7-Zip (www.7-zip.org)
7-Zip is a file archiver with a very high compression ratio. The compression ratio is claimed to be 2-10% better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip. It integrates fully with the Windows environment. Its 7z format files have self-extracting capability.
7-Zip works in Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP. There is port of the command line version for Linux/Unix. 7-Zip (except for the file Rar29.dll) is free software distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License. The file Rar29.dll is under a mixed license, as it is used to re-create the RAR compression algorithm, which is proprietary.
The interface gives a very comfortable feel. It is well-laid out, and almost explanatory about its usage. Excellent for novices.
Compression ratio results are dependent upon the data used for the tests. Usually 7-Zip compresses to 7z format 30-70% better than the Zip format. And 7-Zip compresses to Zip format 2-10% better than most other Zip-compatible programs.
Wednesday, 29 November 2006
Burrrn - creating audio CDs
Burrrn (http://www.burrrn.net/)
Burrrn is a little tool for creating audio CDs with the content from various audio files. The supported formats are wav, mp3, mpc, ogg, aac, mp4, ape, flac, ofr, wv, tta, m3u, pls, and fpl play lists and cue sheets. Burrrn can read all types of tags from all these formats.
Burrrn uses cdrdao.exe for burning. The user needs to have the corresponding decoding executables and cdrdao.exe to be in the same directory as Burrrn. All the necessary files are including in the installation set and are installed as required by default.
To “Burrrn” a CD, just drop the audio files, play lists or cue sheets on the list, select the writing speed, and press Burrrn. A window will pop up, where one monitor progress.
The user can customize the burning, coding and decoding processes from the Settings.
Burrrn is a little tool for creating audio CDs with the content from various audio files. The supported formats are wav, mp3, mpc, ogg, aac, mp4, ape, flac, ofr, wv, tta, m3u, pls, and fpl play lists and cue sheets. Burrrn can read all types of tags from all these formats.
Burrrn uses cdrdao.exe for burning. The user needs to have the corresponding decoding executables and cdrdao.exe to be in the same directory as Burrrn. All the necessary files are including in the installation set and are installed as required by default.
To “Burrrn” a CD, just drop the audio files, play lists or cue sheets on the list, select the writing speed, and press Burrrn. A window will pop up, where one monitor progress.
The user can customize the burning, coding and decoding processes from the Settings.
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
BurnAtOnce - first freeware CD/DVD Authoring Tool On The Win32 Platform
Burnatonce (http://burnatonce.net/)
Burn At Once claims to be the first freeware CD/DVD authoring tool on the Win32 platform. Actually, it’s is a front-end to various high quality components: cdrdao, ddump, mad (mpeg audio decoder), etc.
Burn At Once has a slick interface and good basic features. The user can create audio and data discs, read discs to image files, burn image files (.bin/.cue., .iso), and erase CD-RW discs. It can also handle DVD discs, which requires the installing of a free but time-limited third-party software. The software supports multisession burning, bootable discs, and most prevalent file formats. It comes with an audio file converter for MP3 to audio CD etc.
It is an interesting project in its early stages of development. Even in its current state, it is a very snappy tool for doing some basic CD-R tasks, and most importantly, it is free.
Burn At Once claims to be the first freeware CD/DVD authoring tool on the Win32 platform. Actually, it’s is a front-end to various high quality components: cdrdao, ddump, mad (mpeg audio decoder), etc.
Burn At Once has a slick interface and good basic features. The user can create audio and data discs, read discs to image files, burn image files (.bin/.cue., .iso), and erase CD-RW discs. It can also handle DVD discs, which requires the installing of a free but time-limited third-party software. The software supports multisession burning, bootable discs, and most prevalent file formats. It comes with an audio file converter for MP3 to audio CD etc.
It is an interesting project in its early stages of development. Even in its current state, it is a very snappy tool for doing some basic CD-R tasks, and most importantly, it is free.
BZip2 - High-Quality Data Compressor
BZip2
(http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/bzip2.htm)
Bzip2 is a freely available, patent-free, high-quality data compressor. It claims to compress files to within 10% to 15% of the best available techniques (the PPM family of statistical compressors), while being around twice as fast at compression and six times faster at decompression.
It compresses most files more effectively than the traditional gzip or Zip, but is slower. This does not come with archiving functions, as bzip2 is only a data compressor. The program itself has no facilities for multiple files, encryption or archive-splitting. It instead relies on separate external utilities such as tar for these tasks.
