Chapin Business Services

02/18/2024

Scanning Tip (Windows)

A great solution to many scanning issues is the Microsoft Scan App. You can download it from the MS Store or search for it online. Once downloaded, click to install the application. Then run it afterwards. It should detect your existing hardware for scanning. The program will use default settings when started for the first time. These are some changes I would make to the settings.

First, is the location of the scanned files. You can keep it, then place a shortcut to it on the desktop, (easiest solution), or change the location of the files. To change the location of the files, click on Show More, then Scans. This is where you can send the scanned files to by clicking on the folder you want. Keep in mind the change should hold for future scanning.

Second is the ability to scan multiple pages into a single file. The default File Type is .png. That setting will not scan multiple pages into a single file. Change it to .pdf. To do this, click Show More and then click the arrow to the right of File Type. Click PDF. That type will remain until changed.

Scanning doesn’t need to be difficult using this app. It recognizes most manufacturers without their annoying software.

02/01/2024

3 Legend Mel Gibson, Jason Momoa and Their Son 🥰🥰

04/11/2023

06/23/2022

Quick Tips

Issue: When installing a new program, or upgrading a currently installed program, an error pops ups stating there is an issue with the installation and needs to close. The first thing to try is to quit the installation, copy the install file(s) to the desktop, if not already on your hard drive. Next, go to the install icon and right click, select Run as Administrator and try again.

Issue: You receive a Windows Security warning about Unauthorized Changes Blocked for known and trusted Apps. Click Start, Settings, (gear icon), and click Update and Security. Next click Windows Security and then Virus and Threat Protection. Then click on Manage settings under Virus and Threat Protection Settings. Click Manage Controlled folder access. (DO NOT TURN THIS OFF). Click Allow an app through Controlled folder access. Click the Plus sign to Add an allowed app. Click Recently blocked apps. Click the plus sign next to each app you wish to allow access to.

Issue: Quick Assist is not updating or needs to be. Click the QA icon. If it asks you to get the update, do so by clicking to go to the Microsoft Store and then click Get. Click to install the new version. When complete, click on Start and scroll to the Q’s. When you click on QA, hold and drag out to the desktop. You will need to delete the old icon as it will not update itself.

06/20/2022

QuickBooks Closes Immediately

You open QB, (in this case v2020), and enter the password, click on an item, such as an invoice, and the program just shuts down completely. You then try again, same results. No error codes or any other indication of why this happens.

Leave QB closed. Download, or open if you already have QuickBooks Tool Hub. You can get this by entering the name in a google search bar. Once downloaded and installed, click Program Problems and let the Tool run. It will show errors and repairs along the way. You should not have to respond to any errors it finds, as it will try to resolve them.

When complete, re-open QB to see if the program runs properly. If the Tool fails to resolve the issue, the next step would be to uninstall and re-install your version of QB. Make sure you have the license and product keys handy.

05/06/2022

Energy Savings

With the cost of everything rising, there are some things you can do with your tech to help save some money. Try the following:
1) Have your computer shutdown after Cobian runs the backup. If your computer is a workstation saving data to another computer, shutting down will not affect the remote backup and could save you money on the electric bill. Putting the computer to sleep is another option, however, we do not use this due to issues some systems have “waking up.”

To set this up, open Cobian, right click the task listed in the left side column and select Edit Task. Click Events and then click Add in the bottom half of the window. Select Shutdown the Computer.

2) Shut off all the monitors when you are finished using them. May seem like a small thing, but it helps. It will especially help if your office has many monitors. Why keep them running?

3) Shut off peripherals, such as printers or standalone scanners. In an office setting, unplug coffee pots, tv’s and other items that still use electricity while idle.

4) LEAVE MODEMS AND ROUTERS ON.

Other tips for saving money include carpooling when appropriate, slow down your driving just 5 mph, combine errands, have things delivered to you instead of making the trip to pick up, turn your heat off in the home or office, shut off lights when not in the room or if you are in a room with multiple lights, (determine which ones really help and slightly unscrew the others so they are not on).

