Do you know your Outlook Express?

Do you know your Outlook Express?Outlook express is an email client that comes bundled with Windows 95 and higher and facilitates home users to access their e mails by dialing to an internet service provider.Outlook express is the primary e- mail client for most e mail needs. Every morning, office goers around the world begin their day with outlook express. They reach their workstations, sign into their account and download their emails. It’s business as usual. But some times everything doesn’t go as planned. The outlook express fails.Symptoms of Corruption?The performance of your outlook express may be sluggish, messages may take long hour for download or files and folders may just vanish. The files may be deleted or corrupted. The first clue of a damaged file or folder is the corruption of .dbx files.The .dbx and .mbx files are used by outlook express for storing files. All files in Outlook Express Folder list are stored on our hard drive with the same file name but with the extension of .dbx (eg inbox.dbx). Together these are saved on a folder named as store folder which is located deep within Documents and Settings folder. It is a hidden folder .The corruption of this folder crashes the outlook express. The DBX files chop each message into 512 byte pieces. What happens when an item is Deleted from Outlook Express?When a message is deleted from the deleted items folder, the Outlook Express removes the first 4 bytes of each piece, so it is not possible for outlook to recover a message in its has been deleted from the recycle bin OR permanently deleted using shift + del key.The following are the symptoms of file corruption in OE1) Outlook Express feels sluggish when starting and while switching folders.2) Simple tasks like marking a message as read might take several seconds.3) Inbox may not display incoming mails.4) Certain folders might be working improperly.Vulnerability of Outlook Express with Anti Virus Software!Virus can spell doom for any of our software’s. But our primary concern while dealing with OE is the anti virus software’s. Because it is well known that outlook is often corrupted by the very software’s believed to protect it. To eliminate the probability of this type of corruption you should disable the e-mail scanning module in your anti-virus program. In most cases, the corruption is due to damaged .dbx files, more precisely, folders.dbx files. This is the folder that indexes the entire store folder. Without its aid Outlook Express cannot do anything. The only solution in case is to delete the corrupt file from the Store Folder. If your OE appears sluggish or if the mails still take long to download, then the possible alternative is to compact all your Outlook Express folders, this may be suitable for correcting minor errors. But if the problem still persists, you must contact a reputed data recovery company like Stellar which offers Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Standard, Software which repairs damaged / corrupted Outlook Express folders and provides outlook express recoveryAll recovered / repaired messages are saved as .eml files at a location chosen by the user.In spite of the availability of data recovery and file repair software’s like above, it is best to observe certain Precautions while working with outlook express. These are • Always keep your inbox manageable and empty mails into relevant folders.• If you use windows XP sp2 (Service Pack 2), disable the automatic background compaction.• If the compaction is in progress, don’t use the computer till it is completed.• Maintain adequate back-ups of store folder.Never try to locate your store folder because one single corruption in that may wreck your outlook express. These basic precautions can be extremely useful if we use OE frequently or even if we have a large amount of correspondence on our OE inbox.
By Andrew Watson
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11485

Shift + Del?: You can recover them!!

Human errors account for maximum percentage of data losses after hardware malfunction. During our life, we often come across lost, inaccessible, missing or deleted data. Ordinary recovery tactics can help us recover this data. However, there is some amount of data which even ordinary software recovery utilities can’t fetch for you. The data lost due to-- Shift + DEL keys. In a computer system, data is arranged in clusters on the disk. The above given command renders the data irretrievable since deleted files bypass the recycle bin and are placed in unspecified clusters. This accounts for lost, missing or inaccessible data since, files thus saved are neither actually saved nor recoverable.At this stage, Data Recovery Utilities can be helpful. For knowing more about this, we must first understand the difference between recovery utilities and repair utilities. While Recovery utilities recover your lost data without repairing your disk, repair utilities only repair the disk and DO NOT recover your data. Therefore, as soon as you get any hint of data loss, run for a software recovery utility. If we make a mistake here, the missing data may be permanently lost due to overwriting of clusters.Retrieval of data from the unspecified clusters is not possible without professional intervention. Half baked knowledge and improper choice of utility can further aggravate the problem. Therefore always seek professional help which is often, just a click away. Data recovery companies assess the damage to your data, and suggest recovery methods accordingly. These software’s are fast, easy to use and reliable. Software’s are available to undelete files from hard drives formatted on FAT 16, FAT 32, and NTFS & NTFS 5 file systems. Software’s can restore files from Hard Drives, Floppy disks, Zip Disks, Digital camera cards, USB Drives and Any other storage device whose drive letter is displayed in Windows "My computer". Stellar Phoenix Deleted File Recovery has a function that searches for deleted files on any version of Windows including -Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2003 Server and Windows XP. This File Recover software is one of the most easy-to-use data / file recovery software and undelete tools available on the market. It allows you to recover a file, undelete, unerase and restore data deleted on an NTFS or FAT partition.Shift + Del key are no longer a nightmare for computer users. Anybody from a normal school girl to a sophisticated engineer can now recover their accidentally deleted files. Thanks to the numerous data recovery and file recovery systems.
By Andrew Watson
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11485

Become your hard drive doctor?

Hard drives are the main data storage areas of a computer. There are a lot of delicate electrical and magnetic instruments in a hard drive. For the purpose of maintaining these hard drives, it is important to understand their working. The hard drives contain a read/write head and a spindle motor. This head receives electrical impulses from the CPU and writes the information onto hard disk clusters through a magnetic field. Any kind of tampering with this equipment or with the computer in general can damage the head and cause it to crash. This damages the drive permanently. To prevent such type of damages, we must ensure that computers are packed neatly while transporting them from one location to another. Avoid installing your computer in a movable panel. Keep it away from dust and moisture. Electrical disturbances in the form of spikes and surges can cause interference to the electro- magnetic field around a read/write head. Keep the computer away from such disturbances. Switch off the computer and unplug it if there is lightning or other natural disaster.Always shut down the computer after selecting shut down from the start menu. Improper shutdown can also damage the hard disks since the hard disk floats on a cushion of air below the head. Accidental or abrupt shutdown can cause the two to collide. This can be fatal for a hard drive. Run Scan disk utility for countering this problem. Another major cause of disk failure is cluttered file system. This happens as new files saved onto the disks are often arranged in incongruous sectors. The problem can be solved by running DEFRAG application.Sudden temperature and humidity changes can spoil the hard disk beyond repair. The head may suffer from condensation and this leads to data loss. If disks have been redundant for a long time, high temperatures may lead to sudden evaporation of disk surface material. Much software is available to ensure drive safety. Many advanced packages like Stellar Shield, Stellar Backup and Stellar Smart are available to prevent hard disk failure and minimize the impact of crashes.The normal life span of a hard disk is believed to be 5 years to 20,000 working hours. Protection of hard disks is not always possible. In these cases, you can save your data to an external flash drive. Also maintain regular data backups and replace drives regularly. Since hard disks suffer maximum threats from read/write heads, ensure that these are in excellent condition always. In any case of data or disk failure, consult the concerned professionals. Never try to run any repair utility without professional guidance. In any case, always shut down the system if you feel confused or lost. Use the appropriate disk recovery software. If there are strange noises in your hard disk or if there is any evidence of physical damage, immediately pack your hard drive and send it to the nearest data recovery lab. Remove any stray piece of hardware and immediately uninstall any corrupt hardware or applications.The above precautions can help us to extract maximum output from the hard drive as well as ensure data protection. Advanced file systems and increasing need for space puts constant pressure on hard drives. We should ensure correct fragmentation for reducing this. Hard disk losses can be even more costly than data losses. Hence preventing them can alone ensure complete data protection. Anyone can be a disk doctor if we practice the above measures.
By Andrew Watson
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11485