Bzip2 uses transforms and Huffman coding to encode data. The blocks are all the same size in plaintext, which can be selected by a command-line argument, and are marked in compress text by a bit sequence derived from the decimal value of pi.
Features
The interface is very simple, and almost self-explanatory. This version is simply for compression and decompression of *.bz2 files and does away with many functionalities of the command line version. The newer version is expected to implement all the features found in the command line version.
(http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/bzip2.htm)
Bzip2 is a freely available, patent-free, high-quality data compressor. It claims to compress files to within 10% to 15% of the best available techniques (the PPM family of statistical compressors), while being around twice as fast at compression and six times faster at decompression.
It compresses most files more effectively than the traditional gzip or Zip, but is slower. This does not come with archiving functions, as bzip2 is only a data compressor. The program itself has no facilities for multiple files, encryption or archive-splitting. It instead relies on separate external utilities such as tar for these tasks.
Bzip2 uses transforms and Huffman coding to encode data. The blocks are all the same size in plaintext, which can be selected by a command-line argument, and are marked in compress text by a bit sequence derived from the decimal value of pi.
Features
The interface is very simple, and almost self-explanatory. This version is simply for compression and decompression of *.bz2 files and does away with many functionalities of the command line version. The newer version is expected to implement all the features found in the command line version.
Monday, 27 November 2006
Zip Genius - Compress Files to Almost any Kind of Archive
Zip Genius (http://www.zipgenius.it/)
Zip Genius lets you compress files to almost any kind of archive. It supports more than 20 compressed archive formats, including CD/DVD-ROM image file, RAR, ARJ, ACE, CAB, SQX, OpenOffice.org documents and 7-zip. It can also pre-compress executable files going to be added to a Zip archive.
Installation
The download is in the form of an .exe file. Click on the file to start the basic installer, and follow the prompts. The program links to the file manager by default, and will associate itself with compression file on the system. This can be adjusted in the program via the Tools/ Option.
The Interface
The layout of Zip Genius has the XP look. There are quite a few option to change the look such as large icons, grid separation, filters, folders split view, and more.
The display is very orderly and has been designed in a systematic fashion. The Option area is found in the Tools menu, and gives plenty of option to customize it.
A great feature of Zip Genius is the window showing the statistics of the file you might be working with. The display features pie charts listing the least and most compressed file in the archive, as well as medium compression, folder and required disk space.
Zip Genius places a small icon in the task bar, associates itself with your compression files on your computer, and places menu choices when you right click in your file manager.
Features
Zip Genius is loaded with lots of great features that make working with compression files a breeze. It comes complete with the “First Step” feature, which can be accessed easily by using the [F1] key. From here you can pick exactly which process you wish to perform, and the Wizard will guide you through the whole process. The either process is fully explained and the final compression process is really fast.
It can make .exe files, and carry out multivolume compression. The Expert Layout feature gives added choices, auto signature and commenting. Then there is Crypto zip-a tool to encrypt compression files.
Another feature is the presets for actually making backups of your most important directories and files on your system. Clicking the Backup menu area shows choices like Windows Registry files, etc., and it has small, simple and effective inbuilt FTP program.
Zip Genius lets you compress files to almost any kind of archive. It supports more than 20 compressed archive formats, including CD/DVD-ROM image file, RAR, ARJ, ACE, CAB, SQX, OpenOffice.org documents and 7-zip. It can also pre-compress executable files going to be added to a Zip archive.
Installation
The download is in the form of an .exe file. Click on the file to start the basic installer, and follow the prompts. The program links to the file manager by default, and will associate itself with compression file on the system. This can be adjusted in the program via the Tools/ Option.
The Interface
The layout of Zip Genius has the XP look. There are quite a few option to change the look such as large icons, grid separation, filters, folders split view, and more.
The display is very orderly and has been designed in a systematic fashion. The Option area is found in the Tools menu, and gives plenty of option to customize it.
A great feature of Zip Genius is the window showing the statistics of the file you might be working with. The display features pie charts listing the least and most compressed file in the archive, as well as medium compression, folder and required disk space.
Zip Genius places a small icon in the task bar, associates itself with your compression files on your computer, and places menu choices when you right click in your file manager.
Features
Zip Genius is loaded with lots of great features that make working with compression files a breeze. It comes complete with the “First Step” feature, which can be accessed easily by using the [F1] key. From here you can pick exactly which process you wish to perform, and the Wizard will guide you through the whole process. The either process is fully explained and the final compression process is really fast.
