Data Loss Prevention Options

It's inevitable. Everyone faces hard drive failure at least once in their life. Whether its a stolen computer, a natural disaster, or simply a faulty drive, everyone will live this nightmare in real life. So what are the options for keeping your precious data in a safe place?

There are so many options for keeping your data safe because hard drive failure is such a common and life-shattering event. Options range from localized to off-site back-up solutions. Every option ranges in cost, the amount of control you have to recover data, and the convenience factor of the recovery and backup processes.

If you don't feel like throwing down cash on hardware, you can go the off-site backup route. The obvious benefit to online backup is not needing to pay for a device to store your data. Also, even if you do have your own device it is still not immune to failure and disasters. Online backup companies own ultra-secure servers with enormous amounts of available space to store your precious data. The drawbacks include having to download a program and/or run your system's resources in order to continually backup your data, the need to have constant internet access, trusting your data to a third party, and a monthly payment. Some of the big players in the online backup community include Carbonite, X-Drive, Box.net, Mozy, Connected.com, Novastor, and I-Backup.

The other option you could go with is local backup, or in other words, your own hardware. There is a big variety of hard drives you can buy and some are even designed exclusively for backing up your data conveniently. If you are in the market for a low cost solution that allows you to backup data instantly, look for the drives with a physical button on the enclosure that will back up your entire hard drive or specified sections. These are relatively inexpensive depending on the amount of space you need, but the main drawback is that these, like all hard drives, are fallible. If this drive dies, you're in trouble.

There are more higher-end back up solutions that uses a technology called RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks). These systems use two or more drives that mirror the data you are backing up. In other words, every time you drag and drop a file onto this external storage system, it writes an exact copy of both files onto two seperate drives. This way, if one hard drive fails, you know you'll always have a healthy drive with all of your precious data. One popular RAID module is the Buffalo DriveStation Duo, providing two SATA drives for space in the 1.5 terabyte neighborhood (that's around 1500 gigs).

Backing up data that is worth more than the hardware that is storing it will help avoid catastrophes that can end up in costly data recovery services, or even unrecoverable losses.

By Cameron Postelwait

Cameron Postelwait works in content development at Sewell Direct, proud carriers of the Buffalo DriveStation Duo, and DriveStation Quattro.

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How To Fix The Automatic Restart Problem In Windows XP

Windows XP was introduced as the most stable operating system for home users, since it was the first version of Windows for personal usage, that was based on the Windows NT kernel. The Windows NT kernel which was first developed for usage on servers and company environments, where high stability was important, is much more difficult to crash than the old Windows 98 core.

Although the kernel of Windows XP is much more stable than previous versions of the operating system, there are still some rare cases where it may stop responding or it may end itself for security reasons. In this case the user should see an error displayed with white letters in blue background mentioning that the operation of Windows has been ended to protect the user from unwanted results due to software or hardware problems. This type of error messages are also known as "Blue Screens Of Death" abbreviated to BSOD.

With its default settings, Windows XP does not display these error messages, but if a critical system error occurs, it automatically restarts the computer without any warning and without displaying a BSOD. This makes for the average user, very difficult the process of fixing any system failure.

In this article we will explain how this automatic restart feature can be disabled, in order to see a detailed error message with the reason of the system failure. Given this error message, the user can search the Microsoft Knowledge Base or other web sites, to define which software or hardware incompatibilities are responsible for the system crash.

The first step is to right click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop and then select the "Properties" option. Then select the tab named "Advanced" and click "Settings" in the "Startup and Recovery" fieldset. In the window that opens there is an option "Automatically restart" which should be disabled. Then click OK on all open windows and dialog boxes. After following these steps, the operating system will never automatically restart again if a system failure occurs, but it will display a BSOD instead. In this Blue Screen error message there will be displayed an error code or file name in the first 5 lines. This error code or file name must be entered in the search fields of Microsoft Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com or search engines, in order to narrow down the reason that causes the system crash and find a solution.

Microsoft Knowledge Base usually gives detailed instructions for each type of blue screen error message, so the user must always begin searching there, before looking somewhere else.

