Season's Greetings from NATC

Introductory blog post from our new staff

Hello,

My name is Farman Elahi. I am from Pakistan. I am an IT Technician since 1998. I started my expertise from my school time.  That time we were working on Pentium I and II with Operating System MS Dos and Windows 98. I have worked with different brands such as Dell, IBM, Compaq, Lenovo, Hp, Asus and also Apple. I have experience on PC computers, workstation computers, and mini computers.

I started my local business in Pakistan in 2004. I have experience in diagnosing and repairing all types of computer, accessories and components. I have experience of all kinds of operating system software and application software.

I have worked with different companies, NGOs, Colleges, and the government sector on a contract basis. I also have teaching experience with various colleges and institutes. These include: 

• I also worked with Dewan Salman Company Hatter as a computer technician from 2004 to 2006 
• Mujahid Gee Limited in 2006.
• PWD (in Haripur) on a  maintenance contract from 2006 to 2015
• Maintenance with SRSP, an NGO, from 2006 to 2007 
• Badban, an NGO, from 2006 to 2015 in Hazara region
• STEP NGO in G-11 Markaz, Islamabad with a computer maintenance contract from 2009 to 2013
• NIMIL College, from 2006 to 2011
• NEST College, from 2008 to 2015
• WEST College as instructor and lab manager, from 2011 to 2015
• Ayub Law College, from 2011 to 2014
• Chanar College, from 2010 to 2012

I am familiar with MS Office 2003 and 2007, Basics of Computer Hardware, Graphic Designing, Networking, Internet surfing, 3D Studio Max, DIT, Fox Pro, PHP language, Ms Dos and all operating system software.

I dreamt in 2004 of working for a company. I come in Liberia on 4 February 2016. My dream was completed when I came for interview in New Africa Technology. Thanks a lot my God.  

                                                                                                                      Farman Elahi

                                                                                                                 IT Technician NATC

Installation errors

Hey Everyone, 

As an IT technician, we face a lot of issues which are repeated regularly. So, it makes you more familiar, and, when a client starts to explain his/her problem, you most likely already know the solution and that’s why I love my profession. 

A week ago, we got a call from one of our client’s, Population Services International Liberia (PSI). They purchased two brand new laptops and while trying to install software they were unsuccessful. 

The question to myself was why they would carry on installation when we are their IT consultant and if it creates even bigger problem, the headache becomes ours most especially the tech who’s handling it.

But again I couldn’t ask the client I am there to solve problem. 

I arrived on the customer site and the laptops were handed over to me and the problem they faced was also explained. 

The client bought a copy of Microsoft Office 365 suite which is Cloud based ex: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, OneDrive, Skype for Business etc. In order to access or download any of these programs if not installed you will have open a web browser, type in organization website and login with your organization email address and password. 

So these two new laptops needed the programs to be installed on them. Then I tried the installation over and saw this ‘’this is a fatal error message, the installation could not be completed because another application is in use.’’ 

I knew the problem right away and how to go about solving it after noticing that it was a Microsoft Windows 10 Operating System (OS). Then I thought, Microsoft Windows 10 OS machines come with Microsoft Office suite preinstalled so in order to complete this installation I need to first end the task in the background and uninstall these programs. 

This was how I resolved the issue:

1. Right click on task bar and open ‘’Task Manager’’

2. Click on ‘’Details’’ 

3. Click on Microsoft Office 2013 and see that it is highlighted 

4. Click on ‘’End Task’’ and close. After doing this, open Control Panel and locate the preinstalled version of Microsoft Office and click on ‘’Uninstall’’ and restart the laptop. Connect back to the Internet, open the web browser and login with the user’s E-mail ID and password. Then download and install MS Office 365. 

The installation was successful. Finding solutions to client problems both on the phone and on site is our everyday work as a tech. Thanks for reading and hope this information finds you well.  

Prepared By: Daniel Collins  

New Microsoft product to back up your documents

Hi Blog Readers! 

Throughout the month of November, I have been busy with lot of site visits, doing IT maintenance for hardware and other related IT works, but there is one job which I will love to share with you.  

One of our clients requested us to do a cloud backup. This is simply backing up  all of your important data  to the Internet. There is a new way of storing all of your important data on the cloud server. This system works like our normal external servers that we have in our work places.  

There are a few differences when you back up your file on the cloud:

 1. You still have all your important documents in tact after experiencing a crashed hard drive. Even though sometimes we are able to retrieve our data, a back up on an external hard drive or server is not 100% guaranteed.

2. In case of severe irreparable damage to your hardware, you still have your data stored on the cloud. 

3. Even if  there was some burglary at home or office and your laptop has been stolen, this is a guarantee that all of your data will still be there for you. 

4. You can easily work on a document from anywhere using Microsoft 360 online.  

NATC came up with the use of Microsoft One Drive sync which helps in accomplishing our customer’s aims. This is software designed by Microsoft and helps in the automatic upload of files, folders and pictures over the Internet for backup purpose. It normally comes with Window 8.1 and Windows 10 Operating System. 

If you are installing it on a Windows 7 Operating System then you first have to create a Microsoft or Outlook account and download the One Drive setup.  After downloading the app, you will run as administrator, and you will be asked to enter your username and password you first created. While installing the app you will be asked to choose a particular path or location which you will want to install the one drive. The One Drive app works like our normal folder we save our documents in. All documents saved in this folder   will automatically be uploaded on the cloud once there is a working Internet.  There is a green check mark on each file once it has been automatically uploaded. All you have to do is to save your files, folders and pictures in the rightful path or location.  To make sure your One Drive is working, login to your Microsoft 360 Account, open One Drive and click on recent documents. There you will be able to see all of your documents you posted in the one drive folder.    Thanks for reading my post.  

Rita J Gailor