FAT Data Recovery Software

Windows generally use two type of file system FAT & NTFS file system to store the data on the hard drive. So first let us understand what FAT file system is? FAT stands for File Allocation Table. FAT contains an entry for every file stored on the hard drive. Hard drive is divided into two parts, ‘system area’ and ‘data area’. So system area acts as an index of the hard drive. Let us understand the FAT File system in detail. FAT file system is composed of five different sections. • Master Boot Record (MBR) – An MBR is created by FDISK program, it is the first partition sector. • Boot Record – It contains basic file system information, pointer to the location of the other section and operating system boot loader code• FAT Region – Contains two copies of File Allocation Table, these are the maps of the partition showing how clusters are allocated on the hard drive• Root Directory Region – It store information about files and directories in the root directory • Data Region – This is the place where actual file and directory are stored on the hard drive. So when the file system or FAT fails on the computer we experience a data loss. As these FAT systems contains all the information of the data which are stored on the computer system. Once corruption in FAT system occurs entries get deleted but data still reside on the hard drive. That’s why FAT Data recovery software has been developed to recover the deleted, damaged or lost partition on the FAT system. The most effective FAT Data recovery software used by the computer system business man is Stellar Phoenix FAT Data Recovery Software. Stellar Phoenix FAT Data Recovery Software supports three major type of File system, FAT 16, FAT32 and vFAT. And this FAT Data Recovery software can be used for Windows Vista partitions, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 and older operating system hard drives. A free demo version is available for download. This demo version provides enough information about the chances of data recovery before deciding upon the purchase. The demo version of this FAT File recovery Utility has an interactive tree structure to view, select (tag) and recover files and directories to a safe location.
By Andrew Watson
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11485

How Networking Can be Defined

Networking concept is widely used in various fields and technologies. Network is an arrangement of intersection horizontal and vertical lines like a structure of a net. A group of points are integrated for various reasons. This concept has been implemented in all technologies. The technologies such as computer systems, telecommunication, mobile cell, information, television, radio, internet, intranet, extranet are advanced because they adopted integration.
The computer systems are most powerful machines in the present world that can be networked in different environment in different situations. Networking in the field of computing is the practice of linking computers together to support digital communication among them. Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), Wireless LAN, Intranet, Internet, and extranet. The client-to-client and server-to-client technology are the basic concept of advanced computer network. As a result, a chain of interconnected computers machines or operations are taken place. Computer networking companies manufacturing network devices for establishing robust networking. The research and development on the technologies create demand of network hardware and devices. Wireless networking and virtual networking is the latest network technologies are going to provide better services to the world.
Intranet runs under one server and many client computers for limited people with security control. For an example, employees of a company can access a network for the internal communications. Extranet is such kind of networking environment that can be shared between more than one group for sharing and communications. The extranet is also security controlled for certain groups. Internet is a world wide network that connects millions of computers around the world. The internet also runs under secure socket level (SSL). The finance, banking, shopping companies run in internet under security level for reliance.
Besides wireless, virtual networking is an advanced networking technology helps people. Virtual Private Network (VPN) is private network in excess public infrastructure. Generally, VPN set up in homes and workplaces of employees for safely log into company networks. VPN is one of the convenient ways to stay connected to the corporate intranet for telecommuters. This network can be found in workplaces, homes and mobile places. Telecommuters travel and find a VPN a more convenient way to stay connected to the corporate intranet. A VPN supplies network connectivity over a possibly long physical distance. In this respect, a VPN is a form of WAN. This VPN has interesting aspects of network protocol design, network service outsourcing, Internet security, and technology standards.
Mobile network provides mobile communications under Wire Less Program (WAP) technology. Certain networks control base transmission stations and links other networks for wide mobile services. Television or radio like wireless network is a group of broadcasting stations connected for a simultaneous broadcast of a program.
We are one of the solution providers for all on-demand networking sectors to meet demand in cutting edge technologies. We provide end to end networking solutions that customers need to build an infrastructure of their own. We offer consultancy, design and installation for networking based infrastructures.
Structured Cabling is our specialization in computer and other environments as well. Our extensive experience in voice and data networks i.e. Cat5e, Cat6 or fiber that means our ideally placed to deliver a solution to best meet your needs. We provide LAN, WAN and Wireless LAN with highly security provisions. We offer the latest in the field from wireless LAN to wireless WAN and personal area networks.

Network Training for Successful Network and System Management

Big companies often have a large network that they need to manage and maintain. This type of system management requires staff that has a computer technical education as well as network training. Without this type of extensive system management large companies would be unable to function as a working whole. Network training gives someone the skills and training that they need to manage and control a large network, as well as make decisions regarding the network that can affect the entire company.
Many of the details pertaining to network management have to do with the security issues surrounding the computer network of a company. There are many issues that have to do with the security of a company that uses computers as one of their main forms of communication with the outside world. This communication via the Internet means that individual computers, as well as the entire network, are at risk when ports to the outside computer world are opened. Network training gives people the skills that they need to maintain a secure system and keep track of the computer network. With secure network management the communication network of a company can be managed and maintained.
The number of network management positions within a company will be determined by the size of the company. The larger the network of computers the more system administration will be needed to keep track of all the system tools and computers. Studies show that companies without any type of network management in place will soon be plagued with issues of down time as their computer system fails to run efficiently. Studies also show that hiring a computer technician without proper network training can lead to an inefficient system as well. As more companies rely on their computer system for communication with their clients and customers, the importance of adequate and superior network management will increase.
Source: Free Articles

Creating a Fool Proof Data Archive System with a Magnetic Tape Library

Most businesses have laws and regulations for how long specific data must be stored, but still many companies don't have a tape drive, tape libraries, secondary storage or any plan for archiving data. Even if your industry doesn't have specific requirements, keeping a well documented business information library is a safe bet. Recently, the residential building company Urban Renaissance Agency realized that it had lost archived building plan data for 555 (31%) of its condos due to "insufficient storage measures."
The mistake not only made the news, but will cost the company millions to recover. Data storage tends to be one of those problems that many individuals and businesses don't act on until a loss happens. Most people agree that backing up data is important, but feel the process will be too difficult and the issue stays below the radar until a crisis occurs. On the contrary, it's surprisingly simple to back up, store, and recover data using a tape backup drive and magnetic tape libraries to build a foolproof information archive system.
A tape drive is a very reliable method of recording and archiving data. Using a magnetic tape cartridge, the tape drive scans all of your computer's files and copies them onto the tape. Businesses might choose to backup files daily, weekly, or monthly. The process can be set up to be manually run or to automatically update at a certain time of the day.
The most important functionality of a tape library is that you have a record of 'snapshots' as data appeared at regular intervals throughout history. This means if a customer has a dispute over a contract or a policy from last year, you can pull a tape from your tape library and find the piece of data exactly as it looked one year ago.
Another benefit to storing your data on tape is that cartridges can be stored off site and/or in fire and flood proof containers. More often than not, secondary storage is usually found in the same building as the original data, and often in the same location as the server. With a tape backup drive, once the tape is made the tape cartridge can then be stored anywhere. Because the tapes are there for reference and not part of daily use, they can easily be locked away and stored in disaster and theft resistant safes.
Tape drives come with a variety of options including file cataloging features; a comparison feature that will check the data on the drive against a current document, and are available in a variety of speeds. The tapes you'll use to build your tape libraries will vary as well. It's recommended to discuss your options with a data storage specialist who can help you build a system around your budget and your unique business needs.
Source: Free Articles

