Personal Computer Made Easy

Uninstalling Stubborn Programs

2011-02-10T20:07:00.001-04:00

If there are programs on your computer that are causing you grief because they refuse to be uninstalled, this post can certainly help you. Firstly, download and install the handy software "Revo Uninstaller". This program usually gets the job done when "Add or Remove Programs" in "Control Panel" is unable to do so. The interface is attractive and very easy to use. Just follow the directions.

However, there are times when you need to do a little extra to successfully remove these stubborn programs. For instance, you may run "Revo Uninstaller" and still the program persists because "Revo Uninstaller" was unable to locate the uninstaller for the program. The listing of the files may still be recorded in the registry but the "real" program and the uninstaller have already been deleted and one or two files may have remained on the hard drive. In such a case, just go to "Start", "My Computer", "Local Disk (C:)", "Program Files". There you will see folders of all your programs. Locate the folder of the program that you want to delete and delete it. Then run "Revo Uninstaller" again. When "Revo Uninstaller" prompts you to delete the listing in the registry, ensure that you select all the files that pertain to the program to be deleted. This process should completely uninstall the program.

Tampering with the registry is serious business. You can crash your system! So be extra careful to ensure that you tick only the files that pertain to the program that you want to uninstall.

Fixing Your Flash drive

2011-01-11T14:09:00.001-04:00

Introduction

Flash drives, pen drives, thumb drives are just a few names among the myriad of names for this device. Flash drives are very popular and have great utility. They are faster than floppies, CD-RWs or DVD-RWs and have hundreds or thousands of times more storage space. They can last very long about 10 years. A flash drive will eventually fail after about 100,000 read/ write cycles. This device comes in many different sizes and these days I see flash drives of up to 256 GB! Now that is an enormous amount of memory for such a small device. Although this device is quite reliable, as with anything else, there are quality and inferior products. So you would expect that a quality flash drive will last a long time and you will have access to your important data when you need it. If you make the mistake and purchase a poor quality flash drive just because it is very cheap don't be surprise if you run into major problems such as the loss of your invaluable information! Securing your peace of mind deserves investing in a reliable product. Flash drives are usually 2.0 which is a high speed device compared to its older model the 1.1 which is much slower.

When the Flash drive Stops Working

Perhaps many of us have just used our flash drives which were working fine a moment ago and all of a sudden after placing it in again into the usb port the device refuses to open and we get the message: "The disk in drive [X] is not formatted..." You try to format it with no success only to be greeted with the message: "The disk in drive [X] cannot be formatted." If the electronics on the device has failed, then you will have to replace it. However, if it is a case of the FAT 16, FAT 32 or NTFS systems becoming corrupt, then you may be able to repair the drive by reformatting.

Tools Available

I have discovered two tools that can be used to format a flash drive when the formatting facility in Windows can't get the job done. They are HPUSBDisk and fat32format. Fat 16 can only format a drive size up to 2 GB. So if you try to format a drive larger than 2 GB in Windows, you would not even get the option to format it using Fat 16. Similarly, windows will give the opportunity to use FAT 32 formatting if the drive is 32 GB or smaller. Any size larger than that will have to be formatted using NTFS. The trick is that FAT 32 is the ideal system to use on flash drives in the sense of universal recognition. All computer systems such as Windows, MAC and Linux recognize the FAT 32 system. Even though NTFS is the most advanced of the three, it is not universally recognizable like the FAT 32 system. The problem is that if you are going to use FAT 32, you would not be able to format a drive bigger than 32 GB on Windows.

