone accidentally deletes data or writes over files.

Never store your backups near the original copies. If fire or theft occurs with the original copy then the same can most likely happen to the backup copy.

How can I protect my business?

By putting in place well thought out backup solutions you can minimize the risks and ensure that if the worst happened, all your valuable data is backed up. Your backup solution should take into account a safe and secure storage location for your backup copies, ideally a fireproof safe in a separate location.

How much is my data worth?

A good way of working out how valuable your data is to estimate the length of time it would take to re-create it. How long would it take to have someone re-type all the word documents your company relies on, or how many people would be needed to gather all the information in your database. You will probably see that the cost of your data is huge - in some cases it is priceless.

What Solutions are Available?

There are a number of different media's available for backup, each having different sizes and costs (The bigger the media/device, the greater the cost). Below are the main media's used:

- Tapes
- Optical Discs
- Hard Drives
- Remote Backup (Online)

What solution should I go for?

It depends entirely on your data and the amount of that data. A photographer can have hundreds of gigabytes of data so an online backup solution would be out of the question, as would tape or DVD backups. A business or user with lots of data would require a backup solution which uses external USB Hard Drives.

An online solution is ideal for users with lots of office documents as they small sized and are automatically backed up as well as being quick and easy to restore if data loss happens.

Depending on how quickly you would like your server restored in the event of damage which can’t be repaired also adds another equation into your backup solution. If you take regular backups of your entire server, the server information can be restored to a new server in around a day. If you had to reinstall a server from scratch it can take anywhere between a few days to a fortnight (depending on server size) which is costly and leaves you without your server.

How much will it cost?

Every business is different, and so systems vary. It all depends on how much data you have, and how frequently you want it backed up, there's no point in having a large backup system if you've only got a small amount of data to backup as it will be a costly system. A very small business may be able to have a good backup system from around £100, whereas one with a server and 5 employees may need to spend £1000. However, to keep this is perspective you must remember the value of your data.

How do I know which solution is best for me?

If this article hasn't made things clearer, simply give us a call on 0845 8990099, or head to our contact page, and we will give you free advice on what backup solutions are the best for you.

Looking for IT Support in Rotherham?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Resolve IT Solutions offers network installation and IT support contracts for businesses, big or small in Rotherham. Let us help you feel confident in your IT support.

At Resolve we believe that the key to delivering successful IT is all about building relationships. All of our existing clients will tell you how we deliver what we promise, on time, on budget and then go the extra mile to support them.

We are not interested in simply selling boxes, or installing a network in your office and then asking for the cheque, we are all about the long-term. If you are looking for high quality IT Support in Rotherham then remember - we are here to look after you. And because we are Microsoft Small Business Specialist and a Microsoft Certified Partner, we have all the technical skills necessary to ensure you have the best quality IT support.

We would love to come out to your offices, meet you, and chat about how we can best support you. We will take a good look at your current IT system and give you honest, clear advice. Why not give us a ring on 0845 899 00 99, or head to our contact page, to arrange a free meeting?

Ask Ben - Internet Explorer 7 crashing

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Hi Ben,

Internet Explorer 7 has automatically installed on the majority of our School machines. Most work fine but there are 5 or 6 computers which freeze up when launching IE7. For now we have just uninstalled IE7 and gone back to version 6, but we like the new features available in 7 and we would prefer to keep up to date on the latest versions.

James Wood
Sheffield

Hello James,

I have seen this happen many times and it has taken me ages to work out the problem. This is because there are no signs as to why it is crashing and nothing common between the machines that do crash, however, a possible solution is at hand!

It seems to me that it isn’t actually Internet Explorer 7 that is causing you problems, it is software that is an ‘add-on’ for IE6, and is incompatible with IE7. The way to verify this is by going to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).

If it now loads correctly, it is defiantly an add on which is causing the fuss.

On the now working Internet Explorer, press alt to show the tool bar. Click Tools > Internet Options. Go to the programs tab and click Manage Add-ons.

Disable all of the add-ons and close Internet Explorer. Re-open IE using the normal method (not the no add-ons version).

Now, re-enable a few add-ons and test again. If it doesn’t work, it was one of those add-ons you enabled so try different combinations until you can narrow it down to one. If it works, enable some more until you find the culprit. Using this method you should be able to find out which one is causing IE to crash. When you find it, leave it disabled and enable all the others.

Regards,
Ben.

Resolve Becomes Microsoft Certified Partner

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Resolve IT Solutions from Sheffield are delighted to announce that we have now not only become a "Microsoft Certified Partner", but we have also achieved the "Networking Infrastructure Solutions" competency.

According to Microsoft "The Networking Infrastructure Solutions Competency is for technology partners who have proven their proficiency in implementing solutions based on Microsoft Windows Server 2000 or Windows Server 2003 Operating Systems, or Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 and Small Business Server 2003."

What does this mean in English?

Well, simply this - that Microsoft have recognised our skills as a team to deliver solutions for companies. It means that we have passed official exams, designed to test our technical abilities.

It is just part of our ongoing commitment as a team to continue to offer the best IT support to our clients.

If you are looking at installing a new IT system, upgrading your current network, or wanting a different class of IT support, then feel free to give the Microsoft Certified Partner - Resolve IT Solutions a call on 0845 8990099 or by use the contact us form.

Ask Ben - Missing Start Menu Shortcuts

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Hello Ben,

I am an IT Co-ordinator for a school in Nottingham. Today I have installed some network software in our IT suite but none of the pupils can access it! I installed the software logged in as administrator, and as administrator the software is accessible through the start menu. When logged on as a pupil the shortcuts are gone. Please help.

