Author Archive: Lisa Hendrickson

Lisa Hendrickson is the owner of Call That Girl. She is an Outlook Expert and Microsoft 365 Consultant.

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Tips on using free software

| March 15, 2010 | 0 Comments

Many of us today are using Gmail, Google applications, AVG free, etc. Free software is usually great, but the support you get if you need help is usually not up to par. About a month ago, I decided to start using Google documents to store a few files because I needed to have them on 3 computers. I worked on a massive “to do list” and after I was done, I hit the “cut” button to move something and it all disappeared. I could not get it back, even though it had saved just a minute before! I was LIVID to say the least. I had been saving it too for a whole day or so and I’m not sure how easy it is to put in a support ticket to Google and have it checked out for a restore, but decided then and there…to only rely on myself for such needs from now on.

Support is very important when it comes to things you need to use.

Here are my opinions:

  • AVG free is a good product, but not a great product. The download for AVG 9.0 takes a very long time to install (up to 45 minutes) and we see that program on virus infected computers. It works, but I quit recommending it to folks who want free software because it doesn’t work either. Toss up on AVG free!  AVG free offers online FAQ/Knowledge Base and Forum help. No email or phone support that I could find online. If you upgrade to the paid version, then you get the premium support.
  • Microsoft Security Essentials Antivirus so far is doing well with the clients who I have recommended using it. Only one client so far has had a problem with “real time protection” and Microsoft will support that issue via chat or email.
  • Google calendar can have glitches that can’t be fixed easily (from what my clients have told me, I am having success using it for now, but am looking at paid alternatives). Again they have the forum/FAQ help, but put in a ticket and wait a few days for help, if they help….Google decides if they support you due to the millions of users.
  • Gmail is not something I am fond of, but many of my networking friends use it frequently and are happy with the product. My problem with Gmail is, what if you woke up one morning and your emails were all gone. Do you have time to wait for Google to figure it out? Who do you call? With Gmail, you have to search their support and help forums first, then put in a ticket and wait a few days. If you’re using Gmail for business (or hotmail, yahoo, etc..) do you have a few days to wait? Business is on the line!

For the sake of your business, please move to a paid email hosting solution. There are many affordable solutions out there, if you need some recommendations, please email us at info@callthatgirl.biz

Feel free to comment on the blog!

Lisa

Looking for a local online backup solution? Try MNBU

| March 11, 2010 | 0 Comments

 

Well folks, the time to start considering online backup solutions is NOW. Many times I have been asked what is better, online or external hard drives. I always ask people how important their stuff is…external drives are not that reliable these days. I had one a few years back that died after 3 months and I had to send it back in under warranty. Where was my stuff? I didn’t have a back up or a back up solution for 2 weeks.  ???

How good is your external hard drive if it was stolen, in a fire, fried out or got something spilled in it?

Online back up today is very reliable and I will now introduce you to a Minnesota based online back up solution, MNBU (Minnesota BackUp).  The owner is Dean Meier and I met Dean when we were neighbors a few years ago. He is also the owner of Digital Brigade (http://www.digitalbrigade.com) a server/network solutions business.  I was thrilled to find that they are offering a local solution, as many people are worried about online backup. “Where is my stuff”…it’s right here in Minnesota!

Why chose MNBU?

  • Minnesota based
  • Easy to install
  • Your data is HERE in Minnesota
  • They check your back ups daily for you
  • If you miss a back up, they will email you
  • If you don’t respond to the email alerts, they call you and let you know
  • If your computer has a crash, they will deliver your information to you
  • Unlimited backup for one price
  • You have a problem? You call a Minnesota number for help…and they answer the phone with a real live Minnesota person!

Want to give it a try? Here is the sign up link….and use code “CALLTHATGIRL” to get one free month.

http://www.mnbu.net/

Stop drop and roll: the virus evacuation plan

| March 3, 2010 | 0 Comments

I bet you didn’t think I could come up with this one, but you are wrong! I have come up with an evacuation plan! I recommend printing these out asap and tape up to a filing cabinet. These instructions, could save your computer and your wallet a few bucks.

Be Smart

  • Be very careful when clicking on any advertisements, many are fake and will take you to a virus download
  • Be very careful when “googling” anything, just because it’s at the top of your google search, doesn’t mean it’s “virus free”
  • If you see any type of “scan” started when you go to a website, do not touch anything! These are definately fake and will download a virus if you touch any part of the screen. Right now, it’s “fake” (appearing to be real)
  • Change all of your email passwords, make sure they are unique and are not the same as your Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn accounts
  • Many email accounts are getting hacked into, so be very careful when getting emails from friends with “just a link” in it. The hackers are getting lazy and not even sending out text anymore. Just a link, be careful!

