3C Web Desk

Backup Windows profile

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:08:23 +0000

Here is a download that contain batch scripts to backup a user profile to any chosen drive. Download the zip file in order to get the files needed to follow along with the screen cast.

Compress with Winzip, WinRar and 7zip

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:07:10 +0000

Downloaded and installed 3 compression/zip programs to backup and archive data.

Backup with Ghost 14 without Install

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:51:50 +0000

Booting off of Ghost 14 CD to backup disk image to net drive, flash drive or external hard drive.

Restoring the disk is just as simple unless you want to restore from a network disk because you need to find the network adapter driver. Will have a video on that later.

Setting up VNC on Windows with Router

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:39:20 +0000

I go through the video quick to pause when needed if you are following along step by step.

Download VNC
Install VNC
Find local IP address
Forward Ports in router
Identify public IP address

Remote Desktop Access

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:47 +0000

There are a variety of ways to connect to your computer when you’re not at home or in the office. There is only one easy way to do this for free and a lot of more complicated ways to do it for free. If you don’t mind paying $20 per month you can go to a couple dozen companies for this sort of service and they make it easy for that monthly fee.

This is a free list of options with the most simple at the top of the list:

logmein.com – from LogMeIn where you can find a variety of remote services including a free version that is the only free option I know about that is simple to use. Even though you won’t see the ‘Free’ option right away you will as you are going through the process of installing their software on your computer.
Remote Desktop – from Microsoft is built-in to all Windows professional class versions of Windows. If you have Windows pro or business you are part of the way there. Then you need to enable port forwarding on your router to your computer. Default Port to forward: 3389
RealVNC – UltraVNC – TightVNC are all basically the same open source software that will work similar to Logmein but requires the same port forwarding on your router as the Remote Desktop. Default Port to forward: 5900

Click Here for a video on how to setup VNC and a router.

Complete Backup by Imaging

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:16 +0000

My favorite backups are disk images. By taking a complete image of your hard drive you can be sure all your data and programs are saved.

The downside is you need a lot of storage to keep these images. Since hard drives are relatively inexpensive get an external hard drive to keep your backup images.

Ghost 14 – from Symantec is the one I use the most even though there seem to be a lot of preferred options to Ghost from Symantec.
True Image – from Acronis seems to be the preferred program and tool for imaging disks.
Reflect – from Macrium has a free edition that is good but doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the other two.

Ghost and True Image are a very good value for well under $100. The most expensive part of any backup scheme is the storage. Get your hard drive, download the software and get backed up!

Click Here for the video on how use use Ghost14 without install.

Anti-Virus: Remote Scanning

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:30:34 +0000

A nice tool to use online is the free virus scanning that most anti-virus companies offer as a way to give you a reason to buy their program. The problem for them is when you determine you have a virus the removal aspect of their anti-virus program that you would have to buy is pointless.

If you have a virus and even if you have spyware on your Windows operating system, you may as well start over by backing up important data, formatting your hard drive and install Windows. Yes, start over.

Here are the online scanners in the order I recommend them.

Free Virus Scan – from Kaspersky has a lot of options and doesn’t require that you use Internet Explorer which is good for the people who are no longer on the Microsoft bandwagon and tired of being attacked with all IEs vulnerabilities.
HouceCall – from TrendMirco is a good scanner than doesn’t require that you use Internet Explorer either. There are only 2 options so you have less of a chance to making the wrong choice when you scan your computer.
ESET Online Scanner – from ESET requires the use of Internet Explorer or you have to download a small client program to run the scan utility. If you are going to buy a active/traditional anti-virus program I recommend you pay for the NOD Anti-virus 4 for $40/year or $60/2-years from ESET.

Remote Desktop Sharing

admin — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:47:32 +0000

There are a lot of services and software that will allow you to share your desktop with one or more people so you can have a meeting, show a demonstration and generally share your computer desktop.

All listed are free to use:

acrobat.com – from Adobe is a good service to share your desktop and have a meeting online with one or more people.
dimdim.com – from DimDim is free and open source. If you want to run their software on your own server you can do that too.
skype.com – from Skype now has a remote desktop sharing feature in their popular VoIP software. Download the 4.1 beta version for Windows and the latest version for OS X.

The above options are not the same as remote access to your desktop. The difference between remote sharing and remote access is needing to have someone on the other computer giving you permission to sign on. Where remote access software just runs waiting for you to connect to that computer anytime you want.

With the above options available it is difficult to realize how companies like Webex, FuzeMeeting and GoToMyPC/Meeting/Webinar/Assist stay viable businesses.

I will probably give quick tutorials on how to use the remote sharing features at a later time so check back often.