Technology is all around us. From the excitement of purchasing the latest mobile device, to the frustration when our computer slows to a grinding halt, our lives are continually influenced by technology, which means we are often at its mercy when it fails to respond like it should.
For technical issues, not every household or business has the benefit of a full IT staff to resolve problems. Thankfully, there are some resources available to help make even the largest technical woe seem minor. With a quick primer on these support channels, you’ll have less sleepless nights and more time to explore technology’s full potential.
It can be frustrating to try to find a customer service phone number, especially when you’re unable to get on the support company’s website. Even if you find the support number, it often takes countless minutes of waiting before receiving a response. Fortunately, most support resources today live online and, with today’s technologies, are accessible through other devices. With households having more than one way to surf the Web, these resources are only a few steps away.
These online channels are not only for the technically advanced. Nearly 80 percent of all Microsoft customers throughout the globe have avoided the need to pay for technical support by using various online self-help and community sites. These venues welcome questions of all kinds from first-time users to programming developers. Through sites like Microsoft Answers, a Q&A community designed for mainstream customers, thousands of responses are provided each day to some of the most challenging scenarios.
For those individuals unable to get their responses through Microsoft Answers, “Fix it” has turned into the industry standard for quick, automated support. Through Fix it, a Microsoft support destination, customers can diagnose and solve their problems merely with the click of a button. Over the past 18 months, more than 1.5 million customers have downloaded a Fix it solution, resulting in a 95 percent successful resolution rate.
Computer fatigue can frequently be traced back to an outside source — a virus, worm or malware — that has impacted the way your computer performs. Additionally, depending on the amount of memory on your hard drive, the number of applications open at one time on your desktop can quickly turn your PC from a race car to a sluggish junker.
To protect your computer from threats outside of your control, be sure to regularly install updates, use a firewall to block unauthorized access and download updated anti-virus and anti-spyware software to stop unwanted viruses from infecting your machine. Windows updates are very simple to set up on your computer, saving time and energy down the road.
Whether you consider yourself to be a tech-savvy individual or not, software support and services can still be in your own hands. With the latest advancements in online support, including a number of social media tools, IT support begins and ends with you.
Jane Dickson is a regional general manager for managed partners in Microsoft’s Small and Mid-market Solutions and Partners group. For more free technology tips and other valuable information, visit www.microsoft.com/midsizebusiness/default.mspx.
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