Recently, I had a customer who needed XP installed on a Gateway ESX e4000 - originally, it came with Win 2000 Professional. Putting XP on a computer is no big deal, but sometimes finding the right drivers can be. In this case MPC computers has purchased some of the Gateway models, and of course the drivers for this model are not listed on Gateway's website.

To save you some time and trouble, here is the page that has the XP drivers (see screenshot):
http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/filelist.asp?ID=18140

The only driver that gave me any issue was the sound driver. However, if you "manually" install the driver using the "Have Disk" function, then it will install just fine.

If you have any questions or want a zipped copy of the drivers that I used, comment to this post or email me.

UPDATE 1-2-2009:
It appears that MPC is going out of business. Here is a download link to the XP Drivers that I used. If these drivers or this post help you out, please let me know.

Labels: xp installation

Obviously, backing up your data is the most important since you can always replace failed hardware. However, recovering from a system crash can be very time-consuming. Installing XP, Vista, or Linux plus all your applications and then tweaking your system can be a pain.

Acronis® True Image Echo Workstation
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATICW/

Add-ons / Acronis® Universal Restore
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATICW/universal-restore.html
*This allows you to recover to an image if the hardware changes. It basically resets the HAL in Windows, and can be very useful.

Acronis is nice because it will image while the system is running under XP. I've used it for several years now and had great luck with it.

Here is the method that I suggest you do for a complete backup of your computers.

1. Backup all important data "bulk data" (movie files, word docs, spreadsheets, pictures, email files, etc) to removable drive, DVD, etc. A great utility to find a lot of extra data is JDisk Report.
   
2. Delete the "bulk data" from each machine after backup and before imaging. This keeps the image file(s) from being too bloated.
3. Run a temp file cleanup utility, Diskeeper Pro, and Registry Mechanic.
   
4. Image the PC and store the image to a removable drive, DVD, online storage, etc. Use the "archive splitting" option in the imaging software so break the images into 4.7 GB chunks so they will fit on a DVD.
   
5. Copy the "bulk data" back to the pc once imaging is completed.
   

Now you have a "clean" image of the pc that can be recovered relatively quickly and easily. If you have a computer that you use a lot and add software too, you can do an incremental image with Acronis also, which can be set to run automatically.

Additional Resources:

Technology Report 1-8-2008
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/01/technology-report-1-8-2008.asp

Firefox and Google Bookmarks
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/07/firefox-and-google-bookmarks.asp

Trusting Google with your Email
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/07/trusting-google-with-your-email.asp

Backing up your System
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/06/backing-up-your-system.asp

Labels: acronis, backup, imaging

When Gmail first came out I started using it as an address for message board registrations and things like that. Since I've owned my own domains since about 1999, I've always used them for my primary email. My old method of backup was to use Outlook or Outlook Express and finally Thunderbird for POP3. Periodically, I would backup the appropriate files for those applications.

The problems with that were several. First, I have a LOT of email. As the Outlook .pst file or the Thunderbird files began to grow in size, performance suffered. If I "archived" email to a CD/DVD and then removed old ones from Outlook or Thunderbird, searching archives meant restoring them, searching, then cleaning up again.

A couple of years ago, Google released a service called Google Apps for your Domain. Among other things, it allows you to use Google's GMail "engine" to handle the email for your domains. You have the advantage of basically unlimited storage, alternate port usage (SSL and TLS) which comes in handy for ISP port 25 filtering, web access, POP3 access, and more recently IMAP support. One of the cool things is that even if you use POP3 access, Google Apps archives a copy of your received and sent email. This means you can access all of your email from your browser, its very searchable through your browser, and it provides a great backup solution!

The Trust Issue

Several people have commented about "trusting Google" with your email. Well, here is the reality check. Trust is a relative thing. We trust that MS's software (Windows, Outlook, OE, etc) is not doing anything behind our back. We trust that our ISP handles our information correctly, but that has proven to be a shaky deal lately.

Most of those same people "trust their ISP" with their email or another 3rd party email service. In my opinion, I trust Gooogle far more than anyone else.

