User Problems and Solutions plus

I was reviewing the blog today and made some observations. Please when replying to the User Problems and Solutions page, leave only Problems and/or Solutions in this section. Anything else will be deleted. Comments are welcomed in other areas of the blog. I also noticed today that those who have been spamming this site really have went to town doing so. I only hope for their sake that they aren’t typing all that in. All spam is blocked for deletion. I don’t even have to review it because after so long it’s automatically deleted. I chose to make this site a spam free site on the grounds, that I am trying to keep all posts and comments focused in the direction of what this blog is all about. I am glad that people are liking this site and finding it useful. A great deal of work is being put into it. There is a guest book that one can make use of and make suggestions at one’s discretion. Thanks to all for stopping by and have a terrific day ! Tim

Let’s not go Phishing!

The title would make you think about fishing, but, in this case phishing involves a whole different kind of bait. This bait, being potentially any PC user who does any transactions online. Phishers look to obtain financial information to earn money illegally. If you get an email that looks like it may have came from a place you do business with on the Internet, be careful. Phishers try to lure clients into providing their account information. Here is an example of how Phishers attack:

Phishers create web pages that are very similar to a popular one after it was put on the Internet, the attackers or phishers send numerous email messages to clients all over the world. These emails require the clients to re-log in and enter their information. When the clients log in to the site, they are lured by a similar interface or webpage and without having paid attention to the web address, they enter the financial information. Soon after the information is sent by the unsuspecting client, the phishers take the information and transfer to one or multiple accounts. Usually they use more than one account to avoid being caught.

I know about this since I was almost a victim in by a phisher. It can be scary if you are not careful. I heard about this kind of thing soon after getting one of those emails and immediately contacted the site where I do business with. You’ve heard the saying about the sucker at the other end of the pole, well, I wasn’t the sucker this time. I was the lucky one. Just be careful, usually it’s not the practice of sites to send you emails to ask you to re-enter your information.

Using Excel to create forms

If you don’t need anything real fancy, you don’t have to have software like Publisher or others to create forms to use around the office. You don’t have to have an extensive knowledge of Excel to create forms. I have slightly more than a basic knowledge of Excel, but, what I’m doing doesn’t even require that. For the last couple of years at work, I’ve been creating checklists and other forms for my use in the computer room. What you are doing is taking a spread sheet and using it as a word processor, making use of cells. Electronic logs can be another type of form that can be created using Excel. Such example could be like keeping track of inventory being used in a department.

You can create mailing lists, inventory lists, check lists, & reminders and more using Excel.

Cracking the Invisible Wall

Problems and Solutions are some other ways the Invisible Wall exists. Problems can keep us from finding appropriate solutions, thus creating that darn wall. Willingness to find, develop and share new ideas can be a result of that wall. Fear of loosing to the competition, fear of change and the unknown holds us back. Until the day comes, that one finds themselves at the point where they can’t be held back any longer and therefore brakes or cracks that wall. It’s what you have to go through from point A to point C in the mean time.

See also The Invisible Wall and Sharing Problems and Solutions

Sharing Problems and Solutions

As the title suggests the overall purpose of this blog, what are problems and solutions ? They are opportunities to learn and grow. Problems, while they can be frustrating at times, they bring about the opportunity to make change and learn from. Solutions are basically the same except that they are the result of the learning process when encountering a problem. Let’s give an example here on how sharing problems and solutions can really be a benefit:

Example:

Let’s say there are 3 organizations and each are a competitor. A problem exists that none of these companies have been able to solve. Each one has made progress in different areas of the problem, but, each are getting nowhere with the problem. Basically, they are all stalemated. If each of these companies had a neutral ground to communicate on, to share these issues without giving one another the advantage, perhaps they could make a brake through with the problem they are each having.

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Does sharing problems and solutions guarantee a solve to issues being discussed? Of course not, but, it could possibly get one closer to the answers. Home users can benefit in the same way as others can in sharing information.

This is is essence what Internet Help for PC Users is all about, Sharing Problems and Solutions with ALL PC Users regardless of profession, interest, business or home usage.

As this blog grows, both in posts, comments and problems, & solutions, the more information becomes available to any user that visits this blog. The more members who join, the more resources that become available to provide new information. There are different ways to share information in this blog. They are through the above named areas as well as in private using the Member’s Area or the newly added Private Forum section (available upon request).

Beginner’s through Intermediate:

Those users who are new to using computers have access to the New PC Users blog to get the answers they need. This can be done by taking courses available on the blog, getting suggestions to everyday issues, and submitting problems for solutions almost like in this blog. Anyone can use the New PC Users blog, it’s just that it’s focus if for those who beginners up through the intermediate user.

