IT Security BS Degree Completed, Now What?
Yes, I finally finished my BS degree in IT Security a few months ago (little late with the message, I know). I feel that I learned more about IT Security related topics in the past few months due to already being in the IT Security position at work so the last few classes were somewhat easy. My last course was Linux as I wrote about before so I've been concentrating on learning as much about Linux security as time will allow during work. We have a few Linux devices here but I've mostly been learning penetration testing and vulnerability scanning with the help of Kali Linux (formerly known as Backtrack). I've been successful on a couple of social engineering attacks on a lab network and just making sure I do what I can to be ready to do some real testing on our network when appropriate. I see how even the good hackers can get in trouble, if you do not know what you are doing, it is very easy to take down a network, PC or server. I'll post more soon with maybe an example of some of the tricks I've learned.
Hard drive dead, no backup!
Most of you know that this blog discusses computer related topics such as troubleshooting, virus protection and system recovery. There are more topics as well and in the system recovery category, I guess I should discuss more on hard drive backups. About two weeks ago, my 1TB hard drive died and I was unable to recover all my data (more on this in a minute). I had no recent backup stored somewhere else so I had to realize that I had lost that data forever unless I were to pay for a data recovery company to attempt to recover my data for me but those places are usually very expensive. After thinking about that option for a few days, I realized that 99% of my data was not critical to begin with so I began to relax. My wife on the other hand realized the fact that most of our recent pictures of our family had been lost because she was copying them to my hard drive.Being in the IT industry for over 10 years now, you would think I would know to back up my data on a regular basis. Truth is, I do know it, but was just lazy enough to think it would not happen to me. Anyway......I learned my lesson.
So, after she told me that, I decided to attempt to recover the data. I hooked up my hard drive with an external USB connector that allowed to me to see some of the data but not all of it. I recovered most of the pictures that she saved but the rest of the hard drive was corrupt. She is happy and now I will discuss what I should have done from the start:
1) Backup data regularly! This is essential for critical data such as financial and personal documents. There are multiple ways to backup data and for the sake time, I would recommend for starters, just use an external USB hard drive.
2) Backup your backup data regularly! What does this mean? It basically means to keep multiple hard drive backups. Why, because that shiny new external drive that you just purchased could go bad at any time too. So the best way to keep your data safe is to have multiple backups available.
3) Take advantage of free online hard drive backup options. There are multiple online backup sites these days so I will just recommend a few that I have heard of that again are FREE up to a certain amount of data. If you want to back up a huge chunk of hard drive data, you will have to cough up some cash to do so with these sites.
***Warning*** Never use an online site to backup certain critical data if you do not feel comfortable that your data will be safe or not. (Most) of these companies do encrypt the data that they backup but it is online and using their storage servers so just be careful on what you decide to backup. A website that I would recommend is Sugarsync. They accomplish the following:
In the end, Dell replaced my hard drive under warranty since it was less than 3 years old, but recovering all of my data would have cost me anywhere between $300-$2,000 depending on how bad the condition of the drive is.
What do you use for data backups? Would you consider using an online backup solution?
So, after she told me that, I decided to attempt to recover the data. I hooked up my hard drive with an external USB connector that allowed to me to see some of the data but not all of it. I recovered most of the pictures that she saved but the rest of the hard drive was corrupt. She is happy and now I will discuss what I should have done from the start:
1) Backup data regularly! This is essential for critical data such as financial and personal documents. There are multiple ways to backup data and for the sake time, I would recommend for starters, just use an external USB hard drive.
2) Backup your backup data regularly! What does this mean? It basically means to keep multiple hard drive backups. Why, because that shiny new external drive that you just purchased could go bad at any time too. So the best way to keep your data safe is to have multiple backups available.
3) Take advantage of free online hard drive backup options. There are multiple online backup sites these days so I will just recommend a few that I have heard of that again are FREE up to a certain amount of data. If you want to back up a huge chunk of hard drive data, you will have to cough up some cash to do so with these sites.
***Warning*** Never use an online site to backup certain critical data if you do not feel comfortable that your data will be safe or not. (Most) of these companies do encrypt the data that they backup but it is online and using their storage servers so just be careful on what you decide to backup. A website that I would recommend is Sugarsync. They accomplish the following:
It will automatically synchronize/backup your documents and has the security features below:
- Files are transmitted encrypted (128 bit AES) via SSL using a once only key.
- At the SugarSync end they are stored encrypted on one server and the keys stored on another.
- The keys are random and not generated from email addresses.
- Keys are accessible to some SugarSync employees, hence also files could be provided by SugarSync in response to a court order or search warrant.
- There is no encryption key stored on your computer.