Wendy McLeet, Nottingham.

Dear Wendy,

This usually occurs when the software you are installing was intended to be used on a stand-alone computer, with only a single login.

To fix this problem in Windows Vista, log in as administrator and navigate to C:\Users. In here you should see all the different names that have logged into this computer. Find the ‘Administrator' folder and double click this, then double click "Start Menu". Find the shortcut to the program you want and copy it (right click, copy). Now navigate back to C:\Users and double click the ‘All Users' folder, then double click "Start Menu". Paste the new shortcut here (Right click, paste).

To fix this problem in Windows XP/2000, log in as administrator and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings. In here you should see all the different names that have logged into this computer. Find the ‘Administrator' folder and double click this, then double click "Start Menu". Find the shortcut to the program you want and copy it (right click, copy). Now navigate back to C:\Documents and Settings and double click the ‘All Users' folder, then double click "Start Menu". Paste the new shortcut here (Right click, paste).

Now when you log in as a pupil or anyone else for that matter, they should find the shortcut is now on the start menu.

Regards,

Ben.

Resolve Wins Business Award

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

We are proud to announce that Resolve IT Solutions very own Andrew Seaton is the winner of the "Creating a Revolutionary Business" award 2007, having beat 12 other Sheffield business owners to the award.

The award was presented to Andrew as part of a course at the Sheffield Technology Parks. The prize went to the business that had achieved the most in transforming their sales processes and delivered real improved results.

Andrew said "I am very proud to have won the award - it is nice to get recognition that what we do here at Resolve is revolutionary. We will continue to improve all that we do here, whilst still offering "revolutionary" IT support"

For more information, you can read the Sheffield Star article here, and then Sheffield Telepgraph article here.

Ask Ben - Online forms not working?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Dear Ben,

When I go to the website http://www.*******.org.uk and try to fill in a form with some data, the actual form will not load! Internet Explorer says the page has fully loaded but there is a little triangle with an exclamation point in the bottom left corner. I have tried it on another machine and it works fine. Can you help?

Mary Robinson, Barnsley.

Dear Mary,

This is one of the more common questions I am asked and, thankfully, has an easy solution. The form you speak of sounds like it uses JavaScript. Java is a type of language used for many things on the internet from forms to games. Some years ago the Java plug-in used to be installed with Windows and would work straight away, however Microsoft and Sun Microsystems (the company who made the Java plug-in) have fallen out, so now you must download it separately.

Simply go to http://www.java.com/ and click ‘free Java download' on the top left, and then follow the instructions. After the installation your forms (and games) should work correctly!

Regards,

Ben.

Ask Ben - Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc)

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Dear Ben,

I use Outlook Express and I would like to send out a mass e-mail, but I would not like any of the recipients to see who the other recipients are. I have heard I need to use ‘BCC' but I don't know what it is and how to find it.

Jon Rhodes, Sheffield.

Dear Jon,

Outlook Express has the ability to send a Bcc (Blind carbon copy); however it needs to be enabled.

Open up Outlook Express and start a new e-mail. Open the top of the message click ‘view', then click on ‘all headers'.

A Bcc box should now be seen below the Cc box. Enter your addresses in here and they will all be kept private.

After sending the message, the only way you will be able to see who you sent the message to is to go to your sent items, right click on your message and go to properties, then finally click details.

To add Bcc in Microsoft Outlook (which usually comes with MS Office) open Outlook and start a new message. Somewhere along the top you will see ‘options'. Click the small black arrow to the right of this and click Bcc.

Regards,

Ben.

Ask Ben - Your Laptop on the Net - both at School and at Home?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Dear Ben,

My laptop works fine at home, but does not at school. How do I use my Laptop on the Internet, both at School and at Home?

John Owen
Sheffield

Dear John

This is a question we are frequently asked. In schools the broadband connection goes via a separate server, called a proxy server, which filters out unsuitable content. Unfortunately, when you get home, the internet will not work properly unless the proxy server is de-selected.

This means changing the settings every time you go home or to school – an extra hassle you can probably do without.

A neat way to speed this up is to use a proxy switcher. This is a free piece of software – available for download from our website – which quickly allows you to switch between home and school settings.

The proxy switcher does require an initial set up – have a word with your IT technician – but once it is up and running life should be made much easier.

Network Storage

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Often at Resolve IT Solutions our clients ask about storage across a small business network. Two popular recommendations suiting different needs are: A File Server or a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) device.

A server is a computer which usually controls networks, ranging from giving out IP addresses to handling e-mail. Unlike your average PC, it has special features and runs a special version of Windows. The server can have multiple hard disks set into a RAID array for data security.

A Network-Attached Storage device is a storage area which is accessible through a network. It can be plugged straight into a router/switch via a cable and can be configured through a web interface, accessed by typing in its IP address.

Some NAS devices have multiple hard disks, often set in a RAID array.

To break things down, let's look at the advantages, disadvantages and approx costs of each.

Server

Advantages

Can be upgraded easily
Has other functions such as handling internal e-mail, users etc
Has extra features such as deploying software over a network and managing network software

Disadvantages

Expensive
Complex to configure

Costs

Depending on what features you want, the average server would cost around £2000.

NAS

Advantages

Fairly cheap
Plugs straight into the network
Easily configurable
Some come with a RAID-1 configuration, meaning that all data is mirrored onto another disk, so if one fails the data is unharmed. (Faulty disk WILL need replacing)

Disadvantages

Cannot be upgraded
Too much simultaneous access can cause bottlenecking and slow access down
Not as suitable for large networks if user access is going to be high

Costs

Approx £200.

