Law Office Technology

How to Survive Windows 8

This summer I took a train trip up north.  While I was gone,  my friend Clark needed to borrow my laptop  for a Fantasy Football Draft.  I had it with me, but my Asus Tablet with an external Keyboard and Mouse were at my home.  Before I left for my trip I decided to  download the latest version of Windows 8, but had not had a chance to use it.  Clark needed to connect a Flash drive to the tablet and open up an excel file, pretty simple tasks.  After an extremely frustrating hour,  we could not do it.  We could not figure out how to open a file in Excel!   That should have been my first clue that Windows 8 was flawed but I held off judgment for the past 5 months. 

Imagine for moment that you are back in high school.  Spanish is a very popular language so the next year, the principal decides that all classes are going to be taught in Spanish.  That is what Microsoft did with Windows 8.  They saw that Tablets are popular, so they decided to make every computer like a tablet.  They butchered their operating system by removing the Start Menu and forcing everyone, regardless if they were on a  Desktop or Tablet to swipe to get where they wanted to go.  That is a really bad idea, especially because Windows 8  sucks on a Tablet.  Its even worse on a desktop. 

The other big problem with Windows 8 is that in a lot of instances, you are forced to buy it,  especially if you are getting a new computer.  I ended up with 3 copies, a Tablet, a MacBook via Parrells, and a brand new Dell Laptop.  Instead of forking over some serious $ to downgrade to Windows 7,  I found a utility called Start 8 by StarDock.

For $4.99,  you get the Start Menu back, which all practical purposed makes your computer like Windows 7.  I have been using it for 3 weeks now and it has been flawless. 

So if you have a Windows Computer DO NOT upgrade to Windows 8.  If you are buying a new machine,  try to get Windows 7, but if that is not an option, download Start 8.   

How to shut off User Account Control in Windows 7

 

For certain programs like Amicus Attorney Version Vyou have to shut off user account control to install programs.  This has changed from Windows Vista.  Here is how you do it. 

Start –> Control Panel –> User Accounts

 

 

Move it to never notify.  This will effectively shut off User Account Control.  Install the program and then turn it back on. 

Microsoft Across America CLE

On August 1st, Law Office Technology along with Tom O' Conner from the Gulf Coast Technology Center, Digital Legal, and the Louisiana State Bar Association put on a seminar on how Law Firms could use Microsoft products in their practice.  Law Office Technology was able to get Microsoft to send down the Microsoft Across America Truck which was full of Microsoft Technology.  Attendees listened to three presentations and received CLE credit.  The first presentation dealt with Essential Technology a new firm would need to purchase.  The second, which in my opinion stole the show, was attorney Hector Lopez who described how his firm used Microsoft Hosted SharePoint and Hosted Exchange, along with a VOIP system to create a virtual office with none of the  limitations of a traditional brick and mortars Law Firm.  In my opinion, this is the future, today.  The last presentation, by me, described how Outlook with Business Contact Manager could be turned into a Case Management System. 

 

The Microsoft truck was filled with Smartphones, Servers, Tablet PCs, Projectors, Conferencing equipment, and an Xbox with Halo.  After each presentation Attorneys were able to file into the truck and see the technology in action.  With the success of this event, we hope to have the truck back in the spring.    

Microsoft to help out Louisiana

Partner Details on Microsoft Licensing Relief Program in Louisiana:

Microsoft and the state of Louisiana announced a License Relief Program for small businesses in Louisiana affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that launched October 1st. Through this Program, qualifying Small Businesses in Louisiana can be eligible to have their entire first year Open Value payment made by Microsoft on their behalf to allow them to benefit from the use of Microsoft technology as they strive to get back on their feet without having to absorb the up-front cost to do so.

What Small Businesses qualify for this Licensing Relief Program?

a. Small Businesses who meet ALL of the requirements below are eligible for this program:

• For-profit business with less than 200 employees

• In business prior to August 29, 2005, the date of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall, or September 24, 2005, the date of Hurricane Rita’s landfall

• Business was located in one of the 30 Federal disaster designated Louisiana Parishes. (Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, E. Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Iberia, Iberville, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermillion, W. Baton Rouge, W. Feliciana, and Washington)

• Have applied for the following federal or state government business assistance programs: SBA Disaster loan, State Bridge loan, and State Small Firm Loan and Grant Program? (You need not have been approved for aid.)

• Must purchase a three-year Microsoft Open Value Software License for business software and bring the purchase agreement to a Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) office and fill out the application.

• The purchase must be made between September 28th, 2007 and Sept 24th, 2008.

   3) How does the process work?

• Qualifying Small Business purchases a new three-year Microsoft Open Value Agreement through any local or national reseller

• Business owner brings first year invoice and documentation of federal/state assistance application to LSBDC

• LSBDC enters agreement number and other pertinent information into Microsoft web-based application and faxes copy of invoice to Microsoft

• Business owner leaves SBDC with "receipt" for their application, printed off the Microsoft web app

• Microsoft processes the application to validate the agreement, etc.
• If approved, Microsoft issues a check for the 1st year payment and sends it to reseller with SBDC cover letter

• Microsoft informs the SBDC that the check is cut or, if it's not approved, the reasons why not

• LSBDC informs small business that the process is complete

   4) What purchases qualify for this program?

a. New three-year Open Value License + Software Assurance (L+SA) purchases made between September 28th, 2007 and Sept 24th, 2008 by qualifying Small Businesses.

