Assuming you want a portable external drive you can carry with you in your notebook bag,
your options are virtually all USB models with 2.5 inch or smaller hard drives inside a plastic
or metal enclosure.

Interface

USB 3.0 portable drives  are just starting to appear on the market. Among other benefits (see
the “Bus Power” sidebar in this article), the new USB version lets a drive read and write data
as fast as it likes, as long as your notebook has a USB 3.0 port or adapter card.

In contrast, USB 2.0 caps data transfer to about 32MBps, which makes backups take much
longer than necessary. USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 devices also.

Storage Technology

For notebook backup purposes, it’s hard to argue with the cost per GB (gigabyte) and
overall capacity advantage of a portable hard drive over an SSD (solid state drive). Even
though the latter will take a bit more abuse, you shouldn’t notice much of a speed difference
between the two.

External SSDs do exist, and they are certainly rugged enough for travel. On the other hand,
capacities large enough for backup purposes are pretty costly. A mere 64GB in USB 2.0
trim will cost around $145 or more online; Plan on $220 or more for a USB 3.0 model that
will not drastically limit its own speed.

Capacity

You can get a 1TB (terabyte) portable hard drive for as little as $130 online. Compare this
with an external SSD, which will max out at about 256GB for approximately $780 on the
Web, and it’s obvious that magnetic disk media is still the way to go for this application.

Bundled Software

Look into the software that comes with a portable drive, expecially the backup app. If it’s
described as a drive imaging or disaster recovery tool, it backs up your operating system and
programs in addition to your personal files. Some backup drives might even boot your laptop
in an emergency, depending on your notebook.

Trying to rip its victims off, this malware starts its activity with numerous alerts and scanners
reporting invented viruses. You should never remove those files reported as malicious because
they may also be legitimate your system files, foolishly said to be infected. Windows Defending
Center begins its activity without any delay – it starts its campaign as soon as user reboots his
computer. In addition, next to its alerts you will also receive its scanners also giving faked
information. As you can see, Windows Defending Center has nothing to do with legitimate
activity. After a closer look, it has been reported to have no virus database needed to find and
remove malware.

                
In order to trick you, Windows Defending Center reports:

Warning
Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet.
Windows Media Player Resources
C:\Windows\system32\dllcache\wmploc.dll
C:\Windows\system32\dllcache\wmploc.dll is suspected to have infected your PC.
 This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.

Error
Keylogger activity detected. System information security is at risk.
It is recommended to activate protection and run a full system scan.

Error
Software without a digital signature detected.
Your system files are at risk. We strongly advise you to activate your protection.

Torrent Alert
Recomended: Please use secure encrypted protocol for torrent links.
Torrent link detected!
Receiving this notification means that you have violated the copyright laws. Using
Torrent for downloading movies and licensed software shall be prosecuted and you
may be sued for cybercrime and breach of law under the SOPA legislation.
Please register your copy of the AV to activate anonymous data transfer protocol
through the torrent link.

All you have to do is to do your best and stay away from this malware. In addition, remove
Windows Defending Center without any delay because it won’t stop interrupting into your
browsing. This scareware usually lets more malware inside the system without asking any
permission of a user, so prevent this by running a full system scan with Spyhunter or 2012
version of spyware doctor.
                      
     

                   
03/28/12 - Google Antivirus is a rogue program created to trick users into helping cyber criminals
into infecting their systems. Google, Bing and other popular URLs may be hacked by cyber
criminals. If you find yourself redirected to the page that claims that Google systems have
detected unusual traffic from your computer and that you should purchase Google Antivirus,
leave this page immediately! There is no such application as Google AV, so there is no point of
downloading and installing this program on your machine. That’s just another trick used by
crackers to steal your money.
                     

According to GFI researchers, cyber criminals have altered some popular search pages to
redirect their visitors to malicious page that seems to be powered by Google. Just like any other
malicious page, this one starts typically by reporting numerous viruses detected on the system.
The user is advised  that if they do not download the program, the system will block the access
to Google services:

“Google systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer. Please check
 you PC on viruses. To continue, please download and install our antivirus software.
 [DOWNLOAD button] or our system will block your access to Google services”.
                             

