Computers and You
 

I just lost a paper that was due tonight. I have learned that my disc had bad sectors. A SF just passed on some helpful tips about discs and saving and storage that had I known last night or 10:30 this morning I might not be creating this thread.

This thread is for you to share your computer experiences and handy tips for others.

I will share my story later after I have cooled off.

Thanks to those who have offered their words of wisdom in my time of crisis. It is definitely a learning experience. I was typing more on my classroom computer, saved it, went to pull it up on the computer in my office and NADA:eek: :eek: !! Our computer technician while very computer savvy lacks personality and hence empathy so he was just factual but no I'm sorry let's try the things that Novella told me to do. Our school system has Dells and while I love them they are locked down so a lot of features, i.e. find, document retrieval, are not accessible unless you have the system password:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :mad: so instead of going to him to hear the long drawn out speech, I chalked it up as a lesson learned and am now retyping. Most of it was written or from earlier drafts but there were some stream of consciousness that is lost. In undergrad, I was MISS LONGHAND writing EVERYTHING first but now it's like who has time. I have a degree :p :D let me get my type on.

Happy Turkey Day!!

Sorry girl
 

The same thing happend to my husband once. He's a journalist and lost a story he was writing. He now saves things on disk, in the C drive and on the desk top. Every once in a while he'll clean the drive and the desktop to get rid of old stories he doesn't need anymore but he doesn't trust disks or just just saving things (especially important things) in one place.

If you are using a Microsoft Word version, then you work is auto-saved every few minutes or so. If you lose everythnig, you can retrieve the temp file. It usually shows up in your TEMP folder on your C drive. If you can't find it, do a search, but I guarantee it will be there. You will have all of your work up to the last save.

I highly recommend saving things to the hard drive first, then transferring to a disk (or disc). That way, you always have a copy that won't be easily damaged like a disk.


Also, for toocute, maybe you should suugest your husband put his stuff in a zip folder that he can add to when he gets a new story. That way, he always has his stuff at hand. You never know if someone may want to see samples of his work, etc.

I am an architect/engineer, so my AutoCAD program loves to crash on me. I have found that zip disks are great for storing large files and are less suspectible to being damaged as they come with protective hard plastic cases.

The ONLY time this has happened to me was my first semester of graduate school. I was writing an end-of-term paper -- you know, one of those 30 page monsters -- and I decided to try out some word processing software that came highly recommended by one of my Mac buddies.

I'd written all 30 pages and was completing the bibliography when I got a system bomb (the Mac OS equivalent of Windows' "blue screen of death"). The paper was due in an hour, and it took about that long to get from my apartment to campus. I wanted to CRY!!

I ended up having to wipe my entire system folder. Thank HEAVEN for Norton Utilities, because it found 98% of my paper -- except for the last few pages and the bibliography. I ended up uninstalling the offending word processing app and went right back to Microsoft Word after that... and I've never looked back!


Now I archive in progress projects on Zip disks. At the end of a project and/or at the end of a school year, I archive my papers on CD-ROMs. I also back up my e-mail on CD about twice a year (I get and send lots of mail). I optimize monthly, and I rebuild my desktop weekly. Since then, my Mac hardly ever gives me any trouble. I love my little blue baby!

I actually found his story for him in the temp file. I wasn't home when he lost it so he freaked for a few hours until I came home. (poor baby) Once his stories are in print he puts them in his portfolio but I like that CD idea and the zip.

Lot's of good info here. This is a good thread CT4. hope everything worked OK with you.

Re: Computers and You
 

Straight BOS said everything I was going to tell you...This same thing has happened to me on numerous occasions, while using a different computer each time!!! Once, when I was living in the dorms on my campus, I was re-typing my 13-page midterm paper the night before it was due, and my disk somehow got re-formatted from IBM to MAC!!! :eek: I was HIGHLY pissed!! :mad: Luckily--no that wasn't luck it was God looking out for me--I had written it longhand before I decided to type it up...

Basically, save often (even if you are using MS Word b/c sometimes it doesn't recover everything you typed before it went haywire (this happenned before too)...save on a disk AND on your C drive...I've never used the zip disk, b/c nothing I'm doing is THAT important at this point in my academic career (and I'm too lazy to experiment w/ how & why, etc. to use them), but my Mom uses them and they work for her...

Feel Better CT4--say it w/ me: "You are Not Alone..."

Hey yall,

Got another tip for you that I have been sitting on for a while. Get rid of the disks and upgrade to CD-RW. They are WONDERFUL. I have been using CD-RWs since September and truly are better than the 3.5 disks of yesterday.


I am working on my book as you all know (see last HC thread) and I have my 103 pages :D plus 2 Power Point Presentations, etc. on it.

