You Need a Backup Computer Here’s Why….

You Need a Backup Computer Here’s Why…. by J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc.


As a full time self-employed in home computer tutor here in Honolulu Hawaii and one of the best computer virus removal specialists on Oahu, I’m constantly seeing computer crashes from perfectly good computers.


http://www.godsbusinessway.com/index.php/topic,4884.0.htmlIf you are not already on the post page for this computer  help article, please click the above link. If you copy this article please keep the courtesy link above intact. God bless you.







Yes, this includes both P.C.s (personal computers Windows based operating system) and Apple/Macintosh computers. This makes a low-cost backup computer with your files and even precious photographs properly synced between your main computer and your backup computer IMPERATIVE to cut down on down time (i.e. waiting for someone like me with an opening in his/her schedule).


What is Syncing Between Computers





Syncing between computers simply means making sure your data, this means your work files and photos, are updated on each computer. If you have expensive software, such as Microsoft Word, you could download a free office suite such as Openoffice,  which will import and export Microsoft documents, for your backup computer.


Like Operating Systems are Best


In other worlds backing up a Windows based computer to another Windows based computer or Apple to Apple is best. Do yourself a favor though and DO NOT downgrade your operating system. Windows XP for example will no longer be supported by Microsoft April 8th 2014. Yes, hackers are aware of this (here’s a solution   http://www.godsbusinessway.com/index.php/topic,3.msg4106.html#msg4106). The most recent operating system for your computer usually contains the best security. Furthermore, despite rumors of a huge learning curve for Windows 8, it is the most secure and versatile operating system Microsoft has created. If Windows 8 users simply click the tile which states Desktop, usually found in the lower left hand corner of the tile screen, they will find themselves in experienced user friendly territory. I do have access to software to convert a Windows 8 style to whatever style you like and yet maintain the security Window 8 provides its users.


P.C. to P.C. is The Most Cost Effective


No, Macs get viruses now too and if you ever had to get an  Apple computer repaired you’d discover what I’ve been trying to tell people WITHOUT the benefit of Apple’s multi-million dollar marketing budget. Apple is a hardware company. They make their money selling hardware and repairing hardware. Why do you think none of the Apple devices come with memory card ports to expand your Apple device’s memory?


I usually buy computers with the latest Windows operating system (presently Windows 8.1) for between $225.00 and $350.00.  I’m writing this computer help article on a Windows 7 netbook computer at the UFC gym in my Google Drive account so I can access it from any computer INCLUDING a Mac by logging into my free Google account.  For syncing purposes this is why I like Google Drive’s free online office suite. It is not dependant on the operating system you are running and can be exported and downloaded in several different formats.


Syncing Mac to P.C.


It might take a little extra work, but if you export your work on your apple computer and drag it to one of the cloud backup programs I mentioned in a previous article   http://www.godsbusinessway.com/index.php/topic,4702.0.html   . Being a very frugal in home computer consultant http://InHomeComputerHelp.com I look for the lowest cost, effective solutions for my in home and onsite computer clients here in Honolulu Hawaii and remotely for the world. I’d rather see my computer clients spend between $250.00 and $375.00 on a backup computer as opposed to $600.00 WITHOUT the benefit of third party low cost repairs.


How to Sync Your Main Computer and Your Backup Computer


I’ve found many things to be true as a self-employed in home computer tutor and virus removal specialist here on Oahu. The biggest one is the less a computer client has to do to get something done, the more likely it will be done (please don’t run a grammar check  ).


So keep it simple. If you want to do all your work in the cloud and backup your work by downloading it to your computer (See Rick’s Rule of Important Files) or if you want to copy your files to the cloud icon on your P.C. or Mac to keep files and photos backed up you may do it that way. By using the cloud, your files will almost immediately sync between your main computer and your backup computer once you log onto the internet with your backup computer.


I have full details on different ways to backup and sync your computer in my article Your Computer Will Crash Whether or Not You Can Get Your Files and Photographs Back Will Depend on whether or Not You Follow These Steps….   http://www.godsbusinessway.com/index.php/topic,4702.0.html   


About The Author





J. Richard Kirkham is an in home computer tutor in Honolulu Hawaii and one of the best computer virus removal specialists on Oahu. He is the creator of the File Recovery Flash Drive   http://inhomecomputerhelp.com/filerecovery/  for P.C. owners and employees who have lost their passwords or must recover files from a crashed computer.

Your Computer Will Crash Did You Follow These Steps First...?

Your Computer Will Crash Whether or Not You Can Get Your Files and Photographs Back Will Depend on whether or Not You Follow These Steps….

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If you are not already on the post page for this computer cell phone and tablet crash preparation article, please click the above link. If you copy this article please keep the courtesy link above intact. God bless you.


