IDrive Remote Backup
August 2012 | Tech Geek and More

Archive for August 2012

Preparing For A Natural Disaster – Smart Phone Edition

Posted on August 26, 2012 by

In the U.S., we are in the middle of Hurricane season, with hurricane isaac expected to hit in the next couple of days. In addition to hurricanes, we have tornado’s, earthquakes, snow storms, among other things that can cause power to go out for hours or days or even longer. Disasters are not exclusive to the U.S., just look at the earthquake in Haiti, or the earthquake and Tsunami that affected Japan.

These days cell phones, and more importantly smart phones play an integral part in our lives (all around the world). For more and more people a cell phone is the multifunction device of choice. Many people no longer have a home phone, a portable radio, a camera, they exclusively use the smart phone for all those functions and more. However, planning for a disaster rarely seems to included the smart phone as part of your plans.

The following list comes courtesy of Android Central (http://www NULL.androidcentral NULL.com/here-comes-hurricane-isaac-charge-em-if-you-got-em), with steps you should take now before a disaster strikes.

Read more

adobe-logo.jpg

Android users beware of fake flash app downloads (via Phandroid)

Posted on August 25, 2012 by

Android users beware of fake flash app downloads. With the removal of Adobe Flash from the Google play store (for new installs), Malicious app developers are now taking advantage by making fake Adobe Flash Player installers. If you have a new android device and want Flash on it, you should download Flash from the Adobe website instead

(via phandroid (http://phandroid NULL.com/?p=105471))

us_airways wifi

Gogo Wi-Fi offering 15 Min Free on US Airways Flights

Posted on August 15, 2012 by

For anyone travelling between 8/15/12 and 9/11/12, who happens to be on a US Airways Gogo-equipped flight, it seems that you will get a chance to do at least a quick email or social media update for FREE. I just received the following message from Gogo Inflight (http://www NULL.gogoair NULL.com/gogo/splash NULL.do?gclid=COL-9PKr6rECFSNrtgodLB4Avg)(who handles the Wi-Fi service for US Air)

Read more

Microsoft_thumb.jpg

Recommended Computer Maintenance – Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7

Posted on August 13, 2012 by

Like your car, your PC benefits from regular maintenance. In this case, you don’t need a tech to maintain your computer – all of the maintenance is easy enough that you can easily do it yourself.  Check out the

To learn about the 6 things you can do to keep your pc in shape.

**Due to the length of this post, it has its own page.

woot

Woot (Sellout) Deal of the Day – Vizio 42″ 1080p HDTV

Posted on August 10, 2012 by

For those looking to get a very good 1080p HDTV,  Woot has a Sellout Deal of the day on a Vizio 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV. (http://sellout NULL.woot NULL.com/offers/vizio-42-1080p-lcd-hdtv-8?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=ef02013b7e-Daily+Digest+-+20120810+-+Woot&utm_medium=email#tracked)The TV, which is Model E421VO, is part of Sellout Woot which means they dont have that many and the deal only goes until they sell out. If you are interested in this deal from Woot, DO NOT hesitate.

(http://sellout NULL.woot NULL.com/offers/vizio-42-1080p-lcd-hdtv-8?utm_source=Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=ef02013b7e-Daily+Digest+-+20120810+-+Woot&utm_medium=email#tracked)

Woot Sellout Deal of the Day

The Vizio 42″ TV (which is Refurbished) comes with the following Read more

Microsoft_thumb.jpg

How to Repair File Errors (Corrupted Files) in Excel

Posted on August 8, 2012 by

Microsoft Excel is the go to application for most businesses (and many home users as well). People use it for everything from managing inventory, company financial, or even report data from other applications. A majority of companies would probably not know how to operate if you took the Excel application away from them.

As a tech, one of the most panicked calls I will get involves a client who can no longer access their Excel file. Unfortunately most of the time it also means that the client does NOT have a backup of that file, and a damaged/corrupt Excel file where you can lose days / months / years of data is enough to cause physical illness.

Fortunately there are many tricks to getting the data (or at least some of it) recovered when these situations happen.

**NOTE: If you want to NOT have to worry about getting yourself into a situation like this, MAKE A REGULAR BACK UP OF YOUR FILE!!!!!

First thing to do –

     Make a copy of the file in question. This can be done with the following steps

  1. Find the file in question. Once you find it, right mouse click the file, a box will appear. On that box highlight “copy” and left mouse click where it says copy.
    1. If you are on a WIndows PC, on your keyboard press and hold down the “Ctrl” key. While you are holding the “Ctrl” key, press the letter “V” key.
    2. If you are on a Mac, the paste process is the same, except that you use the “Command (“Cmd”) and “V” keys to paste.

Read more