Security experts recommend ignoring this alert and never downloading Google Antivirus which in
reality is malicious Trojan.Win32.Fakeav.tri. Because it is new virus, your anti-malware program
may fail to detect the exe file as a malicious one, so ignore any suspicious antivirus software you
are offered online. Please use one of the automatic removal tools listed below to eradicate this
malware from your system.
                       
     

                        

                                                     
Hard Drive Detection Trouble

Most backup and restoration programs require that the target hard drive (the drive to which you
plan to restore the data) have a MBR (master boot record) or GPT (GUID or global unique
identifier partition table). These are types of markers that show the PC what portions of the hard
drive the system should read when the PC boots up. (They also show where the OS (operating
system) is stored). Typically, new drives aren’t initialized with either an MBR or a GPT, and
you’ll need to run a bootup application to set up the drive.

If you use Windows’ built-in system backup tools, you’ll need to insert your backup media and
press F8 to load the System Recovery interface. At the ‘Advanced Boot Options’ screen, use
your arrow keys to highlight ‘Repair Your Computer’ and press ‘Enter’. Click ‘Next’ enter your
user name and password, and click ‘OK’. Select ‘System Image Recovery’ and follow the on
screen instructions to restore your copy of Windows.

With most third-party restoration applications, you can insert the rescue media and it will start
the pre-boot application. For example, with ABSplus Rescue from CMS (www.cms.com), you’ll
need to insert the ABSplus Rescue CD into your disc drive and press the key that starts the
BIOS (Basic Input Output System). Typically, that key is the DELETE or F2 key. If those keys
don’t do the trick, watch the screen during startup for instructions (or consult your computer’s
manual).  

When the BIOS opens, change the boot order so that the PC boots from the CD/DVD drive and
select Save and Exit. When restarted, CMS loads its installation application, during which you
can select the hard drive and backup copy you want to install. Once done, CMS ABSplus
Rescue installs the partition records and begins transferring your backup to the new hard drive.

Recover Specific Files

The full system backup didn’t transfer all the files you wanted. Most system backup applications
provide a way to recover specific files or folders from a complete backup, allowing you to still
recover key documents, photos or other data. The file level restore also comes in handy if you’ve
installed new applications and created new files since your last backup and only want to rescue
a few files that were accidentally deleted. Many third party restoration tools allow you to mount
an image of your backup files, where you can search through the folders using Windows
Explorer to recover the files you need.

To rescue specific files from Windows Backup in Windows 7, click the ‘Start’ button, select
‘Control Panel’, choose ‘System And Security’. And click ‘Backup And Restore’. Under the
Restore section, click the ‘Restore My Files’ button and select ‘Browse For Files’ or ‘Browse For
Folders’, depending on which options is more suitable for your restoration. Then you can double
click the disc drive (or another drive, if you have another target in mind for external storage) and
drill down to find the files or folders you want to restore. Select the files and folders, then right
click the ones you want and click copy. Next, open a folder on your new hard drive, right click
anywhere in the folder, and click ‘Paste’. Your files will now copy to the new drive.

The DRAM (dynamic RAM) chips on memory modules are very sensitive to electrostatic
Discharge. A static shock so slight you can’t feel it can act like an explosion within the
memory’s Microscopic cells. I always paying a few bucks for an antistatic wrist or shoe strap
and properly Grounding yourself before touching PC components. Note that power surges from
the wall can Have the same effect, which is why it’s important to use a high quality surge
protector, preferably One with automatic voltage regulation.
               

Sometimes you get lucky and the motherboard will tell you your memory is bad. This often

Happens early in the bootup process while the system is running its POST (power on self test).

If the POST detects  a bad memory module, the motherboard may emit a single, continuous

(and highly annoying) beep. Modern BIOSes (Basic Input/Output Systems) made by AMI

(www.ami.com) will issue one or three short beeps., depending on what memory functions is

faulty. AMI’s advice in this cae is to “reseat the memory, or replace with known good modules.”