For a small network needing nothing but storage, a NAS device is highly recommended due to its convenience and price, but for a larger network or a network needing additional feature such as e-mail management, a server is recommended.

If you need any more information, give Resolve IT Solutions a call on 0845 899 0099, or get in touch by using the contact us form

Changing Incoming E-mail Message Size in SBS 2003 and Exchange 2003

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0200

When Exchange is set up, it automatically sets size limits for your incoming and outgoing e-mails.

This may not be suitable for you, if you often send or receive messages with large attachments you'll probably want to change the allocated sizes.

Thankfully it's quite simple.

On your server, open up Exchange System Manager from Start > Programs > Microsoft Exchange > System Manager.

Expand Global Settings, Right click on Message Delivery and select Properties.

Click on the default tab and change the limits or remove them altogether.

This method is for changing the limits on all mailboxes, there are other methods to change individual mailboxes if needed.

Changing Mailbox Size in SBS 2003 and Exchange 2003

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0200

The system for handling e-mails in SBS (Exchange) sets a default for the size of individual mailboxes.

By default, each mailbox is 200MB in size, but will issues warnings at 175MB.

For most organisations this is too small - so in this article we show you how to increase this size.

Open up the Server Management Console, then expand the Exchange Server Settings (usually named "Your Organisation - Exchange"). Then browse to the Servers and then "Your Server", then to the First Storage Group, and then right click -> properties on the Mail Box Store.

This then brings up the properties for the Mailbox Store. You want to click on the "Limits" Tab.

You will notice that you have the limits now displayed in KB - change the limits to your desired size, and click OK.

A few things to note

Although this example is done in SBS, in Exchange 2003, you just need to open up the Exchange System Manager and then browse to the exchange server as above.

This sets the default limit on the exchange mailboxes; you can manually edit the size of individual mailboxes in Active Directory. Right click on a user, properties and then select the "Exchange General" tab, and click on "Storage Limits"

Computer Hardware?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0200

What is hardware? A computer breaks down into 2 parts; hardware and software. Software is the application side (Microsoft Word, Excel, etc) and hardware is the physical side (monitors, keyboards, hard drives, etc).

Choosing hardware can be a difficult task. If you choose the wrong hardware you run the risk of your personal computer under performing and losing efficiency. You need to be sure that your computer peripherals work with the hardware you have and the services you require are also supported by that same hardware. It may all start to seem a bit complicated.

That’s were computer resellers come in, you tell them what you need your computer to do and they’ll give you a complete working system, it’s as simple as that.

What you may not know though is that some resellers are tied down to one specific supplier of computers; meaning that you don’t get the best value for your money. What can you do? You need to be sure that your reseller has your best interests in mind.

This is were Resolve comes in …

Resolve IT Solutions aren’t tied down to one specific supplier. We aren’t biased towards specific computer peripheral or hardware types. We search all computer suppliers for price competitive and quality hardware. What’s more, Resolve has a number of different business accounts with major suppliers. Meaning that we get the best value for money, and more importantly, we can pass these savings onto you.

Resolve IT Solutions offer computer hardware, computer peripheral and personal computer specification in Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley and over South Yorkshire. For a free consultation and to discuss further, please phone 0845 8990099.

A Successful IT Business System

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0200

What is an IT Business System?

An IT business system consists of two main features. Firstly, it is the list of business requirements; secondly, it is the planning, implementation and support of the IT system to achieve these requirements.

It determines what type of IT equipment and strategy you require. A well planned and thought-out IT business system will improve a company's productivity and ultimately increase the number of potential customers and more importantly profit.

How do we create an IT Business System?

The first stage is to get to know you and your company. We then ascertain your business objectives, and then plan an IT system around these objectives. This means that you get the business benefits from the IT system.

Here at Resolve IT Solutions we won't just sell you a box, we will give you the help you require for your IT Systems with professional planning, implementation and continued support for your IT infrastructure.

Resolve IT Solutions strives to plan and create a strategy for an IT business system around your company's vision and mission. We also take into consideration any goals you may have and produce a specification around all these factors. Once your IT business system is implemented we don't stop there, we can also provide you with the continued support your company requires for peace of mind and assurance that your system will continue to work and provide you with helpful advice on any changes or updates you may require.

How does an IT Business System help my company?

Ultimately, it will help you achieve any long term goals you have for your business a lot quicker, by fully utilising technology. It gives you a future-proof plan to make sure you are always up-to date with the changing IT industry. The strategy Resolve IT Solutions provides you will help you decide how to roll out any changes you may need for your IT infrastructure in the future.

Resolve IT Solutions offer Business Systems and IT Strategy and Planning in Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley and over South Yorkshire. For a free consultation and to discuss further, please call 0845 8990099, or you can get in touch by using the contact us form

Resolve Becomes an AVG Reseller

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0200

After taking a good, long, hard look at the state of the Anti-virus market, Resolve are proud to announce that we have become an AVG Reseller.

AVG are probably best known for there "AVG free" versions of antivirus software (Available for free here). This is given away free for private use for home, but for business, schools, colleges and not-for-profit organisations, they have to buy a commercial version of AVG.

Why AVG?

Did we just close our eyes and pick an Antivirus solution, or perhaps we resell the one that is the most expensive?

Well - no, none of these reasons! We are happy to recommend AVG for 3 main reasons:

It only has a small impact on your system speed - because, unlike some other antivirus products, it only needs a small amount of your system memory, it doesn't slow your system down noticeably.

It is cost effective - It is one of the best value solutions on the market, without compromising on quality.

The technical support is good - with fast e-mail support being included in the price.

