Problems that Small Businesses Run Into!

Don’t get me wrong, there are more things that could possibly be wrong with your network or computer that isn’t listed here, these are just the most commonly found ones.

Spam – This is unwanted emails (stuff you didn’t sign up for), that just won’t go away.  Most email programs these days: Outlook, Yahoo, Hotmail and others, will have a feature that will route incoming spam to a Junk Folder.  The only catch is, sometimes these programs can’t tell that it’s a legitimate email but the attachment makes the email look like Spam.  Again, the email programs mentioned will automatically put Spam into the junk folder so you don’t have to worry about it.  Some programs, however, require you to turn on this feature and the easiest way is to hit the ‘F1’ key.  This will bring up your help feature in most cases and click the top tab to ‘Index’.  Then type in Spam and the information to help you is probably right there and will tell you step-by-step exactly what to do.

Virus Problems? – It is vitally important that every business owner invest in some Anti-Virus software.  Most of the problems business encounters regarding viruses are eliminated with the software.  However, if you don’t have the software or haven’t updated it in a while, more than a week, you are at a very high risk of getting a dreaded virus.  Some symptoms of a virus infection:

·        Computer is very slow when you start it up
·        It locks up or ‘freezes’ in the middle of doing anything
               ( i.e. turning it on, opening programs and regular usage)
·        Inappropriate Pop-Ups on your computer.
·        Your hard drive is running out of space!

The lack of Hard Drive space is your biggest clue as viruses replicate themselves in your files and folders.  You will need to get an Anti-Virus program, (McAfee Stinger works great), from another computer NOT associated with your network or it won’t work.  Burn the program onto the CD and put it in the infected one.  You’ll need to install this program on every computer in that network.

Spyware? – Spyware is a program or a function in any program that allows the company or any company to track the usage of your computer or that software.  Basically it’s just spying on you like a nosy neighbor for information they have no business obtaining with out your permission.  You cannot see Spyware by looking in the file folders – it is well hidden.  There is good news!!  You can download an easy program that will scan every file & folder for Spyware and let you know what they found.  You’ll then need to select the individual boxes to delete or quarantine them.  (And if a program doesn’t work right after you’ve done this, there is always the back up it allows you to make and store on your computer – be sure to always make one!)  You’ll need to run this scan at least once a month and the first time you run it, might take a while so be patient. 

www.lavasoftusa.com for Ad-Aware

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ for Spybot-Search & Destroy

Both are free programs you can download. 

Internet Help! – Most people will click their internet icon (blue E, red O or a blue/fiery ball) and just start browsing and going to the sites they want to.  Occasionally you’ll open your internet and it won’t start on your home page (the page you start on) and it will be on some page you’ve never seen before.  What happened??  This is usually when a website or pop-up or some random thing you clicked will hijack your homepage and reset it.   

You’ll need to have your internet site open, (Internet Explorer is used for this purpose), and click ‘Tools’ at the very top and almost all the way to the right.  Then click ‘Internet Options’ at the bottom of the drop-down list.  This will open up the feature that controls the preferences regarding your internet.  The first page opened is under the ‘General’ tab and this is where you need to be.  And the first thing you should see is a web address highlighted in the first white box.  This is your home page – If you know the address, then simply type it in www style and click ‘OK’ at the very bottom of that screen.  You can open another web page and it will go to your re-set home page.