Here’s a List of Items and Services You Need To Continue to Work from Home with No Downtime Due to Computer or Network Failure

Here’s a List of Items and Services You Need To Continue to Work from Home with No Downtime Due to Computer or Network Failure   

As an essential business which keeps other people’s computers, internet and networks working while at home I’ve seen some very good and some very sketchy computer and network setups. Feel free to share this list of work from home necessities to help others.   

Computer Hardware Requirements to Work from Home

I’ll be discussing Windows requirements, but for those of you forced to use Apple computers for your business much of these requirements will transfer. 

Desktop or Easy to Repair Laptop

Desktop computers are the most versatile and repairable. Stay away from all-in-one computers. They’re a pain to repair. 

Backup Computer!

You heard me. The computer will eventually crash. If you’re proactive you don’t have to have any downtime. Computers never break down or crash at a good time. Fortunately your backup computer might be right in your closet. The old slow computer you didn’t know what to do with, but didn’t want to throw it away. 

I can give new life to old computers by installing a simple to use, secure computer operating system called Lubuntu. See my video on Lubuntu, the Windows Operating System Replacement. If you’re not on Oahu I have flash drives WITH English (not Geekenese) instructions I’ve written myself as a computer expert, experienced dual certified teacher (former) and computer tutor. You can order the flash drive here with instructions.

8GB of RAM

GB stands for gigabyte. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. 8GB is a minimum requirement for work computers and for watching streaming video or attending Online meetings through services such as Zoom, WebEx, Google Meet for even Google Hangouts. Most good computers are built to add more RAM. 

SSD

SSD stands for Solid State Drive. They’re A LOT faster and are less likely to crash then the older hard drives built with mechanical moving parts. Samsung has some of the best SSDs. Good computers have the ability to swap out a hard drive for a SSD. I’ve cloned the hard drives right to the SSD’s before so no data or software is lost when you change to a faster and more stable SSD.

External SSD (Hard Drive)

YOU MUST unplug your external SSD when you’re not doing a backup to protect it from power surges and computer virus attacks. Though this is software related Windows users use my backup program. It’s one of the few backup programs which also backs up the registry of your computer. The external SSD or hard drive version also does redundant backups.

Internet and Network Equipment to Work From Home

Good Wifi Router

Going cheap on a wifi would be a huge mistake. I find Netgear to be a good company in my experience with setting up home networks. A direct cable connection is always faster. If you're ever having trouble with your wifi router you can unplug your internet source from your wifi router and plug it directly into your computer. Warning: There are a few “travel laptops” that do not have ethernet ports. Ethernet ports are where you plug in the cable so your computer will have internet access.

TWO Internet Sources

That’s right I said two! NOT from the same company. For example, I have my normal source for the internet, let’s call them The Company I Hate The Least Inc. and my phone’s unlimited wifi hotspot which has a secret limit of 20gb of data at which they throttle down my speed to almost useless. Be sure to check with your cell phone service provider on wifi hotspot capabilities and limitations. 

Software Requirements to Work From Home

Antivirus Software

If you’re running Windows 8.0 or higher antivirus software comes built in in the form of Windows Defender recently renamed Microsoft Defender. This normally does a very good job stopping computer viruses. Nothing, however, beats education.

Antiransomware Software

The latest ransomware encrypts your files and spiders to any cloud syncing service such as Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive. As a local “do it yourself computer security” business owner here on Oahu discovered, the encryption ransomware computer virus will also spider into connected external hard drives providing a backup system for your important work computer files, thus leaving you with none. 

 BackupByRick My Backup Program

It’s one of the few backup programs which also backs up the registry of your computer. The external SSD or hard drive version also does redundant backups. Watch the video.

Proactive Computer Maintenance to KEEP Working from Home

I recently had an in home computer client here in Honolulu with a MacBook text me about slow wifi. He had the problem for two months, which happened to be two months after the time I had recommended to see him again to clean, optimize and check his computer’s security. If you’re working from home have your computer checked once a month. It’s the same thing as having the oil checked in your car so it doesn’t come to a rusty, grindy halt. 

He had originally called support who had given him the wrong information. I was able to restore his internet network to lightning speed, make sure his automatic backup was working and checked his computer’s security. 

Oahu work from home residents text or call Rick Kirkham 224.1870

Oahu residents ONLY are eligible for this remote computer service package.

U.S.A. work from home residents text only due to time differences 808.224.1870

U.S.A. residents are eligible for this remote computer service package.

DIY Do It Yourselfer don’t worry, I didn’t forget you. If you insist on maintaining your computer this is the best resource for software and instructions. 

Final Thoughts

As soon as I post this I’ll probably think of something I’ve forgotten or find some embarrassing spelling or grammar issue.

It’s my job as an essential business to help maintain and repair your computers and networks to keep you working from home without the stress of your computer crashing in the middle of a project due tomorrow. 

Be proactive, be safe, God bless you.

Rick

J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc.