One of the most successful operating systems of all time is retiring at the end of the month. Microsoft will stop selling and licensing Windows XP to PC manufacturers.
Since its release, Windows XP has become the widest used system to connect a lot of us to the Internet for the first time with the average PC user having spent 8000 hours using. Now that is something to tell our kids!
So if are convinced that Windows Vista is not worth the hassle despite its appeal of slick 3D aero interface graphics, what are options after the cut-off date?
Assistance for Windows XP Issues
In terms of getting support for the numerous technical issues that XP users come across everyday, some form of support from Microsoft will exist until at least 2014, so that gives you another six years, although the support may be more difficult to get hold of.
You may want to purchase a premium tech support service to get around this problem or purchase software to keep your registry in tact. Or you can search on tech forums as there is a good chance if you have a problem that other users will also have the same problem, far easier than asking Microsoft for support.
Acquiring XP on New PC
As for buying XP on a new PC , despite the bosses at Microsoft quite categorically stating that you won't be able to do so after 30th June , in reality you will. So they lied , but it's actually done us XP lovers a favor , so we're not going to complain. You'll still be able to get XP for quite a while on most machines made by companies who have outstanding XP licenses that they need to get rid of , and the same goes for retailers who have a backlog of operating systems that they need to shift.
Switching Operating Systems
Downgrade rights are the second way for you to get your hands on a new computer with XP. If a manufacturer has downgrade rights from Microsoft, they'll be able to sell you a PC that started on Vista, but which they downgraded to XP before they sold it to you.
If this is the case, you'll be supplied with the discs for XP and it's drivers, as well as the same discs for Vista, so you can re-upgrade at a later date if you decide to. Dell have confirmed that they will make this option open to customers, but it only lasts out until January 31st next year.
'Limited Hardware Capabilities'
The final way you're going to be able to get XP is by purchasing a computer with what Microsoft refers to as having 'limited hardware capabilities,' a solution which is open until June 2010. This is basically a machine that can't handle the enormous demands of Vista, so has to run XP instead, and includes laptops with low power CPUs, and low cost desktop PCs which have slow processors, not much RAM, and no separate processor for graphics.
XP is Still Hanging On
Windows XP still has many more years ahead of it, even if Microsoft wants everyone to upgrade to Vista or its successor. XP support is likely to extend well into the next decade allowing us enough time to get used to the idea.
About the Author
Kay Brenner is a PC Doctor and has been involved with designing and building computer systems for all shapes and sizes for some of America’s largest corporations for over twenty-three years. To learn about how to optimize your slow computer and download a free Health Check, and reclaim the dream machine your first bought, saving you time & money wrestling with a sick computer, go to: http://www.pcdocpro.com
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Thursday, July 3, 2008
Data Recovery Tools For Hard Disk Failure by Jack Link
From a user viewpoint, the computer is only as good as the data it contains. If the computer can't boot up, it's practically useless. If it can boot up but the files are corrupted and cannot be opened for reading or writing, the file is useless. This happens often enough that data backup and recovery tools are a must with computer users. In fact, it's a good idea to have two copies of important data, just in case the first backup fails. Data recovery tools make sure that the backup is restored and the user can go back to using the computer in as little a downtime as possible.
You might say that the root cause of data corruption is the hard disk. And of all the various parts of a computer, the hard disk is most prone to failure. There are only so many moving parts to a computer. These are usually either fans or the disk drives. And a hard disk spins much faster than a cooling fan. A slowest hard disk spins at 5,400 RPM, and some expensive high performance hard disks spin almost three times faster at 15,000 RPM.
Aside from the processor, the hard disk generates a large amount of heat. The faster it spins, the hotter the disk. Although the expected life span of a hard disk is five years, with the continuous spinning and the generated heat, disks start to fail after three years of use. Within the first three years of use, hard disk failure in one form or another is expected to occur.
Data corruption can occur due to any of a number of reasons. An electrical outage or a spike can cause data corruption. An improper shut down can also cause data corruption. In most instances the data corruption might not go unnoticed. Unless the file is hit and the computer does not work properly, only then will the problem show itself.
Worst case would be when the hard disk's master boot record (MBR) is corrupted or a boot sector develops a bad sector. In which case the computer would not be able to boot up and the user is forced to do a data recovery as well as a hard disk recovery.
Any hard disk recovery effort would also be useless if it does not recover the latest data. Part of any data recovery tool kit would be a backup program and procedure. For data backup, the simplest tool is a file copy on a separate disk. This is especially useful for important files. Recovering from corrupted files on the computer is as easy as copying from the remote computer or hard disk.
