Batch File to start a program when you start your computer

Every time I startup my computer it is usually so I can start the same program, which in my case is FrontPage. I update my webpage everyday so I decided to create a batch file to start this program automatically at startup so it is always ready for me to use.

Here's how to write a simple batch file to start a program when you start your computer:

Open notepad. It is located at Start Menu>All Programs>Accessories>Notepad (Windows XP)

Then type start frontpg.exe

Choose File from the menu above. Then choose Save As

Navigate to save on the desktop and type the file name in with .bat filename extension. I have called mine startup.bat

Now you can double click on it on the desktop to test if it opens FrontPage.

Now If you want to automatically start this batch file when you start your computer then follow these steps:
Right click on the Start Menu in the bottom left corner. Choose open

Open the Programs folder, then The Startup Folder.

Copy your file from the desktop and paste it in the Startup folder.

Now when you start your computer, your program will automatically start for you. You do not even have to press on the batch file to start your program.

Keep in mind that you will be automatically starting a program when you computer starts, so startup will take a few seconds longer.

If you would like assistance with creating batch files, please contact MCDA today and a tech will be glad to help you out.

Cash Management Tips for Small Business Owners

Are you struggling to effectively achieve cash management with your small business? As a small business realize that in the unhealthy economy medium and large scale enterprises are struggling to cut back on the expenditures as well.

Reducing expenses is just the tip of the iceberg, small businesses need to compete and offer the lowest prices with the best service. To have to ability to do that -- good cash management is a must.

We have a few tips that will help you save money and help manage your business cash flow. You can also use these tips to better manage your home expenses.

Key things to watch

1. Energy Consumption
2. Save on your ink
3. Telephone and Mobile phone costs
4. Assess office space
5. Use the Internet
6. Save on lighting
7. Buy in bulk

For more detailed information on these items please feel free to contact us at (714) 872-2393 or at MCDA Cre8tive Consulting Group, Inc.

Hyperlinks stop working in outlook or word?

I hate when I receive a document with hyperlinks in them and can't just click on the link! I have to copy and paste the link in IE and go from there.
Fortunately, there is a quick fix to this problem.

To fix this problem, follow these steps:
Click Start, click Run, type the following command in the Run dialog box, and then click OK:
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
Repeat step 1 for each of the following commands:

regsvr32 mshtml.dll
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 browseui.dll
regsvr32 msjava.dll

Once you complete that, you will be able to click on hyperlinks with no problem. I recommend that you make a backup of your registry just in case you type something wrong.
If you would like help with this, contact us at MCDA and we will gladly do it for you!

Quickbooks Tip

Earlier this week, we helped a small business owner with this same issue!

Recovering lost user passwords or changing user privileges

1. Log in as the Administrator.
2. From the QuickBooks Company menu, choose Set Up Users.
3. Select the appropriate name from the User List, and then click Edit User.
4. Delete or change the password in the Password and Confirm Password text boxes, and then click Next.
5. Verify the correct access level is selected and then click Next.
6. If the user has access to selected areas of QuickBooks and you want to modify the choices, continue through each window, making changes as needed. If the access permissions are correct, or if the user has access to all areas of QuickBooks, click Finish, and then click Close in the User List.
7. From the File menu, choose Open Company/Login.
8. Choose the correct company name and then click Open.
9. Type the user name and password and then click OK.
10. Users can change their passwords by choosing Change Your Password from the Company menu.

If you are having problems or just have a question about Quickbooks, call us today!MCDA Cre8tive Consulting Group, Inc

Do you hate the startup and shutdown music in XP or Vista?

Well I do! LOL

Here is a cool and easy way to change your start up and shutdown music!

It’s a simple 4 step process. Step 1. Choose music that you would like to play at both startup and shutdown. XP and Vista have a little jingle. You do need to pick something that is in .WAV format, or use a converter to switch it to .WAV. The size of file should not be large, try to keep it to 1MB or less. You can upload a larger file, but your boot time will increase.
Step 2. Now rename these files as “Windows XP Startup.WAV” and “Windows XP Shutdown.WAV” respectively.
Step 3. Navigate to “C:\WINDOWS\MEDIA”, here you will find files “Windows XP Startup.WAV” and “Windows XP Shutdown.WAV”, move them to another folder or rename them in case you need to revert back to these sounds. If you don't care about restoring the original sounds, you can just ignore this step.
Step 4. Now take the files that you have chosen and renamed, just copy-paste or cut paste them in “C:\WINDOWS\MEDIA”, there you go, now you can enjoy the new Start-up and shutdown music of your choice!

To set your computer up with a bunch of cool stuff, call us.... MCDA Cre8tive Consulting Group, Inc.

Tip for speeding up your computer (Vista)

Move Search Index to a Different Physical Drive and speed up Windows Vista
What is the search index you ask? Well, similar to the way the index in a book helps you to keep track of its contents, the index in Windows keeps track of the files on your computer. The index stores information about files, including the file name, date modified, and properties like author, tags, and rating. You will never see the index, but it is used by Windows to perform very fast searches of the most common files on your computer. In the taskbar on the bottom right of your screen you might see a magnifying glass, that is the search index working.


