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Category: How to Guides

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.

Complete the test as follows:

  1. Shutdown the computer
  2. Turn the computer on and be immediately ready to start tapping keys on the keyboard, press one of the keys then release then press another of the keys you're aiming for around 2 press-and-releases per second.
  3. Start trying a couple of the common keys (ESC DEL F10 F12) (one at a time as above) immediately after starting the PC. One of these keys should put you into either the BIOS mode or the boot selection mode, it's not important which, we're just aiming to pause the computer in one of those modes before Windows starts up.
  4. If Windows starts up then either you weren't quick enough with your key pressing or the keys that you have chosen not the correct keys. Wait until Windows has started up fully, log on and shut your computer down again. Then repeat the process using the other two keys.
  5. Once your computer has paused in one of the BIOS screens turn off the power to the UPS at the wall. The UPS should start beeping to warn that there is no power connected to it but the computer should stay on for a period of time as this is the purpose of the UPS.
  6. Record the time that you turn off the power. Your UPS should give you at least 15 minutes of ‘uptime’ before the battery is depleted and the UPS and computer power off. Come back in approximately 15 minutes, if the computer is still running after then your UPS battery is working as expected, you can then turn on the wall power socket shut down the PC, restart and your test is complete.
    • Note that to shutdown the PC from the BIOS mode you many need to hold to power button down for more than 5 seconds.
  7. If the UPS does not provide 15 minutes of uptime for the computer or if it turns off immediately when you turn off the power at the wall socket, then it's likely that the battery is faulty and needs to be replaced.
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.
Category: How to Guides

Work in progress:

This is a network switch:

switch1

Category: How to Guides

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.

  • Note that even if you don't normally use webmail to check your email I recommend doing this via webmail and to do it immediately as this gives you the opportunity to set it up 'on demand' rather than being eventually forced to do so (at possibly the most inopportune time)
  • I also recommend doing this from a PC rather than a mobile device, its cumbersome to do it on a mobile web browser while also trying to deal with app settings, notifications and task switching. Also impossible to scan the QR code on the phone screen from the phone itself if your taking that option.

2. After you successfully log on, a pop-up will appear asking for more information. Click next.


MFA 0012

3. Chose the mobile app method
4. Check the 'receive notifications' option button
5. Click setup

MFA 0001

6. Instal the mobile phone app from here if necessary
7. If you have the app installed already you may already have services listed

MFA 0005

8. Tap on the elipsis
9. Tap on add account

MFA 0006

10. Select 'Work or school account'

MFA 0007

11. Tap scan QR code

MFA 0008

11. Scan the QR code that shows on the PC screen

MFA 0000

12. The new account should now show in the authenticator app.

MFA 0009

13. This completes the setup of the authertication app.
14. Your microsoft logon will now ask for authentication, tap approve.

MFA 0010

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

MFA 0003

17. Typicly you can ignore the app password, just click done

MFA 0004

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:

AditionalPhone

[End]

 

 

 

Category: How to Guides

 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.

  • Note that even if you don't normally use webmail to check your email I recommend doing this via webmail and to do it immediately as this gives you the opportunity to set it up 'on demand' rather than being eventually forced to do so (at possibly the most inopportune time)
  • I also recommend doing this from a PC rather than a mobile device, its cumbersome to do it on a mobile web browser while also trying to deal with app settings, notifications and task switching. Also impossible to scan the QR code on the phone screen from the phone itself if your taking that option.

2. After you successfully log on, a pop-up will appear asking for more information. Click next.


MFA 0012

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

Phone1

8. Check your phone for a text message, enter the code and click verify.

Phone2

9. Typicly you can ignore the app password, just click done

MFA 0004

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:

AditionalPhone

[End]

 

 

 

Category: How to Guides

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':

  1. Startup the PC and immediately start pressing the BIOS access button, this may be F2, DEL, F10, or F12 depending on the PC
  2. Once you are in the BIOS locate the storage settings
  3. Change the disk mode (as per the image below, change from [1] - RAID to [2] - AHCI)
  4. Restart the PC and try the restore process again

RAID2

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