Tip of the Week: Setting Up Your Startup Page in Google Chrome

chrome startup

When you are trying to be productive, the last thing you want to have to do is think about how to get started. This is where setting up your Startup page in Google Chrome can come in real handy. Continue reading to learn how to set up Your Startup page. It is essential to know that this is a step-by-step process with Google Chrome as the Internet browser. It will be different if using another browser such as Internet Explorer or Safari.

How to Set Up Your Startup Page in Google Chrome

For those of you that do not know, the Startup Page is the one that your browser automatically defaults to whenever you open a new tab. To set it up, you first have to open up your browser settings. To do this, click on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of your browser. Then, you will select the option for Settings.

A new tab will open. On the left side of your screen, you will find the option for On Startup in the left column. Once you click on it, there are three options to choose from. These include: 

  • Open the New Tab page
  • Continue where you left off
  • Open a specific page or set of pages

If you select, “Open the New Tab page,” will open your Startup Page in a new tab on the browser. “Continue where you left off” will do exactly that, continue the same page that you were last browsing on. “Open a specific page or set of pages” will allow you to choose the page, or pages, you prefer as your Startup Page. 

If you decide to choose the last option, “Open a specific page or set of pages,” you can set your browser to open up anything from your email to your company’s website. Or perhaps your favorite newspage. 

To learn more about what we, at WheelHouse IT, can do for you, contact us today at 954.474.2204.

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Signs That Your Technology May Be Failing

failing technology

As a small business owner or a manager, you will eventually come across a situation where you have to determine whether or not a piece of technology needs to be replaced or removed altogether. The first and probably the most critical decision you need to make is how this technology affects your specific product, service, or company. If the piece of technology can still be utilized, it promotes efficiency and productivity, or is simply a benefit to the company, then the answer is clear. Unfortunately, sometimes the answer is not always that easy. Continue reading to learn about the various types of technology and the signs that they might fail.

Failing Server Hard Drives

The most common computing environments use hard disk drives, also known as HDDs. These hard drives typically last between three to five years and will have indications that a failure is approaching. Some possible signs include the following:

  • The disk drive is making strange noises, such as clicking, whirring, or humming
  • Repeated crashes and software errors
  • Repeated disk errors
  • Strange computer behavior

If it has already reached this point, it is likely too late and possibly affecting your business operations. Fortunately, there are various monitoring utilities that will give IT administrators early warnings of a possible hard drive failure. Action can be taken before the failure results in data loss or disrupts your business.

Other computing environments may have solid-state drives, also known as SSD. SSDs are known to last longer, between five to seven years. Solid-state drives do not always provide indications of failure like HDDs normally would. Therefore, monitoring of SSD should be done on a regular basis. The software can be downloaded and will allow the monitoring of SSD.

Besides routine monitoring, there are some signs of SSD failure. These include the constant “popping up” of error messages, files that cannot be read or written, and frequent crashes during the boot phase. Upgrading the hard drive before a major failure of your systems would keep downtime and all the related costs to a minimum.

Networking Equipment

Networking problems can result in the disruption of business operations. The loss of access to the Internet can result in employees being unable to perform their job duties, thus negatively affecting productivity, efficiency, and overall profit to the company. If your company is having difficulty staying connected or receiving the right amount of bandwidth needed, you may have an issue with the router, switch, or another part of the networking system.

What is worse than having failing hardware? Not having that hardware in the first place. If your business needs assistance with its wireless network, mobile computing management system, or any other system, the IT professionals at WheelHouse IT can help. If your IT systems seem like they are failing, we can conduct a full assessment of your company’s technology today. For more information or any questions, please contact us at 954.474.2204. 

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