Computer Networking Fundamentals

A computer network is a collection of two or more computers with communication between them through a medium. The communication medium can be through radio waves, wires, infrared, optical fibers etc.
Computer network is an integral part of our daily lives, with the most important reason being that of communication. The use of computer networking is to share resources like fax machines, printers, modems, files etc., and its other uses are database server, computer server, email, chat, internet etc. The computer to which the resources are attached is called the server and the other computers that access the resource are called clients. In peer-to-peer computer networks there are no servers.
The sharing of fax machines, printers, and modems amongst many computers and users reduce the operational cost. A database on a computer network is a very important application as it stores and runs many important data and jobs. Emails and chats can be used for instantaneous communication and sending of files on a computer network.
The computer networks are classified, depending upon the size, as Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) and Personal Area Networks (PAN). The topology (topology is the way the computer networks and network resources are connected) of the networking can be classified as Bus Network, Ring Network and Star Network.
The networking hardware basically consists of wiring, network cards and a hub. Computer network cards are required so that one computer can understand what the other computer is "talking". Network cards have a unique MAC address to identify computers on a computer network. Hubs connect all the computers in the network. Hubs can also be used to connect to other hubs to increase the size of the computer network. Two computers can be connected using Ethernet cards or phone lines or power lines for communication, with hardware kits available at roughly a cost of $100.
As the number of computers in an office or a home increases, so do the number of cables, so wireless networking is a viable solution. In wireless networking radio transreceivers or infrared signals are used to communicate between computers and devices. Examples of wireless networking include Wi-fi and Bluetooth technology, though there may be security issues involved in wireless networking. However there definitely is a stronger preference towards wireless networking nowadays among consumers.
Computer networks have added a new dimension to the 21st century. Today the cyber world is much faster and wider than the real world. This has all been made possible due to computer networks. Computer networks have revolutionized business, communication, travel, research, defense, society and almost all human endeavors. The evolution of computer networks has helped the technological revolution take a big leap forward.
Source: Free Articles

What is a Virtual Private Network?

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a way of using the Internet to provide remote users with secure access to their network. Data is scrambled as it's sent through the Internet ensuring privacy. In other words a business which may be located in New York can use the company's network to send encrypted information to different branches of the business located in other parts of the country.
Information doesn't have to be sent office to office either. An individual choosing to work at home can have all of the same amenities (programs, email, etc) as working in the office, thanks to a VPN. Because all data is scrambled prior to being sent, and decrypted once it reaches its destination, there's no fear of interception since only authorized users can view the information.
With a VPN, data is carried over the Internet through a process called tunneling. Tunneling is when a package is placed within another package before it's encrypted and sent to its destination. The path in which the packet travels is called a tunnel.
A firewall can be set up to prevent a barrier between a private network and the Internet. The firewall can be set up to only accept certain information and also reject packets containing unwanted information. For purposes of security, the firewall should be set up prior to installing a VPN.
The Benefits of a VPN are:
- Increased Productivity- Improved Security- Lower operational costs- Simplified Network Topology- Opportunities for Global Networking
While there are plenty of pros to setting up and using a Virtual Private Network, there's also a con or two. For instance, someone with in-depth knowledge of network security and dealing with VPNs will have to be on staff or specialized training will be required to ensure things run smoothly. Also, different vendors might provide different technologies so not all networks may be compatible. For sure there are kinks to be worked out. Once they are however, it would be worth it to look into Virtual Private Networking for your business - especially if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Source: Free Articles

Sell Your Used Cisco gear: Helpful tips

San Francisco, California January 9th, 2006: Cisco Systems has become a name synonymous with high-quality networking hardware. It's no wonder that many companies build their network around this brand. In addition to their robust feature-set and useful product life, Cisco products also have great investment protection and can be resold to help recoup a portion of their cost.
There are many reasons companies get rid of hardware. Sometimes companies replace dead equipment that is no longer functioning properly. In this instance, equipment can be salvaged or recycled, which amounts to getting small amounts of money for the value of the raw materials. However, more often companies are either upgrading or downsizing, in which case the equipment they are selling on the secondary market is still functioning perfectly but is no longer an integral part of a network.
There are a number of ways to go about selling your equipment on the secondary market.
EBAY
eBay is the world's garage sale. Not only that, eBay is a great place to buy and sell used networking hardware. If you perform a search for terms like "cisco router" you will find a slew of models, both new and used to choose from. Often listed at low starting bids or "buy it now" prices, products can be acquired for a fraction of the cost of new. While these prices can sometimes be lower than what would be paid when sourcing from a reputable vendor, there are some risks that go hand in hand with buying and selling any network hardware on eBay.
For one, many eBay users post items that they may or may not currently have in stock. If an order comes in, they search the inventory of other brokers to find it at a lower cost than it was sold. This means that if they can't source it immediately, you may be forced to wait for more time than you expected, while they source one. If you are selling used equipment, you will have to deal with buyers who may be suspicious about your listing. You should use clear language in your description, assuring the prospective buyer that the item you listed is physically in stock.
Secondly, there may be significant costs associated with freight and shipping. A fully loaded Catalyst 6500 model weighs a lot. You may end up paying a large amount of money to ship it to the buyer. This can sometimes be an unexpected cost the buyer may not be comfortable with. If you are shipping a piece of networking gear, make sure to always require insurance. This prevents any liability for items that are damaged in shipping. Since the shipper is the one who has to file a claim, this can be a real headache. Conversely, you can avoid the whole issue of shipping by stipulating that your auction will be "local pick-up only." This means that you will not be required to complete the sale of your item if the winning bidder is not able to pick-up.
Lastly, you may be competing against vendors/members who offer a product guarantee. Most reputable vendors offer some sort of warranty for end-users, ranging from 90-days to 1-year. By not including a guarantee on your item, you may lose potential bidders who feel more comfortable having some kind of warranty on a large investment.
You can sometimes offload equipment quickly and easily on eBay; however, because of this fact, a number of established vendors utilize this service as well. In this instance, you are competing against a technology specialist who has the experience, inventory, and leverage to appeal to a large segment of buyers. In the end, your greatest weapon is price.
SECONDARY MARKET
The secondary market is a great, safe way to purchase used Cisco hardware. There are many vendors spread out across the country offering discounted gear and product guarantees. Because most companies actually house inventory, buyers stand a good chance of getting a required order filled quickly and packaged professionally. However, distance is still a factor when placing an order, as shipping charges can add substantial cost to an out of state transaction.
Finding the right company for you can be accomplished by performing specific searches in any of the major search engines. Instead of simply searching for "buy used cisco" or some other relatively general term, you can modify your search by adding a qualifying geo-specific keyword such as "San Francisco" or "sf." The search phrase "San Francisco used cisco" will return a number of companies that are located in your geographic region, and thus will minimize shipping costs and transit time. Also, by using Yahoo's local search filter, you can perform a general search like "buy used cisco" and then filter results to show only those companies that are physically located close by. All you need is to be logged into a Yahoo account to take advantage of this feature.
Specialized technology vendors may also offer full-service liquidation services to manage all aspects of the buying process, which minimizes the effort required on the part of the seller. Liquidation services make the most sense for companies with large amounts of hardware that they need to unload. Instead of finding buyers for individual pieces and sourcing a salvage company to recycle the unusable equipment, you can work with one point of contact who will manage all the logistics, transportation, and valuation of an entire lot of gear. This allows you to focus your energy on your core, revenue-producing activities.
The timeline from your initial communication and RFQ to an offer and full payment can depend on both the company and the size and type of the lot. Some companies offer a quote and deposit payment in as little as 48-hours of a RFQ, with the remaining balance paid upon receipt and inspection of all equipment. Your final offer will take into account the model/make, condition, and the current market demand for the used hardware. The entire process can take anywhere from 5 working days to 2 weeks. Make sure to find a company that you feel comfortable working with, as there a quite a few small brokers that do not have the capital or bandwidth to efficiently handle your business.
With adequate research and due diligence, you can find the appropriate marketplace to sell your used Cisco hardware and receive fair value for your surplus equipment.
Source: Free Articles