The Products

AVG has products from anti-virus for one computer, all the way to real-time scanning on exchange, and managed anti virus across an entire organisation, meaning that whatever your anti-virus requirements, AVG will have a product to fit your needs.

Our Offer

Because we are a reseller, we can get AVG products at discounted prices direct from AVG, which means that we can pass the savings onto you - feel free to ring one of the team on 0845 8990099 or simply contact us for a quote. We would be happy to advise on the best software for your requirements.

Looking for Discounted AVG?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0200

We can get All AVG products cheaper than direct from AVG!

Because we are a reseller, we can get AVG products at discounted prices direct from AVG, which means that we can pass the savings onto you – feel free to ring one of the team on 0845 8990099 or simply contact us for a quote. We would be happy to advise on the best software for your requirements.

Our website - Discount AVG allows you to buy online.

From Anti-Virus to real-time scanning of exchange mailboxes, we will pass the savings onto you. This means that you can get AVG Anti Virus Cheap from us here at Resolve IT Solutions.

Choosing an IT Consultant

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0200

What is an IT Consultant ?

Put simply an "IT consultant is someone that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives.

In addition to providing advice, IT consultants often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf."

Notice the key here - they advise businesses on how to meet their business objectives using IT - not the other way around.

What should I look for?

First and foremost, ask for references, and check these - if the consultancy firm is nervous about giving references then be very cautious. You want to work with someone who has delivered for other clients.

Ask them about there personal credentials - this may be experience or it can be academic - although ideally they will have a good academic or professional background, backed up with good experience. Also ask them about a project or client that they have recently worked with and what effect they had on the business.

They should ask you a number of questions about your current systems, and what you want to achieve - these should be linked to business objectives, which are met through IT. Be wary of anyone who jumps straight into a solution or a product without first taking the time to understand what you want to achieve. If they fail to understand your needs and requirements properly, then it is likely that the solution provided will fall short of what you require.

By it's very nature, IT is a complex world, but a good consultant should be able to "interpret" for you from the technical. They should explain things clearly - if they try and "blind you with science" or fail to explain clear benefits and then ask them to explain in English! Be very cautious about consultants who are really just engineers and can only speak "techno geek".

Be clear and about what you expect to achieve - be this a reduction in costs, improved reliability and efficiency, the ability to have remote workers. Make sure that the proposed solution will deliver the benefits you require.

Be wary of salesmen that say they are consultants - who will just put in the most expensive solution, or the one that makes the highest margin. Remember the definition of a consultant? Someone who "delivers business objectives, through IT". The last thing you want is someone putting in IT for IT's sake - you may not need the most expensive solution, or the latest new system. What you want is a solution that delivers the business objectives and brings the best Return On Investment.

Often, the consultant will provide a written solution, or a list of recommendations. Read this carefully, and ask them questions like - what are the hidden costs? What happens if there is a problem? If the project over-runs, what happens? Look for someone who will take responsibility, and gives you straight answers - rather than someone who dodges issues.

Resolve IT Solutions are IT consultants who are based in Sheffield. We offer IT consultancy to businesses within the South Yorkshire region - including Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. With a proven track record of satisfied clients, a large number of successful projects, and highly qualified consultants. We would love to talk to you about how we can help you achieve your business objectives by using IT. Feel free to call us on 0845 8990099 for an initial, free consultation.

Sharing Contacts in Outlook

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Sharing Contacts in Outlook

One of the questions we get asked all the time is how to share contacts in Microsoft Outlook.

If you have a small office, and you want to have one address book for all your contacts (often called a "global" address book) then what options do you have?

Well- the Microsoft solution is to use a full email server system - this is called Exchange. However, this is an expensive solution and whilst being powerful, and fully featured (it does an awful lot more than just contact sharing), is often an overkill to simply share contacts.

The good news for businesses that there are other options - if you have a Small Business Server 2003, then Exchange 2003 is built-in and you will just need to configure it.

However, if you don't have a server at all - or don't want to invest in one then you can still share contacts. There are a number of 3rd party applications which allow you to share the contacts on a Peer-to-Peer basis (i.e. without a dedicated server). One particular system we installed for a client was "OLFolders", this cost them £150 for a 3 person network, and they can now share contacts to their hearts content - another added bonus was the fact that they also have a shared calendar, which enables them to easily see things like holidays, company events and jobs on one central calendar which they can all access.

If you are looking to improve business efficiency with IT - why not give us a ring?

Resolve Visits Beck Primary

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Following our announcement of the winners of our Spring 2007 Schools Competition Resolve went "on the road" to present Beck Primary with their new laptop.

Andrew Seaton from Resolve presenting Peter Harwick, Head of Beck Primary School with his schools new laptop.

The laptop was part of a competition open to all primary schools in South Yorkshire. It means that we, as a company, could give back to the community in a practical and focused way. Peter Hardwick said that he was "delighted" with the brand new Acer laptop. We are sure that the school will benefit from it in the years to come.

Thank you to all who entered, be sure to read future Resolve IT Schools Newsletters to find out about future competitions that run.

To find out about the services Resolve can offer to your school please contact us.

Maintaining Your Network Server

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

If your business or school has a network, chances are you are using a server. If you are using a server you might know that it is one of the most important parts of your network. The server controls pretty much everything and if it stops functioning, your network will probably grind to a halt.

Naturally, the important things need looking after, hackers and such are always finding new ways to get into our servers and cause havoc, but not to worry because Microsoft and other companies are working against the bad guys to keep you protected, but they can't do it by themselves! Let's have a look what you can do.

