tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30524436056535780672024-02-19T12:14:34.854-05:00RChase Computer ConsultingComputer Troubleshooting | Computer Consulting | PC RepairRay Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-54040670566457800012013-11-08T13:12:00.000-05:002013-11-08T13:12:01.615-05:00IT Security BS Degree Completed, Now What?<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I finally finished my BS degree in IT Security a few months ago (little late with the message, I know). I feel that I learned more about IT Security related topics in the past few months due to already being in the IT Security position at work so the last few classes were somewhat easy. My last course was Linux as I wrote about before so I've been concentrating on learning as much about Linux security as time will allow during work. We have a few Linux devices here but I've mostly been learning penetration testing and vulnerability scanning with the help of Kali Linux (formerly known as Backtrack). I've been successful on a couple of social engineering attacks on a lab network and just making sure I do what I can to be ready to do some real testing on our network when appropriate. I see how even the good hackers can get in trouble, if you do not know what you are doing, it is very easy to take down a network, PC or server. I'll post more soon with maybe an example of some of the tricks I've learned. </span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-30503601859013095342013-01-02T14:07:00.000-05:002013-11-08T13:13:11.624-05:00Hard drive dead, no backup!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Most of you know that this blog discusses computer related topics such as troubleshooting, virus protection and system recovery. There are more topics as well and in the system recovery category, I guess I should discuss more on hard drive backups. About two weeks ago, my 1TB hard drive died and I was unable to recover all my data (more on this in a minute). I had no recent backup stored somewhere else so I had to realize that I had lost that data forever unless I were to pay for a data recovery company to attempt to recover my data for me but those places are usually very expensive. After thinking about that option for a few days, I realized that 99% of my data was not critical to begin with so I began to relax. My wife on the other hand realized the fact that most of our recent pictures of our family had been lost because she was copying them to my hard drive.Being in the IT industry for over 10 years now, you would think I would know to back up my data on a regular basis. Truth is, I do know it, but was just lazy enough to think it would not happen to me. Anyway......I learned my lesson. </span><br />
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So, after she told me that, I decided to attempt to recover the data. I hooked up my hard drive with an external USB connector that allowed to me to see some of the data but not all of it. I recovered most of the pictures that she saved but the rest of the hard drive was corrupt. She is happy and now I will discuss what I should have done from the start:</span><br />
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1) <b>Backup data regularly!</b> This is essential for critical data such as financial and personal documents. There are multiple ways to backup data and for the sake time, I would recommend for starters, just use an external USB hard drive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2)<b> Backup your backup data regularly!</b> What does this mean? It basically means to keep multiple hard drive backups. Why, because that shiny new external drive that you just purchased could go bad at any time too. So the best way to keep your data safe is to have multiple backups available.</span><br />
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3) <b>Take advantage of free online hard drive backup options</b>. There are multiple online backup sites these days so I will just recommend a few that I have heard of that again are FREE up to a certain amount of data. If you want to back up a huge chunk of hard drive data, you will have to cough up some cash to do so with these sites. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <b>***Warning***</b> <i>Never use an online site to backup certain critical data if you do not feel comfortable that your data will be safe or not. (Most) of these companies do encrypt the data that they backup but it is online and using their storage servers so just be careful on what you decide to backup. </i>A website that I would recommend is<a href="https://www.sugarsync.com/" rel="nofollow"> Sugarsync</a>. They accomplish the following:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It will automatically synchronize/backup your documents and has the security features below:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- Files are transmitted encrypted (128 bit AES) via SSL using a once only key.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- At the SugarSync end they are stored encrypted on one server and the keys stored on another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- The keys are random and not generated from email addresses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- Keys are accessible to some SugarSync employees, hence also files could be provided by SugarSync in response to a court order or search warrant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- There is no encryption key stored on your computer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You just select folders to be synced using check boxes and exclude sub folders not to be synced. For those wanting a special folder like <a href="http://www.dropbox.com/" rel="nofollow">Dropbox</a> (another popular option), SugarSync also provides one called Magic Briefcase and there is a non-synced Web Archive.</span></div>
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In the end, Dell replaced my hard drive under warranty since it was less than 3 years old, but recovering all of my data would have cost me anywhere between $300-$2,000 depending on how bad the condition of the drive is. </span><br />
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What do you use for data backups? Would you consider using an online backup solution? </span><br />
