How to Choose Right PC Diagnostic Software

Computer Diagnostics is a need to keep a healthy operating system and vital for business productivity, where a failure can be a costly mistake. PC diagnostic software can determine hardware and software conditions and possible failures, as well as current settings and connectivity.

A PC diagnostic program can also suggest the best performance settings in order to get the most of your system according to your hardware specifications. In addition, a PC diagnostic tool can help you to identify potential problems that can damage your hard drive or any other piece of hardware.

Some companies provide troubleshooting tools to test your PCรขโ�ฌโ�ขs electronic circuits, in the form of system plug-ins or stand-alone applications. Computer Diagnostics should also be able to check other computer components such as the BIOS, serial and parallel ports, USB and Ethernet ports, etc.

Choosing the best PC diagnostic software depends on your computer related knowledge. You may find a PC diagnostic program worthless if you do not understand what a benchmark diagnosis means, or cannot make changes in the settings that the PC diagnostic tool may suggest.

Computer Diagnostics provide end user with intuitive diagnostics tools for troubleshooting while improving performance. However, some of them can be risky if you do not understand what they can do, like those including the ability to reformat any type of hard drive.

Most software developers state, "use it at your own risk" because of the lack of knowledge that can lead also to massive data loss. Although data can be recovered, it is a painful process because of the required proper software or you may have to take the hard drive to a service center that can restore and reformat your hard drive.

Even then, there are no guarantees of getting 100% of your data back, so be careful choosing software intended for Computer Diagnostics, and always read before clicking any "OK" message that may pop up.

If a PC diagnostic tool returns the parameters of the hard drive, and allows toggling the IRQ directly to determine which I/O port is at which IRQ, make sure you understand what all this means before proceeding, because the software can read, write, overwrite and edit most values.

Perhaps the best PC diagnostic software is that which can only read, generating log files or an overall detailed report of your computer including all its components.

If the PC diagnostic program cannot write, the possibilities to damage your hardware or destroy your content are very low, although other problems such as a buggy, unstable version can ruin your operating system.

Natalie Aranda writes about information technology, computer and computer training. NETg training is one of the most effective way to master computer skills. Computer Diagnostics is a need to keep a healthy operating system and vital for business productivity, where a failure can be a costly mistake. PC diagnostic software can determine hardware and software conditions and possible failures, as well as current settings and connectivity.

5 Simple Tips to Prevent MS Access Database Corruption

It's important to understand that any time an Access client disconnects unexpectedly, it may set a "corruption flag" in the .mdb file indicating that the database is in a corrupt state (regardless of whether any data has actually been corrupted or not). Any user who attempts to open the database while this flag is set will receive a message, and the database will have to be repaired before it can be used. If the users don't have permission to perform the repair, or don't know how to perform the repair, there may be significant downtime before the database is available again. This can result in a loss of productivity as well as extreme frustration for the users. Following the 5 tips below will minimize your odds of data loss from corruption in your Access databases.

1) Split your database.

The single most important thing you can do to prevent corruption in MS Access databases is to split the database into a "front-end" and a "back-end". The front-end contains all of the forms, queries, and reports, while the back-end contains only the data tables. A copy of the front-end is placed on each user's computer, and the back-end with the table data is stored in a shared folder on the network. How does this prevent corruption? Well, consider the amount of information that must make it across your network to your computer each time you open a form or report. If one bit of that information doesn't make it intact, you risk corrupting your database. Alternatively, if the forms, queries and reports are all stored on your local computer, then the only bit of information that needs to traverse the network is the actual table data. By reducing the amount of data you need to move back and forth across the network, you significantly reduce the chances of corrupting your database. If you're having corruption problems with an Access database on a network drive, splitting the database is the single most important thing you can do to stop it.

2) Don't hold connections open.