NetIron MLX fuels Foundry vs. Cisco Battle

San Francisco, California January 30, 2007: With internet traffic increasing at unprecedented rates, service providers are ramping up their networks to support the bandwidth intensive applications of the ever-growing web. According to a recent Dell'Oro report, the worldwide market for service provider routers is projected to approach $9 billion by 2011. Targeted at Internet service providers (ISPs), cable network operators, as well as triple and quadruple play operators, Foundry Networks has made a power play for the metro network space with the NetIron MLX routers. Based on the flagship XMR series router, the MLX offers the highest 10GbE and GbE density available to address current and forthcoming service provider capacity requirements. With Foundry's compelling price of only $600/Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) port, industry leader Cisco Systems is starting to take notice.
After more than four years in development, the Carrier Routing System, or CRS-1 was released by Cisco in 2004 at a development cost of $500M. However due to changes in the IOS (Internetwork Operating System) and cost of almost $450,000 upon release, it only offered a rare glimpse of light for competition in the metro network space. Not surprisingly, competitors Foundry and Juniper quickly jumped into the ring.
Built on newer chip technology and advanced processors, Foundry's XMR series edge routers answered the demand for a comparable router that is almost 1/5th of the price. Released in 2006, the MXR 3200 and MLX-32 MPLS enabled routers were developed tooffer the highest 10GbE and GbE density and provide up to two billion packets per second (Bpps) of IP/MPLS routing in a 128-port system. These improvements targeted the Triple and Quadruple play service providers who host bandwidth intensive applications, such as video on-demand, broadcast television, and large scale Voice over IP (VoIP).
Just this month, semiconductor developer Cadence Design Systems announced they would be integrating the NetIron MLX as part of their new centralized data center network. With a price/performance level that rivals any router on the market, Foundry has raised the stakes in the competitive 10Gbe market. Rival Cisco has already started to position itself as a provider of a broad range of management solutions targeted towards the coveted triple-play sector. The release and initial positive market response to the MLX series will likely prove a challenge to Cisco's previously uncontested dominance.
Source: Free Articles

Companies maximizing value with trade-in opportunities on the secondary market

With the ever-increasing demand for improved network performance, companies are opting to leverage the value of their existing networks for trade-in value on the purchase of newer equipment. While some companies upgrade to new technology, others have found compelling value in the secondary market. Until recently, hardware manufacturers haven't offered trade-in incentives for older technology, which pushed away companies looking to salvage any residual value on older equipment.
In an effort to encourage both end-users and channel partners to upgrade to newer technologies, Cisco Systems launched their TAP (Trade-in Accelerator Promotion) in and TMP (Technology Migration Program), after realizing the need for a compelling trade-in credit which can be applied to new purchases. While the move was seen as an effort to drive the adoption of newer network equipment, many companies had already sourced trade-in opportunities with secondary-market vendors, who not only had experience dealing in pre-owned technology but also could offer a higher trade-in value. This played significantly into the number of network administrators that started looking at used hardware vendors as a way to reduce their TCO (total cost of ownership) and maximize their existing equipment resale value.
Peter Gilberd, CEO of Townsend Assets Group (TAG) a leading Cisco reseller added, "For our customers, the decision comes down to value. As long as we're able to offer high-quality equipment at a fraction of the price of new, I see our business continuing to grow." Over the last year TAG has seen revenue increase by nearly 40%, which he attributes to an increased trust among used network resellers. While TAG's growth is probably both a function of demand as well as the company's personal merits, the increased awareness of the secondary market has catapulted a number of companies into the public eye and more importantly, the view of consumers.
While an initial surge of IT hardware reached the secondary market following the telco bust of 2000, smaller organizations are still hunting out deals on surplus technology recovered from Fortune 500 companies. One such organization facilitating the process, Investment Recovery Association (IRA), represents more than 200 companies with investment recovery departments providing education, training and networking opportunities to members. With companies such as General Motors, Sprint, MCI and AT&T employing entire departments dedicated to recovering the highest possible returns on their surplus equipment, it's understandable that both liquidation firms and price-sensitive small and medium businesses will flock to the secondary market.
This poses a problem for manufacturers like Cisco, who while working diligently to stifle secondary-market resellers, look the other way when large corporations such as AT&T have liquidated surplus hardware to the secondary-market. Historically, companies like Cisco have responded to the threat of secondary-market vendors by employing scare tactics in order to fuel consumer fears, and push them towards buying new. While such methods have steered away some, the lure of deep discounts and higher trade-in credit has kept the used market a strong, viable alternative to purchasing new. This is good news for companies like TAG, who continue to grow as more and more companies buy used.
Source: Free Articles

Registry Smart: The Importance of an Error-Free PC

I work at an interactive marketing agency in the Boston area. For those of you who don't know, working at an agency means long hours and late nights. Being a bit of a techie guy, I have a pretty advanced setup at home, at least to the point that I'm still running Windows and not Linux, but that's another story. So I spend a lot of nights working from home on projects for my Fortune 1000 clients, and that means tight deadlines and a lot of money on the table. It also means that I depend on my computer, a lot, so it needs to be running in tip-top shape.
I didn't always take such good care of my computer, however. One particular evening, I was working on a project and the unthinkable happened. It was late, very late, and had spent the better part of an evening at my computer. I was getting ready to call it a night and decided to take one last look at my presentation. When I went to open it, however, I received an error window and my computer shut off. Upon restarting, I got another error and the computer turned off again, before it even finished booting windows! Now I had a problem on my hands. Several hours of work on a presentation were being held hostage on my computer, and this was due in the morning. It took a couple hours of tinkering before I could copy the file to another location and retrieve it there, but thankfully I got it.
The next day, when I had some time to address the cause of the error instead of just frantically trying to rescue data, I managed to get windows to finishing loading. After that, however, I was lost. I had o idea what was causing the error or how to fix it. I really didn't want to reinstall windows or buy a new computer, so I started doing some research online. It was then that I learned about registry cleaners. Registry cleaners scan your Windows registry for invalid entries that inevitably happen over time. These invalid entries cause many of the problems that most people have with their computers. Whether it's running slow, giving you error messages or shutting down suddenly, all this can usually be fixed by repairing your Windows registry.
I've now invested in a registry cleaner, called Registry Smart, which I use on a regular basis to keep my computer running smoothly. I no longer have any computer trouble, which gives me the peace of mind to focus on what's really important, my clients!
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Email Word 2007 Document For Reviews and Tracking Changes