It would be better however to have a data backup or a data recovery software. A data recovery software can schedule file backups to a tape backup device or a another drive. Windows has a backup software included called Backup.
Data recovery for corrupted files or folders should not be a problem if the data backup is up-to-date. Windows Backup also has the facility to restore data from backed up files.
When the computer fails to boot up, it might be because the master boot record or the operating system is corrupted, or the partition might be lost. For lost partitions or lost boot records, a simple file backup will not suffice. The computer has to boot up first before it can start any file backup.
Some data recovery tools have the facility to recover hard disk partition information. As with regular file backup, the recovery tool needs a backup. To recover a hard disk, either a hard disk as a whole is backed up (called a mirror) or just the partition. Commercial data recovery packages such as DriveClone and Ghost can backup a partition or a hard drive and recreate it to repair the failed hard drive, or to write it to another hard disk or computer altogether. These programs can boot from a recovery CD and proceed to do a hard disk and data recovery.
For larger installations, there are data recovery software from vendors like Acronis and Veritas which can backup multi-volume disks and RAIDs using disk backups and tape drives.
Hard disk failure and data corruption is a serious concern. In cases like these when the computer fails to boot up, or the data could not be read, it helps a lot if data recovery tools are ready, in use and allows easy recovery of data.
About the Author
To learn even more about data recovery visit http://www.learndatarecovery.com where you will find more information about data recovery tools.
You might say that the root cause of data corruption is the hard disk. And of all the various parts of a computer, the hard disk is most prone to failure. There are only so many moving parts to a computer. These are usually either fans or the disk drives. And a hard disk spins much faster than a cooling fan. A slowest hard disk spins at 5,400 RPM, and some expensive high performance hard disks spin almost three times faster at 15,000 RPM.
Aside from the processor, the hard disk generates a large amount of heat. The faster it spins, the hotter the disk. Although the expected life span of a hard disk is five years, with the continuous spinning and the generated heat, disks start to fail after three years of use. Within the first three years of use, hard disk failure in one form or another is expected to occur.
Data corruption can occur due to any of a number of reasons. An electrical outage or a spike can cause data corruption. An improper shut down can also cause data corruption. In most instances the data corruption might not go unnoticed. Unless the file is hit and the computer does not work properly, only then will the problem show itself.
Worst case would be when the hard disk's master boot record (MBR) is corrupted or a boot sector develops a bad sector. In which case the computer would not be able to boot up and the user is forced to do a data recovery as well as a hard disk recovery.
Any hard disk recovery effort would also be useless if it does not recover the latest data. Part of any data recovery tool kit would be a backup program and procedure. For data backup, the simplest tool is a file copy on a separate disk. This is especially useful for important files. Recovering from corrupted files on the computer is as easy as copying from the remote computer or hard disk.
It would be better however to have a data backup or a data recovery software. A data recovery software can schedule file backups to a tape backup device or a another drive. Windows has a backup software included called Backup.
Data recovery for corrupted files or folders should not be a problem if the data backup is up-to-date. Windows Backup also has the facility to restore data from backed up files.
When the computer fails to boot up, it might be because the master boot record or the operating system is corrupted, or the partition might be lost. For lost partitions or lost boot records, a simple file backup will not suffice. The computer has to boot up first before it can start any file backup.
Some data recovery tools have the facility to recover hard disk partition information. As with regular file backup, the recovery tool needs a backup. To recover a hard disk, either a hard disk as a whole is backed up (called a mirror) or just the partition. Commercial data recovery packages such as DriveClone and Ghost can backup a partition or a hard drive and recreate it to repair the failed hard drive, or to write it to another hard disk or computer altogether. These programs can boot from a recovery CD and proceed to do a hard disk and data recovery.
For larger installations, there are data recovery software from vendors like Acronis and Veritas which can backup multi-volume disks and RAIDs using disk backups and tape drives.
Hard disk failure and data corruption is a serious concern. In cases like these when the computer fails to boot up, or the data could not be read, it helps a lot if data recovery tools are ready, in use and allows easy recovery of data.
About the Author
To learn even more about data recovery visit http://www.learndatarecovery.com where you will find more information about data recovery tools.
Mystify Your PC With Great Screensavers by Jon Caldwell
Many who work in offices have had the experience of somebody meddling with their computer as they head off to the cafeteria for the occasional bite and today's identity theft prone world a screensaver might just save you from such activities. Screensavers can usually be set to ask for passwords when they go to work, that as you get back to your desk it asks for a password before again granting access to the computer system. Much similar to the new design that has been built into Windows, any inactivity that sends the computer into stand-by or idle mode asks for such passwords that guards your PC from unauthorized access. You get the nice graphics and the security you need when you forget to lock the terminal you're working on.
