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Monday, April 30, 2012

Tech Tip of the Day: How to sync your data with Google Chrome

Description: This article will show you how to sync your bookmarks and other browser information and settings in Google Chrome. Doing so means that your bookmarks and other browser settings will follow you to any Google Chrome browser anywhere just by logging in.
  1. Click on the Google Chrome icon to open

    Google Chrome icon

  2. Click on the wrench icon towards the upper right corner

    wrench

  3. Scroll down and select Options

    Options

  4. Once on the main options page click on Personal Stuff on the left

    Personal Stuff

  5. On the Personal Stuff page click on the Sign into Chrome button

    sign into Chrome

  6. Log in using your Google account information. If you do not have an account click on
    Create a Google Account

    Create a Google Account

  7. Once logged in it will ask you to sync all data. If you want to select what to sync, click on
    Advanced

    Advanced

    Sync everything

    • If you want to select what to sync, click on Advanced, then click
      OK when finished

  8. Click on the X to close

    X
For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Tech Tip of the Day: How to schedule a Task in Windows Task Scheduler

Description: If you need to have a program run at a set time you would be able to schedule it to run with Windows Task Scheduler.
  1. Click the Start Menu and type Task Scheduler Into the search box. Then hit the Enter key.

    Task Scheduler

  2. Once the task scheduler has loaded you would want to click Create Task from the menu on the right.

    Create Task

  3. Enter a name and description for the task under the general tab.

    name

  4. Then select the Triggers tab and pick a time you want it to run. In this example we will set up Internet Explorer to open on Startup.

    Triggers

  5. Once you have selected when you want the task to run click Ok

    Ok

  6. Then click the Actions tab and click New.

    New

  7. Select Start a Program as the action and then click Browse.

    Browse

  8. Browse to the location of the program you would like to run, and double-click it.

    double click

  9. Click the OK box for the new action.

    OK

  10. Click the OK box for creating the task.

    OK

  11. Your task has been created.
For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tech Tip of the Day: How to use a HOSTS File to proactively defend your Windows computer against most known Malware programs

Description: This article describes the processes of installing and updating a 3rd party HOSTS file to provide a strong layer of defense against most known forms of malware, immunizing your system from many malicious programs before they become a threat.

Background: The HOSTS file is a File used by the Windows operating system to map the location of computers or web addresses on its network. It is similar in function to the Domain Name System (DNS) which maps server Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to domain names, such as ‘google.com’ (Google’s Top-Level Domain [TLD]), which directs internet traffic to the IP address of one of Google’s servers, such as ‘72.14.204.105’. As such, it is important to be very careful when making any changes to this system. Fortunately, there are several reputable groups which actively maintain and test custom HOSTS file configurations which are freely available on the internet today.

This guide will cover the installation process for two popular HOSTS files which are regularly tested and are considered safe to use. It is important to choose only one guide to follow, as attempting to install multiple HOSTS files can lead to conflicts.

Note: If you are attempting to follow this guide on a computer connected to a home or work network, please contact your Network Administrator before continuing, as making changes to the HOSTS file may affect network connectivity in certain situations.

  1. MVPS HOSTS
    • Download ‘hosts.zip’ from the following web page:
      http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

      hosts.zip
    • Extract the contents of the ‘hosts.zip’ file by Right Clicking on the file from within Windows Explorer and selecting the ‘Extract All’ option from the menu.

      extract all
    • Right click on ‘mvps.bat’ and select the ‘Run as Administrator’ option from the menu.
      • Click ‘Continue’ in the User Account Control (UAC) prompt, if one appears.
      • In Windows XP, or if the ‘Run as Administrator’ option is not available, you may simply Double-Click on ‘mvps.bat’ or Right Click on the file and select ‘Open’ from the menu.

        Run as admin
    • Press Any Key when prompted.
      • The window background should turn Blue and display a message stating
        "THE MVPS HOSTS FILE IS NOW UPDATED", signifying that the process has completed successfully.

        completed
    • Restart Your Computer to complete the installation.

