HowTo: Resolve Norton Installation Errors

I recently attempted to install Norton Internet Security 2007 for a family member. This computer was an old P4 Dell Dimension running Windows XP Home with 512mb ram. It was poorly maintained and the owner was having issues attempting to install and or remove applications.

So I hopped on the machine, ran my standard PC TuneUP. I uninstalled older versions of Norton Internet Security and System Works. I began to install the new version of Norton Internet Security 2007. It took forever only to display error 9999,171. I tried again and same result. So I hopped on Google and found a solution so I am sharing it here.

1. Go to the following link http://symantec.com/autotools. Download the Norton Removal Tool that matches your operating system.
2. Run the tool, it will remove any debree from older versions from of Norton or attempted installs that failed.
3. Reinstall the Norton product that would not install properly earlier.

Now I would not normally recommend Norton Internet Security 2007, but this family member had already paid for a new years subscription. My recomendation is to run the removal tool, and then use another security suite or application like Grisoft's AVG or Eset's Nod32. Couple that with Spybot Search and Destroy and a good router with built in fire wall and you are all set.

Cheers,
Chris

HowTo: Connect to Windows 2000 Server from Mac

At one of my contract jobs, they do not support Mac, they have no need to. So I found myself feeling somewhat of an outcast which I am sure is not a new feeling for many of Mac users. I the beginning I found a quick method to being able to perform my work at the office by using VMWare Virtual Machine. But the downside is then I am sacrificing the intuitive GUI that is MAC OS X. So I hit Google for an answer, and I learned how to connect with my Mac to Windows based computers wthout using VMWare.

The main server that I needed to connect to is a Windows 2000 Server. Now in order to connect a Mac to Windows without installing any 3rd party software, there are a few pre-requisites.

1. Logon the server directly or using Microsoft's RDP for Mac.

2. Click Start, Run, type 'appwiz.cpl' and hit ok or press enter.

3. Click add/remove windows components.

4. Click Other Network File and Print Services.

5. Click Details.

6. Check File Services for Mac and press ok, then finish.

7. Create a user account if one is not already created, that is to be used when accessing the share. **Note: Make sure password is not blank.

8. Right click My Computer and select Manage.

9. Click Shared Folders, then Shares.

10. In the nav bar click the New Share icon.

11. Click Apple Mac, uncheck Windows if desired. Select the folder to share. Fill in desired information and select next.

12. Select the appropriate permissions. Make sure to give access to the user mentioned in step 7.

After that, its time to connect.

1. With finder selected, click go, click connect to server.

2. Type the server name in the bar with a / then the share name.
I.E. 192.168.1.100/macShare

3. Type in username and password setup in step 7 above.

4. Hit ok. Make sure if desired you save the server as a favorite as well as save user login info in keychain.

Hope this helps.

Chris

Jobs: IT Professional Position in Arcade, NY

My sister is in need of a IT professional with the following skill set:

This position is for a small sales and service company in Arcade, NY. Work with a friendly staff with good benefits and negotiable salary. The role of this candidate would be to manage the company's internal network and external website. Ideal attributes are good communication, self motivation, and organization. Entry level candidates are encouraged to apply.

The prospective candidate needs to be able to provide technical support, design and maintain inventory database (Access and Act), Proficiency with internet searching, HTML, Microsoft Office, Windows 98, photo editing and experience with page layout software like PageMaker and Publisher. Experience developing websites with ASP / PHP, Javascript, CGI or PERL is highly preferred. Graphics experience using software such as Illustrator, Fireworks, or PhotoShop is a plus. IT/Hardware experience is required. Online marketing and search engine optimization is a plus.

Salary to be negotiated.

Contact me via email if you are interested, chris@itrealm.net.

Decision Making

I am taking a course called Managerial Decision Making. At first I was thinking that this was going to be a dry course, one with alot of textbook reading, maybe a paper involving a problem that I face and how I found a solution. But, I was deceived, the class is more.

One thing I have taken away from the class is that in order to effectively make difficult decisions, there are a couple of tasks you must accomplish. You must reach state of clarity, you must disregard emotional influences and you must disperse any fear of consequences. When you have effectively made the RIGHT decision, there is no doubt in your decision. Even if you do not reach your desired result, it still may have been the RIGHT decision, because quite frankly your other options may have provided even more undesirable results.

One thing that I will have to modify is what the book The Right Decision Every Time by Luda Kopeikina describes as Death Habit #1: Multi-Tasking. Luda states that when we are multi tasking, our focus is broken up amongst all of the individual things we are working on, so there is no way that you can make an effective decision.

A perfect example of this phenomenon is when you are in the shower or performing some other routine task. You reach a relaxed sense of clarity, then just like lightning striking the earth, you find the solution to a problem that you have been stirring over for months.

I definitely see value in this logic, I also feel confident that Luda is accurate in saying that if well trained on decision making, one can reach clarity in 5 to 10 minutes. I think this is something that would benefit me and I feel I can gain much by practicing the techniques referenced in her book.

Chris