Enjoying Life In Malaysia

It's been a while that I have not updated my blog. I have been so busy because things happened so fast.

On January 3, 2013, I received a call that my working permit was approved and I needed to go to the Malaysian embassy to get my passport stamped. The process took 3 business days. On the same day, I had to attend the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar which is a must for all Filipino Overseas Workers. Then,I went back to work at Sutherland. I barely had enough rest.

On January 8, 2013, I got back my passport from the embassy and at 12 noon attended the final briefing before leaving at the Ikon office. Then in the afternoon, we all went to the airport because it was time for us to go.

At 12:55 AM on January 9, 2013, the plane landed in Malaysia and somebody picked us up at the Kuala Lumpur airport. We arrived at One Avenue Hotel at about 4 AM. And at 6:30 AM we had to wake up because it was time for us to attend the training.

From then on, I have been so busy. I barely had enough rest as I need to learn new things. I don't have any experience with IT help desk. But, it doesn't intimidate me, because I know how to troubleshoot hardware, software and networking issues. And currently, I am figuring out how to fix a VPN plug in issue. I haven't tried it yet but I think I know how to fix it. I just need to get a go signal from the Level 2 team lead if I can go ahead and do it.

I am also glad that one of the SME's, my TL and Level 2 TL recognize my contribution for the team especially when it comes to troubleshooting and my stats. TL Maika just told me that I am part of the top 4 with the highest stat. I also passed my QA with flying colors which did not happen when I was in the Philippines. And Kuya Vanie, one of the SME's told me that he can recommend me as one of them. I have to think about it first because I wanna make sure that I am ready in a new battle. I have to know the ins and outs of the account before I accept any post. Last month, I received a commendation from Upendra the Level 2 team lead regarding my performance. I was so happy.

And just today, April 3, 2013, I just got a 100% survey from one of our customers. Everyday, I am learning and getting better. I really want to show them my best. And I know I can be more. I will prove to my new family that I will be their asset.

I do not want to compare but the recognition they are giving me is driving me to bring out the best in me. Unlike when I was "down there". For many years, I have been contributing a lot of things. I only received a rock star certificate but they delayed my promotion until I resigned. Here, I don't feel any politics and favoritism. And my job is so laid back. I noticed that my hair is not falling anymore. Sounds funny but it's true. I don't feel stress anymore. And if only I knew 3 years ago that this job is so easy, I should have grabbed the opportunity when Mommy Brenz told me about this. And maybe or maybe not, I married him.

Batu Caves, Malaysia

Windows 8: Windows Update Failed

How to fix Windows update failed after 15% configuration on Windows 8 computers.

First press and hold the windows button (fig. 1) on your keyboard and press R.

fig. 1

Once you pull up the run command. Type msconfig. (fig. 2)

fig. 2

Then go to the services tab and check the "Hide all Microsoft services". (fig. 3)

fig. 3

After checking the "Hide all Microsoft services" box. Make sure everything is checked. Then click the "Disable all" button. Then click ok. You might receive the screen below. (fig. 4) Then try clicking restart.

fig. 4

If it doesn't go through. Check for updates again by going to control panel- system and security- windows update- check for updates- install. Then restart the computer. Once the update is done, you can go back to msconfig and enable all services again.

Windows 8 Shortcut Keys

Windows 8 has added a lot of shortcuts for easier navigation.  Some of the shortcuts are the same with other OS 

Windows key: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application

Windows key + C: Access the charms bar

Windows key + Tab: Access the Modern Desktop Taskbar

Windows key + I: Access the Settings charm

Windows key + H: Access the Share charm

Windows key + K: Access the Devices charm

Windows key + Q: Access the Apps Search screen

Windows key + F: Access the Files Search screen

Windows key + W: Access the Settings Search screen

Windows key + P: Access the Second Screen bar

Windows key + Z: Brings up the App Bar when you have a Modern Desktop App running

Windows key + X: Access the Windows Tools Menu

Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation

Windows key + . : Move the screen split to the right

Windows key + Shift + . : Move the screen split to the left

Windows key + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications

Windows key + Shift + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications in reverse order

Windows key + PrtScn: Takes a screenshot of the screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures folder as Screenshot

