Road ready - computing tips for business travel - includes related articles on travel tales from hell and the wired traveler's toolkit - Industry Trend or Event - Cover Story

Home Office Computing, May, 1996 by Mark Binder

Every business traveler has a disaster story. Mine occurred on my very first business trip, when I installed a password-protection program during the plane ride. Securing my laptop seemed like a good idea at the time. But the next morning when I turned it on, I found that I'd locked myself out of my own computer. So much for productivity, connectivity, or computerized efficiency. From the hotel, I called everyone I could think of and even visited the local Apple dealership, without success. I spent the rest of the week lugging around a 10-pound paper-weight, and I took all my notes by hand. Fifteen minutes after I got home, I solved the problem. All I needed was my boot disk.

Whether you're a first-time traveler or a seasoned jet-setter, no one's immune to the mishaps that can wreck a business trip (take a look at "Travel Tales From Hell," which accompanies this article, and you'll see what I mean). The tips compiled here prevent or solve just about anything that could go wrong, so you can get down to work while you're on the road--and safely return home, rating to go again.

Before You Go

The best time to trouble-proof your trip is well before you set your foot out the door. Try to do everything you can to make your excursion easier. For example, some hotel chains have several hotels in the same town, so ask to be booked into the one closest to your primary client or the convention location. Here are some other tips that are worth the proverbial pound of cure.

Care and Feeding of Your Notebook Computer

1. Don't work with software or hardware for the first time on a trip. Put any new technology through several days of real use before you rely on it on the road.

2. If you can spare the disk space, install the online help files for your most important software programs. You don't want to lug around manuals when you're traveling.

3. Back up, back up, back up! If you lose or damage your notebook, having a system backup safe at home will minimize harm to your business and make the replacement of the notebook a simple matter of filing an insurance claim. Back up to tape, floppy, Zip drive, or even your home PC. Back up the day before you leave, and bring blank floppies with you on your trip.

4. If you don't have a portable backup system, you could e-mail yourself copies of your most important files. Address the e-mail to yourself, and attach the files for uploading. Just remember not to read and download those pieces of mail unless you need them. Set up a secondary account as a backup dump.

5. Planning a presentation? Make Sure the facility has the equipment you need, and bring a backup (for example, if you're planning a screen show, bring along overhead transparencies--just in case).

6. Install Norton Utilities or a similar protection program. The undelete feature, which restores accidentally deleted files, is worth the price of the software.

7. Install a remote control software program so you can view and retrieve files that are on your office PC (for more information on such programs, see our software roundup in this issue).

8. Bring along a write-protected floppy boot or system disk. If for some reason your system files have been corrupted, this floppy will give you peace of mind by giving you access to your computer. To create a boot disk (basic DOS method: FORMAT A: /S), follow the instructions in the latest For Dummies (IDG Books) book.

9. If you're a Windows user, before you leave home, copy to a floppy disk all .INI and .GRP files from the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory, as well as CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. (Later, if your computer freezes up but you're able to boot from a floppy, replacing these files on your hard drive may solve the problem.)

10. If you're a Mac user, install a "Minimal Macintosh System Software" setup onto a floppy disk. When you boot up using this disk, your extensions and preferences won't be installed, but you should be able to use most programs.

11. Keep your laptop's warranty current. Many manufacturers offer one-day repair service but only to warrantied customers. Most computers warranties are valid for one year. Call your computer retailer for the details and cost of extending the warranty. If the warranty has lapsed, you may need to bring the laptop in for a checkup before you can extend coverage.

Luggage and Packing

12. Buy luggage for durability. Make sure that any shoulder straps and handles are attached with metal hardware. Also, rolling, flight-attendant-style suitcases are easier to manage than garment bags.

13. Begin packing your travel case as soon as you know you're leaving, so you won't have to look for important items at the last minute. Tear out articles from magazines so you can read them on the plane.

14. Wrinkle prevention tips:

* The fewer folds, the better. Gently fold several garments at the same time.

* Fold sleeves into the center of the garment before folding.

* Pack clothes with the dry-cleaning bags on; the plastic can help prevent creases.

* Stuff socks into shoes to prevent the shoes from getting crushed.