Recent content by dunkster

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best backup, ghost software

I've used Terabyte IFW/IFD and Acronis TI10, both excellent solutions. The Acronis GUI makes it the superior app for anyone new to backup/restore apps. Haven't used Ghost since 2003. Currently using Paragon Hard Disk Manager 2009 Suite, which combines backup/restore capability with...
- dunkster
- Post #10
- May 25, 2009
- Forum: Windows
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Which would you get?

Unless you have some specific reason for using USB backup, consider a drive bay solution. I've been using a StarTech HSD100SATBK Trayless SATA Drive Bay. It's a cheap and fast direct SATA solution that allows using any SATA drive of any capacity as a removable-drive, completely eliminating...
- dunkster
- Post #4
- May 25, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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which mechanical keyboard?

I just replaced a Unicomp Customizer (stuck space key) with an ABS M1 mechanical keyboard. The ABS M1 has nice feedback, full key layout and very efficient small desktop footprint. I like it better than the Unicomp keyboard.
- dunkster
- Post #6
- May 5, 2009
- Forum: Keyboards
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Imaging software

Is backing up and cloning and being able to boot the same thing? I use both methods. It's redundant, but effective. Recovery of borked OS from saved image: - An image of OS partition is saved to another partition on the same drive. - If the OS becomes corrupted (can't boot), use recovery...
- dunkster
- Post #11
- Mar 8, 2009
- Forum: Windows
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Questions for anyone who's used Acronis True Image

I didn't think you can fit an OS and some apps in less than 10GB My OS partition is intentionally lean (XPSP3 + AV + Firewall/HIPS + Browsers) at 6.9GB used space. All other apps (Word, Excel, Defragger, Partition Manager, utilities, etc.) I consider non-critical, installed in a small...
- dunkster
- Post #9
- Mar 4, 2009
- Forum: Windows
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Questions for anyone who's used Acronis True Image

My OS partition is lean at about 7GB actual used partition space. The following apps have been used to image/restore the partition to/from 4.7GB DVD: - Terabyte IFW/IFD. - Acronis TI10. - Paragon HD Manager 2009 Suite. Standard compression in all instances. Reliability 100%, speeds...
- dunkster
- Post #5
- Mar 4, 2009
- Forum: Windows
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Multiple hard drive failures?

I lost a WD2500KS coincident with failure of an Antec PS. After replacing PS, the drive was intermittently unstable. It seems likely that 5V supply line lost regulation (over-volted), damaging the HD controller chip(s). You have probably guessed that the replacement PS was not an Antec...
- dunkster
- Post #7
- Mar 2, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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Air flow?

For most fans, if you look around the outside edges of the fan frame, you'll see an arrow pointing in the direction of intended air flow. If missing, just apply 12V and make your own air-direction marking. Hope this helps!
- dunkster
- Post #2
- Mar 1, 2009
- Forum: Cases & Cooling
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Harddrive partition corruption or dying harddrive?

Tough problem. Could also be your power supply. I had a power supply failure that left me with a hard drive that was intermittently unreliable. I suspect that the failure mode of the power supply was failed regulation of the 5V line (over-volted 5V supply) before PS failure. Had to replace...
- dunkster
- Post #2
- Feb 28, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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What happens when you do a sector-by-sector copy to a smaller hard drive?

When I tried the smart copy with proportional partitioning option, my Vista64 needed a bootfix to make it work ok That's a potential problem in the copy-only-used-sectors method. Some copy apps may, for example, interpret a sector as 'empty' when it actually contains an encrypted password...
- dunkster
- Post #7
- Feb 28, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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SATA Hard Disk Drives, better to have internal or external?

I've been using a StarTech HSD100SATBK Trayless SATA Drive Bay. 'Trayless' means that no tray/carrier is required. The bay uses SATA power and signal pass-through connector, converting a bare SATA drive to a plug-in device. No USB/eSATA interface involved - all operations at true SATA speed...
- dunkster
- Post #3
- Feb 28, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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What happens when you do a sector-by-sector copy to a smaller hard drive?

There are two methods of sector-copying: - Copying only used sectors (empty sectors are ignored). - Raw sector-by-sector copies every sector serially, including empty sectors. The copy-only-used-sectors method will allow copying any partition to another partition, so long as there is...
- dunkster
- Post #5
- Feb 27, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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External HD reliability

I'm currently using a StarTech HSD100SATBK Trayless SATA Drive Bay. Basically, an SATA drive becomes a plug-in drive. Plug the bare drive into the bay, do your task, pull the drive. Simple as that with all operations at SATA speed. I have a Thermaltake blacX Docking Station, but my eSATA...
- dunkster
- Post #2
- Feb 27, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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What happens when you do a sector-by-sector copy to a smaller hard drive?

Check description of capabilities for the drive utility offered by the maker of the drive. I've used drive utilities from both WD and Maxtor that offer the choice to automatically scale partition-size(s) or allow manual partition-size assignment prior to actual cloning operation. In those...
- dunkster
- Post #3
- Feb 27, 2009
- Forum: Memory and Storage
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Problem after system repair

The repair program re-installed Windows - which installed a fresh Windows Registry. That new registry has no record of previously-installed programs. Those programs will simply have to be re-installed to use them. It's a bother, but that's the way that repair scheme is designed to work...
- dunkster
- Post #2
- Feb 26, 2009
- Forum: Windows

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