It can make .exe files, and carry out multivolume compression. The Expert Layout feature gives added choices, auto signature and commenting. Then there is Crypto zip-a tool to encrypt compression files.
Another feature is the presets for actually making backups of your most important directories and files on your system. Clicking the Backup menu area shows choices like Windows Registry files, etc., and it has small, simple and effective inbuilt FTP program.
Sunday, 26 November 2006
System Tap GUI - Running Linux Kernel
System Tap GUI (http://sourceware.org/systemtap)
System Tap simplifies the gathering of information about the running Linux kernel, and therefore, assists in the diagnosis of performance or functional problems. It eliminates the otherwise tedious and detailed sequence of work to collect data.
System Tap comes with a simple command line interface and scripting language. System Tap in its current state of development is a useful tools for developers. The latest System Tap GUI makes it more user-friendly for Linux.
System Tap GUI is a fully-featured IDE, including many tools intended to ease in the development of System Tap Scripts. This application requires GTK+ version 2.2.x and System Tap JRE (these are available from the Web site for download).
System Tap Browsers:
He System Tap GUI has three browsers: Probe Alias, Function, and Kernel Source. The Probe Alias and the Function browsers allow the user to view Tap set code. (A Tap set is a set of functions in a given kernel subsystem that exports data about that system).
The Kernel Source Browser allows the user to navigate and view kernel source files, and click on a specific line of code in the kernel source file that they wish to probe. The IDE will generate a skeleton probe for the requested line of kernel source.
The Editor
The System Tap GUI’s IDE has a full-featured editor for the System Tap language. This editor includes context-assistance, suggesting completion for probe aliases and functions as the user types. The editor also provides syntax highlighting for the scripting language.
Graphing
System Tap GUI also has visualization tools, allowing you to see your data. The program can generate multiple types of graphs from arbitrary System Tap scripts, including line charts and histograms.
System Tap simplifies the gathering of information about the running Linux kernel, and therefore, assists in the diagnosis of performance or functional problems. It eliminates the otherwise tedious and detailed sequence of work to collect data.
System Tap comes with a simple command line interface and scripting language. System Tap in its current state of development is a useful tools for developers. The latest System Tap GUI makes it more user-friendly for Linux.
System Tap GUI is a fully-featured IDE, including many tools intended to ease in the development of System Tap Scripts. This application requires GTK+ version 2.2.x and System Tap JRE (these are available from the Web site for download).
System Tap Browsers:
He System Tap GUI has three browsers: Probe Alias, Function, and Kernel Source. The Probe Alias and the Function browsers allow the user to view Tap set code. (A Tap set is a set of functions in a given kernel subsystem that exports data about that system).
The Kernel Source Browser allows the user to navigate and view kernel source files, and click on a specific line of code in the kernel source file that they wish to probe. The IDE will generate a skeleton probe for the requested line of kernel source.
The Editor
The System Tap GUI’s IDE has a full-featured editor for the System Tap language. This editor includes context-assistance, suggesting completion for probe aliases and functions as the user types. The editor also provides syntax highlighting for the scripting language.
Graphing
System Tap GUI also has visualization tools, allowing you to see your data. The program can generate multiple types of graphs from arbitrary System Tap scripts, including line charts and histograms.
Prime95 - Finding New Mersenne Prime Numbers
Prime95 (www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm)
Prime95 has been designed as a part of GIMPS, distributed computing project dedicated to finding new Mersenne prime numbers. As of September 2006, ten new Mersenne prime numbers have been found. The Linux-based version is called M Prime.
Over the years, Prime95 has become extremely popular among PC enthusiasts and over lockers as a stability testing utility. It includes a “Torture Test” mode designed specifically for testing PC subsystems for errors in order to help ensure the correct operation of Prime95 on that system. Now, the functional running of Prime95 is such that it effectively stress tests a PC.
The stress test in Prime95 can be configured to better test various components of the computer by changing the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size. Small and In-Place modes primarily test specific components of the CPU, whereas the Blend made tests everything, including the memory. Then, for the more advanced and willing user, there is the Custom mode that allows you to customize the system.
Prime95 is designed to subject the CPU to an incredibly intense workload, and to halt when it encounters even one minor error. Unlike other benchmarking software, it does not continue operations with errors.