There is a lot more capacity. USE CD-RW not CD-R. They are a lot more cost efficient and if you get a scratch on it, you can always use a CD disk cleaner.

I still save to more than one place, Desktop and CD, because I would hate to lose my baby.

Any more tips out there that you want to share?

Right...
 

The following are just suggestions and I am not responsible for any damages during or after download and software installation or follwing any of the below suggestions:

1) Yes, the reason to use CD-RW is because the 'RW' means: Read & Write as opposed to 'R': only READ.

With CD-RW, you are able to write over the disk if you would like to reuse it or edit the CD if you would like to change anything on it. With CD-R, you are only able to put data on the CD once. Once the CD is made that's it...

You may also want to consider using DVDs for data storage if you have a DVD-RW...that's what I do. They store up to 4.7GB and hold up to 120 minutes of video.

2) If you are using Windows 95/98, upgrade...Win95/98 has some security issues as well as MANY bugs with different software programs.

3) IMPORTANT: If you are using WINDOWS & Internet Explorer, sign up for the "Windows Update" alerts or manually go to: TOOLS>WINDOWS UPDATE on your browser menu. Add this to your regular updates & maintenance list for your browser and computer.

4) If you use all of the instant messengers: AIM, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, and MSN, consider downloading Trillian or MECA


5) When you surf around the Internet, there are images from advertisements and banners that are automatically saved to your temporary Internet files folder. Most of these ads use "tracking" techniques using cookies and sometimes are hidden. They use this for marketing and follow you around where you surf to gather data from your surfing habits. If you want to delete these, consider downloading Ad Aware 6.0 Standard Edition to clean up your computer or use one of Norton's Utilities. When you use Ad Aware and delete the ads, make sure to delete the quaratine too.

6) Defragment monthly by going to START>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Defragment
Defragmenting your computer helps to compress all the data on your computer to one side while creating more space on the other side. It also puts your bookmarks in alphabetical order and organizes other data.

Hope this helps :)

fellow Nerds:

Bluetooth or WiFi?

Or can you have/do you really need both? (considering the costs)

Please clarify...
 

Is your question referring to laptops?

If Yes:
The difference between Bluetooth technology and WiFi technology is the following:

Bluetooth is a 'shortwire' replacement for the mass of cables we use to connect 'personal' devices so they can share information. When talking about 'personal' devices we are referring to portable PCs, mobile telephones & headsets, PDAs, digital cameras, MP3 players and so on. As Bluetooth develops, we will see more enabled devices, particularly around the home.

WiFi is the 'longwire' (network cable from desk to hub/server) wireless replacement technology. It is designed to allow users to log onto an office/business network without the need to physically attach via a network card (for portables, a LAN adapter may be built into either the PC, or a docking station. Alternatively, a PC Card may be used.) As long as the user has network access rights, they should be able to log on to the network from anywhere within the network area (building or site). It simplifies the network infrastructure as physical cabling is only needed to connect the wireless access point to a hub or server. By removing physical cabling, costs can be saved, and there is less physical structure to fail / troubleshoot. It also increases the flexibility of the workforce in being able to go anywhere within the network but remain connected.

*Universities use this in some of their buildings so students can connect to the Internet using their laptops.

Conclusion:
If you have a choice to choose between Bluetooth or WiFi, select the technology that you think you will use the most or if you will use your device more in a home or work/network environment.
Bluetooth for "personal devices" and WiFi for networks or work environment.

WiFi™ products are expected to coexist with Bluetooth designs. Usually both technologies come together in the device package.

You may also want to ask the sales rep (before you buy) some of these questions and see what they say since they are usually trained in the technology and features of certain products, and/or contact the company you are buying the product from and ask them questions as well.
Hope this helps.

Re: Right...
 

Okay so I tried to defragment my computer, but the defragmenter doesn't work. It will go to 1% finished then it flips right back to zero. Is there something I need to do to fix this?

Re: Re: Right...
 

you want to make sure that you close all programs that are running in the background (do control+alt+delete & end task on everything EXCEPT systray & explorer) AND turn off your screensaver. everytime a program tries to write to the hard drive, the defrag will start over. an easier way may be to schedule the defrage to start when your computer restarts.

Re: Re: Re: Right...
 

Yay!! Thank you SO much! :D

Re: Please clarify...
 

I was talking about PDAs, (I should have mentioned that before.)

I am thinking about upgrading my Visor Edge to a wireless device such as a Palm Tungsten T (Bluetooth) or possibly a PocketPC w/ WiFi capabilities or a Bluetooth and WiFi-enabled PocketPC.