Solution

A drive up to 2 TB (2000 GB) can employ a FAT 32 system. Any one of the two programs mentioned above can get the job done. HPUSBDisk have a GUI interface (the regular graphic visual that you are accustomed to) so it is very easy to use. However, fat32format needs some direction because it is done via a command line. Download any of these free software and try to reformat your drive. There is a great chance that you will succeed. If you decide to use fat32format, here are the directions. After downloading the file, copy it to the root directory (the C:\ drive). Then open a command line either by going to "Start", "Run" and type in "cmd" and press "OK". Or, go to "Start", "All Programs", "Accessories", "Command Prompt". Then, to run the program, type in next to the cursor: "C:\fat32format.exe" leaving out the quotation marks. Next, type: "C:\fat32format X:" Leave out the quotation marks and replace X with the letter that Windows assigned to your flash drive and don't forget to put in the colon after the letter and notice a space between "format" and the drive letter "X". You will receive a warning. If you are sure that the drive shown is the one that you want to format then enter "y". So make sure that you are formatting the correct drive because formatting a drive makes the data on that drive inaccessible. And that's it. When it is finished, you will get a report of what was done. That which we call a flash drive by any other name would function as great!

CPU or Hard drive - the "Brain" of the Computer

2010-11-29T10:45:00.000-04:00

Introduction

We tend to think of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) as the brain of the computer because it controls the machine and is the "thinking" part of the computer. However, the human brain is not only a thinking organ: it performs many other vital functions one of which is memory. Scientists believe that the frontal lobe or front part of the brain is concerned with thought and the temporal lobe (the part by the temples) deals with memory. If I compare this to the computer then the CPU deals with "thought" and the hard drive/ fixed disk, deals with memory. Note there are other kinds of memory in computing. Thus the hard drive is as much "brain" as the CPU.

A Great Free Utility Program

In my years of experience in repairing computers one of the commonest problems for computer failure is a failing hard drive. Since the hard drive stores the operating system, the computer will fail if the part of the hard drive containing the operating system begins to fail. One very useful program for monitoring hard drive health and performance is called Active@ Hard Disk Monitor. The information about your hard drive is beautifully displayed graphically. I particularly like the scan disk utility that allows you to see graphically whether there are any bad areas on your hard drive.

A Failing Hard Drive

Once you discovered that your hard drive is failing don't hesitate to take action. Ensure that you have a back up and immediately replace it. One great program that can facilitate the replacement is called EASEUS Todo Backup. Among its many features, you can backup not only a single partition but multiple partitions and from different disks! Or you can clone the entire hard drive, that is, copy the entire hard drive to a new drive. You don't have to use this program only in the event of a failing hard drive but you can use it if you would like to upgrade to a bigger hard drive. Another plus is that its interface is very attractive and easy to use and it is absolutely free.

Making Photos Smaller

2010-11-28T23:17:00.000-04:00

Introduction

We all send pictures over the net. We email family, friends or upload them to websites The trouble is that not all of us have access to high speed internet and sending pictures on a slow connection may seem like an eternity. The good news is that there are powerful, free programs that can make a huge difference in the time it takes to email pictures or upload them to a website.

Smaller is Better

Reducing the size of a photo for internet purposes is a good idea especially for those who have a slow connection. If your connection is slow, a smaller size photo will upload faster than a larger one. Moreover, if your website contains many pictures, those of us with slow connections will have to wait a long time for your page to load. Thus reducing the size of your photos will cause your page to load faster. And a faster loading page is better than a slower loading one.

Free Software

Although there are many programs that can resize pictures, I would like to recommend my two favourites: PIXresizer and Shrink Pic. PIXresizer allows you to choose different methods to resize your picture, convert between graphic formats such as .bmp, .gif, .jpg and so on and can automatically reduce to a best size. There is also a built in image viewer. What I particularly like about Shrink Pic is that it can automatically resize all your photos to an optimum size whenever you email a picture. So after installing Shrink Pic, you don't have to worry about reducing your photos for emails. What great software!. Those of us who have slow internet connections will welcome such cool programs so that emailing and uploading photos won't have to take forever.

.

AC3 - No Sound in Windows Media Player

2010-10-24T09:07:00.000-04:00

Introduction

It can be very frustrating when you settle down to an evening of entertainment and for some strange reason your Windows Media Player video shows fine but the audio won't work. The great news is that it is very easy to solve this problem. All you need is the right software.

