Messages

776

Living Room / Re: The last time your AntiVirus saved you!

« on: May 24, 2008, 04:25 PM »

Last August, I was at my nephews place, and their PC was infected with some kind of virus/spyware.  They had an antivirus installed, a firewall + an antispyware, all were unable to get rid of it.  As soon as I killed the virus task, another one started and rewrote a different entry in the registry to relaunch itself after reboot.

I used autoruns / process explorer from sysinternals but it didn't work.

Finally, I removed their AV+Antispyware (cannot remember which brand it was) and I installed CA Internet Security Suite 2007.  It stopped the active virus task immediately after installation, and after reboot, it was gone, after removing/quarantining a large number of infected files, fortunately all non essential to the system (it was probably more a spyware than a virus).  I know CA AV is generally ill-considered by many observers/reviewers.  This time it really helped.

777

General Software Discussion / Re: Search GT .... how can this be?

« on: May 24, 2008, 11:36 AM »

There may be hope : if your are not the sole user of the PC where SearchGT "auto-registered", it may be someone else who activated and installed it when it was made available by GAOTD.

Today I upgraded my SearchGT license (coming also from GAOTD) and the upgrade process started by an uninstall and reboot.  So even uninstalled the registration remained (I wonder where...).

778

General Software Discussion / Re: Search GT .... how can this be?

« on: May 21, 2008, 07:28 AM »

I tried the same experiment as you did : install the latest SearchGT version, 2.3 from Isatech Website, install todays (2008-05-21) GAOTD software, Button something, and it didn't worked.  I have not rebooted yet, and will post an update here if anything changes.

Also, I have read on GAOTD forum 'http://www.giveawayo...om/forums/topic/3085' that the latest update works fine with GAOTD license, so Curt explanation is probably the right one, especially if you can confirm that you did install and activate GAOTD version when it was offered some months ago.

779

General Software Discussion / Re: Search GT .... how can this be?

« on: May 21, 2008, 01:38 AM »

Did you reboot between seeing the "30 day evaluation period" text and the "Registered to GAOTD" text ?

780

Developer's Corner / Re: Need help with Vista Backup

« on: May 20, 2008, 06:43 AM »

  Glad it worked.  mstTotalAccess is really a nice tool !

781

Developer's Corner / Re: Need help with Vista Backup

« on: May 16, 2008, 02:31 PM »

Many thanks for the info.
I use the same username (as administrator) across the platforms, but I guess system security retricts access.

I will try to check out mstTotalAccess Pro and XYplorer and see if I can manually perform zip backup/restore first.

-TWmailrec (May 16, 2008, 09:23 AM)

http://www.mstsoftwa...ts%5Cmst-TotalAccess is the link for mstTotalAccess

782

Developer's Corner / Re: Need help with Vista Backup

« on: May 16, 2008, 01:54 AM »

I have been developing a program to backup complete XP / 98 windows systems
to a large dedicated partition for zip backups.
Now that I have installed Vista (multiboot system) in a partition, I find it impossible to zip/delete & unzip the vista "Documents and Settings" & "Users" directories from within the XP C: drive.

Can anyone suggest a way to unlock these directories from within XP, or suggest a program that has got round the problem??

-TWmailrec (May 15, 2008, 08:37 PM)

You could try XYPlorer, which can sometimes access special folders where other file manager can't.  And use it in conjunction with mstTotalAccess Pro which lifts all restrictions due to  access authorization.  Both are payware, but there is a free edition for XYPlorer.  Both can be evaluated for a short period of time.

783

General Software Discussion / Re: Best free firewall for Windows?

« on: May 14, 2008, 04:06 PM »

Did anyone try Ashampoo Firewall Free (http://www2.ashampoo...product_2_0050__.htm).  I did for a few days on an XP machine and it seems quit easy and rather Sygate-like in a way. Not VISTA compatible though.

784

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Easeus Partition Manager - Bits Du Jour

« on: May 02, 2008, 01:23 PM »

Bits du Jour says there is a problem with this promo code and that they will probably re-run it later.

"*** We're Sorry, but there is currently a problem with this deal which means that we cannot bring you the reduced price! We're working on getting this fixed. Please check back soon. If we can't fix the problem we usually run the deal again, you can get an email when this happens. ***"


Concerning this company/software, I have used the Data Recovery Wizard Pro (GAOTD license from a few weeks ago) and it seemed to be working quite well.  I would be rather confident in this software, but I have no real background experience on it.

