PC Program Folders Explained

Ever wonder why Windows suggests a program file for installing new applications? Ever wonder why it’s good to follow the installation software’s folder suggestion? Here’s why.

Just about all PC-based computers today run 64-bit code (also referred to as x64) and x64 versions of Windows. However, many programs are still written for the older 32-bit version, and a lot of users still want them. To accommodate this backward compatibility, Windows x64 needs to run both 64- and 32-bit programs, and it can do a better job if it keeps these two very different types of code separate.

This may be a bit technical, but the operating system can’t assume that an x86 program even knows that such a thing as x64 code exists, and that could cause problems if they cross. Keeping them in separate folders is the simplest way to avoid problems.

This can get a little bit like Abbot & Costello’s “Who’s on First?” routine, but why is 32-bit code identified as x86 instead of x32? The 16-bit chips in early PCs used the 8086 architecture. Even when the chips went 32-bit in the late 1980s, they still used 8086 code, and x86 model numbers. (Remember the 386 and 486 processors?) So the number 86 now refers to pre-x64 code, whether it’s 16- or 32-bit, although the 16-bit x86 code won’t run in 64-bit versions of Windows.

Why do we tell you this? Because if software you installed doesn’t seem to be working properly or working at all, you may have inadvertently or unknowingly mixed and matched programs and program files. Fixing the error without knowing how all these interactions affect your system could make the problem worse. With remote access to your computer, we can likely fix it or guide you through the fix. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to fix your program-folder issues.

Office 2016 Crosses Multiple Platforms

If you find working across multiple platforms problematic, Microsoft has your solution with Office 2016. The new version is now in preview for IT specialists and developers, and we like how it will be consistent across PC and Mac platforms and on all devices.

Consistency is a big deal, especially for on-the-go business users who switch between Windows and Mac operating systems as well as switching among computers and devices. There have been differences in application-use options and appearances when opening Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, and your annoyance has increased with your level of urgency when you need to work.

Some nice touches for Office 2016 include color-coded headers that correspond to the apps you have open. That’s a great little convenience when you’re working with a Word doc and Excel file – and maybe with a PowerPoint presentation open, too. As you get into working with an app, the ribbon will have a “Tell Me What You Want to Do” box where you can type in your request, such as inserting a table or a picture. You’ll get a list of options.

Outlook will be more customizable to your computer’s or device’s screen, and the photo application within Office 2016 will automatically orient any photo you insert to the portrait or landscape mode so that you’re no longer stuck with an upside-down or sideways view.

Office 2016 should also be better at keeping data from falling into the wrong hands. Expanded use of the “Data Loss Protection” feature, previously found only in Outlook, Exchange, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint allows administrators to create rules to prevent things like leaks of personally identifying information, such as emails that appear to contain social security numbers.

Office 2016 is available for the Mac, while the Windows version is for developers and IT professionals. Following the Microsoft trend, it’s available by subscription, which we like because it keeps the program up to date for all performance and security solutions.

Those of you who have Office 365 will be able to get Office 2016 as part of your update rights. That’s one of the benefits of the subscription. If we’re holding volume licenses for your business, we’ll give you your upgrade when we can both maximize installation efficiency.

We’ll keep you updated on how we like working with our version of Office 2016, but if you’re ready for an office update, don’t wait. We can help you buy and install Office 365 now and then guide you smoothly through the transition to the latest version. If you’re not sure whether you should use the subscription version of Office or buy it outright, we can present the pros and cons of each for you. Just remember, if you buy it outright, we can’t install or reinstall your software without the disk and serial number.

Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us with any questions you have about Office 365 and what’s coming in Office 2016. We can help you install it and sync it for all of your licensed computers and devices.

Windows 10: Our Initial Evaluation

We just installed a test version of Windows 10 on one of our laptops to put it through its paces. Based on first impressions, we like a lot of what we’re seeing – unlike Windows 8.

For our businesses, which need to accommodate a wide range of technical knowledge among their users, getting everyone up to speed will be much faster. While Windows 10 has some features of Windows 8, it has much more in common with Windows 7 and XP.

The new Start menu gets back to the efficiency many users became accustomed to with Windows 7 and XP, beginning with its location at the bottom left corner of the screen. But it will have some of the visual cues from Windows 8 that made that OS more adaptable to tablets and smart phones. You’ll be able to customize the application programs you want to activate from the Start menu by adjusting the size and location of tiles to click and launch. If your computer is set up with a touchscreen, you’ll be able to tap and swipe just like you do on a device. That feature may prove useful for people who go back and forth between computers and devices.

