Faster External Storage for Your Laptop – eSATA II

For many laptop users, USB 2.0 or Firewire offer fast enough speeds for external storage. For others, though, 400mbps just isn’t fast enough.
My work with the MBox and ProTools is one example. ProTools recommends recording music to a non system hard drive – tough to do on a laptop unless you’re talking external. Yet tech [...]

No Excuse Not to Have Data Backup

Data backup on my mind again.
Here I am at a yard sale, typing on my laptop, connected to a wireless router (wirelessly) which is connected to the internet with Motorola Canopy wireless gear and an antenna on the roof of my truck. (I’m a director at the local telco and I’m trying to promote our [...]

Secure USB Memory – Don’t Be Scammed

You wouldn’t think secure USB memory sticks would remind me of a song, but then you wouldn’t think that if you knew me either. EVERYTHING reminds me of a song. (If only I could remember more important things..)
If I were writing to Elvis fans, I might have used the expression “Don’t Be Fooled”. But since [...]

Hard Drive Cloning with Acronis True Image – Video

I just uploaded a video to YouTube:

In it I am cloning a hard drive using Acronis True Image Workstation. The hard drive is from a USB hard drive enclosure; which is why I like building my own – I can upgrade when I need to for a minimum amount of cash.

Those Darn Kids – Aren’t They Sharp? Or Are They?

As one who is critical of our high cost government schools, I get tired of hearing how those sharp kids are learning so much technology in their school.
Oh yes, they can rip (or rip off) music to their mp3 player, upload and download at youtube and waste most of their day (and their parents money) [...]

Outlook Nicknames – What are they and how to backup/restore

When you send an email and start to type in the email address of the recipient(s), programs like Outlook will pop down a suggestion box of addressees who you have emailed in the past. These are called Nicknames (sometimes AutoNameCheck).
The first question people ask is, “I just got a new computer, where are all of [...]

Computer or Laptop Repair – Beware the Reformatted Drive!

Reason #7 to backup your computer. Ok, I made up the #7 thing, but don’t the guys on TV commercials make it up too?
When you take your laptop or desktop PC in to be repaired, make sure you have a good backup of it. Preferably an entire drive image with a product like Acronis True [...]

System State Backup Error 0×800423f0

Note: This applies to servers that are domain controllers, but if you get this error on a workstation, try the fix anyway.
I have written about the value of a system state backup, but what do you do when it fails with some arcane error message?
From what I found, this error comes from a bug in [...]

USB Hard Drive – Which External Enclosure to Buy?

Since I’m always harping about Acronis True Image and External USB Hard Drives, I thought it only fair to tell you which enclosure I like.

VANTEC NST-360SU-BK External Enclosure

This unit from Vantec I have used extensively. It is a full size (for 3.5 inch hard drives) and does require a power cord with inline transformer. You [...]

RAID – Is It Worth It?

You might have noticed a lot of motherboards and complete systems touting onboard RAID controllers for data protection.
Evidenced by some of the newsgroup posts I have seen lately, it is generating interest in buyers.
But is RAID really worth it? Now, just to be clear, I am NOT referring to servers running a server operating system [...]