Greetings!    

My computer died the other day.  It had been acting up for quite a while but as I typically have at least a dozen windows open at any given time; it getting confused wasn't out of the ordinary.

Thankfully, it died during a shutdown procedure after I'd closed all windows and had allowed Dropbox to complete its backup process so no data was compromised.  Some days your guardian angels earn their keep. 

In the old days, getting a new computer was a pain - you had to go online (in my case to the Dell website) and pick and choose the configuration.  That's a pretty expensive route - the last time I ordered a laptop that way, it cost $4,000 (before you judge, it was ten years ago and a state of the art, first time out dual processor).

Today, ordering a special-built configuration is no longer necessary unless you just want to do it.  The easiest and quickest route is to walk into any big box store and pick up a decent computer in the $500-$700 range.  You'll get the latest technology and, speaking as an experienced and tech-savvy computer user, for the average layperson a laptop of this type is more than adequate.

  This time I opted for an HP.  Why?  Because I liked the monitor clarity best - it's HD and the keyboard is backlit, which is nice.  Everything else was equal (processor speed, graphics cards, hard drive size) so it really came down to keyboard feel and monitor.  

The new laptop came with Windows 8 (WHY Microsoft? WHY?) which added to the chaos of setting up a new computer because the navigation is quite a bit different; but, thankfully, it is fairly intuitive so it's more of an annoyance than a problem.

Since setting up this new computer is fresh in my mind, I thought it might be helpful to give you some tips and steps to create your own Data Management Recovery Plan.  This way when you're ready to get a new computer you can be prepared and the set up will be much easier:

1.  Use Dropbox to backup all your data EVERY DAY.  It doesn't matter whether you run a business or just have a ton of kid's photos on your computer.  You must, must, MUST have a Cloud application backup system.  Dropbox is the best in my opinion.  It's proven trustworthy and it's free for up to 18 gig so there is no reason not to use it. www.dropbox.com 

2.  When you set up your Dropbox, or other backup system, be sure to include your mail system if you can.  I had Outlook backed up in Dropbox and was able to recover the entire thing - all my client folders and data, all my contacts, my calendar, everything - even the files sitting in the 'deleted' folder.   Whew...

3.  Backups don't include the software program, only the data; therefore you must keep all your software disks handy.  In my case, that included a copy of MS Office 2010, Quickbooks Pro 2012, MS Visio, and my antivirus program. And they were all sitting together in one place - again thankfully!

4.  Keep a list of other, free (or those you pay for) downloadable programs you use that will need to be re-installed.  In my case that included Go To Meeting and Adobe Acrobat.  In fact, include your entire list of programs so you have a checklist to ensure you've remembered everything.

5.  Make a list of all website support companies, their contact info and your account information - in my case that included Intuit (Quickbooks), Dropbox, Microsoft, and Go To Meeting.  Just in case you have to call them.  Because I usually upgrade Quickbooks online, I didn't have the current product key for my CD.  A quick call and we were back in business.

6.  Make a document that includes all your mail account setup information - including names, passwords, type (POP or IMAP), incoming and outgoing servers and Port information.  If it differs from device to device, be sure to identify what is what.   Don't forget your phone, iPad and laptop mail clients.   Technology is amazing and is fairly easy one-at-a-time, but can be intimidating when you have to set it all up at once.

7.  Create a list of programs with their corresponding user names and passwords.  Or find an online program you trust to control it.  Personally, I am leery of any online programs for passwords - not because they might not be legitimate (even though they might not be) but because they are subject to hacking. Call me old fashioned - I'll control this myself.

8.  Invest in a professional to help you set up your new computer.  I personally am way more than capable of setting up and configuring just about any computer, PC or Mac, and I've done it for lots of people too, but this time I called in help. Why?  Because these days the darn manufacturers install so many superfluous programs on the new computer in order to try to get you to buy them.

I want all the junk removed but sometimes it can be challenging to identify what can be removed and what shouldn't; especially when you're trying to identify which programs affect your operating system and which are just peripheral.  It can be figured out but it takes some time.  I wanted the laptop up and running NOW.  Ergo, hire a professional who can uninstall all those programs quickly.

9. Make sure you sync your iPhone and iPad (if applicable) as soon as possible after you get the new computer running.  Self-explanatory.

10.  Finally, all the lists and set up documents should be saved to a USB drive dedicated for this purpose and then that USB should be popped into your safety deposit box or put somewhere completely away from your computer where you'll remember it.  This is the heart and soul of your data management system.  Don't lose it or leave it vulnerable to theft.

There you have it.  Even though I had all this info available and my system was properly backed up, it still took four hours to go from dead laptop to new, alive and well.  Plus the hour it took to go buy a new one.  

I can't even imagine how much time (and the risk of setting up programs incorrectly) that it would take if we weren't organized.  A laptop crash doesn't have to be a crisis.  You just have to be well prepared.  Trust me, the little bit of time it takes to set up a personal Data Management Recovery Plan, the more thankful you'll be in the end!  Happy computing...

Our Favorite Things... Cold Nose, Warm Heart...

Are you going to enjoy the holidays here in the desert?  Then you might want to consider letting us rent you a decorated Christmas tree.  

One price gets delivery, setup, take down and take away of a beautiful, lighted and fully decorated artificial tree.  It's already almost too late, but if you want one, please contact us ASAP and we'll do our best to support your request.

Need assistance shopping, wrapping, packing, shipping?  We can support all your holiday needs!

