Windows Update message displayed

On March 1st, you’re likely to receive a Microsoft update that may be a little confusing! Once downloading the update, a message will appear giving you the opportunity to change your Internet browser. This update is a result of Microsoft being accused of becoming anti-competitive for bundling their browser (Internet Explorer) with their Windows operating systems. Due to EU regulations, Microsoft have been asked to present all their users a chance to download and install other web browsers- including Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome.

If you do receive this update (click the images to the left for larger screenshots) you have the option of discarding it the keeping your current Internet browser, or changing it.

Choosing your browser with Windows Update

If you’re currently using Internet Explorer and looking to try out another Internet browser, ITC recommend Mozilla Firefox.
We use it on all our computers and find it stable, easy to use and very customisable. If you’re interested in learning more about Firefox, and the available add-ons, click the links!

Sync Folders with ITC Online Backup

On the next screen click Add Sync Folder then Browse to locate your local folder (the one on your computer). You can then select what you would like to sync. Click OK to complete.

Automatic Set-up with Thunderbird 3

When first opening Thunderbird, you’ll be asked to enter a name, email address and password. After entering the information required, it will automatically attempt to configure your incoming and outgoing mail server, searching several alternatives until it finds the right one!

Tabbed Email in Thunderbird 3

The new search engine is brilliant at finding the email you want in a matter of seconds. You can search your sent items, Inbox for emails from a certain address or within a time frame you choose. The search then opens up in it’s own handy tab.

The Thunderbird team has produced some nice idea’s for their new email client. The automated email set-up is a great idea, although I can see issues with custom email accounts and primarily using IMAP instead of POP.

1. On your new Windows 7 computer, click the start button and start typing “transfer your files“. Click the option “Windows Easy Transfer” once it appears in the search area.

2. Click through the welcome screen until you’re given the option of where you wish to save the settings. In this guide, we are using “An external hard disk or USB Flash Drive”. On the next screen select “This is my new computer”.

Selecting "This is my new computer"

3. Click No asking whether the files have already been saved, and click “I need to install it now” when asked do you need the Easy Transfer Wizard on your old computer.

Installing WET on your old PC

4. Select “An external hard disk or USB Flash Drive” from the options again, and wait for the transfer to finish. Once completed disconnect the hard drive safely (look for the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the bottom right) and connect it to your old computer.

5. Find the Easy Transfer file on your Hard Disk/USB Flash Drive and wait for the wizard to load.

Starting the Transfer Wizard

6. Once loaded, click the “Next” button and then select “An external hard disk or USB Flash Drive”. It will then proceed to scan your computer for the files it can copy (this can take a while- read our favourite Windows 7 features). You can “customise” each account to select which files you wish to transfer. Clicking the “Advanced”  button will allow you to individually select files (for example, your Bookmarks or Favourites and Email settings).

Advanced Settings with Transfer Wizard

7. Click “Save” once complete and password protect the files if you wish. Safely disconnect your hard drive or USB Flash Drive again and reconnect it to the Windows 7 computer.

8. Once going through the process again on your Windows 7 computer, select “Yes” when asked whether the Easy Transfer files have been copied across. Find the Easy Transfer file on your external drive or USB Flash Drive and choose which settings and documents migrate.

9. The transfer may take some time depending on the amount of documents copied. Once the transfer is complete, click the option to “See a list of programs you might want to install” to give you an idea of programs you may need!

If you’re interested in migrating your email across to Windows 7, or looking to purchase a new computer with Windows 7 installed, please contact us.

Quick document access with Windows 7	Instant access to your internet pages	Find anything fast with Windows 7
Windows 7 provides more control over peripherals	Windows 7 comes with a full media suite	Understandable security and system information.

Our exclusive Windows 7 newsletter promotion had a huge take up, most of our free installations and migrations going within a week. We were not the only one though! Earlier this week, Steve Ballmer (Microsoft’s Chief Executive) stated “We’ve already sold twice as many units of Windows 7 as any other OS we’ve ever launched in a comparable time period, so we’re really off to quite a fantastic start with the Windows 7 product.”

If you’re still interested in upgrading to Windows 7, or looking to purchase a new computer, please contact us.

If you are an existing Internet Hosting customer of ours and need some updates or development carried out, or host elsewhere and need help getting the most from your website, get in touch with us today and we can discuss the best way forward.

As a registered Microsoft Partner, we are able to install new versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office productivity suites prior to their general release, allowing us to test the systems so that we can provide computer support to our clients immediately after the products are launched.

We have already begun using Windows 7 on several computers, and so far the results are very impressive. More information will be provided prior to the launch, and as always we will only start selling Windows 7 to our clients when we are happy that it is stable and ready to be deployed.

As part of the UK launch for Windows 7, we created a dedicated section for finding more about Windows 7. Click here to find out more.