By Nick G Gars

Nick Gars writes technical articles for NGI Technology Site where you can find guides and troubleshooting instructions for Windows and most programs we use every day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_G_Gars

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New Computer - Old Email, or How to Back up and Transfer Your Email

If you have a brand new computer, or are thinking about buying one in the near future, one of the things that you will need to consider is how to transfer your emails from the old system to the new system.

At least once a week in my job as a help desk analyst, I am helping a customer set up Outlook Express or Outlook (there are other email clients that are used, but these two are the most popular) on their new computer. Once we are finished with the setup and they open it up to the Inbox the question is asked "where are my old emails?" The simple answer; "on your old computer". Then of course the follow up question is; "how do I get them to the new computer?"

Easy or Hard

The easiest way to do this is to back them up to an external hard drive or a compact disc before you make the switch to the new computer and then copy them over to the new computer in the exact same directory. The harder way is in the case of a crashed computer or the inability to access the files normally. I cover a bit of that in another article called 'Got Backups?' which you can find at my website.

Outlook Express

With Outlook Express your emails/email folders are stored on your hard drive in a directory that is buried way down deep in the Operating System. Instead of me giving you the full path to get there, it's easiest if you have Outlook Express open, click on Tools then Options.

Copy/Paste

Once you are here, click on the Maintenance tab and then click on the Store Folder button. This will pop another window with the location of your emails. Using your mouse, highlight the path and then right click and copy it.

You will then click on the Start button, then click Run, and then right click in the Open box and Paste the path. Click Ok.

This will open another window with your email files. Unless you have added other folders to your Outlook Express, the default folders will be here with a .dbx extension (Folders, Inbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, and Drafts).

Backup

If you are going to write these files to a CD, you can burn them at this time by using your favorite burning software (providing that you have a CD burner installed in your computer).

To copy them to an external hard drive, you must now connect that device to your computer, create a folder on that drive (I usually call it Email Backups), copy the files from the old computer then paste the files into the Email Backups folder.

Import

Once you have the files copied to the CD or external drive, then you will go to the new installation of Outlook Express and import the messages. It would be nice if you could just copy them to the new OE and be done, but Microsoft doesn't like you to do it that way.

Open up OE and then click on File, Import, Messages. This will open a new window called Outlook Express Import. Choose Microsoft Outlook Express 6 then click Next. Click in the circle that says 'Import mail from an OE6 store directory'. Click OK. Then click 'Browse' and navigate to and select the directory you have saved them to. Click OK. The next window will give you a list of all of the email folders you have previously saved. Keep 'All folders' selected and click Next.

This will begin the process of importing all of your 'old' emails into your 'new' Outlook Express. Once it has finished you will have all of your old emails back! Cool, huh?

Outlook

The procedure to save and then import your emails in Outlook is similar, but different.

To start with, Outlook uses a file extension called pst, or Personal Folder File. Don't ask me why it's called that. Call Bill Gates and ask him.

Export

You will start on the old computer and with Outlook open, click on File, then 'Import and Export'. This opens the Import and Export Wizard. Choose 'Export to a file' then click Next. Choose 'Personal Folder File' here and then click Next. In the Export Personal Folders dialogue box you have your choice of what you want to do. The easiest is to keep the default choice of just the inbox, but if you want your sent items and all the other folders, choose the top item (Personal Folders) and then choose the 'Include subfolders' option and then click Next.

The next window will have a default location listed (usually C:Documents and Settings'your computer name'Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookbackup.pst). I would suggest following the same procedure as for OE (see above). Then click 'Finish' and let it do it's thing. Once you have your pst files backed up, move to the new computer and the import process will again be similar to OE.

Connect your external hard drive to your computer or insert the CD into the drive.

Import

Open Outlook, click on File, then Import and Export. In the Import and Export Wizard, this time choose 'Import from another program or file' then click Next. In the 'Import a File' window, scroll down and select Personal Folder File (.pst) and then click Next.

In the 'Import Personal Folders' window, click the Browse button and navigate out to the location of your backed up pst file, choose it and then click Next. Click 'Finish' and it will import all of your messages.

