November 2007 - Posts
Prologue
Wait up. I hear voices in the wind.
".... I didn't know how to work the program... nobody told me I had to do it... I didn't have any blank CD/DVDs... my friend who is a computer expert told me that it was unnecessary.. I never read all of that crap which pops up when the computer starts... "
What this means to you..
Great answers, but none will get back the photographs of your 'once in a lifetime world tour', or the poetry you painstakingly typed out as it came into your head. They are all gone, my friend, unless you are willing to pay $$$$$ to get them back. Will $$$$$ ensure their safe return? Probably not..
Info section #1
'Backing up' is a term used for the procedure whereby important data is saved to an external device or a device where the media can be removed and stored safely away from the computer. Backup programs are specialized and will save whatever is being backed up in compressed and proprietary formats.
What this means to you..
If you are going to take the trouble to learn how to use a specialized backup program, bear in mind one very important factor. You will ONLY be able to restore the backup file using the SAME backup program, and I do mean the 'SAME'. Same program, same version, same operating system, same configuration, same everything.
Please note that we are talking about backups here, NOT operating system images. There is a difference.
Info section #2
Backups = saves. OK, so rather than 'backup' which infers the use of a 'backup' program, think 'save'. You most likely have a program installed which is well able to save to a medium that can be stored away safely. Do you have any one of the following commercial suites/programs installed on your computer?
- Ahead Nero
- Roxio
- CyberLink
- Ashampoo
- Any other brand of CD 'burning' software
What this means to you..
If you do, then you have the capability to produce useful 'backups'. In all instances, they are as simple as 'drag n drop'. The results can be used in conjunction with almost any computer. What you drag n drop onto a CD/DVD can be as easily dragged n dropped back onto a hard drive.
There are video tutorials available on the installation media or Internet which take you step by step through the process. Look and learn..
Info section #3
If you are going to get into full system backups, purchase an external backup device, or get a second hard drive installed internally. There are 'One Touch' external backup devices which are supplied with software enabling you to do backups of both data and OS images. If you just go for a plain external USB hard drive, you will need to invest in a program like Acronis' TrueImage.
What this means to you..
Never again will you be left stuttering when the computer repair department tells you that all data was lost
Epilogue
Run backup tests to ensure that you know how to backup and restore from backups. Always make more than one backup. This applies to saving to CD/DVD too. Never rely on just one backup.
Also remember that backing up is an ongoing process, as is saving to CD/DVD. Get into the habit of doing regular backups.
The Delivery
From the point where I knew that Vista RTM was on its way, I had a nerve wracking time in MS Connect. I had already downloaded Office 2007 earlier in the day, and was now pacing the floor, continually stopping at the screen to see if Vista was there.
At maybe 21:00 hrs on the evening of November 17th 2006, Vista RTM was in the right position, and the ISO download began. An hour and a half later, the ISO having being securely saved, XP and Nero 6 performed their final task on my computer, creating the Vista RTM installation DVD.
I set the boot order to DVD - HDD, and rebooted. Twenty four minutes later, the computer booted up to a new dawn and no tears. Office 2007 was then installed, and all was done by 00:30 of November 18th 2006.
Teething problems
Scans of Vista Betas, RC1 and 2, and software/hardware web sites had shown that some programs might not work without updates or entirely new versions, but all hardware was looking good.
My Canon scanner installed using the 'XP' drivers, my printer was networked via an XP machine on the home network, and my wireless MS Optical keyboard and mouse were functioning well but without any on screen presence.
I followed up by installing all of the other applications I regularly use, and all of them worked. The only major problem I had was with the ability to burn to optical media. While I recognize that Vista does have 'burn' capability, I like to use 3rd party utilities, and it took me a while to find something on the Internet that worked as I wanted.
Putting aside slow file transfer rates across drives and the home network, and the annoying 'Windows is calculating the time to calculate the time to do not a whole hell of a lot', general operation has been silky smooth and relatively pain free. It became even more pain free after disabling UAC.
Settling down
Windows Vista Update is the mechanism by which improvements and fixes have been distributed and installed. The system has worked very well so far with fixes, patches and updates coming through at regular intervals. Manufacturer web sites have been carrying Vista hardware drivers and software updates for some while now, at least those who are willing to support older hardware/software.
Back to XP?
Absolutely not a chance. The Vista learning curve is not too bad. For sure, some changes have been made but it is still essentially Windows as it has always been. Almost all elements can be customized way more than was possible in previous Windows version if the default settings are not acceptable. Windows search is faster than it has ever been and, for all that is said about Windows Explorer, it does the job.
