When I use the “Send To” feature from Office, the email gets stuck in my Outbox” – THE ANSWER

A few of our customers were experiencing issues with emails getting stuck in their Outbox if they used the Send To feature in Microsoft Office.  We’ve banged our head on the wall for a long time, and didn’t have much to show except the big knot on the forehead.  Then, Tim G. came up with the answer after working with Microsoft directly. 

Here’s the fix if when you send an email attachment from another application it gets stuck in the Outlook Outbox… Just Delete:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Common\MailSettings]
“StrictAccountOrder”=dword:00000001

Took us a long time to come up with it but great to have!  It’s fixed in Outlook 2007.  We just do this automatically for our customers, so this doesn’t impact them at all.

Bill

www.IVDesk.com
Complete hosted IT solution where we run all your applications and provide 24×7 support! 
Work from any Internet connection anywhere.

Remote Control for Users – Shadowing on demand

We wrote a great new utility for our customers allowing them to “Shadow” each other when they need to.  We integrated it with Citrix and Terminal Servers and users can quickly see and connect to anyone in their company with the approval popup.  At first, we thought this would be just used rarely as it wasn’t requested from our companys.  Then…

Got a great call from one of our larger customers who supports the company’s accounting and order processing system named Canopy.  With our “Secure Shadow” solution, they can quickly connect to anyone’s session that’s having problems and walk them through the fixes.  Instead of working over the phone (they have 4 locations) and other remote control products, Bob just runs Secure Shadow and connects to the users session.  What a fantastic way to support internal users! 

Another IVDesk benefit…

Running ProLaw – Starting with a Pilot

We run ProLaw for some of our law firms and have done this smoothly using Virtual Servers.  By moving all their documents and files to IVDesk, law firms not only get the normal Office, Outlook, etc. on their desktop, but also run their legal applications.  ProLaw is one of the current applications of choice for many firms.

We install ProLaw, move a copy of the firm’s data, and then go through a Pilot phase to guarantee that the experience is what’s expected and the configurations match.  Then, during the cutover to IVDesk, we capture a final cut of the data and move it.  That next Monday morning, when the firm logs into IVDesk for the first time, everything’s there.  Office, Outlook, files and folders, ProLaw, everything. 

It’s great to have smooth turn-ups and by Piloting the applications and each customer’s data, we can make sure that their first day is a success!  We do our homework and it shows.

I Need a new Computer – What are my options?

This request for help comes in every week. With IVDesk, there’s a number of options available to all our customers. Usually, it starts with do you need a laptop or not? So I’ll break it down from there.

1. “I need a laptop”
With laptops, there are three options that come to mind. You can buy a new Laptop from a retailer (Best Buy, Dell, etc.), you can buy an older Laptop from an on-line clearance house (TigerDirect, NewEgg, etc.) or you can buy a Apple Laptop.

We talk mostly about what they’d like then focus on screen size and weight. Those two characteristics seem to drive price the most. All of these options will work great with IVDesk, so that’s not a concern. We see most people getting a 15″ screen as light as they can afford for a desktop replacement, and if they’re going to be carrying it often, maybe one of the smaller ones.

2. “I need to replace a PC on my desktop” or “We have a new person starting, what are my options”
With a desktop machine, you have plenty of options. Apple, PC, or Windows Terminal.

Apples consistently cost more but some people like them. Any of the Macs connect great to IVDesk.

For the PC option, you can go with refurbished machines running Windows XP at the low end, up to larger new PCs with more power running Vista. IVDesk works great with the older refurbished machines, so if cost is an option, a refurbished Dell or HP is great if you need a PC. For new, what ever you buy should work fine. Your options are the same as with Laptops, big box stores or Internet retailers, or Internet clearance houses. It’s up to you.

Lastly, how about a Terminal? We help with a couple of options here. You can purchase a new Wyse thin client terminal for around what a refurbished PC costs but it will never have any local issues related to things done on that PC. Or, we’re seeing many of our customers choose a refurbished WinTerm that’s about $50 each. It gives a great IVDesk session at a fantastically low price. Many of our customers are using these for replacements then keeping one at the front desk, should anyone ever have a PC fail. Cost effective, easy to use, great performance.

So, options, options, options. With IVDesk, it’s up to you on what you connect with. We can help with a quick phone call.

PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts – The Shift Key

Larry C. from one of our larger companies had a couple of issues with PowerPoint. First, he needed to know how to resize an image without losing the aspect ratio. Phil helped him by letting him know that holding down the Shift key while resizing will keep the aspect ratio consistent. Nice catch.

Next, Larry needed to know how to get his slideshow to restart at the current slide when he goes to the notes field during the middle of the presentation. He had tried the F5 key but it restarted the slideshow at the beginning. Again, the Shift key comes to the rescue. By holding down the Shift key and pressing F5, you return to the show exactly where you left off.

Phil to the rescue again. With IVDesk, we answer our user’s questions whether they’re about the user’s session, Microsoft Office, Outlook, anything. We continue to strive for Remarkable Customer Service!

Customer Audits – What happens when a customer’s customer audits?

George N. from a multi-location law firm focusing on collections had an issue. One of their large new customers needed to do a complete technology and process audit. Before becoming a customer of IVDesk, there would be no way they could comply with all the requirements.

The senior IVDesk staff helped complete the audit and with the focus on where the applications and data are housed and the fantastic security and control, they went through with flying colors. Comments back from George stated they wouldn’t have gotten the business unless they’d been with IVDesk.

It’s great to have a solution that gets beyond the security and control concerns right away!

IVDesk Printing – Where can a customer print?

With IVDesk’s hosted complete desktop, users have access to all their applications from any Internet connection anywhere. But, concerns come up with printing in a hosted environment. Our focus for our customers is service and we’ve come up with ways so that they can print from any computer they’re logging in from.

An example of this is for one of our Business Brokers customers. They needed to print in the office, at home, and to the office from the road. By connecting their IVDesk sessions back to their offices via VPN, they can print anywhere. This same setup allows them to use scanning from the office directly to IVDesk. Chris J. couldn’t be happier with the flexibility that IVDesk offers.

An Overview of IVDesk

This is an intro video we did on what IVDesk’s all about.

IVDesk Customers on YouTube

Three of our customers talk about their experiences with IVDesk.

Getting Amicus Attorney Small Firm Edition 2008 to work

A few of our law firm clients use Amicus Attorney Small Firm Edition 2008 and some had been struggling with other providers in how to get this to work in a hosted environment. We have installed a large number of applications and many in the law field and are able to get Amicus to work perfectly. It took some configuration work but now our Amicus users can work from anywhere and have access to everything they need with Outlook completely integrated.

Nice solution for Stephanie U. as the office manager and all their attorneys! IVDesk at work!