Data Doctors Tech Tips

Whenever you purchase a new computer, software program or just about anything electronic, you will find the manual is missing from the box; so where did it go?and#160; We've become so smart that manuals are unnecessary now, right? Nope! Electronic manuals are often buried somewhere on the company's website in the form of a PDF, making it hard to determine if you have the correct one, for your model.and#160; Anyone that has a Windows computer can get help just by pushing a button. Simply tap the F1 and viola! This F1 key is a universal way to get help in Windows. Most programs will pop up a help screen when you press the F1 key. Mac users can't do the same thing, but it's still possible. Just press and hold 'Command-Shift' and then on the question mark key to pop up the help search bar.and#160; Using the built-in Help does more than just save trees, they stay updated as new options are released. The info you pull up in the help screens is matched to what version you are using. No need to scour the Internet for a missing manual because it's always been just a keystroke away: it's F1 and you're done.

'Tis the party gathering season and if music is as important to you as it is to me for my get togethers, checkout today's tip for creating crowdsourced DJ.and#160; An app called 'Festify is a free add on service for Spotify accounts that doesn't force everyone at your party to install an app in order to participate.and#160; You'll need a Spotify 'Premium' account, so if you don't have one but want to check this app out, simple start a 3 month premium account trial for 99 cents. You just go to Festify.com to setup the console on your laptop, then connect the laptop to a sound system. Once your guests arrive, just give them a web link along with your party code to connect to the playlist.and#160; Anyone at the party can add any song that's in the Spotify library and also vote for songs as they are added to the playlist from any smartphone.and#160; You can also send the info out well in advance of the party so everyone can start adding their favorite songs before they even get to the party.and#160; It's far and away our favorite party DJ tool! Check it out atand#160;https://getfestify.com

It's highly likely that someone in your household received some form of electronics this holiday season, which then means that you will end up with old tech devices you no longer have a use for. It's critically important to keep in mind that anything that plugs in or uses any type of battery typically contains lots of toxic waste, so please don't throw your old devices in the trash.and#160; Instead, check with your local schools and charities to see if any have a way to reuse your old electronics. Just because it's not good enough for you anymore does not mean that it's useless for everyone. If it is too old for someone else to use, make sure to recycle it properly through a responsible recycler.and#160; All that tech has toxins that range from lead, arsenic, mercury to a list of other toxic agents that will contaminate our landfills and groundwater if thrown in the trash.and#160; We're doing a poor job of properly disposing of the majority of the 3million+ tons of electronic waste since we are still throwing it in trash cans, because of the lack of awareness of the problem.and#160; Please be sure you dispose of electronics properly and make sure your friends and family do the same!

One consistent problem has existed with computer users that hasn't changed over the past 30 years; everyone knows they should be backing up their critical files, but they just haven't gotten around to it.and#160; and#8232;and#8232;If you're in the camp that's been meaning to get some form of backup setup, there's a really important reason you should.and#160; and#8232;and#8232;The very real threat of becoming a victim of ransomware exists for everyone. This attack allows hackers to sneak into your computer and hold your files hostage, including the files on your backup drive if it's connected to your computer. and#8232;The most dangerous versions can spread by themselves in several ways we've never seen before.and#160;and#8232;and#8232; Any victim of ransomware that doesn't have some form of off-site backup has to choose between losing all their files or paying hundred or even thousands of dollars to regain access to their files. and#8232;Online backup tools like Carbonite are among the best ways to protect yourself from having to pay any file ransom, because your backup isn't accessible through your computer at the point of attack.and#160;and#8232;and#8232; If you still don't have a solid off-site backup setup, here are the links to checkout Carbonite: and#8232;and#8232; Home Products: http://partners.carbonite.com/datadoctors?product=Home and#160; Office Products: http://partners.carbonite.com/datadoctors?product=Office

Acquiring a new computer is always fun, but it also means you have a bit of work to do to get all the programs and utilities necessary to get your new computer to work like your old one. Getting your preferred browser, productivity tools and media tools along with the long list of utilities that are needed is just the beginning.and#160; Most new computer owners fail to realize the many processes it'll take to get that new PC operating properly until they've been subjected to the tedious task.and#160; If you end up getting a new computer this holiday season, we have a more efficient way for both Mac and Windows users to get up to speed. We've covered a web tool known as NiNite for new Windows computers because it allows you to create a single installation file that includes everything you want.and#160; For those with a new Mac computer, checkout GetMacApps.com to execute the same time saving option.and#160; Anyone tasked with setting up new computers for a business will find these tools a really easy way to make sure that all the computers are setup the same way! Mac http://getmacapps.com Windows: https://ninite.com