The Invisible Wall

Nice title for a post eh? You are probably wondering what am I talking about in reference to The Invisible Wall, right? The wall that I am referring to is the one that separates one department from another figuratively speaking. These are not real walls, but, barriers that can separate us. Here is an example to explain what I am talking about that happened to me a couple of years ago:

A programmer came into the computer room to discuss with us a program he wrote and when he referred to the topic, it was in such a way that I found my brain racing to figure out which part of this topic he was actually talking about. The programmer was so into what he was doing, that he expected us to know right away what he was talking about. Once I realized what he was talking about, it clicked.

People on the other side of the wall, don’t always realize this invisible wall exists and wonder why there is such a communication issue at times. This can occur in any company no matter the size. I would say that this can also occur in the home for home users too, but, not as often. In this case, you have two people and one tries to do something and the other doesn’t get it.

I welcome any comments

Routine Maintenance revisited

This is one topic that is paramount in the overall performance of computers and peripherals. It’s a good idea to keep all your computers and peripherals cleaned, inside and out. You’d be surprised how much dust can build up over time. This of course depends on your day to day activities. If you are industrial scale such as a computer room for a data center, you should at least do weekly cleanings of your equipment. If you are a home user, then you don’t need to be as drastic, but, regular cleanings inside and out are helpful. Dust can slow down a computer system. Fans don’t do everything. They are more for keeping the PC cool. If you are using industrial size printers, you should probably clean them after every major print job. Dust can really build up with just one big print job and have drastic effects on the printers performance. Dust can also interfere with your PC as well, which is why I am suggesting blowing your PC out now and then with canned air. Dust can build up on wires, ports, and other crucial areas inside the PC.

I want to warn you that if you open up your PC, make sure that you are not standing on carpet. You can fry your PC with static electricity. I know this, because, years ago, that is exactly what I did. You see, we all learn from our experiences.

For long term savings, instead of regular purchases of canned air, why not purchase an air compressor with a long hose. You can get one for around $99.00 I believe. This would help you save over time the cost of purchasing cases of canned air. This would also eliminate the need to take inventory on canned air since you would no longer need to order it.

For businesses, you may want to keep some kind of log to keep track on your Routine Maintenance. This is a good idea, to look back to see if it was done, to try to iron out problems. You’ll have to judge this one yourself. A simple log, can just be to indicate whether or not cleanings or maintenance was done at all.

Another good idea for those who are in business, is to do weekly restarts of all your PC’s if you are in the habit of keeping your PC’s up all the time. This clears up the RAM and gives your PC a fresh start. Depending upon the complexity of your systems, doing a “shutdown” instead of a “restart” may be a better option, then just start them manually.

For additional information check out an earlier post on Routine Maintenance.

Taking an active role

One of the neat options available to everyone who uses this blog, is memberships. While everyone can share problems and solutions and comment to all the posts daily, with memberships, one can post their own thoughts and experiences to this blog. The more memberships that are added, the more resources that become available to the everyday user who visits this blog. We are all valuable resources to draw upon for those who are in need. As I am prone to say, it’s not how much experience one has, it’s that we all have different experiences. Why not try a 3 month membership today! While this post may seem like an advertisement for memberships to this blog, the purpose is to describe the importance of memberships to this blog. Think about how you would feel, knowing that a post you wrote actually helped someone.

Users of IHELP For PC Users

On January 1st of this year (2007), this blog was launched for the purpose of helping all PC users in the area of sharing problems and solutions. As I’ve mentioned, it doesn’t matter how much experience you have. What does matter is that we all have different experiences. This fact makes us all a valuable asset to everyone. No problem, solution, or idea is too small.

Just imagine this…..

The day comes, you are at your computer, whether it’s at home, office, school etc. You encounter a problem and you just can’t get past it. You feel like grabbing the monitor or tower and throwing it halfway across the room. Then, before your rage takes you over, you remember about this blog you found! Internet Help for PC Users

You log onto the blog and go straight to the User Problems and Solution page and start typing away. A day or two later you check back and someone responded to your problem. Your first reaction — Cool!

This is how simple it is. You just never know. Regardless of your computer knowledge, you never know to whom you could help. This is why this blog exists!!!

Have a terrific day

Two Blogs

As some of you already know, I launched a blog called New PC Users. This blog is for beginners or those that need a simpler approach. There is still a little more development needed with this blog, but for the most part it is ready to use. The other new blog is Consulting Services by Tim Beck, oh, that’s me, he he. http://timbeck.wordpress.com
This is kind of like my “host” blog. This blog is very much still in development. I’m not sure of it’s full direction yet, but, you are welcome to visit it anytime. Just thought I’d pass the word along about these blogs.