Computer Software

Most of us use our computers several times a week, and many of us use our computers on a daily basis. Because our PCs boot up, our programs run when we double-click on icons, and we can browse the internet unfettered, far too many of us mistakenly assume that our computers have a clean bill of health. Unfortunately, however, for some people — maybe you — there are silent killers working their black voodoo magic the background; viruses and spyware slowly siphoning your personal information away to strangers, and maybe even destroying your files, and killing off your computer’s internal protection measures so that they can operate freely within the confines of your computer system’s walls. The question is — are you an unwitting participant in this based-on-a-true-story, made-for-PCs horror movie?

Spyware – the identity thief

Spyware can rob you of your privacy, and it can lead to the complete takeover of your identity by unscrupulous third parties. Sometimes spyware is relatively benign, aside from the privacy intrusion implications, and does little more than track your internet usage or monitors the software that you use on your computer. Other spyware, however, keeps track of passwords that you enter into login forms, grabs your credit card numbers, bank account numbers, social security number, as well as other sensitive information, and sends it to an unknown party who either uses it themselves or sells it to others for them to use as they wish.

Spyware is unfortunately very easy to ‘catch’, kind of like the common cold or food poisoning, depending on how you look at it. While spyware is generally embedded in software that you download and install — like a game, a toolbar, a PC security application, or even a coupon printer — your computer can also become infected through simply visiting a malicious web page that exploits a hole in your computer’s security.

Viruses – the PC killer

Viruses, while they can have spyware-like implications, are infections that can spread throughout your PC much like a virus spreads throughout your body and can result in sickness. However, much like viruses that infect us, computer viruses can be asymptomatic, and you might not be able to tell that your PC is infected until it’s too late. Viruses can be unfortunately devastating — they can disable certain functions on your computer, like being able to run certain anti-virus software, they can disable your internet altogether or prevent you from visiting specific websites, and they can even render your computer completely unusable.

While most computer viruses are not ‘invisible’, so to speak, they can remain hidden for quite some time if they do not affect your daily computer-usage routines. If a computer virus is left to run as it pleases, eventually you will suffer some kind of data loss, and maybe even lose the ability to boot up your computer anymore.

How to verify that your computer is free of viruses and spyware

The best way to confirm that your computer is spyware and virus free is to have a professional computer repair technician scan your PC for viruses and spyware. While there are plenty of virus and spyware removal tools available today for the amateur and pro DIY (do it yourself) computer repair technician, when in the hands of a computer novice, they can actually be quite dangerous because of the false sense of security that they can give. While you should absolutely install trusted anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer, sometimes it just isn’t enough to protect your PC from new infections.

If you do not want to be an unwitting participant in this all-too-real, made-for-PCs horror-movie scenario, you need to be aware of the inherit risks of using your computer, especially when you are continually connected to the internet. Don’t assume that your computer is clean just because it runs, or even because a free anti-virus or anti-spyware program says that your computer is clean. For your own security and privacy’s sake, have a professional scan your computer for viruses and spyware from time to time — it’s a precautionary measure that may very well save you from a world of hurt in the not-too-distant future.

About the Author

CPS is a Howell computer repair company specializing in helping others to remove viruses, spyware, and other malware from their PCs.

Article Source: ComSofts

Some of us resort to changing our computers when we notice a slight problem rather than seeking possible computer repairs. But due to the present global financial crisis, we must learn how to save money and one of them is by preserving our current computer. How do we exactly preserve our computer? To answer this question, we should first get to know the most common problems that need to be attended at computer repair services.

Slow Computer Performance

In the beginning, our new computer has its utmost speed at works that’s why we can open numerous programs at the same time and can do multi-tasking without any problem. However, as time passes by, we will notice a change in the computer’s speed. One of the reasons for this is the lack of maintenance. It is not a major problem. We can easily enhance our computer’s speed by cleaning out its registry as well as defragmenting its hard drive regularly.

Computer Locking Up, Freezing, Or Displaying A Blue Screen Error

This is one of the many serious problems encountered by the computer. It is mostly affected by a third party program called spyware. Spyware does’nt come in a single program alone, sometimes these harmful programs come from numerous advertisements, downloadable free programs, and other enhancements from the internet. They solely have one purpose, to spy on your computer activities that may include credit card identity theft. You should seek the help of computer repair services fast so as to avoid any more complications and further damage to your files as well as to avoid classified information from leaking out.

