Windows 7 Guide

Have you ever thought that how much control should users have over their own desktops? This is a frequently asked question that data center administrators especially those in small to medium sized enterprises have been asking ever since Windows Vista started shipping.

The major issue: With User Account Control features, end users are stuck in an uncomfortable middle ground. They are not able to install programs they really need without administrative privileges, and yet having those administrative rights means they can install anything, including applications that leak private business data and other malware that slow productivity.


Windows 7 is the successor to Windows Vista, an OS release that promises to fix most of the major annoyances in Vista without adding any major new features.

New UAC slider controls are developed to alleviate the tedium of access control a feature that, in Vista, became a major letdown. One of the prime offenders is Apple iTunes, which prompts users umpteen times to approve the installation. In Windows 7, these prompts will be customizable: You will only get an alert when a software install affects the system Registry or when the application was downloaded from the Internet.


The UAC tool in Windows 7 are no cause for alarm, because there’s a way of dealing with the features in Vista and in Windows 7: Offload the security practices to another software agent to manage administrator accounts. This best of both worlds approach means the end user can install applications as needed, but is blocked from installing harmful software, and the end user does not have to manage his own security access at all.

One of the USP of Windows 7 is the more flexible and less irritating User Account Control. Microsoft has reduced the actions that prompt you making it less annoying for the users. The software giant has made several changes, but the biggest change is the User Account Control “slider” setting which results in less annoyance and more security.

There are now four customization settings for UAC:
1. Never notify (Less secure): The user is not notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the PC. The user is not notified when they make changes to Windows settings or when programs try to do so.
2. Only notify me when programs try to make changes to my computer: The user is not notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the computer. The user is not informed when they make changes to Windows settings. However, the user is notified when programs try to make changes to the computer, including Windows settings.
3. Always notify me: The user is always notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the computer. Windows informs you when they make changes to Windows settings or when programs try to do so.
4. Always notify me and wait for my response (most secure): The user is notified when an application tries to install software or make changes to the computer. The user is also informed when they make changes to Windows settings or when programs try to do so.

In News: iYogi Re-Defines Technical Support – BizTech2.com

Remote managed services are gaining a lot of attraction these days. Companies are looking to outsource the maintenance and monitoring of their IT infrastructure to a third party to improve efficiency and save costs. BizTech2.com caught up with Uday Challu, founding partner and CEO, iYogi, to see what the company has to offer in this space.

As far as Enterprise and SME customers are concerned, which verticals are you focusing on?

Our focus will mostly be on small companies with around five to 100 users and also firms that have multiple small branch offices like travel agencies, retail stores etc.

What kind of support services do you provide to your customers? What is the Green PC service?

iYogi provides the next generation of remote computer support services for consumers and businesses. For consumers, our live 24/7 support extends to technologies we use everyday, including hardware, software applications, devices, peripherals and networking equipment. iYogi also offers a full range of business IT solutions including managed monitoring, managed services, set-up and installation services, and incident-based services.

Green PC Service

With the current state of the global climate and increasing dependency on the computer, iYogi helps PC users reduce their carbon footprint and save money at the same time. iYogi’s Green PC service is the first in the independent computer support industry to offer customers a way to save money, conserve energy and protect the environment by optimising their PC’s efficiency. Consumers and businesses can save up to $200 per year, per desktop, in energy costs with iYogi’s Green PC application. This green application makes the computer environmentally friendly by reducing power consumption by almost 50 percent.

Our Green PC dashboard helps customise power settings and calculate power savings in kWh (kilowatt hour). The Green PC dashboard also gives a status on the reduction of CO2 and how responsible usage will benefit the environment by saving trees. A customised service that increases the energy efficiency of computers, undertakes the below-mentioned three primary initiatives:

- Computer assessment, analysing settings and PC energy use
- Customised efficiency planning geared specifically to the individual’s usage patterns
- Implementing setting changes to maximise the computer’s energy use

What are the technologies that allow you to offer 24/7 support and ensure there is no downtime at the client site?

We have invested significantly in developing a comprehensive monitoring and management tools stack. This enables us to manage and monitor all devices in the office network as well as for branch offices and mobile users. Our tools continuously monitor the customer’s network and notify our NOC (Network Operations Centre) in case of problems. Based on the set of events, tickets are automatically generated and escalated to corresponding teams. Over and above our proactive approach, the customer always has an option to call our 24X7 support line for issues that are not identified via the monitoring tools.

