2 Tips to Solve Almost All Computer Problems
Documented Results! Impress Your Friends
Computer and tech issues are annoying. They take up time, they cost money to resolve, and they slow down productivity. But what if there were two simple things you could do to resolve 96.7342% of them? What if you (meaning yourself) had the power and ability to knock out error messages, lost data, and frustrating logins? Would that be something that you would be interested in?
The good news is you don't need a pill, an expensive subscription, or a new piece of software. You don't have to spend hours at the gym, go Vegan, or even sweep your house for odd EMF fields. No, all that you have to do to solve most computer issues is:
1.) Know Your Passwords
2.) Backup
That's it. It sounds annoyingly simple, and if you are a regular consumer of our Mini-Bytes you probably have heard it all a billion times before, but it is true.
If you know your passwords, you will be 100% confident in logging in and interacting with websites and other online resources. You will be able to install software with a snap, unlock your encrypted drives, and re-setup your email with ease. No more will you have to reset that password again and again, or get locked out for multiple fruitless attempts.
I have said this before: You don't have to memorize your passwords. Just have a system to write them down in a way you can access them if you need them. The method is up to you, yet whatever you choose, make sure you keep the list updated.
And backup... Here is an example: Wendy was trying to get an older unsupported version of a certain piece of software to run on her MacBook Pro as a test, troubleshooting a problem. The installer broke her install to the point where she had to re-setup her MacBook Pro from her Time Machine backup. There was no stress here. It was a minor inconvenience, and then she was back up and running. I have done the same to my machine four times -- completely thrashed it troubleshooting problems, working on issues, and experimenting to see if I could break it. It's what us IT consultants do so you don't have to. We're like crash-test dummies with our machines.
Now, Wendy and I do this stuff for a living, so we are more exposed to having to restore our workstations more often than most. But the lesson here is if you have a backup, you can get right back to where you left off -- no stress, no worry, no problem.
So, stop what you are doing and get a plan together on passwords and backup. You will be happy that you did.
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General Tips for Purchasing Apple Equipment
Guidelines to Make Dollars Work For You
I'm typing this Mini-Bytes on a 2012 MacBook Pro. It's on it's fourth hard drive. I am dreading the day when I have to get a new machine. I'm cheap, and would rather spend money on bike stuff (#priorities), but the time will come when I will have to replace this laptop with a new one.
Many of you are running into this now. 2012 and 2013 machines are aging quickly. Those with SATA hard drives are dropping like flies after a Minnesota barbecue. The truth is that industry standards for a computer's lifecycle is three years -- two for mobile devices. That's not a long time, but like me, there are many of us on six year or older machines that are coming up to the day when new equipment beckons. So here are some guidelines to help you with your next purchase:
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It Gets Hot in Arizona
Be Kind to Your Devices
With the summer heat fast approaching, it's important to remember that your iPhone, iPad, and Mac have both operating and non-operating tolerances. They do not like being left in a hot car. If you are outside on your iPhone in July in downtown Phoenix, you are probably exceeding the recommended operating temperature.
Also keep in mind that iPads and iPhones are held together with glue. Leaving them in a hot car is not a good idea.
Apple has an article here on what happens when your mobile device gets to warm: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201678
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