I just spent many hours tracking this down.  Submissions to Demand Force had stopped at one ( perhaps more ) shop.  The ASW code was fine … but still the file needed to be transferred was incomplete and thus the Demand Force system would not send it.

The problem turned out to be a vehicle record  with no license plate.  The License is a KEY field, and if it is blank, the system can do many unpredictable things. 

How can you find and fix this problem.  In the main ASW screen, click the Vehicle button.  Any with no plates will be at the top of the list which is initially put in license order.  If you have any records with no plate, it is critical that you add a unique ID in that field.  Start a “NOPLATE001” and keep incrementing the number ( 002, 003, etc ). for additional records.

PLEASE do this right away.  Who knows what other problems you might have as a result of this.  Even if you do not use Demand Force, do this right away.

Thank you.

Our Phone Service is Updated

Over the past month we engaged in changing our phones from a landline to cellular service.  The reason was to provide more flexibility and to add some new capabilities.  The process is now complete.  The number did not change.  949 589-3186 is still the direct number, but now it also can be used for text messages.  Because it is on an iOS system, it will receive iMessages, and even Face Time calls ( not likely needed ).   The addition of texting was actually requested by many of our clients. 

You may realize that many companies now do everything possible to avoid direct communications.  Here it is just the opposite.  The advantage of tech messaging is you can request a call back at a convenient time if a problem arises “after normal hours “ or a question arises on the weekend.  Of course email is always prefered and answered right away.

Beware of service scammers … they are now calling

PLEASE take heed.  There are people calling individuals and companies saying your computer is having a problem and Microsoft wants them to fix it ( or some variant ).  They are frauds – trying to get access to your computer and your credit card.  DO NOT BELIEVE THEM.  Microsoft will not call you.  Your computer manufacturer will not call you.  There is nothing inside your computer reporting that it is having problems and needs repair.  There is money in fraud, and that is what these guys are all about.  When you tell the no, they may fill the phone with a barrage of profanity.  They are thieves … plain and simple.  Simply tell them you will refer the call to the FBI and hang up.  Some of these calls originate in the US, but others come from overseas.  You worked hard … don’t give them access to your business.

Windows 10 is out and installing well

MasterLink is now 100% Windows 10, on phones, tablets, portables, and desktops.  It works, it’s smooth, faster, and connects easily.

If you set your machine to receive the free update, it will occur when Microsoft believes your install is ready.  Thus the rollout may take days, or weeks.  Over 1 billion computers worldwide will be updated.

Your IT guy may elect to prompt a manual install which will take around an hour with a decent internet connection ( maybe less ).  It’s all automated.  IF your computers are networked using standard procedures, expect no problems.  The only issues will arise with specialized installations, and “non-standard” variants of normal networking.

Before allowing the Windows update, you should be sure your computers have run ALL Microsoft updates.  You can do this through the standard windows update utility found on each computer.

Auto Shop Writer will have no problems in Windows 10 and should snap along just fine.

Finally, if you hear “opinions” that are negative about it, they are likely from sources with a huge bias toward some other technology, or people who have never worked with it.  The reviewers, even those who thought Windows 7 was the best operating system ever, are very strong and positive about it, and recommending that people go ahead with the update.  Contrarians can have their viewpoint, but it should not hamper your business.