Windows key + Enter: Launch Narrator        

Windows key + E: Open Computer

Windows key + R: Open the Run dialog box

Windows key + U: Open Ease of Access Center

Windows key + Ctrl + F: Open Find Computers dialog box

Windows key + Pause/Break: Open the System page

Windows key + 1..10: Launch a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows key + Shift + 1..10: Launch a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows key + Ctrl + 1..10: Access the last active instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows key + Alt + 1..10: Access the Jump List of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows key + B: Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle through the items Press Enter to open the selected item

Windows key + Ctrl + B: Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area

Windows key + T: Cycle through the items on the Taskbar

Windows key + M: Minimize all windows

Windows key + Shift + M: Restore all minimized windows

Windows key + D: Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows)

Windows key + L: Lock computer

Windows key + Up Arrow: Maximize current window

Windows key + Down Arrow: Minimize/restore current window

Windows key + Home: Minimize all but the current window

Windows key + Left Arrow: Tile window on the left side of the screen

Windows key + Right Arrow: Tile window on the right side of the screen

Windows key + Shift + Up Arrow: Extend current window from the top to the bottom of the screen

Windows key + Shift + Left/Right Arrow: Move the current window from one monitor to the next

Windows key + F1: Launch Windows Help and Support

PageUp: Scroll forward on the Modern Desktop Start screen

PageDown: Scroll backward on the Modern Desktop Start screen

Esc: Close  a charm

Ctrl + Esc: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application

Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Activate the Semantic Zoom on the Modern Desktop screen

Alt: Display a hidden Menu Bar

Alt + D: Select the Address Bar

Alt + P: Display the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer

Alt + Tab: Cycle forward through open windows

Alt + Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through open windows

Alt + F: Close the current window Open the Shut Down Windows dialog box from the Desktop

Alt + Spacebar: Access the Shortcut menu for current window

Alt + Esc: Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened

Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog box of the selected item

Alt + PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the active Window and place it in the clipboard

Alt + Up Arrow: Move up one folder level in Windows Explorer (Like the Up Arrow in XP)

Alt + Left Arrow: Display the previous folder

Alt + Right Arrow: Display the next folder

Shift + Insert: CD/DVD Load CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun

Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)

Shift + F6: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box

Shift + F10: Access the context menu for the selected item

Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box

Shift + Click: Select a consecutive group of items

Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of a program

Shift + Right-click on a Taskbar button: Access the context menu for the selected item

Ctrl + A: Select all items

Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item

Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item

Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item

Ctrl + D: Delete selected item

Ctrl + Z: Undo an action

Ctrl + Y: Redo an action

Ctrl + N: Open a new window in Windows Explorer

Ctrl + W: Close current window in Windows Explorer

Ctrl + E: Select the Search box in the upper right corner of a window

Ctrl + Shift + N: Create new folder

Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open the Windows Task Manager

Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use arrow keys to cycle through open windows

Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Access the Windows Security screen 

Ctrl + Click: Select multiple individual items

Ctrl + Click and drag an item: Copies that item in the same folder

Ctrl + Shift + Click and drag an item: Creates a shortcut for that item in the same folder

Ctrl + Tab:  Move forward through tabs

Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move backward through tabs

Ctrl + Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of a program as an Administrator

Ctrl + Click on a grouped Taskbar button: Cycle through the instances of a program in the group

F1: Display Help

F2: Rename a file

F3: Open Search

F4: Display the Address Bar list

F5: Refresh display

F6: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box

F7: Display command history in a Command Prompt

F10: Display hidden Menu Bar

F11: Toggle full screen display

Tab: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box

PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the entire screen and place it in the clipboard

Home: Move to the top of the active window

End: Move to the bottom of the active window

Delete: Delete the selected item

Backspace: Display the previous folder in Windows Explorer  Move up one folder level in Open or Save dialog box

Esc: Close a dialog box

Num Lock Enabled + Plus (+): Display the contents of the selected folder 

Num Lock Enabled + Minus (-): Collapse the selected folder

Num Lock Enabled + Asterisk (*): Expand all subfolders under the selected folder     

Press Shift 5 times Turn StickyKeys on or off

Hold down right Shift for 8 seconds Turn FilterKeys on or off

Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds Turn ToggleKeys on or off