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</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-85955046392601044412012-11-30T14:15:00.000-05:002012-12-13T16:05:03.586-05:00Power Supply or Systemboard?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few days ago, a friend of mine asked me to fix his PC that would not turn on. I asked him all of the usual questions<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">: (</span>as I was thinking <span style="font-size: small;">in my head is it going to be the <b>power supply or systemboard</b>?)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />When did this start? </span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Last night when I was trying to turn it on</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What happened before this? <i>The computer just shut off by itself.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Has it ever done this before? <i>No</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />So from there, I began thinking in my head on at least 3 reasons why a computer would not turn back on:</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1) The power supply unit (PSU) is dead.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2) The systemboard is dead.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3) The CPU is dead.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Based on 10 years of experience, these are the top 3 reasons that a computer would not turn back on after pressing the power button. I agreed to take the computer home and begin troubleshooting. First thing I did was clean the inside of the PC since it was full of dust. I have had other instances where a PC did not power on and after cleaning out the dust, it was perfectly fine again. Next, I tried turning on the computer and obviously, it did not power on....no fans running....nothing. BUT, the green light on the <span style="font-size: small;">power supply</span> was working as well as the little LED light on the systemboard. Although I initially thought that the PSU was infact dead, I started doubting myself after reading some online troubleshooting about this type of issue.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b><i>Sidenote: </i></b><i>Always go with your gut instinct....I am learning that this is true for multiple things in life. </i></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />So since at this point thinking that the power supply is dead, I tell the client that either the systemboard or CPU are most likely the issue. I advised them that unless we replace both at once, it is difficult to tell which one might be bad. I took a chance thinking it was the systemboard so I purchased a replacement one online and tested it. Guess what.....SAME ISSUE!!! The computer still did not turn on! </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />I then remembered that I had a spare PC in my closet that I do not use often and I figured that I could use the <i><u><span style="font-size: small;">power supply</span></u></i> from it to test with.....sure enough, the PC booted up like normal. But all of the online troubleshooting I did lead me to believe that the <span style="font-size: small;">power supply</span> was bad......</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />So I decided to test the PSU offline with the</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.overclock.net/t/96712/how-to-jump-start-a-power-supply-psu-test-a-power-supply-and-components" rel="nofollow"> paperclip method</a>. (Please adhere to the caution warnings when trying this). The PSU worked! But it was obviously still bad because it was not powering on the computer. It may have been generating minimal power due to the paperclip but that's it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Conclusion......after ordering a replacement <span style="font-size: small;">power supply</span>, the computer is back up and running. I was able to return the <u><i>systemboard</i></u> since it was not the issue. Again, it is tricky to troubleshoot power issues when some lights come on or fans work, etc. The best way to be prepared is to have a spare part to test with. And again, go with your gut instinct! If I would have tested my spare <span style="font-size: small;">power supply</span> first, it would have saved me time and money.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-34210225664287274332012-11-23T23:06:00.002-05:002012-12-07T15:54:01.855-05:00One more class left, why not take Linux?<span style="font-size: small;">So after this semester, I have to take one more elective to graduate with my BSAS-IT degree from USF. It can be any upper-level course but I figured that I would stay true to form and finish up with an IT course if possible. After looking through many courses, I figured that Linux would be a perfect fit since most of the hacking tools I have been learning about seem to use some form of Linux and I really do not know too much about the OS. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />To get ready for Linux, I installed a Linux OS version called </span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.kubuntu.org/">Kubuntu</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> since it somewhat resembles using a Windows based GUI. I will play around with this version before class starts in January to get the feel for some commands. I also installed <a href="http://www.backtrack-linux.org/">BackTrack</a> penetration testing tool so I can begin to learn it as I am learning Linux. I am still contemplating the specific road to travel in the IT Security world and becoming an ethical hacker is one option. I plan on studying for some certification exams once my degree is complete. More to come on these tests later....stay tuned for more information on my Linux class coming up soon.</span><br />
