ITelligent - Make The Intelligent Choice for IT

Just using your mouse to make computer commands takes more time than you think – keyboard shortcuts save both time and energy by reducing multiple clicks to a single combination of keys.

Keyboard shortcuts are used for tasks that you do all the time, such as opening or saving files.  The table below offers only a fraction of the common standard-keyboard shortcuts, many of which work across Office applications—such as the following:

• Outlook
•  
• Access
•  
• Visio
•  
• PowerPoint
•  
• Word

  
A full list of built-in keyboard shortcuts can be found in the Help section of any particular computer-based application.

Computer keyboard shortcuts are designed to save you valuable time and productivity. Yet, many computer users opt to stick to long-form commands, because they are afraid it will take too long to memorize shortcut combinations.

The truth is, memorizing shortcut commands is easy and will eliminate unnecessary steps. Your hand muscles and cartidge will not have to work as hard and you will free up more time than you may think.

In this month’s newsletter, we’ve decided to feature our list of the top 10 keyboard shortcut commands we believe will be the most useful to you:

1. Ctrl + F
   This command opens the Find function in any program you are using. This includes your Internet browser as well to find text on a page.
2. Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc
   This command quickly switches between open programs moving forward. Pressing Ctrl + Tab will switch between tabs in a program. Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards.

   If you are using Windows Vista or 7, you can press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.

3. Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert
   This command copy’s the highlighted text or selected item.
4. Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert
   Use this command to paste the text you’ve copied from the clipboard to the spot your cursor is resting.
5. Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
   This command will undo any change you’ve just made. For example, if you paste text, pressing this command will undo that paste. Usually, you can press this command multiple times to continue to undo previous commands further and further back in the order they were performed. Pressing Ctrl + Y will redo the undo.
6. Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow
   Use this command to move your cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. To highlight one word at a time, hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction.
7. Ctrl + Backspace
   Press this command to delete a full word at a time instead of a single character at a time.
8. Ctrl + P
   This command will print the page you are currently viewing. This includes programs such as Microsoft Word and your Internet browsers.
9. Ctrl + Home / End
   Use this command to move your cursor to the beginning or the end of your current document.
10. Page Up / Spacebar and Page Down / Spacebar
    These commands will move your current document in either direction one full page at a time. When browsing the Internet, these commands will move your scrollbar one full page at a time in the direction you indicate.

These commands are easy to learn, and will save you a lot of time throughout your day. Every second that you waste in unnecessary steps adds up to minutes, hours, and days throughout the years you use your computer. Taking a few minutes to learn these commands now is well worth the investment for the long term.

You can find it online at: http://beitelligent.com/newsletter/may-2011/.

Fighting the battle with malware can really hurt your business when you have to spend a great deal of your IT budget on software to protect your machines from infection. Here are some tips to do it for free.

First, let’s start with a definition of “malware” so that we are on the same page. Malware is malicious software (e.g. viruses, trojans, worms, adware, etc.) that is designed to secretly install on your computer with the solepurpose of wrecking havoc to the code or harvesting data.

There are a few free tools we’d like you to be aware of that will help you create a “first line of defense” against an attack. While no “over the counter” software is a guaranteed cure-all, you can certainly decrease the effects of malware and save your organization dollars over the course of the year as a result of fewer attacks.

You can fight malware with these free tools:

1. Combofix – this software will assist in tracking down and removing malware. Make sure to disable your antivirus software first before running Combofix.
2. CCleaner – this handy tool does two things well. It cleans the Windows registry and removes cached web data. It’s a good idea to do a backup of your registry before running this tool, but plan on experiencing a faster computer with less problems afterwards.
3. Microsoft Security Essentials – looking for an antivirus program that is effective and causes little drain on your system? This tool is it, and the cost is zero.
4. Malwarebyes – it always amazes us when clients are surprised that they need anti-spyware software in addition to antivirus protection. While antivirus software is effective at protecting against viruses, there is a long laundry list of other types of malicious code (a.k.a. malware) that you have to protect your machine against. That’s where Malwarebyes comes into play.
5. Clonezilla – one of our favorite tools for creating “clones” of your machine so that you can perform a restore in the future should something catastrophic happen to your data.

There are many tools on the marketplace for businesses to use to protect their data and increase their company productivity. These 5 programs are a great place for you to start. Just keep in mind that not all computer problems are created equal and there is still a possibility that you will run into a situation that requires professional intervention. We are happy to assist if such a situation were to arise; however, we do feel it is important to educate our clients and enable them to implement steps they can perform on their own.

You can find it online at: http://beitelligent.com/newsletter/april-2011.

