2 computer questions....

[crazydon]

Any brand recommendations or warnings? How do I know what type I need? Is there a standard considering the age of my pc (2007)?

You should'nt have any trouble finding memory for that recent a machine, you'll just need to know what type to get and that should be in your instruction book

[ChristopherC]

Well that blows, I was gettin' my hopes up about the Knoppix. While I couldn't care less about the actual hard drive, obviously the contents are quite valuable considering they have the last 8 years or so worth of family pictures including my now 2 year old's pictures from birth on. It was only a 250gb hard drive that was probably 90% full, so from what I've read data recover will cost anywhere from $300-$1000.

If the "click of death" is being caused by mechanical damage then there's not much you can do other than send it off to the specialists who work in clean rooms. Very pricey.

However, the clicking can also be caused by bad sectors on the hard disk. If this is the case it's possible for you to recover the data yourself. I recommend a program called "Spinrite" from GRC. At ~$90 it's not cheap, but it's nothing compared to sending you disk away to the specialists. It's probably what they'd run on your disk anyway (before they try taking it apart).

Anyway, if anything can recover you data I reckon this would be it.

Good luck!

Chris

[blunce]

Stick with 3gb pointless getting 4. You will find on the ram stick the speed and the type usually something like DDR 333 also can be called DDR 2700. Some types also also state PC or PC2 they just refer to DDR and DDR2.

RAID is not a backup solution. Raid with an external backup is a backup solution.

Actually, my pc does have 4 RAM slots with up to 1gb each. For the time being though I'll probably get 2gb more to add to the 1gb I have now.

At that point I'll give Norton another try.

As for the data, I'm done trying to fix it/recover it on my own. I don't want to screw it up more than it already is. Now I just need to find a reputable Data Recovery company that won't screw me on price once they have my data.

Thanks for all the info/advice/tips!

[spejic]

Actually, my pc does have 4 RAM slots with up to 1gb each.

That's only usable if you are using a 64-bit operating system. If you are using regular 32-bit Windows Vista or 7, you will only see 3gb of that memory no matter how much you have installed.

As for the data, I'm done trying to fix it/recover it on my own. I don't want to screw it up more than it already is. Now I just need to find a reputable Data Recovery company that won't screw me on price once they have my data.

Ask for a free estimate. Any good company should provide that. If the price is too high you can take your drive back.

[T0M4ever]

I have a computer question!

My Norton was telling me that my explorer.exe was infected with a trojan, so I thought a cunning plan would be to replace it with a clean copy of explorer.exe from another computer. Sadly this has had a slight issue in that my computer now won't run the new explorer.exe and I need to do a system restore.

Unfortunately I can't just go start > accessories > blah blah as there is no user interface, does anyone know what the actual name of the system restore program file is called so I can manually run it from the folder?

Thanks!

[ElectricSideBurns]

This explorer.exe is typically caused by the Microsoft Spreader. Removing the Spreading application can cause some trouble, and any changes to the spreader can cause long lasting system instability.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...-command-prompt

That link documents system restore without removing the Spreader.

[T0M4ever]

This explorer.exe is typically caused by the Microsoft Spreader. Removing the Spreading application can cause some trouble, and any changes to the spreader can cause long lasting system instability.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...-command-prompt

That link documents system restore without removing the Spreader.

Thanks for that, sadly a system restore didn't work

Does anyone have a nice clean copy of Windows Vista Home Edition for a desktop and is willing to send me a copy of explorer.exe? It might work I'm sure explorer.exe isn't specific to each individual computer . . .

[blunce]

Thanks for that, sadly a system restore didn't work

Does anyone have a nice clean copy of Windows Vista Home Edition for a desktop and is willing to send me a copy of explorer.exe? It might work I'm sure explorer.exe isn't specific to each individual computer . . .