Analog to Digital

At first, sound information in the form of waves (analog) was used to record and store audio information. Today we have gone digital. Thus the analog wave is sampled and the information converted into digital information 1's and 0's. Dolby Labs developed a digital audio technology that can record and produce a multichannel audio experience, for instance, surround sound which gives the impression that the sound comes from multiple directions simulating the more natural way we experience sound. They developed AC3 technology. AC3 Filter, for example, is a software that can encode (convert the audio data into a code) and decode (convert the code back to its original form).

Fixing the Problem

If the DVD uses AC3 , it will not play in Windows Media Player unless Media Player has the AC3 Filter. The solution is simple. Download AC3 Filter off the internet and install it. The software is completely free. Then you will be able to see and hear your movie. Enjoy.

Best Free Text-to-Speech Software

2010-10-20T19:14:00.000-04:00

Introduction

As a budding Reading Specialist, I am constantly searching for great software that can enhance reading skills. When I learned about text-to-speech (TTS) technology, I examined many TTS "freeware" programs that made fantastic claims about their software only to discover that they either fell short of what they promised or it turned out that you had to pay to get the other features deceptively advertised as freeware.

Great and Free

At last I found "TTSReader" by SpheNet. I was amazed at the functionality of the program. For instance, you can choose from among nineteen different voices, adjust the speed, pitch and volume of the voice, and choose whether the first letter of the word or the whole word is highlighted when read.

Numerous Applications

Reading specialists, teachers and parents can utilize this programme to assist struggling readers and good readers alike to improve their fluency skills. Additionally, the text can be converted to mp3 files and listened to while doing other activities - this means that you can listen to your textbook, emails, articles, magazines or any digitized material that you prefer to be read to you either for pleasure or for practical reasons. Indeed this is among the very best free software available on the internet.

Downloading and Playing Videos from Youtube

2010-10-20T18:31:00.000-04:00

Introduction

Have you ever stumbled across an interesting and informative video on Youtube and, anxious to download it, you discovered to your dismay that you are unable to do so? Moreover, if you somehow were successful in downloading it, you become frustrated because you cannot play the file offline. I had the same problem. I just had to have those amazing, informative video clips about web 2.0 that our ICT lecturer introduced to us.

Solution

I went online in search of a solution. I came across a post by a gentleman who suggested a program by the name "Any Video Converter". I followed the link, downloaded the program, checked for viruses and spyware, of course, and voila! It worked. Now I can easily download any video from Youtube and convert it to a number of common formats that the regular DVD and Media player software can read.

File Formats

You may be wondering why the videos from Youtube do not play on your regular software. It is because Youtube uses a file format FLV (Flash Video) that those software do not read. So if you prefer to keep the original format of FLV while downloading the video instead of converting them to the format that your regular software can use, then you will need a program that can play FLV. There are many FREE programs that can do the job well: VLC media player that can play just about any thing and flvplayer4free, for example. Downloading, playing and converting Youtube videos is is so easy with Any Video Converter.

Shrink and Burn Large DVDs

2010-10-03T00:59:00.000-04:00

Introduction

I remember purchasing a package of two DVDs of the bible in Spanish and I wanted to make a back up copy of the DVDs for safe keeping but the problem was that the data on one of the DVDs were too large to fit on a single disk. If you are in a similar situation and are still searching for a way to burn your favourite DVDs that are too big, then your search has finally come to an end. In this post I will offer a few solutions to deal with this problem.

Bytes, Bytes and more Bytes

In computing, a byte is a unit of storage. It is calculated using base two so that there can be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 bytes and so on where each number is twice the number immediately before it. A byte can store one character like letter A or the number 0, etc. The prefix "kilo" means a thousand. So a kilobyte is about 1000 bytes. Since binary numbers are used, a kilobyte (Kb) is exactly 1024 bytes. A megabyte (Mb) is 1000 Kb and a Gigabyte (GB) is 1000 Mb - each new prefix on the scale increases the size by a thousand. A regular floppy diskette can store 1.44 Mb of data. Compare that with a 1 Gb flash drive - about 1000 times the size of a floppy - no wonder that the floppy has gone out of style.