You just select folders to be synced using check boxes and exclude sub folders not to be synced. For those wanting a special folder like Dropbox (another popular option), SugarSync also provides one called Magic Briefcase and there is a non-synced Web Archive.
In the end, Dell replaced my hard drive under warranty since it was less than 3 years old, but recovering all of my data would have cost me anywhere between $300-$2,000 depending on how bad the condition of the drive is.
What do you use for data backups? Would you consider using an online backup solution?
Power Supply or Systemboard?
A few days ago, a friend of mine asked me to fix his PC that would not turn on. I asked him all of the usual questions: (as I was thinking in my head is it going to be the power supply or systemboard?)
When did this start? Last night when I was trying to turn it on.
What happened before this? The computer just shut off by itself.
Has it ever done this before? No
So from there, I began thinking in my head on at least 3 reasons why a computer would not turn back on:
1) The power supply unit (PSU) is dead.
2) The systemboard is dead.
3) The CPU is dead.
Based on 10 years of experience, these are the top 3 reasons that a computer would not turn back on after pressing the power button. I agreed to take the computer home and begin troubleshooting. First thing I did was clean the inside of the PC since it was full of dust. I have had other instances where a PC did not power on and after cleaning out the dust, it was perfectly fine again. Next, I tried turning on the computer and obviously, it did not power on....no fans running....nothing. BUT, the green light on the power supply was working as well as the little LED light on the systemboard. Although I initially thought that the PSU was infact dead, I started doubting myself after reading some online troubleshooting about this type of issue.
Sidenote: Always go with your gut instinct....I am learning that this is true for multiple things in life.
So since at this point thinking that the power supply is dead, I tell the client that either the systemboard or CPU are most likely the issue. I advised them that unless we replace both at once, it is difficult to tell which one might be bad. I took a chance thinking it was the systemboard so I purchased a replacement one online and tested it. Guess what.....SAME ISSUE!!! The computer still did not turn on!
I then remembered that I had a spare PC in my closet that I do not use often and I figured that I could use the power supply from it to test with.....sure enough, the PC booted up like normal. But all of the online troubleshooting I did lead me to believe that the power supply was bad......
So I decided to test the PSU offline with the paperclip method. (Please adhere to the caution warnings when trying this). The PSU worked! But it was obviously still bad because it was not powering on the computer. It may have been generating minimal power due to the paperclip but that's it.
Conclusion......after ordering a replacement power supply, the computer is back up and running. I was able to return the systemboard since it was not the issue. Again, it is tricky to troubleshoot power issues when some lights come on or fans work, etc. The best way to be prepared is to have a spare part to test with. And again, go with your gut instinct! If I would have tested my spare power supply first, it would have saved me time and money.
When did this start? Last night when I was trying to turn it on.
What happened before this? The computer just shut off by itself.
Has it ever done this before? No
So from there, I began thinking in my head on at least 3 reasons why a computer would not turn back on:
1) The power supply unit (PSU) is dead.
2) The systemboard is dead.
3) The CPU is dead.
Based on 10 years of experience, these are the top 3 reasons that a computer would not turn back on after pressing the power button. I agreed to take the computer home and begin troubleshooting. First thing I did was clean the inside of the PC since it was full of dust. I have had other instances where a PC did not power on and after cleaning out the dust, it was perfectly fine again. Next, I tried turning on the computer and obviously, it did not power on....no fans running....nothing. BUT, the green light on the power supply was working as well as the little LED light on the systemboard. Although I initially thought that the PSU was infact dead, I started doubting myself after reading some online troubleshooting about this type of issue.
Sidenote: Always go with your gut instinct....I am learning that this is true for multiple things in life.
So since at this point thinking that the power supply is dead, I tell the client that either the systemboard or CPU are most likely the issue. I advised them that unless we replace both at once, it is difficult to tell which one might be bad. I took a chance thinking it was the systemboard so I purchased a replacement one online and tested it. Guess what.....SAME ISSUE!!! The computer still did not turn on!
I then remembered that I had a spare PC in my closet that I do not use often and I figured that I could use the power supply from it to test with.....sure enough, the PC booted up like normal. But all of the online troubleshooting I did lead me to believe that the power supply was bad......
So I decided to test the PSU offline with the paperclip method. (Please adhere to the caution warnings when trying this). The PSU worked! But it was obviously still bad because it was not powering on the computer. It may have been generating minimal power due to the paperclip but that's it.
Conclusion......after ordering a replacement power supply, the computer is back up and running. I was able to return the systemboard since it was not the issue. Again, it is tricky to troubleshoot power issues when some lights come on or fans work, etc. The best way to be prepared is to have a spare part to test with. And again, go with your gut instinct! If I would have tested my spare power supply first, it would have saved me time and money.