Today's tip is one for parents to use as the ultimate computational homework helper. We've discussed Wolfram Alpha in the past, but we didn't explain how to unleash the full potential that the tool offers. It's not a search engine, it's more of a computational knowledge tool and it's a great way for parents to have a handle of complex math homework. Wolfram Alpha provides a fundamentally different way to get knowledge and answers. It doesn't search the web; it performs dynamic computations based on a huge collection of data and algorithms.and#160; Any student that's struggling with complex math homework you can use Wolfram Alpha to both double check their work and get a better understanding of how they should have arrived at their answer.and#160; You can also use the tool to compare things, such as people or places. For example, you can compare Albert Einstein to Thomas Edison or Honeydew to Watermelon. So the next time you need computational data to research something, let Wolfram Alpha be your tool of choice: http://www.wolframalpha.com

If your car starts making strange sounds, you usually pay attention to that, right?and#160; Well, this attention should also be paid when it comes to your computer because out of the ordinary sounds are often the sign of a potential meltdown.and#160; Any unusual buzzing, grinding or whirring can be an early sign that a moving part within your computer is about to go bad. For example, cooling fans are one of the most common failures we see and when the noise from a fan stops on its own, it often means that the fan stopped working altogether.and#160; Since heat is one of the worst enemies of your computer, letting your cooling fan stop working is about the same as driving a car with no water in the radiator.and#160; Whenever there's a clicking sound and you can't start the computer up, make sure you shut it off quickly and get professional help. Any clicking sound likely means you have a failing hard drive and the clicking can be causing more damage. Trying to restart a computer repeatedly will cause irreparable damage and can lead to extreme data loss, so be especially careful when you hear a clicking sound.and#160;

If you're new to LinkedIn or even an old veteran of the business networking tool, you may want to listen up! Most of you have have a LinkedIn account but many of you still haven't realized all the hidden gems that this business focused network provides.and#160; One of the most overlooked but easy to use options is the ability to create a 'Company Page'.and#160; Company pages will allow anyone to setup a powerful online resource that will showcase your company along with your products and services which then allows anyone to follow your company itself.and#160; It's also a great way to show off your job opportunities or for job seekers to follow and learn more about your company before they apply for a position. The page can be a way to get recommendations from your customers and gain new prospects as well.and#160; Think of it as a Facebook Business page that's free and easy and focused on business people.

If you're noticing that odd items are just popping up on your computer out of the blue, it's highly likely that it's coming from those new programs that you are installing.and#160; A sneaky practice these days is to hide 3rd-party programs into common installation programs or utilities when you're installing or updating them.and#160; The key to catching those sneaky programs that change how your computer works is to start paying very close attention to the screens during the install.and#160; Software engineers count on you not paying attention and they encourage you to just tap next, next, next then on 'I agree'! A key method for sneaking this junk software into a computer is to convince the user that the 'standard installation' is also the 'recommended installation'.and#160; You don't have to be a rocket-scientists to make use of the custom installation option; that is where you will get to view what they're trying to get past you.and#160; From now on, you should always choose either the advanced or custom option when installing any new program on to your computer so you can kill it before it messes things up.and#160; This reminder is the best way to keep your browser clear of extra toolbars or having your default search engine changed too.

Voice recognition options such as Siri and Alexa have us all spending more time talking to our gadgets.and#160; We can ask our tech lots of things to get the info we want and now you can ask your phone how you feel! The 'Moodies' app says it can listen to you talk for about 15 seconds and provide you with a general impression of how you are feeling.and#160; The app's website states: "Based on our 18 years of research into human emotions, Moodies will analyse and present the current emotional state of the speaker in real time, while they speak".and#160; The app will present you with your primary, secondary mood as well as your overall mood group.and#160; I have used it for a couple of times and it is kind of interesting to see what the app says, but I'm nowhere near ready to count on it to determine the mood of my family members or co-workers.and#160; iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moodies-emotions-analytics/id793945393?mt=8 Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bvc.moodiesandhl=en_US