  2. Spybot - Search & Destroy
    • Download Spybot-S&D from one of the Mirror Sites listed at this link:
      http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

      Download Spybot
    • Double-Click on the .exe file you just downloaded (the file should be named ‘spybotsd162.exe’ or something similar) and follow the Installation Wizard to install the program.

      Installation Wizard
    • Start Spybot-S&D by Double-Clicking on the Icon on your desktop or from the Start Menu by clicking on the Start Button in the lower left corner of your screen and going to ‘All Programs’ » ‘Spybot - Search & Destroy’ and Clicking on the ‘Spybot - Search & Destroy’ Link from the list.

      Search and Destroy

      • The First time you run the program, you may be presented with an Initial Setup Wizard window. Click ‘Next’ on this window and follow the steps to complete the initial setup and updating of the program.

        Next
    • On the Main ‘Spybot - Search & Destroy’ window, click the ‘Immunize’ option from the Menu Bar on the Left.

      Spybot

      • The program will run a quick scan to check the current protection status of your computer.
    • Click the ‘Immunize’ button to begin the immunization process.
      • This may take some time depending on the specifications of your computer.

        Immunize
    • Restart your computer to complete the installation.
For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tech Tip of the Day: How to create Relationships in Microsoft Access 2010

Description: This article will detail the steps for creating relationships between tables in Microsoft Access 2010. This is helpful when a table has a field that is the same as a field in another table, and a relationship is needed between those tables.
  1. Click on the Start Button Start in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click All Programs.

    Microsoft Access 2010

  2. Scroll down and expand the Microsoft Office folder, then click Microsoft Access 2010.

    Microsoft Access 2010

  3. Microsoft Access will populate a list of most recently opened databases.

    databases

    If the intended database is in that list, click on it to open.

    If it is not in the list, click Open, then navigate to the database's location on the computer, select the database, and click Open.

    Open

  4. Once the database is open, click the Database Tools tab on the ribbon.

    Database Tools

  5. Click on Relationships.

    realtionships

  6. On the Show Table window, click the table to be added, then click Add. Do this for each table to be added.

    add

  7. When all the desired tables have been added, click Close.

    Close

  8. Select the common field to be used in the relationship.

    common field

  9. Click and hold the selected field, and drag it to the matching field on another table, then release the mouse button.

    Click and hold

  10. The Edit Relationships window will appear. For best results, click the checkbox next to
    Enforce Referential Integrity. This will ensure that the relationship is valid and that the field data types match. Click the checkbox next to Cascade Update Related Fields to ensure that when a field is updated in one table, that change takes effect in the related table. Click the checkbox next to Cascade Delete Related Records to ensure that when a record is deleted in one table, that change takes effect in the related table.

    Edit Relationships

  11. When finished, click OK.
  12. Follow steps 8 through 10 for each desired relationship. When finished, the established relationships will be shown graphically, as depicted below:

    Repeat
For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Tech Tip of the Day: How to run the System File Checker Tool in Windows 7




The System File Checker Tool will check for missing or corrupted system files. This is helpful to run if Windows is crashing or if you are receiving Windows errors.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Tech Tip of the Day: How to set up a WinBook Security DVR to Record on Motion Detection

Description: The WinBook Security DVR can be set to record video only when it detects motion. This guide will walk through how to do that.
  1.  Using the mouse connected to the DVR, right click anywhere on the screen and select Main Menu.

    Main Menu

  2. Click the Record Icon

    Record

  3. Within the Record options, click the Record Conf. button

    Record Conf.

  4. Change the Channel to All

    All

  5. Set the REC. Mode to Schedule

    Schedule

  6. Change the Week to All

    Week

  7. Period 1 by default should be set from 00:00 - 24:00. This is correct. To the right of Period 1, check the box for Detect.

    Detect

  8. This completes the record options. Click OK

    OK

  9. Click the Advanced button

    Advanced

  10. Select the Motion Detect icon

    Motion Detect

  11. Change the Status on CH1 - CH4 to ON to enable motion detection

    enable motion detection

  12. Click OK and exit all menus

    exit

  13. Using the mouse connected to the DVR, right click anywhere on the screen

    right click

  14. Select Record Mode then select Schedule for All to complete setup.

    Record Mode
For more assistance contact Technical Support here.