You might try the previously suggested Knoppix. It's a lLinux bootable disc that does not need to be installed. http://www.knoppix.net/

You may be able to use that to get access to your IE.exe file, then fix your problem? I was able to download the file from bittorrent, perform the checksum (md5) and burn a successful disc. Their FAQ's are listed under the tab "Documentation"

[Jennings]

Have you given any thought to off-site storage so you don't have to worry about data recovery? I use Cryptonite, and have been very happy with it. It's pretty cheap insurance, and likely a lot cheaper than having to try to recover data from a dead drive.

I back up locally to a second hard drive, and then use Cryptonite as my insurance policy against a house fire or the computer physically melting down or something.

J

[ElectroSoldier]

With Vista yes I would add more RAM, because it runs a lot of services and processes that seem unneeded, but in fact they are.

2 to 4Gb would be a good amount for a modern OS.

As to branding I always use I am a spammer....please report this post. originals or Corsair, with are cherry picked I am a spammer....please report this post. chips (not always but usually)

Pilgrim UK.

Thats not true, a 32bit OS (Win 2000 and higher) can use more than 4Gb of RAM, the SKU determins the amount of RAM that can be used by the system, but you must enable /PAE in the boot.ini file (instructions on MSDN)

RAID can be a good backup solution if using the right RAID level.

Of course its no replacment for a tape streamer or removeable disk, but it will do the job most of the time.

spejic.

That's only usable if you are using a 64-bit operating system. If you are using regular 32-bit Windows Vista or 7, you will only see 3gb of that memory no matter how much you have installed.

Thats not true, see above.

When I first got my dual Xeon it had Vista on it, I added an extra 16Gb of RAM to it (20Gb in total) I had to enable PAE and DEP but it saw and used all 20Gb and it was Vista Business x32

[ChristopherC]

Have you given any thought to off-site storage so you don't have to worry about data recovery? I use Cryptonite, and have been very happy with it. It's pretty cheap insurance, and likely a lot cheaper than having to try to recover data from a dead drive.

I back up locally to a second hard drive, and then use Cryptonite as my insurance policy against a house fire or the computer physically melting down or something.

J

Do you mean Carbonite? I've got about 125Gb backed up offsite with it. Between Carbonite and time machine I'm pretty much covered backup wise.

Chris

[blunce]

Have you given any thought to off-site storage so you don't have to worry about data recovery? I use Cryptonite, and have been very happy with it. It's pretty cheap insurance, and likely a lot cheaper than having to try to recover data from a dead drive.

I back up locally to a second hard drive, and then use Cryptonite as my insurance policy against a house fire or the computer physically melting down or something.

J

Well, as they say, hindsight is 20/20. You can be sure I'll be changing my backup practices.

[jpk]

If you are thinking of upgrading your current machine by adding memeory and a HD along with other improvements, you my just consider getting a bare bones box. It would probably be cheaper or not much more expensive and you'll have updated hardware. Seen some bare bones boxes for $250.00-$350.00 with Win7 preinstalled. Vista was like Windows ME, not that great, kind of buggy. If you can install Windows 7 you'll have a better running machine Check Newegg or Tiger Direct maybe even ebay for bare bones boxes. You'd be surprised what you can get for a few hundred dollars.

[Pilgrim_UK]

@Electro

Thats not true, a 32bit OS (Win 2000 and higher) can use more than 4Gb of RAM, the SKU determins the amount of RAM that can be used by the system, but you must enable /PAE in the boot.ini file (instructions on MSDN)

Its better to keep it simple. Enabling PAE its not as simple as that ( have you actually done this or just read the MS articles?). Always go 64 bit if you want the better solution for more memory.

RAID can be a good backup solution if using the right RAID level.

Of course its no replacment for a tape streamer or removeable disk, but it will do the job most of the time.

Once again keep it simple. Those type of solutions require more than 2 hard drives and better hardware then its still not a backup solution. Doing the job "most of the time" is not good enough for backups. Raid especially in home pc's is not a good backup solution. It lulls users into a false sense of security always advise getting an external backup.

We will have differing opinions on this.

Edited November 29, 2010 by Pilgrim_UK

[Jennings]

Yes, sorry, I meant Carbonite (like what Han Solo was frozen in). CRS disease sets in

J