Burning Large Files

A regular CD capacity is 700Mb while a regular DVD capacity is 4.7 Gb. If the DVD movie that you desire to burn exceeds 4.7 Gb, then you will be unable to burn it using your regular software. One solution to the problem is to use "DVD shrink". It is the only free compression software that I have discovered. And it works exceptionally well. It can compress the DVD movie so that it can fit on a single DVD. However, there are limits to the compression as must be expected. Secondly, if the movie file is so big that it cannot be compressed enough to fit on a single DVD, then you can choose to copy the movie file itself without the added features. A DVD usually comes with files other than the movie file. The movie file is the largest file. DVD shrink allows you to choose the files that you want in the DVD. By selecting only the movie file (the largest file), DVD shrink may be able to sufficiently compress the file to fit on a single disk. Thirdly, if this doesn't work, you also have the option of burning the DVD movie on two separate disks. This can be accomplished using "DVD fab 7" which is a powerful burning software with many cool features. This program is not free. However, you can try out the full software for 30 days before you decide whether or not you would purchase it. Your DVDs are never too big to handle!

Recovering Your Data - Lost Partitions

2010-09-24T17:59:00.000-04:00

Introduction

Have you ever experienced a situation where you placed your flash drive into the computer, the computer recognized it but you were unable to access the information? No matter how much you tried, you got the message that you had to format your drive. It happened to me. I visited the United States for the first and only time and had a wonderful experience. However, I placed all my pictures and videos on my flash drive and when I tried to access them, to my horror, I was greeted with a similar message. Thankfully I discovered a way that allowed me to get a full recovery of all my data.

Lets Talk Partitions

A partition is a dividing structure like a wall or curtain in a room that separates one room from another. For a storage device in computing, a partition can be conceptualized as an area on the drive that is set aside for saving data. In Windows systems, the hard drive must be partitioned before the operating system like Windows 7 can be placed onto it. Windows installation CD allows up to four partitions to be placed on the same hard drive. This means I can place, for example, Windows 7, Vista, Xp and 2000 on the same hard drive but on four different partitions or compartments of the drive. And when the system is switched on, I will get the opportunity to choose which of the four installation of Windows I would like to use. Usually the primary partition is called "C" and the other partitions, if any, will be given available letters such as "D", "E" and so on. So we hear of "the C drive" which means partition C. Now you have a pretty good understanding of partitions.

Recovering Lost Partitions

In my case, something went terribly wrong with the partition on my flash drive so windows could not open it. Fortunately I discovered a program "Find and Mount" that was able to locate my partition. "Find and Mount" will locate the partition(s) on the drive and provide you with the opportunity to mount them using a drive letter. Then Windows will open the mounted drive like any other regular drive. You will see all the information on the flash drive but it will be "read only" meaning that you cannot alter it. But you will be able to save all your information to another location. In this way I was able to recover all my irreplaceable memories some of which I had even forgotten. "Find and mount" works not only on flash drives but on hard drives as well. There is a free version and a paid version. Both have the same options only that the paid version works faster. Nevertheless, for domestic use, the free version is all that you need. So I hope you have read this before throwing away your flash drive or hard drive that refused to open. Your partitions may still be accessible. You might very well be able to get it back.

Adware Versus Spyware

2010-09-23T16:02:00.000-04:00

Introduction

Viruses aren't the only things that computer users have to deal with. Everyone wants to feel safe while surfing the net. However, surfing the net exposes us to the risk of being exploited by people using malicious software. Are adware and spyware malicious software? Is there a difference?

