Useful Hard Drive Programs

Posted by on March 7, 2012 at 11:25 am No comments
Forum Discussion - Useful Hard Drive Programs - 1 post(s)

On my last post, “Using a SATA/IDE To USB Adapter“, I went over one of the most important tools a tech should have in their tool box, but that was really only half of the story.  The adapter is just hardware, so you really need some software to make the most of the device.  While using Windows Explorer is a great way to search for your files and copy them over to another location, what if you’re having problems with the drive, and copy files isn’t successful with Explorer?

This is where diagnostic and recovery programs can come in very handy.  Just like it is important for a tech to have the adapter (no matter what model you choose) in their physical tool bag, it is just as important to have these software programs in your USB flash drive tool box (or CD, or what other portable or removable option you choose).

In this article I will go over the three main programs that I use when working with hard drives: HD Tune, WD Lifeguard Diagnostics, and Recuva.

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Recent Absence

Posted by on March 1, 2012 at 5:59 pm No comments

Please pardon our recent absence.  Things have been rather busy for both Greg and I.  As such, we have been unable to keep up with the site as of late.  We both hope to be back to it as soon as things calm down a little.  Thanks for being patient.  We’ll be back soon.

 

PortableApps.com

Posted by on February 20, 2012 at 3:43 pm 3 comments
Forum Discussion - PortableApps.com - 4 post(s)

For me, being portable is something that is very important, so that I have everything I need anywhere I go, no matter what.  Mobile devices handle a lot of this, but there’s always the case of having specific applications that you may need (along with the configurations that go along with them), no matter what computer you happen to be using.  Insert PortableApps.com.  PortableApps is a solution that will allow you to run certain applications (there’s quite a few) from a USB stick, saving all of the configuration to said USB stick and that will operate on any Windows computer with the ability to read a USB device.

Some of the applications include the following:

  • Firefox, Chrome, and Opera – Browsing (obviously)
  • Pidgin, Skype – Instant Messaging
  • Filezilla – FTP
  • XAMPP – WAMP stack  (this idea really appeals to me!)
  • Audacity – Audio editing
  • GIMP – Image editing
  • Notepad++ – Text Editing
  • OpenOffice.org – Office Applications
  • FoxitReader – PDF Reader
  • ClamWin Antivirus
  • 7zip – File Extraction
  • And many many more.

To use PortableApps, you will need to dedicate a USB stick.  You can still store data onto the stick, but the stick should be clean prior to installing PortableApps.  Once you install PortableApps, an icon will appear in the system tray.  You can close it at any time.  Reopening the application can be done from the USB stick by browsing to it and clicking on Start.exe.  The menu looks very similar to a Windows Vista/7 type start menu.  There is an eject button that will allow you to disconnect the device once you are finished (which is always a good idea).  Included is the ability to download and install additional apps, as well as backup and restore files.

PortableApps is open source and they have a pretty broad support forum, with separate forums for each application they support.

Using A SATA/IDE To USB Adapter

Posted by on February 15, 2012 at 4:00 pm 3 comments
Forum Discussion - Using A SATA/IDE To USB Adapter - 3 post(s)

There are many things an IT/computer repair person has in their tool bag: screwdrivers, an assortment of screws, RJ-45′s, compressed air, hard drive jumpers (for those still clinging to IDE drives), a shirt that reads “There’s no place like 127.0.0.1″, etc.  But, probably the most important tool one can have, is a SATA/IDE to USB adapter, such as this model from Vantec.  This thing has saved me countless times.

The purpose of this device is that it allows you to hook up any drive (both 3.5″ and 2.5″ HDD’s and optical drives), and use it just like an external device.  The nice part about this device is you don’t have to fiddle with an external enclosure – just hook up your drive, power it up, and stick in the USB, and you’re ready to go.  This makes it easy to retrieve data off an old HDD without having to open your computer, or find a spare enclosure.  If you have a lot of drives to test, this makes it easier then having to put it inside the computer, turn it on, check the drive, turn the computer off, and repeat the process.

In this article, I’m going to give an explanation on the many parts and pieces that are inside the box, how to put it all together, and connect it to a computer.  This might seem a little overwhelming at first (especially if you are not a fan of having to put together lots of pieces of technology), but once you get used to the procedure, you can get a drive hooked up in a matter of seconds.

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Forum – Not Only For Serious Issues

Posted by on February 13, 2012 at 3:02 pm No comments

Many of the posts in our forum are either related to the site posts we generate on a daily basis or somehow in relation to tech.  However, today, I started this post in the Lounge, just to bring to light a very interesting (and hilarious) spam comment that I found earlier today.  This post also features a message from John Madden.  While we love to dive into the technology, sometimes it’s good to kick back and enjoy a laugh.  Stop by and visit the forum and check us out.  We’re anxious to hear from you.

http://www.mightorindustries.net/forum/lounge/best-spam-comment/

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