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<br />Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-17028845502679591792012-02-21T15:55:00.000-05:002013-01-02T14:21:44.837-05:00Continuing the Journey in IT Security<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yup, I'm still here. I'm not going to make any excuses for not writing for the past few months. So I will just get down to my current thoughts. I am continuing my IT Security classes at USF Polytechnic. I have about one year left before graduating with a <a href="http://poly.usf.edu/AVP-AA/AcademicPrograms/Tech-Innov/Info-Tech/BSAS-IT/Program_Requirements.html" style="color: #3333ff;">BSAS-IT with an information security specialization</a>. I am now focusing on the security classes which include Cryptography, Network security and Firewalls and Information Security Management. So far, these classes are helping me learn more about the current security environment where I work as well as reinforcing topics that I feel knowledgable in such as virus protection and <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/search/label/PC%20Security" style="color: #3333ff;">PC security</a>. As I stated a few months ago, this blog will slowly turn into IT Security related information and I continue to immerse myself into this field. I love troubleshooting PCs but over the past couple of years, I have become passionate about protecting the network as well as personal PC protection. I have not really attempted any type of hacks in a lab setting but I may do that in the future since that is one way to see where your network is vulnerable. FYI: I do NOT recommend attempting to hack any other company or you might end up <a href="http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/02/20/jail-facebook-ethical-hacker" style="color: #3333ff;">in jail like this guy</a>. I guess that is all for now. My next post might be related to a recent homework example involving using AES encryption. </span></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-21986047409173537532011-09-27T18:36:00.002-04:002013-11-08T13:14:25.570-05:00IT Security focus<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hello everyone,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I know I have not written on this blog since January and I do apologize. There have been a few changes in my life since then so I just have not had time to write any articles.<a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">RChase Computer Consulting</span></a> is still going strong and I am currently evaluating the best avenue to further continue this blog. One of the my changes in my life is the career path that is seriously interesting me these days....IT Security. I am currently going back to school to finish a BS degree in IT Security and hopefully I will also complete the CISSP certification soon thereafter. Over the past few months, I have done some IT Security related projects at my job and I very much enjoy this area of IT. I plan on continuing to write on this blog but with an IT security focus. Mostly this means I will start to focus articles related to firewalls, <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/search/label/viruses"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">virus protection</span></a>, hacker attacks, and <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/search/label/PC%20Security"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PC security</span></a>. I will still continue to consult about PC upgrades and repairs but IT Security will be the focus going forward. Stay tuned for what I am learning about IT Security.</span></span></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-75305798131164218082011-01-20T13:36:00.003-05:002011-01-20T13:46:07.047-05:00Google Redirect Virus Issues<span style="font-size:130%;">Today I thought I would take a moment to discuss a serious issue that many of my friends and co-workers have experienced while doing Google web searches. There is something called the </span><a href="http://rchase14.fixredirec.hop.clickbank.net/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Google redirect virus</span> </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">which is an attack that hijacks Google search results and redirects the browser to unwanted malicious websites. The Google redirect virus is a well hidden malware program and its removal is nearly impossible under normal circumstances. Usually, TDL3 Rootkit or some other rootkit infection causes the Google redirect virus. It gets installed through a trojan horse and it hides your google search results and replaces them with spam advertisements or websites which promote malware or some other online scam. The Google Redirect Virus is not easily detected by <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/search/label/viruses"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Anti-virus</span> </a>programs and other security software and so its removal becomes even more difficult. By the way, it does not matter if you use Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome, the redirect virus affects all 3. Some people have even said that it affects other search engines such as Yahoo and Bing. I have only seen it affect Google searches.<br /><br />I have come across this redirect virus over 30 times now and I've been able to clean it everytime. It is very difficult to clean manually so I recommend using an application known as </span><a href="http://rchase14.fixredirec.hop.clickbank.net/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">FixRedirectVirus</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> - a particular application which has been developed by a computer technician within the UK to eliminate the redirect virus on your computer. The owner of the software is so confident that the procedure will work that he is offering a 60 day full money-back guarantee. It may be worth it to get this issue resolved as fast as possible before it gets worse.<br /><br /><br />Download </span><a href="http://rchase14.fixredirec.hop.clickbank.net/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">FixRedirectVirus</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-67696802514045127602010-12-01T16:50:00.003-05:002013-01-02T14:22:04.831-05:00What to do When Your Favorite Malware Tools Fail<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Try another one! Recently, I ran into some hardcore malware that was undetectable when I used my normal favorite two removal tools: <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/12/superantispyware-better-than.html"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Malwarebytes</span></a> and Superantispyware. Mostly, I run into this problem with root-kit malware that is apparently undetectable at times.<br /><br />But then there is program called <a href="http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Hitman Pro 3.5</span></a> that I discovered recently which, no joke, found the root-kit within seconds of being launched. I sat there for 30-40 minutes with the other tools and they found nothing. Hitman pro 3.5 found the malware within seconds!!! I rebooted the device and problem was solved.<br /><br />What I like about Hitman Pro is that there is an install option that allows you to just run it once. Since it is a free application (there is a paid version), running it once keeps you legal if you need to run it on multiple PCs for a business or company that will not spend money for a corporate license.