ATT/Bellsouth, Verizon, and a host of other service providers have given me far more reasons to distrust them than Google.

One other thing to mention about "trust" is that at least Google gives you all the mechanisms to move your email away from Google should you choose. By providing contact import/export, POP3 access, and IMAP support, you have full control of your mail. In contrast, Yahoo requires a premium subscription for export and POP3 access, most of the major ISP's such as ATT/Bellsouth don't provide any contact export, and POP3 access only helps retrives your received email - not your sent email.

I migrated my email service over a year ago and have been very pleased with it. I have email dating back to 2004 stored online and have plans to push email archives dating back to 2002. Many of my clients are now migrated to the service and love it.

Web Access or Local Application

As the line continues to blur between web-based applications and local applications (software on your computer), it gets more difficult to recommend which is best. About 2 months ago, I made the decision to go 99% web-based email. This means I use my browser (Firefox) for my email. The advantages are many, but mainly it gives me access to my email anywhere I have a connection. Plus I don't have to worry about contact synchronization.

There are a few disadvantages though:

• Must have a connection to read any of your email.
• Adding attachments is not as easy as drag/drop for multiple attachments.

This is one of those things that you just have to try both and see which works best for your situation and tastes. Now I said "99%" of my email. If I have an email that I need to attach several files, then I will use Thunderbird with IMAP. This gives me an easy way to attach multiple files quickly and easily.

Following Rule #1

Rule #1: You are only as good as the last successful backup from which you can recover.

As much as I trust Google, ultimately I trust myself more than anyone. Periodically (about once every 2 months), I POP3 down all of my received email and IMAP a copy of all of my sent email to local Thunderbird files. Then I export a copy of my contacts to CSV. Then I backup email adn contacts to DVD.

If something does happen to Google's service, at least I have a local copy.

References:

What is EFF's Lawsuit Against AT&T About?
http://w2.eff.org/legal/cases/att/faq.php#1

Google Apps for your Domain
http://www.google.com/a

Backing up your System
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/06/backing-up-your-system.asp

You like Yellow Dots from your Printer?
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/02/you-like-yellow-dots-from-your-printer.asp

AT&T and Other ISPs May Be Getting Ready to Filter - Bits - Technology - New York Times Blog
http://www.smartergeek.com/blog/2008/01/at-and-other-isps-may-be-getting-ready.asp

Labels: backup, gmail, google apps

I've been saying this for a long time too, but newspapers and the way we gather news are changing drastically. I'm not the only person who doesn't really read a newspaper. There are a lot of other people that prefer "time shifting" content.

Timeshifting content means viewing content when you want - not waiting for the radio or TV program time. Blogs, rss feeds, podcasts, and iPods help you do this easily.

Jessica DaSilva recently blogged about a staff meeting in which the editor in chief declared that the print edition was an add-on to the website.

“People need to stop looking at TBO.com as an add on to The Tampa Tribune,” she said. “The truth is that The Tampa Tribune is an add on to TBO.”

Just like anything else, traditional media needs to learn to innovate and expand into the new ways of communicating and gathering information - or they will die out. The warning signs have been on the wall for several years now.

References:

"It's worth fighting for"
http://www.jessicadasilva.com/2008/07/02/its-worth-fighting-for/

Net To Newspapers: Drop Dead
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_27/b3941024.htm

Silicon Insider: Newspapers Nearing Death?
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/SiliconInsider/story?id=629221&page=1

Newspapers are dead…
http://scobleizer.com/2007/03/24/newspapers-are-dead/

This just in: Newspapers not dead yet
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9975760-7.html?hhTest=1

Labels: old media, timeshifting

All too often, I have clients whose computers crash. Fortunately, I can recover the data most of the time, but there are times when the hard drive physically fails. In those cases recovering the data becomes nearly impossible and very very expensive.

Recently, I created a document for my clients on "The Importance of Backups". Here is copy/paste of that document and a PDF copy. Spread the word.

The Importance of Backups

Rule #1: You are only as good as your last successful backup from which you can recover!

The most important thing on your computer (PC or Mac) is not the hardware nor really the software. These can be replaced relatively easily. The most important thing is your data. Period.

