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:

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? 


     

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.

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!

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

IE8 SmartScreen Filter blocks malware

Windows XP or Windows Vista users who have their automatic software update turned on will be notified that Internet Explorer version 8 is now available for download.

The new version runs faster and smoother than version 7 according to the author of the article at The Washington Post.

One of the new features is called SmartScreen Filter. This feature blocks phishing sites but the article mentions that this does not work well against the top sites that distribute rogue anti-virus products. Of course Microsoft believes otherwise, take a look at what they say the filter does:

SmartScreen’s malware protection focuses on identifying and blocking sites on the web that are distributing malicious software. As a reputation-based feature, SmartScreen can block new threats from existing malicious sites, even if those threats are not yet blocked by traditional anti-virus or anti-malware signatures. In this way, the SmartScreen filter complements traditional anti-virus products by providing additional dimensions for both identification and protection. For comprehensive protection from malware, we highly recommend that users also install traditional anti-virus products and keep them up to date.

You can read more about Internet Explorer 8 and its SmartScreen filter here: IE8

RChase Computer Consulting 2009 Goals

I thought I'd start this year out with a list of goals I would like to accomplish for RChase Computer Consulting. I did not do this last year and I think that may be why I did not accomplish what I set out to do. Let me first start out by saying that the main goal for this blog is to help computer users all over the world with their computer troubleshooting by providing information about the latest Windows operating systems currently in use: Windows XP and Windows Vista SP1. I also randomly post interesting articles relating to computer upgrades and computer consulting. For only being operational since March 2008, I already have a most searched page and it relates to an HP 7680 printer and the issues I had with installing it at work. This page searched daily and its exciting to know that I am potentially helping someone make a decision on a purchase or troubleshoot a printer issue.

So, here are my 2009 goals for RChase Computer Consulting:
1) Post at least once a week.
2) Post more about computer troubleshooting since this seems to be what is searched the most by people.
3) Introduce a PC tool of the week that I may find useful. (I will only do this if I actually use the product)
4) Purchase a domain name for RChase Computer Consulting (need to figure out the best way to do this)
Thanks for being a reader and enjoy the site in the coming days and months of 2009.

If you have any suggestions for this year, please comment below.

HWiNFO tool Useful for PC upgrades

HWiNFO and HWiNFO32 are professional hardware information and diagnostic tools supporting latest components, industry technologies and standards. Both tools are designed to collect and present the maximum amount of information possible about computer's hardware which makes them suitable for users searching for driver updates, computer manufacturers, system integrators and technical experts as well. Retrieved information is presented in a logical and easily understandable form and can be exported into various types of reports. Currently, there is a Windows version (HWiNFO32) and a DOS version (HWiNFO).

I've used HWiNFO32 in the past couple of weeks to help out with some computer upgrades to include the recent attempt to upgrade my father-in-law's PC to Windows Vista. I recommend this tool if you want a quick way to determine exactly what is inside a PC or laptop.

Download the tool here: HWiNFO32

Work from Home | A Solution to high Gas Prices

Could I work from home?

I probably could....but how many days in a row that would work is a different story. Eventually, I would need to come in to work to fix a PC problem that I was unable to fix remotely. All one needs to work from home is a PC with a highspeed internet connection and a work PC with remote desktop enabled. Both PCs could be Windows XP or Windows Vista or a combination of the two. And since I have my work PC setup with SMS 2003, I remotely connect to our clients PCs anyway to fix an issue for them instead of going to their office. I probably can do this about 95% of the time with success. So I figured, why not just do it from home and not even commute to the office? I am going to inquire about "testing" this scenario out but I have a feeling that my boss will not go for it.

Oh well, a guy can dream right? If you could work from home would you? How would you do it?

Benefits of a custom-built PC

Computer manufacturers such as Dell, HP, IBM, etc, have come a long way in providing consumers with a number of options in building a custom computer system. These computers can be quite good for the typical user but if you really want a system that you can use for years after you buy it then you really need to consider a custom-built PC.

Most manufacturers use proprietary hardware with their PCs and this can make it extremely difficult to upgrade your PC as the various components become obsolete or are not compatible. Examples include the CPUs, RAM, network adapter, sound and video adapters. While some of these components can be upgraded after the initial purchase, you will often find that you are very limited with what you are able to upgrade.

Building your own PC allows you the most flexibility and when you look at the quality of the components used in the system, the cost is often less than buying a pre-built system of the same specifications. Another advantage of a custom-built PC is that you can start with a very basic system with a low end CPU combined with maybe a mid-range system board and minimal memory. You may also want to just start out with a generic sound card and video card or you could purchase a system board that has on board sound and video (not recommended unless you are totally broke or short on cash at the time of purchase). You can always upgrade to a better sound & video card later. You will want to do this if you decide to play some graphic intensive games on your PC.

Now you have a basic custom-built PC. When you have some more money, you can then install more RAM which is one of the best ways to enhance PC performance. Eventually, you may decide to upgrade your CPU and you may be able to do this once or twice depending on how much you are willing to spend. Best practice is to just upgrade the CPU to the best one that the system board will support. A custom PC like this would probably last you 1-2 yrs before it "feels" like its outdated. So, instead of going out and buying a whole new PC, you would only need to at most swap out the system board and processor. You can still use the same sound card, video card, computer case, RAM, CD/DVD drive, hard drive and of course keyboard/mouse. The only thing you will have to do though is probably reinstall your operating system and applications. The reason for this is that the current setup may or may not support the changing out of a system board which can cause the OS (either Windows XP or Windows Vista) to crash. Best practice, is to back up all important data to a CD/DVD, and then swap out the system board and reinstall your OS. Once that is back up and running, you can then restore your data.