<br /><br />So the next time, you think you are out of options, get a second opinion from <a href="http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Hitman Pro</span></a>. </span></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-26439978499397655542010-08-09T21:46:00.004-04:002010-08-09T22:12:02.099-04:00Still Using Windows XP?<span style="font-size:130%;">Why? Ok, I guess I know the answer that most of you will give:<br /><br />"It's stable."<br />"All my drivers are available."<br />"Windows XP has been around for so long, I trust it."<br /><br />Ok, while those are valid and honest answers....the first two answers apply to Windows 7 also. The third will eventually apply, but why not take a leap of faith? The worst that can happen is that you put Windows XP back on your system and go back to a boring PC experience. Or you can get up to the 21 century by upgrading to Windows 7. Let me explain to you why I think it is a great idea to upgrade your PC to Windows 7, even if it is almost 3 yrs old or older.<br /><br />I experienced a flawless </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2010/02/flawless-windows-7-upgrade.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Windows 7 upgrade</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> back in February of this year. And when I mean flawless, I mean nothing went wrong, nothing was missing. Everything just worked. Now, I did do an upgrade from Windows Vista, but even if you have Windows XP, you can still install Windows 7, you would just need to back up your data first and then install a fresh copy because there is no upgrade path from XP to Windows 7. I applaud Microsoft for this decision.....it would be like upgrading from a bike with training wheels to dirt bike....they are not the same. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Anyway...since February, my Windows 7 PC has not crashed, bluescreened or locked up at all. I can not say that for when it was Vista. And even though Vista did not crash as much as XP did and still does for people, it was extremely slow and a huge memory hog. Windows 7 is not like that, at least for me. My 3 yr old PC feels like I just purchased it from Dell again.....6 months later....still feels like that.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Look, I know not everyone will be able to upgrade to a new OS without buying some<span style="color:#3333ff;"> <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/03/benefits-of-adding-more-ram-to-your-pc.html">more RAM</a></span></span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/03/benefits-of-adding-more-ram-to-your-pc.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">or maybe a new video card but most likely it will still come out cheaper to do a </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/09/benefits-of-custom-built-pc.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">custom upgrade</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> than to purchase a brand new PC or laptop right now. Check out some prices and see if it will benefit you.</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-79600790183110987892010-07-28T23:29:00.002-04:002013-01-02T14:27:38.555-05:00Website Promotion leads to traffic increase<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hey everyone....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ok, I promise to get back to some real tech articles soon. I just have to write this article about promoting your blog or website. If you don't already know by now, last week, I was a featured guest on a Ustream show on channel <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildstyle-live"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Wildstyle Live!</span></a> The show is hosted by a good friend of mine and the show discusses DJ stuff including music and news relating to the industry. I was a guest last week and the topic of discussion was computers. We discussed the importance <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/search/label/viruses"><span style="color: #3333ff;">virus protection</span></a>, <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/09/benefits-of-custom-built-pc.html"><span style="color: #3333ff;">PC upgrades</span> </a>and repair, and some other computer related topics. Oh yeah, and a little about some Macs too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, since being on the show, my blog <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">RChase Computer Consulting</span> </a>was accessed over 35 times just from a 1 hour show broadcasted live on the internet. Now I know from talking with <a href="http://www.djwildstyle.com/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">DJ Wildstyle</span> </a>that his show is rapidly growing in viewers each month. Last month, over 19,000 viewers watched his show! Those are some awesome stats for a show that only has about 47 episodes thus far. So just by being promoted and talked about on DJ Wildstyle's show will earn my blog some good promotion too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, what does all this mean? PROMOTION, PROMOTION, PROMOTION. Besides the help of <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildstyle-live"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Wildstyle LIVE!</span></a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000133526327&v=info&ref=ts"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Mastermindz Promotions</span> </a>helped out on <span style="font-size: small;">F</span>acebook. The more promotion you can give your business, the more visitors and exposure you gain from it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you missed me on the show, you can watch the episode again here: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8446369"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Wildstyle LIVE: Episode 47</span></a></span></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-49474520408161921632010-07-19T22:23:00.006-04:002010-07-19T22:45:47.654-04:00RChase Computer Consulting stats<span style="font-size:130%;">Hey everyone, </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I thought I'd write a short article about some websites stats to get ready for my appearance on </span><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildstyle-live"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Wildstyle Live!