Windows 10 will let you click a button to see all of your open apps and windows, and a black box running along the bottom of the display will prompt you to create a virtual desktop to keep everything you open there as an independent work space. Users who like to run several different types of programs will be able to create separate desktops for each. Business users will be able to create one desktop for specific applications related to one type of business task. Home office users will be able to separate work and personal-use applications, and home users will be able to group all sort of uses such as shopping, entertainment and gaming.

Microsoft will be getting closer to how we work and play in many other areas. It will include Cortana, its virtual assistant, which will be able to run in the background and offer assistance as you browse. That will be more useful on mobile devices, especially if you need something like a review and directions for a restaurant on your browser.

The new Photos app will scan your devices and OneDrive account for photos and arrange them into a giant collection. It will also automatically enhance all of the photos it finds, fixing red-eye and exposure levels if you like. It will be completely optional, and works on raw files, too — if you don’t like a change, you can undo it so you can undo changes without affecting the original file.

These are just some general improvements we like for Windows 10. What are some features or capabilities you’d like to see in the new OS? Let us know by phone – 973-433-6676 – or email. We can see if they’re included and help you access them.

Remember, Microsoft will offer a “free upgrade” from Windows 7 when Windows 10 is released this summer, but as we’ve noted before, the free version is likely intended to get you into a subscription that will automatically update to maintain system performance and security. We can discuss that, too.

 

Internet Browsers and Speed

Internet service providers are waging a speed war, and the browser providers are battling, too. While Internet speed is getting most of the attention, browsers are important for attracting eyeballs, which translate into advertising revenues. But there’s more to it for you than meets the eye.

First, the speed war.

Comcast recently announced it would roll out its new Gigabit Pro, which the company claims can download at 2 GB per second. The first installation will be in Atlanta, where a lot of stuff to hype is happening. Google is establishing a new office and planning to roll out its 1GB Google Fiber service. AT&T’s U-Verse is also planning to roll out 1GB service there, too. Comcast and AT&T are technical partners for the baseball Braves and football Falcons, respectively. We’re not fans of either team on the field, but both are aiming to build the biggest and baddest wireless systems in a sports venue when their new stadiums open in 2017.

What does that speed mean to you? The short answer is: something and nothing.

The proposed 2 GB service would be 200 times faster than the average for U.S. homes. It would allow you to download an HD movie in about 12 seconds (as compared to eight minutes on a 50 MB per second speed), and families could simultaneously use multiple online connections for work and play with almost no delay.

The numbers sound cool, but even if you have 2 GB or 1 GB service – or even 50 MB service – it doesn’t mean you’re going to download that movie before you open your popcorn bag. The real determining factors will be the location of the server where the movie is stored and the number of hops – or routing stations – your download goes through. The MSN.com site, for example, is not housed in the US. Your download is subject to any restrictions in the home country and any other country through which it passes.

If the movie is stored on a server that doesn’t have a high-speed connection, you’re not going to get that movie in a relative instant. And, if the movie has to go through a number of routing spots instead of a single run from the server to your computer, that will slow it down even more. Finally, if you have a small pipeline at your home – or office if you’re downloading application software and large data or video files – your feature movie may have to get in the queue along with a ballgame or the results of a Google search.

Another point to keep in mind when looking at pure speed is that your cable Internet provider doesn’t have to deliver, let’s say, 50 MB at all times. If you read the fine print, a cable provider that offers 20 MB download speeds and 5 MB upload speeds only needs to furnish 16 MB downstream and 2 MB upstream. Speed from a T-1 connection is typically 1.54 MB, and you can get a 10 MB service connection, which will deliver 10 MB per second no matter what.

Your choice of the type and speed of an Internet connection will depend on what providers in your location make available and then on the speed you need. The browser is strictly your choice.

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is about to give way to Spartan. The new browser’s appearance will coincide with the release of the Windows 10 operating system. IE used to be the king of the browsers, but Firefox, Chrome and Safari have eaten deeply into its share. In addition, many users are accessing Internet content and shopping through their mobile devices.

Microsoft hopes Spartan will help its users tie together their browsing on desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones. Because browsers are still the way we get movies and go shopping, the pages you access through them can be monetized, so there is quite a bit at stake. Microsoft is betting that by making its browser experience more like those of devices, users will go to Spartan across all platforms.

Browser choice is really a matter of personal preference when it comes to IE-Spartan, Firefox or Chrome. It’s a matter of what you’re used to and how easily you can navigate and deal with pop-ups and pop-up blockers. AOL still has a large user base, but it dates back to when Internet content had a lot more text and hardly any video. The interesting note is that clients who still use it are very attached to it. We get more complaints from the children of AOL users who tell them to use another browser and Gmail. But anyone with AOL has no reason to switch as long as they’re happy.

