Original Post by Robert Hallock

Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD and assure that your CD-ROM drive is capable of booting the CD. Configuring your computer to boot from CD is outside of the scope of this document, but if you are having trouble, consult Google for assistance.

Once you have booted from CD, proceed until you see the following screen, at which point you will press the “R” key to enter the recovery console:

After you have selected the appropriate option from step two, you will be prompted to select a valid Windows installation (Typically number “1”). Select the installation number, (As mentioned, “1” in most cases), and hit enter. If there is an administrator password for the administrator account, enter it and hit enter. You will be greeted with this screen, which indicates a recovery console at the ready:

I am getting a new DVD burner that supports Dual Layer, I was surprised to see how the price on DVD burners has dropped through the floor. For about $50, you can get a new dual layer burner. I needed to be able to do 3 things with this burner. 1) Rip in existing CD's very fast. 2) Burn DVD-R's with my existing media, and 3) have future proofing by getting Dual Layer support.

I finally selected the NEC ND-3550A because of its Read (22x with EAC's secure mode) ability in combination with its ability to do high speed burns. Dual Layer DVD+R at 8x, and DVD-R at 6x.

The only review I could find was on the 3540A's. I also looked at the Pioneer, Sony, and Plextor, and found for the price performance this was the best for my needs. Also, there was no review for the 3550A's, so I based my purchase off the 3540A's.

Bart PE is the best boot CD for windows to date. You can throw away the limited use WinPE system CD, which limit what you can do once booted.

Many of my friends understand the power and flexibility of using the Windows PE (Preboot Environment) for making a Windows LiveCD's, which allow you to have a CD that boots on most any PC system, and gets a running version of Windows XP going, allowing you to use diagnostic tools from that CD, on a Hard DIsk that is not locked by the Opertating system.

So for example, you could use the CD:

* To boot up and move files around, restore deleted files, or rename a file you just installed and put an older version back in its place. When all things goto hell and a handbasket, being able to access your computer is key.

Often people ask me...

My computer just died, and all of my data for the last 10 years is on it. How do I get my data back?

I tell them BACKUPS.

And they reply... OH. :( I don't have a backup, can you do some magic and get it back.

At that point I point them to a data recovery service and tell them to open their wallet... open it BIG. Because it isn't a cheap task to recover a hard drive.

Well all of that is going to change. See... I had a brand new drive that was my backup drive. Well after 3 months, it died. Yes folks, it happened to me, and since it was my USB- One Touch backup drive with 250GB. I didn't have a backup of the backup. I figured all was lost until I called Maxtor to troubleshoot my problem. After spending some time on the phone, they diagnosed that the problem was my NTFS partition table was corrupt, but the drive was still visable to Windows XP. The suggested I take it to a recovery place, or buy some Data Recovery software.

A pretty interesting lesson learned from organizations who have implemented Exchange 2003 is the way that Exchange 2003 gets backed up. For organizations that use the built-in Windows Backup utility that comes with Windows 2003 (and is also applicable for many 3rd party tape backup software programs based on similar use of Windows 2003 backup API technologies), the backup process may not be working as expected.

The issue is that if you setup the tape backup software to backup “the entire server” on a single backup process (which is a pretty common thing for people to do). The problem, if you review the Exchange LOG files, is that the log files aren't flushing night after night. There are two Microsoft Technical articles (820272 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;820272 and 820852 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;820852) that basically confirmed the problem. Although 820272 says to “either” backup as 2 separate routines, OR to put the EDBs on a separate drive; however you'll find that having the EDBs on separate drives than the system state / programs doesn't solve the problem, so you need to setup two separate routines to make this work (backup routines on an Exchange server: one to backup the C> and System State, and one to backup the Information Store Service)

Well yesterday I received my second USB keychain drive. I clarify that it's my second not because the first one broke, but rather, I purchased it WAY to early in the technology curve. I don't regret it, but I have to say things have improved since my first USB keychain hard drive.

My first drive required a special driver, that worked really well on Windows 98/ME, but not so hot on Windows 2000/XP. I'm not even sure it worked on Macintosh or Linux. :(

This new one seems to work in everything, and has a whopping 512 MB of storage. Thats almost a CD full storage. And this one is USB 2.0, so its FAST!

I got a Lexar Media JumpDrive 2.0 Pro. You can find links at PC Mall and Amazon.com they are roughly $140-$170. For a small 32MB one I've seen prices as low as $20.00.

San Disk - Has some great deals as well!

I am not sure if I have talked about backups before. But I recommend 2 solutions to people. None of them involve, Floppies, CD's, or Tapes. Because all of those require some sort of routine.

Connected - Connected is an online backup solution. Anyone reading this site most likely has broadband cable. And this solution works even over dialup. The idea is it sits on your computer and automatically once a day looks at what files have changed, and sends them to a secure server over the internet. The data is encrypted with your password, so only you can retreive it. And is sent over the internet in a secure encrypted channel... so its encrypted twice during its travels over the internet. They have a perfect plan that just backs up the "My Documents" folder, and QUICKEN! So many people call me asking for "Disk Rescue" services because their hard drive crashed.

If you are like me and like to keep backups of your CD's in your car, rather than the originals. This CDCovers.cc site maybe just for you. I usually have a handful of hand written CD's in my car, now you can have them have the labels like the ones in your room.

One great reason for having copies in your car is because of theft, and just wear and tear that tossing them around the car does. But having them all look the same sucks. :(

These sites have pop-ups so install your favorite pop-up blocker first.

www.cdcovers.cc