Be particularly on the lookout for unseated memory if you’ve just finished an upgrade or

Otherwise moved the system around. You can tell that memory is unseated because the row of

Gold leads along the bottom edge will be partially visible, and it’s likely that one of the two locks

At each end of the memory slot won’t be fully gripping the RAM module. Just to be safe, you

Can remove the modules and blow out their slots with compressed air to remove any stray dust

Or dirt that might be blocking contact points.

Another way that some motherboards let you know about bad memory is with an LED (Light

Emitting Diode) readout. This feature is sometimes found on higher end motherboards. If

There’s a memory problem, the LED will display a code ( explained in the manual) pointing

To the memory as a source.

Your next most likely set of clues may come from Windows. A common symptom is getting the

Blue Screen of Death either during Windows installation or while running Windows. Also crashes

During memory intensive operations, such as 3D gaming or media editing, can signal bad

Memory (or other problems, especially overheating). Obviously, if you get an error message

In Windows citing a memory problem at a certain address, that’s a big clue.

Assuming you consulted the manual and have your modules in the correct slots given your

Configuration, reseating the memory and/or swapping it out for known good modules is about

Always the key to fixing hardware based memory issues. Still, if you need more confirmation

That memory is your culprit, start with Windows Memory Diagnostic (tinyurl.com/qoy4;

Windows Vista/7? Users can find it by searching for ‘memory’ in the Start Search field) or

                             
03/10/12 - Win32.Vitro is a very dangerous trojan virus. Just like trojan Vundo and Zlob,

Win32.Vitro can be obtained by visiting various noxious websites. Mainly, Win32.Vitro is

promoted on websites that offer free online movies. In order to watch those movies a visitor has

to download certain video codec. However, it's not a real video codec, but trojan Win32.Vitro.

Once active, Win32.Vitro performs illegal actions. It downloads and installs additional

malware and spyware without user's permission. What is more, it advertises rogue anti-spyware

applications such as Antivirus 360 and System Protector. Win32.Vitro must be removed at

earliest stage. Please use one of the automatice removal tools listed below.

Win32.Vitro properties:
• Changes browser settings
• Shows commercial adverts
• Hides from the user
• Stays resident in background
              

If the hard drive is the problem. First, see whether your BIOS (Basic Input/Output System, the
program which manages low-level PC operations such as the boot Process) can see the drive.
When you boot your PC, you should see a message To press a key ( possibly ESC, F1, F2, or
Delete) to enter Setup.

Press this key quickly at startup and your BIOS utility will open. You may see a Listing that
includes detected drives, or you may have to switch to a different Display. (If needed , note the
BIOS version and manufacturer and check the Internet for assistance.) If your BIOS recognizes
the drive, it’s a positive – Although not foolproof – sign of life.

Antivirus Rescue Disk
                

If you have a bootable rescue disc ( www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd-download ) from your
‘Antivirus’ program, reboot and run A scan on the drive. It will scan the drive, including the boot
partition, for ‘Viruses’. If it finds anything, follow any instructions you are given. If the ‘Virus
Checker’ can Scan the drive or your BIOS will not start, it is probably safest to see a
Professional.

Check The Cables

If the BIOS doesn’t recognize your drive, the internal cables may have come loose.If you recently
moved or jostled your PC or if you were inside the case doing Upgrades or cleaning, you (or a
PC Technician) should check the drive cables for A tight connection (and potentially check the
hard drive, as well). For instructions About opening your case to check the drive and replacing
the drive, check the Manufacturers website.

Manufacturers

If you do not see a BIOS message prior to OS start, consult the user manual or The
manufacturers site. The manufacturer may have overridden this feature. If Nothing happens
when you boot the PC, something else (motherboard, power Supply, etc) is the problem.

System misery.
                        

                                       

Confirm The Most Likely Cause

Despite talk about data loss due to viruses and software glitches, hardware failure remains the

Most likely cause of data failure. As a System Administrator with Storage Area Network

Experience, I can tell you that hardware and system failure causes 56% of data loss (making

It the most common problem). Human error comes in second at 26%, and software (program)

Corruption around 9%. That is a one in four chance the file you cannot find is gone because

You copied (or saved) Over it, deleted it, or damaged it. If your hard drive is actually failing,

You may have seen warning signs, and if not, there are ways to check the drive for problems.

Traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) are mechanical devices composed of stacked platters

That spin very quickly (7200rpm is common). Read & Write heads, connected to a moving

Arm, hover above the platters separated by a cushion of air. These heads move like

Lightening across the surface, retrieving or storing bits of data (millions of tiny magnetized

Or demagnetized areas).

Hard drives can simply wear out… the motor that spins the platters can fail or behave

Erratically. Hard drives in PCs that are dropped or roughed up, (especially while a read

Write operation is executing) may be damaged if the heads make contact with the surface

Of the platters. Hard drives also have filtered air intakes, which can become damaged

(clogged) or allow particles into the drive mechanism. This can incapacitate the drive.

Drive Failure Warning Signs 

Warning signs are common with hard drives. One obvious sign of drive failure is noise. You

May hear a repetitive noise… best described as a metallic crunching or thumping sound…

As the arm thrashes around, trying to access data. Some (but not all) HDDs make an

Audible whirring noise (the sound of the spinning platters) when they are operating normally.

If you can hear your drive and the pitch (whirring) rises and falls repeatedly, it means the

Drive is spinning up and down. This could indicate a problem with the drive’s power

Supply (but it definitely means trouble is at hand).

If you are hearing any noises that sound drive-related, your best shot at saving the drive is

To cease operation immediately. If you absolutely need some critical files from the drive,

Get them off immediately and then get the drive to a repair shop. The longer you operate

With unexpected noises, the greater the chances of total drive failure.

There are other, early hard drive trouble signs. You may notice files are missing, damaged,

Or take a long time to open. Your computer may freeze frequently as the drive struggles

To access data. Alternately, your PC may freeze during bootup, or you may see the

Classic ‘Blue Screen of Death’.

All of these issues can also occur with other problems, such as OS (operating system) or

Software corruption. A corrupted MBR (master boot record)… a tiny file on your hard

Drive that indexes the data… can cause some of these problems. The MBR can be

Damaged by a bad sector (space) on your hard drive, but a virus (or other malware)

Can also be at fault. Fortunately, there are ways to test for and eliminate drive failure.

If your system will not boot at all, or if you start the PC and see a pre-Windows-boot

Error message that reads ‘Operating System Not Found’, ‘Missing Operating System’,

‘Setup Did Not Find Any Hard Disk Drives Installed On Your Computer’, your HDD

may have failed completely.

Drive Checking

If you can boot into Windows and your hard drive isn’t crying for help (literally), a

Drive-checking utility can assist. Windows comes with a built-in disk utility

(Check Disk). It’s good for doing initial (free) scans on your drive. To use Check

Disk, select ‘Computer’ or ‘My Computer’ from the ‘Start’ menu. Right click your

Drive and select ‘Properties’. Click the ‘Tools’ tab and select ‘Check Now’. You

Can opt to analyze only or to fix errors and recover bad sectors. If the hard drive

Is busy, Windows may prompt you to schedule the task for later.

Advanced, third-party drive utilities can monitor your drive closely and are often

More thorough in handling repairs than Check Disk. Three such tools are PC Tools

Warning: Your computer is infected
Detected spyware infection!
Click this message to install the last update of security software…
                   

Smart Fortress 2012 Warning
Intercepting programs that may compromise your privacy and harm your system have
been detected on your PC.
Click here to remove them immediately with Smart Fortress 2012
              

Warning!
Application cannot be executed. The file notepad.exe is infected.
Please activate your antivirus software.

Security Monitor: WARNING!
                          
Attention! System detected a potential hazard (TrojanSPM/LX) on your computer
that may infect executable files. Your private information and PC safety is at risk.
To get rid of unwanted spyware and keep your computer safe you need to update
your current security software.
Click Yes to download official intrusion detection system (IDS software).
                          