Personally, I think Microsoft should have gotten out of the browser war. It would make life a lot easier for web developers, who must contend with the differences in how IE-Spartan, Firefox, Chrome and all browsers display on various-size monitors and across all types of devices. It would probably lower web development costs and get sites online faster if the browsers were standardized. In addition, its quirky way of handling pop-ups can be annoying.

We can help you decide which browser may be best-suited to how you use the Internet. More important, we can help you evaluate which type of connection and how much speed is best for your home or office – and we can make sure your systems are equipped and configured to take full advantage of your connection. Give us a call – 973-433-6676 – or drop us an email to talk about your needs and options.

 

Convert your AOL Username to an Apple ID

If you use an AOL Username to sign in to the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store, you must convert to an Apple ID before March 31, 2015. Starting that day, AOL will no longer allow customers to use their AOL Usernames (also known as an AOL Screen Name) to sign in. Without converting to an Apple ID, you’ll lose access to the stores and any content you may have already purchased.

To convert your AOL Username to an Apple ID, sign in to iTunes on a Mac or PC with your AOL Username. Then follow the on-screen instructions. To sign in:

  1. Open iTunes on your Mac or PC. Make sure that you have the latest version.
  2. If you’re signed in with a different username, choose Store > Sign Out from the menu bar.
  3. Then choose Store > Sign In.
  4. Enter your AOL Username and password, and then click Sign In.
  5. Create an Apple ID

When you convert your AOL Username to an Apple ID, you might not be able to convert it to one that ends in @aol.com if you have used your AOL email address to create a separate Apple ID.

Your new Apple ID will maintain your access to the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store, as well as all of the content you bought using your AOL Username. You can also use your Apple ID with iCloud and other Apple services.

As of March 31, Apple can’t provide support for AOL Username accounts that aren’t converted. The conversion process applies only to AOL Usernames. You don’t need to convert an Apple ID that ends in @aol.com. Also, this transition doesn’t affect any AOL services that you use with your AOL Username.

If you already created an Apple ID using your AOL email address, you might have purchases (such as music, movies, TV shows, or apps) associated with both your AOL Username account and your Apple ID.

You still need to convert your AOL Username account into a new Apple ID, so you don’t lose access to the content you already purchased with that account. You must provide a different, non-AOL email address to use as your new Apple ID during the conversion process. You won’t be able to combine the two accounts or their purchases.

If you run into any problems or have any concerns about converting your AOL username to an Apple ID, call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us. We can walk you through the process.

 

 

Checking my Apple Watch for my Apple Car

The Apple Watch is due out soon, and that’s exciting. I can’t help but wonder if an Apple Watch will sound an alarm when my Apple Car is in. Regardless, I love what technology enables us to do.

When I use my Apple Watch – you all know I will have one as soon as it hits the market – I’ll be reminded of how technology affects our lives. It doesn’t seem that long ago that my father held a pager to a telephone to send the codes to his answering machine to pick up messages – which we now refer to as voice mail (that we can get through our cellphones).

That seems so primitive today. In setting up medical releases for our parents to use while caring for our children during our upcoming vacation, I realized that we had the wrong name on one set of instructions. Because I could go online with my iPhone and because I have Microsoft Word for my phone, I had the document already. So, I made the necessary changes and sent it back to the bank. How great is that?

Many of you take it for granted at your offices and homes that you can answer email, respond to text messages and update calendars seamlessly using computers and mobile devices – cellphones and tablets. If it’s not seamless, speak to us, and we can resolve that for you. I’m able to go online with my iPhone or iPad at clients to check things within their systems, and I can troubleshoot many problems remotely from anywhere – as long as I can get an Internet connection.

Those same Internet connections enable you and your associates to work remotely and access critical information to conduct your business more effectively. You not only ever give it a second thought, you demand it.

This spills into our personal use of technology. I have an app that allows me to see who’s ringing my doorbell – whether I’m home or not. If I’m not home, I can talk to the person at the door, and that’s very useful when I can’t be there to accept delivery of a package I need for a client.

Will I be able to use this app with an Apple Watch? Will I be able to use a lot of the apps from my iPhone, including Apple Pay? Will I be able to do things I haven’t been able to do before? The answer to the last question holds the most promise for me.

Indications are that answer is “yes.” I should be able to find out for sure well before the end of this month, and I should have mine by the middle of next month. You will need to have an iPhone (5c, 5s, 6 and 6+) to use the Apple Watch.