By Ron Barrett

Ron Barrett is the owner of Ron's Computer Service, your online helpdesk for computer related problems. You can subscribe to his weekly newsletter 'Bits and Bytes: Decoding the Digital World' by sending an email to him. He is Certified Help Desk Analyst, CompTIA A+ Certified and has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology. He has worked in several companies in the role of help desk analyst, desk top support and network/email administrator. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, working around the house and trying to perfect his golf swing.

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Choosing the Right Toner for Your Printer

Quality printing is the lifeblood of many businesses, but finding the right printers and printer supplies can be a real hassle. With so many brands of printers all claiming to the best it can be quite hard for the average business owner to sort out the hype from the reality. One thing that is true, however, is that using the right toner, fuser and other printer consumables is one of the best ways to increase the reliability of the printer and help it last longer. Top quality toner also helps the printer increase its printing capacity, yielding more printouts per cartridge and keeping downtime to a minimum.

In fact many common printer problems, from jammed paper to prematurely worn rollers, can be caused or exacerbated by poor quality printer consumables. From low quality paper whose rough texture can make printer rollers old before their time to improperly packaged generic toner that can leak and cause streaks and other output problems, what you put in your laser printer greatly influences what comes out.

Many business owners have learned this lesson the hard way, after a problem with substandard toner or other poor quality consumables rendered their only printer unusable for days or weeks. With so many businesses relying so heavily on their laser printers to get their jobs done, losing access to these important devices even for a day or two can bring the business to a grinding halt.

In addition, the cost of leasing a replacement printer or having documents printed elsewhere can quickly add up, adding to the cost of doing business and negatively affecting the bottom line. Given the high costs of downtime, it is easy to understand why so many smart business owners are choosing to prevent problems by using only the highest quality toner cartridges in their monochrome and color laser printers.

Using the right toner cartridges can yield huge dividends, both in terms of print quality and reduced downtime. Many business owners have found that the decreased cost of ownership associated with top quality printer cartridges more than makes up for any perceived increase in up front cost. Any good businessperson understands that it is the total cost that is important, not just the upfront capital expenditure. In order to truly evaluate the cost of printing services, a business must consider not only the cost of the printer and related supplies but the costs associated with upkeep, repair and maintenance as well. Top quality toner cartridges help to keep these important costs as low as possible.

By Jessica Mousseau

Choosing the Right Toner for Your Printer a great helper by superwarehouse.com with their Printer Supplies Finder.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Mousseau

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Spyware Removal Software - Why You Need It And How Spyware Gets Installed

Did you know that over 90% of computers that have internet connection are currently infected with spyware? That is quite an alarming number considering that a high majority of those infected don't even realize they have a major headache hiding inside their computer. With it being such a threat, you can see why it is critical to have a spyware removal software installed on your computer.

So if I never downloaded any strange programs, then how did it get installed on my computer? Their are many ways that spyware gets installed on a computer. One of the most common ways is through malicious websites. A lot of these websites are just crap websites that are littering the web in the search results. As soon as you click on one of these web pages, it takes control of your computer and automatically installs the program. If you had a spyware removal software installed, it would automatically warn you that the program is about to install.

Another common way to get infected is through downloads. Remember the seemingly harmless program you downloaded? Well, that is probably the cause of your nasty problems. Most of the time it can be thrown in with widely respected programs, as the owners see it as another source of income. They will sell all the personal data collected about you to other companies, or even use it for their own evil ways. If you had a spyware removal software, it would warn you when a program you are installing has spyware.

Another way of infection is through weaknesses in your security. This can be through internet explorer, or through one of your pc ports. Hackers spend all day trying to find a weakness, and when they do, they can use it as a back door into your system. Once they are in, they can mess with your settings, install more malicous programs on your computer, use your computer for their own evil doings, and create more havoc than imaginable. This kind of infection is hardly noticeable due to the hackers hiding their presence. One of the only ways to be sure if you have this kind of infection is to run a scan with a good spyware removal software.

Spyware is a major threat, and not one to be taken lightly. Did you know that over half of the calls that computer repair companies receive are because of these kinds of infections. Just think, these people are paying a computer repair guy $100 an hour for a service that could have been prevented with a simple spyware removal software program.