Emailing a Word 2007 document to another user for review, meaning any changes they make it will track those changes in Word 2007, is a snap!
Getting it setup takes a few more steps than previous version of Word 2000, Word XP (2002) and Word 2003. Because in those versions it was a simple: File>Send To>Mail Recipient (For Review), and then click the Send (b) to email it off.
Stop bloviating and tell me where to do the same with Word 2007 you opine! Fine. But let me warn you that writing more than steps is not only therapeutic for me when it comes to blogging, but downright fun!
Email Word 2007 Document For Review and Tracking Changes Steps. First you have to add the Send For Review (b) to you QAT (Quick Access Toolbar). Yeah! I know there’s not another easier way I know of. So Right /QAT toolbar>Customize, /Choose commands arrow>All, scroll to & //Send for Review, /ok. Now on your QAT toolbar /Send for Review (b) and it will do two things: first attach your Word 2007 document into an email, and also it turns on the Track Changes (b) on the Review tab. Now just type in an email address and /Send (b) to email your document off to one of your Super Friends!
Once Wonder Woman (one of your Super Friends) opens the attachment and makes any changes to the document, it will track it i.e. if she deletes a word it will put a red line through it, and if she adds text it will color it in green. So when she’s done all she has to do email those changes back to you where you can, with the help of Reviewing tab, accept or reject her changes i.e. removing the red lines for deletions, or removing her added text.
You know you can just as easily open Word 2007, /Review tab & /the Track Changes (b) and turn on the changes yourself and the /Word’s Office Logo (b)>Send and email without having to add the Send For Review (b) to your QAT toolbar.
Having said that I bet you’re thinking: I wouldn’t choose Wonder Woman as a Super Friend with only a magic lasso to protect me, and second anybody can turn off the “Track Changes” feature and then I couldn’t protect my document from unwanted, trackable changes!
Yes, you’re right and so the only way to “protect” someone from messing with your document without being trackable, or seeing their changes is to follow these steps: /Developer tab>Protect group & /Protect Document (b)>Restrict Formatting and Editing, in Task Pane’s Editing restrictions section check “Allow only this…” box and /its arrow>Tracked changes & /Yes, Start Enforcing Protection (b) and type in your password.
Now that’s protection! Okay, having password protection on a document is like having a Super Friend like Superman protecting you. Invincible he is until some krptonite is found - computer geek breaks the password, but better than nothing eh?
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Overview of Mobile Framework

Use of Mobile Framework
You’re on your way to a pivotal meeting but the flight’s been delayed. You need to notify your client, make some last minute adjustments to your presentation, and figure out the fastest route from the airport to their office. In short, you really need to have your office with you. The answer is MOBILIZE YOURSELF! Explains how to maximize the mobility of the technology you have today—and it provides smart answers about the mobile technologies and services you might be considering.
Mobile framework Requirements/Features
This list will help you identify a mobile framework. Usually, a mobile framework will include the following:A graphical development tool that visually maps complex server logic and data to device resident applications
Flexibility for customization and the ability to incorporate new code (MMAPI, .NET, Insignia)Secure access and user identity
An API extension to let other applications "hook" in Enabling of media (video, audio, images) transformation (Java MMAPI, Insignia Mobile Media Framework)
Ability to provide lightweight technology for mobile agent-based distributed computing (Taco Framework)
Ability to provide for content syndication (Jet speed)
Ability to provide content transformation
Agents for device detection
Asynchronous transactional messaging for guaranteed data delivery and integrity Allowance of true mobile client applications with seamless disconnected and real-time operation Mobility is still a new approach to the workplace. Reaching business systems puts special demands and requirements on access, security, and collaboration infrastructure. This can all be reassured with mobile frameworks.
The name MOBILE is derived from the first letter in each of the six categories that make up the framework.The six categories are:
M the need for mobilityO the need to improve operationsB the need to break business barriersI the need to improve information qualityL the need to decrease transaction lagE the need to improve efficiency
Advantages of Mobile Frameworks
So what’s important in Mobile Framework is to get the technologies that take you farther and to
# Learn how to choose, customize, and synchronize notebook computers, Pocket PCs, and other mobile devices
# Evaluate your connectivity options—infrared, wired and wireless LANs, cyber cafés, and more
# Make your e-mail, files, corporate data, and favorite Microsoft Office applications road-ready—and secure
# Do more with less gear—get driving directions, enjoy music and video, even manage your stocks and expenses on mobile devices
# Help your company stay agile with sales automation, ERP, and other applications for mobile employees
# Know how to buy accessories and gadgets that aren’t just cool, but solve real business problems
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Review of HP, Sony, and Compaq Laptops

So do you prefer to call them laptops or do you prefer to call them notebooks. I am partial to notebooks as I never keep them on top of my lap. Jokes apart, purchasing a new notebook computer is really tough.
If you were to read the ads then each computer sounds better than the cat's whiskers. But when you look close, they all look similar. At least the similarly priced ones tend to be similar. So, is there really a difference between one laptop and another? Or should I say one notebook and another?
To answer this very question, I am going to look at three popular computers that are currently on sale and compare them. The read can then take this to be the starting point and evaluate many other options to find the one that works best for them.
First of all, let us consider the HP Pavilion DV6426US, a machine that I powered by the Intel Core Duo Processor T2450. This multithreaded architecture based micro processor is well optimized for multi-tasking based performance. The fact that this notebook comes installed with 1 GB RAM should help run many of the contemporary popular applications at a good speed. It has a 160 GB Hard Drive which is nothing spectacular, but should do the trick in most cases. And the bundled operating system is the Microsoft Vista Premium. And I really like notebooks that come with an integrated WebCam. This HP laptop sure has one of those. In the absence of such a webcam, attempting Video IM becomes a serious pain.
Second let us consider the Sony VAIO VGN-FZ140E/B. This laptop too is powered by a Duo Processor, in this case the Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100. It beats the HP one in terms of RAM, as it comes with 2 GB RAM. Its hard disk is bigger at 200 GB. So, if Freud was right and size does matter then, well, this one has the bigger Hard Drive. The duo-core multithreading micro processor will deliver performance similar to the HP machine. This laptop comes with Microsoft Vista Home Premium.
Finally let us look at the Compaq Presario F572US. Like both the previous machines, this one too has a 15.4" screen. Though it has a dual-core micro processor, the Compaq uses the AMD Athlon 64 Processor TK-53 and not an Intel based processor like the other two I wrote about. Also it has 1 GB RAM like the HP machine. Where I think it scores lower is in its hard disk capacity, a mere 80 GB. It also comes with the Microsoft Vista Premium.
All in all, the machines have pros and cons. I have not listed prices here, as they would change faster than I could type them out. But, make sure to look at the prices too.
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USB Flash Drives and Promotional Merchandise