</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> this Thursday. RChase Computer Consulting has been viewed over 24,000 times since April of 2008 (beginning of blog) with an average daily view of about 28. I know that may not seem like alot to most people, but I amazed when I look at the stats and what people search for to find RChase Computer Consulting. One of the most popular pages is the article that I wrote about using the </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/05/hp-system-recovery-actually-works.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">HP System Recovery disks</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. Another popular page is about </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-convert-vhd-to-xva.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">converting a VHD file to XVA format</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. I know, it sounds boring, but apparently, people are still searching on how to do it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Anyway....I am not bragging at all. Like I said, I am amazed at how writing a few tech articles can turn into something so needed by others out there. I read many tech blogs myself and appreciate them when I find an answer to a problem. So my goal is to help others the same way. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">RChase Computer Consulting</span> </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">has been viewed all around the world, just take a look at the map below:</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBPgIUMUV2k5oigjqJjCI_2gZ4O2TjBP6mbkvFR6nhcDNVpupQjA6Y3LkPkwpUGERKnCSaNWwEZRS02mf9q4-STAbAjOv3YQ7EJsQKE0aN2f300XS5_UhADD0fobOxG7fWQrBeYlhF0c/s1600/map.png"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495812473550345682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBPgIUMUV2k5oigjqJjCI_2gZ4O2TjBP6mbkvFR6nhcDNVpupQjA6Y3LkPkwpUGERKnCSaNWwEZRS02mf9q4-STAbAjOv3YQ7EJsQKE0aN2f300XS5_UhADD0fobOxG7fWQrBeYlhF0c/s400/map.png" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmiyiRjZcccvkJbVS2uZDvGdE8IvQFXq075nfHaFqyd36zrFVat9FH_XH6zc8XPoKsj41NtmAJRQVqDjKWr9pz21Cv2SYFhTva9ikq59Y-CFRHxvVCSYE6NMYklQha1jCaUS_nwuKltI/s1600/map.png"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZQs7K62epEaljh8x8ViEUB276rFyhNxD4Ft_Jv0HvuiduTryVApujPgK6p5QGubrR6iwYlNb4LVg3qtRmm3fsVJsnflW9blOz4Sfi0lcIxjesj7R6IqX4ci5_tVKWh872blwGQKDbyg/s1600/map.png"><span style="font-size:0;"></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Ok, I hope this helps get to know me a little bit. I look forward to chatting with some people this Thursday @ 8pm on </span><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildstyle-live"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">WildStyle Live!<br /></span></a>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-70652780929819145032010-07-09T16:14:00.004-04:002010-07-09T16:33:41.162-04:00RChase Computer Consulting to be featured on Wildstyle Live Ustream channel<span style="font-size:130%;">I know.....I have not written any articles in a few months. Honestly, I have spending time with my family and I recently took over the Media Ministry at </span><a href="http://www.livingwaterchurchfl.org/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Living Water Church</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">. I've been re-designing the church website using Wordpress (sorry Blogger fans) and I may migrate this site to a wordpress site as well.<br /><br />Today, I wanted to let you know that on July 22nd, I will be the guest speaker on my good friend </span><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildstyle-live"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">DJ WildStyle's</span> </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">show which is broadcast live on Ustream.tv every Thursday @ 8pm. On his weekly show, he discusses many topics ranging from current music news to of course DJ stuff! As his guest, I will be discussing computer issues such as </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/09/benefits-of-custom-built-pc.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">PC upgrades</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, removing viruses and I may talk about a Mac or two since I recently got an iPhone.<br /><br />Be sure to tune into </span><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildstyle-live"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Wildstyle Live!</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> on 7/22/2010. You can chat with us and I believe DJ Wildstyle may have some prizes for anyone that listens the following week.</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-18718367342904313652010-02-12T09:33:00.001-05:002010-02-12T09:40:22.863-05:00Flawless Windows 7 upgrade<span style="font-size:130%;">A couple of days ago I decided to upgrade my 3 year old Dell PC runnning Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. I know what some of you are thinking, why upgrade to Windows 7 on a 3 year old PC, right? Well, there are two good reasons. One, I have a free copy authorized by my college and secondly, I need to learn as much as possible about Windows 7 so I can stay current with the times.<br /><br />Now for the flawless upgrade information.....I inserted the Windows 7 DVD and ran setup. About 1 hour later, I had what feels like a brand new PC. Windows 7 is definitely faster than Windows Vista.....and all of my programs work perfectly. Infact, my Madden 2008 PC game runs twice as fast and the graphics are enhanced even with my current nVidia GeForce 8400 GS video card. The game ran OK under Vista but sometimes it would lock up on me.<br /><br />So there you have it...at least one success story of a successful upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7. have you upgraded to <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://windows7news.com/">Windows 7</a> yet? </span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-47328701095484747392009-12-02T09:14:00.001-05:002009-12-02T09:20:36.277-05:00SuperAntiSpyware better than Malwarebytes Anti-Malware?