If there .are any topics you would like to see discussed in the future or if you have any comments, please contact me at JoeT@HighCaliber.com
Bullet Points
Removing Hyperlinks From MS Word Documents
To remove all hyperlinks from a Word document:
Select all text in the document by pressing [Ctrl] + [A]
Press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [F9] to convert the hyperlinks to text.
A quicker way to remove a single hyperlink is to right click on it and select Remove Hyperlink from the context menu.
Installing/Configuring XP's Built-In FAX Service
If you have a FAX modem installed in your PC and can connect it to a phone line,
you can send and receive faxes using your Windows XP computer. Unfortunately
the fax service is not installed by default. Here's how to install and configure it:
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click Add or Remove Programs
Click Add/Remove Windows Components
When the Windows Components Wizard starts, click the Fax Services check box
to check it
Click Next
Insert the XP installation CD if prompted to do so, and click OK
Click Finish when the Wizard is done
Click Close to close the Add or Remove Programs dialog box
To configure the service:
Click Start
Click All Programs
Click Accessories
Click Communications
Click Fax
Click Fax Console
When the Fax Configuration Wizard starts, go through the steps to enter
sender information, select the modem you want to use, and choose whether you
want to be able to send or receive faxes, or both.
You can enter the TSID information that appears in the fax header and the
CSID information that is displayed on the sending fax machine.
You can also select whether to automatically print faxes or store a copy in
a folder.
Click Finish on the Summary page of the Wizard
You can now send and/or receive faxes.
Patching PC's With Slow Internet Connections
Although most of us have some sort of fast broadband Internet connection
(T1, DSL, cable), some of us are still hampered by low-speed connectivity
on some PCs. Because some Windows Update items are huge, trying to install
them via a slow connection can drive you crazy.
If you have access to at least one machine with a fast connection --
your work computer, at an Internet cafe, a friend's etc. -- there's an
easy answer. Even if the PCs use different versions of Windows, you can
use the PC with the fast connection to download any needed patches for
the ones with the slow connection. You then can copy the patches to CD,
floppy, or any other media you wish, and bring them to the slower PC for
easy installation.
In fact, you can use this method of saving patches on any PC, even if
you're not moving files to a second machine. Then, if you ever need to
reinstall the OS, you'll have the patches for that PC, and can run them
from your hard drive without re-identifying and re-downloading everything
afresh.
There are three main steps to the process, and a couple of minor
"gotchas" you have to be aware of. The whole thing is in step-by-step
form in a new full-length article posted now at:
Windows Messenger Service allows a network administrator to broadcast simple
text message to a specific user or group of users on a network. Do NOT confuse
this with "Microsoft Messenger" or "MSN Messenger," Microsoft's free instant
messaging program (similar to AOL Instant Messenger).
The Windows Messenger Service is, by default, enabled in Windows NT,
Windows 2000, Windows XP (Home and Professional), and Windows 2003.
The problem is that the Windows Messenger Service can be used by
unscrupulous spammers to send you an untraceable pop-up message even
if your Internet Explorer is closed. And, even worse, a hacker can
use the Windows Messenger Service to break into your computer and do
all sort of nasty things "including installing programs, viewing,
changing or deleting data, or creating new accounts with full
privileges." [Source: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-043]
We normally recommend that Windows Messenger Service be turned off.
If you need help doing this, please feel free to call and have one
of our network engineers come in and take care of it for you.
Data Protection Tips
Here are a few basic tips on how to make sure your data is properly
protected:
Backup your data - Ideally, use tape software that requires as little human
intervention as possible. Make sure that backup media is rotated at least weekly and
be sure to take a backup off site at least once a week.
Restoring Data - Know how to restore data from the backup.
Virus Protection - Use anti-virus software and keep the virus signatures up-to-date
on all PC's, including laptops.
Email Attachments - Make sure your AV software is set to scan
email attachments. NEVER open an attachment that ends in .EXE, .COM,
.PIF. NEVER open any attachment that appears suspicious or that comes
from someone you do not know and trust. Avoid using HTML-formatted email and Outlook's Preview Panel.
Scumware Protection - Run an anti-scumware program like Spybot Search & Destroy regularly
Firewall - Make sure your internal network is protected by a properly configured
firewall if you are connecting to the Internet
Most organizations spend a good deal of time looking at new hardware and
software technology but they rarely look at what technology is on the verge
of becoming obsolete. Getting blindsided by dying systems can have as big
a negative impact on an organization as failing to leverage the latest technology.
In many cases, there's no need to rush to phase out systems.
However, if you wait too long you may be forced into expensive last-minute
changes to accommodate new technology initiatives as business needs change.
For each type of software and hardware installed, companies should have
an estimated cost and date to replace it and an estimated cost to retain it.
Some examples of dying technologies that you might want to start phasing out
are Windows 95/98/ME and Windows NT, modems, CRT monitors, Zip and Jazz drives,
Netscape Navigator and Netscape Mail.
One area where organizations often fail to manage obsolesence is when they
handle the retirement of the workstations on their network. We often see
firms pump hundreds of dollars of repairs into old workstations that are
well beyond their useful life. Often the repair costs execeed the cost
of a new PC. Instead of slowly phasing out workstations as they get well
into their third and fourth years, they wait until all of the workstations
need to be replaced. This results in a very large expenditure which could
have been spread over time.
Custom software applications is another area where we see organizations
trying to extend a technologies life with some times disastorous results.
Custom programs typically take many months to develop and can be quite
expensive. Too often we see clients failing to replace their custom
systems in a timely manner and then being forced to develop new systems
under unrealistic timelines and at higer than necessary costs.
Managing obsolesence in well-planned and timely manner can save your
organization an enormous amount of money. We suggest that you inventory
the technology (hardware and software) in use at your firm and create
a plan to replace your systems appropriately.