                       

- Anti-Spyware program
- May spread via Trojans
- Displays fake security messages
- Installs additional spyware to your computer
- Repairs its files, spreads and updates by itself
- Violates your privacy and compromises your security
                      
     

You may see additional warnings such as:
        “Security Protection has found 82 useless and Unwanted files on your computer”,
         informing you “79 infections Are critical privacy compromising content”. 
        “Activate Security Protection”.
                     
You will be prompted to “Activate Security Protection Now”. Don’t Do It!

The Bad Grammer and Misspellings should be a dead give away (the language does not sound
real) that you are dealing with fake Anti-Virus. In the optimal world, you boot the system into
Safe Mode and run your scan. The criminals making malware are very clever (utilizing parasites
such as w32/blaster.worm) because they typically will not allow users to update the signatures
in their Security databases, download anti-malware tools, edit the registry or hosts file and in
some cases, utilize Task Manager (to kill processes), boot into Safe Mode or Connect to the
Internet unless you ‘Purchase Their Product’. Don’t Do It!

Download one of the automated removal suites below to remove the parasite or in case you have
a suite that is outdated, download the free version of Malwarebytes to run a full scan and remove
all detected infections. Then delete Quarantined files.

If this does not work, you may have to create a new account with admin priviledges on your         
system and then download the tools to clean the system.
       
                      

                             
Problem Step Recorder

                                  
Included with Windows 7, Problem Steps Recorder allows users to document step-by-step
actions. This process becomes useful for showing exactly what happens just before a problem
arises. An important step in fixing a computer problem is the ability to recreate it. Problem Steps
Recorder works by compiling a series of screen shots (inside a MHTML file), which can be sent
in an e-mail attachment for, say, a help desk technician to analyze. The MHTML file can be
viewed in Internet Explorer.
                                           
Oddly, as useful as Problem Steps Recorder is, it's hidden (it can't be found in the Control
Panel). In Windows 7, hit the Windows key and type in psr.exe in the search box. Many users
not only use Problem Steps Recorder for fixing PC issues but also for creating tutorials and
lessons for others to follow.

Function as a router. Whether you opt to add a separate router to manage the traffic on your

Network depends on a few things. For one, is your modem router wireless or wired?

The obvious advantage of a wireless modem/router is that the computers in the network don’t

Need to be physically connected  (to the modem router) by Ethernet cable in order to communi-

Cate. The downside is that wireless connections tend not to offer as much speed and security

As wired connections. If your network requires a high level of security and speed, you likely

Will want to make sure you’re using a wired connection to the router.

The other thing to consider is your level of comfort with the technology and your willingness to

Set up an additional router and configure it properly. Having one device to manage and monitor

Is likely going to be easier than configuring a system where the router your using is separate from

The built-in version in your modem. This is a viable option, though , if your computing situation

Calls for it. Likely your best bet for help on adding a router in this situation would be the router

Manufacturer’s Web site and/or technical documentation.

That being said, if your Internet provider has already given you the hardware you’ll need to get

Online and it also functions as a router, it’s probably best to just stick with that hardware. The

Simple reason (KISS)? You run the risk of inviting problems with hardware and software
components when you introduce additional products into the mix.

To view the contents of your Windows Registry, you use a tool called ‘Registry Editor’. In

Windows XP, click ‘Run’ in the ‘Start’ menu, type ‘regedit’, and press ‘Enter’. In Windows

Vista/7, open the ‘Start’ menu, type ‘regedit’ in the ‘Search’ field, and press ‘Enter’.
    

                                         

The Registry is divided into keys, subkeys, and values. If it helps, you can think of the Registry’s

Structure as being similar to that of your folders and files in ‘My Computer’. Keys and subkeys

Are arrange in a hierarchical order, while values reside within a specific key like files within a

Folder. In the Registry Editor, you’ll see keys and subkeys listed on the left side of the window.

Double-click a key to view subkeys. Click a key or subkey to see the values contained in it

Displayed on the right side of the Registry Editor.

                   
In WinXP, Vista, and Win7, you’ll notice five main keys. These keys are often abbreviated to

Save space. These keys, with common abbreviations listed in parenthesis, are:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM)

HKEY_USERS (HKU)

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC).