Uncontrolled Turning Off and Rebooting of Computers

If your computer often turns itself off or reboots itself automatically, this may be a problem with your hardware. The power supply or your computer’s fan at the back of your CPU might be defective. This kind of problem must be taken to a computer repair technician since the problem can only be resolved by the replacement of the defective hardware.

There are also some instances that this kind of problem is caused by the corruption of your system program. If this is the case, a reinstallation of your system program might be needed. Other times, reformatting your hard disk is necessary before any reinstallation can be done. If you have some important files you wanted to recover before reformatting, you can ask the computer repair technician to recover them for you.

Vibrations and Other Unusual Noises

If you encountered odd noises or vibrations coming from your computer, this is a hardware problem. A loud high pitch sound indicates that one of your memory cards is defective. A different sound can also be heard if your video card is damaged. Since you don’t have any means of knowing which one is damaged, the best way to deal with this problem is by consulting a home computer repairs company. They will send out a technician to look over the problem and fix it for you.

Corrupted Files

Corrupted files are often caused by the presence of viruses, adwares, and spywares on your computer’s system. There are a lot of free software available on the internet to combat these harmful third party programs however not all of them are reliable. Computer repair service companies have the best information on which anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-adware programs are best for your computer’s protection.

Now that you know the most common problems affecting computers, it is best that you get in touch with a reliable computer repair services company to maintain your computer regularly. Believe it or not, your computer can be used for as long as ten years if it is properly cared for and maintained.

About the Author

Rolando Valdes operates a successful miami computer repair service business and resides in Florida, USA. For more details visit his site at: http://www.rgvcomputerconsulting.com/ to learn more.

Article Source: ComSofts

If you’ve seen a message popup on your computer claiming that “You have a security problem”, then you absolutely do have a problem – it is called Antivirus 2009 and it is a rogue antispyware program.

What you are experiencing is the slick attempts of Antivirus 2009, which are designed to get you to purchase their bogus software. And while there are a large number of manual fixes and claims that completely free tools like Ad-Aware or Search and Destroy can clean this nasty little spyware from your computer, the reality is that you are going to need a lot more than that to rid your computer of this spyware nuisance.

This is the reality of spyware threats today. They are becoming smarter and smarter and more difficult to remove. What makes Antivirus 2009 so difficult to remove is the fact that the software has the ability to recreate itself after a reboot. This means that you can manually delete the files, folders, registry entries, etc. all day long and every time you reboot it will be right back there again, hammering you with popups and continually downloading additional spyware by the minute.

Having said that – there is a way that you can remove it rather quickly and rather easily, without the need to post any logs to forums and without having to do any manual intervention that quite frankly, most people don’t feel comfortable doing. While it might not be the answer you want to hear it is the answer you need to hear – invest a small amount of money in a proven, top of the line antispyware software.

Most spyware removers out there will allow you to scan your computer for free to determine how infected your computer really is, however this is where the freebies end. Yes, there is software that will allow you to clean your computer for free, but the reality is that these programs are nowhere near as effective as software that you might have to pay a few bucks for. I mean, if the totally free software were so effective then antispyware vendors that require you to pay for the full version and clean your computer would go out of business right?

What computer users are starting to realize more and more however, is that the freebies simply don’t work. What usually happens is that users think they can get away with using a totally free software, but after they have spent countless frustrating hours trying to clean their computer, they come to the realization that they need something better and that in order to get it, they are going to have to invest a few dollars and this is exactly what happens with Antivirus 2009 as well.

Because Antivirus 2009 has the ability to recreate itself and due to the fact that totally free antispyware software does not have the ability to stop this recreation which is the root of the infection, users find themselves in a vicious loop and can never completely remove it unless they get their hands on a proven spyware removal tool. I am sure you might already know how frustrating it is to see “You have a security problem” over and over again.

But what users also fail to realize is that this isn’t going to be the only time they get infected with spyware if they don’t have antispyware software running on their computer that is actively monitoring for threats in real time.

So spending money now on antispyware software with highly effective real time protection will not only clean your computer from current infections, but it will block future attempts at infection before they actually make it onto your computer – saving you from the frustrations of having to deal with spyware infections every other week or more.

So if Antivirus 2009 has gotten hold of your computer and you are seeing unending popups claiming that “You have a security problem,” the best thing you can do is invest in proven and effective antispyware software and if not, be prepared to spend countless hours now and in the future fighting a new breed of highly efficient spyware infections.