One more class left, why not take Linux?
So after this semester, I have to take one more elective to graduate with my BSAS-IT degree from USF. It can be any upper-level course but I figured that I would stay true to form and finish up with an IT course if possible. After looking through many courses, I figured that Linux would be a perfect fit since most of the hacking tools I have been learning about seem to use some form of Linux and I really do not know too much about the OS.
To get ready for Linux, I installed a Linux OS version called Kubuntu since it somewhat resembles using a Windows based GUI. I will play around with this version before class starts in January to get the feel for some commands. I also installed BackTrack penetration testing tool so I can begin to learn it as I am learning Linux. I am still contemplating the specific road to travel in the IT Security world and becoming an ethical hacker is one option. I plan on studying for some certification exams once my degree is complete. More to come on these tests later....stay tuned for more information on my Linux class coming up soon.
To get ready for Linux, I installed a Linux OS version called Kubuntu since it somewhat resembles using a Windows based GUI. I will play around with this version before class starts in January to get the feel for some commands. I also installed BackTrack penetration testing tool so I can begin to learn it as I am learning Linux. I am still contemplating the specific road to travel in the IT Security world and becoming an ethical hacker is one option. I plan on studying for some certification exams once my degree is complete. More to come on these tests later....stay tuned for more information on my Linux class coming up soon.
Continuing the Journey in IT Security
Yup, I'm still here. I'm not going to make any excuses for not writing for the past few months. So I will just get down to my current thoughts. I am continuing my IT Security classes at USF Polytechnic. I have about one year left before graduating with a BSAS-IT with an information security specialization. I am now focusing on the security classes which include Cryptography, Network security and Firewalls and Information Security Management. So far, these classes are helping me learn more about the current security environment where I work as well as reinforcing topics that I feel knowledgable in such as virus protection and PC security. As I stated a few months ago, this blog will slowly turn into IT Security related information and I continue to immerse myself into this field. I love troubleshooting PCs but over the past couple of years, I have become passionate about protecting the network as well as personal PC protection. I have not really attempted any type of hacks in a lab setting but I may do that in the future since that is one way to see where your network is vulnerable. FYI: I do NOT recommend attempting to hack any other company or you might end up in jail like this guy. I guess that is all for now. My next post might be related to a recent homework example involving using AES encryption.
IT Security focus
Hello everyone,
I know I have not written on this blog since January and I do apologize. There have been a few changes in my life since then so I just have not had time to write any articles. RChase Computer Consulting is still going strong and I am currently evaluating the best avenue to further continue this blog. One of the my changes in my life is the career path that is seriously interesting me these days....IT Security. I am currently going back to school to finish a BS degree in IT Security and hopefully I will also complete the CISSP certification soon thereafter. Over the past few months, I have done some IT Security related projects at my job and I very much enjoy this area of IT. I plan on continuing to write on this blog but with an IT security focus. Mostly this means I will start to focus articles related to firewalls, virus protection, hacker attacks, and PC security. I will still continue to consult about PC upgrades and repairs but IT Security will be the focus going forward. Stay tuned for what I am learning about IT Security.
I know I have not written on this blog since January and I do apologize. There have been a few changes in my life since then so I just have not had time to write any articles. RChase Computer Consulting is still going strong and I am currently evaluating the best avenue to further continue this blog. One of the my changes in my life is the career path that is seriously interesting me these days....IT Security. I am currently going back to school to finish a BS degree in IT Security and hopefully I will also complete the CISSP certification soon thereafter. Over the past few months, I have done some IT Security related projects at my job and I very much enjoy this area of IT. I plan on continuing to write on this blog but with an IT security focus. Mostly this means I will start to focus articles related to firewalls, virus protection, hacker attacks, and PC security. I will still continue to consult about PC upgrades and repairs but IT Security will be the focus going forward. Stay tuned for what I am learning about IT Security.
Google Redirect Virus Issues
Today I thought I would take a moment to discuss a serious issue that many of my friends and co-workers have experienced while doing Google web searches. There is something called the Google redirect virus which is an attack that hijacks Google search results and redirects the browser to unwanted malicious websites. The Google redirect virus is a well hidden malware program and its removal is nearly impossible under normal circumstances. Usually, TDL3 Rootkit or some other rootkit infection causes the Google redirect virus. It gets installed through a trojan horse and it hides your google search results and replaces them with spam advertisements or websites which promote malware or some other online scam. The Google Redirect Virus is not easily detected by Anti-virus programs and other security software and so its removal becomes even more difficult. By the way, it does not matter if you use Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome, the redirect virus affects all 3. Some people have even said that it affects other search engines such as Yahoo and Bing. I have only seen it affect Google searches.