Do you have a custom-built PC? What are your thoughts about them?

Hard Drive dead? Don't just trash it...

Destroy it!

Just because a dead hard drive will no longer boot an OS or the computer BIOS says its DOA, that does not mean the data is. There are utilities out there that will destroy hard drives (also called writing 1s & 0s to the disk). There are military standard DOD wipe programs as well.
And then there is the Verity Systems VS7000 manual hard drive destroyer which crushes the hard drive with the turn of a handle. The destroyer warps the hard drive platter so any data on it can never be read again. I've never seen anything like this!


Check out the other ways to destroy hard drive data

Vista slow? Download this free performance E-book

Microsoft recently released a free e-book called Windows Vista Performance and Tuning. I just downloaded the 14 page e-book and it is definitely something that all Windows Vista users can benefit from reading it. Microsoft claims that Windows Vista along with the recent release of SP1 provide major advancements in usability, reliability, connectivity and security.

The following areas are covered in this e-book:

1) Improve PC responsiveness
2) Improve speed by using external hardware
3) Improve PC start-up time
4) Improve PC performance
5) Maintain & Monitor PC performance to help stop small issues from becoming big ones.

The article focuses on performance improvements for a single computer but there is a section that includes ways to use tools for enterprise environments as well. Right from the start, it mentions having at least 2GB of RAM for PCs that use Windows Vista. I wrote an earlier post about RAM and how Windows Vista would barely boot-up with less than 1GB of RAM. You can never have too much RAM installed in your PC.

That is the summary of the free e-book titled Windows Vista Performance and Tuning which you can download here: E-book download

Is my hard drive going bad?

A PC hard drive is probably one of the most important parts of a computer. Basically, it is responsible for the physical storage of information which it does by way of magnetic disks. Here are 3 ways hard drives fail:

1) Normal wear and tear are possible due to the moving parts needed to retrieve the data on the hard drive. Data is constantly being transferred to and from locations so eventually, disk parts are bound to die.

2) Power surges among other electrical related issues can cause a hard drive to fail.

3) Logical disk errors such as software corruption, unexpected OS failures or computer viruses. This could also include the accidental formatting of a drive or deleting files without a current backup.

Usually, physical drive errors can not be fixed at home and will probably require a disk recovery utility from some well known company that specializes in data recovery. Hard drive recovery is possible because the data continues to exist on the hard disk even after it is deleted. Unless data is overwritten in the same sector, the data will continue to exist even if the operating system does not show it.

As for logical drive errors, data can be copied to an external disk, then the affected drive can be reformatted with the original OS. Data can then be restored to the original settings. I accomplish this task at least one a week at my current job.

Data recovery companies are generally used by businesses that can afford them as the price could cost thousands of dollars. Most of the programs they use can be installed easily and can be scheduled for self-maintenance such as taking a periodic backup of important files.

Backup your important files today! Your hard drive could fail at anytime.

Laptop vs Desktop

"Ray, I need a new computer, what do you think I should get?"

I hear that question....often. The answer may be simple for some, but most people do not realize how cheap they can get a decent computer or laptop...which brings me to another question I often hear: "Should I get a laptop or desktop?"

There are many websites out there that compare computers and most are just trying to get people to purchase their brand. In my opinion, all manufacturers are better than they were 5 yrs ago. I personally have 2 Dell desktop computers. One is about 4 months old, the other is 7 yrs old. I am not promoting Dell, but I never....not at all....had to call someone at Dell about my computers. They just "work".

In saying that....most people just need to find a computer that fits what they need to do with it. Now for the purposes of this post, I am going to stick with Dell because I use them at home so I can help someone choose the right model for what they need. There are basically 3 different types of people that need a computer:

1) The college student
2) The parents/grandparents or computer beginner
3) The gamer


I'll give a brief breakdown of what each group should purchase but of course, each group has its people that actually fall into more than one group.

1) The college student: Usually, a laptop is the best decision for a college student. Why? Because they will always be studying somewhere. Whether at work or the library, most places these days have wireless Internet access so they can connect to the Internet if need be. Besides that, laptops are portable and easy to carry anywhere. The college student generally does not need a high powered processor or extra RAM. Just the basics. Here is the laptop I would recommend to a college student:

Dell Inspirion 1525

2) The parents/grandparents or computer beginner: This group is also simple....although they probably need a desktop instead of a laptop. Again, unless the parents are into gaming or other graphic intensive things, a simple desktop will do. Here is my recommendation:

Dell Inspirion 530

3) The gamer: This group is a fun one. People in this group could range from kids to adults and vary from all different types of games including online gaming. To play a PC game, your computer should be maxed out in all areas as much as you can afford at the time. I recommend purchasing a desktop, not a laptop for gaming, even though there are some companies that sell "gaming laptops", its not the same. Video cards are still not the best in laptops. Most games are so memory and graphic intensive that a gaming computer will need to have the best available at the time of purchase. Of course, there comes a huge price for this...but hey, if you are willing to spend this much to play games and you love doing, why not? Splurge if you can. Here is what I would recommend to a PC gamer:

Dell XPS 720

Ok, well that sums it up for deciding to purchase a laptop or desktop. Like I said, the above list is just general. There are more questions I ask people before making a recommendation but at least whoever is reading this will have an idea of what to look for.

RChase Computer Consulting recommends Dell PCs with Microsoft Windows Vista.