Replies

Medico,

Thanks for that info. Yes, I burned the rescue CD for Acronis TIH as well as the one for Ocster. Please note that I have no trouble with using the restore CD — I just can’t do the full system image backup as long as the E: drive is included.

I have used Acronis before this latest happening, and can revert to it as you suggest, but at this point I’m favoring using Ocster (a) because it’s so simple and does just what I want with no tweaking other than to deselect the D: and E: drives, and (b) because of the following: (http://www.ocster.com/ocster-1-click-backup/en#details) It uses “reverse incremental storage (block level), a special kind of incremental storage that avoids the drawbacks of normal incremental or differential backup algorithms.”

With this feature, instead of the first full backup being the big one and each subsequent incremental being a smaller summary of only the current time period’s changes, with Ocster the last incremental backup is the big one and has all the latest disk changes incorporated into it, so that the last one is the only one you really need for a full restore, and restoring is certain and quick (at least that’s what they promise, so it yet remains to be seen). And if you want to revert to an earlier backup you can do that by choosing from a list sorted by date. You can also restore individual files from the image backup by having the program mount the image as a separate disk.

It’s a choice I’m making at the moment, hoping it’s a good one in the long run.

Frank

RodeRunner,

Here’s the image. Drive H: is a RAM drive I use just for Firefox’s cache.

32656-Capture

Frank

I’m backing up to a 500 GB external USB (WD Elements) drive, which I’ve been using with no problems for about two years.

Might I also suggest the use of a 3rd party imaging tool, :whisper:as the Microsoft default imaging app may not always provide the the needed options and conveniences. :cheers:

Clint,

Your reply, while helpful, doesn’t do the Win7 built-in Backup & Restore program justice IMO, and doesn’t offer a list of potentially capable free and for-pay software (with links) for the OP to intelligently make a choice among others.

I’ve found that Windows 7 does the job admirably for me, creating both a system image and backing up all my files, plus doing space- and time-saving incremental backups after the initial job. Also, it’s integrated right into the Windows 7 recovery procedures.

Here are some reviews of for-pay backup/imaging software for consideration:
http://pc-backup-review.toptenreviews.com/

Here are some reviews of free backup/imaging software for consideration:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33153_7-57381334-10391733/reader-poll-whats-the-best-free-backup-program/

I’ve tried many backup and imaging programs, both free and for-pay, and I’ve come to like Win7’s built-in Backup and Restore because of its simplicity and reliability.

Hope this helps. :rolleyes:

Frank D

My thanks to all for your replies. I’ll look into each one for the options.

You’ve convinced me. I’m going to save up the $$$ for an external HD. As you point out, they’re cheap and getting cheaper all the time. And there’s no future in using DVDs in view of their cost and obvious limitations.

Frank

OK! I’m a newbie to the world of image backups and I just successfully created a Macrium Reflect image backup on eight DVDs (~60 GB of stuff on my HD), and then a Linux Rescue CD — all by following your beautifully laid-out instructions.

Note: I would love to have saved it to a second (internal) hard drive on my PC, but it’s an all-in-one with room for only one, and at the moment I don’t have the $$$ to buy an external hard drive.

Question: Let’s say I get into trouble and I need to restore my machine (running Windows 7) from my image stored on the 8 DVDs. I just read in the instructions that “It is IMPERATIVE to mount the image from inside Macrium. . . ” Unfortunately for me, the instructions don’t tell me how to do that. Specifically, how do I run Macrium if my HD is wiped out? Is it on the Rescue CD? It would be nice if the instructions covered this important point.

Could someone please elaborate for me? Thanks!

Frank D

Jayson, click your Start button and type in the search box cmd . Type in ipconfig /all (include the space between ipconfig and the / mark), and report the results back to this thread.

Try this, where the problem was resolved:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/malware-virus-removal/91897-resolved-laptop-connects-wirelessly-but-cant-browse-web-moved.html

Frank D

I’ve not used the Opera email client, but I do know that user either love or hate it. I would give the forums here a look before you commit to anything.

I changed my mind and decided to give Thunderbird 3 another chance, now that it’s up to 3.0.3 and counting. I’m glad I did because I found that TB 3 could be configured to look and act like TB 2 and surpass it. (Of course, the developers intended that to be the case.)

I also found that installing add-ons like CompactHeader, QuoteAndComposeManager, and Toggle Word Wrap to TB (3.0.3) now make my e-mail experience a real pleasure. I haven’t seen tables around any forwards since I upgraded. I’m especially happy with TB 3 because adding the ThunderBrowse add-on saves me many minor trips to my browser.

Frank D

In that case you want Opera

Oh, and I have always found Mozillazine to be the best place for support for TB etc

Thank you, Jon. At your suggestion I’ve looked at the Opera webpages. Opera is a great browser, and if I were just starting out or FF broke for me, Opera would be the way to go. However, I’m addicted to FF’s add-ons and the familiarity I have with it and them, so I’m going to stick with it for now. Opera e-mail, though, looks interesting and I’ll give it a try. Also, I’ve looked at the Mozillazine homepage and it looks so good I’m going to subscribe to it. Thanks again!

