Disaster preparation 101 — Data backup

In this one I will talk about Disaster, it happens to all of us from time to time. A fire, a earthquake, a stolen laptop or any number of ways. So what happens to your data, is it stored on the laptop? Is it important very sensitive data? Could you get fired if you lost that data?

[ad#ad2-right]These are all questions you must ask yourself when you have laptop. How do you backup your data or even do you have a backup? Having seen this with my own clients, I must wonder if there are people out there who just don’t care. I had a client the other day who gotten a virus and this was a really mean virus. Deleted some very important files when you tried to clean the virus out. She called me in a panic because she couldn’t load up windows? I asked if she had any backups, she said “what’s a backup” . So I sat there discussing this with the client for over 20 minutes. Finally she started to understand, she said she had the OEM Backup DVD but nothing else. She also said she needed help with getting data off the computer. I told her that I would be able to come the next day and I was lucky the virus didn’t do anything else to her data. We were able to retrieve the data from her system. That is where I start my rant , Why would anyone not have backup of there most important data?

So How do you backup your data? This is controversial and somewhat depends on how much people want to spend to keep there data safe and not loose pictures or music. There are several ways to do it, each way has it’s pitfalls or short comings and requires a little more effort:

Kinds of Backup

Hard Medium – DVD, CD, External Hard drive

Although,  The hard medium is usually used that doesn’t mean you can have a backup other than hard.   Here are some ways to back up on the internet.

Internet Medium:

  • Jungle Disk — Provides online storage through the Amazon s3 service.   Only pay for what you use.   It works well with most Operating system.  I’ve used it on Vista so it is really nice.
  • Carbonite Online backup –Another good Online storage.
  • Some Other Online backup — Here a list from Amazon to better help you find the type of software that you might need.

These are just a few options, if you want to look for other you can.  The important thing to do is BACKUP because if you need some data that gets wiped or destroyed.  You will be kicking yourself for not backing up.

Digital Convert boxes for Feburary 17, 2008

It being close to the change over, I’d figure I’d show you some of them and talk about them. To better help people make up there minds on what might be there choice of a Digital Converter Box. This is to help people get the most out of there products.

The Specs for this Converter is:

Zenith DTT901 Digital TV Tuner Converter Box

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  • Digital TV Tuner Coverter Box
  • Analog Pass-Through for Low-Power TV Stations broadcasts
  • On-Screen Program Information with Remote Control
  • Simple Connection to TV with supplied RF Cable
  • Parental Control to Manage TV Programs and advanced Closed Captioning

$59.95 Free Shipping

It could be on sale so check the link for more price options.  I also found this one that is a little more expensive but supposed to be better:
GE 23333 Digital to Analog TV Converter Box

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  • Smart Antenna Interface
  • Simple Setup
  • Analog Pass Through
  • Dolby(R) Digital Sound
  • Receives Over-Air Hdtv Signals

$76.99 Free Shipping

These are just some of the ones that I saw online to encourage people to get ready for the change over. If you’re not you need to act quickly because it will come in the next few months. You will need this if your are using an antenna and have no other way to watch shows over the air. This will only work where there is a signal. If you want to see what digital channels you have in your area please check Antenna Web. There they will tell you if you have any local channels in your area.

Microsoft released KB960714 to fix THE IE Problem

windowsupdate121708

[ad#ad2-right]This is the update to fix the IE Vulnerability and if you have any questions please make sure to check my other post about this little update.   This was sent out today and should be patch ASAP, on all systems.  If you want to patch the easy way, I suggest downloading Clone to Autopatcher.  This seems to help make an ISO file on a DVD so you don’t have to update a system the old way.

What Laptop is good For gaming?

I been thinking of getting a new laptop but would like to get one that is good for gaming.   The system I have right now is an Aspire Series 5610z and Yes it a good system.

The current system of this is:

Acer Aspire 5610Z
Intel Pentium dual core 1.6Ghz (533Mhz, 1Mb L2 Cache)
15.4 WXGA CrystalBrite
Intel Grahics Media Accelerator 950
1GB DDR2
120GB HDD
DVD Duper Multilayer burner
802.11b/g
bluetooth
Vista Home Premium

[ad#ad2-right]Now I want to consider getting another laptop but don’t know which would be good for gaming.  I know it will have Vista.  I actually like the O/S.  Although people don’t.   Here is what I want from my readers.  I want to know which system you suggest for gaming, and need as much detail as possilbe I would like to buy this from Amazon but if Amazon, so please give me links to the amazon page.   I am wanting to play some current games on this from last year but this system is not able to do some of the games.  So leave a comment and tell me which ones you suggest.

Western Digital To Shed 2,500 people from the workforce!

I saw this on Engadget and had to talk about this.    If you are getting Laid off.   This will be over shortly,  I am sure of it!!!

[ad#ad2-right]Just in time for the holidays, it’s Tickle Me Layoffs. Western Digital is cutting loose 5% of its workforce — that’s 2,500 more people who’ll be staying home against their will. Hey Nintendo, why are you so happy?

[Via Engadget]

This is sad just before the holidays people will have to stay home and worry about the coming year.   I hope they get some help with the government.   Where is the second check that we are supposed to get?