785

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 17, 2008, 09:24 AM »

Hey !  I found again the link for a free True Image 8  : seems still valid. http://www.acronis.c....uk/mag/pcpro/ati8pe

And guess where I found it : here on DonationCoder !!!

https://www.donation....msg103981#msg103981

I knew it !!!

786

General Software Discussion / Re: Backup4All FTP Problems

« on: April 17, 2008, 09:18 AM »

Just a wild guess : did you change your TCP/IP settings with any kind of "Internet Accelerator" ?  If Yes, try to revert to windows defaults.  Most TCP/IP tuning tools allow that, try for instance a free one : Ashampoo Internet Accelerator 2.

787

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 16, 2008, 07:18 AM »

With a brand new disk without data on, I'd rather use format than convert... also, a full format, even though it takes a lot of time, since that serves as a rather comprehensive disk check as well

And I agree totally about doing NTFS instead of FAT, it's more robust... and also supports individual files larger than 4GB.

-f0dder (April 16, 2008, 06:24 AM)

If the HDD is empty, format is certainly a good solution, but there might be some included software already on the HDD. With "convert" you don't have to move the files elsewhere before turning the partition into NTFS.  And its pretty quick too.

788

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 16, 2008, 01:36 AM »

One last one word of advice : your external USB HDD will probably come with a partition formatted in "FAT32" format, which is much more sensitive to any brutal halt (power failure, computer crash, ...).  You should really convert the partition in NTFS format.  But only if this HDD is for use with XP, 2K, NT, Vista, etc.  If you have a Mac or a Win98 computer, you should leave as it is.

How to convert the partition : no need to reformat anything, you can perform a non destructive conversion like this : Open a command window : Start/Execute/ type cmd + return
type the following command :
> Dir Y: (Y: is the letter under which your new HDD is recognized)
Note Y: Label
> convert Y: /FS:NTFS /X (Y: is the letter under which your new HDD is recognized)
You will be asked a confirmation by entering the Y: Label

Convert will then make a quick check of the current file system, then convert the drive in a few minutes.  Et voilà !

One more thing : with your new drive will probably be packaged a backup program (file backup at least).  If not, check the drive manufacturer website, for example Western Digital.  In most cases, these manufacturer allow end-users to download an OEM imaging software, which they have rebranded.  So you might get a free imaging software quicker than you thought.

789

General Software Discussion / Re: ideas or suggestions for mostly free html editor.

« on: April 15, 2008, 02:11 AM »

hi,
which version of IE are you using? are you using Firefox?

-vizacc (April 15, 2008, 01:44 AM)

With Opera I was able to see the download links and get hh101.zip !

790

General Software Discussion / Re: ideas or suggestions for mostly free html editor.

« on: April 15, 2008, 02:05 AM »

Maxthon 2 which relies on IE6, I'll try with Opera...

791

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 15, 2008, 12:50 AM »

Then, if you can only boot from an usb flash memory key, IFW2 seems a better choice, but you really have to try before.  Some PC can and some other can't.  I am sure that you can build a bootable USB key with the demo version, then you can try.

792

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 14, 2008, 04:48 PM »

3/ Look for a free version of Acronis True Image 8, you should be able to find a old link still active corresponding to a special offer.  Maybe this link can even be found somewhere in DonationCoder forum.  Not sure where I got it from.

-MerleOne (April 14, 2008, 07:24 AM)

Ahem, I think I was mistaken, actually it was Acronis True Image 7 that was offered back in 2006 but it seems the promotion code is now cancelled.  Sorry !  You could try RSJ HD Image which is free for personal use.

I also found another payware solution : http://www.drive-image.com/.  Didn't try it yet !

And lastly : there is an excellent solution, Image for Windows V2, cheaper (I think) than Drive Snapshot, runs from Windows, or Floppy, or USB key or CD.  I just restored my portable PC with it this evening, I corrupted the system without knowing why, but I had a fresh backup on an external USB HDD.  90mn later, everything was right again.  IFW supports differential images, is somewhat slower than DS, but support is excellent and the product is very reliable.

Link : http://www.terabyteu...mage-for-windows.htm

793

General Software Discussion / Re: ideas or suggestions for mostly free html editor.

« on: April 14, 2008, 09:26 AM »

Cannot seem to be able to dl it, or ant other software from http://www.vizacc.com/Default.aspx ?

794

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 14, 2008, 07:24 AM »

Thanks for the advice, Merle1, but €40 is an even more awful lot of money to me! 30 days trial simply won't do it - my budget says the asking price should give some 365 days trial...