About the Author

Ready to get rid of Antivirus 2009 for good? Visit Paul’s info packed website, http://www.TheBestSpywareRemovers.com to learn what the Best Spyware Removal tool is that will not only get rid of Antivirus 2009 quickly and easily, but will keep your computer spyware free for years to come.

http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Have-a-Security-Problem—Remove-Antivirus-2009-Quickly-and-…

Article Source: ComSofts

A lot of computer users believe that since they have a security program on their computer that they are totally covered against any type of virus or spyware getting into their system. Unfortunately, this is not really the case. There are plenty of programs that manage to get by standard security systems and infect your computer. This is the time when you have to consider getting a spyware removal program.

Understanding where spyware comes from is actually part of the problem with the common computer user. Sometimes they don’t even realize that they have spyware in their system. Have you ever gone to a search engine and then you are redirected to a different site when you click on the link that you wanted? Perhaps every time you go to one of your favorite sites you are constantly getting hit with pop-ups. These are both signs that spyware has gotten into your system.

Now of course the question remains, how can spyware get in if I have a security system and firewall on my computer? Sometimes, when you click on a banner ad on a site that you regularly go to or when you click on a link in an e-mail, you allow the cookies to get into your system that drop spyware into your computer’s registry. When this happens, the only way to truly get them removed is to use a spyware removal program.

What a spyware removal program does is identify processes that are running on your computer that are not supposed to be there, and quarantines them so that they do not affect the running of your computer. Once these programs are removed, your computer will usually go back to acting normally and will actually process the programs you are running much quicker.

That leads us right into why spyware is so destructive in your computer. Once it gets into your registry it will usually take up a large amount of space and seriously slow down your normal computer operations. You can actually see them listed as a running process when you open up your taskbar. It will more than likely be a program that you do not recognize taking up a large amount of memory.

Now there is no need to panic that you are going to have to shell out a lot of money in order to get a spyware removal program that will work well and get all of these nuisances out of your system. There are actually plenty of free programs available that will identify and remove unwanted spyware from your computer.

Of course, you can actually pay for a program if you are not comfortable with free downloads. Most of them are actually very reasonable and will not cost you more than $50. Furthermore, they usually also come with a guarantee that if you are not happy with their performance, you can get a 100% refund on the fee that you were charged.

There are a lot of advantages to having spyware removal programs on your computer as they all but guarantee to keep your computer free of spyware programs, they can be updated every day and can be run anytime you wish that you suspect you have spyware in your system. It’s always better to be more cautious than not and to be sure those invasive programs are not ruining your computer system.

About the Author

Lance Thorington is a passionate writer and online publisher. We have
tested the top spyware removal programs for you! Find out which one is
the best and visit http://www.spywareproductreports.com/spyware-products-spreadsheet.html

Article Source: ComSofts

I was looking for powerful antivirus software that can clean up my PC thoroughly. My computer had a problem of getting hanged on every occasion. My friend told me to buy mcafee, which he had used before.

However, he advised me to take same from mdofpc, because of their customer care & Support features, discounts on software. So, we decided to go for mdofpc, at a glance. This is because of quality they provide.

Well, there are many constraints that you must think before purchasing any antivirus software. Of course, an unprotected computer is a vulnerable computer, plain and simple. Every year there are hundreds of viruses, Trojans, worms, malware, released into cyberspace.

Most people dont realize that malware is everywhere and avoiding a malicious computer invader is very difficult. And usually, you wont even know youve become a victim. Malware is an umbrella term for all malicious software. The most common are viruses and spyware.

There are many different types of viruses floating through the Internet. Consider yourself lucky if you have never been the victim of a virus. There are a number of talented programmers out there with a lot of time on their hands writing software programs intended.

If you have ever come back to your computer and found it wont start or all your files erased and unrecoverable, you know exactly why you need to protect your computer. A typical virus will essentially wipe out MBR of your computer, making it completely unusable.

In some cases, the only thing left to do is to reformat your hard drive and reinstall your operating system losing all your pictures of the kids, workrelated spreadsheets, email and more. The best Antivirus programs will stop viruses before they ever reach your hard drive.

A recent study found that more than 80% of home computers have spyware installed on them and the users dont even know it. Spyware, or sometimes called adware, is a small, seemingly innocent piece of software that embeds itself in your Internet browser.