With nostalgic art by John Zed King, the screensaver features old style art of America's olden days when life was a tad bit slower and everything looked surreal and peaceful. Those were the days of Americans who loved daily life as the lovely country dirt roads complete with some of the best and loved classic cars and scenery that have long gone. Old locomotives and houses that shows a different side of America before the rush of daily grime took hold and everything was for earning profit. These scenes are some of the best artist renditions of Classic America when Oldsmobile's ruled and life was simpler and best. Bring a bit of nostalgia to your desktop with this lovely screensaver from http://Thundercloud.net. With complete themes that is sure to bring some peace and art to your desktop.
For some nifty and innovative scenery screen savers and themes visit their site and enjoy some of the best of the best. With free downloads asides from their paid versions, you get to test their wonderful art and scenery before you get a full-blown product. More are available for registered and paying users who get to use their products and the subsequent updates round the clock through their website. Their full subscription goes fro $60 but that gives you access to the whole library of animated screensavers and desktop wallpapers that is truly above the rest. Some of their screensavers takes you away to far off exotic lands where the beaches are clear and the scenery is pristine. Check them out for some of the best screensavers on the planet.
The visual arts industry that is the screensaver business has long since been a part of computer culture that even today's energy efficient hardware still use to prevent a problem known as screen burn-in. If you've seen a burned in image on your monitor, that's it. But with today's energy saving technology, do we still need screensavers? Well, that's totally up to the user for a computer system that is running a screensaver still consumes electricity, you'd think that it would be more environmentally friendly just to shut-down or better yet use the stand-by or hibernate mode to save on alkl the juice that's being eaten up by your unused PC. Power down and save a few kilowatts of power so you do get to save a bit of electricity. It's greener and for the benefit of all.
From the site comes some of the best sci-fi scenery from space; galaxies and planets you've never seen all in the convenience of your desktop. See galaxies and nebula as you coast around the universe, watch stars and planets whiz by in the beauty of the most realistic screensavers from outer space. No need to get on a rocket, just sit back and watch as the wonders of the universe are displayed right before your very eyes. See the sun and planets like never before as stunning graphics filled with details flash and change at set intervals. You even have the option of having an mp3 file playing in the background as a bonus.
About the Author
Jon Caldwell is a professional content manager. Much of his articles can be found at http://latestwindowscreensaver.com
With nostalgic art by John Zed King, the screensaver features old style art of America's olden days when life was a tad bit slower and everything looked surreal and peaceful. Those were the days of Americans who loved daily life as the lovely country dirt roads complete with some of the best and loved classic cars and scenery that have long gone. Old locomotives and houses that shows a different side of America before the rush of daily grime took hold and everything was for earning profit. These scenes are some of the best artist renditions of Classic America when Oldsmobile's ruled and life was simpler and best. Bring a bit of nostalgia to your desktop with this lovely screensaver from http://Thundercloud.net. With complete themes that is sure to bring some peace and art to your desktop.
For some nifty and innovative scenery screen savers and themes visit their site and enjoy some of the best of the best. With free downloads asides from their paid versions, you get to test their wonderful art and scenery before you get a full-blown product. More are available for registered and paying users who get to use their products and the subsequent updates round the clock through their website. Their full subscription goes fro $60 but that gives you access to the whole library of animated screensavers and desktop wallpapers that is truly above the rest. Some of their screensavers takes you away to far off exotic lands where the beaches are clear and the scenery is pristine. Check them out for some of the best screensavers on the planet.
The visual arts industry that is the screensaver business has long since been a part of computer culture that even today's energy efficient hardware still use to prevent a problem known as screen burn-in. If you've seen a burned in image on your monitor, that's it. But with today's energy saving technology, do we still need screensavers? Well, that's totally up to the user for a computer system that is running a screensaver still consumes electricity, you'd think that it would be more environmentally friendly just to shut-down or better yet use the stand-by or hibernate mode to save on alkl the juice that's being eaten up by your unused PC. Power down and save a few kilowatts of power so you do get to save a bit of electricity. It's greener and for the benefit of all.
From the site comes some of the best sci-fi scenery from space; galaxies and planets you've never seen all in the convenience of your desktop. See galaxies and nebula as you coast around the universe, watch stars and planets whiz by in the beauty of the most realistic screensavers from outer space. No need to get on a rocket, just sit back and watch as the wonders of the universe are displayed right before your very eyes. See the sun and planets like never before as stunning graphics filled with details flash and change at set intervals. You even have the option of having an mp3 file playing in the background as a bonus.
About the Author
Jon Caldwell is a professional content manager. Much of his articles can be found at http://latestwindowscreensaver.com
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