-Curt (April 14, 2008, 01:21 AM)

I can understand that.  I see 4 possibilities there :
1/ Adopt DriveImage XML, as detailed above.  But you should know a system restore with this software is to be prepared first : you basically have to build a special bootable CD with DriveImage XML plugin on it.  Look for "BartCD" in Google (sorry, no time to go into details).

2/ Watch GiveAwayOftheDay.com, sometimes they release a free software that does that.  Last was Kerimage

3/ Look for a free version of Acronis True Image 8, you should be able to find a old link still active corresponding to a special offer.  Maybe this link can even be found somewhere in DonationCoder forum.  Not sure where I got it from.

4/See also how to get a free copy of Paragon Drive Copy 8 Personal Edition SE, a competitor of Acronis, from https://www.donation...98.msg64494#msg64494

795

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 14, 2008, 12:51 AM »

I don't dare to use Drive Snapshot to backup the entire PC to my USB Harddrive:

Snapshot will cut the disk image file after a preset size (default=650MB), and create several files with extensions SNA, .SN1,.Sn2,..,.SN9,.S10...S99,.100...999,.1000 etc

By default the limit is 1500 MB, so 3 image pieces fit on a DVD.

You may expect an average image size of 50% of the used disk space, since Drive Snapshot automatically compresses the image file.

Can other programs read these .SNA files? I don't think they can.
And what compression system are they using? The site doesn't tell.

However, the homepage deserves a big time reward for the "Introduction" - this is a world-class reference introduction to any program! Every coder can take lesson from this Tom Ehlert, he certainly is an excellent pedagogic instructor!

http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/intro.htm

edited for typo

-Curt (April 13, 2008, 05:27 PM)

I don't know of any program outside snapshot that can read .sna (except an old ZX spectrum emulator, but that's another story...), and the compression is proprietary but no big deal since only snapshot can read it.

I have restored several times my XP partition from an USB external disk, with no problem whatsoever.  Moreover, snapshot can handle HDD with faulty sectors.  So it's up to you.  You don't risk that much since snapshot doesn't install any driver on your system and can run from a single executable without any installation.

796

General Software Discussion / Re: HowTo EASILY create image backup?

« on: April 13, 2008, 01:43 PM »

First I must remind you that I really am a total IT-illiteral. And because of this (yes, I am aware of it: the blame is on me, not on Bill Gates), my XP is getting more and more sick by the minute, so to speak, at least 'by the month'. So now I really need you to guide me to the easiest way to create an image of my harddisk, to USB harddrive. Gratis, not compressing, and not commandline, please. Something like: install and open image making program > click "create image now" > backup this drive (ALL of it) > from here to there, > options: make short but understable log ("don't ask any questions during backup process, but tell me about it next time"), and close pc when done > Start".

What program to get&use, please? 

Edited
Oh, I forgot a very important detail: program must fully support Unicode!

-Curt (April 07, 2008, 02:24 AM)

You can use the evaluation version of Drive Snapshot, for 30 days you will be able to image your drive and I think afterwards you can still read the image, but not make any more backups.
http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/

797

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerDesk Pro v6 very very cheap.

« on: April 04, 2008, 06:50 AM »

Thanks for the tip Carol, it did worked fine !

798

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PerfectDisk Rx for $9.99

« on: March 17, 2008, 03:13 PM »

You're right, it's far from a "perfect" product (no pun intented) but for this amount you can't have a better defragmenter, even if some functions are missing.  Works well on VISTA also.

799

Found Deals and Discounts / PerfectDisk Rx for $9.99

« on: March 17, 2008, 04:43 AM »

Raxco RX is a basic version of Perfect Disk Defrag Tool, with some extra features that are best avoided.  The main thing missing from the defrag tools is the capability for boot time defragmentation.

From Raxco Newsletter :
"A special savings offer just for our RaxcoConnections readers. For a limited time you can buy PerfectDisk Rx Suite for only $9.99!

Promo code RXSUPERSAVER will save you $20.00 off the Raxco online store list price!

Click here (https://cart.raxcoes...-bin/cart?ID=PDRXW1P) to go to the PerfectDisk Rx Suite Buy Now page and be sure to enter RXSUPERSAVER in the enter code area.

Promotional offer ends March 31, 2008! "

800

Official Announcements / Re: The site is now back online (March 6th, 2008)

« on: March 07, 2008, 06:50 AM »

Great you're back and thanks for the work it represents !