Since the original purpose behind the software has been to search for prime numbers, it has been designed as a distributed program (that is, it spreads the work among large numbers, of computer to find the prime numbers). For stress-testing the system, the user needs to click on the “Just Stress Testing” button when running the program for the first time.
To test the computer, run Prime95 and click the Option menu and then select “Torture Test”. Then select a test and click OK. Run the test for a few hours.
If you want to be through, then let it run for 24 hours. To stop the test, click the Test menu and then click stop.
Prime95 checks its calculations against known results, so if something goes wrong it will stop automatically. It’s also been known on certain occasions to crash unstable machines. If it crashes or finishes with an error, then there is a problem with your hardware.
Prime95 has been designed as a part of GIMPS, distributed computing project dedicated to finding new Mersenne prime numbers. As of September 2006, ten new Mersenne prime numbers have been found. The Linux-based version is called M Prime.
Over the years, Prime95 has become extremely popular among PC enthusiasts and over lockers as a stability testing utility. It includes a “Torture Test” mode designed specifically for testing PC subsystems for errors in order to help ensure the correct operation of Prime95 on that system. Now, the functional running of Prime95 is such that it effectively stress tests a PC.
The stress test in Prime95 can be configured to better test various components of the computer by changing the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size. Small and In-Place modes primarily test specific components of the CPU, whereas the Blend made tests everything, including the memory. Then, for the more advanced and willing user, there is the Custom mode that allows you to customize the system.
Prime95 is designed to subject the CPU to an incredibly intense workload, and to halt when it encounters even one minor error. Unlike other benchmarking software, it does not continue operations with errors.
Since the original purpose behind the software has been to search for prime numbers, it has been designed as a distributed program (that is, it spreads the work among large numbers, of computer to find the prime numbers). For stress-testing the system, the user needs to click on the “Just Stress Testing” button when running the program for the first time.
To test the computer, run Prime95 and click the Option menu and then select “Torture Test”. Then select a test and click OK. Run the test for a few hours.
If you want to be through, then let it run for 24 hours. To stop the test, click the Test menu and then click stop.
Prime95 checks its calculations against known results, so if something goes wrong it will stop automatically. It’s also been known on certain occasions to crash unstable machines. If it crashes or finishes with an error, then there is a problem with your hardware.
Saturday, 25 November 2006
GParted - translates to Gnome Partition Editor,manipulating filesystems
GParted (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/)
GParted translates to Gnome Partition Editor. It is used for manipulating filesystems, that is create, resize, etc. The stand-out feature is that it is used for creating space for new operating systems, and for disk imaging.
The purpose of GParted is to allow the individual to take a hard disk and change the partition organization there in, while preserving the partition contents.
GParted maintains a very simple GUI. It is downloaded as a “live CD”. Iso image, from which a bootable CD can be created for the system.
There are some Linux distributions that are Debian-based, and use a software called apt. Certain other are Red Hat based, and use a system software called yum (yumex, kyum). To download and install GParted, use.
# yum install gparted
or
#apt-get install gparted
The Interface
The first window that opens when GParted is started is as shown.
Upon clicking the GParted menu, a pop-down menu is presented. The user can select to refresh the display of the drive on the system. The second choice, Devices, allows to choose the hard drive whose partitions are to be modified. This is useful if there is more than one hard drive. The third option under the Gparted menu is used to obtain more information.
The Edit menu shows two greyed-out functions that are quite useful. Undo and apply. These options may also be seen in the toolbar. To activate them, you have to choose the partition to be modified.
Then, under the View menu, the Hard Disk Information Panel display details about the hard disk, such as model, size, etc. This panel is most useful in a multi-hard-disk system, where the information is used to confirm that the hard disk being examined is the one that is wanted. The most important menu is the partition menu. It allows you to do many operations.
How to use it
Delete is selected if you want to delete a partition. To perform the delete, you must first select the partition. You may also format any partition to a filesystem that is supported in the menu under “Format To”.
The user may also format any partition to a filesystem that is supported in the menu.
Creating a new partition
The New button on the toolbar allows you to create a new partition, if you have already selected an unallocated area. A new window appears and lets you choose the size you want, and also specify the kind of partition: Primary, Extended, or Logical. It also allows you to specify the filesystem.
GParted translates to Gnome Partition Editor. It is used for manipulating filesystems, that is create, resize, etc. The stand-out feature is that it is used for creating space for new operating systems, and for disk imaging.