Backing up your data can be very simple and painless. For most people, it should not take that much time either. Here are some simple ideas:

• Purchase a “thumb drive” and simply copy any important data to your drive.

• Use blank DVD-R's and your DVD burner – blanks cost less than $0.20 each.

• Purchase a removable hard drive – you can get 320GB of storage for about $100 now.

• Most of your data will be located in your “My Documents” folder on an XP machine.

• Certain programs, such as older versions of Quicken or Quickbooks, like to store the data file in the program directory. Always check those programs and move the data file to your My Documents.

• You may not want to backup all your music each time if you have an iPod – that will serve as your backup.

• Pictures, music, and videos take up the most storage space. You may not want to back them up every time depending on your storage capacity.

Off-site backup is very important. It won't do you any good if you backup your data, but your house burns down.

Also, thieves steal computers, removable drives, etc. I have had several clients this year who have suffered business and home theft, including their computers. You need to periodically store a backup at a trusted family member or friends house or safety deposit box.

You also need to consider the safety and security of your backups. This means that your backup data should be treated as securely as your live data. With JungleDisk you can encrypt your data so that neither JungleDisk nor Amazon employees have access to your data. If you are using DVD's or a removable drive, then I recommend using TrueCrypt containers to keep the data safe.

My Recommendations:

Primary Backup: JungleDisk which uses Amazon's S3 service. This gives you encrypted off-site backups that is a no-brainer to use and very cost effective. Typically you can have 30+GB stored for less than $10/month.

Secondary Backup: Every 2 weeks, I copy my TrueCrypt container to a removable USB drive.

Tertiary Backup: Once a month I copy everything to removable DVD's. The files on the DVD's are stored in an encrypted TrueCrypt container, and the DVDs are locked in a fireproof safe.

Printable PDF Copy

Backups-Importance.pdf

Labels: acronis, amazon s3, backup, jungledisk, rule #1

Back in 2005 I was hired by a customer in Sulphur Springs, TX (lived there for a couple of years) to network his daughter's home using a HughesNet internet connection. This customer had been told by several people that it couldn't be done. Fortunately, he had the forethought to pre-wire his daughter's 2-story home with cat5e cable. That made it much easier.

Prior to this, he had been paying for separate dialup connections and phone lines for all the kids (grandkids). Successfully networking the HughesNet connection would start saving money within a couple of months.

The real catch was that he wanted to use the same HughesNet connection at his home, approximately 300' away, and he didn't want to run any cable. Fortunately, this was about the time when the Linux firmware community was really starting to thrive.

Since then, I have used the same basic setup several times to do a wireless mesh. It's worked out great although I don't get much call for it anymore.

Here is the setup that I used:

(2) WRT54G version1's with Sveasoft firmware (Alchemy-6.0-RC5a v3.01.3.8sv)
(1) Linksys WRT54G v5 (added later for downstairs wifi saturation)
(1) Cantenna (added later as tree grew in the way)
(1) Linksys 8 port switch
Some patch cables and ends

It was really a simple setup. I flashed both of the WRT54G v1's with the Sveasoft firmware and cranked up the transmit output power. I setup WDS on them and was able to successfully pull in the signal at his house nearly 300' away. For the daughter's house it was just a matter of making patch cables, connecting everyone to the first WRT54G v1 and the 8-port switch, and cleaning up the spyware and viruses already on the their pc's.

After about a year, we added a Cantenna at his house to pull in a stronger signal to the 2nd WRT54g v1, and we added a WRT54G v5 to the downstairs to saturate the daughter's house in wifi.

This system has been running remarkably well ever since the original installation. Periodically, I visit them (driving from Bossier City, LA, to Sulphur Springs, TX) and do some pc upgrades or remove viruses, etc. The relationship has worked out very well, and I'm pleased to call them my friends and not just clients.

Recently, the wifi signal has been a bit sporadic though. After a phone conversation, I followed up with an email. Here is a copy/paste of the email for informational purposes.