Adware

Adware refers to Advertising-supported software. These programs display advertisements on the user's computer. Advertising is important. Customers benefit from advertising because they are made aware of goods and services that they may want. Sellers benefit because they can increase their sales through advertising. Perhaps most free programs on the internet contain adware.   The user is able to utilize the program for free and the developers also benefit by generating money through the advertisements displayed in the program. A win win situation.

Spyware

But developers of software may not just want to display advertisement on the user's computer while he or she is running the software.   They may also desire to collect information about the user's browsing habits so as to provide a more targeted kind of advertising based on the user's browsing history. This is at the point where Adware turns into Spyware. Companies may state in the user's agreement that the program will collect such information and the user must agree to these terms and conditions before he or she is able to install the program. But how many of us read these terms which may be couched in legal jargon difficult to understand.

However, the reality of spyware goes far beyond tracking browsing history. Spyware operates on stealth and deception. The user may unknowingly install the spyware or he may be tricked into believing that he is installing a particular program when he is installing something else or installing the desired program but unknowingly installing malicious spyware programs that came bundled with it. Spyware is very dangerous. Spyware can gather information from one's hard drive allowing the attacker to obtain unauthorized information like trade secrets. It can even gather passwords and credit card information! Frightening indeed.

Protecting Yourself

Good anti-virus programs can also detect spyware. Some anti-virus developers produce anti-spyware specifically designed to target spyware. If you are an online shopper or involved in e-banking, anti-spyware in addition to anti-virus is a must.   There are numerous anti-spyware available. I personally like Ad-Adware by Lavasoft and Windows Defender (free by Microsoft). Note that Windows Defender is a standard program placed in Vista and Windows 7 but can be used on Windows Xp Sp2 and later. Adware that is true adware may be desirable but spyware is disastrous.

Managing Your User Accounts

2010-09-22T02:57:00.000-04:00

Introduction

Many people only have one user account (the "Computer Administrator" account) or if they have more than one, they always log in with the Administrator account. This is a poor practice because it increases their security risk.

Two Account Types

When setting up a user account, the system will ask you to choose between a "Computer Administrator" account and a "Limited" account. The "Computer Administrator" account gives you full access to and control over your system. The Limited" account as its name suggests gives you partial control of and restricted access to your system.

Use Your Accounts Wisely

The trick is that if you make it a practice to log in to your system with a limited account type, then if you forget to log off or step away from the computer for a brief moment, the risk of someone making system threatening changes to your computer deliberately or inadvertently is reduced. In other words you should have at least two user accounts: a "Computer Administrator" account that is password protected and a "Limited" account. Use the "Computer Administrator" account when you need to make changes that require you to have full access to the system. Then you should log off. Use the "Limited" account, preferably password protected, for everyday activities. You can create, modify and delete accounts under "User Accounts" which can be accessed from "Control Panel". The system doesn't allow you to have a limited account alone. There must be at least one Computer Administrator account. The best practice is to have both types.

Dealing with Viruses

2010-09-22T02:31:00.000-04:00

Introduction

You may notice that your computer suddenly begins to behave sluggishly or in unexpected ways such as your settings have been automatically changed. These are signs that your computer may have been infected with a virus. There is much talk about viruses in the computer world. But what really is a virus?

What is a virus?

Basically, when speaking about living things, a virus is genetic material that can replicate itself in living organisms which may result in illness and or the eventual death of the organism. Viruses are the smallest living organisms. We know about the influenza virus and the virus HIV. The idea of a computer virus is much the same. Hence the word "virus" is a fitting name for the reality of computer viruses. A computer virus is a tiny program that can enter a computer system and damage it. So like a real virus, a computer virus is tiny, can replicate itself and can harm the system.

Use Protection Always!

