How is it that the largest software company in the world can get things so wrong after all these years?

Many of the issues faced at our helpdesk are related directly to insane defaults, bad software and patches and poorly implemented security schemes – all courtesy of Microsoft and charged for by their technical toadies.

We even see small business operators lumbered with hugely expensive servers and terminal services installations to cater for their tech person’s latest “great solution” from Microsoft, be it Small Business Server 2008 or whatever.

Frankly, we’re appalled by the lack of technical expertise and competence displayed by support staff across the country, and the seeming reluctance of these experts to embrace better solutions.

To help address the balance, we offer here a few tips to help make your computing experience easier (without actually ditching all your Microsoft products and getting into the future of computing via Mac or Linux systems or totally internet based applications – and yes, it’s happening…not quickly enough, but it is happening)

This page isn’t intended to rail against Microsoft per-se, but it does illustrate that knowledge out there is in limited supply, and that there are alternatives. These are not necessarily the only solutions, but they have been proven by time and experience.

We welcome any feedback and other suggestions.

The great Internet Explorer download mess – this file contains invalid data

Hello Microsoft! Your browser is broken!

If you’re experiencing problems downloading updates (getting the message: this file contains invalid data), then the likely culprit is Internet Explorer 7 (Note: this does sometimes affect other versions and other browsers too).

We’ve received a substantial number of calls recently from clients attempting and failing to update SmoothPay using IE to download directly from our website (the preferred option is the built-in updater, but it’s not always possible if you don’t have internet access on your payroll pc).

The problem appears to be with Internet Explorer caching downloaded files, and is especially problematic in IE7.

To eliminate the problem:
# start Internet Explorer
# choose Tools..Internet Options
# click the “delete…” button
# click “Delete files…” to delete the temporary internet files stored by Internet Explorer
# Restart Internet Explorer, and you should be able to retrieve and install the latest update from our website.

This solution also helps correct slow Outlook and Microsoft Office, and may help other applications regain their responsiveness.

Another solution:
# install Firefox as your browser instead. It’s free, it doesn’t impose it’s own “standards”, and it works.

Unable to run help files across the network – F1 not working

Hello Microsoft! Your logic is pretty flawed on this issue. In trying to stop a small-ish problem you’ve totally overlooked the obvious. If it’s unsafe to open a compiled help file across the network, then might it not also be unsafe to run executable files across the network?

This is one of those “out there” software patches that left most software suppliers in the world scratching their heads in wonder.

To eliminate the problem:
# Run this registry patch to re-enable the ability to use help files across your network – this needs to be applied per workstation.

Vista – the wonder of it all

This fluffed up version of Windows has provided us all with hours of entertainment.

Again, Microsoft have dressed up their chook of an operating system and changed a few rules, like protecting files installed in Program Files folder from being changed by anyone other than an Administrator – and preventing users from creating files in the root folder of their hard drive. Excuse me – just who’s hard drive is it again? (Windows 7 exhibits the same restriction)

We’re dumbfounded – since Windows became a dominant desktop operating system, Microsoft have advocated installation of software into the Program Files folder and consequently we experienced DLL hell and all kinds of nasty problems – so, being slavish devotees to this mantra, all products install to Program Files by default. But then along comes Vista, and you can’t run your accounting systems, payrolls etc if they have been installed to this folder – unless you run as administrator or turn off user access controls (not recommended), otherwise any data files, ini files etc installed in those folders are either “shadowed” or not able to be altered.

To fix this mess:
# Downgrade to XP (or get a Mac – they’re great!), or
# Don’t install your applications into Program Files if you’re using Vista. We’ve changed our installer apps to avoid installing to Program Files, but be aware that this may affect other applications you’re using too (and your IT guru might just decide to put the app there anyway…it happens far too often).

Security, permissions errors

It’s a pity, but on peer-to-peer networks and client-server networks, Microsoft’s security settings seem to have a mind of their own – and they certainly don’t provide for application-centric security and file access privileges – you’d think a mature operating system would provide such features…

What this means is, that if a user with Admin privileges creates a file and moves it into a folder that has general user access, then ordinary users may not be able to access/update/delete the file so created – bit of problem if it’s a data file!

To resolve the problem (every time it happens):
# On the “server” as Administrator, reset the security permissions on the share, so that Everyone (or the required login group or list of users) has full access to the shared folder and all it’s subfolders. This is a common problem with mixed Admin/user networks and will remain so until Microsoft’s sharing policies are revised.
# A handy guide we have prepared is available here…

A better solution:
# Invest a very small amount in a Linux server (we use SUSE 10.0 on an inexpensive HP Proliant ML110 server with a DVD writer for automatic backup), but Ubuntu, Red Hat etc are all great platforms too – they vary basically in the default packages provided, but all are suitable as server platforms).These are dead easy to implement, provide far better reliability for less money than an alternative Microsoft server, and if set correctly your permissions issues will be a thing of the past – you’ll also avoid the constant patching, rebooting and crashing you may be experiencing with your current Microsoft server.

The dumbest defaults of all – hidden file extensions, and double-click

You mean…there’s a better way?

Yep! This nutzoid logic means that files are unidentifiable (unless the little “Excel” icon beside a CSV file means it’s a CSV – or is it an XLS file etc?) which causes problems when you need to identify such a file and upload it to the IRD, the bank etc.

And as for double-clicking an icon to make a program run – give your OOS a break.

The solution:
# Set your desktop icons to single-click. Save yourself the burning pain associated with double-clicking stuff all day. Open up explorer/My Computer, choose Tools..Folder options..General tab, select Single-click and “Underline only when I point”. Then click Apply.
# Set file extensions to display. Open up explorer/My Computer, choose Tools..Folder options..View tab, uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types” then click Apply.

To Microsoft Office, or not?

It’s not a secret! There are viable alternatives to Microsoft Office, and many provide a good degree of compatibility with Microsoft’s proprietary file formats – thankfully becoming a thing of the past.

One of the best is OpenOffice, which provides a complete word processor, spreadsheet, database, drawing and presentation solution – for free!

Given the expense of Microsoft Office, it’s well worth while considering using an alternative – and it’ll suit most user requirements.

The biggest change you’ll experience is the need to use tables to get good layouts, but you do get the benefit of being able to create PDF files directly from the application.

Tags: Smoothpay, Windows