In News: iYogi Re-Defines Technical Support – BizTech2.com

Remote managed services are gaining a lot of attraction these days. Companies are looking to outsource the maintenance and monitoring of their IT infrastructure to a third party to improve efficiency and save costs. BizTech2.com caught up with Uday Challu, founding partner and CEO, iYogi, to see what the company has to offer in this space.

As far as Enterprise and SME customers are concerned, which verticals are you focusing on?

Our focus will mostly be on small companies with around five to 100 users and also firms that have multiple small branch offices like travel agencies, retail stores etc.

What kind of support services do you provide to your customers? What is the Green PC service?

iYogi provides the next generation of remote computer support services for consumers and businesses. For consumers, our live 24/7 support extends to technologies we use everyday, including hardware, software applications, devices, peripherals and networking equipment. iYogi also offers a full range of business IT solutions including managed monitoring, managed services, set-up and installation services, and incident-based services.

Green PC Service

With the current state of the global climate and increasing dependency on the computer, iYogi helps PC users reduce their carbon footprint and save money at the same time. iYogi’s Green PC service is the first in the independent computer support industry to offer customers a way to save money, conserve energy and protect the environment by optimising their PC’s efficiency. Consumers and businesses can save up to $200 per year, per desktop, in energy costs with iYogi’s Green PC application. This green application makes the computer environmentally friendly by reducing power consumption by almost 50 percent.

Our Green PC dashboard helps customise power settings and calculate power savings in kWh (kilowatt hour). The Green PC dashboard also gives a status on the reduction of CO2 and how responsible usage will benefit the environment by saving trees. A customised service that increases the energy efficiency of computers, undertakes the below-mentioned three primary initiatives:

- Computer assessment, analysing settings and PC energy use
- Customised efficiency planning geared specifically to the individual’s usage patterns
- Implementing setting changes to maximise the computer’s energy use

What are the technologies that allow you to offer 24/7 support and ensure there is no downtime at the client site?

We have invested significantly in developing a comprehensive monitoring and management tools stack. This enables us to manage and monitor all devices in the office network as well as for branch offices and mobile users. Our tools continuously monitor the customer’s network and notify our NOC (Network Operations Centre) in case of problems. Based on the set of events, tickets are automatically generated and escalated to corresponding teams. Over and above our proactive approach, the customer always has an option to call our 24X7 support line for issues that are not identified via the monitoring tools.

Please throw some light on your proprietary iMantra technology.

iMantra is a CRM system, which is tailor-made to suit the emerging business needs at iYogi. It allows for the formation of individualised customer relationships with the aim of providing personalised services to each subscriber. This tool is built on the latest java technology with a layered architecture that makes it scalable and secure. This architecture provides a seamless workflow and independent channels for various business needs: sales, support, quality and customer service. The entire system can be exposed in the form of secure APIs and Web services, which makes it a re-usable entity.

Your business model is similar to BPOs in India providing technical support to offshore customers. What unique values do you bring to this ecosystem that would help a potential client choose you over a competitor?

iYogi’s business model is different from traditional BPOs. Some key factors that differentiate iYogi include:

- Direct-to-consumer and -small business: iYogi delivers technical support services directly to consumers and small businesses and is a global technical support brand based out of India. Unlike traditional BPOs in India, iYogi does not provide any private label support and/ or work on behalf of large OEMs or software publishers.

- Optimised Processes: iYogi has developed proprietary processes for consistently delivering on a resolution rate of 87 percent, which is among the highest published benchmarks in the support industry, where averages hover in the range of 50 percent.

- Comprehensive technology platform: iYogi’s global delivery platform, iMantra, gets smarter with every customer interaction. It documents every problem, the solution and relevant hardware and software aspects, while capturing each customer’s demographic information and creating a behavioural profile. All of this information is at the fingertips of iYogi’s Global Tech Experts. This set-up combines a knowledge base with a comprehensive set of tools and technology expertise. iYogi offers a range of tools that complement its remote support services for helping customers maintain technology at peak performance levels. iYogi’s products include iYogi Smart PC Scan, iYogi Support Dock, iYogi Green PC and iYogi PC Optimisation.

How do you plan to move up the value chain in the times to come?

