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Oct 14 2011 05:21pm

UPDATED Everything List:

PROPER BACKUPS...Updated instructions for EITHER......ONE or TWO hard drives

First get these two free programs...they will work on any windows version.

Easeus Partition Master: http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Macrium Tutorial: http://www.macrium.com/gallery.aspx

For Comps with ONE HDD:
1. Install both of these programs.
2. Use Easeus to "resize" your system partition, to somewhere between 40-100GB
3. Then with the remaining space, create two more primary partitions. One at 100GB and the other with w/e is left over.
4. Run all your cleaners, scans, reg cleaners...etc, then run disk defragmenter a few times...till it won't defrag any more.
5. Now use Macrium Reflect to creat a FULL Image backup of your system partition and save it on the 100GB partition you created in step #3.
6. When using only one HDD, backing up or restoring from backup...take about 15-20 mins.
7. Lastly, make the Rescue CD with Macrium Reflect, so you can access your backups, even when Windows won't boot.

For Comps with more than one HDD:
1. Install both of these programs.
2. Use Easeus to "resize" your system partition, to somewhere between 40-100GB
3. Now, since you have TWO HDD's...you have the option to store backups of the system partition on the 2nd HDD.
4. This is a GOOD thing, as it cuts down the backup or restore operation to 3-5 mins, because it's not reading and writing from the same HDD.
5. Use Easeus again to do your partitioning...generally with 2 HDD's you will want to store your system backups on about a 100GB primary partition on the 2nd HDD.
6. Run all your cleaners, scans, reg cleaners...etc, then run disk defragmenter a few times...till it won't defrag any more.
7. Now use Macrium Reflect to creat a FULL Image backup of your system partition and save it on the 100GB partition you created on your 2nd HDD, in step #5
8. Lastly, make the Rescue CD with Macrium Reflect, so you can access your backups, even when Windows won't boot.

Generally, I make new system partition FULL Image backups after I have done a few program upgrades or installs. This procedure is the best solution because when restoring your comp from a FULL Image backup (pre-cleaned backup)...it completely OVERWRITES the system partition with your previously saved CLEAN backup...thus erasing all the cooties you may have picked up since you made the last backup.

NOTE: for SSD's ofc, defragging is not necessary, nor is resizing a good idea.

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Anti Virus Tips

Currently (2011, summer) the best paid - for antiviruses are: Kaspersky 2011, Bitdefender 2011 and ESET NOD32. So far no one has been able to crack these paid versions...so pony up or go for the free AV's

If you have AVG Anti-Virus, (which is both over zealous and has been shown to have problems with Win7 on many occasions)...download either:
Microsoft Security Essentials AntiVirus from here: http://tinyurl.com/66cgeyg
Avast! AntiVirus from here: http://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download
Ad-Aware AntiVirus from here: http://www.lavasoft.com/products/adawarefree.php and save it to desktop.

Unhook internet cable from back of comp.
Reboot comp into safe mode, and completely UN-install AVG antivirus.
Reboot into normal mode and install Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast! or Ad-Aware.
Turn comp off....rehook internet cable to back of comp. Turn comp ON.
Update MSE OR Avast! or Ad-Aware, then do Windows Updates....then run a full scan with MSE OR Avast! OR Ad-Aware.

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Emergency Computer Cleaning and Disinfection

1.... Go here, get SuperAntiSpyware (free): http://www.superantispyware.com/ ...save it to desktop.
2.... Go here, get TDSSKiller.exe http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280748 save it to ur ...desktop.
3.... Install and update SuperAntiSpyware.
4.... UN hook Internet cable from back of comp....Reboot into safemode and run a FULL scan with SuperAntiSpyware...remove w/e it finds.
5.... Reboot back into normal mode and run TDSSKiller.exe following the directions where you downloaded it. Do w/e fixes/cures it suggests.
6.... Put your Windows CD/DVD in the optical drive....go to: START > Run and type: sfc /scannow and click OK...it takes about 20 mins to run, or less. RE-hook Internet Cable to back of comp.
7.... Using Internet Explorer go here: http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/run ...and run a FULL scan...remove w/e it finds.
8.... Get CCleaner here: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download from the Prirform link...about 3 inches below the big green BUY button. Install it and run both the cleaner and the scan for issues...remove w/e IT finds.
9.... Get Glary Utillities here: http://www.glaryutilities.com/ ....install it and run it's Tracks eraser and it's Registry scanner as well...remove w/e it finds.
10...Get Malwarebytes (free) here: http://www.malwarebytes.org/...from the GREY Download Now button....install it...update it and run a full scan...remove w/e it finds.

The program: HiJack This from Trend Micro.