This one applies to both programmers and users. If you're a programmer, make sure you close your connections as soon as possible after using them. Leaving the connections open will allow more opportunities for an "unexpected" dropped connection. The only time you may want to leave a connection open longer than required would when it's used inside a loop. For such a case, open the connection at the beginning of the loop, and then close it after the loop is completed. Just make sure it gets closed for all cases (including exceptions).

If you're using a Microsoft Access database or application, be sure to close it when you're finished. Again, leaving the application open provides the opportunity for corruption if a network connection is lost. Remind users to always close the application before going home, as nightly backup jobs may fail or cause corruption in the shared file if there are open connections.

3) Exit the database correctly.

Always close the database or application correctly. Ctrl-Alt-Delete/End Task can wreak havoc on Access databases. Whenever possible, complete your tasks, then close the application using the File - Exit menu option or alternative Exit option provided by the application.

4) Don't skimp on hardware.

Remember that the corruption flag can be set from the slightest packet loss between your computer and the database file. MS Access has sometimes been called "the canary in the coal mine". It has gained this reputation from being the first application to "die" when there's the slightest hint of trouble on your network. Just like the slightest presence of gas caused the canary to die, the slightest presence of network problems and packet loss can kill your Access applications. Make sure you're not using the cheap built-in NICs that come with some PCs. Instead, use brand name network cards. The same goes for cheap hubs. Whenever possible, match good brands of equipment throughout your network.

5) Compact and repair regularly.

Performing the built-in compact and repair function regularly is recommended to prevent corruption and improve performance. Consider automating this function with a utility to compact and repair all of your databases nightly or during the weekend.

Error messages to look out for - the following error messages may signal database corruption:

"The database 'databasename.mdb' needs to be repaired or isn't a Microsoft Access database file."

"Record(s) can't be read, no read permissions on 'databasename.mdb'"

"Unexpected Error 35012"

"Unrecognized database format รขโ�ฌห�databasename.mdb'."

"รขโ�ฌห�databasename.mdb' isn't an index in this table. Look in the Indexes collection of the TableDef object to determine the valid index names."

"The Microsoft Jet database engine could not find the object 'databases'. Make sure the object exists and that you spell its name and path name correctly."

"The database has been placed in a state by user '' on machine '' that prevents it from being opened or locked"

"Disk Error -- Reserved error (-1601)"

"The database has been placed in an unexpected state."

"Record(s) cannot be read; no read permission on 'MSysObjects'"

"Record(s) cannot be read; no read permission on 'MSysACEs'."

"The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot find the input table or query 'MSysAccessObjects'. Make sure it exists and that its name is spelled correctly."

Conclusion:

While you may never be able to prevent all Microsoft Access database corruption, you should be able to stop 98% of the problems before they occur by following these 5 simple tips. Follow these tips and implement a prudent automated backup schedule to minimize your odds of significant data loss.

Kevin Sparks is a technical writer for Kaizen Software Solutions, the producer of Digital DBA, an automated MS Access monitoring, backup, and compact/repair utility. For more information, visit their website at http://www.kzsoftware.com/products/digitaldba

A Little Trick to Backing Up Your Files Free of Charge

As with the majority of computer users, you have probably experienced some sort of computer failure. Whether it was a virus, hard drive crash, or a spilled drink, it probably caused some grief and disappointment.

If you have looked at file backup services, the prices may have turned you away. Luckily it is possible to backup your files online totally freeรขโ�ฌยฆ if you know where to look!

File Backup Secret #1: Gmail

With almost 3 GB of storage, Googleรขโ�ฌโ�ขs Gmail is a file storage service in disguise!

Once you have a Gmail account, itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs simple to store your files. Simply email your files to yourself at your new Gmail address. Thatรขโ�ฌโ�ขs it, the files are right there. (You might need an invite to get a Gmail account, but there are lots of people out there now that can invite you in.)

It works great especially for storing your digital photos. (And if you ever need to send a photo to someone, just forward them the message. No need to search your computer and attach a file all over again.)

