15Jul 2010 by Nancy Smyth

It’s Best to Leave Your PC Running 24/7 – True or False

Be A Better Bookkeeper, New Technology
This is something that has plagued me for years - should I leave my computer running all the time or not. It is also a topic that has caused much debate. Leave your PC running 24/7 Some people say that it's better to leave your PC running around the clock than to shut it off at night and then boot it up in the morning.  The reasoning behind this side of the story, is that if you never shut down your computer you will save wear and tear on it components and, therefore, extend the life of your machine. Shut if off and boot it up in the morning Others say that if you care at all about energy consumption (electricity is expensive after all) and how big of a…
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16Jun 2010 by Nancy Smyth

Contractors Really Need Technology Now – Bookkeeping in Bunny Slippers

Construction News, New Technology
With declining construction activity, the expectation would be a similar decline in materials costs.  This is not proving to be the case. Now is the time for the construction industry to leverage technology to improve operational efficiencies and reduce operating costs, and to help reduce the impacts of constantly shifting materials costs due to globalization.  As an example,  It is estimated at between 75% and 80% of all construction-industry invoicing is still paper-based.  Research has shown that the cost of processing a paper-based invoice is approximately $5, compared to $2 to process an electronic invoice.  The construction business can save not only on the cost of processing and storing paper documents, but can also greatly improve efficiency by reducing errors introduced when data is re-keyed. Read the complete article from…
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30Apr 2010 by Nancy Smyth

Using a Service to Host QuickBooks and Other Software.

General QuickBooks News, New Technology
Having QuickBooks "hosted" is far different than using the QuickBooks On-line edition.The QuickBooks Online version does not have the same features and functionality as the Desktop version of QuickBooks - while having QuickBooks "hosted" by a reliable service provider allows you the best of both worlds - anytime, anywhere access to your fully functional QuickBook Pro, Premier or Enterprise desktop software! In an article written by Joanie Mann  of InSynq, Joanie shares feedback received directly from their hosting customers; as to why businesses have opted to access their QuickBooks and other applications via a hosted solution instead of handling it in-house.Here are the leading reasons why businesses opt for a hosted solution with InSynq: Ability to connect anytime, anywhere, with my applications and data (48.1%) Ability to collaborate with team…
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28Apr 2010 by Nancy Smyth

QuickBooks & AVG Anti-Virus software

"Stuff" No One Ever Told Me About..., General QuickBooks News, New Technology
A recent AVG Anti-Virus update was responsible for receiving the following error message when trying to open (start) QuickBooks:An error occurred when QuickBooks tried to start the database server that manages access to the QuickBooks company file.  Error (-6094,0).According to an Intuit Support Article, this issue was resolved by AVG, who had unnecessarily detected QuickBooks as being infected with a virus.The fix, was not pleasant and I'm certain that there were a lot of very unhappy QuickBooks users!Correcting the problem involved the following steps:Update AVG to the latest virus definition Signature file 271.1.1/2832 (AVG v9.0.814) - this update was just released to correct the issue where AVG unnecessarily detects QuickBooks as infected with a virusRestore QuickBooks files that were quarantined by the anti-virus. OR Repair the QuickBooks installation.Intuit offered the following detailed…
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24Sep 2009 by Nancy Smyth

Windows 7 ROCKS

New Technology
Well I spent all day Wednesday upgrading my computer from Windows Vista Home Premium to Window 7 Ultimate final release. I was actually able to do an upgrade!  Very cool, very easy and VERY FAST. Do you want to upgrade your current Windows Vista computer?  If so, do yourself a favor and download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor - it will tell you if you can do an upgrade (keep your settings and software) or if you have to do a clean install (reinstall all software & restore ALL files). This tool will also tell you if your current Windows XP machine is CAPABLE of running Windows 7 and which version you should pick.  From all the information that I've read, you can NOT do an upgrade from XP to Windows…
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22Sep 2009 by Nancy Smyth