I have come across this redirect virus over 30 times now and I've been able to clean it everytime. It is very difficult to clean manually so I recommend using an application known as FixRedirectVirus - a particular application which has been developed by a computer technician within the UK to eliminate the redirect virus on your computer. The owner of the software is so confident that the procedure will work that he is offering a 60 day full money-back guarantee. It may be worth it to get this issue resolved as fast as possible before it gets worse.
Download FixRedirectVirus
I have come across this redirect virus over 30 times now and I've been able to clean it everytime. It is very difficult to clean manually so I recommend using an application known as FixRedirectVirus - a particular application which has been developed by a computer technician within the UK to eliminate the redirect virus on your computer. The owner of the software is so confident that the procedure will work that he is offering a 60 day full money-back guarantee. It may be worth it to get this issue resolved as fast as possible before it gets worse.
Download FixRedirectVirus
What to do When Your Favorite Malware Tools Fail
Try another one! Recently, I ran into some hardcore malware that was undetectable when I used my normal favorite two removal tools: Malwarebytes and Superantispyware. Mostly, I run into this problem with root-kit malware that is apparently undetectable at times.
But then there is program called Hitman Pro 3.5 that I discovered recently which, no joke, found the root-kit within seconds of being launched. I sat there for 30-40 minutes with the other tools and they found nothing. Hitman pro 3.5 found the malware within seconds!!! I rebooted the device and problem was solved.
What I like about Hitman Pro is that there is an install option that allows you to just run it once. Since it is a free application (there is a paid version), running it once keeps you legal if you need to run it on multiple PCs for a business or company that will not spend money for a corporate license.
So the next time, you think you are out of options, get a second opinion from Hitman Pro.
But then there is program called Hitman Pro 3.5 that I discovered recently which, no joke, found the root-kit within seconds of being launched. I sat there for 30-40 minutes with the other tools and they found nothing. Hitman pro 3.5 found the malware within seconds!!! I rebooted the device and problem was solved.
What I like about Hitman Pro is that there is an install option that allows you to just run it once. Since it is a free application (there is a paid version), running it once keeps you legal if you need to run it on multiple PCs for a business or company that will not spend money for a corporate license.
So the next time, you think you are out of options, get a second opinion from Hitman Pro.
Still Using Windows XP?
Why? Ok, I guess I know the answer that most of you will give:
"It's stable."
"All my drivers are available."
"Windows XP has been around for so long, I trust it."
Ok, while those are valid and honest answers....the first two answers apply to Windows 7 also. The third will eventually apply, but why not take a leap of faith? The worst that can happen is that you put Windows XP back on your system and go back to a boring PC experience. Or you can get up to the 21 century by upgrading to Windows 7. Let me explain to you why I think it is a great idea to upgrade your PC to Windows 7, even if it is almost 3 yrs old or older.
I experienced a flawless Windows 7 upgrade back in February of this year. And when I mean flawless, I mean nothing went wrong, nothing was missing. Everything just worked. Now, I did do an upgrade from Windows Vista, but even if you have Windows XP, you can still install Windows 7, you would just need to back up your data first and then install a fresh copy because there is no upgrade path from XP to Windows 7. I applaud Microsoft for this decision.....it would be like upgrading from a bike with training wheels to dirt bike....they are not the same.
Anyway...since February, my Windows 7 PC has not crashed, bluescreened or locked up at all. I can not say that for when it was Vista. And even though Vista did not crash as much as XP did and still does for people, it was extremely slow and a huge memory hog. Windows 7 is not like that, at least for me. My 3 yr old PC feels like I just purchased it from Dell again.....6 months later....still feels like that.
Look, I know not everyone will be able to upgrade to a new OS without buying some more RAM or maybe a new video card but most likely it will still come out cheaper to do a custom upgrade than to purchase a brand new PC or laptop right now. Check out some prices and see if it will benefit you.
"It's stable."
"All my drivers are available."
"Windows XP has been around for so long, I trust it."
Ok, while those are valid and honest answers....the first two answers apply to Windows 7 also. The third will eventually apply, but why not take a leap of faith? The worst that can happen is that you put Windows XP back on your system and go back to a boring PC experience. Or you can get up to the 21 century by upgrading to Windows 7. Let me explain to you why I think it is a great idea to upgrade your PC to Windows 7, even if it is almost 3 yrs old or older.