This is a quick and dirty file storage option, but it does work. However, itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs not the greatest idea to store extremely sensitive or private data this way. It is not meant to be a secure file storage option so do not treat it as one.

File Backup Secret #2: Webshots

Another option for photos is to use a service such as Webshots where you upload your photos for public display. If you ever lose the photos from your computer, simply go to your webshots page and download them from there.

One problem with these solutions is the limit on file size. If you have files that are over 10 MB, it might not work. There are also restrictions on certain file types.

So if you are flat broke and need to backup your files somewhere, Gmail is a viable option. But if you are looking for totally secure, automatic, unlimited backup, you need to find something else. Most likely you will have to pay, but there are some very low-cost yet high-quality services out there.

Levi Bloom created the website PCBackupReview.com where you can compare online backup services. Check it out today to discover the best computer backup method that costs just $5 per month.

If You Need A Method For Backing Up Your Computer You Should Consider A CD-ROM

Computers today are used in every part of life. They are used for communication, work, play and even to buy food. Therefore, when you lose a computer or even just a file from your computer, it is like losing your best friend. You can't back up or replace a best friend, but you can backup files, or your entire computer if desired.

Several back up methods exist. Some computers will automatically back themselves up; you just need to find the folder where the back up is stored. If your computer does not have this function, or you are not sure if the function exists or is working, manually back up your files. For example, after creating an important Microsoft Word document, save it at least twice in at least two different locations.

If however, you lose your entire hard drive, it won't matter how many times you have saved the same document. To avoid this dilemma, save your files on something other than the computer's hard drive. Floppy disks are not commonly used, but they will work for small files. Be ware that floppy disks can be unreliable and often crash just as your computer did.

USB Drives are becoming more popular as a back up tool. A USB drive is a small device that holds large amounts of information. It works like a floppy disk in that you can place files, delete files or move files around within the USB. All recent computers have USB ports that should be able to read any USB device.

CD ROMs are also a popular way to back up your files. A CD ROM looks just like a music CD you would buy in a store, but can hold up to 700 MB of information. This allows for large files or a large amount of small files to be stored on this disk. Once you put information onto a CD ROM, you can not add files or change the files on the disk. This can be one way of ensuring nobody else tampers with your work, but can also be frustrating when you would like to back up a newer version of your work. In this case, a CD RW disk may suit you better. RW stands for re writable disk. On this kind of disk you can add, delete and rewrite files until the disk is full. When using the rewrite option, be sure you do not accidentally rewrite something you wanted to keep the back up of.

Both CD options can be done on most home computers. You will need a CD (possibly two in case the first one ends up as practice!), and a CD burner. Almost all computers sold today, or sold recently, are equipped with a basic CD burner and burning software that is generally simple to use. If your computer is not equipped with these devices, you may purchase a basic CD burner and software for a relatively inexpensive price. Once you have created your back up CD, take care to keep it in a cool dry place where it will be safe from damage.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as data recovery at http://www.wegetyoustarted.com.

Choosing a Data Recovery Company in case of Data Loss!

The choice of a specialist data recovery company in case of severe data loss is really a big deal. When you have lost almost all the important data of the enterprise, which is the backbone of your business, the only hope for the survival of your business is to contact an expert data recovery company, believe or not, its not an easy job to find a professional company for this service in this situation. Any how, you have to take the decision for the survival of your business. Here are a few guidelines for those who have suffered data loss and need appropriate solution in no time.

The most important issue in selecting the right company for your problem is the authentication of the company whom your are going to approach in case of major data loss. You will probably ask this question, will this company recover my data after the disaster? Certainly, if your answer to above question is in affirmative then you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt need to worry about anything else. You can further look for following when you choose a data recovery specialist.

รขโ�ฌยข Work history
รขโ�ฌยข Type of data recovery services
รขโ�ฌยข Clean room facility
รขโ�ฌยข Operating system agnostic
รขโ�ฌยข Expert engineers

The work history and reputation of a data recovery company is very important. A company who has got its fame after working for years would be more trustable and expert than a new one.