USB Flash Drives have become increasingly popular as promotional incentives for a number of reasons. The promotional incentives market is always receptive to new and exciting ways to reach the target audience. Traditionally promotional products have been branded with a company’s logo to leave a lasting impression with the prospect. The usability of the giveaway is a key component to its success. This is the reason why gifts such as Pens, Notepads, Clothing and general business accessories have always been popular! The USB Flash Drive has taken this to another level altogether – now you can give potential prospects a USB Flash Drive and be confident your branding will hit home. The major innovation to the promotional incentives market is the way in which the device can be manipulated to suit the needs of various organizations.
For example, the USB Flash Drive can be preloaded with data prior to it being given away. This allows useful information to be at the fingertips of the recipient. This could be in the form of a PDF, PowerPoint, Video, etc. This is the ideal way for companies to make sure that when a potential prospect leaves they have a permanent reminder of exactly what the company can offer. This could be in the form of a document, a price list etc.
They are typically small, lightweight, removable and rewritable storage devices. USB flash drives offer numerous advantages over other portable storage devices i.e. floppy disk. They are compact, faster; hold more data, and have superior reliability due to their lack of moving parts and durable design. In addition it has become common for computers no longer to have floppy disk drives. Conversely USB ports appear on nearly all PC and laptop’s nowadays.
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How to Clean a Printer

Nothing can be more annoying than black lines, faded regions or faded text when printing a document you have worked long and hard on. Doing a printer cleaning is the best way to always have a clean and readable document.
Two type of printers
Whether the printer is an Epson printer, HP printer, or a Canon printer the general procedure for cleaning is the same. If the printer happens to be a bigger printer, for items such as advertising on larger format materials, the process is a bit more exaggerated but essentially the same.
Every day printers
Cleaning an every day office type printer usually just entails a good solid wipe down. The real trick is to not damage the printer by using cleaning items that are meant for other cleaning activities. Cleaning chemicals to avoid include alcohol or more harsh cleaning agents. These chemicals can damage electrical areas and do more harm than good. Try and stay with light cleaning supplies like baby wipes or a damp non shedding towel. In either case, do not let water get into contact with the inside of the printer whether it is an Epson printer, canon printer or any other.
Cleaning the printer
The very first thing to do is unplug the printer. Make sure that all lights are out and that the plug is away from the unit.Open the front of the printer, with a damp non-shedding cloth give a light wipe down looking for dust build up or paper shards. If the paper has been appearing with black marks on the back, look inside the printer and wipe excess ink away. Make sure to wipe this area again so that there is no remaining moisture.A clean printer cartridge is also a must clean area. Remove each cartridge and gently wipe excess ink away. Be sure not to leave any fibrous material around exit ports. The paper receiver basket may need to be removed and check underneath for dust and paper shards around the legs. A proper printer cleaning also means wiping down the basket with a mild detergent. You can also use a cleaning cartridge, which helps to clean inaccessible points of printer by hand.If the printer has not been used for some time a head cleaning will be needed. For a complete printer cleaning in this instance go to the control panel and printers. Here the unit will be able to run diagnostic programs and get the printer heads up.
Larger specialized printers
With larger printers designed for more specialized uses, including large format blue prints or advertising mock-ups printer cleaning requires a differing approach. An approved vacuum system is the most important tool to have on-site. This vacuum should be static free, so as not to damage interior components through static shock, and have a separate motor unit to be kept away from the printer unit.Cleaning the printer is particularly needed in the winter and spring. In the winter the air is dry and dust is attracted. Be careful so as not to set off a static charge. In spring pollen can get anywhere no matter how you try. A printer cleaning makes all involved happier and healthier with less dust and pollen involved.
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How to Remove Ink Stain

It is one of those questions that everybody has an answer for. Unfortunately, none of the answers provided appear to completely do the job. Ink remover, ink removal tools, what kind of ink? There are so many questions and so few answers when it comes to a person wanting to remove ink. Now I suppose that an answer is expected to the age old question of ink stains and removing ink stains. Maybe yes and maybe no.
Mom knows
If anybody in the world knows the answer to removing ink stains it would be a mom. That’s the way the world has always been and that is the way it will likely always be. First the ink stain must be atoned for. Yes mom, it was silly of me to have a pen in my pocket and yes I should be more careful around the printer. Oh, and the ever popular I bet that lovely girl in accounting would know about getting an ink stain out.
In my day
The popular thinking, according to mom, is that hairspray does the trick on both sides of the ink stain. If you do not do both sides the stain will just end up migrating away from the spray. Dab as you go and then rinse before washing in as hot a wash cycle as the garment can stand. It may not work. Any ink stain except water soluble ink is a tough nut to crack.
The real story
The thing about non-water soluble ink is that it will not likely come out all the way. You may get lucky, but for all intense and purposes the garment is shot, gone, toast and trash. This is not to suggest that many a mom has not been working on the idea. Probably make a fortune along the way according to my mom. So give a few of these possibilities a try and good luck:
Rubbing alcohol-
Place the garment on a clean white towel. Dab as you go but only after you try a hidden spot so you’ll know what the fabric is going to do when the alcohol is applied. The stain will likely end up on the towel so move the garment around. Wash the garment toughly and wash on as hot as labeled.
Baking soda -
It’s not as harsh as rubbing alcohol but removing ink stains is a weird science. Dab, rinse well and wash or use ink remover.
Acetone -
This is the last rights for the garment and the last chance to remove ink before the trash can. For the most part, acetone does not play well with most fabrics. So, if you’re going to give this one a try definitely try a hidden spot first. Dab and move the fabric along a white clean towel. The color of the garment will transfer through a little. Rinse well and wash on the hottest temperature the fabric can stand.
These were just a few ideas from mom. They may work and they may not but at least an effort was made to save that shirt or dress. Next time, be more careful around ink it may stain.
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Basics Of A Pen Drive

A Pen Drive is a compact, removable storage device just like a floppy disk or a CD. Instead of the floppy device or the CD ROM that are used for reading a floppy disk and CD respectively, a pen drive can be plugged into the USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port of a computer. The USB connectivity makes the pen drive easier to use and data can be transferred faster to and from the pen drive.
Different Manufacturers have named Pen Drives they manufacture differently. Today, a pen dive goes by the names of thumb drive, USB flash drive, Jump Drive, Traveler`s Drive, USB key drive, USB memory stick and many others!
These pen drives are small, inexpensive, almost ubiquitous and extremely handy. They are available largely in the range of 1 to 8 GB which makes them of great use and has made floppy disks and CDs look like useless storage mediums.
The credit of inventing the pen drives goes to IBM. It was invented in 1988 to replace the floppy disks, but IBM never patented it. IBM contracted in M-Systems to manufacture the Pen Drive and the patent is now owned by them.
The pen drive is a modern floppy disk. The main difference is that a floppy disk has moving parts which makes the data stored on the drive vulnerable to loss. A pen drive, on the other hand is a solid state device i.e. it has no moving parts. This makes it possible to almost completely seal the pen drive making it dust-proof and the common magnetic fields. Hence, a pen drive is a much safer option for storing important data.
The latest operating systems like (Windows XP, Linux and Mac OS 2) can recognize these pen drives and mount them automatically. Once it is connected, recognized and mounted by the operating system, it appears just like any other partition of the hard disk except it is named as removable storage.
The pen drive can be removed any time after it is un-mounted (safely remove hardware in case of Windows) and can be re-plugged into the same or a different machine to be used again. A pen drive`s most important use is to transport data and files from one machine to another. For e.g. one can simply copy all the word processing documents, images and spreadsheets to the pen drive, carry it along and copy the files on his/her home computer and work on it at home.
Some users have found the pen drive useful in moving their internet browser History, Cache, Cookies, and other transient data. This improves their privacy and security as no traces of the work done on the machine is left on the PC. Once copied to the drive, the files can be made more secured by encryption or any other method of security.
The pen drives can also be used to store operating systems to boot the computer. This makes them popular for repair and diagnostic work. Instead of carrying tools and maintenance software applications on CDs, a pen drive can be used which is faster and can be manipulated easily in case the software is upgraded or is no more useful.
A pen drive is one of the most economical mobile medium for data storage in terms of cost per unit storage space. They are really light-weight and robust in nature which has made it a big hit and a very important and indispensable tool for a large number of users.
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
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What are UPS Systems?