I experienced a flawless Windows 7 upgrade back in February of this year. And when I mean flawless, I mean nothing went wrong, nothing was missing. Everything just worked. Now, I did do an upgrade from Windows Vista, but even if you have Windows XP, you can still install Windows 7, you would just need to back up your data first and then install a fresh copy because there is no upgrade path from XP to Windows 7. I applaud Microsoft for this decision.....it would be like upgrading from a bike with training wheels to dirt bike....they are not the same.
Anyway...since February, my Windows 7 PC has not crashed, bluescreened or locked up at all. I can not say that for when it was Vista. And even though Vista did not crash as much as XP did and still does for people, it was extremely slow and a huge memory hog. Windows 7 is not like that, at least for me. My 3 yr old PC feels like I just purchased it from Dell again.....6 months later....still feels like that.
Look, I know not everyone will be able to upgrade to a new OS without buying some more RAM or maybe a new video card but most likely it will still come out cheaper to do a custom upgrade than to purchase a brand new PC or laptop right now. Check out some prices and see if it will benefit you.
Website Promotion leads to traffic increase
Hey everyone....
Ok, I promise to get back to some real tech articles soon. I just have to write this article about promoting your blog or website. If you don't already know by now, last week, I was a featured guest on a Ustream show on channel Wildstyle Live! The show is hosted by a good friend of mine and the show discusses DJ stuff including music and news relating to the industry. I was a guest last week and the topic of discussion was computers. We discussed the importance virus protection, PC upgrades and repair, and some other computer related topics. Oh yeah, and a little about some Macs too.
Anyway, since being on the show, my blog RChase Computer Consulting was accessed over 35 times just from a 1 hour show broadcasted live on the internet. Now I know from talking with DJ Wildstyle that his show is rapidly growing in viewers each month. Last month, over 19,000 viewers watched his show! Those are some awesome stats for a show that only has about 47 episodes thus far. So just by being promoted and talked about on DJ Wildstyle's show will earn my blog some good promotion too.
So, what does all this mean? PROMOTION, PROMOTION, PROMOTION. Besides the help of Wildstyle LIVE!, Mastermindz Promotions helped out on Facebook. The more promotion you can give your business, the more visitors and exposure you gain from it.
If you missed me on the show, you can watch the episode again here:
Wildstyle LIVE: Episode 47
Ok, I promise to get back to some real tech articles soon. I just have to write this article about promoting your blog or website. If you don't already know by now, last week, I was a featured guest on a Ustream show on channel Wildstyle Live! The show is hosted by a good friend of mine and the show discusses DJ stuff including music and news relating to the industry. I was a guest last week and the topic of discussion was computers. We discussed the importance virus protection, PC upgrades and repair, and some other computer related topics. Oh yeah, and a little about some Macs too.
Anyway, since being on the show, my blog RChase Computer Consulting was accessed over 35 times just from a 1 hour show broadcasted live on the internet. Now I know from talking with DJ Wildstyle that his show is rapidly growing in viewers each month. Last month, over 19,000 viewers watched his show! Those are some awesome stats for a show that only has about 47 episodes thus far. So just by being promoted and talked about on DJ Wildstyle's show will earn my blog some good promotion too.
So, what does all this mean? PROMOTION, PROMOTION, PROMOTION. Besides the help of Wildstyle LIVE!, Mastermindz Promotions helped out on Facebook. The more promotion you can give your business, the more visitors and exposure you gain from it.
If you missed me on the show, you can watch the episode again here:
Wildstyle LIVE: Episode 47
RChase Computer Consulting stats
Hey everyone,
I thought I'd write a short article about some websites stats to get ready for my appearance on Wildstyle Live! this Thursday. RChase Computer Consulting has been viewed over 24,000 times since April of 2008 (beginning of blog) with an average daily view of about 28. I know that may not seem like alot to most people, but I amazed when I look at the stats and what people search for to find RChase Computer Consulting. One of the most popular pages is the article that I wrote about using the HP System Recovery disks. Another popular page is about converting a VHD file to XVA format. I know, it sounds boring, but apparently, people are still searching on how to do it.
Anyway....I am not bragging at all. Like I said, I am amazed at how writing a few tech articles can turn into something so needed by others out there. I read many tech blogs myself and appreciate them when I find an answer to a problem. So my goal is to help others the same way.
RChase Computer Consulting has been viewed all around the world, just take a look at the map below:
Ok, I hope this helps get to know me a little bit. I look forward to chatting with some people this Thursday @ 8pm on WildStyle Live!
I thought I'd write a short article about some websites stats to get ready for my appearance on Wildstyle Live! this Thursday. RChase Computer Consulting has been viewed over 24,000 times since April of 2008 (beginning of blog) with an average daily view of about 28. I know that may not seem like alot to most people, but I amazed when I look at the stats and what people search for to find RChase Computer Consulting. One of the most popular pages is the article that I wrote about using the HP System Recovery disks. Another popular page is about converting a VHD file to XVA format. I know, it sounds boring, but apparently, people are still searching on how to do it.
