Computer Note Book

Like many others, the first time that you launch eRecovery on your laptop you have use a password. Then the months the years passed, and you need eRecovery, but now you forgot the password…

Note : The method can be very different with your model, but the principle remains the same one, there must be a file which stores your password, and it must be in one of the most recent files since you changed your password.

Note 2: Vista compatibility

This problem is solved very easily, makes a right click on the partedit32 icon, goes in properties, clicks on the tab compatibility and set the compatibility on winxp or win98.

For Vista and Xp add run as an administrator.

Method n°1 :

1.Download Partedit32 launch the program and change the type of the partition pqservice from 27 to 7.

2.Restart the computer press F2 on boot to enter the bios, and then disable the option (d2drecovery).

3.Restart and press F8 several times until you reach the Windows recovery menu, choose the option : command prompt. The windows open and now there is a letter for a new drive, x for example.

4.Type "dir" and seek the file "aimdrs.dat". Then type this command at the prompt : "Copy aimdrs.dat C:"

5.Restart your computer normally, open a notepad browse for your file open it and recover your password. Do not forget to restore your partition pqservice in its initial state with partedit32, and to reactivate the D2D recovery option in the bios.

Method n°2 :

With a Linux boot CD make :

1.Cd /mnt

2.mkdir acer

3.mount - T vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt/acer

4.cat /tools/aimdrs.dat

Here is your password.

Warning : for more recent laptop with SATA disc replace "hda1" with "sda1".

Has your computer ever crashed? My free online data backup service saved me a lot of time recently. I use a service that gives me 2GB of storage free. I signed up for this service because sometimes all my favorites and bookmarks would mysteriously disappear and it would take me weeks to get them all back, and still I would forget many of them. I thought it would be a good idea to have my favorites and all my outlook messages and settings stored if I ever needed them. It turned out that I was right.

My three year old computer started acting weird. I like to leave mine on all the time, but recently it would just shut down on its own when I left it idle for a while, and I didn’t like the idea of spending more money on the machine since I had already installed a new power supply about a year earlier. So I decided it was time for a new computer. I found a new Thinkcentre with XP on ebay and bought it.

Now it was time to prepare for the transfer. I copied files and folders to my portable hard drive, and backed up my outlook messages and bookmarks to my online data backup service. Are you wondering why I didn’t just transfer my outlook settings and bookmarks to my hard drive as well? I wasn’t sure exactly which files to move and the backup service allows you to choose data sets and transfers the proper files automatically.

When my new computer arrived I shut down the old one and got the new one all set up and ready to go. I installed all the applications I needed and hooked up the portable hard drive and transferred all my important folders and files. All that was left was to download and transfer my outlook settings and bookmarks, but first I decided to try to retrieve the files from my old computer just to see if I could do it.

The old machine would not power up. It is now a month later and it has never worked again. I had a lot of email messages on that computer that I needed, and now the only place I had them stored was on a remote backup system. I went to the web site, logged in and downloaded the necessary backup set to my new computer. Then all I had to do was find the matching folders on my new machine and replace them with the backups and just like that I was back in business. My free online data backup service saved me many hours of work and I will never be without this service again.

Considering the increased amounts of data that you save to your computer each day, more and more users embark on a quest for the most effective and reliable backup solution. However, very few know that Windows XP has its own backup utility.

You may sigh with relief because this means you don’t have to buy special backup software, though you should know that such software gives you a number of important advantages above those that the operating system offers. In this article we will compare a standard functionality backup program with the Windows XP backup tool (WXBT).

The WXBT allows backing up all user files in just one task. If you select the option of the My Documents backup, it will copy the entire contents of the Documents and Settings folder including MS Outlook/Outlook Express messages and settings as well as your profile settings.

However, in most situations full backup is not necessary. In all likelihood the My Documents folder of your computer will be large in size and contain a lot of irrelevant information. If this is the case, WXBT suggests that you manually specify files that you want to include or exclude from the backup set.

A standard backup program has the option of file filtering so you don’t have to manually specify each file, but rather specify file extensions of the needed files. For example, if you want to back up only the MS Word documents, you only have to specify the doc. file extension and the program will automatically find and copy all Word files.

Besides, it allows doing target backup of data from specific applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Windows Media Player, ICQ etc. This means that you only have to specify the program whose data you are going to back up.