The purpose of GParted is to allow the individual to take a hard disk and change the partition organization there in, while preserving the partition contents.
GParted maintains a very simple GUI. It is downloaded as a “live CD”. Iso image, from which a bootable CD can be created for the system.
There are some Linux distributions that are Debian-based, and use a software called apt. Certain other are Red Hat based, and use a system software called yum (yumex, kyum). To download and install GParted, use.
# yum install gparted
or
#apt-get install gparted
The Interface
The first window that opens when GParted is started is as shown.
Upon clicking the GParted menu, a pop-down menu is presented. The user can select to refresh the display of the drive on the system. The second choice, Devices, allows to choose the hard drive whose partitions are to be modified. This is useful if there is more than one hard drive. The third option under the Gparted menu is used to obtain more information.
The Edit menu shows two greyed-out functions that are quite useful. Undo and apply. These options may also be seen in the toolbar. To activate them, you have to choose the partition to be modified.
Then, under the View menu, the Hard Disk Information Panel display details about the hard disk, such as model, size, etc. This panel is most useful in a multi-hard-disk system, where the information is used to confirm that the hard disk being examined is the one that is wanted. The most important menu is the partition menu. It allows you to do many operations.
How to use it
Delete is selected if you want to delete a partition. To perform the delete, you must first select the partition. You may also format any partition to a filesystem that is supported in the menu under “Format To”.
The user may also format any partition to a filesystem that is supported in the menu.
Creating a new partition
The New button on the toolbar allows you to create a new partition, if you have already selected an unallocated area. A new window appears and lets you choose the size you want, and also specify the kind of partition: Primary, Extended, or Logical. It also allows you to specify the filesystem.
Partition Logic - free hard disk partitioning and data management tool
Partition Logic (http://partitionlogic.org.uk)
Partition Logic is a free hard disk partitioning and data management tool. It can mirror entire hard disks to another as in Norton Ghost, and it can manipulate partitions-create, delete, format, etc.
Partition Logic boots from a CD or floppy and runs as a stand-alone system, independent of the regular operating system. Therefore, it is very light (in terms of size) and supports most basic PC hardware without the need for any additional work or configuration. It has certain hardware limitations (like no support for SATA hard disks), which are promised to be rectified in future updates.
Installation
Partition Logic comes as a self-contained CD image with its own operating system (Visopsys) Included on the disk. It is not installed as a Windows/Mac/Linux program. It is written to a blank CD from which your computer can be booted to perform the desired operation.
Partition Logic is distributed as a compressed Zip file. The Zip file contains just the CD image, with the .iso file extension. The installation process consists of unzipping the ISO file and burning it to a CD. However, the burning application must typically be instructed to burn from a disk image. It does not burn like a regular data disk.
How to Use It
The menu bar contains three menus: File, Disk, and Partition. Operating around is fairly simple, since the most used commands are in the form of action buttons. The commands under the Disk menu are not found as action buttons.
The disk lists shows the physical hard disks detected on the system, and displays the size and other details of each. Clicking on a disk selects it, and it will subsequently change to show the partitions 9on the new disk. The partition list is clickable list of partitions on the current disk. In order to do an operation on a partition or empty space, it must first be selected.
Among the action buttons (that is, the commands), there are two that are very interesting.
1. Undo- This is use to discard any pending changes that have not been committed to disk using the write changes functions. Examples of the various operations that can be undone are partition creation and deletion, setting or un-setting the active partition, and hiding or un-hiding a partition.
2. Write Changes- The write changes function is used to commit any pending changes to the disk.
Carrying out operations in Partition Logic is fairly simple. For example, to make a new partition, you Use the create function. The user must first select some empty space in either the partition diagram or the partition list. Clicking this button or menu item raises a dialog window to prompt the user for information (location, size, etc.) about the partition to be created. No changes are made on disk until the user commits than using the Write Changes button.
Partition Logic boots from a CD or floppy and runs as a stand-alone system, independent of the regular operating system. Therefore, it is very light (in terms of size) and supports most basic PC hardware without the need for any additional work or configuration. It has certain hardware limitations (like no support for SATA hard disks), which are promised to be rectified in future updates.
Installation
Partition Logic comes as a self-contained CD image with its own operating system (Visopsys) Included on the disk. It is not installed as a Windows/Mac/Linux program. It is written to a blank CD from which your computer can be booted to perform the desired operation.