Frank

Just to prove someone here is trying to answer your question, not just take digs at TB, I use QuoteandComposeManager (http://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/realborders-en.html).

I admit to being one of those taking a dig or two at TB/FF, for which I am properly ashamed. However, in this case such agitating would seem to be justified, IMO, when a third-party program (not even an add-on) must be called upon to do what should be an option of TB itself, namely, to replicate a plain text version of the original message (not a tabular format that is very difficult to edit) into the body of the reply or forwarded message.
Please note: I don’t wish to prolong this thread; I only hope to urge the developers of Thunderbird (and Firefox) to communicate and respond in a friendly and positive manner to the complaints, suggestions and pleas of the users of their superb creations.

Frank D

P.S., KeithC, thank you for your suggestion.

I have found the Thunderbird support community to be quite knowledgeable and responsive, not unlike this one. The developers monitor it, add helpful suggestions, and take valid criticism to heart. It’s also search-able like a good FAQ file ought to be. Since Thunderbird is a free, community supported application, I’d say it’s a mischaracterization to call its support a “sham”.

As to Thunderbird 3, yes, it’s an ambitious upgrade and a little wet behind the ears in places.

My apology for calling it a sham, since I haven’t explored the Mozilla community itself. However, I have explored Google and Bing on many Thunderbird and Firefox topics, for example Firefox’s continuous reloading of pages, and I have not found anything I could call helpful or definitive. (And of course I would expect that my searches would have found all relevant hits from the FF and TB communities.) This is what I based my remark on. I found just the usual “Did you disable cookies? Did you check for viruses? Try safe mode? My grandmother had that once and she reformatted her hard drive.” suspects, and then the discontinuation of the thread with a hearty feeling of well-done.
As for TB 3, why did they “fix” TB 2, which wasn’t broke? They keep adding “whizz-bang” features to FF and TB and breaking things that worked fine before, but overlooking things that (IMO) really need to be fixed, like memory leakage and slow loading, etc. In FF I’m depending heavily on add-ons such as Fasterfox, Greasemonkey, Memoryfox, Refreshblocker and Vacuumplaces as boosters and fixes, when these should be incorporated in the program itself.
Sorry for the rant.

Frank D

I think I remember that [Thunderbird] 2.x also had the exact feature/problem with tables? That didn’t change in 3.x?

You’re right. This stupid “feature” of Thunderbird is enough to drive one mad! Every so often there is a graphic or other some such invisible item in the selected material that will not allow the message to be forwarded or replied to. Then I have to hunt for it on a hit-and-miss basis until I find it, or give up. (One workaround I have found that works is to copy/paste the message from Thunderbird into Notepad, then copy/paste everything from there into the forwarded or replied-to message. This cleans or “washes” out the offending items.) Also, I reverted to version 2 because version 3 comes with a “dumbed-down” set of toolbars. And don’t knock OE6. It may be antiquated and prone to garbling its database, but it’s very simple and straightforward to use.
Why can’t Mozilla get it right and leave a good thing alone (i.e., v2 vs. v3) and provide useful, responsive Help? Their inbuilt and online help is like Microsoft’s: it answers simple, obvious “newbie” questions in a very childlike manner and completely ignores or overlooks the real problems that people are having. It then simple-mindedly refers you to the Help groups. What an unhelpful sham!

Quoting from myself: “I’ll next work on installing a WiFi card if the path that I’m discussing with Paul doesn’t work.”

Frank

Well, no need to go any farther (or even further ). I was able to get home today in spite of the nasty weather and work on the desktop PC. I went for broke right off and installed the Netgear wireless “G” card, following the installation instructions exactly. This time, where I had fouled up previously (thereby making my contributions to this thread necessary), I chose “Other” from the Windows Networking Wizard‘s three “Select a connection method” options, rather than either of the other two options, and then I selected “This computer connects to the Internet directly or through a network hub.” from the next dialog box. This time, amazingly, it works!!!

I apologize to those who were following the CAT5 crossover cable line of attack. I didn’t even try it, although I had the cable right there, because I finally realized that it would have meant having the laptop always available, and connected, and both of the PCs slowed down by virtue of the shared connection.

My thanks to all concerned!

Frank D

Hi Frank,

You mention that you’re using WiFi with the laptop, to connect to the internet. To me, this sounds like you’ve already in place a router or switch, connected to the “outside world” that is capable of transmitting via WiFi standards. It is also possible, but not always, that that router / switch is able to have more than one network connected device attached via Cat5(e) cable.

If you do have a router “in the middle”, you should not need ICS or the Proxy program to connect more than one PC to the internet. If however your laptop is the first in line connection to the outside world, than yes, you’d have to use one of these programs (or the like).

Thanks, SC, yes the router can handle up to four CAT5 inputs, but I can’t run cable from the desktop to the router, since the router is installed downstairs in the house and the desktop is upstairs and doesn’t have a WiFi card. I’ll next work on installing a WiFi card if the path that I’m discussing with Paul doesn’t work.

Frank

Paul, thanks, this will take a day or two since I’m not at home right now. But I will post again with results when I get them.

Frank