How to safeguard your files when the computer crashes!

the.fatman.cometh

First thing to keep in mind: If your computer hasn't crashed yet, it will in the future! So instead of waiting for fate to strike, take some precautions now:

1) BACK-UP! Buy some decent DVD-R/+R discs and put everything useful in them. When you have more useful stuff, backup again. Do this often.

2) Keep your computer healthy.
Use an antivirus, an anti-spy, and a firewall. Keep them updated. Check regularly for Windows critical fixes.

3) Don't install software that would do dangerous things to your hard drive.
A boot manager would fall in this category.

4) Use a registry cleaner before and after you install or uninstall any software. Many of the problems that will keep Windows from booting are caused by sloppy software that mess up your registry. A good registry cleaner is Tune-up Utilities.
TuneUp America - TuneUp Utilities 2008


5) Run chkdsk now and then.
Go to Start> Run. Type chkdsk /F. Press enter.


In case your PC has already crashed(and if you can), read the following:

Most important: Don't panic! Panic is like a little demon that whispers in your ear to format your hard drive and reinstall everything. Don't do it! You will lose all your data and the little demon will laugh at you.

To be exact you can still recover your data if you format your drive (by using special software), but only if you don't write anything on the disc afterwards. In other words format + windows install = bad idea. If you reinstall windows without formating your drive, you will only lose the files on your desktop and "My Documents" folder.

In all occasions you should make sure to safeguard your files before attempting any kind of repair!

The easiest way to back up your system is to make a disc image of your hard drive with a program such as Norton Ghost. This makes a back up of the drive as it is, just the data you are using and not the whole drive! lol

So let's go about how to do that:

The fast & free way(I just found this out recently): Go to this site(if you want, it is Linux):
KNOPPIX Linux Live CD
. Knoppix is a Linux distribution than runs from a CD. Download the Knoppix ISO and burn it. Put it in your CD drive. On startup access BIOS and change the boot sequence so that your computer boots from the CD drive. Save settings and exit. Upon reboot, Knoppix will load.

Knoppix is much like windows and it comes with its own CD burner. Locate it, launch it and backup everything you want on CD. Now you don't have to worry anymore!


The less fast way: This requires that you have access to a second PC. Open the case of your computer and remove the hard disk.

Install it as a slave on the second PC.

Depending on respective configurations, you may have to change some jumper settings on the drive. Read the manual for help with installing hard drives and setting jumpers.

After this is done, boot the second PC. If everything went out ok, you should be able to access your drive without problems. (Edit: Note that Win98 cannot recognize a local NTFS (Win2K/XP) disk.)

Copy everything you need from your own hard drive to the other one. Now you don't have to worry anymore!

Replace your computer's hard disk, fix all problems and reverse the process to copy the data back to your computer, or take CD backups on the other PC.

There are other methods, different programs that will back up your data for you. These are awesome.

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green_nobody

hey, how about a thread to encryption of file - how you get em safe from small time feds and cops. decryption cost quiet some money and they can't make you helping them, so they either quiet or get their butts kick sooner then later.
do you know anything on that subject?

__________________
Keep the gun oiled and the thumb green!

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp...Canada-eng.MP3

the.fatman.cometh

well, there is a program that I use, "Advanced Encryption Package 2007 Pro", it's really effective at enrypting pretty much anything important.

I especially encourage everyone to use enryption for their emails. Conventional email offers no protection from disclosure attacks(where someone reads your private email). Some may consider it paranoia to assume that someone is monitoring your outgoing mail; however it is perfectly reasonable to assume that someone is reading your incoming mail given the nature of the Internet itself. You can also use PGP and I recommend that you give it a try.

Encryption may not be sufficient protection by itself. One who is monitoring your email will not know what a PGP or AEP user is saying or what you are saying in response, but the eavesdropper does at least know WHO is talking to WHO, and that is not good.

So I encourage the use of anonymous remailers [To learn about the security of the different types of anonymous remailers, read Andre Bacard's Anonymous Remailer FAQ at http://www.well.com/user/abacard/remail.html].
Anonymous remailers provide a reasonable degree of protection from anyone from finding out who you are. I hope that answers your question my friend.

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green_nobody

well every mail that goes around and happens to pass a European server for example will stay their as copy for the next 6 month open to everyone - or as with China, they bock ever encrypted mail, even one with a zip or rar file attached will be killed by their censorship - and be this will be the case here soon too!!
get some protection - get similar solutions!

__________________
Keep the gun oiled and the thumb green!

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp...Canada-eng.MP3