<span style="font-size:130%;">The answer to this question depends on which type of <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/search/label/Spyware">spyware</a> or malware your PC has been attacked by. Recently, a variant of the Vundo trojan blocked me from installing Malwarebytes and that never happened before. So, I remember reading on Technibble an article about another spyware removal tool called SuperAntispyware. I installed this new tool and immediately, it detected the Vundo variant plus about 200 other issues. SuperAntiSpyware is free to install and use and is now being added to my personal tool list for spyware and malware removal. Of course, the free version does not auto-protect the computer so you would need to purchase the Professional addition to enable that support. But from all of the reviews on <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.technibble.com/categories/viruses-adware-spyware/">Technibble</a>, it is definitely worth it. </span><br /><br />Here is a link to download either version: <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html">SuperAntiSpyware</a>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-17637409358636020422009-10-22T09:32:00.003-04:002009-10-22T09:39:48.250-04:00Windows 7 for $30I just came across a website that has partnered with Microsoft to sell <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.win741.com/">Windows 7</a> for only $29.99. Only requirements is that you be currently enrolled in an approved list of colleges or universities. Microsoft will verify that you are a student so I suggest not trying to sneak your way in to purchasing Windows 7 for only $30. Make sure your PC can handle Windows 7 before deciding to purchase it.<br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.win741.com/">Purchase Windows 7 for $30</a>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-73320355785029044662009-10-15T07:42:00.003-04:002011-10-25T08:47:21.609-04:00Degree vs Certification: Part 2<span style="font-size: 130%;">A couple of years ago, I wrote an article about whether or not getting a college degree was better than getting some IT certifications. This is part two of that thought process. Its been almost two years since I wrote about getting a <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/04/degree-vs-certification.html" style="color: #3333ff;">degree vs certification</a> and I mentioned in the article that I was going to go back to school to finish my degree. Well, I am almost done, this should be my last semester. I will graduate with an Associates Degree in Computer Networking Technologies. It might be considered a basic degree but none the less, I finished. Now I need to decide if I am also going to get some certifications. I am pretty sure that I will, I just need to figure which path to take. Microsoft or Cisco? Or both? Well, I found an article that discusses the topic of possibly getting both, a degree and certifications. And I think I finally agree. Getting both will help me in the long run and I would only need to continue updating my certifications when they expired. My degree will never expire, it will always be there on my wall somewhere showing that I finished it. IT Certifications expire as fast as the technology changes. Study hard folks.....<br /><br />Here is a link to the article from Microsoft's Born to learn blog: <a href="http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/2009/10/certification-or-college-degree-which-should-you-choose-hint-both" style="color: #3333ff;">Born to Learn</a></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-33128736121669607082009-09-08T18:36:00.002-04:002009-09-08T18:41:17.355-04:00Troubleshooting screen flicker<span style="font-size:130%;">I was going to title this article, "The case of the flickering LCD" but I figured I just title it something simple and to the point. Plus, that title kind of sounded like the article might be related to some criminal activity or some Sherlock Holmes type stuff....anyway....here is what happened:<br /><br />I recently came across an HP laptop that had an LCD that would flicker after a few minutes of being turned on. It was on a docking station, plugged into a power strip with the original A/C adapter for the docking station. So I began trying to troubleshoot the issue and began narrowing down what I could to determine if there was a power issue or an LCD issue. It really could only be either one of those problems, there is not much else that can cause a screen to flicker.<br /><br />So, I first decided to troubleshoot the power situation. I removed the laptop from the docking station and at the same time, decided to plug the laptop directly into a wall outlet with the original laptop A/C adapter (not the docking station one). Result: LCD still flickers. The only common item at this point is the laptop. I tried another wall outlet, no help. I tried another A/c adapter, LCD still flickered.<br /><br />Next step, I took the laptop to a completely different area in the office.....guess what, it stopped flickering. (Don't get too excited yet). I proceeded to get with our office maintenance to have them check the cubicle for electrical issues. They actually came back to tell me that they found some loose wires which they repaired. (Again, don't get too excited). I tried the laptop again at the client's desk....LCD began to flicker again, but not right away like before.<br /><br />To make a long story short......when the laptop was at my desk, it did eventually flicker, it just took longer. Not sure why. After waiting 45 minutes or so, it did begin to flicker. So, my last option was to assume that there was an issue with the LCD. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">One interesting thing is that the laptop LCD NEVER flickered while it was on battery power!!!</span> Very interesting and HP had no idea about this.<br /><br />The solution that HP stated they repaired was the LCD, a fan (not sure which one) and they replaced the laptop battery. Luckily, all of this was still covered under warranty.<br /><br />Do you have any laptop LCD flicker stories? </span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-33381774593614227112009-08-13T15:14:00.003-04:002009-08-13T15:28:24.798-04:00Bluescreen error? Use this tool to view details.<span style="font-size:130%;">Sorry for the long break in posting. I've been very busy in the past few weeks. Mostly moving into my very first home! Well, back to business, I have had some interesting computer problems at work lately so I will be posting the computer troubleshooting steps I took to fix them.<br /><br />In the meantime...checkout the cool tool that was posted on <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.technibble.com/bluescreenview-repair-tool-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow">Technibble</a> this week. Bluescreens happen, period....there is no way to not get one if you are using any Microsoft Windows flavor. From windows 95 to Windows 7, bluescreens happen. The below listed tool may help figure out what caused the bluescreen which might help you troubleshoot the issue further to resolve the problem.