Viruses can enter a system through a connection to a network, the biggest network being the internet, or through an infected medium such as a floppy, flash drive or CD/DVD. There are a number of safety practices that must be followed to reduce the risk of your computer becoming infected with a virus. Firstly, as mentioned in my previous post, your system should be up to date by using Automatic Updates. Secondly, you should install an anti-virus program. There are so many. Perhaps "Norton Anti-virus" is the most popular. You can google sites for reviews on the best anti-virus available on the market. There are also free anti-virus. My personal best, and some reviews agree with me, are "Avast" and "Avira AntiVir". There is no reason why you can't run both of them simultaneously. In fact, many people recommend this. So what one anti virus misses, the other may pick up. I have both running on my system which do a fantastic job together. By the way there are also paid versions which offer even more protection. Next, you must scan everything. If you place any removable medium into your drive, you should run a scan for viruses. Email attachments, even those sent from trusted friends, should be scanned. You never know if your friends' systems have been compromised without their knowledge which may result in you receiving emails that are infected with viruses. Software downloaded off the internet in particular must be scanned. Finally, periodically scan your system for viruses.

Don't Forget the Updates

2010-09-22T01:53:00.000-04:00

Introduction

As the technology evolves, your computer needs to evolve with it and as issues are discovered they must be dealt with. Automatic Updates offer an efficient solution to keep pace with the evolving technology.

Different Kinds of Updates

When an operating system is created, for example Windows Xp, it is released to the public. However problems still arise even though the system went through a rigorous process of testing and retesting during its development. When bugs are discovered, programs are created to treat with these issues. These solutions are provided as updates. For example, the developers may discover that a certain program in the original Xp can be manipulated affording an intruder access to your system over the internet, new viruses may penetrate the system or that a program may crash under certain conditions. Thus some updates deal with security issues, others fix vital bugs and some provide tools that enhance the overall performance of the system. A number of updates may be bundled into a package referred to as a service pack. The first service pack for Xp was called service pack 1 (Sp1). With continual testing, Sp2 and Sp3 were created and released to the general public. This scenario goes on repeatedly. It was the same for Vista and it is not expected to be any different for Windows 7.

Automatic Updates Options

Four options are provided: "Automatic (recommended)", "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them", "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them. "Turn off Automatic Updates". Well turning off Automatic Updates is a bad idea - you simply will not get the essential updates that you need unless you are going to look for them yourself. And why would you want to do that? Deciding on which of the other three to activate, I guess, depends on you. If you are a person who is not too much into the technology and would like your computer to be at its best with the minimum of effort, well the first choice is for you. However,if you are the type where you want to see exactly what is going to be installed on your computer then you have a choice between the second and third options. Windows 7, Vista and Xp all have this facility. From Control Panel one may access Automatic Updates. Remember if you want your computer to treat you right, don't forget the updates.

Firewall

2010-09-20T23:45:00.000-04:00

Introduction

The computer like a living organism has defense mechanisms to optimize its ability to fight of attacks and maintain system integrity. The human body has different mechanisms to protect itself from harm and so does the computer. Three powerful computer mechanisms are Firewalls, Automatic Updates and Anti-viruses. Today I will chat about Firewalls.

Firewalls

A Literal firewall prevents fire from penetrating the building and similarly, a computer firewall prevents unauthorized programs like viruses and persons from penetrating the computer over the internet while at the same time allowing free communication with authorized people. One major implication of this is that your computer may block legitimate programs that you need to run in order to maximize your internet experience. Thus it is in your best interest to familiarize yourself with the firewall settings so that you can unblock or block programs as you see fit.

Accessing the Firewall

Whether Windows 7, Vista or Xp, one can access Windows Firewall through Control Panel. In Windows Xp one gets to Control Panel simply by clicking "Start", "Control Panel". There are two major firewall options: "on" or "off". The default setting is "on". When it is on, you can decide on the programs not to block which will be placed in the exceptions. Turning off firewall is generally not a good idea unless you know what you are doing. Of course, turning off firewall makes your system more vulnerable to foreign attack when you are connected to the internet.

