Computer Configuration for Consignment-Resale Shops

The idea behind 'computerization' is to increase productivity by automating common tasks. It seems ironic then that computers require so much of our time and attention to make them work properly.

As years and years of experience, Microsoft (whose stock has gone nowhere for 15 years) decided to remove the very staple of Windows from the Windows 8 taskbar - the Start Button. While they scramble to get the first service pack out to put it back, right click on the desktop, select Personalize then 'Change desktop icons'. Check the boxes for Computer, Control Panel, Networking, Recycle Bin and User's Files to place icons on the desktop for accessing these important areas. (The next time something is downloaded and you don't know where it went, click on the User's Folder (named after your computer and look in Downloads.)

Turn Off Windows Indexing

Consignment/resale shops seldom need to search the entire C: drive for anything so turn off Windows Indexing (which needlessly takes up computing power): Click on Computer (on the desktop now) then right click on the listing for C:. Select Properties. At the bottom of the screen, uncheck 'Compress this drive to save disk space' and click Apply. When the message appears, leave the selection 'Apply changes to drive C:\, subfolders and files' and click OK. (If a 'nag screen' pops up saying that you need administrative permission, click Continue for now and read the next paragraph.) When the error message appears about applying attributes, select 'Ignore All'. The screen for this process can be minimized while the change to the computer runs in the background.

Turn Off User Account Controls

By adding 'UAC' to Vista and subsequent versions of Windows, Microsoft intended to protect the computer from changes not authorized by the computer administrator. The problem is that even when we log into Windows as administrator, Windows still nags us about every change we want to make (like installing software), and even sometimes prevents entries from being saving in other programs (like Program Setup settings in BCSS). To turn UAC off: Go to the control panel and click on User Accounts. (The 'path' at the top should read 'Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > User Accounts.) Click the last link in the white area named 'Change User Account Control settings'. Pull the slider down to the bottom (Never notify), click OK and close the Control-Panel Window. (In Vista uncheck to box referring to user accounts.) This change will take affect after a reboot.

Administrator Authorization

Despite turning Account Controls off, Windows may still need assurance that a program is authorized to run on the computer. Right click on the desktop icon for running BCSS and select Properties. Click on the Advanced button and check the box to run as admin then click OK. On the same permissions screen click on the Compatibility tab and at the bottom click on 'Change settings for all users'. Check 'Run this program as an administrator' and click OK twice to close the Properties screen. Reboot the computer.

Super Administrator Overkill

To prevent unauthorized personnel (like shoppers in a store selling computers) from downloading and installing programs, Windows includes a 'super administrator' option that very few people know about.

Work Around for Super Admin

1. Type cmd in the Search Box on the Start Menu.
2. Right click on cmd.exe.
3. Click on 'Run as administrator'.
4. At the command prompt type 'Net user administrator /active:yes'. yes The 'Super Admin Account' will now appear as an option at Windows login. (A password can be set for it.)
5. Use that account to log in (with full rights over the computer).
6. Changes on the computer should now be allowed.

If this does not help, seek the assistance of an IT tech, or take the computer back to where it was purchased for service.

Read up on computer maintenance to restore PC performance.