http://www.bootdisk.com/ 279 December 2006
The BootLIST
Welcome to the 279th Edition of The BootLIST
INDEX
1) I Learned The Hard Lesson
2) Automatic Updates - Yes Or No?
3) Odd Error Message(s)
4) The True Test Of System Backup Software
5) Computer Restarts Automatically
########################################
1) I Learned The Hard Lesson
mook asked - Well. I learned the hard lesson of not backing up and lost a bunch of baby pictures and digital movies etc. GRRR. Now I'm back up with a new 80 gig HDD and looking at a 250GIG external USB2 drive.
I'd like software to do the following.
1) Periodically make an image of the 80 gig HDD (either automatic or manual). I'd like the image so that if the drive crashes again all I'd need to do is restore the image to he new drive and its back up and running like nothing nothing happened.
2) I'd like to do this periodically as well with my 30GB laptop through a wifi connection. I can take care of attaching a new notebook HDD to my desktop to restore the image to it. I'm looking for reliable software to accomplish this task.
*** The first thing you need to do is keep your most important data in a special folder or two and periodically copy that data to
standard 700 MB cd-r(s) with the "multi-session" turned off aka "no further writing" aka "finalize cd -no further writing possible
thingamajig set.
Kindly note that an Image file is a _single_ file so if it's not "perfect" ALL the data within it may be unusable if you need to do a restore. Yes it's really nice to have your most important data plainly copied to another drive in another pc to make it easy to get at it in case of a hardware crash and restore.
Make sure you have at least 2 plain CD copies of your most important files and keep the sets in different places in your home, or better yet, in a different local perhaps at a relatives house in case of fire or flood. Yes, hard drive copies of your data are nice to have also as a secondary or convenient backup method.
########################################
2) Automatic Updates - Yes Or No?
bkaras posted - have automatic updates turned on. I believe that they're from Microsoft and they protect my computer. Is there any way I could know specifically what each update does?
Bruce C wrote back:
Well, they are from Microsoft, and the intent certainly is to protect your computer. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way.
I really don't like to see people use the Automatic Updates, unless they take precautions to ensure that no patches get installed without the user's express permission, given only after he/she has researched each individual patch to ensure that it applies and is necessary. Due to the nearly infinite number of possible combinations of hardware, device drivers, and applications on any given PC, it's impossible to guarantee that all patches will be 100% harmless. In a very small number of cases, patches and hotfixes can cause conflicts or other problems. So, as with all changes to an OS, caution is advised.
All "Critical" updates should be installed. These address serious issues that can affect a large number of computers. There will be only rare occasions when a Critical update will not apply. Of special importance are those that address security vulnerabilities. If people had installed the available critical updates in July of 2003, the Blaster and Welchia worms would not have spread throughout the Internet the following month. In the unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the troublesome hotfix.
For the "Recommended" updates, simply study the information provided to see if these updates apply in your specific situation. If they don't apply, or you're not experiencing the problem(s) addressed, you needn't install them. For instance, I have no use for WinXP's MovieMaker, so I ignore any updates to it. Again, in the unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the troublesome hotfix.
In general, though, I've found it best *not* to download the "Driver" updates from Windows Update, unless they're for a hardware device originally manufactured by Microsoft. Device drivers provided by each component's manufacturer's web site are likely to perform better and offer more features than will the watered-down, "generic" drivers that those manufacturers provide to Microsoft for distribution via Windows Update.
To find out what each update does. All you need do is read the Microsoft Knowledge Base article associated with each hotfix/patch. Simply go to the following link, and look up the KB number of any patch in question:
Knowledge Base Advanced Search:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
*** Some links:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=327838
########################################
3) Odd Error Message(s)
Ed said - The Insert Disk window keeps coming up. It says "Please insert the Compact Disc labeled 'Windows XP Professional CD-ROM' into your CD-ROM drive [D:) and then click OK.
I tried this and the "Insert Disc" window still keeps coming up every time I turn the computer on. I can make it go away by clicking OK, but I want to fix the problem and not have it come up every time I turn on the computer.
*** This comes under the general rule - "What was the last thing you did to your PC?" Secondly, note that it is also a common
incorrect "error message".
In other words, chances are you inserted a USB device and didn't put in the proper driver disk for it. Windows knows no better then to ask for the Windows CD when it really may want the specific drivers disk for the device even tho you may have had it connected for only a minute.
On a side issue, a customer recently complained that Windows wasn't booting, was going in a loop with several odd error messages. Safe mode and a repair install also failed. The customer said he made _no_ changes to his PC, but, lo and behold he was trying out new PCI slots for his new sound card and the problem happened after that.
While I always inform folks to make sure the power plug is unplugged when playing inside as the pc is always at least partially ON if you dont, sometimes folks forget and fry a part. In the above case the customer inadvertently fried new hard drive.
########################################
4) The True Test Of System Backup Software
JPan wrote - The true test of system backup software is when you have a need to recover a disk. That test came for me with Acronis True Image Home a few days ago. I am sad to report that it failed miserably.
***
The true test of system backup software is to first test if your backup image works before you actually need it. Your inquiry has
nothing to do with the quality of Acronis. Same goes for backups to floppy or cd.
Kerry B. added:
The first thing you do with a backup solution is test the recovery method to make sure it works with your hardware.
########################################
5) Computer Restarts Automatically
Callum emailed - My computer restarts itself automatically, and it becomes very annoying, is there anything I can do about fixing this problem?
*** Very often that is due to heat, generally an overheating CPU or Video Card. Often solved by adding a second case fan, replacing/cleaning your cpu fansink, and/or replacing/cleaning your video card fan/sink.
From my experience fixing PCs at people's homes, this often happens in the Winter, as many people keep their PC on the floor next to the baseboard heat vents.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Like this issue of The BootLIST?
One can, if you wish, return the favor and treat the Newsletter Author to a $5 Dollar Breakfast by clicking on this link:
BONUS - You will also be provided with a link to download issues #160 to present COMPLETE with a nice text search utility that highlights your search words and opens up the old LISTS within the app itself. No software install required. Everything is included in a SINGLE 600K zip package.
If you prefer real mail send a letter to Ed Jablonowski:
56 Kossman Street, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816-4442 USA
NOTICE: Please dont reply to this email as the return address is just for catching autoreplies and spam. If you want to comment on an issue or have a question regarding logistics please see the FAQ: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootlist/faq.htm
Kindest regards, Ed
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To Subscribe to this techletter please enter your Email address below:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++