#######################
Hi,

Basically there are 2 options. Here is the information on both:

----------------
Cable Run
----------------

1000FT Outdoor CAT5e Cable - Gray CMX Rated PVC
http://www.computercablestore.com/CMX_Rated_Outdoor_CAT5e_catID712.aspx

Surface Mount Boxes
http://www.computercablestore.com/Installation_Accessories_Surface_Mount_Boxes_catID1911.aspx

OR

Wall Plates
http://www.computercablestore.com/1_Port_Blank_Wall_Plates_catID1913.aspx

You will need the cable, wall plates or surface boxes, plus some RJ45 connectors - I have plenty of RJ45's plus a tester. You would run the cable in the ditch for your water and up to the house. We can connect it to the downstairs or the upstairs Linksys WRT54G. It doesn't matter. I'd say the ideal scenario is to connect the cable to a faceplate or surface box.

I've ordered from ComputerCableStore.com before (been a few years) and had no trouble. However, if you can find the cable cheaper that's fine too - as long as it is outdoor rated.

You might also consider running it through PVC pipe or something for added protection. Plus, we don't need to really exceed 300' for the run as the Cat5e spec.

This is the best scenario as it gives you full bandwidth back to the main house.


---------------------
Wireless Upgrade
---------------------

Linksys WRT54GL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

Cantenna
http://www.cantenna.com

What we would do is add the WRT54GL downstairs and flash it with Linux firmware so that we can add WDS (wireless distribution system) and turn up the transmit power. This is exactly what I did back in 2005.

Then we add the cantenna to the WRT54GL and point it to your house.

I will use one of the following to flash the firmware and "upgrade" the router:

http://www.sveasoft.com
*Running on the upstairs router plus your router in your house.
*May need to purchase new license.

OR

http://www.dd-wrt.com

OR

http://www.openwrt.org

Recently, one of my customers had a question about losing bookmarks in Firefox. Here is the thread from that:

---------------
No I was not saving them under there, I had Star or something that said My Favorites that I used to click on. FireFox upgraded and since then I can not locate my favorites.
---------------

Ahh - that is actually good then! You were using Google Bookmarks and the Google Bookmarks toolbar. Your favorites (bookmarks) are safe with Google. Whenever you save your bookmarks with Google, they are tied into your Gmail account. You can also go to the following URL and also find your bookmarks:

www.google.com/bookmarks

Here are 2 add-ons (extensions) for Firefox that are now updated to work with the new Firefox:

Google Toolbar
http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar/FT3/intl/en/index.html

GBookmarks
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2448

Both of these will give you ways to access your Bookmarks that are stored with Google. Let me know if you still can't find them.

*The following advice is based on my experience over the years servicing thousands of computers, instructing users, and researching common-sense approaches to security for the average users.

If your computer gets infected by a virus or spyware or malware, it is because you have asked for it. Period.

You may not have intentionally asked for it, but at some point you asked for it. That means that you didn't follow common sense, are using an unsafe browser (such as IE), opened an untrusted attachment, or put an untrusted PC on your network. In other words - you asked for it.

Normally, your pc will get infected simply because you have your security settings too low. In the case of Windows and Internet Explorer, even after SP2, low security settings are the default. Microsoft tries to empower the user, but their method of doing so exposes the user to multiple vulnerabilities.

First and foremost, quit using Internet Explorer to surf the Internet. Use an alternate browser such as Firefox, Opera, or anything but IE. It is full of exploits and is arguably the main reason that Windows is exploited.

Second, follow some common sense rules for security. Everyday user security does not have to be complicated, but you need to follow some general guidelines. It is a layered approach. There is not 1 single product or piece of software that will protect you from all the threats. As a matter fact, most of the more popular security applications (Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro) have a tendency to lull you into a false sense of security.

The analogy that I like to use is this: Current anti-virus programs are like an alarm system on your house. They tell you (hopefully) when the burglar is already there.

Plus, I'm definitely no fan of Norton or McAfee or even TrendMicro. Countless times, I've run across pc's that were horribly infected even though Norton was installed and up-to-date. If these programs worked as well as they are touted, then people like me would not have a business model.

The point is this: Use common sense and a layered approach.