Different types of information are grouped into these five main keys. Aspects relating to the
Windows user interface are commonly found in HKCR. This includes file extension maps.

If you Double-click a DOC file in Windows Explorer, Windows will consult HKCR to

Decide how to open the file (in this case, it will decide to open the file in Microsoft Word).

HKU, as the name implies, contains data relating to each user account on the system.

HKCU is a subject of HKU that points specifically to the configuration settings of the user

That is currently logged into Windows.

HKLM contains information about the hardware and software found on a particular

Computer. You can have different hardware profiles in Windows, so HKCC is a subset

Of  HKLM that relates specifically to the system’s current hardware configuration.

As you click through various keys, you’ll see values displayed on the right side of the

Registry Editor. Many keys have more than one value, and each value contains  a name,

Type, and data. Looking at values of each key, you’ll notice five main types of values.

REG_BINARY is a raw binary value (often displayed in hexadecimal format) and is

Usually related to a hardware configuration. REG_DWORD values are often associated

With device driver and system services and often use either 0 or 1 as the data (to

Indicate the hardware or service is disabled or enabled, respectively). REG_SZ

Indicates a human-readable (as opposed to raw binary) string value (such as a word).

Other types of string values include REG_EXPAND_SZ, which indicates a variable

String, and REG_MULTI_SZ, which contains a list of strings.

Given that a mistake while manually editing your Registry could result in serious

Consequences, you should always back up your Registry before working on it. There

Are two main methods you can use for backing up and restoring your Windows

Registry.

System Restore

One commonly recommended method for backing up your entire Registry is to create

A System Restore Point. One advantage of this method is that you also protect other

Data essential for booting up Windows.

To create a restore point in WinXP, click the ‘Start’ menu, ‘All Programs’, ‘Accessories’,

‘System Tools’, and then ‘System Restore’. In the ‘System Restore’ window, select

‘Create A Restore Point’ and click ‘Next’. Provide a descriptive name for the restore

point and click ‘Create’. In Vista and Win7 , right click ‘Computer’ in the ‘Start’ menu

and select ‘Properties’. Click ‘System Protection’ on the left side of the window. Click

the ‘Create’ button, provide a name for the restore point, and click ‘Create’ again.

To restore from a previously created backup point, click the ‘Start’ menu, ‘All Programs’,

‘Accessories’, ‘System Tools’, and ‘System Restore’. In WinXP, make sure ‘Restore My

Computer To An Earlier Time’ is selected and click ‘Next’. In WinXP, flip back through

The calendar and look for valid restore points in the past. In Vista and Win7, you’ll see

A list of valid restore points after clicking ‘Next’. Select a restore point and follow any

Further instructions.

While restore points are helpful, they have limitations. Restore points can be deleted without

Warning. If your cleaning the Registry after removing malware you may not want to

Memorialize an infection in a restore point. Instead, export part or all of your Windows

Registry.

To export your entire Registry, click ‘My Computer’ (or ‘Computer’) above the list of keys

In the Registry and click ‘File’ and ‘Export’. Choose a place to save the file and provide a

Descriptive file name. If you’re only working on part of the Registry, right click the key

You’re working on and select ‘Export’. To restore your Registry, select ‘Import’ from the

‘Registry Editor File’ menu, select your backup file, and click ‘OK’.

Making changes to the Registry is an easy process, but knowing what changes to make is the

Difficult part. Only make changes to your Windows Registry if you have instructions from a

Trusted source and you’re clear about what the instructions are directing you to do.

Keys and values can be deleted by right clicking the key or value and selecting ‘Delete’. To

Change the data stored in a value, right click the value name, select ‘Modify’, and make the

Changes. You can also add keys and values. To add a key, right click the key under which

The new key should appear, select ‘New’, and click ‘Key’. To add a value, right click the

key in which the value should appear, select ‘New’, click the proper type of value, and

provide the proper data.

While the Windows Registry can be intimidating, after working with this introduction, you

will gain confidence now that you know your way around.