By Benny C.

Why not solve all of your spyware problems today. Your personal info is at risk, Protect yourself now by going and getting the best spyware remover.

Free spyware removal tools are no longer a viable option.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benny_C.

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Top Ways of Backing Up Business Data

Business data is one of the most crucial forms of data that can reside on a computer. Loss of data can destroy a business completely especially when businesses are completely reliant on this data. It is for this reason that all business owners should carry out frequent backups of their data. These backups may take place on a daily or weekly basis depending on their schedules and what they feel comfortable with. With all the backup options that are available a business owner may easily feel very confused about which choice to make. Certain backup options function better than others but some are much easier to use than those that are usually referred to as convenient. If you own a business you would normally prefer a backup solution that offers you reliability as well as convenience. The rest of the article explores various data and backup options that are available to you and how you can implement them properly.

The primary option that can be used to back up data is hard disk imaging otherwise referred to as cloning which can easily be carried out with disk imaging software. Most people usually think of it as the best backup solution because its saves every little bit of data that you have stored on your hard drive. This is great because if you should have any need of restoring your data from scratch due to data loss you can get everything back. Furthermore it is also the quickest and easiest means of backing up your data especially for a person who doesn't really know that much about computers and can't spend a whole day just trying to back up their data.

Another solution for data backup is the remote online backup. What this means is that your data can easily be saved on a server that is quite secure and in a place that is far away from your current location. This is a great idea for so many reasons; the most important of these reasons is that it protects you from losing out in case a disaster occurs which may affect where you work or where you live. If you back up your files online you also achieve what you intend to achieve cheaply and affordably. Online backup companies also make use of various forms of professional hardware and software in order to ensure that you data is stored securely in a digital vault that is very secure.

One other business backup method you can use to secure business data are external storage devices. These devices are rather simple to use and are very useful too. External devices which are capable of data storage come in many different forms. Most of them are usually external hard drives and memory devices called memory sticks. Most people prefer to use memory sticks because they hold a lot more data and can plug into your USB port very easily. They also tend to hold larger amounts of data which is usually sufficient space for whatever it is that you have which requires backup and storage.

By Kelly Hunter

Kelly Hunter operates http://www.disk-imaging-software-guide.com and writes about Disk Imaging Software.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Hunter

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7 Ways To Increase The Speed Of Your PC

If you're tired of having a slow computer that crawls to a halt whenever you open up multiple windows, here are 7 tips guaranteed to increase the speed and performance of your computer.

1) Disk Defragmenter

This comes free with Windows. By analysing your computer files and defragmenting, this puts the files in your computer in order so that the accessing time reduces for the hard disk.

2) Remove Startup programs

Ever experienced long booting times? That's because every time your computer boots up, it has been instructed to load up a software application. Use RegClean to see what these files are and delete them.

3) Turn off visual effects

By going to your control panel and system, you can turn of the visual effects of your computer. Less resources spent on glamour goes to speeding up the opening time of your folders and internet explorer.

4) Overclock your PC

This one is for the pros. Overclocking your PC will give you boost to your computer's speed.

5) Registry Cleaner

A registry cleaner scans for errors in your registry. Your computer registry contains information about your computer and certain data that is no longer required in your computer which is linked to a software stays in your registry even though the software has been uninstalled. The more clutter you have in your computer the more work your hard disk needs to do.

6) Get more RAM

The more RAM, the better. Try to have at least 1Gig of RAM, this will certainly increase the speed of your Microsoft Windows, Excel, Photoshop applications and allow you to open multiple windows without a decrease in speed.

7) Use Reg Cure or Reg Fix

These are the top of the line registry cleaners that clean up the obsolete data in your computer. These registry cleaners scan for errors such as COM/ActiveX Entries, Font Entries, Shared DLLs, Empty Registry Keys, Program Short Cuts that no longer exist and removes them. An additional resource to turbo charge your PC can be found at http://fixbluescreenofdeath.blogspot.com/

By Sherman Choo

Speed up your computer with registry cleaners. http://www.registrycleanercompare.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherman_Choo

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