A lot of companies have specific area of excellence like some are good in retrieving data from hard drives; some are specialist in raid servers etc. So choose the best company which best suites your requirements.

Make sure that your target company is equipped with clean room support and sterilized facilities; this will help you to give some sort of guarantee that your data will be retrieved successfully. Software that is Operating System Agnostic will operate on many operating systems, so in order to find a recovery specialist, make sure they are really expert to deal with your media/device successfully. The cost factor does influence a lot while searching for someone with excellence in data recovery field, but it is not the primary decision to worry about; especially when you are sure to get your data back, you will not be anxious about other stuff.

Moreover, if you know a bit work history, the services provided and a few cases of successful salvaging of data, then go ahead in full confidence to submit your case to that company. There may be many more points and queries that can be asked to find the best data recovery company for your data loss; but above points will give you a few important ingredients that are possessed by your data recovery service provider. If you have damaged your hard drive due to any reason then find out your desired solution at http://www.optimumrecovery.com/hard_drive_data_recovery.html.

Hard Drive Data Recoveries

In a multi-million dollar enterprise, the hard disk is more or less the storehouse of all information. If the hard disk crashes, it could give a lot of people sleepless nights and headaches. Surprisingly, the most significant threat to hard drives comes in the form of the people who use them.

Advances in technology have ensured that data recovery is possible in most cases. If disk partitioning has been done then it could be only one part which has crashed, making recovery easier. If your hard disk is playing up, then back up and install a new one on an urgent basis.

One way would be to connect the drive to a different computer and access the software recovery system which specializes in this kind of work.

Recovery comes under many guises and financial implications. One can define hard disk failures as logical, where file systems get infected or corrupted and physical, which could be mechanical or electronic in nature. In logical failures, generally scanning and repairing takes care of the problem though it is time consuming. Physical, as the name suggests would mean replacement of parts, circuits etc.

There are software solutions available for the computer-savvy who can take care of certain problems. The cost ranges from $400- $600 for rectifying logical problems and $1200-$2500 for the physical. The success rate for any kind of recovery is around 70% to 90% depending on the severity of the crash. Be aware that software that offers to write on the damaged disk often leads to permanent loss of data.

The best thing to do in such cases is to get people who specialize in this line of work. This would ensure that you do not lose any more data than what is absolutely not avoidable. Backing up of data to counter such situations has proven to be the best method of keeping your information safe from all crashes and other dangers to the computer systems.

Recovery provides detailed information on Data Recovery, Recovery, Data Recovery Services, Hard Drive Data Recoveries and more. Recovery is affiliated with LAN Server Racks.

Disaster Recovery Services: Questions to Ask of a Service Provider

With increasing dependence on systems availability, the recovery of your core servers, applications and network are fundamental in the event of a disaster. In fact, as organisations rely more and more on รขโ�ฌห�anytime, anywhereรขโ�ฌโ�ข connectivity, รขโ�ฌห�systems availabilityรขโ�ฌโ�ข has become synonymous with รขโ�ฌห�disaster recoveryรขโ�ฌโ�ข.

According to industry analyst Gartner, "two out of five enterprises that experience a disaster go out of business within five years. Business continuity plans and disaster recovery services ensure continuity and viability." (Disaster Recovery Plans and Systems are Essential, September 2001)

This article discusses your considerations when selecting a service provider to deliver disaster recovery services รขโ�ฌโ�� a partner on whom the very survival of your business may depend.

Disaster Recovery Focus and Expertise

When reviewing your options for disaster recovery services, the pedigree of potential providers is vital. Here are some key questions to ask:

• What is their core business? If it is the sale of hardware or software, or the supply of Internet or telecommunications services, systems availability will be a secondary consideration รขโ�ฌโ�� an รขโ�ฌห�add-onรขโ�ฌโ�ข to other services or products.
• How many specialist engineers will be available to help you during the short window you require to get your systems up and running again?
• In helping you develop an appropriate disaster recovery plan, will they be more concerned with selling you additional servers or communications links, rather than formulating a cost-effective, multi-subscriber solution that complies with your corporate risk strategy?