As you surf the internet, signing into email, bank accounts, and the spyware program reports back to home base with all your personal information. Before long, your resources are drained, your computer slows down, and some stranger knows everything about you.

Root kits are also a type of spyware. In this case, a hacker takes control of your computer, without you knowing, and uses your hard drive and IP address to infect others. This type spyware is difficult to detect on your own, but top antivirus software will detect a dangerous download and immediately delete the file.

Computers are expensive pieces of equipment. For the same reasons you lock your home and car (to keep others out), you need to have some type of antivirus protection on your computer. There is an arms race out there between malware producers and antivirus software producers.

And it escalates daily. Remaining unprotected is a surefire way to become collateral damage in this war. The cost to prevent and protect yourself is much lower than the cost of replacing your computer and restoring your identity.

What to look for in antivirus software?

All antivirus software is not created equal. Like any other category of consumer goods, it has its good, its bad and its mediocre.

Top antivirus software should be easy enough for a computer user to both install and install. The software should effectively seek out and identify virus threats, as well as clean or isolate infected files. McAfee Product that I purchased on MDofPC satisfies all below requirements.

Ease of use : exceptional antivirus software is simple to use, regardless of a users computer experience or knowledge of viruses. The software should be easy to install and configure.

If you need to use the interface to change settings, it should be intuitive and nonthreatening to beginners. Ideally, most features will be enable/disable toggles with the power to finetune if desired.

Effective at identifying viruses and worms : the best antivirus products identify infected files quickly through realtime scanning, searching for viruses in a multitude of sources, including email, instant message applications, web browsing, etc.

Scanning speed is also important. Slow antivirus software will tend to interfere with your work or gaming, and if its very slow or you are particularly impatient, you might have the tendency to stop or pause the scan, rendering the software useless.

Effective at cleaning or isolating infected files : truly capable antivirus software thoroughly cleans, deletes or quarantines infected files, keeping them from spreading throughout the hard drive or network.

Proactive/heuristic testing enables the antivirus software to detect and quarantine code that looks and acts like a virus even before it has been reported. This could be critical in protecting you on a Day Zero attack and spare you from being one of the first casualties.

Activity reporting : antivirus programs should give immediate notification of viruses found by realtime scanners and should provide an easy to read report of scan results, including what was found and what was done with infected files.

Feature set : a well rounded feature set allows antivirus software to provide absolute protection. The best programs are those that offer a wide variety of tools, from basic realtime scanning to more advanced heuristic scanning and script blocking.

Ease of installation and setup : antivirus programs should be a breeze to install, making it easy to go from installation to initial scan in just a couple clicks of the mouse.

About the Author

MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software,Fast Download Software, Cheap Download Software,Shop On Web, Buy Fast Software Discount Download Software,OEM Download Software

Article Source: ComSofts

What is a rogue antivirus program?  Perhaps you have heard the term but are unfamiliar with the signs of a rogue program.  Knowing the characteristics, the warning signs, how these programs enter computers, and what you can do if they are in your system will help you keep your computer running safely and normally. 

What is the Spyware Remover 2009 Rogue Antivirus Program?

Rogue antivirus programs are designed to look and feel like the real thing.  The scan results, the warnings – all of these seem to come from reputable programs.  Even the name “Spyware Remover 2009” gives the appearance of a solid program.  However, this cleverly designed software exists for one purpose: to convince computer users to buy their programs.  What do the customers get?  They may be tempted to buy Spyware Remover 2009 because they see warnings of severe threats.  But remember that these are created by false scans run by Spyware Remover 2009.  It is similar to taking your car to a rogue mechanic.  He may tell you that there is a laundry list of things wrong with your vehicle when there really isn’t.  When you get it back, minus some hard-earned money, nothing has been fixed or replaced.  With Spyware Remover 2009, the only issue that is likely affecting your computer is the presence of this rogue program.  Spyware Remover 2009 is an updated version of Spyware Remover 2008. 

How Does Spyware Remover 2009 Enter My Computer?

The so-called trial version of Spyware Remover 2009 usually gains access to your system using trojans.  Trojans usually reside in “questionable” websites (those with gaming, adult, or pirated content), spam emails and attachments, freeware or shareware, file sharing programs, and the websites of rogue antivirus programs themselves.  When you visit a site, click on an ad, open an infected email, or download an infected video, this may allow a trojan to enter.  A common trojan, and one associated with Spyware Remover 2009, is Vundo.  Vundo is usually found in spam emails and on websites like those mentioned above.  You may visit a site and click on an ad, and that’s all Vundo needs in order to gain access.  Sometimes, it is enough to simply visit the site. Once Vundo is inside your system, it can install Spyware Remover 2009 or other forms of malware.