   5) Do Software Assurance only purchases or renewals, or any other purchasing program except a new Open Value L+SA purchase qualify?

a. No, Software Assurance (SA) only, OEM, Retail Box/Full-Package Product (FPP), Academic, Charity, Open Business, Select, Enterprise Agreement, or any other licensing program would not qualify.

You can view some additional information on this program below:

• Breaking News: Microsoft continues to expand hurricane relief efforts with help for Small Businesses through license reimbursement program
• Additional Details and Information about License Relief Program Announced Monday

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Visit the Microsoft Partner Program Portal.

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Daylight Savings Time Changes will Effect Networks

Letter from Microsft

 

This year Daylight Saving Time (DST) extends by approximately four weeks.  In compliance with this provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, DST dates in the United States and Canada will start three weeks earlier (2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March) and will end one week later (2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November).

In some instances, effort will be required to accommodate the new DST legislation.  For example, systems and applications may need to be updated directly, while in other circumstances the application may inherit the date and time information from the underlying system.

Microsoft is committed to helping customers that are affected by the DST changes make this transition as seamless as possible.  Microsoft is producing updates for Windows products as well as other Microsoft products affected by the new U.S. statute.  These updates will be released through technical support channels including Microsoft Customer Service & Support (CSS), as well as online channels such as Windows Update and Microsoft Update.

Details of the updates for Microsoft Windows and affected Microsoft applications, how customers can acquire them and when they will be available can be found on the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/dst2007.  Corresponding technical Knowledge Base articles are linked from this website as well.

Microsoft is providing the Time Zone updates at no-cost for customers on Windows platforms that are covered by Mainstream Support.  For more information on the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy including options available for products in Extended Support, please visit http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle.

Windows Genuine Software

I was over at a client's house the other day.  He had a Sony Vaio laptop and a Dell desktop. Both computers were giving him messages that his copy of windows was invalid.  I know for a fact that he had 2 legit copies of Windows XP, since there were stickers on the Laptop and Desktop.  I went to the Microsoft Genuine Software Website to see what could be done to fix this problem.  Here is what Microsoft had to say:

What do I do if I fail the validation test, but am certain that I purchased/have a genuine copy?

Contact the reseller that you purchased your PC from. If your reseller is unable to help you, contact your local Microsoft call center. The Microsoft call center agent can help you verify whether the Product Key installed on your PC is genuine. The majority of customers who fail validation purchased their PCs from system builders. The PCs came with a genuine COA, but Windows was installed using an invalid Product Key. For customers who have a legal Product Key from the COA or the backup media that came with the PC, the call center agent can point customers to a Product Key Update tool which customers can use to convert their system to genuine, using the legit Product Key they have.

Reading their site a little further, you can find out what causes your PC to appear to invalid.  I think what happened to my client was that he tried reinstalling windows on his PC and accidentally used the laptop's product key.  He has valid software for each, so if he calls Sony and Dell, they should be able to help him out.  The interesting thing is that if Windows detects your operating system is being used on two computers at once,it makes both copies invalid.

What to ask for; for Christmas

Since the holidays are coming up, and more importantly, the end of the 2006 tax season, many firms will be making last minute tech purchases.  You might want to download Microsoft's Vista Upgrade Adviser to see if your computer can run Vista.  You can get it here.

This program will tell you if your hardware is up to speed and what programs will or will not run with vista.  It will also give you an install checklist.  This is a great tool by Microsoft.

Vista

I got to go to a Microsoft T2 event today, which was basically a preview of Windows Vista for companies like ours that support, install, and sell Microsoft products.  I have been a big fan of Windows XP and thought it was the best product Microsoft had put out.  (I am still pissed about  ME), so much so, that I have not been that excited about Vista.  I guess I had the mentality of, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it."  Well, this event completely changed my mind.  Vista is so good looking. (I have not had a date in a while).  Besides looks, it is super efficient.  One of the worst things that happens during the work day is being forced to shutdown your workstation.  You lose time  waiting for your computer to boot up and then have to reopen all your programs.  With Vista, your workstation will restart much faster and open up to the exact programs that you had before.  The other big improvement I noticed is that it is about five seconds faster to jump to other programs and windows features.  You don't have to drill down 5 windows to find the system restore.  I will install Vista as soon as Microsoft releases it to us and the give reports on how Amicus, TimeMatters, PCLaw, HotDocs, and Worldox work with this new software.  The same goes for Office 2007.

My Favorite Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature.

Windows Logo+C:         Opens Control Panel

Windows Logo+L:         Log off Windows

Windows Logo+E:         Windows Explorer

Windows Logo+R:         Run dialog box

For at list all windows shortcuts CLICK HERE