Anyway....I am not bragging at all. Like I said, I am amazed at how writing a few tech articles can turn into something so needed by others out there. I read many tech blogs myself and appreciate them when I find an answer to a problem. So my goal is to help others the same way.
RChase Computer Consulting has been viewed all around the world, just take a look at the map below:
Ok, I hope this helps get to know me a little bit. I look forward to chatting with some people this Thursday @ 8pm on WildStyle Live!
RChase Computer Consulting to be featured on Wildstyle Live Ustream channel
I know.....I have not written any articles in a few months. Honestly, I have spending time with my family and I recently took over the Media Ministry at Living Water Church. I've been re-designing the church website using Wordpress (sorry Blogger fans) and I may migrate this site to a wordpress site as well.
Today, I wanted to let you know that on July 22nd, I will be the guest speaker on my good friend DJ WildStyle's show which is broadcast live on Ustream.tv every Thursday @ 8pm. On his weekly show, he discusses many topics ranging from current music news to of course DJ stuff! As his guest, I will be discussing computer issues such as PC upgrades, removing viruses and I may talk about a Mac or two since I recently got an iPhone.
Be sure to tune into Wildstyle Live! on 7/22/2010. You can chat with us and I believe DJ Wildstyle may have some prizes for anyone that listens the following week.
Today, I wanted to let you know that on July 22nd, I will be the guest speaker on my good friend DJ WildStyle's show which is broadcast live on Ustream.tv every Thursday @ 8pm. On his weekly show, he discusses many topics ranging from current music news to of course DJ stuff! As his guest, I will be discussing computer issues such as PC upgrades, removing viruses and I may talk about a Mac or two since I recently got an iPhone.
Be sure to tune into Wildstyle Live! on 7/22/2010. You can chat with us and I believe DJ Wildstyle may have some prizes for anyone that listens the following week.
Flawless Windows 7 upgrade
A couple of days ago I decided to upgrade my 3 year old Dell PC runnning Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. I know what some of you are thinking, why upgrade to Windows 7 on a 3 year old PC, right? Well, there are two good reasons. One, I have a free copy authorized by my college and secondly, I need to learn as much as possible about Windows 7 so I can stay current with the times.
Now for the flawless upgrade information.....I inserted the Windows 7 DVD and ran setup. About 1 hour later, I had what feels like a brand new PC. Windows 7 is definitely faster than Windows Vista.....and all of my programs work perfectly. Infact, my Madden 2008 PC game runs twice as fast and the graphics are enhanced even with my current nVidia GeForce 8400 GS video card. The game ran OK under Vista but sometimes it would lock up on me.
So there you have it...at least one success story of a successful upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7. have you upgraded to Windows 7 yet?
Now for the flawless upgrade information.....I inserted the Windows 7 DVD and ran setup. About 1 hour later, I had what feels like a brand new PC. Windows 7 is definitely faster than Windows Vista.....and all of my programs work perfectly. Infact, my Madden 2008 PC game runs twice as fast and the graphics are enhanced even with my current nVidia GeForce 8400 GS video card. The game ran OK under Vista but sometimes it would lock up on me.
So there you have it...at least one success story of a successful upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7. have you upgraded to Windows 7 yet?
SuperAntiSpyware better than Malwarebytes Anti-Malware?
The answer to this question depends on which type of spyware or malware your PC has been attacked by. Recently, a variant of the Vundo trojan blocked me from installing Malwarebytes and that never happened before. So, I remember reading on Technibble an article about another spyware removal tool called SuperAntispyware. I installed this new tool and immediately, it detected the Vundo variant plus about 200 other issues. SuperAntiSpyware is free to install and use and is now being added to my personal tool list for spyware and malware removal. Of course, the free version does not auto-protect the computer so you would need to purchase the Professional addition to enable that support. But from all of the reviews on Technibble, it is definitely worth it.
Here is a link to download either version: SuperAntiSpyware
Here is a link to download either version: SuperAntiSpyware
Windows 7 for $30
I just came across a website that has partnered with Microsoft to sell Windows 7 for only $29.99. Only requirements is that you be currently enrolled in an approved list of colleges or universities. Microsoft will verify that you are a student so I suggest not trying to sneak your way in to purchasing Windows 7 for only $30. Make sure your PC can handle Windows 7 before deciding to purchase it.