Many people have small desk top UPS box which contains a battery or batteries and a line interactive electronic device. This will hold up the PC and monitor in the event of a small power outage but will not protect the equipment against spikes or brown outs.
A real UPS is a True OnLine system which actually converts the AC to DC and then back to AC with the use of inverters and rectifiers. This UPS system actually provides both clean seamless power as well as total protect against spikes and brownouts. If you want power protection that buy a True On Line UPS systems and not a line interactive UPS.
UPS systems , implies more than one uninterruptible power supply working with another uninterruptible power supply. This is a parallel UPS system which provides redundancy and therefore offers greater protection of any critical equipment. The power is held within the UPS systems by batteries, usually sealed lead acid batteries. Most commonly used batteries have a 5year design life and should be replaced after 4 years. Why after 4 years? Because no one knows when they will fail.
The larger the site the greater the UPS system. Modern Communications Centres may have as many as 24 500kVA UPS's forming an N+3 disaster power protection system. These UPS systems need regular monitoring to ensure that they are functioning 100 cover and N+3 would be Triple cover.
What are the very best makes of UPS systems?
Ask the bank and Hospitals. They only use, Liebert, Powerware, Chloride and the larger APC kit genuine Tier one companies. Enough said.
PowerContinuity Means Business Continuity
For further information regarding UPS Systems please visit our website.
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Reconditioned or Recycled Computer Tape Media

Recent studies have indicated that many businesses face the risk of bankruptcy in case of data loss stemming from inadequate protection. Therefore, data storage and preservation is not just a wasteful practice adopted by businesses today. It is an important means to an end.
Effective data storage practices can insure your business against data loss incidents in the best possible manner so that your business can recover from the data loss incident with minimal or no damage. Not having adequate data protection policies and procedures can result in huge economic losses as well as loss of business reputation. Therefore, data storage is all about assuring that the data is safe and can be recovered at any point in time.
The costs associated with data storage are positively correlated with the demand for data storage. Therefore, as the demand for data storage increases, so does the cost of these data storage devices. However, can you afford to adopt a cost-cutting option at the cost of losing or damaging your data? This is exactly what you should be analysing when you think about using recycled tape media.
Recycled tape media is a cheap data storage option because these tapes are not new. The recycled tapes have a significant amount of risk associated with them. In addition, the lifespan of the recycled tapes is far less than the new tapes. While the new tapes can last as long as twenty years when stored appropriately, the recycled tapes will last no longer than five to ten years. Therefore, these tapes are priced far cheaper than the new tapes.
The recycling may use a process called degaussing. The process of degaussing erases the data from the tapes. Alternatively, manufacturers of these recycled tapes tend to rewrite over the existing data to erase the previous data. There are times when manufacturers tend to use a tape scraper blade and vacuum system within a tape drive for cleaning the tape surface to remove any dust or debris. However, this process can ruin the tape further.
Tape media is very fragile and should be handled with extreme caution. The rough scraping process can cause severe damage to the surface of the tape. The proposition of buying a cheaper recycled tape media may seem attractive but this involves substantial risks. Recycled tapes are used tapes that have been bought as scrap and recycled to look as if they are as good as new.
The most important problem with the recycled tapes is that you will have no idea about how these tapes were used or misused prior be being disposed. In addition, you will never get to know how these tapes were stored or the quality and cleanliness of the drives these tapes have been used in.
There have been instances when tapes have been used on ill-maintained drives that had accumulated dirt from dirty heads. This dirt and debris can be easily transferred to the tape media. Consequently, when these recycled tapes are used on an error-free drive, they transfer this dirt and corrupt a perfectly good drive. This corrupt drive can ruin even the new tapes that are used on this drive. Therefore, your short-term saving goal can become a long-term nightmare. Sadly, the recycling process does not repair the initial damage done to the tape media.
Sellers of these recycled tapes often claim that they use state-of-the-art data centres to manage the recycling process of the tape media. However, consumers should be cautious of such claims.
Typically, these data centres are stressful environments for the technicians working in them. Since the workload of these technicians is so high, it would be unrealistic to think that they would handle each and every tape as fragile objects. In addition, tape media in data centres get loaded and unloaded by automated systems several hundred times in a week. Then these tapes are loaded and unloaded from the data centre to the storage site in all types of weather.
The new tapes usually come with a lifelong warranty whereas the warranty period of the recycled tapes ranges between five to ten years only. If your IT budget is restricted and you must buy recycled tapes, always make sure that you choose a company that certifies and guarantees the quality of these tapes. However, the recycled tape media industry has not specified any standard definition for the term “certified” with respect to recycled tape storage. Therefore, your best bet would be to rely on the company’s reputation. In addition, choose a company that offers the maximum guarantee period.
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Basics of File Recovery

Data is stored in computers in digital form. This digital representation of information allows for its quick transfer, instant copies and convenient storage. Unlike conventional means of physical transfer of information which requires more time and effort, digital data can reach another destination in seconds. In case more copies are required, innumerable number of them can be made with the press of a button. A whole library can be stored in a small thumb drive as digital files.
The convenience of this digital format goes hand in hand with its volatile nature. It is very easy to steal digital data especially because of the new range of compact storage devices. Also, years and years of carefully stored vital information can be deleted with a single flick of a wrong button.
This deletion of file (intentional or accidental) can take place due to many reasons. They can be broadly divided into two categories: physical errors and logical errors.
Physical errors include cases of hardware failure like hard disk crash, impact trauma, power surge, natural calamities like fire and flood. Hard disk crash is amongst the most frequent reason for data loss on computers and notebooks. This can result from power surge, crashing of read/ write head onto the platter surface and failure of controller card.
Logical data failure is a software glitch. It is responsible for more data losses than physical errors. It can be subdivided into two parts: system error and user error. System error consists of a virus attack which enters the system either through internet download or copying of corrupt CDs, floppy disks. Computers now run anti-virus software as a safeguard against this.
Another cause of system error is deletion of important components or partitions of an operating system due to corruption of files while the computer is midway between reading or writing data on storage media.
User error consists of accidental deletion of files. These files may be lost by emptying the recycle bin or using other deletion actions that bypass the recycle bin altogether. These include shift-delete, command line deletion, deleting excessively large files etc.
When a file is deleted from the recycle bin or if the recycle bin has been bypassed totally, the file can no longer be recovered by the operating system. Contrary to popular belief, the content of the file still remains on the drive, relatively intact, until the section of the drive it occupies is overwritten by another file.
What really happens when a file is deleted is that its name from the table of contents that tells the operating system which file is stored where is erased. This makes the operating system conclude that the data is no longer needed and it marks the place as vacant, to be used up later.
This is the reason when a file is accidentally deleted the user should stop working on the computer immediately lest the deleted file gets overwritten by a new data making it impossible to recover.
The file recovery options include buying DIY software with easy-to-follow instructions. In case this fails or you are not comfortable with the idea, then one should contact a professional data recovery firm.
File recovery software identifies the contents of lost files on the hard drive and allows you to recover them. If a file has been partially overwritten, then it attempts to reconstruct as much of a file as is possible with the remaining contents. While deciding on a DIY recovery software look for the features such as:
1. It should be able to recover files from all types of storage media.
2. It should have a rapid scan engine to scan a typical hard drive within a short period of time.
3. It should be able to scan all the files and directories on selected hard drives simultaneously.
4. It should be able to recover a file using a part of, or its entire file name.
5. It should have a non-destructive, read-only file recovery approach and should make no changes in it at all.
6. It should be able to recover multiple files in one action.
7. It should support all standard hard drives including those larger than 8 GB and also those formatted with different file systems.
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Data Transfer Made Easy By Pen Drive