You can read a lot about the expected functions of the Apple Watch in this article by the British publication   ITPro. Some highlights, as reported in the article, include:

  • An expected price of about $350
  • Use with Apple Pay and health applications
  • The ability to build your own watch for appearance and function
  • Get messages and use other communications tools through your iPhone, including Siri to get directions
  • Customized applications, such as one with a hotel chain to automate the check-in process

Needless to say, app developers are already hard at work. For me, however, anticipation has wheels: a possible Apple car. Rumors have been abundant for the past few months about Apple entering the car business. As one recent TV news report shows, the company has a lot of cash and a lot of ambitions, especially as electric cars and more software and electronics become parts of all cars. Apple’s strength has been using hardware to house its software innovations, and as the video clip shows, software and electronics are an increasing part of a car’s value.

I could easily see an Apple Car – or an “Apple-driven” car – taking advantage of so many apps we use on our iPhones and iPads as well as the anticipated Apple Watch. It makes a lot of sense. Apple devices are widely used, and the company already has strong ties with all major cellular carriers. Extending those relationships to the global automotive industry would be a logical next step.

I’ll be checking my Apple Watch for new developments – but you don’t have to wait to take advantage of innovations. We can help you adopt and adapt to new technology in the office, at home and even in your car. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to make sure your Wi-Fi infrastructure is capable of meeting all of your needs. We can also help you – and your office and/or family – make sure all of your devices sync to each other and your entire office or home IT systems to give you all the functionality you’ve envisioned – and more.

Network Security More Vital Than Ever

In helping a new customer work through some set-up issues, we found an outdated Wi-Fi security system. With more hackers finding more ways to get into more systems for more personal information, it’s just plain stupid not to make sure you have a secure Wi-Fi system and a strong password.

Let’s start with a secure router. The technology is mature, as far as IT goes, and the current security technology, known as WPA 2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access – the second generation), works very well if you set it up properly. It’s also not that expensive, especially in relation to the value you need to protect, but we’ll get to that farther down in this article.

We were astounded when we found an ancient WEP security system on a new Wi-Fi installation when we began servicing a new client. WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, but in today’s practical terms, you might as well call it WET, as in wet paper towel. If you have a password with a long, totally random combination of numbers and letters (that you’ll never remember), it’s probably WEP. While the password may be hard to type, it’s pretty easy for a hacker to crack.

The client still had an old WEP Wi-Fi because they were told it would be an expensive, time-consuming project. However, they “wasted” a considerable amount of money because they somehow wound up with enterprise-level equipment. Along with getting worthless advice, they had a pound-wise, penny-foolish Wi-Fi system with vulnerable security that had cumbersome management steps.

If their Wi-Fi was old enough to have the older security technology, then it was old enough to replace. The radio in the average router begins to lose its power after three or four years, anyway, so our client probably wasn’t getting performance in addition to not getting the most up-to-date security and a more efficient way to grant access to those who need it.

In today’s offices with the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environment, WPA 2 works very well. You can make a password easy to remember – just make it long – so that your authorized users can get their smartphones and tablets onto the network. That boosts productivity. At home, we’re streaming more, and that needs a good network.

Regardless of how you use your network, security is paramount. If an outsider gets into your network through a hole in your Wi-Fi, they’re already past the firewall. Once they get that far, it’s easy to get into any computer or server on your network and get financial information, medical records and anything that they can use to make money at your expense. You could also be responsible for somebody else’s criminal activity, such as distributing child pornography.

We can help you install and set up a new Wi-Fi with WPA 2 security. We can also help you set up filters to keep employees or children from accessing specific websites. We can do it all over the phone and through remote access. Call us – 973-433-6646 – or email us to discuss your options and set up your system.

End of Days for Windows Server 2003

In July, Microsoft will end its support for Windows Server 2003. As with the end of XP, it means that Microsoft won’t be issuing any security patches, but the consequences could be worse. You can do without a workstation, but you can’t afford to have your whole business down with a server failure.

The obvious question to ask is: Do I really need a server?

With advances in cloud technology, many small businesses can join SOHO and home users in using remote servers to run application software and store and retrieve files. Instead of housing everything on your own server, which you need to maintain and secure, you can take advantage of the large capacity, constant updates and continuous monitoring provided by the large companies that operate the servers. In addition to keeping systems up to date, they also can provide multiple storage sites for the redundancy that helps you avoid outages and lost data when one location has a problem.

We have helped clients set up apps and files using Dropbox for business and home users, and we have a number of partnerships that can provide cloud-based services. We highly recommend using the cloud.