<br /><br />Check out the article here: <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.technibble.com/bluescreenview-repair-tool-of-the-week/" rel="nofollow">BlueScreenView</a></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-57756441951340748992009-07-07T08:11:00.004-04:002009-07-07T08:17:39.922-04:00Publisher 2007 hotfix now available<span style="font-size:130%;">As promised, Microsoft finally released the Publisher 2007 hotfix. The fix is due to an issue that Microsoft actually "broke" while releasing <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/06/office-2007-sp2-breaks-publisher-files.html">Office 2007 SP2</a>. In my opinion, this issue should have been fixed sooner but Microsoft would rather you uninstall SP2 while waiting for them to work out the details with the hotfix. Why would you want to uninstall a Service Pack, which is usually includes security updates? By doing so, we (the Office 2007 users) could potentially corrupt our PCs or make them vulnerable for attack because of an issue that Microsoft themselves caused in the first place? I know, they have to cover themselves, but at least they could have acknowledged the fact that there was an issue.<br /><br />Anyway, enough ranting... here is the link to the hofix: <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972566/" rel="no follow">Publisher 2007 hotfix</a>.<br /><br />Are you tired of issues like this? There are free <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/03/do-you-still-use-microsoft-office.html">office suites</a> out there. Check them out if you are not happy with Microsoft Office.</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-31446953526396937002009-06-12T15:02:00.004-04:002009-07-07T08:22:24.630-04:00Office 2007 SP2 breaks Publisher files<span style="font-size:130%;">I know what you are thinking, "Why would Microsoft release a major Service Pack that might cause an issue?" It does happen every so often and its not usually known in the public because of course that would make the company look bad. But that is not even the issue here, let me give you the whole story:<br /><br />Within the past month, Office 2007 SP2 was released through Windows Updates. Most likely, everyone installed the update without any trouble. But suddenly, you attempt to open one of your MS Publisher files and get an error message like this: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Publisher can not open the file.</span>" You click OK and then the application closes. Apparently, the Office 2007 SP2 install has somehow denied the ability to open Publisher files, including a brand new file that you save. Once that new file is saved and you attempt to open it again, NOPE, it doesn't open. Of course I started the usual google search for this problem and I came across a forum (<a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/office2007deploymentcompatibility/thread/32299765-4887-4e73-9b3f-71ba95cd44d1" rel="nofollow">actually its the Microsoft Technet forum</a>) and beginning around the end of May is when people starting complaining.<br /><br />Well almost a month has gone by and yup, you guessed it, no public word from Microsoft on the issue. So I contacted them and this is exactly what they said: "We are aware of the Office 2007 Publisher issues after installing SP2. This issue will be resolved and released into Windows Updates by the end of June." The end of June??? That is basically 2 weeks from now! The only possible workaround they mentioned was to remove SP2 but then it will just reinstall itself again through Windows Updates unless you block it until the fix is released.<br /><br />I understand things break sometimes, but just be honest about it. The fact that Microsoft has not publicly responded just shows that they could care less about customer service. Not to mention we (the Office 2007 users) have to wait for a fix that they broke to begin with. Maybe its time to be reminded of other <a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/03/do-you-still-use-microsoft-office.html">office suites</a>, free ones for that matter.<br /><br />Has the installation of Office 2007 SP2 affected you at all? Let me know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update</span>: Microsoft has released the <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/07/publisher-2007-hotfix-now-available.html">Publisher 2007 hotfix</a><br /></span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-4123141444319151122009-05-28T15:13:00.001-04:002009-05-28T15:18:07.741-04:00PC Maintenance tip of the week: Defrag PC<span style="font-size:130%;">Is it time to defrag your PC? Overtime, files get fragmented due to copying & moving files around, deleting files or installing applications on the hard drive. For example, let's say you had lots of music on the hard drive but decided to delete it. Now, all of the space where the music was is empty and ready for more files to be stored. Problem is that depending on how big the next program or file you attempt to install is, it may just not "fit" into the empty space vacated by the previous music files. Windows may have to find the next available space to finish the install of the program or file. This is what causes the fragmentation of the hard drive, which can cause the PC to respond slower because it has to work harder to find all of the files related to the program or application you are trying to access.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Solution:</span> Defrag PC on a regular basis if you do alot of moving, copying or deleting of files or programs. On Windows XP, you can schedule a defrag or start one manually. Windows Vista attempts to automatically defrag when the PC is idle (but it is also scheduled to defrag as well by default).</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-37603750358292857962009-05-14T22:10:00.004-04:002009-05-14T22:20:54.997-04:00HP System Recovery Actually Works<span style="font-size:130%;">Most name brand PCs out there come with some type of System Recovery feature. I recently repaired a co-worker's PC by using the HP system Recovery option by pressing F10 during the initial HP boot screen. Basically, it was a last resort option for me. I tried every </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">computer troubleshooting</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> technique that I knew to fix this problem which happened to be the fact that the PC would not boot completely to the desktop. No icons or shortcuts, just a desktop background and that's it. I tried safe-mode, last-known good configuration, XP System Restore and nothing worked. I even tried creating a new user profile......same problem. I knew that I could still run the HP System Recovery option so I went ahead and backed up all of the data on another hard drive. I always back up the data first, just in case something goes wrong.