Partition Logic is distributed as a compressed Zip file. The Zip file contains just the CD image, with the .iso file extension. The installation process consists of unzipping the ISO file and burning it to a CD. However, the burning application must typically be instructed to burn from a disk image. It does not burn like a regular data disk.
How to Use It
The menu bar contains three menus: File, Disk, and Partition. Operating around is fairly simple, since the most used commands are in the form of action buttons. The commands under the Disk menu are not found as action buttons.
The disk lists shows the physical hard disks detected on the system, and displays the size and other details of each. Clicking on a disk selects it, and it will subsequently change to show the partitions 9on the new disk. The partition list is clickable list of partitions on the current disk. In order to do an operation on a partition or empty space, it must first be selected.
Among the action buttons (that is, the commands), there are two that are very interesting.
1. Undo- This is use to discard any pending changes that have not been committed to disk using the write changes functions. Examples of the various operations that can be undone are partition creation and deletion, setting or un-setting the active partition, and hiding or un-hiding a partition.
2. Write Changes- The write changes function is used to commit any pending changes to the disk.
Carrying out operations in Partition Logic is fairly simple. For example, to make a new partition, you Use the create function. The user must first select some empty space in either the partition diagram or the partition list. Clicking this button or menu item raises a dialog window to prompt the user for information (location, size, etc.) about the partition to be created. No changes are made on disk until the user commits than using the Write Changes button.
Test Disk- Open Source Data Recovery Software
Test Disk (www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk.html)
Test Disk is a powerful data recovery software, and was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable. These may be caused by faulty software, viruses, or human error. With Test Disk, even partition Table (a file system table that contains information about how many and which types of partitions are on the disk) recovery because really easy.
When a hard disk drive crashes, the first things to do is to make sure no more data is written to the drive. If we have a situation where the partition table is all right, but critical operating system file have been damaged. Windows will not boot. In such a case, if there is another OS installed on the system under consideration, the HDD may still be read. So, you can gain access to the file on your hard drive with a crashed OS by booting the computer with a DOS boot disk and than use a DOS- compatible file recovery program such a Test Disk.
Test Disk capable of restoring lost information in a matter of minutes. It supports all major operating systems, and also RAID-configured drives. It has Linux versions as well.
Test Disk queries the BIOS or the OS in order to find the hard disks and their characteristics. It does a quick check of the disk’s structure and compares it with the Partition Table for entry errors.
If the Partition Table does have entry errors, Test Disk can repair them. If there are missing partitions or a completely empty Partition Table, Test Disk can search for partitions and create a new table or even a new Master Boot Record (MBR) if necessary. Now, a master boot record (MBR) is the first sector (“sector zero”) of a partitioned hard disk, and its responsible for retaining vital system information such as the partition table, and the Bootstrap loader.
Test Disk has features for both novices and experts. For amateurs, Test Disk can be used to collect details information about a non- booting drive, which can then be sent to data recovery professionals for analysis. Those more familiar with such procedures should find Test Disk a handy tool in performing on-site recovery.
1. Upon starting Test Disk, you get a screen at the top that lists your available physical drives.
2. Highlight the drive you wish to recover and select the Analyze option.
3. This will show the current partition structure, and upon hitting [Enter], Will start searching the drive to see whether the actual partitions match. Make a point to take this information down.
4. Once this search is complete, hit [Enter] again. It’s a good idea to run the “Search!” option to do a more comprehensive search of the drives.
5. If you initially had no partitions shown because of a damaged or wiped partition table., Test Disk will now hopefully have rediscovered the partitions.
6. Verify the information and select Write to save the new information onto the disk. If removing your partitions was the only damage you did, you should now be up and running again.
7. If you have erased or damaged your Partition Table, nothing will be displayed under the listing, as above. In this case, you should select the “Advanced” option. The tool will assist you in revamping your HDD in the same manner, as above.
Test Disk will compare the boot sector to the backup boot sector. If they are identical, it can do nothing more, but if they are different, it will ask you if you wish to over write the boot sector with the information from the backup.
Friday, 24 November 2006
Memtest86
Memtest86 (www.memtest86.com)
Memtest86 is a RAM reliability tester. The underlying thesis is that a correctly-functioning computer should be able to store data in the RAM with 100 per cent accuracy. If it does not, then it will be unstable and prone to crashes.
Memtest86 is designed to stress-test the computer’s RAM for errors. It is designed to run from a bootable floppy disk or CD-ROM, or from a suitable bootstrap loader, without an operating system being present. The tests are sufficiently harsh for it to find otherwise unrecognized problems on machines that appear to work normally.
