trueITpros, LLC

Windstream Communications outage has users on edge.

For all of you Windstream Communications users, they are currently experiencing an outage with long distance service. Unfortunately you can’t reach out and touch anyone at the moment. Of course they are working diligently to fix this issue. There is no estimated time of when services will be up again. Oh yeah, the website is down too, but don’t panic. Everything will back online before you know it. Windstream Communications will provide updates as the issue is handled.

Windstream Communications is headquartered in Little Rock, AR. Known for their product line which includes phone, high-speed Internet, high-digital TV and data solutions, Windstream provides services to small and mid-sized rural areas in 23 states. Small business owners can also count on them for advanced phone systems and equipment including long distance, voice mail and conferencing services. Business telephone lines are cost-effective and have great call quality. Don’t let one little Windstream Communications outage turn you away from their amazing telecommunications services. Storms happen and there is nothing you can do to stop nature.

trueITpros is always available with important news concerning small business IT, new technology and communications. Stay tuned to the Windstream Communications Facebook page to stay updated on today’s progress.

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written by trueITpros \\ tags: windstream communications outage

The new Windows 8 update finally enhances user access and controls

We’re back with more news about the anticipated summer release of a Windows 8 update. We talked about a few things earlier this month, but have learned a great deal more since the platform has undergone recent tech trials. The Windows 8 update focuses on many critical back-end fixes that will surely enhance the Microsoft user experience.

Faster startup

New technical advances have finally been introduced to the Windows platform to boost reboot time, including:

• HybridBoot writes a copy of the disk to the drive before going into sleep mode.
• Upon restart, Windows reads the disk copy for instant startup.
• This feature can be easily disabled.

Managing and fixing disk errors

The new Windows 8 update establishes an advanced system for repairing New Technology File Systems (NFTS).

• NFTS disk errors can be targeted and repaired
• Instead of scanning the entire system, weak disk areas are isolated, targeted, and fixed
• This increases disk health, system speed and virus protection

Enhanced update management

The new Windows 8 update has tackled the aggravating task of managing updates. Windows only forces reboots for crucial security updates. All other updates are executed automatically at restart.

New task manager

Possibly the most exciting new feature on the new Windows 8 update, this update offers better user controls for dealing with task management, such as:

• Improved graphical interface for task management
• New graph feature visualizes disk, network, and memory usage
• Task manager has updated controls and one-click access to common features

Explorer updates

A new ribbon-based interface makes browsing cleaner, faster, and increases usability. With some nudges from the Apple platform, Windows is finally offering:

• New file history manager similar to Apple’s Time Machine
• 1-click zip will be added, similar to Apple’s control-click zip feature
• 1-click access to Computer, Network, and HomeGroup configuration

Data, storage and security

A new Storage Space Manager illustrates disk capacities and app storage. The new Windows 8 update has also enhanced data and security features to assist in higher data and security standards:

• Ability to combine drives, making storage management super easy
• BitLocker supports full disk encryption (FDE) for Windows Professional and Windows Business

New connectivity

Better integration of SkyDrive and DropBox are major selling points on the new Windows update. The majorly enhanced platform allows synchronization of multiple systems to duplicate content, features, and settings. App content can be automatically replicated across multiple devices for easy tablet-to-PC syncing.

Small business updates

New Windows To Go can copy an entire operating system (OS) to a USB or hard drive through an easy setup wizard. Users will be able to manage how information and data are cached. A one-click status check on all active domains can now actively predict disk propagation errors.

Phew!

You can anticipate the new Windows 8 update sometime this summer. With our team of Certified Microsoft IT Professionals, you can rely on trueITpros to deliver the latest news in IT and small business management.

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written by trueITpros

You may be unaware of the super cool but widely unknown Google tricks—simple input functions that simplify the search engine experience. These Google algorithms were designed just for the user and available to support your interwebbing experience. The booming software hegemony boasts a staff of the most impressive software developers on Earth; they are consistently busy improving web technology by creating and destroying. While the erasure of popular apps like Google Reader have users in a hissy fit, new developments in IT include Google Fiber—the ultra high speed cabling and internet service that has recently been introduced to the lucky residents of Austin, Texas. For the love of faster browsing, we’ve put together a list of unknown Google tricks to enhance your internet surfing.

Definitions

Want a fast term defined as quickly as possible? Type “define” before your word and Google will immediately render a description. You may never have to feel outsmarted by your friends again with this unknown Google trick.

Google Local

Search a specific area for a business, bank, or store using Google Local. Want to find a diner in Chicago or a barber shop in New York? Have Google Local use your exact location to determine the closest spot that fits your criteria.

Direct FedEx and UPS package tracking

You can plop your FedEx or UPS tracking number directly in a search bar—Google does the rest.

Site specific search

We’ve all been here before:  you read something on venturebeat.com about Kim Dotcom and you want to share that specific article with a co-worker. Type “Kim Dotcom site: venturebeat.com” into Google and it only display results from within that particular site.

Search refinement symbols

The age-old parentheses (“”) can be used to refine a search to very specific terms. On the contrary, you can use the minus symbol (-) to avoid specific words from showing up in your results. If you wanted to find an Art supply shop in Atlanta, but didn’t want to go to Michaels, your search would look something like this: “Art Supply Shop Atlanta” –Michaels.

In addition to these spectacular and unknown Google trucks, the web giant also offers advanced options for analytics and AdWord marketing. Our advertising specialists are Google AdWord Certified who will dedicate their knowledge and services to help better your business. Check out more unknown Google tricks here and here, or give us a call and let us handle the heavy lifting.

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written by trueITpros

A virtual backup server is worth every penny for IT stability

Do you have a virtual backup server? The Vault system operates on two major platforms—a physical server and a cloud-based server. The two are integrated to prevent downtime and enhance your internal IT infrastructure. Technology blurps happen—with The Vault, you can be prepared to answer its sometimes frustrating and always inconvenient hiccups. When disaster strikes, will you have the necessary backups in place and ready to deploy? The Vault is designed to copy your network every 15 minutes and store the network contents automatically.

When The Vault copies your server, trueITpros engineers monitor the backups for virus, malware, and spyware protection. Instead of using full backups, the VAULT virtual backup server copies the entire server one time (the first time) and then creates incremental snapshots. These images are then transferred to the cloud where we can supervise for suspicious activity. The cloud enables our engineers to easily access the backups to analyze the content on a constant basis. Our virtual backup server system is proactively monitored 24/7/365 to ensure IT stability and long term functionality.

Just last week, one of our clients experienced a server crash that could have resulted in hours of downtime. Thankfully, our client had installed the Vault virtual backup server just days before the breakdown. In ten minutes, trueITpros engineers had successfully restored the server and all of its contents and connections. Thanks to The Vault, the client server was repaired and back to business with virtually no downtime at all. The Vault is configured to prevent downtime despite any type of server failure, including fires, floods, and theft.

The Vault is the small business solution to avoid IT catastrophe. The best part? We can access your virtual backup server remotely. If your system ever fails, we can have you back online without waiting for an engineer to get to your business site. If you have questions or walk to talk details with a member of our staff, drop us a line.

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written by trueITpros