Get the 2.0.4 version here: http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/ ...alternate link: http://tinyurl.com/pztscj

Getting Started

1. Download Executable version of HiJack This v2.0.4 (See link above)
2. Create a Folder in C:\Program Files, called HiJack This ...place the Executable file in that folder.
3. Right click the HiJack This.exe file and create a shortcut on your desktop. Rename the shortcut to just: Hijack This
4. Once installed, double left click the short cut to run the program, a large white text box will open, you may just close that. Then you will see a GREY box..the program itself.
5. Click the bottom-most button named: "none of the above, just start the program"
6. When the program starts, click the "SCAN" button in lower left corner. When the scan is complete (approx. 1 minute or less), click the "Save Log" in the lower left.
7. The log will automatically open in your default text editor. Choose: Edit > Select All ...then right click the highlighted text and Choose: Copy Leave the Program open.
8. Open your browser and go here: http://www.hijackthis.de./index.php ...and in the large white box, click your cursor and the Ctrl + V to paste your log. Then click "Analyze".
9. Here you can see the BAD entries, one of which will be your Toolbar that you are trying to remove...simply switch bacxk to the still open program and checkmark the corresponding box.
10. You may also choose other entries that are KNOWN to be BAD...then just click: Fix Checked: at bottom left of the Hijack This Program.

Note: Improper use of this program can cause Windows to become UN-bootable. Use with caution !

If you are unsure of these instructions you can also go here: http://forum.networktechs.com/forumdisplay.php?3-Spyware-Central ...and after reading the Sticky called: 'Read Me First Before Requesting Help" ....then follow the direction therein and post your log in the "I am not a Geek" forums, and the experts there will walk you through the process.

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How to find what hardware is in your computer and device Drivers, the easy way.

Get SPECCY here: http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download ...get the FREE version from the: Piriform Link ...about 3 inches below the big green buy button...Speccy is a really nice system hardware information Utility....simply install it...and run the program...

Under each of the sections on the left side, you will find all the information you need to locate the make/model for a certain piece of hardware, which then can be used at your computer part manufacturers website > Support ... to find the correct drivers.

For Vid Card drivers, they will be found at either: http://www.nvidia.com/page/home ...or ...
http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx

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TWO ways to Repair a Win 7 Install gone bad...without reformatting. [Both ways requires that you have a full copy of Win 7 and with Option #2 you'll need your Win 7 product key as well.]

Option #1

*Check System Files for Corruption*

1. Set 1st boot device to your optical drive, via the BIOS. Insert the Windows DVD and reboot computer.
2. When the system starts and prompts you to press any key...do so.
3. At the language screen, make your choices and click "Next"
4. At the Win 7 installation screen, DO NOT click Install now. Instead, click "Repair your computer". Click "Next on the next menu that pops up.
5. The next menu will have two radio buttons, select the first one, and note in the text box, what the drive letter is for your system drive and click "Next"
6. On the next menu choose the lowest option: "Command Prompt"
7. In the following 'Command Prompt window', you will want to run System File Checker, to do that, type the following command:
8. sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows ...where c: is the operating system drive. [Note: There is a space between sfc and / .... and between \ and / ]
9. The scan will start, if the scan finds errors, simply rerun the scan using the same command from step #8, until you find no more errors.
10. When you are finished with scan(s), just type the command: exit and then click the restart button. Remove Win 7 DVD and you should now be able to boot Windows.

Option #2

*Reinstall Window 7 without losing Data*

1. First, grab your Windows 7 DVD and make sure it matches the Service Pack that is installed currently on the computer.
2. If your DVD has no SP1 but your computer does...Go to: Control Panel > Uninstall a Program ...then choose the option to View Updates.
3. You can then right click the SP1 service pack to uninstall it.
4. Insert Win 7 DVD into Optical Drive (Don't "boot" from DVD this time) and on the autorun menu, choose to "run" setup.exe.
5. Once more you will find yourself at the Windows 7 Install Screen. This time, DO click the large "Install Now" button.
6. After the Copying Temporary Files screen, it will ask about getting updates for installation files... if you have a network connection, allow this.
7. When the installer asks what kind of install would you like, instead of Custom, we want to choose: Upgrade
8. Now just sit through the usual Win 7 install, with it's reboots and progress bars. When done, you'll have to reactivate Windows by entering the product key.
9. Lastly, just let Windows install any security updates or service packs, that it's missing, and reboot.
10. All your system files should now be fully restored. Without any data loss.

Actually, Option #2 should work even IF you can't boot into Windows...just follow steps #1 - #3 from Option #1, then steps #5 - #10 from Option #2. This is of course assuming that your Win 7 DVD already has SP1 on it, and that your Win 7 install does as well, OR that neither does.

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How to give Ubuntu Linux a try:

First, go here: and download the latest version: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download ...and save it to your desktop.