Installation
For a Windows installation, you need to download either the Pre-Complied Windows package, for building a bootable floppy disk, or an ISO (Zip version) to create a bootable CD. After the file download is complete, you decompress the file(s). To extract, right-click on the downloaded file and select the “Extract All” option. The extract option will let you choose where the files will be extracted to.
To build a bootable floppy, insert a floppy in the drive, then go to the folder where the files were extracted and click on the Install icon. Once the install is complete, the floppy disk will appear to be unformatted by Windows.
To build a bootable CD, use your CD burning software to create an image from the unzipped ISO file.
Since Memtest86 is a standalone program, it dose not require any operating system support for execution. It can be used with any PC regardless of what operating system, if any, is installed.
Features
Memory Sizing
This is one of the major features of Memtest85. The BIOS in modern PCs often reserves several sections of memory for its use, and also to communicate information to the OS. It is just as important to test these reserved memory blocks as it is for the reminder of the memory. For properly regardless of what the eventual use is. Memtest86 tests these reserved areas of memory.
Testing Algorithms
The algorithms resort to a set of nine different tests that have been arranged in a order to detect the maximum errors in the minimum time.
How to use it
Memtest86 needs to be run for several hours to fully evaluate the RAM. The best way to use the system is to set it up to run overnight, for a fully rigorous test. This will allow Memtest86 to run long enough to achieve full (read: 100 per cent) coverage, and identify RAM that frequently corrupts the data written to it.
If Memtest86 finds an error, it will stop and report it. If there is an error, you should consider replacing you RAM, or at the very least, verifying that your machine is correctly configured.
Memtest86 is a RAM reliability tester. The underlying thesis is that a correctly-functioning computer should be able to store data in the RAM with 100 per cent accuracy. If it does not, then it will be unstable and prone to crashes.
Memtest86 is designed to stress-test the computer’s RAM for errors. It is designed to run from a bootable floppy disk or CD-ROM, or from a suitable bootstrap loader, without an operating system being present. The tests are sufficiently harsh for it to find otherwise unrecognized problems on machines that appear to work normally.
Installation
For a Windows installation, you need to download either the Pre-Complied Windows package, for building a bootable floppy disk, or an ISO (Zip version) to create a bootable CD. After the file download is complete, you decompress the file(s). To extract, right-click on the downloaded file and select the “Extract All” option. The extract option will let you choose where the files will be extracted to.
To build a bootable floppy, insert a floppy in the drive, then go to the folder where the files were extracted and click on the Install icon. Once the install is complete, the floppy disk will appear to be unformatted by Windows.
To build a bootable CD, use your CD burning software to create an image from the unzipped ISO file.
Since Memtest86 is a standalone program, it dose not require any operating system support for execution. It can be used with any PC regardless of what operating system, if any, is installed.
Features
Memory Sizing
This is one of the major features of Memtest85. The BIOS in modern PCs often reserves several sections of memory for its use, and also to communicate information to the OS. It is just as important to test these reserved memory blocks as it is for the reminder of the memory. For properly regardless of what the eventual use is. Memtest86 tests these reserved areas of memory.
Testing Algorithms
The algorithms resort to a set of nine different tests that have been arranged in a order to detect the maximum errors in the minimum time.
How to use it
Memtest86 needs to be run for several hours to fully evaluate the RAM. The best way to use the system is to set it up to run overnight, for a fully rigorous test. This will allow Memtest86 to run long enough to achieve full (read: 100 per cent) coverage, and identify RAM that frequently corrupts the data written to it.
If Memtest86 finds an error, it will stop and report it. If there is an error, you should consider replacing you RAM, or at the very least, verifying that your machine is correctly configured.
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Look At Both Type Of Software
1. Longevity
OSS, since it allows modification by all, can survive in its current form for a long time. Users need not worry about the lack of vendor support or feel compelled to upgrade. PS is supported and maintained only by the vendor, so the life of a software is linked to that of its vendor. Commercial organization, while choosing a PS, cannot consider the performance of the program in isolation: they also have to consider the financial foundation and long-term business viability of the vendor. A user would be left in the lurch if the vendor were to close down in the near future.