Microsoft Updates

The come straight from the top. The busy guys at Microsoft are always releasing updates for your Operating Systems to patch up holes where the bad stuff might get in. However, someone needs to be there to install the updates at a convenient time. When was the last time you did it? It is true that most servers don't get looked at after the initial installation, the updates are never installed, and then..... well, use your imagination. Stay updated, stay safe.

Stay Protected

As mentioned in a previous article, you should keep your computers protected against Viruses, Hackers and Spyware. This INCLUDES the server! Check out the article Four Steps to Windows Security to read up on some good guidelines.

Backing Up

If you want to lose all your data and documents you need for that important meeting tomorrow, don't read past here. For those who aren't silly, read ahead.

Also mentioned in Why Should I Backup? - backing up is very important. Nobody wants to lose all their hard work! Keep it backed up!

Oh, and make sure that you check your backups - just because you put a tape in, doesn't mean that it is being backed up. Make sure that you check your server log files, and occasionally run a test restore to make sure that the data really is being backed up.

Other Updates

Windows is not the only thing that needs updating. You should keep an eye on all the programs installed on your server. Updates usually mean better features and better security. Some upgrades maybe cost money, some are free but everything gets outdated sooner or later.

At Resolve IT Solutions we are professionals who know servers inside and out. We know what you need and when, and all the above could be done by us! If you would like to discuss what we could offer you, please call us on 0845 8990099 to speak to one of our team.

Win a FREE Laptop

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The FREE Laptop competition has now closed .... but we are please to announce the winners :

Click Here to View the Results

Microsoft AER

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

What does being a Microsoft AER mean?

Being a Microsoft AER means that Resolve IT Solutions can sell Microsoft Software at academic prices to schools and other educating establishments. This means we can provide you with discounts on our already excellent prices!

Microsoft Authorised Education Resellers must pass an advanced exam and show great knowledge about the different educational licenses.

So how does this benefit me?

Well, if you are a school it will benefit you by saving you money! From Office to Vista, if you order from us, you will get excellent prices because here at Resolve we pass the savings on to you.

What if I am a new/existing customer to you?

Whether old or new, these prices apply to everyone (as long as you are a school).

Why would you want to provide your school with expensive software when you can get exactly the same software for cheaper? It makes sense to us!

For more information, give one of the team a ring on 0845 8990099.

The 4 Steps to Windows Security

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The 4 Steps to Windows Security

Every user has had problems with it in the past, one minute you are downloading a file, the next you locked out of many of the Windows functions. You decide to restart your computer in case it is a ‘one off' but now you can't log in! This is one of the many things a virus can do to your computer and is always unwelcome. Hopefully by reading this article you can prevent this from happening again in the future and keep your data safe.

Step 1 - Antivirus

This is probably the most important as it blocks the most common of problems. In general, a virus is a piece of software written to cause you problems ranging from disabling you from changing your background, to opening ports on your computer to allow hackers in. Viruses are all over the internet and ready to get you, but luckily many companies are prepared to protect you, some are even free! Here are a few suggestions...

AVG (Anti-Virus Guard)

AVG was created by Grisoft in 1991 and has since become one of the best AV's available. They offer a free Anti-Virus for home users which is easy to use and gives excellent protection against old and new threats. It also automatically updates itself when any new threats are discovered, keeping you even safer.

The free version can be downloaded here.

There is also a business version of AVG available with a 10% discount here.

Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 2007

Symantec has established itself in the market as one of the larger companies and make lots of different kinds of security software. Its Anti-Virus is a favourite amongst businesses and home users alike. It immediately detects if any viruses or spyware (see below) have worked their way onto the computer and quarantines them, making them harmless. The only downfall to this is that it costs money and some users have reported that the software can make their PC significantly slower.

Want to know more? Then have a look here.

Sophos Anti-Virus

Sophos is a favourite for schools. It provides good protection and minimal system requirements. Like the others, it automatically updates to keep you protected. The difference between this AV and most is that it can be controlled from a server. E.g. you can manually tell the program to update itself from the other side of the building using the Enterprise Manager. It has won many awards for being as reliable as it is.

Interested? click here.

Of course this is only a few, there are many more! Some good, some bad, just make sure you find out which is the right one for you before making those impulse purchases.

Step 2 - Firewall

The firewall is an extra piece of security. It can either be a piece of software or build into a piece of hardware (E.g. Routers). Firewalls prevent unwanted information passing through the computers ports. First off let's explain ports. Ports are gateways between your computer and the internet/network. They act as little doorways, many doorways... in fact over 60,000 doorways! Many of these ports are not used at all and viruses and hackers attempt to open them so they can have access to your computer and all your precious documents. This is where the firewalls come in. They block all the ports that you don't use, and only allow the information you want. Internet Explorer uses port 80, firewalls let information in and out of the port while keeping the others blocked. They can be configured to let software through other ports as well. Let's looks at what's on the market.

Windows Firewall

The freebie! Windows firewall is bundled in with Windows XP and higher. It has a nice, easy to use interface but can sometimes cause problems. It is, however, evolving and the problems are dying out. When a new program attempts to open a port, this firewall ASKS you if you want to allow it or block it. Not bad at all for the price.

Check it out here.

Symantec Norton Internet Security

Another one from Symantec. Norton Internet Security (NIS) works similarly to Windows Firewall but includes a bit extra, including ‘Root kit Protection' which finds hidden threats within the operating system, as well as blocking fraudulent websites.

Have a look here.

Hardware Firewalls

Most routers nowadays include a firewall in the unit. It mostly works in the same way as the software versions. To change any settings you are required to log into the router and access interfaces where you can choose the ports to open. The biggest difference is that this firewall only blocks the information coming into the computer, not the information you're giving out.