Then just burn the .iso image of Ubuntu Linux that you just downloaded to a CD.
The free program IMGBurn will allow you to burn the .iso image to the CD...you can find IMGBurn here:

http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

Get Image Burn from mirror #7 or #8....save it to desktop...then install it...open IMGBurn and the top left icon "write Image to
disc" is the one you want to use...just point IMGBurn to the Ubuntu .iso file you previously downloaded and burn the CD at 4x
speed.

Now just boot from the CD you just created. (you might have to enter the BIOS and set the optical drive to 1st boot device)
Once it starts to boot you have the option to just "TRY it out" or to start the Install.

I recommend you just TRY it out first, by just running it off the CD. If you become hooked on Ubuntu then just click that big
INSTALL button on the Ubuntu desktop. Likewise, you can choose not to Install....and you'll still have that option the next
time you boot from CD.

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Best free CD/DVD burning softwares:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-cd-dvd-burning-software.htm

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How To Save Your Game Data When You Change Hard Drives

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/howsaveyourgamedatawhenyouchangeharddrives
...and for when that link breaks: http://tinyurl.com/447cry6

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Properly Air Cooling Your Computer

1. You are going to need more CFM of Intake than you will for Exhaust. This is due to the fact that the CPU Cooler and Vid Card(s) Cooler(s) will be "starved for air" if you don't.

2. This is how I've set up my system and added "Cold Air Cooling" by way of Comp's location compared to the Windows A/C Unit.

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How to find the Windows XP Product Key from the Windows XP CD, itself.

1. Insert the Installation CD into a computer's CD/DVD Drive.
2. Explore/Open the CD in My Computer and navigate to the i386 folder.
3. Do a search of the i386 folder for the file name: UNATTEND.txt ...open the UNATTEND.txt file and scroll down to the last line.
4. You will find your Windows XP Product key there.

NOTE: I have no idea if this works on Vista or Win7, or even if it works on ALL release versions of XP, but it
worked on my Win XP Pro SP3 32 bit version.

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As you build ur 1st comp...take the time to write down: MAKE / Model Number / Serial Number of every part before you put it in comp...if it has a version number like some RAM and motherboards...write that down too.

Then when you DO have questions to post...you can just copy paste ur system and save a TON of time...like here's mine for example:

Windows XP Pro w/SP3
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 125W @ 3.7Ghz
ASUS M4N82 Deluxe nVidia 980a SLI Motherboard
ASUS AMI 0802 BIOS
Realtek ALC888/1200 nVidia MCP72 HD Audio
EVGA 015-P3-1580-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit
Corsair CM2X2048-8500C5D Dual Channel [5-5-5-15-22-2T-2.1v]
SATA WD 300GB Velociraptor
SATA WD Caviar Black 1TB
LG GH22LS30 CD/DVD Burner
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W Quad EPS12V
ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" CRT Monitor
Harman Kardon (3)
Logitech Optical M-BT96a
Coolermaster ATCS 840 Full Tower Case
3x230mm, 1x120mm, Optional: 3x Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm
ZALMAN CNPS 10X Extreme CPU Cooler
Steel Series 6GV2 Mechanical Keyboard

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When building a comp...any comp...the 3 MOST important parts are these:

1. Case...whether you are air cooling or water cooling get a case with room for growth, great cooling, and case exterior connectors where you are going to want them.
2. Power Supply ...this runs the show...get a PSU that will easily drive w/e you have in comp or MAY decide to add to comp. Consider wattage AND amperage.
3. Motherboard ...EVERYthing ur comp does, it does on or thru the motherboard circuits...you skimp here, you WILL regret it, down the road, or from day one.

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80 Thermal Pastes Tested

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=comcontent&task=view&id=150&Itemid=62

alternate link: http://tinyurl.com/qfu4by

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Everything PC Gaming Related

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=52288848&f=188&o=0

Everything Audio Visual Related

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=57557910&f=188

Computer Building Guide (step by Step)

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=33861612&f=189

Keyboard and Keyboard Switches Guide

http://www.overclock.net/keyboards/491752-mechanical-keyboard-guide.html

Smart Phones and Tablets Thread

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=57559803&f=188

Battlefield 3 bitchin post...for news, rants, raves and just discussing:

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=57750032&f=188&o=0

Playing the Tech Stockmarket...successfully.

http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=57858261&f=188&o=0

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For seeing what takes up space on ur HDD:

http://windirstat.info/download.html

For deleting files that can't be deleted (due to access denied warnings etc.) use UNLOCKER found here:

http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/

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Performance Testing for the Common Man: Fast, Easy Benchmarks You Can Run Right Now

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/performancetestingcommonmanfasteasybenchmarksyoucanrunrightnow ...or here: http://tinyurl.com/438nvyh

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This post was edited by ghot on Oct 14 2011 05:24pm