2. Quality
Peer review, an excellent mechanism for identifying and resolving shortcoming in a product, can be implemented in OSS since anyone can see the code. The greater the number of people scrutinizing the code, the greater the chances of bugs being discovered. In contrast, PS code is usually offered for review only to select group, so peer review is not as rigorous. The resulting code, therefore is not as bug free as OSS. For example, experts have found that Linux has fewer bugs than Windows. (http://news.com.com/Security+research+suggests+Linux+has+fewer+flaws/2100-1002_3-5489804.html)
3. Portability
While the PC is dominate computing platform, other computing devices are becoming popular. It is easy for an OSS to be ported to other platforms, since contributors with the relevant expertise can make necessary modification. A PS vendor’s expertise is limited to the platform it is currently would be influenced by many factors such is profitability.
4. Compatibility
The contributory nature of OSS requires that standards and specifications be open so that additions and/or modification can be easily made. Business sense dictates that product differentiation is a good strategy leading to incompatible products from different PS vendors. A user planning to switch between different PS vendors needs to consider the cost of converting existing data from the older format to the newer one. This forces users to ignore better software, and acts as an artificial barrier to competition.
5. Impact of Negative Business Practices
OSS products can be supported by any person with required expertise; this can be from any service provider. PS can be supported only by a single entity. This allows the vendor to indulge in practices that could harm to user in the long term – like offering a PS for free to drive out competition, and later increasing prices.
6. Response time
Only the PS vendor can modify the code in response to an attack or to add a feature; users have to wait till such an event. OSS is enriched by newer features contributed by many programmers. The decentralized nature of the OSS development allows for faster incremental change to OSS. Users with specific needs can customize the software either personally or with the aid of any knowledgeable person.
OSS, since it allows modification by all, can survive in its current form for a long time. Users need not worry about the lack of vendor support or feel compelled to upgrade. PS is supported and maintained only by the vendor, so the life of a software is linked to that of its vendor. Commercial organization, while choosing a PS, cannot consider the performance of the program in isolation: they also have to consider the financial foundation and long-term business viability of the vendor. A user would be left in the lurch if the vendor were to close down in the near future.
2. Quality
Peer review, an excellent mechanism for identifying and resolving shortcoming in a product, can be implemented in OSS since anyone can see the code. The greater the number of people scrutinizing the code, the greater the chances of bugs being discovered. In contrast, PS code is usually offered for review only to select group, so peer review is not as rigorous. The resulting code, therefore is not as bug free as OSS. For example, experts have found that Linux has fewer bugs than Windows. (http://news.com.com/Security+research+suggests+Linux+has+fewer+flaws/2100-1002_3-5489804.html)
3. Portability
While the PC is dominate computing platform, other computing devices are becoming popular. It is easy for an OSS to be ported to other platforms, since contributors with the relevant expertise can make necessary modification. A PS vendor’s expertise is limited to the platform it is currently would be influenced by many factors such is profitability.
4. Compatibility
The contributory nature of OSS requires that standards and specifications be open so that additions and/or modification can be easily made. Business sense dictates that product differentiation is a good strategy leading to incompatible products from different PS vendors. A user planning to switch between different PS vendors needs to consider the cost of converting existing data from the older format to the newer one. This forces users to ignore better software, and acts as an artificial barrier to competition.
5. Impact of Negative Business Practices
OSS products can be supported by any person with required expertise; this can be from any service provider. PS can be supported only by a single entity. This allows the vendor to indulge in practices that could harm to user in the long term – like offering a PS for free to drive out competition, and later increasing prices.
6. Response time
Only the PS vendor can modify the code in response to an attack or to add a feature; users have to wait till such an event. OSS is enriched by newer features contributed by many programmers. The decentralized nature of the OSS development allows for faster incremental change to OSS. Users with specific needs can customize the software either personally or with the aid of any knowledgeable person.
Monday, 20 November 2006
Why Open-Source?
By definition open source software is -
Open source software's is the way to go, You may ask why? apart from being free there are many more reasons as described below:
1). Longevity
2). Quality
3). Portability
4). Compatibility
5). Impact of Negative Business Practices
6). Response Time
Open-source software is computer software whose source code is available under a copyright license that permits users to study, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is the most prominent example of open source development.Don't get confused between Open source and Free software, the difference between free software and open source is that you can modify open source code according with its licensing terms but you don't have access to source code for Freeware software.
Open source software's is the way to go, You may ask why? apart from being free there are many more reasons as described below:
1). Longevity
2). Quality
3). Portability
4). Compatibility
5). Impact of Negative Business Practices
6). Response Time
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