System Restore

2010-09-20T21:02:00.001-04:00

Introduction

Your new computer is backed up and you feel quite secure. Then you spend a lot of time playing around with the settings to get it just the way you want it and are very pleased with the look. What you were not expecting, though, is for your little daughter to have a field day on the computer when you had forgotten to log it off. It's really easy to throw of your computer settings. Just by inadvertently clicking on the wrong combination of keys you can upset the setting that you spent hours setting up. That's where system restore comes in. As soon as you are satisfied with everything about your computer, you can set a restore point so that if for example the aforementioned things happen, you can easily restore the computer to just the way you like it with only a few clicks.

Setting a Restore Point

Windows 7, Vista and Xp all have this facility. I will show you how to set a restore point with Windows Xp. Firstly, go to "Start", "All Programs", "Accessories", "System Tools", "System Restore". A dialog box, "Welcome to System Restore" will pop up offering two choices: "Restore my computer to an earlier time" and "Create a restore point" Click on "Create a restore point" and then choose "Next". Look for "Restore point description" and type in the box under it, whatever name you would like to call your restore point. Then click "Create" and you are done. On the top left hand corner, you will get a message stating the date, name and time of the restore point. You can close the box now.

Restoring The Computer

To restore your computer to an earlier period, go through the steps until you come to "Restore my computer to an earlier time" or "Create a restore point". Choose the first one and click "Next". You will see a calendar and a list next to it. Only the bold dates are available. Each bold date on the left corresponds to the name or names of the restore point on the right. Choose a month and day on the left and look for the name that you want in the list on the right. Next click on that name. Then, click "Next". Information about the restore point will be displayed and then you click "Next" to proceed. The computer will reboot and information about the success of the restore will be given. If the restore was unsuccessful, you can choose a different restore point or undo the restore.

It is not really gone until it is overwritten. Good or bad?

2010-09-20T03:28:00.000-04:00

Introduction

So you placed all your important files on your flash drive or on your computer but something terrible happens. You deleted them by mistake or you accidentally formatted the hard drive. The good news is that it may be possible for you to recover all your deleted files.

The Concept - 0's and 1's

Information is stored in unique patterns of 0's and 1's. When a file is deleted, the computer marks that area of the disk as being able to receive new data. The file remains on the disk until new information is saved to that area. When new information is written to that area only then is the deleted file gone for good. Therefore, recovering a file depends on whether or not it was overwritten.

Recovering Deleted Files

There are many recovery programs that you can get from off the internet. Some of them are free. "Recuva" is a powerful freeware that can recover all your deleted files that are not overwritten. You can also set it to recover specific files such as pictures, music, documents as shown below:

If you inadvertently deleted a file, do not save anything to the disk. Run a recovery program.

Be Aware

But there are cases when you want deleted files to be unrecoverable, for instance, confidential information that you have deleted. There are powerful freeware programs that you can get off the internet that can destroy files for good. They operate by overwriting the whole drive with random patterns of 0's and 1's. If you are considering donating your hard drive which contained information for your eyes only make sure you run such a program before you part with your disk. For if it falls into the hands of some evil, opportunist or mischievous person, you may wake up one morning with all your business in the street. Scary thought indeed! So remember it is never really gone until it is overwritten. Good or bad?

Restoring Your Computer

2010-09-19T22:59:00.000-04:00

In the event that your system crashes as described in my previous posts, you can take out your magic wand. But wait! Before you wave it, you must first place the Operating System CD into the computer that is the Windows Xp CD, switch it on and the computer will boot. Also, before it boots, it may prompt you to boot from the CD by pressing “any key”. If it does that, press any key on the keyboard and the system will run. After a few seconds, it will prompt you to press “F2” in order to run “Automated System Recovery”. So watch out for that prompt. You don’t want to miss it! When it comes up, Press “F2” at which point the system will instruct you to put in the “Windows Automated System Recovery Disk” that you have made. Now you can wave your magic wand. Slip in the floppy. The computer will read the information and restore your system state settings, create a partial windows installation and use the backup to restore your computer to its previous state.