When you do a backup, it is extremely important where you keep the resulting files. It is recommended to keep such files as far as possible from the local computer.

The farthest location WXBT suggests is a network drive or an external drive. By default, it will even offer you to back up to a floppy drive, and that’s the only removable storage it has in store for you. Now think how many floppy diskettes it will require to back up 30GB of critical information!

A standard program allows backing up your data to virtually any known type of removable media including CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, USB flash and external drives, as well as remote locations such as LAN, FTP, SFTP, remote online server.

WXBT offers five types of backup: normal, copy, daily, differential, and incremental. To be honest, this abundance of backup types causes nothing, but confusion especially if this is your first time backup.

Most backup programs offer two most common types of backup: full and incremental. These two types should be enough to meet all your requirements and cause no user confusion as the definition of the two types is very clearly stated in the program.

WXBT allows backing up the System state data that include Registry, Boot files, COM + Class Registration database. However, you cannot include or exclude specific components.

A professional backup program allows creating a hard drive image including the operating system and all system settings. It also has the option of copying Windows Registry and even allows backing up specific Registry components such as user keys, configuration keys etc.

Conclusions

Having considered the pros and cons of Windows XP backup tool, as compared to a standard backup program, we can say that WXBT is a viable solution for home computers, however the major fault with it is that it cannot back up to optical disks and allows recording your data only to a floppy disk which is outdated and does not meet today storage requirements.

The main advantage of a professional backup program is that it can record your data to any type of optical disk, even the new generation disks such as Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Besides that such a program offers flexible file filters to simplify the process of data files selection.

It happens all the time all around the word on business machines and personal computers, a file you may think you don’t need any more or one you accidentally delete without looking too closely and then you empty the recycling bin and … that’s it; the file is gone … Or is it? Can you find a deleted file or is it totally lost? The answer is yes you can find it.

To understand why we must understand how windows and other operating systems find and display files on your computer. Every file and program and bit of data that your operating system can access has what is called a reference or pointer to where that file is stored on your hard disk. This file may not even be stored sequentially on your disk it may be stored in bits and pieces if it is large and the file itself has pointers referencing where the next pieces is and so on. These pointers are absolutely essential for windows to be able to see if a file exists, if there is no pointer to that file then as far as the operating system is concerned it does not exist.

Data on a hard drive when deleted is not lost, the same sequence of 1’s and 0’s that make up all parts of data and software are still there sitting on the disk it just cannot be found as there is no reference, it is lost not deleted. To truly delete a file the locations where the file is stored must be scrambled so that it does not make any sense to any system, only then is a file unreadable and effectively destroyed.

However when you delete a file it does not scramble and destroy the file it simply removes the pointers that reference it. This means that while windows cannot find your file and never will be able to the file exists and will continue to exist until such a time when that space on the hard disk is used to store other data.

So if you cannot find a deleted file at the moment you will not be able to get it back without some outside help from third party programs that can scan your hard disk and find your files for you. While annoying (or possible job security threatening!) losing a file does not have to be the end of things as it still exists!

It’s no secret that backing up data on your computer is vital…or at least it should be. Failing to do so could be potentially devastating; whether it is personal photographs, business documents, or financial records, losing such data could be disastrous. In fact, businesses that have suffered loss of data have a very hard time recovering and most are ruined as a result.

These days, most people backup their important information on CDs, DVDs, external hard drivers, and flash drives so they can quickly retrieve the second copy if ever needed. However, what they fail to realize is these second copies are just as vulnerable and susceptible to damage as the first copy, especially if they are stored in the near vicinity of each other. Using a backup method such as CD-ROM or external hard drive defeats the purpose if it is not kept in a completely remote, different area. Fire, theft, flood, and natural disasters are still viable threats, which can be very scary news for any computer owner.

So what is the best solution when it comes to backing up important electronic documents? Online backup services are; they are easy to use, affordable, and the most practical solution in backup. Simply download and install a web-based service (there are a myriad to choose from) and all the documents, music, and photos of your choosing will be safely backed up at a secure and remote location.

This is the most reasonably priced solution as well; most services offer unlimited backup storage for a low monthly fee. This eliminates the need for costly hard drives and other tangible backup solutions. Another advantage is the online backup is all done in the background of your computer during a sleep or standby mode, without interfering with regular use.