Mainly I will be using it for my home network. It is currently a wired network, but by summer I home to be wireless. I could
go PocketPC (WiFi) and be set. But, outside of the home, especailly in Portsmouth, VA (*sigh*) I might not be able use the wireless capablities.

But, if I get the Palm Pilot, I would need to get a Bluetooth adaptor to use it w/ my PC. But, I would still be able to use it outdoors w/ my Bluetooth-enabled phone.

I guess, I was trying to get the most for my dollar. I was leaning towards Bluetooth because I prefer the Palm OS, and they have yet to unveil any WiFi devices or WiFi SDIO for the Tungsten. I guess I might wait a little longer and see.

Thanks for answering.

shh.....
 

You probably shouldn't put your username out there.

But, if you were using KaZaA, you should d-load Ad-Aware at www.ad-aware.com and clear your comp. of the spyware that the program puts on it. Deleting Kazaa will not get rid of it.

Press Ctrl Atl Del, you should see a running process called news.net or something similar, that is the spyware. Possibly, Dionysus, that is causing the problem as it saps valuable resources will it transmits your info across the NET.

For, CrimsonTide 4, you should d-load Trillian, www.trillian.cc it is a free messenger that combines all of the messengers into one, keeping your categories separate and distinguishing between the messengers w/ Icons.

Thanks StraightBOS and SOROR D.COM
 

I never dl'ed it before because I went to the site and saw PAY, but I went again today and I just downloaded it -- FREE VERSION and oh my GOD. . . .HAPPY DAY.

Everyone should be down with Trillian!! :D I hear 85% less log on and log off noises!! Happy Freaking Day!!

SpyBot - Search & Destroy 1.2
 

Just wanted to share another GOOD spyware program called:

SpyBot - Search & Destroy 1.2

I found it in PC Magazine and they showed a chart that compared it to all the other spyware programs. I downloaded it and it has many more features than the other programs, not to mention it CLEANED my computer (I had old programs that I could not uninstall through the control panel) :)

I suggest reading the FAQs and the Tutorial on their site to understand how it works (not complicated).

It even has a Permanent Internet Explorer Immunity function that prevents specified spyware from getting on your computer! A cool BLOCKER!

(Please keep in mind no software program is perfect, but this is a good one - make sure to read about how not to delete certain program files as it picks up a lot of things on your computer :))

Just as an addendum to D.COM's excellent advice, within the last week or so the long awaited version 1.3 of SpyBot has now become available and may be downloaded from the link he supplied.
With both the SpyBot and Ad-Aware programs remember also to download updates/updated reference files regularly to catch new threats!

:)

Re: shh.....
 

Well now, I went to www.ada-ware.com
by typo and downloaded THAT file and it ate my computer in front of me.

Just a Caution :) I was really hoping I had typed the link you put down correctly so I could blame you lol. Alas no dice.\

Ad-Aware 6.0
 

:)

Might be worth erring on the side of caution and just entering the manufacturer website in the address bar which has a link to its legitimate product: www.lavasoft.us, to avoid possible mistyping!

I gotta problem with this 2nd thought trojan in my computer at home. Is there anything I can do to solve? I ran ad- aware several times, its just won't rid the 2nd thought or some crap lycos sidesearch

Krisco (interesting screenname), anyway download this:

HijackThis

It's a zip file, then unzip it to your desktop (or wherever you like) so you can then click on the extracted file and run HijackThis.

HijackThis will enable you to remove any instructions put in your computer (in the registry etc) to redirect to certain pages, browser hijackers etc. You can also damage your system using it if you click remove on something that SHOULDN'T be removed because it's a part of Windows, say.

HijackThis is an advanced tool. There is a tutorial on how to use it at link, but if you're at all unsure or it looks complex then feel free to just click the Save Log button and post the contents and I'll take a look at it and tell you what's safe to remove.

It WILL be able to deal with the residual traces of any trojans/hijackers you have there.

Hope that helps!

- decadence

[Repeated info] Spyware removers [for anyone else]:[list=1][*]Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3 (official site) [*]Ad-aware 6 (official site - Lavasoft) [*]Microsoft Windows Update site (for downloading security patches for Internet explorer)[/list=1]

1. Turn it off - leaving your computer on for days runs down it's internal battery clock - although it is cheap, why run it down if you don't HAVE to.

2. Windows Updates. Patches for your operating system can save you from a lot of stress later.

3. Cleaning cookies/cache in the web browser - saves a lot of headaches when trying to load heavy websites. This should be done often, to maximize the potential of the browser.

4. Disk cleanup/disk defrag/backing up the harddrive - should be done monthly, at minimum - will keep you on top of potential disk errors and save data over time.

