Free Computer Consultant ………. Daily Insights

With Windows operating systems it is common practice to have to reboot the server or workstation from time to time just to straighten things out. Add to that the times you reboot because you installed or updated a program and you can be rebooting quite often.

Don’t Touch That Dial!

I think the narrator in the TV version of Batman used to yell that out, but I could be wrong. What I mean is this: Don’t reboot without considering that the computer may not come up after the reboot.

When was your last backup?

Before you reboot, make a quick backup of at least the work you know has changed since your last good backup. Also think about your contingency plan in case the server or workstation chooses not to come alive again.

It’s just a fact with computer hardware that any time it’s running, it might be the last time. Does this happen frequently? Thankfully, no. But over the last couple of decades I have received enough frantic calls when it hasn’t to warrant mentioning it here.

Then there is the Windows operating system.

Just last week a client called me to say that their Windows 2000 server had a BSOD (blue screen of death) with 0×0000007B “Inaccessible Boot Device” on the screen. Not good.

Everything was working just fine except that a vendor support person couldn’t get in with pcAnywhere (an old as the hills remote control program). Why they haven’t joined the 21st century by using a product like PCNow for tech support access is beyond me. So, without thinking about the last 3 nights backups that did NOT complete successfully, they rebooted.

After spending about 3 hours following all of Microsoft’s suggestions and Googling for any other hints, I punted. With a Windows Server 2003 CD at arms reach I couldn’t justify spending any more time trying to fix Windows 2000.

Fortunately, Windows 2000 Server was all that was corrupt; the data was all good (sigh of relief here). This is a client that does NOT hire me to monitor their server and such items as backup - that may change. A new Dell PowerEdge Server has also been ordered.

So before you click on Start | Shutdown | Restart - ask yourself what you will do if it doesn’t restart; and do a quick backup first.

You may know that my clients have tended to buy an awful lot of Dell computer equipment over the years so I have kept up pretty well with Dell and their computer / laptop offerings.

That’s why when I had the chance to attend a webinar yesterday to hear about what’s going on with their product line I was willing to part with my time to do so.

As a reward for attendance, which wasn’t too great by my estimation, we were given some special coupon codes to use at the Dell website. These are not widely distributed codes.

Coupon code LQD91TVCB7P9F2
Free 2 Business Day Shipping on all new XPS and Studio purchases with coupon code LQD91TVCB7P9F2

Coupon code VKSZTT4H557HSB
Free 2 Business Day Shipping on all new Inspiron laptop or desktop purchases over $699 with coupon code VKSZTT4H557HSB

Check it out and let me know if you found these helpful and were able to take advantage of them.

I’m wondering if I need to change the name of my eBook.

You see, I originally named it “One Secret Can Save You 8 - 16% Buying Dell Online”. But today something unexpected happened.

A client of mine was pricing a new Dell computer for his office. Armed with my eBook he was expecting to save around 10 - 15%. Since the Dell computer he was looking at wasn’t all that expensive, he presumed his savings would be toward the low end of the scale.

He wanted a Dell Optiplex 755 with a monitor and priced out a nice one online at $1268 with the 19″ ultra sharp monitor.

Then he put to use the One Secret to Save Money Buying Dell Online. Final price? $1022. That’s $246 in savings on a $1268 computer. That’s a savings of 19.4% !!!

He was blown away. And he likely will buy 3, maybe even 4 computers from Dell. He’s going to save up to $1000 with the information I charged only $14.95 for. That’s a pretty good return on investment. (Note: He bought before the price went up, hint, hint)

If you want to buy a Dell computer at the lowest price possible, get a copy of my eBook “One Secret Can Save You 8 - 16% Buying Dell Online”.

Just don’t be disappointed if you end up saving even more!

You may have heard the story of Raelyn Campbell, the woman who took her laptop back to Best Buy for warranty work and sued for $54 million after Best Buy finally admitted they lost it.

Sounds like Raelyn Campbell bought a $1100 laptop with a $300 extended service plan (because the laptop only came with an unacceptable 1 year warranty).

I have written about this so many times, discussed it face to face with clients, friends and (now enemies) thousands more times.

Forrest Gump: “Cheap is as Cheap Does”. Stay away from big box stores like Best Buy when buying computer hardware. And don’t buy ANY computer, laptop or monitor without a 3 year warranty (caveat: you are running for public office and the whole operation goes away in November).

I’m not positive if the $1100 was with or without the warranty, but 300 divided into 1400 or 300 divided into 1100 is a big percentage either way. I’m guessing that she could have bought a GOOD laptop (one where the power switch would never break) from Dell, with a 3 year warranty, for less. (Especially if she had my eBook “How to Save 8 - 16% Buying Dell Online”). Toss in a little extra and she could have completecare coverage that covers your own screw ups, like dropping it.

So she bought wrong, probably didn’t know any better.

Here’s the real story: Best Buy was going to fix her laptop in 2 to 6 WEEKS!

You must be kidding me! Dell would have a technician at your home or office the next business day! The laptop wouldn’t even leave your sight. No identity theft that way.

How about the lost data? Don’t feel sorry for her. It is the users responsibility to have their data backed up at all times. You never know when you have turned your computer on for the last time. See Computer Backup.

The reason I push Dell Computer is because of the service. But you still have to BUY THE RIGHT COMPUTER IN THE FIRST PLACE! I’m here to help with that.

See these links:

Dell Computer Review

For everyone who forgets how to enter diagnostic mode on a Dell Laptop, hold down the <Fn> key while you press the power button to turn it on. Once you see “diagnostics” on the screen, you can stop pressing the key.