Ask the Experts

Whatever your business needs, there's now a team of Microsoft experts on hand to help make IT work in your small business, whether you're just getting started, thinking about a website, or want to boost your marketing with a newsletter or database. If you have a question that you would like to put before the panel simply email us at smartadv@microsoft.com, including your first name and contact details.

Latest Questions

Q. How can I share files with colleagues without spending too much money?

Question: My business partner and I recently established a new company. We each have a laptop and both work from home, but rarely meet face-to-face. How can we work together on documents without having to email the files backwards and forwards between each other? - Luke

Guy says: There are several cost-efficient ways that start-ups like yours can use to exchange documents...

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Guy Gregory
Technical Specialist, Peak Support Services

Q. Is Cloud Computing relevant to my small business?

Question: Watching the BBC news recently, there was an item on Cloud Computing and how this is the future business model for companies. I don’t fully understand the concept or how this might be relevant to my small business – could you enlighten me please? - Steve

Brian says: As its name suggests, Cloud Computing is a way of storing your information ‘in the cloud’ (or the Internet as we know it). That means that both your data and your programs no longer live on your computer. Instead, a hosted service provider looks after it all remotely...

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Brian Reid
Director, C7 Solutions

Q. How can I tell whether pop-up updates are real or spam?

Question: I keep getting ‘pop-ups’ on my PC saying that there is an update ready to install. How can I tell whether or not it’s real or spam? I thought that if you had a genuine copy of Windows, you got automatic updates? I’ve heard stories of ‘scareware’ packages which supposedly pop up screens that tell you there’s something wrong with your PC and that you need to buy software to fix it. How do I know what’s genuine and what isn’t? - Toby

Asif says: In the growing era of online security threats and ‘scareware’ we all need to ensure system and data integrity is high on the priority list. With regards to recognising if security updates are spam or genuine, let me say straight off, if you receive a vulnerability notification by email or Instant Messenger, it’s not from Microsoft...

Read Asif's full answer here

Asif Jinnah
UK Field Area IT Manager, Microsoft UK

Archived Questions

Question: Will I need to re-learn Word, Excel, Publisher etc if I upgrade to Office 2007? - Rob
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Question: Why should my business upgrade from Windows XP? - Oliver
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Question: How can I manage my mobile staff more efficiently? - Mark
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Question: How can I take the headache out of financial paperwork? - George
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Question: What can I do to reduce duplicate data entry and admin? - Graham
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Question: How can I access files from different computers? - Ashley
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Question: What do I need to create a good website? - Lucy
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Question: What's the best way of collating metrics from different sources? - Sanjay
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Question: How do i move to a client/server environment? - Mike
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Question: How can I rid my inbox of spam? - Izzy
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Question: I run my own business (a store) and have been doing my own VAT returns in Excel for some years. Are there any templates to make this job easier? - Simon
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Question: How do i get my website to the top of Google? - Nick
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Ask the Experts is not a technical support service. If you have a technical issue which needs urgent resolution please go to our Contact Us page where you will find the relevant assistance for Product help and support queries.

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