I don’t care if you have a P.C. Mac/Apple, smart cell phone or tablet IT WILL CRASH!. Just a little preparation and I will not get the sorrowful, pleading look I get from some of my in home computer tutoring and virus removal clients here in Honolulu Hawaii http://InHomeComputerHelp.com who are praying that I can recover important work files and pictures of children and grandchildren not found anywhere but on the computer, tablet or cell phone in disrepair.


Rick’s Rule of Important Files


ALWAYS have important files, whether paper, digital, work related or photographs in at least TWO different places. 


That stated DO NOT keep the backup system connected to the computer all the time. If there happens to be an electric surge that wipes out your computer, it could also wipeout anything connected to it including your backup! That is why I took the timer off a free backup program I wrotehttp://www.godsbusinessway.com/index.php/topic,2042.msg2094.html . I do not wish to motivate my computer clients whether in Honolulu Hawaii or remotely around the world to keep their backup in their computers.


Simple Ways to backup Your Important Work Files and Photos on Your Computer Tablet and Smart Cell Phone


Flash drives are a pretty cheap and efficient way to backup any computer or tablet that has a port for a flash drive (also referred to as a thumb-drive). Drag and dropping is the simplest way to make sure all your files are backed up, though it can become tedious if you have a lot of files or photos (same thing as far as computers, tablets and smart cell phones are concerned). There are now some flash drives can come with backup software built into them to make the job a bit easier.


What is This Cloud I keep Hearing About?


Cloud technology is simply a way of being able to work and even store your files online with a secure service. Some of these cloud services even offer free online software which competes quite well with paid software and the ability to share your work with clients and business associates.


Automatic Cloud Backups


Mozy http://mozy.ie/product/mozy/personal#frame_Free?ref=1b386b56 is one of these companies which offer an automatic sync of your computer files. You’ll find apps for Mozy for your tablets and cell phones to share and store your files and photographs.


iCloud has improved and can now be accessed at http://icloud.com with your Apple ID. Last time I check it synced your contacts and photos with your other devices. You cannot view your photos in the iCloud, but they will sync between your apple devices. Find my iPhone is now available on the iCloud website and will help you find both your iPhone and iPad if lost. It will also do an emergency reset if your Apple devices are stolen. Two nice features in my professional opinion.


Cloud Storage


Dropbox https://db.tt/px1bqlyQ is probably the most well known for online storage. naturally there are now apps for this for your tablets and cell phones. They start by giving you 2.5 gig of storage which can hold quite a few pictures AND offer automatic upload of photos from your tablet or smart cell phone. 


Google Drive http://youtu.be/LwVrcKiW56g only requires a free google account. They offer a total of 15 gig of storage which also includes emails. A recent upgrade to this gave the ability to store your photos automatically in the Google Drive cloud. These photos are not shared although they can be setup to share them easily with Google+  http://Plus.Google.com Google competitve answer to Facebook. 


One thing I truly like about Google Drive, formally referred to as Google Docs, is the free office suite you get with your Google Drivehttp://Drive.Google.com . This office suite can even import and export files as Microsoft Word and Excel documents. Making a very user friendly way of saving yourself a couple hundred dollars for Microsoft Office software in case you don’t use it very often yet still get those doc files as attachments in your emails. In a Gmail account you may now store directly into your Google Drive without having to download to your computer first!


Files can be created, uploaded and shared with various degrees of edit, view and comment rights. Make Google Drive perfect for satellite offices. Now business partners can work on the same file instead of attaching the file back and forth in email and possibly confusing an old file with a new file.  They can easily be dragged to a special folder on your desktop PC or Apple computer in order for them to be stored in the cloud. 


Now, when you drag from one folder to another on the same media, whether that’s a hard drive, flash drive or memory card from a camera, you move the files. That means they are no longer in their original location. According to Rick’s Rule of Important Files, you should have your files in two different places. So instead of dragging the files to your Google Drive folder, normally found on your desktop after installation, copy your files to the Google drive folder.


Yunio http://Younio.com is a Chinese based online storage and offers up to 1 TB free as I understand it.  A terabyte is 1,000 gigabytes. 


Skydrive is Microsoft based cloud storage http://Skydrive.com This is great cloud storage for people who love Microsoft Office. There are free online apps that are so good you may not even need to purchase Microsoft Office if  you only need it for basic use. The ability to not only create and upload files is matched by the ability to share files with coworkers and business associates.


Similar to Google Drive, Skydrive offers a download to place a folder on your desktop for easy transfer of files. If you wish to open a Word doc in the Skydrive folder on your desktop, right mouse click on the Microsoft Office document and select open with Skydrive. You’ll need a free Microsoft account to do this which will also give you a free Outlook.com email account. Ber sure to follow Rick’s Rule of Important Files as explained in the Google Drive section.