If you are looking for an inexpensive, practical, and simple way to backup your most important and precious computer documents, consider online internet backup to ensure you never lose anything.

Windows uses a system called the system registry.This is a central database that is used by all modern Windows platforms. This registry or central hierarchal database contains all the information that is required by the operating system to configure the system and make it operate efficiently. The operating system constantly refers to the registry for information. This may be several times a minute and the information sought may range from user profiles, which applications are installed on the machine, to what hardware is installed and which ports are registered and used for what service. The system registry was introduced in the late 1990’s along with Windows ninety-five and replaced the older version of recording data in INI files. The entire registry is composed of binary code and keeps on growing as the operating system adds entries to it. This slows down the system and it needs a registry cleaner to erase all the useless sentries to make the system more efficient.

What is the Registry?

As we use the computer the operating system keeps updating the registry with the new data it has to refer to for smooth operation. Let us take for example the simple file saving information, when we save a document the system has to record where the document has been saved and when it was saved also by which user. All this information is entered in the system registry. No consider how many times you save a document on the system. In addition to this consider how many sites you access on the Internet. Each time you open a site entries are made in the system registry. This makes the registry grow and slow down. Registry cleaners are programs that scan the registry and remove all the redundant entries. Registry Cleaners such as Windows registry cleaner is programmed to identify redundant entries and remove them. This makes the system faster.

So How Does The Registry Slow The System?

As the programs refer to the registry for information such as the location of a particular file or folder it has to start rummaging through the file from the beginning until it comes to the file entry it is looking for. All the entries are entered in hierarchical order so every time the programs refer to the registry they have to start from the beginning. They will also have to go through the broken links and useless entries, which number many thousands. This is why the registry slows the system. A registry cleaner like Win XP registry Cleaner scans the registry and identifies all the broken links and redundant entries that are entries not associated with any application, and removes them. This speeds the system up greatly.

As we all know, the internet offers a wonderful opportunity for the entrepreneur to market product and services to countless potential customers all over the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are many success stories which have contributed to the modern folklore of the self-made internet millionaire.

In recent years, establishing an online store has become very easy and inexpensive. Assuming you already sourced the products, you can establish an online store in a matter of hours and at a very low cost. By far the biggest obstacles to your online success are a) the marketing of your store and b) providing a secure environment so that your customer is confident about using his (or her) credit card to purchase from your website.

Much has been written about Internet Marketing, so I will address the second obstacle and explain how to assure your customers a secure communication using industrial standard protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) server certificates. These are designed to provide secure and safe link between the web browser and the web server

You can purchase SSL server certificates from many companies. For example ipsCA is the third party certification authority who allots SSL certificates. It will issue, revoke and renew digital certificates. You can source other SSL vendors from computersecuritycertificate.com.

As we have seen, SSL server certificates have now become a virtual requirement for online commerce. Fortunately, it is easy to purchase a certificate from reliable SSL digital certificates vendors such as ipsCA.

You have probably noticed the term "encryption" when using the Internet to purchase a product online or using a web site that holds information related to your banking accounts. Encryption is simply a way of encoding - or disguising - information that is sent to and from computers to prevent hackers from intercepting and reading it. This keeps that information unusable in the hands of people attempting to crack it for reasons that are not legitimate.

Encryption also is data encoding in the form of access levels on your computer. Most computer experts agree that variations on these access levels are vital to avoid fraudulent activities on your computer through the Internet. To have an access level means that each person using your computer will have a level of permissions to the sites they can access or which applications they can use. Administrators - normally the computer owners - have the highest level of permissions on a computer while other users on that same computer are granted lower levels of permission and access to critical functions.

Access levels are typically determined by the administrator, the person who approves and grants each person’s access level. So, if you are working for a large business with a shared network, you may need to gain access to certain web sites or applications through the person who is designated the administrator. If you don’t know who that person is, check with your company help desk.

Unfortunately, many business owners are oblivious to the dangers of granting others access levels higher than they need to perform their assigned job functions. When this happens, regular users can inadvertently download harmful viruses, allow hackers entrance to the entire computer system, or tinker with applications they should not even see. (Think HR personnel files.) This carelessness can essentially result in a wiping out of any information on the computer; or worse yet, confidential information may be distributed throughout the Internet, leaving you vulnerable to abuse of that data.

