TES Archive · Knowledge Base
The ArchiveIT tips & field guides
Practical advice for Cleveland small businesses on IT, hardware, web, public records and government bids. Written by an engineer who has seen what actually goes wrong.
Showing 23 of 23 entries
Deck 01 · IT
IT Tips
Diagnose it, fix it, or know when to call someone.
5 entries
30 min of reading
Why Is My Computer So Slow — And How Do I Fix It?
A sluggish PC almost always has a fixable cause. Here's how we diagnose one — startup bloat, storage, RAM, malware, and heat — and how to tell a tune-up from a machine worth replacing.
How to Know When Your PC Needs More RAM
Your computer is slow — but is RAM actually the problem? Here's how to check Task Manager, read the real signals, and decide whether an upgrade is worth it or if it's time for a new machine.
5 Signs Your Router Needs Replacing
Routers don't last forever, and an aging one causes symptoms that look like ISP problems or device issues. Learn the five warning signs — and what to replace it with.
What to Do Before Calling IT Support
A five-minute checklist that saves hours — and money. Most support calls start with information that should have been gathered before picking up the phone.
The Small Business Backup Strategy That Actually Works
The 3-2-1 rule explained for non-IT people. How to set up a backup system that survives ransomware, hardware failure, and human error — and how to verify it's actually working.
Deck 02 · SMB
Cleveland SMB
Budgets, security and support models for local businesses.
5 entries
35 min of reading
What Missed Calls Cost a Small Business, With the Math
A missed call never sends a bill. The math for an example shop, every assumption stated, and a formula to run with your own call log.
Moving Your Cleveland Business to Microsoft 365: When, Why, and What It Takes
When the switch actually earns its keep, what a clean migration involves step by step, and the mistakes — skipped backups, sloppy DNS cutovers — that cost small businesses time and data.
How Much Should a Cleveland Small Business Spend on IT?
A practical look at real IT budget benchmarks for small businesses — what to spend, the buckets it should cover, and why fixed-price beats getting nickel-and-dimed.
Cybersecurity Basics Every Cleveland Small Business Needs
You don't need an enterprise budget — you need the basics done right. MFA, password managers, backups, patching, and phishing awareness, in plain language and in order of return on effort.
Managed IT vs. Break-Fix: Which Is Right for Your Business?
An honest comparison of the two support models — with a cost breakdown at realistic failure rates. Spoiler: the answer depends on how much downtime you can actually afford.
Deck 03 · WEB
Web & Software
What a website costs and what it has to do for you.
2 entries
15 min of reading
How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
The honest range runs from a few hundred dollars to five figures. Here are the four real price tiers, what actually drives the number up, and the ongoing costs nobody warns you about.
Does Your Small Business Actually Need a Website in 2026?
A Google Business profile isn't enough — and here's why. Ownership, SEO, credibility, and what a well-built small business site actually needs to do for you.
Deck 04 · HW
Hardware
PCBs, CAD and 3D printing, from an idea to a part in your hand.
3 entries
23 min of reading
From CAD to Physical Part: How Custom 3D Printing Works
The full custom 3D printing workflow — from CAD model to a finished, usable part in your hand. Design, material choice, printing, and finishing, in plain language.
PCB Design for First-Time Hardware Founders
From schematic to Gerber files — what to expect when you commission a custom board. Common mistakes, realistic timelines, and how to avoid the errors that turn a two-week project into a three-month ordeal.
Using 3D Printing for Product Prototypes: What Small Manufacturers Need to Know
FDM vs. resin, real-world tolerances, what 3D printing is good for — and when you need injection molding instead. A practical guide for first-time hardware product builders.
Deck 05 · PR
Public Records
Ohio crash reports: where they live and what is in them.
4 entries
31 min of reading
How to Get an Ohio Crash Report (OH-1): Where to Look and How Long It Takes
Where the OH-1 lives, how long it takes to appear, which agency to ask, and what gets redacted before you see it.
What's Actually in an Ohio Crash Report (OH-1), Field by Field
A walk through the OH-1: crash identifiers, units, person rows, and the injury severity scale. Which fields matter and which are not there at all.
Ohio Crash Reports by County: How to Choose Your Coverage Area
Ohio has 88 counties and hundreds of reporting agencies. Picking coverage by population is the obvious move and usually the wrong one.
Ohio Crash Report Leads: Buying a List vs. Building Your Own Pipeline
What you are actually paying a crash-lead broker for, why exclusivity is the real problem, and what it costs to run the pipeline yourself.
Deck 06 · GOV
Government Bids
Finding, reading and pricing public contracts in Ohio.
4 entries
26 min of reading
How to Find Government Bids in Ohio: Where Public Contracts Are Posted
City, county, state and federal bid sources in Ohio, and a weekly routine for checking them.
OhioBuys for Small Vendors: How to Find and Track State of Ohio Bids
Reading OhioBuys listings, MBE set-asides, and what happens when a posting is revised.
Bidding on Cuyahoga County and City of Cleveland Contracts
The county portal, city invitations to bid, sealed and emailed responses, and deadlines.
How to Price a Government Bid Line by Line Without Losing Money
Landed cost, freight, margin versus markup, rate cards, lead times, and when to pass.
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