Persistence Unlimited » Tools http://persistenceunlimited.com Goal Setting and Productivity for People Who Like Technology Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:19:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 MyDiary: Cool Journaling App for iPhone/iTouch http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/02/mydiary-cool-journaling-app-for-iphoneitouch/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/02/mydiary-cool-journaling-app-for-iphoneitouch/#comments Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:59:37 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/02/mydiary-cool-journaling-app-for-iphoneitouch/ mydiary_for_iphone

Pursuant to my last post about keeping a 100 year old journal, found a .99 cent journaling program for the iphone / ipod touch in the App store called MyDiary.

This software closely mimics the journal approach of the small pocket calendar I was talking about before. Plus it feels similar too – with exception of the pen to paper tactile sense.

I've been using it right at 1 month and here are my thoughts...

 

Again, one of the cool things about MyDiary is the fact that it resembles the day by day calendar I was describing in the prior post. Each time you hit the new post button [+] you start with a new date where you can do your journal entry. This is an advantage over paper journals because when you miss a day in a paper journal, you get a blank spot.  In MyDiary, there are no blanks, it just goes to the next entry. 

Another advantage is obviously the portability. You carry your iPhone or iPod touch with you anyway, here you have your journal in your pocket with you too. I put the application on the first screen so I see it every time I turn on my iTouch.  So I am prompted to make a journal entry every day – even when I wasn’t intending to.

Privacy

There is simple dial controlled password feature of MyDiary.  This isn’t the most secure code on the planet as someone could brute force break it in a couple hours if they really wanted in.  The code dialer resembles an old combination lock you’d use to lock your bike to a rack.  By simply going through the numbers 0001, 0002, etc.  You’d eventually hit the golden code.  Maybe they’d consider doing a 10 minute lockout if you dialed 3 passwords incorrectly.  Or they might consider making it a 5 or 6 digit code, which increases the brute force time.

Either way, the code IS a better security than a paper based journal.

Other Features

Widescreen (yay!)- Most appreciatively, they’ve included widescreen entry and editing.  This, of course, makes text entry much easier for giants like me. 

Email journal entries to yourself or others – If privacy isn’t your biggest concern, you can email your journal entries all over the world.  I can see this possibly being handy if you’ve got an email to Twitter or FaceBook account set up and wanted to keep your Twitters in your journal as well.  Simply do an entry and choose the email button.  Just be careful not to send your entry about what’s going on between you and that cute co-worker up the hall ;)

Auto backups through iTunes – The reviews in the app store express concern about no backup feature.  I did some poking around and found the database is pulled into an iTunes backup when you dock your device.  I contacted the developer and he said that was true.  If you factory reset your iPhone you’ll get your MyDiary entries back. 

Bugs and wishes

MyDiary does have a few small bugs. First and foremost I will say that it has not crashed once on my iPod touch. That is a good thing.

But in widescreen mode, there is no way to go back to the main screen when you complete an entry.  You have to physically rotate the iPhone to go to portrait mode to get back.  So if you are editing one of your diary entries, you hit the done button, nothing happens. You must go rotate your device in order to see the back arrow button. This is a small oversight that I am sure will be easily corrected in the next version.

The other thing I would like to see is a way to a way to back up outside of using the iTunes application. As I mentioned, iTunes does backup your MyDiary database.  The database itself is not encrypted.  However, finding it on a computer is difficult and virtually impossible to find on an iPhone itself without doing major surgery.

But it would just feel a little bit better if there was a button that said backup and you could copy your database in an encrypted format to a hard drive of a computer or e-mail the encrypted database to yourself.

But overall, I consider MyDiary an excellent substitution for the paper based journal I mentioned in the prior post.  It is a convenient way to keep track of your life with some bonus features thrown in for good measure.

What are your thoughts?

Link: MyDiary in the App Store 0.99 cents

Developer website: MyDiary for iphone/iTouch

]]>

mydiary_for_iphone

Pursuant to my last post about keeping a 100 year old journal, found a .99 cent journaling program for the iphone / ipod touch in the App store called MyDiary.

This software closely mimics the journal approach of the small pocket calendar I was talking about before. Plus it feels similar too – with exception of the pen to paper tactile sense.

I’ve been using it right at 1 month and here are my thoughts…

 

Again, one of the cool things about MyDiary is the fact that it resembles the day by day calendar I was describing in the prior post. Each time you hit the new post button [+] you start with a new date where you can do your journal entry. This is an advantage over paper journals because when you miss a day in a paper journal, you get a blank spot.  In MyDiary, there are no blanks, it just goes to the next entry. 

