We
can help you set up records and procedures in
your "work at home"home-based business that will
save you
time and trouble in the future.
Remember, when you operate from home, you have no one
else to rely on for immediate support. For
example, here are a few tips that can help you
avoid significant headaches with your computer:
Make
sure you set aside all the computer CD's, disks, and
manuals that come with your computer and your
software. There are many reasons why you
might need to reinstall something, and these
resources become critical to your being able to do
so.
Make
a separate record of all serial numbers on
everything you acquire. These numbers may be
required to reinstall the software, or to get help
from the developer.
Keep
a record of all sites that you sign up for on the
internet, and record your user names and
passwords. Sites have different
requirements for the configuration of names and
passwords that prevent you from using the same
identification at all locations. You will
soon lose track of what codes you have used if you
don't have an accessible record. (Click here
for a very handy tool.)
Note
the phone numbers of support services for
each application you operate, and for your
computer and your operating system. Avoid
the frustration of having your computer stop
working, only to realize that the only place you
have this information stored is on the computer.
Be
sure that you have virus protection software
installed, and, definitely, keep your virus definitions
up-to-date. New viruses are created
every day, and you are not protected from them
until you have installed the definition in your
software. (Click here
to see where to learn more about viruses.)
Identify
the files that are most important to you and back
them up frequently. Establish a backup
routine, and stick to it. Hard
drives do crash, and important files do get lost
in a variety of ways. When it happens to
you, you are sure to say, "I wish I had
backed up more often." If you haven't
backed up at all, you really have a problem.
(Click here
to learn more about online backup options.)
There
are two directories that hold temporary files
that should be cleaned out periodically,
"C:/Windows/Temporary Internet Files",
and "C:/Windows/temp", in order to keep
your computer "peppy" and
responsive. It is not hard to maintain these
properly, but, if you have any questions about
the process, don't! Deleting files from
your computer always introduces the potential for
problems. Get some help if you need it!
Empty
your Recycle Bin!
Your
hard disk(s) should be "de-fragmented"
periodically, or your response time when loading
files (which happens constantly) will deteriorate.
This is another maintenance task which is
basically straightforward, but which can befuddle
lots of users. Get whatever help or
support you need to get it done and to learn how to do it properly
yourself.
Call
or write us today for a free consultation to see how
we may be able to help you become more effective in
your use of computer technology and computer software
to support and operate your business.
We
can help you set up records and procedures in
your "work at home" home-based business that will
save you
up frequently. Establish a backup
routine, and stick to it. Hard
drives do crash, and important files do get lost
in a variety of ways. When it happens to
you, you are sure to say, "I wish I had
backed up more often." If you haven't
backed up at all, you really have a problem.
(Click 
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