Please throw some light on your proprietary iMantra technology.

iMantra is a CRM system, which is tailor-made to suit the emerging business needs at iYogi. It allows for the formation of individualised customer relationships with the aim of providing personalised services to each subscriber. This tool is built on the latest java technology with a layered architecture that makes it scalable and secure. This architecture provides a seamless workflow and independent channels for various business needs: sales, support, quality and customer service. The entire system can be exposed in the form of secure APIs and Web services, which makes it a re-usable entity.

Your business model is similar to BPOs in India providing technical support to offshore customers. What unique values do you bring to this ecosystem that would help a potential client choose you over a competitor?

iYogi’s business model is different from traditional BPOs. Some key factors that differentiate iYogi include:

- Direct-to-consumer and -small business: iYogi delivers technical support services directly to consumers and small businesses and is a global technical support brand based out of India. Unlike traditional BPOs in India, iYogi does not provide any private label support and/ or work on behalf of large OEMs or software publishers.

- Optimised Processes: iYogi has developed proprietary processes for consistently delivering on a resolution rate of 87 percent, which is among the highest published benchmarks in the support industry, where averages hover in the range of 50 percent.

- Comprehensive technology platform: iYogi’s global delivery platform, iMantra, gets smarter with every customer interaction. It documents every problem, the solution and relevant hardware and software aspects, while capturing each customer’s demographic information and creating a behavioural profile. All of this information is at the fingertips of iYogi’s Global Tech Experts. This set-up combines a knowledge base with a comprehensive set of tools and technology expertise. iYogi offers a range of tools that complement its remote support services for helping customers maintain technology at peak performance levels. iYogi’s products include iYogi Smart PC Scan, iYogi Support Dock, iYogi Green PC and iYogi PC Optimisation.

How do you plan to move up the value chain in the times to come?

The growing use and penetration of the Internet and new Web-based applications has consequently opened the door to threats and vulnerabilities, which affect the system performance and ultimately lead to degrading performance. If the threats are diagnosed early on, the impact on efficiency can be minimised considerably. Currently, a user only realizes that he needs technical support once the damage has occurred and reactive methods of support are used to recover from the loss.

At iYogi, we are developing our capabilities to not only provide support when demanded, but to also monitor, pre-empt and fix threats before they can cause any damage to the computer. This will be possible only by combining technology with processes that are capable of re-defining the way technical support is delivered today.

What is your India strategy?

Technically, we are capable of servicing any geography including India. At this stage, we are looking for the right kind of partners to find access to potential customers and provide them a consolidated, 360-degree solution and services for issues relating to hardware, software, network etc. We aim to launch our India services in the coming six to eight months. Our services will offer clients a one-stop solution for all their business needs.

Source : BizTech2.com

What to Do About My Slow Computer

What is the best thing that you can do about your slow computer? Of course, you will first try to find out the causes hampering the functionality of your system. Well, there can be a number of reasons why any computer could be losing the cutting edge speed it was designed for.

Cyber malware like Spyware and adware are running freely on the Internet and they track each and everything of the software installed on your computer that you do not know about. Not only these invade into your system, but are also the main culprit of computer slowdowns. A good antivirus or antispyware software program can do wonders for your dying PC.

Another thing that you can take up is defragmentation. It is simple to do, and if you can't be concerned to download specialized de-fragmenting software, all you have to do is use the one that comes along with the Windows software. Perform the defragmentation at least once a month.

Another important thing if your file registry. The registry is a small file that contains record of everything that is done within the computer and it also maintains the stability of your computer. If your registry gets corrupt, your computer will certainly turn slow. Registries that are a few months old will always have null values, confused registry entries from bad installs, orphaned keys and traces left by cyber malware.

You need to install a good registry cleaner and windows optimizer which will help you to identify and eliminate multiple errors within and without the registry. The thing that is generally ignored by most computer users is maintenance of the system. You are required to take proper care of your PC as you do for your cars or any other machinery.

In case, nothing seems to work for your slow computer, then you must call computer support technicians to get your system diagnosed and repaired. These techs will provide you with 24x7 support along with quality expertise. They will not only help you with your slow computer but also suggest you tips and tweaks to keep malware at bay.

Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?What-to-Do-About-My-Slow-Computer&id=1986877

How to Close Unwanted Services

Some application program available in your computer and you are not using long time they all are unwanted but effect to your computer performance. You want to remove unwanted services from your computer. This post provide computer technical support to remove unwanted program from computer.

You never know what's going behind your back", That is how a famous quote goes. But in XP we can make sure that no unwanted service goes unnoticed . To disable unneeded start-up services for a safer, faster XP, do the following

1. Use the Services Admin Tool
(Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services)
2. If you are a single user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items (such as alerter ,clipbook ,net logon etc) with no ill effect.

For more Information simply Click to Computer Support Services.