The full version is installed by computer users themselves.  Faced with these severe warnings and the need that everyone has to have an antivirus program, many people opt to buy Spyware Remover 2009.  This is certainly understandable because the programs are designed to be convincing.  Whether you have the free or full version, it is important to remove Spyware Remover 2009 as soon as you can.

Is Spyware Remover 2009 in My System?

This may seem like a silly question if you installed it yourself, but if you haven’t, you need to know the signs that Spyware Remover 2009 is in your system.  Rogue antivirus programs typically behave in similar ways: after being left by a Trojan, they go through an inactive period.  Here, they are undetectable by most antivirus programs and can modify your system settings. Once Spyware Remover 2009 makes its presence known, you will see pop-ups and false warning messages.  A typical one reads:

SpywareRemover2009 Alert!

Warning: someones tries to change IE security level for Local Intranet from Custom to Medium!

An undefined process wants access to IE Security Settings. Don’t allow access unless you know changes were initiate by you.

Notice the spelling errors.  Rogue antivirus programs are known for their poor grammar and odd syntax.  This is not noticeable during a quick glance, so it is important to look carefully at any warning message.  It is also vital because these look and sound like the alerts that come from legitimate programs. 

These messages can come as pop-ups or through a flashing icon on your system tray.  In either case, you will be directed to one of Spyware Remover 2009’s websites and urged to purchase the full version.  

The false results scans are particularly effective in convincing people of security risks, so learn to recognize the signs of a rogue.  In this case, Spyware Remover 2009 is printed clearly at the top, accompanied by a blue shield with a mutli-colored cube inside.  This gives the appearance of legitimacy because the logo incorporates the key elements of reputable programs.  You will see that the program claims to have run a scan and found multiple threats.  You are given several options:  registering, learning about Spyware Remover 2009, viewing the report, or removing the threats.  Any of these options lead to the same outcome.  You will be directed to a Spyware Remover 2009 websites and urged to purchase the program.  At the bottom of the scan results is the message:

WARNING!!!

YOUR SYSTEM IS INFECTED!  TO REMOVE THREATS CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW.

In addition to the warnings and scan results, you may find that your homepage has been replaced with a Spyware Remover 2009 site.  It may be difficult to navigate to any site or run a search without being diverted to one of theses rogue sites and advised to buy the software.  Another very common problem is slow performance.  Spyware Remover 2009 uses an enormous portion of your power and memory capacity for itself.  The rest of your programs have to run on much less than optimal power.  Simple jobs, like loading web pages or switching between browser windows, are much slower.

If Spyware Remover 2009 remains in your system, it can cause greater instability.  It also may exploit vulnerabilities in order to allow additional Trojans to enter.   For these reasons, and to keep your computer running in top form, it is important to remove Spyware Remover 2009 as soon as possible. 

About the Author

By Mindy Matter for http://www.removeadware.com.au/ – Here you’ll learn how to remove Spyware Remover 2009: http://www.removeadware.com.au/articles/spyware-remover-2009/ – Please link to this site when using this article.

Article Source: ComSofts

An increasingly common problem since the inception of email, Span is a concern for many users. No one wants to deal with spam, and almost every user is tired of fighting it, but while there are thousands of programs claiming to offer spam guard devices, you may need additional ways to deal with this persistent problem.

The electronic equivalent of all that junk mail you regularly receive in your physical mailbox, Spam typically advertises a variety of both real and virtual products. There can be a number of different types of spam, but the most common is email spam, and it’s usually a bulk message sent to thousands. Everything from rogue antispyware programs to work at home jobs to health products are advertised through spam email. Advertisers love this method because the costs are few, and while there is some legislation out there to stop spam, it’s not enough to prosecute every case.

7 Ways To Prevent Spam

1.      One of the ways you can help protect your address from the glut of spam is to create an email name with “strength.”  Strength implies a more complex or complicated email name than, say, “SallyJones” or “JackSmith” or “Mary1” or “Steve1.”  Most experts recommend an email name that has a combination of letters and numbers, but that would be difficult to replicate without really knowing that particular person.  Of course, the combination of letters and numbers should have meaning to you or you may not remember it at first.  To avoid spam, you need to get more creative with your email address. There are a number of strength meters online to help you with this process.