Executive Errands®.... We go beyond the usual, regular and customary to bring you the most helpful services in the desert.

Do you have pets?  Especially dogs?  Do you know that the 71,542,900 registered dogs in the US produce more than 29,000 pounds of waste daily?  We suspect that number is underestimated since many many dogs are unregistered.

Executive Errands® is always striving to provide the latest and most value-added residential and commercial services - and now we've added pet waste removal.  

We are offering a service provider who is dedicated not only to cleaning up after your pets, but more importantly sanitizing the area your pet uses. 

Did you know one gram of dog excrement contains over 23 million fecal coliform bacteria?  It's true and gardeners all over town are transferring it and other health concerns from yard to yard.  

Not only that, but if you have children or grandchildren who play in the same yard your animals use, they are also being exposed to worms and other diseases carried through pet excrement.

Let's put this into a more relate-able perspective: The EPA estimates that two or three years' worth of droppings from a population of about 100 dogs would contribute enough bacteria to temporarily close a bay and all watershed areas within 20 miles for swimming and shell fishing.  

Do you still think it is OK to let dog poop sit in your yard for more than a day?

If you live in a managed community, your complex shares a lot:  pools, tennis courts, playgrounds and the problem of pet poop in common areas.

We can work with property managers to create complete waste management solutions.  Not only can our service provider pick up pet waste from community common areas or onsite pet parks, they also carry away the pet waste (and dispose of it properly), sanitize any pet valets, pick up loose trash and clean/disinfect the affected areas. 

Sometimes there is a single spot in managed communities where dog people congregate or a common walking route.  

Our pet waste management professionals can focus on those specific areas to significantly reduce the pet smell and health concerns of your community.

This service is also available to our snowbird clients who bring their pets along for the winter.  Need the service for only six months?  No worries.  We can start and stop each year or, if you're in and out throughout the year, we can even provide the service for intermittent weekends, cleaning and sanitizing so your home is fresh and clean each time you return.

This service is not limited to dogs.  We also do horses, pigs, rodents, chickens.... any animal that leaves excrement outside in the yard, coops, stalls or cages.

Keep your yards and your communities clean and healthy! Once you start using this service, you'll wonder how you lived without it!

For more information or to request a proposal, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com 

Appliances are so expensive and when one is acting faulty, it can be difficult to find someone reliable and trustworthy to fix it.  And even if you do happen to find someone available who calls back, they usually specialize.  High end or low end, but not both... accckkk....!

We can attest to just how difficult it can be, but after an exhaustive two year search, we are so excited and pleased to announce we have FINALLY added a fantastic appliance repair company into our network.  

And the best part?  They service all brands from Frigidaire, Kenmore, GE and the like to Dacor, Wolfe and Miele.  Everything!  Yay!  They were even able to fix my 30 year old O'Keefe and Merritt oven.  How about that?

If you have an appliance on the fritz or if you want to do a preventative maintenance checkup, please check for the brand and, if you can find it, the model number and give us a call.  We'll either schedule the service call or provide you with a referral, whichever you prefer.

Homeowners in Rancho La Quinta (and other communities approaching ten years of age or more) should be aware that their original built-in refrigerators are starting to experience problems with the electronic circuit boards.  It appears they're reaching the end of their serviceable life.  

These are the types of things that might be better repaired.  Even a several hundred dollar repair is better than a couple thousand dollar replacement refrigerator.

Repairs, preventative maintenance, installs - all brands!  We are so thrilled to have this service provider!!  As is always the case with our service providers, our appliance repair people are properly insured. 

For more information or to request a referral, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com 

How did we identify the failure?  It wouldn't reboot but would beep seven times.  Remember the dreaded blue screen of death? Apparently a seven beep failure is the same and means "bad motherboard".   Fair enough.

Here are a couple things I've learned about computers (and laptops in particular) from this latest ordeal:

A.  Be sure to invest in a cooling platform.  All new processors run hot.  They just do.  And even the very best laptops need to be kept cool.  A cooling system runs around $30 and is an inexpensive investment to help prolong the life of your computer.  Targus makes a nice chilling mat that securely supports your laptop on either your desk or your actual lap.

Win 8 shut down

B.  Shut down your computer at night or whenever you aren't using it.  I'm guilty of NOT doing this.  I leave my computer on 24-7.  As it turns out, because the new processors all run hot (see 1 above), even with a cooling system, constant use can cause your laptop to overheat. Dust gets inside + the 

unit gets too hot = fried motherboard.  Oops...

C.  Keep a can of air around and blow out the dust a couple times per week.  Believe it or not, dust can be sticky when left to heat up.  Blow out your keyboard and lift the laptop and blow out the fan outlets.  Also all the ports and the cooling system.  Heck, blow out the whole thing.  Keep the dust away.

D.  Do not smoke, eat or drink around your laptop.  Seriously.  I speak from experience and even though I haven't smoked in over two years (YAY for me!) I remember how awful the nicotine gummed up the keyboard.  And a full glass of iced tea does a keyboard no favors either - believe me.

E.  Use a lint-free or microfiber cloth to keep your monitor clean.  The few seconds it takes to wipe it daily prevents a major clean at some point in the future.  I don't know about you, but so far I haven't found any way to actually clean a monitor that doesn't leave streaks.  If you have, please share.

Follow these simple tips and your laptop (or desktop) will last longer and perform better and may even help you avoid frying your motherboard!

760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com