The growing use and penetration of the Internet and new Web-based applications has consequently opened the door to threats and vulnerabilities, which affect the system performance and ultimately lead to degrading performance. If the threats are diagnosed early on, the impact on efficiency can be minimised considerably. Currently, a user only realizes that he needs technical support once the damage has occurred and reactive methods of support are used to recover from the loss.

At iYogi, we are developing our capabilities to not only provide support when demanded, but to also monitor, pre-empt and fix threats before they can cause any damage to the computer. This will be possible only by combining technology with processes that are capable of re-defining the way technical support is delivered today.

What is your India strategy?

Technically, we are capable of servicing any geography including India. At this stage, we are looking for the right kind of partners to find access to potential customers and provide them a consolidated, 360-degree solution and services for issues relating to hardware, software, network etc. We aim to launch our India services in the coming six to eight months. Our services will offer clients a one-stop solution for all their business needs.

Different types of system memory

What is memory and what does it do? The last time more and more different types of memory on the market. What are the differences between these memory modules?


What is the internal memory

Each computer has internal memory. This memory is needed to run applications quickly. In this memory, information is temporarily stored. This information is almost immediately available for the processor. If not it must be searched on the hard disk and it takes very long. Is there space in the memory deficit, then the information (temporary) to the hard disk and then sent back to be searched.

With lack of memory in the computer:

* Will programs run slowly or not.
* Will start up programs slow.
* Can you little or no programs at the same time.
* Will the speed of the computer as a whole slow.
* Will the hard disk more frequently used, making it shorter life.


Different memory
There are several types of memory:

* SDR: Single Data Rate memory. This memory is in the older computers.
* DDR: Dual Data Rate memory. This memory is in most pentium 4 computers and AMD to 3ghz. Was a few years ago the most used.
* DDR2: This is the most common memory. and is significantly faster than DDR.
* DDR3: Is currently on the market as a successor to DDR2.
* SO-DIMM: Memory Modules in a laptop. These are smaller than standard memory modules.


Each type has a subdivision with several speeds. There is DDR 400, DDR2 533, 667, 800, 1000, 1066 etc. The higher the speed the memory is the faster information can be obtained. This is not only memory but also the processor off. The memory and the processor should preferably have the same memory bus speed. With faster memory than the memory of the processor, there is no performance gain.

The connections of the memory modules are different. This is not possible for the modules themselves to exchange. This can also be cut to the line side of the memory and motherboard.

Computer Memory Upgradation

When you first buy a computer, it may have limited memory. However, if you prefer, you can upgrade the computer memory after any time. Reasons to upgrade your computer's memory may be different, but the purchase of additional hardware, you can easily upgrade your computer memory, if necessary, to do so. Upgrade your memory will help to improve their efficiency, your computer and your computer will be able to handle more applications more convenient. How to upgrade your computer memory? If you can get more memory, so that you can install?

You can upgrade your computer memory to purchase additional memory, and then it installed on your computer terminal. You will need to know who the manufacture of computers, production lines and precision of the model, so that you get the correct memory, your computer. Systematic scanners, can provide online to provide you with a computer model of what you, who is manufacturing and product line so that you can remember the correct network from the distributor. In addition, the scanner can provide advice on the memory configuration of the computer, so you can easily purchase the correct amount of memory you need.

Once you have identified a type of memory you need, you can chip in a small device, once installed, will add more memory to your computer. For example, if you currently have 256 megabytes of RAM (random access memory) and you want your home computer to run more efficiently, you may need to purchase an additional 256 MB of memory, which will enable your computer up to 512 megabytes of RAM. And this amount will be fast on your computer a lot of work, you will be able to manipulate the graphics faster, all the software applications that will increase the speed.

Computer and on-line scanners, you will be able to receive the recommendations of the best upgrade for your computer. You may not need the amount of memory you think you need a scanner and can provide you with what is on your system, there is nothing to the system in your future. In addition, if you purchase online your memory, you will be a guide, we recommend that you correct your new memory is installed.

Therefore, if you can not can not afford to pay immediately the amount of memory the computer may need in the future, there is no need to worry about. You can purchase additional memory when you have sufficient funds to do so, and install it when you receive new messages in memory. Or, if you prefer, you can make your computer the professional knowledge and their memory you install a new command. Skilled technical personnel engaged in the computer upgrade, if your computer does not have any problems and you buy the correct type of memory, you should have your computer do not have the time of the shop.