Pen drive is the ideal for people who are looking for bigger space to store their data and want an easy-to-operate storage space. Transferring large quantity of data from one computer to the other has always been a problem, mainly due to lack of suitable data storing device. Storage mediums like CD, floppy and e-mails have always failed us in urgent times because of their shortcomings like small storage and large time-consumption for data transfer.
Pen drive is the best solution to end this problem. These USB flash drives are integrated with a USB interface. They are small, removable, lightweight and rewritable. Their main advantages over other storage devices are that they are faster, more compact, can hold more data and are much more reliable thanks to their durable designs and lack of moving parts. It is the revolution of pen drives that more and more computers are being made without the floppy drive while the USB port has to be present on almost every mainstream computer and laptop.
A pen drive consists of a printed circuit board generally in a metal or plastic. The memory storage of pen drives range from the usual to 250MB to 2GB or more. It is as small as a key-ring. For the pen drive to work, both the computer should be USB-compatible systems.
Pen drives are faster to use than downloading data through e-mail and easier than using dozens of floppies. Pen drives can store data, video and audio files, with plug and play ease. The best feature of a Pen Drive is you don`t need any software to make it work thus simplifying your work of copying or transferring. Moreover, it also does not require any type of battery. These features make the pen drive totally portable.
You don`t need to install pen drive for Windows 2000, XP or ME as it is done automatically by the operating system. But for Windows 95/98/98SE, you need to install the drivers manually.
These pen drives are most popular amongst system and network administrators. They can load them with information about configuration and software that can be used for the system`s maintenance, recovery and troubleshooting. They also enjoy noteworthy success in the field of PC repair as a mean for transferring recovery as well as antivirus software to infected computers, and also allowing a segment of the data of host machine to be archived for emergency cases.
Pen drives act as Application carriers and are utilized to carry applications for running on the host computer without installation. Some applications that use this technique are U3 and airWRX. An open software platform, Portableapps also allows similar functionality on non-U3 drives. But undoubtedly the most common use of pen drive is for personal data transportation you can transport and store your personal files like documents, videos and pictures. You can also store certain medical alert data on Medic Tag flash drives to be used in case of emergencies and for preparation of disaster. Apart from this, pen drives are used in Audio players.
Pen drives present a considerable security challenge for big organizations. Their ease of use and small size allows unsupervised guests or unscrupulous staff to smuggle off confidential data with little or no chance of detection. To avoid this, some flash drives have features like encryption of data stored on them. This is a preventive measure to stop an unauthorized person from gaining access to the stored data stored. Newer pen drives support the biometric fingerprinting for confirming the user`s identity. This process though costlier is a better way to protect sensitive data from leaking out.
This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.
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Recover Your Data Without Spending A Cent

The hassle that a person who has lost all his important data due to a computer crash is huge. With the business world becoming so dependent upon the internet, computers, and information in this century, losing valuable data can cost your company thousands of dollars and cause headaches, as well.
Because computers are prone to crash, there are a number of data recovery systems available to make sure that all you important data is protected. By using these three products, you can get your stuff back at a barely there price.
SMART DATA RECOVERYSmart Data Recovery is a system that can aid you in getting back your data without costing you the first penny. Since the majority of business owners are using the Windows operating system, this program is interested in recovering files and data used on that system.
The best thing about this system is that it can recover data easily from any operating system. Instead of laying emphasis on hard drive data recovery like most data recovery systems, Smart Data Recovery allows for recovery from digital cameras, flash drives, USB drives, and quite a few other storage devices.
With a quick, free, and easy download of this product, pictures, music files, and other forms of data can be recovered in a short time. The product also has compatibility with FAT files and NTFS systems, so you can be sure that all of your important data is protected if the voltage were to fluctuate suddenly. If you have any of the most recent Windows operating systems, then consider Smart Data Recovery and their no hassle download for the protection of all the information that you have been gathering.
TESTDISKAnother extremely powerful product along these same data recovery lines is known as TestDisk. It is a product that has powerful capability and because of that, serves as a last resort type of solution for those that are trying to deal with the loss of data. In short, TestDisk specializes in helping to make faulty disks bootable again dues to malfunctioning software. It can also help to recover lost pieces of data that make life so much easier for you.
One of the best things about TestDisk is that it can be used effectively by both expert computer users and novice users. If you have enough knowledge about computers, then you could use the software to do some fairly advanced things. If it is your goal to simply recover a little bit of data, then the simple recovery software should be enough for you. This dual capability has made TestDisk quite a popular choice for data recovery.
Another excellent aspect of TestDisk is that it can work on a number of different operating systems. This is one factor that sets it apart from other specialized products which either work with MacOS or Windows. This piece of software can help recover data and reboot disks on those two popular operating systems as well as on other systems. Other supported operating systems include Dos, Linux, and SunOS.
PC INSPECTOR SMART RECOVERYIf you have ever deleted or changed your favorite pictures from your digital camera and wish you could undo your actions, then this software is just the thing. As one of the leading downloadable data recovery systems in this field, the PC Inspector software has proven time and again to be successful in recovering pictures from storage spaces of many types.
If your picture data has been lost on Flash Card, Smart Media, Sony Memory Stick, IMB Micro Drive, or any sort of Secure Digital Card, then this free download might assist you in making that recovery.
The creators of this software also realized that people keep their pictures in a bunch of different formats. Because of that, over forty different picture formats are supported by this software. If you happen to have a system failure occur that causes you to lose those important pictures from your wedding or honeymoon, make sure you stay calm. Within minutes of downloading this product, you can have those pictures back in all of their original quality.
The Smart Recovery system from PC Inspector puts your data back into your hands for an economical cost. Such a system is absolutely essential for any person who is always working on his computer and puts a great deal of importance in his pictures.
These three data recovery systems all offer their own different aspects which make them a popular choice for various groups. Depending upon where your data was stored and what kind of operating system you have, you might find a different one of these three to be a quality download.
Free data recovery software can easily be subscribed to and provides a bit of insurance against system failure. With more and more computers crashing and more business being done online, business organizations have to invest in data recovery software in case of data loss.
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