Purchase Windows 7 for $30
Purchase Windows 7 for $30
Degree vs Certification: Part 2
A couple of years ago, I wrote an article about whether or not getting a college degree was better than getting some IT certifications. This is part two of that thought process. Its been almost two years since I wrote about getting a degree vs certification and I mentioned in the article that I was going to go back to school to finish my degree. Well, I am almost done, this should be my last semester. I will graduate with an Associates Degree in Computer Networking Technologies. It might be considered a basic degree but none the less, I finished. Now I need to decide if I am also going to get some certifications. I am pretty sure that I will, I just need to figure which path to take. Microsoft or Cisco? Or both? Well, I found an article that discusses the topic of possibly getting both, a degree and certifications. And I think I finally agree. Getting both will help me in the long run and I would only need to continue updating my certifications when they expired. My degree will never expire, it will always be there on my wall somewhere showing that I finished it. IT Certifications expire as fast as the technology changes. Study hard folks.....
Here is a link to the article from Microsoft's Born to learn blog: Born to Learn
Here is a link to the article from Microsoft's Born to learn blog: Born to Learn
Troubleshooting screen flicker
I was going to title this article, "The case of the flickering LCD" but I figured I just title it something simple and to the point. Plus, that title kind of sounded like the article might be related to some criminal activity or some Sherlock Holmes type stuff....anyway....here is what happened:
I recently came across an HP laptop that had an LCD that would flicker after a few minutes of being turned on. It was on a docking station, plugged into a power strip with the original A/C adapter for the docking station. So I began trying to troubleshoot the issue and began narrowing down what I could to determine if there was a power issue or an LCD issue. It really could only be either one of those problems, there is not much else that can cause a screen to flicker.
So, I first decided to troubleshoot the power situation. I removed the laptop from the docking station and at the same time, decided to plug the laptop directly into a wall outlet with the original laptop A/C adapter (not the docking station one). Result: LCD still flickers. The only common item at this point is the laptop. I tried another wall outlet, no help. I tried another A/c adapter, LCD still flickered.
Next step, I took the laptop to a completely different area in the office.....guess what, it stopped flickering. (Don't get too excited yet). I proceeded to get with our office maintenance to have them check the cubicle for electrical issues. They actually came back to tell me that they found some loose wires which they repaired. (Again, don't get too excited). I tried the laptop again at the client's desk....LCD began to flicker again, but not right away like before.
To make a long story short......when the laptop was at my desk, it did eventually flicker, it just took longer. Not sure why. After waiting 45 minutes or so, it did begin to flicker. So, my last option was to assume that there was an issue with the LCD. One interesting thing is that the laptop LCD NEVER flickered while it was on battery power!!! Very interesting and HP had no idea about this.
The solution that HP stated they repaired was the LCD, a fan (not sure which one) and they replaced the laptop battery. Luckily, all of this was still covered under warranty.
Do you have any laptop LCD flicker stories?
I recently came across an HP laptop that had an LCD that would flicker after a few minutes of being turned on. It was on a docking station, plugged into a power strip with the original A/C adapter for the docking station. So I began trying to troubleshoot the issue and began narrowing down what I could to determine if there was a power issue or an LCD issue. It really could only be either one of those problems, there is not much else that can cause a screen to flicker.
So, I first decided to troubleshoot the power situation. I removed the laptop from the docking station and at the same time, decided to plug the laptop directly into a wall outlet with the original laptop A/C adapter (not the docking station one). Result: LCD still flickers. The only common item at this point is the laptop. I tried another wall outlet, no help. I tried another A/c adapter, LCD still flickered.
Next step, I took the laptop to a completely different area in the office.....guess what, it stopped flickering. (Don't get too excited yet). I proceeded to get with our office maintenance to have them check the cubicle for electrical issues. They actually came back to tell me that they found some loose wires which they repaired. (Again, don't get too excited). I tried the laptop again at the client's desk....LCD began to flicker again, but not right away like before.
To make a long story short......when the laptop was at my desk, it did eventually flicker, it just took longer. Not sure why. After waiting 45 minutes or so, it did begin to flicker. So, my last option was to assume that there was an issue with the LCD. One interesting thing is that the laptop LCD NEVER flickered while it was on battery power!!! Very interesting and HP had no idea about this.
The solution that HP stated they repaired was the LCD, a fan (not sure which one) and they replaced the laptop battery. Luckily, all of this was still covered under warranty.
Do you have any laptop LCD flicker stories?
Bluescreen error? Use this tool to view details.
Sorry for the long break in posting. I've been very busy in the past few weeks. Mostly moving into my very first home! Well, back to business, I have had some interesting computer problems at work lately so I will be posting the computer troubleshooting steps I took to fix them.
