Streamline Business Technology

15/06/2022

Google recently decided to reign in the free use of sending emails through Gmail while using third party software, or anything that isn’t theirs e.g. Outlook. Added to that I’ve had several customers upgrade some computers to Windows 11, and I know Microsoft love to say how wonderful it is, but from an IT perspective “if you don’t need it, don’t do it”.
Now that Gmail changed their settings any program that needs to send an email using your Gmail account will need to generate an App Password. This is also true if you are using a printer to send scanned emails.
* This next part gets a little bit technical.
However, this one customer of mine had one extra issue, when this customer tried to use Outlook to read their Gmail emails in Windows 11, it fails, but when we test it with the App Password it passes, but still fails to get any emails (or send) with gives us a very ambiguous error code 0x800CCC0e. This took me ages to work out the problem, and after I had done many checks and repairs on Windows and Outlook, and constant reading on Google blogs with information that didn’t quite match, nor work. I eventually found the issue in something called the “Windows Credential Manager”. When you save a password (not your browser) in Windows it gets stored in the Windows Credential Manager which can be found in the Control Panel in Windows. When Windows needs to use the password, it grabs what’s stored, and everything works. However, every day or so Windows 11 decided to create a copy of that stored password, then tries to use it, everything fails, and the user gets the error 0x800CCC0e.
The solution is to remove all copies of that password except the oldest two, which will be the original password that worked, once done everything will work again, no restarts required. The downside is there is no known permanent fix, well not yet, every day or so you will have to reapply the solution. Until Microsoft brings out a fix.
You can try doing a Factory Restore or downgrading to Windows 10. None of this has been tried, but I’m dubious if it will work.
I first saw this bug back in Windows 95, and last saw it in Windows ME (so that's about 20+ years).
If you don’t understand what I said, but can see the same or similar issue, then you can message me or call.

11/05/2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm67wbB5GmI

Interesting if anyone wants to have a watch.

How a CPU is Made - CPU ManufacturingCentral Processing Unit Foundries shows how a CPU is made with all major steps of the process. Source: http://...

10/05/2022

Cheap Antivirus protection!

09/05/2022

Another long day course, another certificate bytes the dust!

Did anyone see the joke I put in the above statement 😂 I am such a nerd 😝.

09/05/2022

What is Cloud Computing?
It is On Demand delivery of IT resources across the Internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.

Just remember you don't have to go Cloud, however there are benefits, but I found the image shows Cloud differently to what I usually see. I hope it helps someone in understanding the basic concept.

If you want a deeper understanding of what Cloud can do, give me a call, reply to this post, or send me an email.

06/05/2022

Finally starting to see some progress to my certifications, still have a lot to get done, but I now have the support to get it done!

One more down, yay!

06/05/2022

Windows 11.... when to upgrade

In my view, upgrading to Windows 11 comes down personal preference. It looks more like an Apple product rather than a typical Windows product, however once you start using it everything is there, just in a different place.

HOWEVER

If you are a business, DO NOT UPGRADE!!!

The reason why is Microsoft has lot of bugs, errors, or issues, that are unknown, and you the user are the testers. If you get a problem I can't wave a magic wand and fix everything.

Also most businesses use specific applications, they are not always compatible, normally most suppliers will try to get their product updated as soon as possible, but that takes time.

I already have a few clients upgrade a couple of computers, and I already have issues on both computers.

So my official recommendation, DO NOT UPGRADE, not yet any way.

25/04/2022

Went to the 9:30am commerative Anzac Day service in Port Macquarie.

The weather held off and it ended up being a good service. I did find it very hard emotionally seeing soo many families, but it was also good to see them all out and joining in.

Got a bit of a treat with a flyby, a bit scary seeing it come in, but it was well timed for the Australian National Anthem.

It was also good to hear the bag pipes, coming from NZ we always have the pipes played and have been missing that aspect of Anzac Day.

Lest We Forget

16/04/2022

Taking some time off to walk along the coastal walkway, already bumped into Cassie from Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant Port Macquarie at the Port Macquarie markets. If anyone is in the area I'm up for a coffee.
Mind you I still have work on these holidays, some clients need work done while everyone is away to ensure uptime during normal working hours.

06/04/2022

I've been thinking recently about wellness of body and mind.

I have been working out daily for the last five weeks, minus a few days’ rest, and it is starting to make an impact on my body, how I look, how I feel, however my mind needs a workout too. I am however out of sync with constant education training, so I thought let's make something fun out of it and help the community as well.

So here’s the deal, I need to get a few international exams out of the way, BIG ONES. With that in mind I have given myself a challenge.

For every like I get on this post I will add $5 up to a maximum of $250.
Then, after that for every like I get on this post I will add $4, to a max of another $250 ($500 now).
Then $3, then $2 (you get the idea). The maximum it can reach is $1,000.

So if I can pass the exam in 3 months from postdate, whatever the value is on the post I will donate in $250 blocks to charitable foundations. So if I get to $450, then $250 goes to one foundation, and $200 to another.

IF I FAIL! Then I will double whatever the amount is! YES, DOUBLE!

I can retake the exam as many times as it takes to complete, however I want it first time as the exam costs about $400-$600 just to sit down and do it, and I will need to travel to Sydney. I can do it remotely, but if anything goes wrong the exam instantly fails.

I have a few charitable foundations in mind, it's my choice but feel free to post a comment on what you think it should go to.

The first big exam is the COMPTIA Security+ SY0-601.

https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security

05/04/2022

My visitor at Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant Port Macquarie

03/04/2022

Supporting Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant Port Macquarie