Software problems

We’re a smaller business [12 PCs] and there was a good deal on some Microsoft Software which we bought. It looks just like ordinary software but we’re having problems with it and the company we bought it from don’t take our calls. What can we do?

This sounds like a case of fake software. A growing industry in this country and across Europe is the distribution of illegal software. It looks like the real thing until you need to do something and suddenly it stops working.

If you are buying any Microsoft operating system you should check your supplier as two Midlands companies have been fined for selling illegal office software. These were both national companies.

It’s really difficult to spot fakes. They look the same and seem to operate in the same way, it’s only when you need to download or update that everything starts to go wrong.

The only options open to you right now are to take legal advice, but the company may disappear before this time and contact your local Trading Standards office as there is a chance they may already be aware of this company or the people involved.


Checklist to avoid fake software

• Make sure companies selected for software purchases are recognised with Microsoft
• Find out how long the company has been trading
• Are they a Microsoft Gold Partner?
• What support options do they offer?
• Who are the directors and can you meet them?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

I've lost my document! What can I do?

We had a power cut and something has happened to my PC. I've lost all my morning's work which was a report I was editing in Word. I work from home and don't use a server, what can I do?

Ouch! We've heard this sooo many times before! You mention that you don't have a back-up system, so in this case, it depends on how badly the PC was affected. Most programmes, like Microsoft Word do save as you are going along. What you can do is reboot and go back into Word and see if the files are there.

Some tips for the future:

When you go back into Word look at how long between saves and shorten the time.

For example in the latest version of Word go to

• Office button
• Word options [small box on right hand side at bottom of dialogue box]
• Save
• Save autorecover information - save every X minutes

In Word 2003

• Options
• Save
• Save AutoRecover information

In some cases all may have been lost and there isn't a solution other than re-doing your work which I know is painful.

Another idea is to create a back-up system. To do this some external storage is needed. This could be saving onto a memory stick, or CD or online.

Remote working

Can I access my work files from home / remote location?

You can access files from home or when you are away, for example, working in another office and the safest way to do this is to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

A VPN establishes a secure communication link between your internet connection and your office connection. This means that data can be exchanged safely.

With a VPN set up on your desktop, you double click to open your connection, enter your usual login details [user name and password] and then you can see all the files on your server.

There are many types of VPN choices available. We use Sonicwall because it offers a solution for businesses of all sizes, with different configuration options.