If you have more than one physical drive in your computer, this tip is for you. The search index can take a considerable toll on your systems drive; by moving the index to a separate drive, you can increase overall performance.

To move your search index, do the following:
1. Press Start, type index in the search bar and press Enter
2. Press the Advanced button
3. Press Select new at the bottom and select a new location on a different physical hard drive
4. Press OK. Your search index will now need to rebuild, which may temporarily slow performance.

Need help speeding up your computer or completing this fix in XP, Call us at MCDA and we will send a tech right over!

Trojan Virus - Is your computer infected?

A Trojan Horse Virus is a common yet difficult to remove computer threat. This is a type of virus that attempts to make the user think that it is a beneficial application.

A Trojan Horse virus can spread in a number of ways. The most common means of infection is through email attachments. The developer of the virus usually uses various spamming techniques in order to distribute the virus to unsuspecting users.

These emails contain attachments. Once the user opens the attachment, the Trojan Horse Virus immediately infects the system and performs the tasks mentioned above. If you do not recognize the sender, try to refrain from opening the attachment until you verify that it is a legitimate email.

Another method used by malware developers to spread their Trojan Horse viruses is via chat software such as Yahoo Messenger and Skype. If you are not using these applications, try to shut them down. If you are leaving for the day, or going to bed at night, sign out. Another method used by this virus in order to infect other machines is through sending copies of itself to the people in the address book of a user whose computer has already been infected by the virus. For the business owner, it is not good to have one of your employees spamming out messages. Prevent these situations from occuring by contacting a professional to install an email and internet threat solution.

The best way to prevent a Trojan Horse Virus from entering and infecting your computer is to never open email attachments or files that have been sent by unknown senders. However, not all files we can receive are guaranteed to be virus-free. With this, a good way of protecting your PC against malicious programs such as this harmful application is to install and update an antivirus program.

We have numerous solutions to help protect your machine. We also have solutions for business owners who would like to protect their servers and users with a single application. Contact us today for a free security audit and evaluation.

Visit is by clicking here: MCDA Cre8tive Consulting Group, Inc.

Quick Printing in Windows Vista - TIP

Quick printing in Windows Vista - I have to say, this is one of my favorite little gadgets!

If you have Windows Vista you can have a shortcut to your printer for quick printing by adding a sidebar gadget. If you don't have your sidebar enabled read how to enable Windows Vista sidebar gadgets.(Sidebar is usually there when you buy a Vista Machine) Once you have a sidebar, simply browse through the gadgets available and look for the drop printing feature. It is an awesome feature! All you have to do is drag and drop a file onto the printer icon. That's it! It will print your file. You can drop multiple files onto the icon to print them together.

Enjoy!

If you need assistance with any setup, please contact a tech at MCDA CCG

ERP - Fact or Fiction?

ERP is bound to have its fair share of myths and misconceptions. Integration of ERP is an especially grey area. Most small business owners think of ERP in terms of old communication principles, and think of ERP as no more than an upgraded version of its old system.

Some ERP Myths are discussed below.

1) Information Transfer Is Unidirectional
Information can flow in both directions, either from or to the ERP. If the ERP is integrated with the site, it will have a bi-directional information flow.

2) ERP Integration Is All About Copying Data
Since older methods of integration follow a system of copying a tag and its profile, business owners think modern ERP system can be integrated the same way. However, there is more to ERP integration, since the business related-date that the ERP handles is very different from what the site handles.

3) ERP Can Come Up With Standardized Answers All the Time
Many people think that queries related to a business process follow a set pattern, as do their answers. They cannot be more wrong. Even if the system knows the right question, the right answer may depend on a number of factors.

4) You Must Use Only the Latest ERP Technology
Although the latest ERP integration technologies offer many advantages to small business owners, they have their own share of problems. The biggest problem is the integration of new technology to the old. In some systems, you will find that retaining older applications may be more useful than overhauling it completely. Financially, it might be beneficial to the organization. An experianced ERP Consultant can assist you in making that decision.

5) ERP to Site Integration Needs To Be Total
The ERP system deals with business process, while the site system deals with manufacturing and procurement issues. While the site capacity fluctuates, the ERP capacity remains stable.

6) Data Security Is Compromised When You Integrate Plant to ERP
Nothing can be farther from the truth. Many people are concerned about what happens to the data that is not on site. ERP programmers have spent a lot of time and money on making the system as foolproof as possible, so even data that is not protected by elaborate passwords are not easily accessible to unauthorized personnel. Just make sure that your servers are properly configured with appropriate security measures.

7) Installing ERP System Means That You Can Keep Fewer IT Staff
The ERP system is not meant to replace your IT staff, it is there to help them with day-to-day problems related to maintenance and troubleshooting. In some cases, IT Staff will need to be increased to maintain the database, write and create reports, and fullfil special programming needs.

Now that you the answers to some common questions regarding ERP, you can take a better decision regarding the kind of ERP system you need. If you need help in deciding which the best ERP is for you, you can contact MCDA Cre8tive Consulting Group, Inc and one of our consultants will put together a proposal for your enterprise.

CLICK BELOW and get started today!
MCDA Cre8tive Consulting Group, Inc