Technical Support and Help

Technical support is a service attempt to help the customer regarding their specific problem with
their technical product. Most of companies provides technical support and help for the products they sell,
either freely. There are different way to provide technical support. Most of companies provide technical support
for the products which is produce by himself, but some companies provide technical support for
different products for different companies.

In computer, Technical support services may be delivered over the telephone, e-mail, chat, Remote etc. The Internet is a good
source for remote or on line technical support and help. With help of we can discuss about our problems with on line technician of
people with the help of forum, on line support website. Technician or other people give us troubleshooting step regarding problems.

Internet is also a very good source of on line technical support or remote support and help. Some companies provide online remote
technical support. In remote technical support technician can be control the computer over the internet. And they are responsible
to do troubleshooting steps in our computer, but he cannot do anything without our permission. We can see all the steps whatsoever
technician are doing in our computer. Mostly common problems can be repairs with remote technical support and help like virus
related problem, spyware problem, installation of any software, PC optimization, problem with Internet browsing, registry problem
etc. It cannot help to provide computer hardware services with any physical damage. Some companies also provide chat technical
support. We can chat with technician over the Internet. we can ask and discussion regarding our problem. They will be give us
troubleshooting steps.

But, If Internet is not working then we cannot take remote technical help. In these condition, there is a very good technical
support that is phone support. We can call toll free number of companies or they will call back. We can discuss about our problem
and we can ask, the solution of the problem. They technician give us the troubleshooting steps over the phone. But, If any user
have not knowledge about their product or some technical knowledge, that time user can face some problems. But, In remote technical
support technician can take control the computer and done all the steps own self. Many companies or organization locate their
technical help departments or call center in countries with lower costs and they are responsible to provide technical support over
the phone.
Technical support and help is also divide into many levels according to services. All companies provide best technical support
because their business is depend on their technical support and help.

Message: Invalid boot ini

Regularly come in for various people, the message: invalid boot.ini. What does this now and what can be done? The boot.ini file is a startup that makes allocations for the start-up and therefore is essential in Windows XP. How to solve this please read below.

Error Message "Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" in the boot

When you start your computer after you have upgraded to Microsoft Windows XP, is one of the following error messages (or both) is displayed:

Invalid Boot.ini
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: WindowsSystem32Hal.dll

Cause
This problem may occur if the Boot.ini file is missing, damaged or contains incorrect entries.

Solution
To resolve this issue by the computer to boot from the CD-ROM Windows XP, the Recovery Console to start and then the Boot.ini file again to make the tool Bootcfg.exe. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Configure your computer so that it can be booted from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For more information, see your computer documentation or contact the manufacturer of your computer.

2. Insert the CD-ROM Windows XP in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive and restart the computer.

3. Press any key to restart the computer to boot from the CD-ROM with Windows XP when the message "Press any key as the computer from a CD-ROM to boot" is displayed.

4. In the screen "Welcome to Setup" press R to start the Recovery Console.

5. Select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console on the computer can be selected from two or more operating systems on startup.

6. Request, type the administrator password and press ENTER.

7. Type bootcfg / list to the MS-DOS prompt and press ENTER. The entries in the current Boot.ini file appear.

8. Type bootcfg / rebuild at the MS-DOS prompt and press ENTER. With this command, the hard disk of the computer searched for installations of Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows NT, and the results are displayed. Follow the instructions on the screen to the Windows installations to the Boot.ini file to add. Here's how an installation of Windows XP can be added to the Boot.ini file:
a. If a message similar to the following, press Y:
Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
C: Windows. Installation to boot list? (Yes / No / All)

b. There is a message to the following:
Enter the identification at startup
This is the name of the operating system. Type this message in the name of the operating system and press ENTER. You type here Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

c. There is a message to the following:
Give the option for booting the operating system
Type in this message / fastdetect, and then press ENTER.

Note The instructions on the screen depending on the configuration of the computer differ.

9. Type exit and press ENTER to close the Recovery Console. The computer restarts and the updated boot list appears when you can choose which operating system you want to boot.