Archive for 'Back-Up / Restore' Category

Cool, Vista makes it easy to do a fresh install

18 March 2007 Posted By: Tracy
Posted in: Back-Up / Restore, Software Info

Did you know when you do a clean install of Vista it doesn’t erase all your useful stuff like documents and program files? That’s crazy, mostly because you’d think a clean install would be clean, but way useful. Your system is technically clean, just with a really big folder with a bunch of junk in it called Windows.old. Vista does this coming from Vista or XP (those are the ones I’ve tested at least), so it works for OS upgrades and refreshes.

Refreshing my LE1600…that’s what Spring Break’s for, right?

17 March 2007 Posted By: Tracy
Posted in: Back-Up / Restore, Hardware, Tracy's Updates

After my sound driver breaking (and I’ve tried every other driver I can get my hands on), MS Word breaking, OneNote Printer dissapearing, and a few other weird things after upgrading to Vista (yes, I upgraded instead of doing a fresh install), it’s time to clean house. I think it was viewing all the squeaky clean machines at the Summit that made my poor baby look so unloved.

Considering all I have on this thing and the lack of real record keeping I’ve done (shame on me), this should be fun, but for the best. Anyway, it’s good to keep track of serial numbers, back-up files, and where your install CDs are.

So, what do you do when you forget your tablet?

13 October 2006 Posted By: Tracy
Posted in: Back-Up / Restore, Tablet Concepts

That’s precisely what I did last Thursday, and it wasn’t a happy experience. When everything you do revolves around what’s on your computer or the internet (OK, that’s a little sad, but what can I say), not having your computer can put you at a loss. So what’s a student to do?

1. Know where the public computers are, and know your logon
If your school is like mine, there are computer labs everywhere, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a computer. Finding an OPEN computer may be tough sometimes, but at least know where they are.

You should also know what logon you’ll need to get on the computer if it’s a department computer lab or if your school is just weird about logons. For example, my department computer lab requires our school ID and password to get on the computer, and then a separate ID and password to print anything. Keep whatever passwords you need in your wallet or purse so you’re not stuck running to your IT department if you need to use the computer.

2. Have a backup e-mail plan
Whether you forward all your mail to a gmail account and then download it through Outlook, or if you have an online e-mail access portal (most accounts do, but some are very frustrating to use), make sure you have some way to send and receive e-mail. This is the life saver. You may be able to find a public computer with internet, but you won’t be able to find one with your mail account set up. Because most e-mail accounts have online services, this step simply makes sure you know how to access it through the web if you normally access your email through a program like Outlook.

3. Consider backing up your homework, projects and research to an online database
If you have homework you really need to work on, or a group project where all your notes are on your tablet, an online backup of those files will allow you to find a public computer and print off (yuck!) the necessary files. It’s not the best solution, but it will at least keep you from being completely helpless without your tablet.

Also consider putting any digital books, course notes, or lab manuals on the web somewhere so you can print out what you need for a test or lab.

Ideas for an online backup solution:

• save drafts to a gmail account with the important files as attachments,
• use NetDrive to use server space as an extra drive on your computer,
• use school webspace (most universities offer web storage to their students),
• or use your personal website if you have one.

4. Always have some paper
In today’s world, as paperless as we try to be, a student just can’t function without just a couple loose-leafs in their backpack. Loose paper or a small notebook are useful for not only emergency tablet-less days, but also for pop-quizzes, scrap paper for tests, and passing notes in class (do college students do this? I haven’t really seen this since high school). You don’t want to be stuck in class without a way to take notes.

5. Find some way to get that paper stuff back in your tablet
If I write something down on paper, there’s a good chance I won’t ever see it again. That’s just how I function. If I want to have it for reference later on, I need to either scan it or rewrite it into my tablet. Now, I still haven’t scanned my notes from the day I forgot my tablet, but don’t be like me! As soon as you get home, get out the scanner, digital camera (they really do work well for quick “scans”), or your tablet pen to get those notes and whatever else you did into your tablet.

Conclusion
When it comes down to it, yes, forgetting your tablet or being without for a day or two while it’s in repair can be an emotionally painful experience, but you’ll do OK if you follow the above steps. Just make sure you have paper, a way to access your files, and a way to access your email and you should be just fine.

SPC: Week 4 and 5

10 February 2006 Posted By: Andrew
Posted in: Back-Up / Restore, Going Paperless

Week four was fraught with frustration, mostly involving OneNote 12 crashing in the middle of Calc class. I ended up using Journal and then copy and pasting my Ink back into OneNote. The price of beta testing I guess.

This week was better though, I ran the Office 12 checkup utility and while it didn’t say it found anything, OneNote 12 seems to be working better. While I was using Journal, I decided that I liked using the college-rule template better than graph paper template, so I switched that. Other then that, note taking has been pretty straight forword as it’s always been.

NetDrive

22 January 2006 Posted By: Andrew
Posted in: Back-Up / Restore

NetDrive is a very neat application that lets you add an FTP location as a letter drive. Just download NetDrive and off you go! Now some of you may have noticed that Windows already provides a feature very similar to this. In fact, Windows does, however, it is also a very cluncky service and does not work very well. NetDrive is simple to use and works very well. Once installed, you can backup your files to a remote location. Simple, easy, NetDrive.

Have a back-up strategy for the new year

29 December 2005 Posted By: Tracy
Posted in: Back-Up / Restore

With the holidays upon us and with most students inbetween semesters, right now is a great time to either refine or create a back-up strategy for the new year. I highly, highly suggest heading over to TabletPCBuzz.com to take a look at their "Back-up Strategies and Tools" thread that has several ideas to pull from. I’m no role model on back-up strategies, so I’ll just say I use a Maxtor 80 GB external hard drive (it’s my catch-all) and my new iPod (so I have a back-up of my school files with me on campus).