2.      You can also help protect your computer from spam by installing one of a variety of spam blocking or spam filtering software.  This type of antispam software helps separate your real mail from the junk mail.  You can also create your own spam-filtering system by setting your email’s options to check for specific information in incoming emails.  An example of precise information to check for could be to see if your actual email address is specifically listed in the “TO:” or “CC:” fields.

3.      Another helpful solution is to be selective in who you send emails to or reply to.  If you receive an email from someone you don’t know, DO NOT OPEN IT and DO NOT REPLY TO IT for any reason.  Doing so could get your name added to a plethora of companies who will constantly be bombarding you with junk emails.  Most email programs offer a spam filter.  They will set aside any suspicious-looking emails into a folder called “Spam” for your review before including them with the rest of your emails in your Inbox.  You will then have the option of deleting the spam forever and/or adding the email address of that “spammer” to your email provider’s list of unwanted receivers.  After that, you shouldn’t be bothered from that particular spammer again.  However, people who initiate spam emails frequently change names so they can potentially find another way into your Inbox.  If, on the other hand, a piece of email accidentally gets categorized as spam and shouldn’t be, you have the option of restoring it to good status so that it can be received in your Inbox in the future.

4.      You can also set up two email accounts.  Use one as your primary address and the other as your public address.  You can then designate only the important emails to your primary address, while using the second address for public or disposable information.  You could also, alternatively, have your second email address forward emails to your primary address, thus never having to give out your primary email address except to trusted and personal sources.

5.      Beware of the boxes you check when applying to or purchasing items from internet sources.  Many web pages have boxes to check if you wish to receive future mailings about certain items or events, or related items or events.  The boxes may already be checked for you and if you wish not to be notified of related information, you may have to “un-check” the box.  Pay attention, even if you’re in a hurry, to all boxes you mark and information you pass out when completing a form on the internet.

6.      Another way to prevent spam from creeping into your computer is to view emails using plain text instead of HTML code.  Messages in HTML can, sometimes, redirect your computer to a specific web advertiser’s page automatically before you even know what it’s doing.  If you are utilizing the preview pane in your email program, you might want to consider disabling it because some images that ride along in emails can grab email addresses from your computer for future spam email purposes.

7.      Here’s a novel idea for avoiding spam, but one that it may take you a while to get used to.  If you need to post your email address on a web site, trying doing so in a unique way that won’t entice spammers to be able to easily pick up on it (at least until they figure it out).  If you have to use your email address as a link, try listing it in an unusual way.  For example, rather than SallyJones@business.net, you could list your email address as SallyJones{at sign}business.net.  Listing your email address in this manner will make it harder for spam robot technology that searches the web to gather information to collect your information.

By employing various methods of spam filtering, you can protect your computer from a huge amount of spam.  You may not be able to eliminate all of it forever, but you can change your tactics as necessary to continue to combat the efforts of spammers at gaining access to your computer.

About the Author

By Mindy Matter for http://www.removeadware.com.au/ – Here you’ll learn more about online privacy and preventing spam: http://www.removeadware.com.au/ – Please link to this site when using this article.

Article Source: ComSofts

Most of us remember the dubious “doctor” in Huckleberry Finn who proclaims to have the cure for any malady. From the back of the crowd his shill would loudly proclaim that he himself had been healed by the magical elixir. Oh my, but the quantity of snake oil they sold before the townsfolk discovered they had been duped – and the doctor long gone. From the tone of many internet blogs it seems the same buyer’s remorse is lingering in the “Packaged Application” world.

Doing a search for the following search terms in Google brought up some staggering numbers: “ERP Horror Stories” – 43,000 search results; “SAP Horror Stories” – 87,000 search results; “CRM Horror Stories” – 42,000 search results.

Before we get into the discussion of packaged applications let’s take a step back and remember how these wonder cures manifested. In the late 1980’s – (when disco was dying) manufacturing companies wanted to shape supply chain management and enterprise resource planning. In short, they wanted to encourage the concept of a “process in a box.” (my quotes). Somehow over the last ten years the industry has forgotten that part about the need for the organizational “process” to change; and as we shall see, that is a key cause of hidden costs.