To avoid this, the administrator needs to modify the default settings on the computer, web sites, and applications which are often not set safely enough to avoid major threats. These settings if not made more secure can easily be hacked into by computer program users looking for information to steal or destroy. Additionally, the administrator needs to use an encryption algorithm discussed above to prevent hacker access to your important information such as credit cards, passwords, or any other data or program on the computer system.

Learning how to vary your computer’s access levels can protect your business as well as salvage your sanity.

Sales of Mac computers surged in 2007.

Many analysts attribute the Mac’s increased popularity to the "Halo Effect" of the iPod and/or iPhone.

It could also be due to the fact that PC buyers are fed up with the constant threats of computer viruses and spyware programs.

However, many potential Mac converts are understandably apprehensive about diving into unknown waters.

This being the case, here are 10 "Mac Facts":

• Despite the advantages that Mac computers have over Windows computers, both computers operate pretty much the same way. Basically if you can point and click the mouse and use a computer keyboard, you’re golden.
• Transferring files between Macs and PCs is no longer an issue. You can send a Microsoft Office document from your PC at work to your Mac at home; work on the document on your Mac; and then send it back to your PC at work without any problems.
• The software bundle that is included with new Mac computers makes them a better value than similarly equipped PCs.
• You can open and edit pictures, photos, and Microsoft Word documents that were created on a Windows computer without any additional software.
• You can purchase Apple’s iWork suite of Applications to be able to open, create & edit Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.
• Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac has a January 08 release date.
• You can run Windows XP and Windows Vista on newer Mac computers without any additional software (except the installation disc for the Windows OS that you want to install on your Mac).
• Due to the increased compatibility between Windows and Mac computers and the plethora of software that has been created for the Mac platform, installing Windows on your new Mac will probably not be necessary.
• I have never installed any form of virus protection on my Mac computers and have never experience any problems with viruses or spyware.
• If there is an Apple Store in your area, you can have a "genius" transfer the data from your old PC to your new Mac. You can also copy the files from your PC to an external hard drive and then copy the files from the external drive to your new Mac.

Everyone has seen Apple’s Mac commercials by now. You know, the "Hi I’m a PC/I’m a Mac" commercials with the stodgy, less than humorous guy in a suit representing PCs, and the hip, trendy Gen-X guy representing the Macintosh. They cover themes like viruses, games, applications, and other computer related themes, usually with some humor and wit. Apple tries to pass these ads off as the "Truth" ads. The truly funny thing about this is how full of it Apple really is, and how with just a little thinking, you realize that all of Mac’s points *for* the Mac, really work *against* it.

The biggest thing you see mentioned in the ads today, are the applications. PC can do cool things like spreadsheets and word processing, while Mac does home movies and music and other *really* cool stuff. This is somehow meant to show that one can be just as productive, if not more so with a Mac. The thing is, since when was fooling around making movies and ripping CDs to iTunes "productive". It is not, and I bet most bosses would agree.

Next up is games. Funny, you actually do not see this brought up too often, if at all. Why? Because nobody publishes games for the Mac, though this may change, due to a point I will be making later. The last publishers I recall making games for the Mac were Blizzard and iD, who made games like Warcraft and Quake, respectively. Now, you might be able to find some crappy solitaire games, and there is always that "cool" standby, the Apple puzzle. Good times to be had there for sure. All games these days are made for the PC in Windows or Linux format. Enough said.

Viruses and spyware are another favorite of Apples to trot out. But this is an easy one. Take a look at the statistics, market share to be specific. Sure, Mac is gaining popularity (that point I mentioned in the bit about games, yeah, it will be pertinent here too), but it is still vastly in the minority in market share. Hackers go after the easy target, and that happens to be PCs running Windows, because they so far outnumber Macs. So duh, of course Mac does not get spyware and viruses. Does not mean they cannot, which is what Apple tries to infer.

Here is the final nail in the coffin. If you have paid attention to news in the tech sector, Apple switched to Intel processors (this is that point I was talking about). Yep. Macs use Intel Core 2 Duo 64 bit x86 CPUs. With a simple boot program, you can run Windows XP on the same machine you run MacOS X on. Oh yeah, Mac OS X? It is just a variant of an OS known as BSD, which in turn is a variant of Unix. Yeah. Apple has pretty much seen the light and come over to the PC camp. All they are doing is selling pretty machines with a pretty interface loaded with applications for slackers to waste time on. How is that for "truth"?