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CyberArtisans Web Developers Newsletter )
Keeping you up to date on the web January 2009
In this issue
  • SP3 Once Again
  • OEM Tech Support
  • Skipped Issue?
  • Happy New Year

    		•

    Welcome to the January 2009 issue of the CyberArtisans newsletter! *See "Skipped Issue?" below

    Each month we try to present information that will be useful to you as a website owner and as a user of the web. If these newsletters are useful, please forward this to a friend. To unsubscribe, follow the directions at the bottom of this email.


    		SP3 Once Again

    We have referred to the Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) problems several times in the past. We still stand by our advice that installing it is not critical to your system if you have been doing updates religiously. Nonetheless, all XP users will have to install it eventually since Microsoft will at some point cut off support for earlier versions. And Microsoft has announced that they will end free support for SP3 installations on April 14, 2009. So what's the best way to proceed? Here are our recommendations:

    1. First and foremost, back up your system.
    2. Choose a time when having your computer available is not critical, maybe over a weekend or a holiday. Before you do anything, review the Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 Support Page. Copy the support phone number ((866) 234-6020) on that page and keep it handy just in case.
    3. If you are running a Norton product from Symantec, see this page before installing SP3. And whatever antivirus you are running, shut it down before installing SP3.
    4. Do you have an AMD processor? Here's how to find out: Click Start | Control Panel, make sure you are using Classical View, then double-click System — you will see either "Intel" or "AMD" at the bottom right of the box that comes up. If you have an AMD processor, go to this page and download and run the update available on that page before installing SP3.
    5. Finally, if your marginally-qualified spouse/child/relative/friend is trying to help install SP3 and runs into a problem they can't handle, refer them to this page. It's very technical but it does explain how to fix a number of possible problems that can occur after installing SP3. Warning: If you are not technically inclined, don't even bother trying to read this.

    		OEM Tech Support

    The techie gurus are reporting a substantial increase in complaints about OEM tech support — the tech support you get by calling the support phone number of the company that sold you your computer. In an effort to save money, the manufacturers are outsourcing tech support to other countries, and the tech-support people there are being given scripts to follow rather than a full education on the hardware they are supporting. The results are predictable and frustrating. It's reasonable to ask what is the value of warranty support if it costs you a lot of time and often fails to fix the problem.

    Our suggestion: If you are willing to spend a little money to save time and eliminate frustration, you will be much better served by using a local computer support person. And be willing to let that person take over your computer remotely to analyze and fix software problems — it will save you both time and money, and get you up and running again sooner.

    We have referred our computer support person to numerous friends and business associates, and he keeps getting rave reviews, so we are not hesitant to refer him to others. If you live in the Boston area, call Chung Chung at C2 Solutions at (877) 223-8989. He's a busy guy, which is why this is an answering service. Leave a message and he will get back to you. And tell him we sent you.

    Chung is also an expert with corporate networks. If you have a small or medium-sized company running the usual assortment of networks, VPNs, etc., you know that downtime is money and poor tech support costs you money. Chung can help you maintain that network.

    		Skipped Issue?

    Yes, we skipped the December issue. We figured you had more than enough to do dealing with the holidays, and the number of newsletters carrying nothing but holiday greetings seemed overwhelming. So we did our part to reduce the email traffic just a little.

    		Happy New Year

    We are starting this new year with a mixture of concern for our economy and hope that a new administration in Washington can help. In that spirit, we wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

    Thank you for your support in prior years. If building or repairing a website is part of your new year's resolutions, please contact us to see how we can help.

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