Which Microsoft server option is the best fit for your business? The following are some key points to consider. Before we begin, let’s first discuss Linux. Yes, there are a few Linux options on the market; however, many of our clients prefer Microsoft, and so that is our focus as well.

Please note that this article is designed to be a starting point for your Server considerations. Ultimately, it is best for you to consult with us so we can further guide you in your decision-making process. When evaluating the various server options, it is important for us to understand how your business operates — from your line of products to your company culture to your financial systems to your communication efforts.

Microsoft now offers a complete and well-rounded product line that meets the demands of all businesses today. Below, we highlight recommendations on Microsoft server offerings based on how we believe they may fit your business needs:

Windows Home Server — This option is ideal for any home. WHS provides a centralized framework, which safeguards emails, letters, spreadsheets, home videos, family photos, and software databases (e.g. Quicken). This solution will easily allow your family and friends to share these files over the Internet, while safely backing up your cherished memories for future protection. This is also a great choice for micro-businesses who are looking for a very basic backup/storage solution.

Windows Foundation Server — This option offers a centralized security database, which controls access to your files, server resources, and remote access using AD (Active Directory). This product also allows you to leverage Terminal Services for remote access capabilities. If you have basic server needs, or if you are looking to combine local storage and business applications with online services like Hosted Exchange or SharePoint Services, than Windows Foundation Server is an ideal choice.

Windows Small Business Server — Perfect for small businesses looking for an enterprise solution that provides shared calendaring, data storage, company intranet, remote access, etc. Small Business Server offers Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server, Remote Web Workplace plus many core products to increase the productivity of your team and drive growth.

Windows Essential Business Server — Ideal for companies of 75+ employees. When your business reaches a point of growth where the computing power of SBS is simply not enough, then it is time to upgrade to Essential Business Server. EBS supports up to four different Microsoft Server solutions for the larger small business or small mid-market corporation. Some of the many features include management capabilities, security solutions leveraging Microsoft ForeFront, messaging through Microsoft Exchange and data storage with Microsoft SQL Server.

If you are considering any one of these servers, or have questions/concerns about your particular company’s needs, we’d be happy to have a conversation with you to discuss this further. Many times, our small business clients don’t realize the amount of money they could save or productivity they could add to their business by re-evaluating their current solutions.

You can find it online at: http://beitelligent.com/newsletter/march-2011

Windows 7 is designed for speed. The Windows 7 team has placed special attention on making Windows 7 faster than Windows XP, and Windows Vista.

As we continue to progress in the information age, home users are increasingly expecting higher speeds from their computers. With that in mind, we’ve put together a quick tip to help you speed up Windows 7. This short tip will allow you to get more out of your operating system than what is provided “out of the box.”

Disable the Search Indexing Feature

1. Right click on the “Computer” icon in the desktop and select “Manage.”

2. Click “Services and Applications” in the “Computer Management” window.

3. Click on “Services.”

4. You can see a lot of services listed there. Look for “Windows Search” in this list.

5. Right Click on “Windows Search” from the list and choose “Properties.”

6. The “Windows Search Properties Window” will open up. From “Startup type,” click on the drop down menu and choose “Disabled.”

7. Click “Apply” then “OK” and that’s it. The Windows 7 Search Indexing Feature is now disabled.

Most of the Windows 7 users do less searches in their system. The Search Indexing service in Windows 7 keeps track of your files at all times so that when you perform a search, the results can show quickly. This is a complete resource hog and waste of computing power for the average user who only performs searches periodically.

You can find it online at: http://beitelligent.com/newsletter/february-2011

One of the most hyped technology trends this year is cloud computing, and it is for good reason. Cloud computing services can save businesses tens of thousands of dollars a year and make them more efficient. With cloud computing, small businesses reap the benefits of not having to deploy costly physical infrastructures like file and e-mail servers, storage systems or shrink-wrapped software. Plus, employees and business partners can now enjoy hassle-free collaboration with cloud computing’s “anywhere, anytime” availability.

So what exactly is cloud computing?

Let’s take a quick snapshot look of what constitutes a true cloud-computing solution.

1. Cloud-computing services require no software to purchase or install. This does not include lightweight applets or a Java plug-in required to use the service.
2. Cloud-computing fees are typically subscription-based. You can often choose between month-to-month and year-to-year.
3. Another popular feature of cloud computing is that it is easily scalable. Many solutions can work for companies with 5 employees or 5,000. Cloud services are nimble because they generally grow as your business grows.

If you are interested in exploring cloud-based solutions for your business, we can provide you with an un-biased look at the options that are available to you. Kindly give us a call and we will set-up a time to sit down with you to go over these solutions.