Your best choice is an organisation focussed on systems availability, dedicated to the up-time of your key business systems, and with the technical expertise, facilities, economies of scale and procedures to deliver timely disaster recovery in an emergency.

Disaster Recovery Response

When a disaster occurs, time is of the essence.

• How long will you have to wait before you become eligible to make use of your disaster recovery service providerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs facilities?
• Then, once they accept a รขโ�ฌห�declared disasterรขโ�ฌโ�ข, how long will it take to have your systems functional?
• And can they provide examples of disaster declarations and how quickly they responded to bring the affected business applications back online?

Look for a disaster recovery provider who can guarantee to have facilities available to you within a maximum of 12 hours รขโ�ฌโ�� and with proven methodologies and the resources available to assist you in the rapid restoration of your business operations. These include the speed with which they can restore your data onto disaster recovery servers, availability of technology to propagate your standard operating environment onto their workstations, and access to sufficient experienced engineers to help get you up and running again.

Affordable Disaster Recovery

The strategy you choose to protect your business in the event of disaster will inevitably reflect a balance between risk and cost. Many mid-sized businesses cannot justify the cost of real-time application replication, when these applications can be recovered using a multi-subscriber solution within their desired disaster recovery window. Other organisations, however, require instantaneous recovery of applications to meet their disaster recovery strategies.

Your ideal disaster recovery service provider will offer a full range of solutions รขโ�ฌโ�� customised to your specific requirements รขโ�ฌโ�� from the premium option of housing live systems mirrored in real-time, to economical access to multi-subscriber equipment. If some of your applications are more critical than others, perhaps a combination of both solutions will satisfy both your risk and cost objectives.

The fee structure your disaster recovery service provider offers is also a factor:

• Do they require upfront payment for the entire contract period?
• Will you be faced with additional cost if you declare a disaster, or do they include a period of free use of their facilities?
• And are the days you require for regular testing of your disaster recovery plan included in your monthly subscription?

Disaster Recovery Facilities

Important considerations when choosing a service provider are the facilities for your staff within the disaster recovery centre.

• If the worst happens, and you lose access to key premises for an extended period, can your disaster recovery service provider cope?
• If you need to divert your customer contact centre, can the service provider offer necessary telephony equipment and switchboard functionality?
• And will key staff remain committed during the duration of the outage? Factors such as security, parking, kitchen facilities and access to public transport and amenities all come into the equation.

When choosing between a vendor and an independent disaster recovery service provider, questions you should ask include:

• Can they support multiple platforms? If your key applications rely on systems from a range of vendors, can just one of those vendors provide effective disaster recovery services?
• And are replacement servers proactively maintained by experts and supported by spare parts holdings in the same capital city รขโ�ฌโ�� or do they represent a storage facility for redundant equipment offering รขโ�ฌห�best effortรขโ�ฌโ�ข recovery?

Another important consideration is the ability of your disaster recovery service provider to deliver in the event of a disaster scenario affecting your multi-tenanted building, street, city block or even the entire suburb. Where will you come in the pecking order if your provider has committed to providing disaster recovery services to your neighbours? In the next article in this series, we look at how to mitigate your risks in such an event.

Clint Seagrave is Engineering Director of Interactive Pty Ltd one of Australiaรขโ�ฌโ�ขs leading providers of IT services. Established in 1988, and with a team of over 150 service staff รขโ�ฌโ�� supported by a network of thousands of highly trained support staff รขโ�ฌโ�� Interactive is the chosen supplier for critical hardware maintenance and disaster recovery services by 900+ corporations. Entirely focussed on systems availability, Interactive is 100% Australian-owned. Visit http://www.interactive.com.au