Nancy’s “Big” Adventure – or Upgrading to Windows 7 Ultimate Final Release

New Technology
A little over a week ago (or was it two???  I've lost all track of time), as part of our Microsoft Certified Partner benefits, we received the "Final Release" version of Windows 7. Frankly this is amazing - we actually have a final release of "something" a full month before it will start hitting the computers of our customers who have to purchase new computers! Kudo's to Microsoft for LONG beta testing periods and a "real" early access program! Last week I rid my test machine of the Windows 7 Release Candidate and restored it back to it's original configuration of running Windows Vista Home Premium - 64 bit.  That was an easy task since I had created a "Recovery CD".  Just popped the CD in the drive and followed…
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07Aug 2009 by Nancy Smyth

Networking computers running different versions of Windows

New Technology
August 7, 2009 Earlier this week I reported that I was unable to get my Windows 7 machine to recognize the XP machines in our network and vice versa.........well I was finally able to do it!  YIPEE! Basically, it's like this: On the Windows 7 machine (logged in as the computer Admin) I had to go into Control Panel -> Security & System -> System window.  In the computer name, domain, workgroup settings section there is a button named Change Settings - click on that button and follow the prompts on the screens to where it asks you for your WorkGroup name. Enter the name of your current workgroup.  You will need to reboot your computer in order for the changes to take effect. On the XP Machine -> My…
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05Aug 2009 by Nancy Smyth

Windows 7, Vista & XP Machines

New Technology
Well I have my Windows 7 RC1 test machine setup - it's a 64-bit machine instead of a 32-bit. There is NO UPGRADE path from an XP machine to Windows 7, so you will need to do a clean install......this means that you had better back up all of your data to an external source and I mean ALL of your data, your Word files, your Excel files, your pdf's any document you've ever downloaded from the internet that you would "die" without; because a clean install will erase everything from your hard drive. Aren't I just the bearer of good news?  NOT! But there is more..... While the installation of Windows 7 was quick and painless all was not joyful. I have a Samsung SyncMaster 213T Monitor (one of…
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24Jul 2009 by Nancy Smyth

Windows 7 – Coming Soon to a Computer Near You

New Technology
Over the last few months I've been reading everything I could get my hands on about Windows 7, in order to prepare myself for supporting yet ANOTHER version of the Windows Operating System.  (Can you tell I'm just thrilled?) Windows 7, according to all the "techie magazines" will start appearing pre-installed on new computers beginning October 22, 2009.  Read this article for more information. So with the news, I've decided that I need to jump on the band wagon and build a "test" machine using the Windows 7 Release Candidate (a "Release candidate " is the version that is the last beta or test version that is released prior to a "final release" for the general public". ) I'll be posting updates as I work with the new version of…
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02Jul 2009 by Nancy Smyth

Why Computers Sometimes Crash! by Dr. Seuss

Cool "Stuff"
This came in from a newsgroup I belong to and I just had to share! (Read this to yourself aloud - it's a must!) I f a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, and the bus is interrupted at a very last resort, and the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, then the socket packet pocket has an error to report. If  your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, and the double-clicking  icon puts your window in the trash, and your data is corrupted cause the  index doesn't hash, then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna  crash! If  the label on the cable on the table at your house, says the network is  connected to the button on your…
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16Dec 2008 by Nancy Smyth

Synching data on two computers

Cool "Stuff"
I seem to constantly be working on two computers. I usually work on my laptop in the wee hours of the morning at the comfort of my dining room table and then I come to the office to really start my day and work on the "big computer". The problem always had been on how to keep the two computers synched, not an easy task.  I was driving myself nuts using Window's "briefcase", but the folders that I store my most often used "stuff" were so big that "briefcase" didn't always do the trick. Low and behold, one day I'm reading the latest issue of PCWorld and there is a full page ad for a program called GoodSync (https://www.goodsync.com/). According to the article,  GoodSync was specifically designed to keep 2…
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12Dec 2008 by Nancy Smyth

Turn just about any document into a PDF file

Cool "Stuff"
and reduce your ink and paper costs too! Are you tired of printing reams and reams of paper, or sending your Word documents/Excel spreadsheets as email attachments, and then worrying if the recipient is going to change something that they shouldn't? If so, the CutePDF is the tool for you!  Visit https://www.cutepdf.com and download their free version (you'll see advertisements) of CutePDF. CutePDF is nothing more than a fancy "printer" which you'll select when you go to print something, choose a location to save the document, and give it a name and "poof" you've got a .pdf file. Just as an aside; if you use our software, you can print your certified payroll reports and aia billing to .pdf files and then send them as email attachments. Download and install…
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