Your Computer Is As Good As Its Last Backup

2010-09-19T20:53:00.001-04:00

Introduction

Just imagine that you are hustling to finish your project or have just completed it and confidently saved it on your computer and the unthinkable happens – yes, your computer crashes. It cuts off just like that and refuses to boot. Perhaps the project was your final thesis! Now you are desperate and wished you had a magic wand to wave your computer back up and running. Well there is such a magic wand. It is called a backup. You don’t have to purchase expensive backup software or spend hours searching for free software that can do the job. Right on your computer has a simple yet very powerful backup program that can backup your entire system with all your data. This backup can be used to restore your system to its prior state before the crash.

What You Need

All you basically need is a floppy disk and a floppy drive to put it in, the CD that you used to create Windows Operating System (e.g. your windows Xp CD) and somewhere to store the backup. If you don’t have a floppy drive, because new computers and laptops don’t usually come with one, you can use a USB floppy drive. The backup procedure which I shall explain is specifically for Windows Xp.

Backing Up Your Desktop

You may access the backup program by clicking on Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup.

Then you will see the “Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard” dialogue box:

Click “Next” which brings you to a choice between “Back up files and settings” or “Restore files and settings”. Choose “Back up files and settings” and click “Next”.

Then choose “All information on this computer” and click “Next"

Now you come to the place where you have to choose where to place the backup, "Backup Type, Destination, and Name". You must choose a place where there is plenty of space because your backup may be many gigabytes. Saving it on your computer’s hard drive will be fine. You cannot use a DVD disk because this is not a burning program. Click on “Browse…”. The “Save as” window will come up. You will see all the places you can put your backup. I chose “desktop”. Then click “Save”. Now you must type a name for your backup. Any name will do. The box should look something like the following. Click “Next”.

Now you come to the following box, "Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard". Click “Finish” and the computer will take it from there and complete the backup.

When it is finished, it will prompt you to put in a floppy diskette so that information about your system state can be written to it. Note: You can copy and paste the backup to your flash drive (if it has the space of course) or burn it to a DVD if it is very small

Backup

2010-09-19T20:37:00.001-04:00

Introduction

So you bought a brand new laptop and you can't wait to try it out. Congrats! However, the first important step to securing your laptop is to make a backup CD. Usually, computers do not come with a CD of the operating system for you to reinstall in case of a major crash. That was the old way. Nowadays, many manufacturers provide a backup program that allows you to make a backup of your entire system. This means that in the event that your system crashes, you can use your CD to restore your computer to its original state. Yes, the factory state - your original operating system, and all application software that came with it. Usually, you will get a message periodically telling you to make a backup. Do not ignore it, for if your computer fails sometime in the future, you will regret that you did not make backup CDs.

Making a Back up

Normally, you can access this program by clicking start, then all programs and search through the list for the program that deals with backup or maintenance. Different systems may call them by different names. Laptops require that you use AC power to create backup CDs so you must have access to such power and of course your CDs. I recommend that you use DVDs which have a much greater capacity than CDs. Usually two or three DVDs for the most are required and don't forget to number them properly so that you will know the order to use them when restoring the computer. And always remember, "First Things First".

What about backing up desktop PCs? I will chat about that in my next post.

Computer Happy

2010-09-19T20:15:00.000-04:00

The computer is a powerful tool indeed! I use my computer for entertainment, business, information and for study. The problem is that so many things can go wrong with this vital instrument. For example, it can fail without warning, it may slow down, you may lose information, hackers may compromise your system - stealing your identity and or causing you public embarrassment.

Since I delight in experimenting with the computer, I have gained knowledge and skills over the years that I believe can help you treat with these crucial computer issues. So if you are unhappy with your computer or simply desirous of increasing your knowledge and computer skills, I encourage you to continue reading my blog. My desire for you is to be computer happy.