The easiest way to test a UPS battery is to turn the power off at the wall socket and see how long it lasts before the UPS runs out of battery and the computer turns itself off. However, what you don't want to do is have the computer power off while you are in Windows that's really bad for your PC for a number of reasons. The best approach is to start the computer into the ‘BIOS’ which is the low level hardware menu that you or your IT guy may typically use when setting up the PC and configuring hardware options normally only once or twice in the lifetime of the computer. Note: don’t change anything in the BIOS!
Once you're in the BIOS the computer will stay in that mode indefinitely until you restart or turn off. In this mode you can safely test to see how long the battery will last without worrying about damaging your Windows installation by turning off the PC with all those back-end Windows files still open.
To access the BIOS mode start up the Windows PC and press the special BIOS entry key before Windows gets a chance to start up, typically you're not going to know what that special key is as they are different for every computer motherboard manufacturer but it's easy enough to try some of the more common options. Common keys are ESC DEL F10 F12.
This information has been provided for the benefit of digitalwelcomemat IT customers.
Treat this information as informative only and do not take actions or make decisions on the basis of the information contained here. All IT decisions and actions should be made after consultation with your chosen IT professional taking into account all the of the relevant factors.
If your administrator has turned on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your Microsoft 365 product here is the list of steps to follow to setup your MFA from a user perspective, this is typically a one time setup process:
This guide is base on using the Microsoft authenticator app, if you prefer SMS only see here for the instructions:
You will need to have your mobile phone with you when you start this process.
1. logon to Microsoft 365 webmail via office.com using your existing account username and password.
2. After you successfully log on, a pop-up will appear asking for more information. Click next.
3. Chose the mobile app method
4. Check the 'receive notifications' option button
5. Click setup
6. Instal the mobile phone app from here if necessary
7. If you have the app installed already you may already have services listed
8. Tap on the elipsis
9. Tap on add account
10. Select 'Work or school account'
11. Tap scan QR code
11. Scan the QR code that shows on the PC screen
12. The new account should now show in the authenticator app.
13. This completes the setup of the authertication app.
14. Your microsoft logon will now ask for authentication, tap approve.
15. The next step is to add your mobile phone number in case you don't have access to the authenticator app.
16. Chose your country, add your mobile number and click next
17. Typicly you can ignore the app password, just click done
18 That should be the final step. You will only need the multi factor authentication when you setup a new device or periodically when the administrator requires a re-verification.
Note that you can go to https://aka.ms/mysecurityinfo to manage your settings including and addition phone if for example you would like you office admin to be able to authenticate you if you lose your phone:
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If your administrator has turned on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your Microsoft 365 product here is the list of steps to follow to setup your MFA from a user perspective, this is typically a one time setup process:
This guide is based on using the SMS/Text, if you prefer to use the Microsoft authenticator phone app (which is better in my opinion) see here for the instructions for that method:
You will need to have your mobile phone with you when you start this process.
1. logon to Microsoft 365 webmail via office.com using your existing account username and password.
2. After you successfully log on, a pop-up will appear asking for more information. Click next.
3. Chose the "Authentication phone" method
4. Chose your country and enter your mobile phone number
5. Click "send me a code by text message"
6. Click next
8. Check your phone for a text message, enter the code and click verify.
9. Typicly you can ignore the app password, just click done
10 That should be the final step. You will only need the multi factor authentication when you setup a new device or periodically if the administrator requires a re-verification.
Note that you can go to https://aka.ms/mysecurityinfo to manage your settings including and addition phone if for example you would like you office admin to be able to authenticate you if you lose your phone:
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Sometimes when restoring a backup using image based backup software you may not be able to 'see' the internal hard drive because it been setup by the manufacturer in a special mode (convenient for them but not so much for you).
If you need to restore a backup form another PC you may need to change the disk mode
Changing the disk mode from RAID to 'standard':
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