Once again this is only a small number of the available firewalls out there. There are many more for you to search through before choosing.

Step 3 - Spyware

Spyware could be classed as a virus, except it is less malicious, but that doesn't mean it isn't bad for you and your computer. Spyware is software which ‘watches' what you do. It looks at the websites you look at and usually throws lots of advertisements at you. In some cases it even reports what you do back to its creator. Let's look at what we can do to stop it.

Spybot - Search & Destroy

It's free and probably the best. Designed to protect your privacy, this software scans as deep as possible into the depths of your computer and finds all the nasty spyware hiding there. On some occasions removing the spyware will prevent a program from working correctly, but only the program the spyware was bundled with.

For more information have a look here.

Windows Defender

Windows Defender is an alternative to Spybot S&D and pretty much does the same thing. It is also free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Website. It partners up with Internet Explorer and protects you in real time, so as soon as there is a problem, Defender is ready to fix it.

Have a look here for more information.

Step 4 - Windows Updates

Last but not at all least. It is highly recommended that you keep your edition of Windows updated using Windows Update. These updates come directly from Microsoft and are vital to keep your PC safe.

The can be found here.

Using the tips given in this article, Resolve IT Solutions hopes you can keep yourself free of internet threats and browse safely.

Microsoft Small Business Specialists

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0100

What is a Microsoft Small Business Specialist?

Small Business Specialists are IT consultants that have demonstrated they understand and can deal with the needs of UK small businesses. They have passed an advanced technical exam and have access to support, training and resources from Microsoft. They can help you maximize the return on your IT investment - and, of course, ensure you only invest in IT when it is the right thing to do.

By and large, Microsoft's Small Business Specialists are small companies themselves. That means they understand the pressures you face when running a small business.

You can identify a Small Business Specialist by looking for the logo.

Are Resolve IT Solutions Microsoft Small Business Specialists?

Yes - we are! But more than passing the exams, and assessments to earn the Logo, we have the advantage of having real world experience.

Resolve has a proven track record of specifying, installing and maintaining servers for small businesses. We have testimonials from many happy customers who have been delighted with the way that we at Resolve have handled a server upgrade, a brand new network, or continue to maintain there network and servers - in fact many of our clients are now our best adverts!

How Resolve help me?

Well, chances are you will be looking for a company to look after or upgrade your current network - we can come and talk to you.

Because we are a Small Business Specialist, you can be confident you are dealing with a company that knows how to make IT work for smaller companies.

We can help you maximize the return on your IT investment - and, of course, ensure you only invest in IT when it is the right thing to do.

To put it simply - we can give you simple, impartial advice. Hassle-Free and in English, rather than Geek!

Give one of our team a ring on 0845 8990099.

Windows Vista

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:00:00 +0200

What is Vista?
Vista is the next version of Microsoft Windows, which is an operating system that runs on your PC.

There have been a number of Microsoft operating systems, but most recently there have been Windows 95, then 98, then ME, then 2000 then XP, which is the latest and most up-to date.

What will be different?
Quite a lot, from the look and the feel of the windows, icons and menus, all the way through to searching. There have also been significant changes "below the surface", including improvements in the security, graphics, and applications.

There will be a new version of internet explorer included, and also the latest version of windows media player, along with updated mail and parental controls.

When will it be released?
It is due for release in the UK in February 2007.

What will this mean?
Well, from 2007 any PC you buy will more than likely ship with Vista on, some may also have XP as an option, but very soon Vista will become the standard, as XP is now.

How much will it cost?
A business version of vista is likely to cost about £160, with upgrades from 2000 or XP being less.

What are the business implications?
As with XP, it is expected that Vista will not be "rolled out" into businesses on a large scale until at lease 6 months have passed. This will give Microsoft time to "patch" and make any fixes that they require.

Vista will be compatible with Windows Server 2003, and Small Business Server (SBS), so you should be able to run XP and Vista on the same network quite happily, much like you can run Windows 2000 and XP now.

Also, remember that devices will require new vista drivers to run. That means that your scanner, printer, modem and any other device you connect will need new drivers. Most manufacturers already have compatible drivers, and Microsoft also has it's own drivers, but older devices may not be compatible.

Should We Upgrade Right Away?
As with any new software, we would recommend you wait between 6-12 months to let any bugs or problems be "ironed out". If you really need the new features, then you may want to upgrade right away, but for the majority of businesses, we would recommend waiting. Even then, you will need to plan carefully to ensure that all your devices are compatible with Vista.

Based in Sheffield, Resolve IT Solutions are specialists in the specification, installation and support of IT systems . If you would like to discuss some of the installation and upgrade options that we can offer your business, please call us on 0845 8990099 to speak to one of our team.

Wireless Network Security

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0200

At Resolve Solutions, we find many small and medium sized businesses' coming to us for advice, and commonly wireless networks are a talking point.

"Is it risky for my business to use wireless networking?"

"What legal obligations does my enterprise need to observe if I want to use a wireless network?"

Above are just two of a host of common "wireless network" queries, and you'd be surprised how many people are asking as an afterthought!

So, as a business or enterprise that needs the flexibility of workspace that wireless networking can offer what are the risks involved, and what is considered best industry practice?

Before things get too technical, it's worth mentioning two things:

Just as there is "more than one way to skin a cat" so also there are a few ways of securing a wireless network, and the best way for you, depends entirely on your needs.
If your business or enterprise deals with "sensitive data" then the 7^th rule of the Data Protection act of 1998 needs consideration- Sensitive data must be "secured against accidental loss, destruction or damage and against unauthorized or unlawful processing"

Having established the above, we've put together a short guide, aimed to inform you of the three main ways Resolve Solutions enforces wireless security.