Smart Cell Phones and Tablets Syncing Data


I train business people how to use their smart cell phones and tablets more efficientlyhttp://www.godsbusinessway.com/index.php/topic,3.msg1777.html#msg1777 . I personally utilize Google Drive on my tablet and cell phone. I scan in important papers and upload photos automatically to my Google Drive. This not only satisfies Rick’s Rule of Important Files, it creates an environment in which a business person should NEVER have to say he/she left a file at the office. THE SMART CELL PHONE IS THE OFFICE! Print capabilities are now possible with cell phones and tablets. You can even get on your clients computer and print out the paper you forgot from your cloud based backup. 



Conclusion


So as you can see, with a little, simple preparation. The frustration and concern that I see on my in home computer tutoring and virus removal clients’ faces here in Honolulu Hawaii http://InHomeComputerHelp.com  and the excited calls and emails I get from my remote computer clientshttp://www.computerhelp808.com/RemoteComputerSpywareNMaintenanceChecks.html can be brought to a minimum. Eventually the backup process will not be any different than locking your door at night - just in case. 


Rick
J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc.

How to Setup a Standard P.C. Computer User Account to Increase Your Security

How to Setup a Standard P.C. Computer User Account to Increase Your Security

How to Setup a Standard P.C. Computer User Account to Increase Your Internet to Computer Security by J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc

.

What is a Standard P.C. Computer User Account?A standard user account for personal computers is an account which does not give you administration rights and therefore does not automatically allow the installation of software. This adds another layer of security to your computer and helps to prevent computer viruses and computer spyware from invading your personal computer.How Do I Create a  Standard P.C. Computer User Account?


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In Windows 7 or below

Click the Windows icon or start in the lower left hand corner of your screen

Click Control Panel to the right of the rising start menu

Click User Accounts

Click the link that says "Manage another account". 

Click the link that says Create a new account.

The window should now have a header that says Name the account and choose an account type. Type the name of the new account in the space provided. For my computer tutoring clients and computer virus removal clients here in Honolulu Hawaii I usually name it Surf. Thereby reminding them this is the account to use to surf the internet

In the textbox where you just typed your name, click the radio box that states Standard or in the case of Windows XP Limited

Click the Create Account button.

I normally do not password protect the Standard user account AND I make sure the Administration account IS password protected. This increases security and makes it easier for my computer client to use the Standard user account as opposed to the Admin account. Using this Standard account also came in handy when the FBI/MoneyPak computer virus locks my computer clients out of their admin account. The computer virus should still be removed since the spyware could still be recording keystrokes and sending your usernames and passwords to the hackers.In Windows 8

If you’re in the Tiles page just start typing. Don’t worry you don’t have to be in a textbox to type. This is another neat feature of the Windows 8 computers. If you’re in the Desktop window, where most of my experienced computer clients spend their time, 

Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard, located at the bottom left hand side of your keyboard 

Tap the f key on your keyboard

Release the Windows key on your keyboard (this is how I teach my lessons and do my video lessons I assume nothinghttp://InHomeComputerHelp.com    )

Type into the search textbox



Add user (capitalization doesn't matter)Click settings on the right

Now click on the option labeled 

Give other users access to this computer

which will open the User Settings screen.






Users should already be selected on the left

You click Add a user on the right hand side of the screen






Microsoft wants you to setup a Microsoft account by default. My personal experience with Microsoft accounts is that they are a pain in the okole (Hawaiian for you know what) You have to be online even to log into your computer’s user account to get to items that may not even be online. I highly recommend you click Sign in without a Microsoft account for the average person and end computer user.

Your account should now be create and you may click Finish

You’re also given the option to click child account before clicking finish so you may turn on Family safety. I used this with my own son on Windows 7. You can keep your child out of various sites and even, as I recall, shut down the computer on a timer.A Final Trick


When I setup a standard user account for my computer clients here in Honolulu Hawaii, I setup a second administration account and give strict  instructions to stay out of the Admin account unless they are installing a lot of software. After setting up the second  administration account, I then take my computer clients account and change it to a standard user account! This  way my computer client doesn’t have to install everything again and re-customize his/her desktop.


About Rick Kirkham



Rick Kirkham has finally finished the Ultimate Computer Virus Removal and Security Instructions and Kithttp://inhomecomputerhelp.com/ComputerVirusRemovalInstructions.html A MUST for anyone who owns a pesonal computer or an Apple computer.


J. Richard Kirkham is an in home computer tutor http://InHomeComputerHelp.com  in Honolulu Hawaii. Rick is known for his easy going step-by-step hands on teaching approach making both senior citizens and on the go business people comfortablehttp://youtu.be/kH3YmJjWIM8 .


As a computer virus removal specialist http://BlackBeltComputerVirusRemoval.com Mr. Kirkham has developed the respect of his peers  for his tenacity and knowledge and the gratitude of  his computer virus removal clients under his protection http://youtu.be/6njJVVKsUjk