Posted on Saturday, 9th August 2008 by Casey
Many people don’t realize that all USB flash drives are not created equal. Depending on the type of memory they have, their speeds can vary greatly. Being in IT, I have accumulated a small collection of these drives and have needed a way to test them to see which ones are worth using. I have [...]
Posted in Flash Drive, Hardware, How To, Software, Tools | Comments (0)
Posted on Tuesday, 6th May 2008 by Casey
As Macs continue to gain market share, there is an increased likelihood that you will have to support them if you are a tech. And even if you aren’t a tech, it’s good to know which tools are the best to use when it comes time to repair your own. I have put together a list of what are, in my opinion, the ten best repair tools for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and repairing a Mac.
Posted in Apple/Mac/OSX, Software, Tools | Comments (2)
Posted on Tuesday, 22nd April 2008 by Casey
Keeping track of Microsoft licenses can be a daunting task when you manage a network with multiple computers. This can be especially true when you are given the task of inventorying computers on a network that you personally did not set up. You could go to each computer and inventory it individually but this could take lots of time depending on the amount of computers. Or, you could use a free program that will scan each computer on a network and do this for you.
Posted in How To, Microsoft, Software, Tools | Comments (1)
Posted on Sunday, 6th January 2008 by Casey
Over a year ago I wrote an article called 18 Portable Apps Every Tech Needs. Since then a lot has changed. I have compiled a new, more exhaustive list of 35 portable applications specifically for techs. All of these apps run directly from your USB flash drive and require no installation.
Posted in Flash Drive, Software, Tools | Comments (11)
Posted on Wednesday, 26th December 2007 by Casey
I was recently faced with a situation where someone had used a "leaked" product key when setting up some Windows machines that I now manage. Not only did the computers start receiving very annoying error messages every time they started up, but they were also unable to receive Windows updates. To fix this, I was able to use a very simple utility to change all of the keys quickly without having to reload Windows or edit the registry. In the following tutorial I would like to show you how to do the same.
Posted in How To, Software, Tools, Windows | Comments (3)
Posted on Friday, 21st December 2007 by Casey
In the following tutorial I would like to show you how to backup Windows drivers so you can copy them over to another computer or restore them back onto the existing computer. This can save you lots of time, especially after a reload. You can also use this same process to backup Windows drivers so you can add them to your Windows unattended installation CDs.
Posted in How To, Software, Tools, Windows | Comments (1)
Posted on Saturday, 1st December 2007 by Casey
PCHelpWare is a free remote assistance application for Windows that allows you to easily take control of remote computers. This application is great to use when needing to connect to computers in remote offices or when helping out family and friends. With PCHelpWare, you don’t have to worry about the remote users firewall like you do with UltraVNC or other remote assistance applications. Connecting to the remote computer is as easy as having the end user double click a single executable file. In the following tutorial, I would like to walk you through installing, configuring, and using PCHelpWare.
Posted in How To, Software, Tools | Comments (7)
Posted on Thursday, 22nd November 2007 by Casey
One of my favorite tech tools is called Restoration. It’s a stand-alone Windows based file recovery program. It allows you to restore deleted files even after they have been emptied from the recycle bin. Restoration requires no install and because of this, you can put it on your flash drive and take it with you wherever you go. In the following article I would like to show you how to use it.
Posted in How To, Software, Tools, Windows | Comments (2)
Posted on Saturday, 10th November 2007 by Casey
If you support multiple users, computers, networks, printers, or servers then you know that keeping track of current problems or keeping inventory on all of your devices can sometimes be overwhelming. It can be even tougher if you have multiple techs and are trying to keep track of what has and hasn’t been done. The good thing is that there is a free solution that will greatly help you with all of this. In the following tutorial, I would like to show you how to set up and use this tool.
Posted in How To, Software | Comments (1)
Posted on Friday, 2nd November 2007 by Casey
Instant messaging is not just for personal use. It is also a great way for employees to communicate with one another in the corporate world. If you are in IT, then setting up an instant messaging server can be a great benefit to your company. And the best part is that you can set one up without spending a dime. In the following tutorial, I would like to guide you through the easy process of installing my personal favorite IM server software, Openfire.
Posted in How To, Software | Comments (0)