Encrypt your Wireless

Whenever you setup a wireless network there are a few main components, a wireless access point (which can also be integrated into a router) and the wireless network card for each PC connecting wirelessly.

The access point is the master of the wireless network; this device is used to control network communication and configuration. These access points usually have a web interface that can be "dialled into" from your PC for initial set up.

Through this interface you can set up a "wireless encryption key" which is a very basic, but nonetheless robust, security method. A short string of data is entered in the access point as the master key, with each computer wishing to connect, also needing the same digits, to authenticate access.

Needless to say, if someone sees your wireless network, they will still need this string of data to connect to your wireless network. The current level of WEP Key security (128 bit) provides a good level of protection, but it should be noted that it is still possible to "break" the key with high-end utilities. WPA provides a much better level of security, and should be used if available.

SSID Network Disguise

Every wireless network has a "name" this is set to whatever you wish, it might be your business name, or it could be the name of a network in one of your business' rooms. This SSID name can be set to be hidden, or "not broadcast" in technical terms, and in this way will prevent unauthorized access as people won't be able to see the network/know it even exists. When you hide your SSID, it's important that all the computers you are going to wish to connect to it are configured to connect to the name automatically, as searching for it won't work!

Another option in this security methodology is the complete opposite to hiding your SSID name, it to "fake" a large number of instances of wireless networks, effectively spamming the airwaves, so any intruder has to test a huge number of networks to find a legitimate one.

Although this seems like quite an effective security method, for business' transmitting data it is actually the least secure. Whilst the name of the wireless network access point is hidden, traffic remains flowing to and from the access point and freely available utilities will quickly be able to read this information flying around, and reveal an access points SSID.

MAC Address Filtration

The final security technique that should be discussed is MAC Address filtration. On each and every wireless (and wired for that matter) network card, a unique identifier exists, this being the MAC address. This MAC address is sent with each data package to and from the wireless access point, it allows the hardware to work with the software to ensure that data is delivered correctly.

The router/access point can be configured very easily to reject any contact from unknown MAC Address. A simple list of address (of all your wireless devices) can be added to the router memory upon installation, and further device address can be added when and if needed.

The disadvantage of this approach is that if a new computer or laptop needs access, the address has to be entered manually in the router or access point.

Summary

If all of the above is too much for you to take in, allow me to simplify it:

Encrypt your wireless - Your network is like a door, and each person wanting to use the door needs a key to open it; however its possible for a thief to steal a key from a genuine user and gain access.

SSID Network Disguise - Again your network is a door, but its camouflaged into the brickwork so no one can see it, except those who have been told where it is. However it is possible for someone to watch people entering and leaving the door and easily work out where it is.

MAC Filtration - This time the door can be seen and no key is needed, but much like a VIP queue, if your names not on the list, you're not coming in!

In conclusion, no one of these methods is the best, but by using a mixture of these techniques, you will be able to do a much better job at securing any wireless network from potential attacks.

We hope that this guide has been helpful and informative.

One of the services we offer at Resolve IT Solutions is wireless network installation and security configuration for business' and schools.

If we can help you in anyway, be that with a new installation, the upgrade/expansion of an existing network, or consultation regarding security matters, please call us on 08458990099 to speak to one of the team.

Interactive Whiteboards

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0200

Don't miss out on possibly one of the most popular tools available in the classroom today. Quickly integrate ICT into all areas of the curriculum, and see amazing results.

Resolve IT Solutions works in partnership with a Doncaster based company, Smartmove, to offer superb installation of and training on interactive whiteboards.

Not Sure?

"Interactive whiteboards create a range of learning opportunities for both students and teachers. Studies have found them to be highly motivating, and learner-centred when integrated innovatively. They offer a powerful facility for integrating media elements into teaching to enhance content and support collaborative learning."

Taken from the "Interactive Whiteboards in Education" paper by Stephen Brown (TechLearn) Read PDF Now

How Can We Help

Resolve IT Solutions, working alongside Smartmove, will give you all the technical and educational help you require when looking at smart boards. On top of that, we will make sure that your current ICT Network and Infrastructure will be able to fully support whiteboards by offering you a free network audit.

Contact Us

So for Whiteboards in Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley and over South Yorkshire please give one of our team a ring on 0845 899 00 99 for a chat, or to setup a free meeting where we can advise and answer all your questions on interactive whiteboards.

Choosing Your IT Supplier

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0200

One of the questions that many people ask is "How Do I Choose My Supplier?". This is a very good question to ask, as IT will be a key part to any business. There is so much choice out there, from large, national IT companies to small independent ones and everything in between. Here are a few tips you might like to consider.

Get an Initial Assessment
Contact a number of suppliers direct and ask them to come out and spend some time with you assessing your needs. Even if you have heard of them it will give you a chance for you to meet them, and anyway they may suggest some things that you hadn't thought of. This should only take a few hours and the supplier should be happy to come to you. Be wary of companies who charge for this, and also those who won't come out to see you.

Get References
Any company that is worth its salt will have references, and will be more than willing to give them to you. Try and ask for references from similar jobs to yours - it's no point getting a reference off a home user in London if you require a 30 user network installation in Sheffield! Check the references, and ask not just about the cost, but also about the after-sales support - you don't want to be left high and dry with a system you can't get fixed. Avoid anyone who can't or won't give references.

Choose Independent
Many companies only stock or install their own products, for which you may pay a premium or may be missing some features. Choose an independent supplier who can supply you with a range of equipment from many different manufacturers - you will get the features that you want at the right price!

