New Computer Setup Checklist by Carl Thorne

 

New Computer Setup Checklist (Windows)

Create Microsoft Account for login and to use Microsoft Office

Adjust page file size

Update operating system

Update vendor specific software

Update Intel drivers

Update other software provided by vendor (video, photo editing, etc.…)

Install Microsoft Office

update Microsoft Office

Setup Outlook

Setup access to Gmail

Install Chrome and Firefox browsers

Log into Gmail account for Chrome browser

Install iTunes

Install cloud storage solutions (iCloud, DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, etc.…)

Setup shortcuts on task bar and desktop

Remove unneeded files to free up space on computer

If standard hard drive, defragment it

If solid state drive, trim it

If solid state drive, install vendor administration software

Install Adobe Reader

Install Anti-Viral software

Install Malware Removal software

Set up power plan

Customize privacy setting for Windows

Remove bloatware from Microsoft and vendor

Install printers

Connect to client Wi Fi network

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New Computer Setup Checklist (Mac OS)

Create Microsoft Account for login and to use Microsoft Office

Update operating system

Update vendor specific software

Update other software provided by vendor (video, photo editing, etc.…)

Install Microsoft Office

update Microsoft Office

Setup Outlook

Setup access to Gmail

Install Chrome and Firefox browsers

Log into Gmail account for Chrome browser

Install iTunes

Install cloud storage solutions (iCloud, DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, etc.…)

Setup shortcuts on task bar and desktop

Remove unneeded files to free up space on computer such as foreign language packs

Install Adobe Reader

Install Anti-Viral software

Install Malware Removal software

Set up power plan

Install printers

Connect to client Wi Fi network

 

 

 

 

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Microsoft Office 2010 and 2016 for Mac are no longer supported by ZDNet

October 13 is new iPhone day. It's also the last day of support for Office 2010 and Office 2016 for Mac. After today's Patch Tuesday fixes and updates, Microsoft won't provide any further security updates, bug fixes or technical support for these products. Office 2010 and 2016 for Mac still can be used after today, but will no longer be officially supported.

In addition to reminding Mac users that support for these two perpetual Office versions ends today, Microsoft also is repeating its guidance that users are advised to go with Office 2016, Office 2019 or Microsoft 365 Apps (formerly known as Office 365 apps) to connect to back end Office 365 services. Microsoft won't block customers using older Office client variants from connecting to Microsoft 365/Office 365 services, but it has warned those who do so won't get all the latest feature updates and fixes.

Microsoft announced in February 2018 that business users would need Office 365 Pro Plus or Office 2019 clients in mainstream support to access the Office 365 back-end services. But it changed its policy due to customer feedback in September 2018, allowing users to continue to use the Office 365 services with Office 2016 through October 2023. 

A couple other Office support dates worth noting:

• Office 2010 Service Pack 2 end of support is October 13, 2020. Office 2010 Personal, Professional, Professional Plus and Professional Academic and Home and Business end of support also is October 13, 2020.

• Office 2013 on Windows end of support is April 11, 2023.

• Office 2016 Home and Business end of support is October 14, 2025. Office 2016 Professional and most of the other Office 2016 variants also exits support on October 14, 2025. (Note: As I said above, the cut-off for Office back-end service connectivity for Office 2016 is in October 2023. This means users can keep running the Office 2016 suite until 2025 but without back-end Microsoft services access after 2023.)

• Office 2019 Home and Business end of support is October 14, 2025. The same end-of-support date holds for most of the other Office 2019 variants.

• Office 365 Pro Plus (Microsoft 365 Apps) on Windows 8.1 will be supported until January 2023.

• Office 365 ProPlus (Microsoft 365 Apps) on Windows Server 2016 will be supported until October 2025.

Microsoft recently announced it will be delivering new non-subscription (perpetual) version of its Office desktop clients for Windows and Mac in the latter half of 2021. These new perpetual Office clients will likely be branded Office 2022 if Microsoft sticks with past naming conventions. Microsoft also announced there will be another version of its on-premises Office servers coming in the second half of next year, but they will require a mandatory subscription for security updates, fixes and patches.  

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How to Pick the Best Microsoft Surface Laptop or Tablet by Wired

How to Pick the Best Micros... by Carl Thorne on Scribd

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The 6 Best Wireless Mice You Can Buy by Jeff Dunn

The 6 Best Wireless Mice You Can Buy.. by Jeff Dunn on Scribd

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Remote Support Primer by Carl Thorne

High Tech House Calls uses two different methods to connect to client computers remotely:

1. Team Viewer
2. Chrome Remote Desktop

I prefer the Chrome Remote Desktop application. The connection must be allowed by the client I am connecting to. There is a way that Team Viewer can be configured so that the Team View connection program is running all at times and the connecting remotely can be accomplished without the knowledge of the client. I consider this a huge security issues.

Team Viewer is used as a backup to Chrome Remote Desktop. To use Chrome Remote Desktop, you must have a Gmail account and the Chrome browser must be installed. Some clients may have privacy concerns with having a Gmail account.

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Top Ten Things I Find Wrong with the Computers I work On by Carl Thorne

1. No anti-virus program installed. Both Windows and Mac computers need to have an anti-virus program installed. I also encounter the virus scan is also scheduled to run when the computer is not running.
2. No anti-malware/spyware program installed.
3. No backup/recovery procedure in place.
4. Not updating the operating system and application software when needed.
5. Not updating vendor-specific drivers where indicated.
6. Running out of disk space.
7. No password used to log into the computer when booting.
8. Neglecting basic things that you can do to make your computer perform faster.
9. Using post-it notes to document passwords to different internet accounts.
10. Buying a new computer before ruling out upgrading your old one.

Bonus Item:

Running an unsupported operating system such as Windows XP of Windows 7. Unsupported means no new patches to address security holes. 

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