To belabor the point of “snake oil” for just a moment longer – what exactly is a packaged application?
1. You can’t see the ingredients (What is the quality of the code?)
2. You don’t know the recipe (How was it developed?)
3. You don’t know how it’s to be served (Is it designed for my architecture?)
4. When done – you hope it won’t upset your stomach (Will it run on or corrupt my databases?)

But it heals the sick and will bring peace and joy to the world if it’s configured just right!

The top ten hidden costs are – in no specific order:
1. Unclear requirements
As business requirements evolve and as the business grows, more changes to the package will be needed. This is not new but the story is the same – Business users cannot interpret formal specifications, comprehend “Use Cases”, or understand “Screen shots.”
2. Extensive Customization Required
” Post development surveys tend to show that most (around 50% of) custom solutions don’t meet original expectations and quite regularly completely fail for technical, political and other reasons.”

3. Integration of Multiple Packaged Applications
“Most data in most legacy systems is rubbish. As a result, those companies are more likely to underestimate the cost of the move.”

4. IT Staffing and Turnover
Staff turnover among developers is common in organizations that are implementing an ERP solution. Most Programmers are excited to learn a new technology; others are reluctant to embrace change. The good ones know their worth and leave after an implementation.

5. Product and Business Evolution
One factor often underestimated, and seldom calculated, is the business disruption factor. If you have a team of your best people fulltime on a project how can they possibly be participating elsewhere?

6. Excess Functionality
Excess functionality often leads to mistaken and unused functionality, which can cause data quality issues. Additionally, functionality that is not used can cause unnecessary overheads in system processing and database storage.

7. Training Cost for End User
Gartner research found that companies that a budget less than thirteen percent of their costs for training are three times more likely to see their ERP projects run over time and over budget when compared with companies that spend 17 percent or more on training.

8. Business Process Changes Required
Packaged Applications were originally intended as a “Process in a Box.” The intent is to change how a company does business by embracing a software process. However, basic business processes – such as accounting, finance, and general ledger – typically don’t need to be overhauled. When those parts of the Packaged Application are not incorporated more customization is required to turn off those capabilities

9. Vendor Selection
Packaged software vendor selection is not a trivial task. Most organizations need to conduct a comprehensive formal evaluation of the short listed suppliers with the aid of external consultants. This process can take significant resources and months in duration.

10. More Testing Required
Most packages are very complex systems. Interfacing with those systems is not an easy task. Testing the links between COTS packages and other corporate software links have to be built on a case-by-case basis and constitute a cost often overlooked.

A colleague recently proposed that he would rate my list with 1, 7, and 10 as his top three issues. He also commented that the metaphor of packaged applications to Snake Oil was appropriate. I thanked him for his feedback and was feeling quite clever – until I discovered this gem from Scientific America.
Chinese water-snake oil contains 20 percent. of the two types of omega-3 fatty acids most readily used by our bodies. Research since the 1980s has demonstrated the necessity-and efficacy-of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids not only reduce inflammation, such as arthritis pain, but also improve cognitive function and reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and even depression.
So perhaps we can survive a little snake oil after all – just beware of the hidden costs.

About the Author

For more information on the Galorath line of cost estimating software solutions & estimating software development, visit Galorath.com or call: U.S. +1 310.414-3222

Article Source: ComSofts

Correctly diagnosing PC problems can be difficult and time consuming. It makes it easier when you have a guide to look at for some of the most common problems:

Sound issues: No sound coming from speakers. The first thing to do, would be to make sure that the speakers are plugged in to the computer. If they are, check the speakers to see if they have a switch on the side indicating on or off. Many speakers also have a volume control right on the side. If this is not the problem, go to the next step.

In a shell, type in a play 1, if it works the system will tell you all of the different sound cards installed, and it is probably just the volume being muted. Go to sound mixer and adjust volume control.

If it does not work, then type in lscpi v if it is successful, the sound card will be displayed. Leave the shell going, and search for the chipset maker of your sound card. This is the thing that makes the sound card work. It is called the driver. Now, go back to the running shell, and type in sudo modprobe snd. Be sure to press Tab before Enter so that you can see the module list. Hopefully, you will find one to match the driver you already found. If your driver is vr244, then you put in sudo modprobe snd vr244. Viola! With any luck , your driver will be installed.

Another common PC problem is issues with your graphic cards. Many times, people report problems with graphics cards when they are playing games on their PC. One of the most common causes of this is too much heat. If you hear a crackling sound, then try putting a fan close enough to blow into the computer to cool it off. Cleaning the heat sink of any dust helps also. Since clean equals cool.