Make Sure it's All Inclusive
Find out exactly what the price includes, will the network be installed and configured for you, or is that additional costs? Find out about support and the ongoing costs. Remember, this is a long term investment - like your car, computers have ongoing costs to them. Don't assume that once you have paid for the computers that they will magically look after themselves. You should ask for a quote for Network Support to see how much it will cost to look after the network, servers and pc's after it has been installed.

Are they qualified?
Ask to see the qualifications of the consultant or salesperson that comes to see you, and ask about the qualification of the engineers. IT is a highly skilled area, and it is important that you get someone who is qualified to help you make decisions, and ultimately install and look after your network.

Ring Technical Help
A good way to see what kind of support you will receive after the equipment has been installed is to ring the support number. If you are waiting 5 minutes in a queue, or it is hard to get through then imagine if your whole network went down how you would feel about not being able to get through to anyone? Avoid those who offer poor technical support.

Make Your Decision
After your assessment, you should have a proposal. Review all the proposals together, and compare costs. Once you have compared costs and thought about the issues in this article, ring references, and check them. Now shortlist 2 or 3 suppliers. You may have one that is favourable. Ring them back and ask them if they could do it cheaper, and they will win your business - you may get a discount!

Why Choose Resolve?
One of the reasons why Resolve IT Solutions are one of the regions premier IT and ICT suppliers is because we meet all of these criteria. From the beginning a consultant will meet with you and discuss your business needs at length. We have a full sheet of references to choose from (and plenty on our website, too!). Because we are independent, and not tied to any manufacturers we can offer all our clients a product from any manufacturer - whichever suits them best. We give an all-inclusive price for your network installation, and will happily discuss the options and quote for network support, too. All our consultants and engineers are highly qualified, and our technical support is second to none.

If you want to discuss your IT needs further, or have some questions or queries, then please do not hesitate to call us on 0845 8990099.

Do I Need an ICT Support Contract?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0200

This is one of the questions we get asked frequently- and the simple answer is yes ... but let's qualify that!

Advantages Of An ICT Support Contract:

1. Free Up Valuable Staff

Often the ICT co-coordinator is also the main point of contact for ICT related problems - they are the ICT technician too. This often leads to them being overstretched, and unable to focus on the delivery of curriculum objectives because they are too busy dealing with technical issues. A contract means an ICT technician will be on-site to deal with those technical issues, freeing up the ICT co-coordinator to focus on the delivery of the curriculum.

2. Someone to Call

Quality ICT Support means there is someone to call in an emergency, and someone to carry out the daily tasks of running a network - what would you do if:

If my server suddenly stopped working so that my whole network is unusable, who would I call?
All my computers have a virus - What do I do ?
Users are gaining access to documents and other sensitive sensitive information on the network, how do I stop this?
I have a new teacher/employee who needs a username and password, who can set this up?

3. Highly Trained Experts

Managing and running a network is no small task. With Servers and Anti-Virus, TCP/IP and Broadband, Active Directory and Security. An ICT Support contract with Resolve means you get a highly trained IT professional looking after your network - someone who understands the technology.

4. Planning

What will happen in 3 Years time? What about budgets? What do I need to invest in? Because you have your own specialist on-site you can benefit from all there experience and knowledge. You will get help in planning you ICT provision, budgeting and knowing what is up and coming in the next few years.

Questions People Ask

Q - Can't I Just Pay When Something Goes Wrong?

A - Yes - but it is more expensive! Engineer call-outs are expensive, and you may struggle to get an engineer on-site when you want. Also, a network will work better with regular maintenance.

Q - How about employing a full-time engineer with other schools?

A - A few schools do this, but what happens if they leave, or one school drops-out, or are on long-term ill?

Q - Can't we just phone the CLC?

A - The CLC will advise and help you with education ICT matters, but they won't fix or help you with any network problems.

Resolve IT Solutions offer ICT Support Contracts in Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley and over South Yorkshire. For a Free ICT Audit and to discuss further, please phone 0845 8990099 or Contact Us

Why should you back up?

webenquiries@resolvesolutions.co.uk (Resolve IT Solutions) — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0200

Business Backup Solutions

Why should you back up?

Quite simply because the data is the most valuable part of your IT system. Think about your database - what would happen if you lost it? How about your accounts data, or all your excel spreadsheet. Most business would struggle, and some would completely grind to a halt. Backups protect you from this.

What can happen ?

There are 5 main causes of data loss:

Theft - Someone steals your computer or server. The data on there is lost.
Fire - Unfortunately a reality, and the heat destroys your data/
Virus - Some viruses target and delete your data
Hardware Failure - Data is held on a hard drive, which is a mechanical device. these can fail
User Error - Someone accidentally deletes data or writes over files.

How can I protect my business ?

By putting in place well thought out backup solutions you can minimize the risks and ensure that if the worst happened, all your valuable data is backed up.

How much is my data worth?

A good way of working out how valuable your data is, is to estimate the length of time it would take to re-create it. How long would it take to have someone re-type all the word documents your company relies on, or how many people would be needed to gather all the information in your database. You will probably see that the cost of your data is huge - in some cases it is priceless.

How much will it cost?

Every business is different, and so systems vary. It all depends on how much data you have, and how frequently you want it backed up. A very small business may be able to have a good backup system for £100, whereas one with a server and 5 employees may need to spend £1000. However, to keep this is perspective remember the value of your data.

Resolve IT Solutions are specialists in the specification, installation and support of IT Networks in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. If you would like to discuss some of the backup options that we can offer your business, please call us on 0845 8990099 to speak to one of our team.