Tag Archives: Windows

As you may remember, even in 2011, I’m still installing XP for clients, but just so you’re aware, support for XP ends in August, 2014.

According to Microsoft Support Lifecycle, support for Windows XP will end on August 4, 2014. Most companies still on Windows XP are skipping Windows Vistafor Windows 7, which will probably still be the dominant operating system choice for businesses in 2014. If you haven’t started testing your programs for Windows 7 compatibility, now is the time. Worst-case scenario is that you’ll have to run your XP apps within a virtualized XP PC on your desktop, but that is a pain and can take up extra system resources. Windows 7 comes with a compatibility checker that runs on install, but that’s probably not the best time to test.

How much does Windows 7 cost?

At Amazon.com, Windows 7 ranges from $266.22 for Ultimate to $174.99 for Home Premium:

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I’ve been trying to install XP Professional on a Dell XPS 300 that originally came with XP Media Center Edition. It has a SATA hard drive that requires a driver before Windows Setup will recognize the hard drive. This requires using a program like nLite to create a ‘slipstreamed’ version of XP.

Each iteration of this process involves copying the source files from the original CD, adding the drivers for the SATA drive, and then building and burning a new CD or DVD to try. I’ve done this 3 times so far and am on my 4th attempt. I’m pretty close to just buying Vista or Windows 7 to put on this machine in order to get it to join to a domain (Windows XP Media Center doesn’t join domains by default).

[Update 1/1/2011: I ended up just swapping out the SATA drive with an IDE drive and moved forward. It's like breaking down and using tables when you can't get CSS to work (which I haven't had to do in a while).]

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Have you ever lost your phone or laptop? It’s a horrifying feeling. Thankfully there are some things you can do about it before it happens to you.

The following apps or services will help you find your smartphone or notebook if they are lost or stolen. They can also be used to find the person using them if you’ve lost them – whether or not they want to be found.

Some of these are free and some are not. Whichever one you choose, it must be enabled before your phone or laptop is lost – and you must understand the security risks you’re taking to make your mobile devices more secure.

The Hidden app, whose name itself makes it hard to find, got notoriety when a blogger posted pictures online of the man who allegedly stole his Macbook laptop (below), but for Android, Blackberry, and Windows users, GadgetTrack does something similar. Hidden is only for Mac operating systems, OSX.

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Indianapolis, the Crossroads of America, is home to the Indianapolis 500, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pacers. It’s also an area where Watershawl technician, Erich Stauffer, has spent a lot of time in helping clients with their computer needs, which is why Watershawl serves the greater Indianapolis area with Mobile Phone Support & PC Repair Services for Android™ & Windows®. From high rises on the circle to businesses in Park 100, Erich has helped small businesses with their computer needs all over the city.

Watershawl offers both on-site and off-site computer services for home and small business users in and around Indianapolis. We are available by appointment for on-site labor, which is charged at $100/hr. We may pick up your computer or mobile device if it is decided to continue with off-site service, which are billed at a flat-rate.

A lot of the time we can fix your problem on-site, but if it requires more time or specialized tools, sometimes it’s more cost effective for us to take your computer to work on off-site and then return it. Usually this process takes no more than 48 hours, but situations vary.

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Tipton, Indiana, home of the Tipton County Pork Festival and the southern boundary of the Miami Indian Reservation, is also home to Technology Consulting firm, Watershawl, and Watershawl Mobile Phone Support & PC Repair Services for Android™ & Windows®. From this location, Watershawl service technicians are able to quickly reach Carmel, Kokomo, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield, but we also serve Plainfield, Brownsburg, Pendleton, Indianapolis, and Greenwood areas.

Watershawl offers both on-site and off-site computer services for home and small business users in Tipton County. We currently have one Technician, Erich Stauffer, who is available by appointment. On-site labor is charged at $100/hr regardless of the type of work. For all services the Technician can come to your location at no additional charge to assess the issues and make a recommendation. The Technician will pick up the equipment if it is decided to continue with off-site service. All off-site options are billed using a flat-rate system.

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If you had the opportunity to watch the Tipton County Pork Festival parade on Thursday, you may have recieved a flyer about Watershawl’s services. If so, thanks for visiting our page. We offer several services to help you with technology whether that be your computer or your phone. If you’re wondering what the strange black-and-white box is on the right side of the flyer, it’s called a “Quick Response” or QR code. They are a special type of barcode that can store information like a web address, phone, number, and other information.

Our technician, Erich Stauffer, is a Microsoft Certified Professional and is CompTIA A+ and Network+ certified. This means he has successfully completed programs about advanced Windows XP and Server 2003 settings as well as general hardware and network troubleshooting. He also has over 5 years of experience helping home and business owners with their personal and business needs. Erich is very friendly and professional. Although very tall, he has a soft demeanor and will patiently listen to your problems before he begins to fix them.

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