Vista has introduced ease of use, good looks, slick operation and security in a way that XP never did. It comes at the price of requiring more resources, hard drive space, RAM, video card ability, but anybody who was around at the time of XP's introduction will know that users were faced with the same issues.
Rounding up
A computer costs no more now than it did five years ago. Arguments pertaining to a necessity for greater resources just don't hold up because the base computer available these days starts with a much better specification.
Upgraders should note that upgrading the OS is only just one part of the upgrade process, this being as true now as ever it has been. Trying to get Vista to run on mediocre hardware that pushed XP along is not going to work anymore than getting XP to run on mediocre Windows 98 hardware did.
Vista will not work for everybody. Some will have to invest cash in new hardware and software such that they get the best out of the new operating system, and it is a decision that the individual user has to justify. If XP works, then stay with it, but remember that development of XP has essentially ceased. There is an SP3 roll-up on it's way, but plans for XP beyond SP3 are non existant.
There is no doubt that XP was successful, and over its time has been very well supported but, as a base for a continued future, it has come to an end. The Vista core is a better more secure platform for the future.
Entering the Vista arena at SP1 will make for an easier transition than for those of us who were there at the birth, but think of all of the fun you have missed watching 'a small child' grow.
I have used Vista exclusively since its birth and I don't regret any part of this last year. I will be using Vista exclusively as it matures in its second year, and will continue to use it until my time comes around once again to take part in the testing and birth of the next Windows version.
Windows Vista and XP burning facilities don't tell you much. It is good to be able to see what is happening, how much space is being used, whether it will all fit, organizing the CD/DVD creation structure. There are free utilities that will do this, but at a basic level, and there are commercial applications offering a much better grasp.
Two well known software houses, Roxio and Nero, offer suites of applications (both cost around $100) which include the facility to burn optical media, but not all of us want a suite of applications which take over every last multimedia file on a computer. We may just be happy with what we already use, and are looking for a good commercial grade 'burning' application.
Enter CyberLink Power2Go 6 ...
What you get is a 'burning' application, Vista compatible, that is clear and easy to use. This is the view you see when you first open the application. There is a 
'quickstart' overlay above the main application area, and passing the mouse over each function and format reveals a brief description of what to expect.
This is useful for the newcomer, and can be turned off if you a more advanced user preferring direct access into the various functions from drop down menus.
So what can you expect?
A quick list for you..
- Data CD, DVD, HD DVD and Blu-Ray
- Audio, MP3 and WMA CD. Also MP3 and WMA DVD
- Video CD (VCD), DVD-Video and DVD Folder
- Copy Disc, Burn Disc Image and Save Disc Image
- CD Extra, Mixed Mode CD and HighMat CD
- Erase Disc, Rip Audio, and Audio Converter
Next, a shot of the 'burn' selection screen ...
This is the business part of Power2Go 6, and what you see is the 'Data' selection window. In the top pane is the drive directory and folder/file list.
Using the Windows drag 'n drop facility, you just drag whatever folder or file down to the lower pane. The progress bar at the base of the lower pane tells you how much space is to be taken by your selections.
Click twice on the 'name' below 'Disk Compilation' in the left lower pane, type in the title of the disc, then click on the 'flame' symbol in the bottom right corner to produce your disc.
The next window shows burn progress. It took me some 20 minutes to burn a 2.49gb ISO and two Word documents to a DVD, and the time included producing a paper label complete with ready prepared file list and title.
The CD label facility is not included in the package. CyberLink produce a program called LabelPrint 2 which, when installed alongside Power2Go 6, will allow almost seamless production from compilation selection right through to label and case insert. LabelPrint2 works well in Vista with no apparent faults. It will also support 'Lightscribe', but I can't report on that as my DVD-RW unit does not have that facility.
Vista users get a bonus too. Open your Gadgets box, and you will find a Power2Go gadget which allows simple Drag 'n Drop without the need to open the main program window.
I have used other burning software, and it has worked well enough. However, I do not like invasive suites of applications. Power2Go 6 is a good, down to earth CD/DVD burning application, and I am more than pleased to have both in my software arsenal.
For information, pricing and 30 day trials of the two applications, go to..
http://www.cyberlink.com/
A quick note.. screen shots are courtesy of SnagIt. I will be doing a personal review very soon.