If you want to keep a server, you may want to buy and install Windows Server 2012. However, you may need to upgrade other equipment within your IT system, and you should figure that into any comparison of maintaining your own server or going to the cloud.

You may also just want to stand pat. Windows Server 2003 will still work; Microsoft just won’t support it. It’s similar to Microsoft dropping its support for Windows XP.

We can help you make an informed decision. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to set up an assessment of your current system and needs and how you anticipate your future needs.

Updates are Easy…and Necessary

There’s a reason why you should update your software on a regular basis. The updates fix security issues and other bugs. It’s an easy process. Just set up an automated routine and never worry about downloading and installing them. An example from a new client shows the consequences of neglect.

When we took on our new client, we were given a laundry list of issues. There’s nothing unusual about that because nobody changes their IT support provider unless there are a lot of problems. In working through the list, we found that their operating system had not been updated for months – nor had they updated their virus software.

To us, this is unbelievable. It’s also totally avoidable. Too many small offices and consumers think the updates are not important. We consider them absolutely necessary – and for small businesses and individuals, they may be even more vital than for larger systems. The reason is that mid-size and large businesses have dedicated IT staffs to monitor and maintain their systems. Smaller system owners rely on themselves and outside support providers to do that work. When that work is not done, IT systems are exposed to all sorts of vulnerabilities.

We monitor our clients’ systems, especially at update time; to make sure everything is in order and to let them know if there are issues. System security is the big thing. With so many types of hackers looking to either steal personal information or hold your files hostage for ransom, security simply has never been so important.

Along with your operating system and program files, it’s vitally important to update your virus and malware software. It’s easy to do.

Microsoft issues updates on the second Tuesday of the month – Patch Tuesday – generally in the afternoon. If you are set up for automatic updates, your computer will automatically download them within 24 to 48 hours. Your only obligation is to restart your computer for some of the updates to take effect.

Windows 7 and 8 users can refer to this article from Microsoft to set up your automatic updates, including whether you want to install them automatically or be notified so you can install them at the time of your choice. It’s a four-step process.

The only caution we have is to be careful of anyone contacting you out of the blue to fix your computer online. Microsoft and Apple, for example, will NEVER contact you about a problem with your computer. If you get an unsolicited email or call from someone who implies he or she can fix a problem with your computer, delete the email or hang up the phone call. If you are concerned about your computer system, call us.

If you have any questions about setting up automated Microsoft updates or determining which suggested updates to install – as opposed to those you must install – call us at 973-433-6676 or email us with your questions. We can help you set up an update program for all of your software applications.

‘Free’ Windows 10 Upgrade

Microsoft plans to introduce Windows 10 during the second half of the year – and it’s offering free upgrades for Windows 7 and 8. Free? Well, sort of.

Although nothing is set in cyberstone, early indications are that Microsoft will provide a free upgrade for qualified customers for a year. After that, you may have an option to continue with whatever version you downloaded; buy a copy or sign up for a subscription.

That last possibility may be the way Microsoft will go. The company has been pushing subscription-based software for a long time – at least as far as time is measured in technology – and it seems to be successful. Office 365 is a major part of their business, and when it’s time to upgrade software, Microsoft upgrades Office 365 first.

We like Office 365, and our customers who have subscribed like it. We know email will always work, and we know that all the performance and security updates will be installed. If Windows 10 follows the Office 365 model, we believe it will be a great product, especially for homes, home offices and small businesses.

The upgrade offer will likely apply to Windows-based computers and devices, and that makes sense for Microsoft as the company tries to expand and strengthen its customer base through integration. The company believes that as customers start to learn better how the software works, they will grow to appreciate (or become dependent upon) the innovations and will pay to stay on board with the most up-to-date software available.

So, who may be left out of the free offer? Enterprise users will not qualify for the free upgrade. In not so many words, Microsoft notes that enterprise customers are already on subscription for the service and that they will see the value of maintaining Microsoft across all of their platforms.

Many anti-virus programs and other applications are already available through subscription, and we advise you to take advantage of the benefits. In almost all cases, the subscription works out to be less expensive when you factor in all the benefits of performance and security – especially as hacking becomes more prevalent.

Now would be a good time to start assessing how you can take advantage of Windows 10. Most of the systems on Windows 7 and all of the systems on Windows 8 or 8.1 should be able to migrate to the new OS. We can help you evaluate your current system and see how it can meet your ongoing needs over the next 6 to 24 months. That can help you budget for seamlessly moving forward with your technology. Call us at 973-433-6676 or email us to set up an appointment.