Computer running slow is a real problem today. There are many potential causes for this. The first cause to check for is spy ware or ad ware running in the background of your computer. This can really slow a computer down. A good spy ware program will find and get rid off all those little potentially dangerous spy bots that are lurking in your computer. You should also have a good antivirus program installed at all times. A computer can become infected in seconds. This is another candidate for causing slow computers. Fragmentation of the hard drive occurs when files are moved, changed or deleted. The files then spread out, causing slower computer response. Your computer should have a defrag program to fix this problem. It will allow you to check the volume first, and then defragment if needed.

When too many programs are running at startup, this can contribute to a sluggish computer. There are programs designed to stop unnecessary programs from running when Windows starts. The disk cleanup utility in Windows is a program that you should run regularly. It will compress old files, empty the recycle bin, and delete other unnecessary files.

Most of the time when you hear noise coming from a hard drive, it is a bad sign. More than likely, the hard drive is close to failure. You should run a hard disk diagnostic software program, and then back up important data and be prepared to buy and install, or have installed, a new hard drive. Please note that some sounds are normal in a hard drive. If you hear a grinding, loud clicking, or squealing sound, it is probably the hard drive on the brink of failure. Take recommended steps to save precious data.

With the advancement of technology, come also advances in problems associated with them. Although diagnosing PC issues can be time consuming and nerve wracking at times, with some patience and know how, most PC problems can be overcome.

About the Author

Gregg Forscher of Discount Web
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Article Source: ComSofts

Frustrated by Windows that do not load quickly? Are you forced to stare at blank azure blue screens that welcome you to windows but do not show you the files on your desktop quickly or give you access to the documents that you need urgently? De-fragmenting the hard disk, removing temporary files, running virus scans, removing unwanted software and doing everything you can think of does not seem to help? You problem could be your Windows registry. What you need is a registry cleaner!

Will reformatting the PC not help? Sure it will, but consider–the amount of time and labor you will have to put in to rebuild your user interface! The innumerable applications that is part of your work routine will have to be reinstalled, configured and set up again so that you can settle down to do the job. All this for nothing! All you perhaps need to do is clean up the registry with a registry cleaner. This should not take you more than a few minutes to half an hour!

Registry cleaners check application paths, uninstall info files, help files, all file extensions, fonts, shared DLLs, folders, start up programs and all files and folder that could be the cause of your PC’s slow response and your consequent misery.

The registry is a kind of register for all the software you load into the system. When you install or uninstall a software application, files and folders in the registry are checked, updated or deleted. Sometimes, the deletion is complete and sometimes partial. Over the years deleted applications leave their stamp on the registry. Undeleted registry entries of applications you have uninstalled and no longer use build up in volume. When Windows loads, it checks the registry for all the applications that need to be loaded into the user interface. It looks at each entry and picks up the relevant information and discards the irrelevant. The process takes longer and longer as “historical remnants” are examined and discarded meticulously. You are forced to stare at the welcome screen with a sense of frustration and chagrin.

So what are your options? You could do a manual clean of the registry. That could be dangerous unless you know for sure, what you are doing. You could end up deleting one of the entries that fire up your most frequently used application and leave you ruing the day you opened up the registry for a manual clean. Alternately you could use a registry cleaner that will quickly and accurately identify all those registry entries that are no longer in use and remove them for you.

If your budget is limited, you could try one of the free registry cleaners to clean out your redundant registry entries. If your budget is unlimited (lucky you!), you could buy yourself a registry cleaner that has a lot of advanced features.

Registry cleaners can do an automatic scan or a custom scan. Automatic registry cleaner scans help the novice fire up the registry cleaner and relax while it does its job efficiently and effectively. They can even set up the registry cleaner to fire up on its own at predefined time frequencies and perform the operation in the background while they continue with their work. Custom scans are for the geeks who know exactly what they want to achieve and have the ability to configure the scan to their needs.

So, if you are indeed cursing the slowness of the windows loading process, get yourself a registry cleaner and banish the problem forever!

About the Author

The author likes writing about technical issues and how to solve them. He created a site you can visit at: http://www.compareregistrycleaners.net and get a comparison of the best registry cleaners around. Get yourself a registry cleaner today and fix your PC!

Article Source: ComSofts