In the meantime...checkout the cool tool that was posted on Technibble this week. Bluescreens happen, period....there is no way to not get one if you are using any Microsoft Windows flavor. From windows 95 to Windows 7, bluescreens happen. The below listed tool may help figure out what caused the bluescreen which might help you troubleshoot the issue further to resolve the problem.
Check out the article here: BlueScreenView
In the meantime...checkout the cool tool that was posted on Technibble this week. Bluescreens happen, period....there is no way to not get one if you are using any Microsoft Windows flavor. From windows 95 to Windows 7, bluescreens happen. The below listed tool may help figure out what caused the bluescreen which might help you troubleshoot the issue further to resolve the problem.
Check out the article here: BlueScreenView
Publisher 2007 hotfix now available
As promised, Microsoft finally released the Publisher 2007 hotfix. The fix is due to an issue that Microsoft actually "broke" while releasing Office 2007 SP2. In my opinion, this issue should have been fixed sooner but Microsoft would rather you uninstall SP2 while waiting for them to work out the details with the hotfix. Why would you want to uninstall a Service Pack, which is usually includes security updates? By doing so, we (the Office 2007 users) could potentially corrupt our PCs or make them vulnerable for attack because of an issue that Microsoft themselves caused in the first place? I know, they have to cover themselves, but at least they could have acknowledged the fact that there was an issue.
Anyway, enough ranting... here is the link to the hofix: Publisher 2007 hotfix.
Are you tired of issues like this? There are free office suites out there. Check them out if you are not happy with Microsoft Office.
Anyway, enough ranting... here is the link to the hofix: Publisher 2007 hotfix.
Are you tired of issues like this? There are free office suites out there. Check them out if you are not happy with Microsoft Office.
Office 2007 SP2 breaks Publisher files
I know what you are thinking, "Why would Microsoft release a major Service Pack that might cause an issue?" It does happen every so often and its not usually known in the public because of course that would make the company look bad. But that is not even the issue here, let me give you the whole story:
Within the past month, Office 2007 SP2 was released through Windows Updates. Most likely, everyone installed the update without any trouble. But suddenly, you attempt to open one of your MS Publisher files and get an error message like this: "Publisher can not open the file." You click OK and then the application closes. Apparently, the Office 2007 SP2 install has somehow denied the ability to open Publisher files, including a brand new file that you save. Once that new file is saved and you attempt to open it again, NOPE, it doesn't open. Of course I started the usual google search for this problem and I came across a forum (actually its the Microsoft Technet forum) and beginning around the end of May is when people starting complaining.
Well almost a month has gone by and yup, you guessed it, no public word from Microsoft on the issue. So I contacted them and this is exactly what they said: "We are aware of the Office 2007 Publisher issues after installing SP2. This issue will be resolved and released into Windows Updates by the end of June." The end of June??? That is basically 2 weeks from now! The only possible workaround they mentioned was to remove SP2 but then it will just reinstall itself again through Windows Updates unless you block it until the fix is released.
I understand things break sometimes, but just be honest about it. The fact that Microsoft has not publicly responded just shows that they could care less about customer service. Not to mention we (the Office 2007 users) have to wait for a fix that they broke to begin with. Maybe its time to be reminded of other office suites, free ones for that matter.
Has the installation of Office 2007 SP2 affected you at all? Let me know.
Update: Microsoft has released the Publisher 2007 hotfix
Within the past month, Office 2007 SP2 was released through Windows Updates. Most likely, everyone installed the update without any trouble. But suddenly, you attempt to open one of your MS Publisher files and get an error message like this: "Publisher can not open the file." You click OK and then the application closes. Apparently, the Office 2007 SP2 install has somehow denied the ability to open Publisher files, including a brand new file that you save. Once that new file is saved and you attempt to open it again, NOPE, it doesn't open. Of course I started the usual google search for this problem and I came across a forum (actually its the Microsoft Technet forum) and beginning around the end of May is when people starting complaining.
Well almost a month has gone by and yup, you guessed it, no public word from Microsoft on the issue. So I contacted them and this is exactly what they said: "We are aware of the Office 2007 Publisher issues after installing SP2. This issue will be resolved and released into Windows Updates by the end of June." The end of June??? That is basically 2 weeks from now! The only possible workaround they mentioned was to remove SP2 but then it will just reinstall itself again through Windows Updates unless you block it until the fix is released.
I understand things break sometimes, but just be honest about it. The fact that Microsoft has not publicly responded just shows that they could care less about customer service. Not to mention we (the Office 2007 users) have to wait for a fix that they broke to begin with. Maybe its time to be reminded of other office suites, free ones for that matter.
Has the installation of Office 2007 SP2 affected you at all? Let me know.
Update: Microsoft has released the Publisher 2007 hotfix
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