5. Being careful with downloading attachments and programs - everything is not good for you! Check a reliable source before downloading. Scan with an antivirus program.

6. Upgrade Software! To ensure a long life for your computer, be sure to upgrade software as free final release updates become available, sometimes it may be worth it to buy an upgrade as well, and download/install patches.

I disagree with #1 (not necessary these days IMO). :)

#5 is bang on, to expand a little, spyware (also known as adware or malware) is software that installs itself to a machine to promote a service/site etc.
It can often get onto a machine via mistyping the web address of a site (which brings you to another site that installs the software) or via security vulnerabilities in a web browser. Or, simply by clicking "yes" to install helper applications suggested by pop-ups. I'd say using regularly updated anti-Spyware tools, in conjunction with updating your web browser with the appropriate security patches from the manufacturer is the best course of action.

If I am resinstalling WindowsXP, and my computer has two hard drives (we'll call them C and D), and I have NO programs installed on the D drive (just MSword files and mp3s), will I be able to reinstall WindowsXP without losing the information on the D drive?

sidenote: I LOVE zip disks! God bless 'em! I first invested in my zip drive when I realized that as a writer, my novel really should be backed up as one file in one place, and regular floppies just weren't big enough. Too bad I can't fit ALL my music on a zip disk though. :)

long as you install windows just to c drive your d drive won't be touched.

Thanks!

See I am still using a PC that's at least 6 years old with Windows 98. I try to be careful with what I download so I don't crash or run up on viruses. It's old but it still operates a lot better than a lot of newer PC's I've used.

Never saw a need to update to XP since I mainly use Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer.

Zip discs? Zip drives? Tell me about them and price range.

I did something to my computer last night and need to restart it but am afraid to do so. I need to be able to take all of my documents which includes one completed book, 4 short stories, 3 story starters, and 9 chapters of book 2 and save them with no worries when I restart my computer.

For some reason anything I save to my M drive does not save and I can no longer format a CD-RW.

Soooooooo I think it is time for me to invest in a zip drive but I have no clue about them at all. Help!!!

CT fo', I'm no computer expert, but I LOVES me some zip drives. It's essentially a bigger version of a floppy. My computer at work uses a 250 mb, but the external one I had previously and have 'borrowed' from work is a 100 mb. You can even get a 750 mb. I also believe the costs have come down in price, and you can get the disks anywhere.

Try this site - hopefully you'll get some useful info. I'd rather use a zip than a CD. To me it just seems easier, but maybe I haven't given the CD-RW a chance.

I will check out the site you suggested. THANK YOU. :)

For some reason, I think my M drive has been corrupted. :(

After I posted this, I went and saw they have a 750 MB one. Question? Can you have more than one zip drive? I imagine that if I were to take all of my stories now, it would be about 300 MB.

Just do like you would on a regular floppy - put them on several zip disks, and keep them all labeled. I'd hate to have to wait for your next book/story and you can't find your manuscripts!!! :mad: ;)

But one thing to remember - if you're using one size (say 750 mb) you may not be able to read that size disk on, say a 250 mb, so it may not be a bad idea to stick with the smaller mb.

But I defer to the computer experts.

Let me see if I get this correctly. I buy a zip DRIVE and zip DISCS. The zip DRIVE is the main house for the zip DISCS of which I can have many? If so, cool. :cool:

Thanks. I guess I should read that site you sent me. :)

Jump/Flash drive is the way to go
 

CT4, it may not be necessary to purchase a zip drive. The media will soon be done away with. They are already trying to phase out the the 100mb zip drive and disk.

I use what's called a jump drive. Some people call them flash drives--samething. Here are the advantages:

1. They are used like floppy disks. You can use them in any computer that has a USB port. Most newer computers have at least one.
2. They can be used on both PCs and Macs without having to reformat the disk.
3. They are small enough to fit in your pocket. I carry mine on a keychain.
4. They are available in any size starting a 56 megabytes.
5. The prices have really come down since the media first came out. Most store have sales every so often.

Here is a link to view a picture:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....4&type=product


For archiving documents I think it's better to use a CD-R. They can be read in any computer, and they can't be accidentally overwritten.

Re: Jump/Flash drive is the way to go
 

Thanks for your help. Essentially what I want is something that is external for a hard drive/memory storage. I think some kind of way my M drive (CD-ROM) has been corrupted.

I liked the CD-RW but for some reason when I went to access some stories, I was not able to even open any of the files. Thankfully I had backed them up on my internal C drive.

I found a 750 MB zip drive for $100.

Whatever I get, I want to be able to access and be secure in its accessibility at all times. :)

ETA: I checked out the Jump drive; definitely cheaper!! I will talk more with Best Buy Tech Support.