<br /><br />The next step was to restore the data. I reinstalled the hard drive, then powered on the PC. I pressed F10 to begin the HP System Recovery process. During the process, I was reminded that the data would be lost Windows XP would be reinstalled along with any original HP applications that came with the PC during initial purchase. All other applications would have to be reinstalled. The whole process took one hour from start to finish.<br /><br />Then to my surprise, when I returned to check the PC, all of the data was still there! And the </span><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/2008/04/system-recovery-options.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">System Recovery</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> process completed successfully. Maybe I did not read the entire warning message correctly but I thought the data would be deleted. It saved my 3 hours of restoring the data. Everything was then back to normal. My co-worker was happy and so was I!<br /><br />Have you had any success restoring PCs? Let me know.</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-13004865085184666202009-05-04T10:32:00.005-04:002009-05-04T10:47:31.975-04:00IE8 SmartScreen Filter blocks malware<p><span style="font-size:130%;">Windows XP or Windows Vista users who have their automatic software update turned on will be notified that Internet Explorer version 8 is now available for download.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;">The new version runs faster and smoother than version 7 according to the author of the article at <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/04/microsoft_pushing_out_ie8_thro.html?wprss=securityfix" rel="no follow">The Washington Post</a>.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the new features is called <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/03/25/ie8-security-part-ix-anti-malware-protection-with-ie8-s-smartscreen-filter.aspx" rel="no follow">SmartScreen Filter</a>. This feature blocks phishing sites but the article mentions that this does not work well against the top sites that distribute rogue anti-virus products. Of course Microsoft believes otherwise, take a look at what they say the filter does:</span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;">SmartScreen’s malware protection focuses on identifying and blocking sites on the web that are distributing malicious software. As a reputation-based feature, SmartScreen can block new threats from existing malicious sites, even if those threats are not yet blocked by traditional anti-virus or anti-malware signatures. In this way, the SmartScreen filter complements traditional anti-virus products by providing additional dimensions for both identification and protection. For comprehensive protection from malware, we highly recommend that users also install traditional anti-virus products and keep them up to date.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;">You can read more about Internet Explorer 8 and its SmartScreen filter here: <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/03/25/ie8-security-part-ix-anti-malware-protection-with-ie8-s-smartscreen-filter.aspx" rel="no follow">IE8</a><br /></span><p></p> <p><br /></p>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-5403969251227947862009-05-04T09:40:00.004-04:002009-05-14T17:18:34.246-04:00Privacy Policy<span style="font-size:130%;">This website/blog uses third-party advertising companies to serve ads when visiting this site. These third parties may collect and use information (but not your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, you can visit <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google's Advertising and Privacy</a> page.<br /><br />If you wish to opt out of Advertising companies tracking and tailoring advertisements to your surfing patterns you may do so at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Network Advertising Initiative</a>.<br /><br />Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.doubleclick.com/privacy/faq.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Doubleclick</a> as well as opt out options at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google's Privacy Center</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Privacy</span><br /><br />I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site. The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RSS Feeds and Email Updates</span><br /><br />If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Log Files and Stats</span><br /><br />Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter.com. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cookies</span><br /><br />A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. This blog doesn't use cookies. However, some of my business partners use cookies on this site (for example - advertisers). I can't access or control these cookies once the advertisers have set them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Links</span><br /><br />This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Advertisers</span><br /><br /><a href="http://chaseconsulting.blogspot.com/">RChase Computer Consulting</a> uses outside ad companies to display ads on this blog. These ads may contain cookies and are collected by the advertising companies and I do not have access to this information. I work with the following advertising companies: Google Adsense, BlueHost, and possibly Project Payday. Please check the advertisers websites for respective privacy policies.</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3052443605653578067.post-10638644024291041252009-04-27T14:41:00.003-04:002009-04-27T14:44:07.108-04:00Upgrading template today<span style="font-size:130%;">Today, RChase Computer Consulting is under going an upgrade. Things make look funny throughout the day......hopefully, if all goes well, the new template will be in place by tomorrow morning. Stay tuned for future posts relating to Windows XP, Windows Vista and computer troubleshooting.....</span>Ray Chasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500763527713542052noreply@blogger.com0