If you happen to see an attack/infection going on, your best bet to stop it:

  • Press the “control, alt and delete” buttons” at the same time on your keyboard or…put your mouse down on the bottom of your screen (the task bar) and right click
  • Start “Task manager”.
  • Go to the “applications tab” and then you will see what you have going on with your computer.
  • Click on the Internet E or Firefox and then hit “end process”. Do it for all of them.
  • You will see the scan windows go away.
  • Update your antivirus software and do a scan

Now, you may or may not be infected still. If you do all of the above and see symptons of a new program on your computer or it acting very slow, then you probably have a virus.

You can do the following:

  • Ignore it and it will get worse, no question
  • Fix it yourself, some folks do a good job with that
  • Get the neighborhood kid to fix it, not a good idea
  • Call That Girl and get it fixed and get added protection so next time, you are set!

Star Tribune and Sports Illustrated hit by viruses!

| February 23, 2010 | 0 Comments

Not a shock to Call That Girl, well known websites have been hit lately by viruses, and there is not much “the average user” can do about that….unless you know how to avoid getting them!

If you watched the segment tonight on WCCO’s “Good Question” with Jason DeRusha, then you will have seen our interview about Malware and viruses! It goes to show that everyone/everywhere now can be hit by these sneaky intruders.

The interview was pretty cool, I have to give props to Jason…He has heard of Call That Girl and forgot our name, Tweeted it and got responses…called me immediately and had an interview done within with the hour! Talk about a HOT on the TROT journalist!

 I was very impressed with his interview style, he knew the topic and it was like having a conversation with a client, even the cameraman was interested in what I had to say.

What did I have to say? The Star Tribune was attacked over the weekend (Jimmy’s List Tony Lopez was the first to call in did the recommendation today!)….Jason figured this was a GOOD QUESTION…what is malware and how can you all help yourself from being attacked! The Star Tribune didn’t even know about this…until it was too late.

Call That Girl to the rescue! We are here to help!

My first job as a 411 operator

| February 22, 2010 | 0 Comments
Below is a picture of me sitting in front of a USWest/Qwest terminal. I was a 411 operator from 1988-1995. I look back at this picture and just laugh. The reason why I am holding up a little notepad with the word “jerk” on it was because one of my co-workers just bought a new camera and was taking pictures of everything. So I wrote that up and when he said he was taking my pic, I flashed the “jerk” sign. What is really more hilarious is the big ol green screen monitor working off  a terminal system. Little did I know back then I would own a computer repair company 20 years later (eeks! 20 years flies by!)
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The Qwest job by far was never one of my favorites, but I was making great money for a kid that age. I drove a sports car and took trips often. Ah, the good old days of having freedom and not caring about anything but where I was going out that night. I had to work many split shifts and weekends, but that was the life of a 411 operator. Times have changed now, we get the computerized 411 lady now–which I hate. As I build my business I have learned a few things…I will do the exact opposite of everyone else and NEVER ever, no matter how big my business gets, ever have a phone queue, “press 1 for this, press 2 for that”. 
Call That Girl will always always always have a live person answering phones…unless of course, I’m out of the office or busy with a client, but we are changing that too now….changes coming folks!

Tip for Vista users thinking of going to Windows 7

| February 18, 2010 | 0 Comments

If you are one of those folks getting a bit frustrated with Vista and want to upgrade, here are a few things to keep in mind. Just don’t buy Windows 7 and throw it in the drive and install it…until you have backed up the following:

  • My Documents/Documents folder
  • Desktop items
  • Pictures
  • Music
  • Outlook PST files
  • Favorites

I think there is an assumption that if you upgrade your Vista to Windows 7, that all of your stuff and programs will still be there.  This is not verified by Call That Girl as we have read reviews out there and haven’t done an upgrade, only full installs. The reviews are not good about upgrades. What we do know is that if you do the full install, all of your stuff, data, programs are gone. You will need to have your disks ready to reinstall on the computer. Itunes too!

As I have said in past posts, I am all for moving to Windows 7. I have found very few problems with my testing to not recommend it. Your Vista computer should have enough hard memory (RAM) to be able to make Windows 7 run pretty smoothly.

If you are thinking of upgrading and want help, give us a call and we can certainly help you with this! Can we help you with this remotely? We sure can! No need to bring your computer to our office or have us come to your home, this should be fairly simple to do via the remote tools/internet.