My windows machine started to get really flaky a few weeks ago, suddenly crashing etc, but I backed up all my customer files etc from accounting (MYOB) software ont a zip disk and took it in for repair. In meantime I had bought a new mac to do video, DVD stuff etc for the website etc and bought mac version of MYOB. After days and days of calling them and trying to open the backed up files, we used "stuffit" to try and look at files and found that they contained nothing! Back to the repair shop where the old machine was found to be riddled with viruses, needed new fan etc and the old hard drive was taken out, put in another computer and MYOB files put on a CD. In the meantime, I also could not access Xcel spreadsheet to see orders and when shipped etc. So bought office for the Mac that also had virtual PC. This was able to open windows (udateded Version of MYOB after unzipping etc. Meanwhile weeks were passing, Then our cable connection went out so no e-mails etc. Then THIS had to be fixed etc. To cut this rant short, this is the reason that some orders have been going out later than usual and why I have not been on this forum until now. Luckily all this happended just before the start of the season. The old machine should be back in a wee with new operating system, gobs of memory and a 51/4 drive for all my old scientific stuff to be transferred. On the "Good News" front, I have made video footage of my own boat (and a car) being redone and should be able to be viewed. I would like to invite people's comments when these are posted in 1-2 weeks time Many apologies for the apparent neglect, but updates and improvements are also in the works for this boating season. Thanks Jim W
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Riddled with viruses?
You don't have an antivirus program? Or if you do, you don't subscribe to their auto-update service? New virues are appearing so often now, that anyone who doesn't have an anti-virus program that's continually updated is just asking for trouble. Norton sometimes updates mine as often as twice a week. When I owned my company, I learned the hard way to back up all my business related files daily...it appears you've just learned that lesson the hard way too.
While I was working on my book, I saved it to a CD-RW every time, too. These days, I just copy my whole harddrive to CD about once a month...but that's often enough now that if my computer does go down, I may lose a few things, but not much. Running the system maintenance programs included in Windows--disk cleanup, defrag etc--once in a while helps to prevent a lot of problems too.
You don't have an antivirus program? Or if you do, you don't subscribe to their auto-update service? New virues are appearing so often now, that anyone who doesn't have an anti-virus program that's continually updated is just asking for trouble. Norton sometimes updates mine as often as twice a week. When I owned my company, I learned the hard way to back up all my business related files daily...it appears you've just learned that lesson the hard way too.
While I was working on my book, I saved it to a CD-RW every time, too. These days, I just copy my whole harddrive to CD about once a month...but that's often enough now that if my computer does go down, I may lose a few things, but not much. Running the system maintenance programs included in Windows--disk cleanup, defrag etc--once in a while helps to prevent a lot of problems too.Thank Peggy, but.....
the new mac has automatic updates to the virus software anyway you switch it on and also and nobody makes viruses for macs anyway (I hear) so I am using that. I have Nortona dn amMcafee on the old machine but it was NOT updated regularly, as you suggested. I will take care of this too. I thought of going to EXP but have some old software that still needes windows 98. Thanksfully (according to the computer guy) the virus was apprently not in the data but in some of the operating program(?). I don't have a CD burner or DVD burner for the windows machine, but I can copy to ZIP and then bring over to the Mac ZIP, upload and burn to CD or DVD on the superdrive, even through the virtual PC. Anyhow, I thought another thought was easier to write a book ( I did two scientific handbooks a few years ago) than run a business especially in these days. Packaging and chemical companies wanting huge minimum orders, chain stores essentially wanting "bribes" etc Then of course there is the "terrorism" factor affecting anybody who mails things. However- for all this, I would STILL rather be doing this sort of thing even if I am overworked and unpaid! We all die in the end and having fun and meeting good people (most sailors are) is a good way to pass your life is it not: By the way, anyone wanting to reach me by e-mail can use islandgirlproducts@mac.com. I can reach the auto site but have to go in through the web until the old MS compouter is back. Peggy let me know your most recent phone/e-mail info as I have some fun things to discuss with you! Cheers Jim W
the new mac has automatic updates to the virus software anyway you switch it on and also and nobody makes viruses for macs anyway (I hear) so I am using that. I have Nortona dn amMcafee on the old machine but it was NOT updated regularly, as you suggested. I will take care of this too. I thought of going to EXP but have some old software that still needes windows 98. Thanksfully (according to the computer guy) the virus was apprently not in the data but in some of the operating program(?). I don't have a CD burner or DVD burner for the windows machine, but I can copy to ZIP and then bring over to the Mac ZIP, upload and burn to CD or DVD on the superdrive, even through the virtual PC. Anyhow, I thought another thought was easier to write a book ( I did two scientific handbooks a few years ago) than run a business especially in these days. Packaging and chemical companies wanting huge minimum orders, chain stores essentially wanting "bribes" etc Then of course there is the "terrorism" factor affecting anybody who mails things. However- for all this, I would STILL rather be doing this sort of thing even if I am overworked and unpaid! We all die in the end and having fun and meeting good people (most sailors are) is a good way to pass your life is it not: By the way, anyone wanting to reach me by e-mail can use islandgirlproducts@mac.com. I can reach the auto site but have to go in through the web until the old MS compouter is back. Peggy let me know your most recent phone/e-mail info as I have some fun things to discuss with you! Cheers Jim W
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