Taking these seemingly small steps will help save you money over time.

04/21/2022

Fast Startup
Windows has an option for fast start up. This allows the system to load startup items into the ram, and keeps that information there so the next time you turn on the system, or come out of hibernation, it simply accesses the ram and starts the system. Many systems also have a bios, (Basic Input Output System), that does the same thing.
In these cases the ram can get over-loaded with startup data that causes the process to crash and fail to start the system.
To prevent this from happening:
1) Stop Windows from using this function by going to Control Panel, power options, click on the blue link that reads “Choose what the power buttons do.”
2) Next click the blue link that reads “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”
3) Uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (recommended)”
4) Save Changes.
Done.

02/10/2022

How to get programs to stop loading automatically

Issue: When you start the computer, or when you run an app such as SuperAnti Spyware, the message comes up to close the internet applications, such as Edge or Chrome, etc.

You should not need Edge, or other internet browsers, to run during startup. If you want to use an app, simply double click to run. Automatically starting applications can use valuable system resources and possibly open your system to unwanted access. The exception to this would be a backup program such as Cobian, that need to run in the background.

The solution is easy. Click on Start and click the Settings icon, (looks like a gear). Select Accounts and then select Sign In Options. Click to turn OFF the option: “Automatically save my restartable apps when I sign out and restart.”

Restart to verify.

02/02/2022

Email using QuickBooks

Issue: you set up QB to email invoices, estimates, etc, but it will not get past the password window even though you are certain the password is correct for your Gmail account.

The issue is with the security settings within Gmail.

If you have a Business level account with Gmail the steps are:
1) Sign into your Gmail account. Click on your account icon, (top right corner), and select Manage Your Account Settings.
2) Click Security, on the left side. Look for and activate Less Secure App Access. You will have to re-enter your Gmail password to get there. (Note: if you do not see a Less Secure App option, you do not have a Business level Gmail account).

If you have a regular Gmail account, (NOT a Business account), the steps are:
1) Sign into your Gmail account. Click on the account icon. Click to Manage Your Account Settings.
2) Click on Security and make sure 2 Factor Authentication is turned on. Then click to setup an App Password.
3) Name the App, (in this case “QuickBooks”). Then click Generate. A password will appear.
4) Open NotePad, (click the Search icon and type NotePad). Title it QB email password. Paste the password into NotePad and then Save As to the Desktop, (or an area where you can easily access it). This generated password is only for emailing through QB and will not work anywhere else.
5) When sending an email, QB will ask for the email password. Paste the new password, just generated, and click to Send.

NOTE: While QB is open, you will not have to re-enter the password every time you want to email. However, if you close and re-open QB, you will have to re-enter the password the first time. You can copy and paste the generated password from the NotePad item you created earlier.

01/03/2022

Apple iTunes bill seems high

If you are questioning the iTunes bill there is a simple way to look at the charges right from your iPhone. There you can change your subscriptions or cancel altogether.
Go to Settings, then tap on your name at the top. Click on Subscriptions and you can see all “Active” accounts. Tap an entry and make your adjustments. Remember, these are only going to include the Apple iTunes charges.

12/01/2021

Why aren’t zeros appearing in Excel?

It seems simple enough. You type a number that starts with a zero, such as a cvv code, zip code or other identifier, and it just does not appear. When we look it up online, the directions to correct it are confusing or do not work for you.

The solution has two answers. First, you can set up the single cell to accept “hidden zero’s” by formatting it. Place the cursor on the specific cell to format. Press Ctrl +1 to open the formatting tools. Click on Number and then Custom. At the top of list look for and delete the word General. Replace that term with the appropriate number of zeros. For example, if you have a number to enter that is 022, enter three zeros. Enter only the amount of zeros for that piece of data and no more. If you enter four zeros where only three are needed then the extra zero will appear ahead of the number you want, (0022, in this instance).

If you are using a column for zip codes, then highlight the entire column, (click on the column header), and format the column for zip codes by selecting Special, just above where you clicked Custom.