Another advantage is obviously the portability. You carry your iPhone or iPod touch with you anyway, here you have your journal in your pocket with you too. I put the application on the first screen so I see it every time I turn on my iTouch.  So I am prompted to make a journal entry every day – even when I wasn’t intending to.

Privacy

There is simple dial controlled password feature of MyDiary.  This isn’t the most secure code on the planet as someone could brute force break it in a couple hours if they really wanted in.  The code dialer resembles an old combination lock you’d use to lock your bike to a rack.  By simply going through the numbers 0001, 0002, etc.  You’d eventually hit the golden code.  Maybe they’d consider doing a 10 minute lockout if you dialed 3 passwords incorrectly.  Or they might consider making it a 5 or 6 digit code, which increases the brute force time.

Either way, the code IS a better security than a paper based journal.

Other Features

Widescreen (yay!)- Most appreciatively, they’ve included widescreen entry and editing.  This, of course, makes text entry much easier for giants like me. 

Email journal entries to yourself or others – If privacy isn’t your biggest concern, you can email your journal entries all over the world.  I can see this possibly being handy if you’ve got an email to Twitter or FaceBook account set up and wanted to keep your Twitters in your journal as well.  Simply do an entry and choose the email button.  Just be careful not to send your entry about what’s going on between you and that cute co-worker up the hall ;)

Auto backups through iTunes – The reviews in the app store express concern about no backup feature.  I did some poking around and found the database is pulled into an iTunes backup when you dock your device.  I contacted the developer and he said that was true.  If you factory reset your iPhone you’ll get your MyDiary entries back. 

Bugs and wishes

MyDiary does have a few small bugs. First and foremost I will say that it has not crashed once on my iPod touch. That is a good thing.

But in widescreen mode, there is no way to go back to the main screen when you complete an entry.  You have to physically rotate the iPhone to go to portrait mode to get back.  So if you are editing one of your diary entries, you hit the done button, nothing happens. You must go rotate your device in order to see the back arrow button. This is a small oversight that I am sure will be easily corrected in the next version.

The other thing I would like to see is a way to a way to back up outside of using the iTunes application. As I mentioned, iTunes does backup your MyDiary database.  The database itself is not encrypted.  However, finding it on a computer is difficult and virtually impossible to find on an iPhone itself without doing major surgery.

But it would just feel a little bit better if there was a button that said backup and you could copy your database in an encrypted format to a hard drive of a computer or e-mail the encrypted database to yourself.

But overall, I consider MyDiary an excellent substitution for the paper based journal I mentioned in the prior post.  It is a convenient way to keep track of your life with some bonus features thrown in for good measure.

What are your thoughts?

Link: MyDiary in the App Store 0.99 cents

Developer website: MyDiary for iphone/iTouch

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The Secrets of The 100 Year Old Journal and How to Keep One Yourself http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/the-secrets-of-the-100-year-old-journal-and-how-to-keep-one-yourself/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/the-secrets-of-the-100-year-old-journal-and-how-to-keep-one-yourself/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:50:48 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/?p=1424 moleskine_12_month_journal Do you keep a journal?

These days you might feel like you don't have time or you don't want to keep up with another "thing" like a paper journal. I hear ya...

But journaling is still important. A journal helps you reflect on what you did right. It helps you learn by reminding you what you did wrong so you can avoid the same mistakes in the future. It is also great fun to sit down and read your own history and how far you've come.

In my 20s, a 70-something British friend of the family gave me my first journal. It wasn’t a big journal.  It was slightly larger than a book of matches – which surprised me.  His method of keeping a journal was brilliant in its simplicity.  Even lazy students like me could keep up with writing every day. 

 

My friend Maurice’s journals covered his World War II experience as a foot soldier, his dating life, marrying his true love and 100 years of life details until his death two years ago at the age of 99.  He explained how those journals were such a great addition to his and his wife’s life.  How simple it was to reminisce.  How easy it was to remember when everything was written down.

Again, his method was simple.  Keep a tiny, pocket sized or smaller date book in your pocket at all times.   Each day has only about a 1 inch by 1 inch space to write.  That means you can’t write a whole book.  You can only write 2 or 3 of the most important details.  “You’ll remember the details, just write down the important topics and the details will come back to you.”

I was on my way.  I kind of liked keeping a journal this way.  Every night before bed, I’d write down the most important events of the day.  But eventually, I ran into trouble.

Maurice would sometimes ask me how my journaling was going. I'd sheepishly explain that while I did ok keeping a journal sometimes, there were sometimes months, and possibly years of gaps in my record keeping.

You see, I tampered with his method. I tried doing a 'traditional' 8 x 10 journal here and an ultra thin month-only journal there. Since both these types were harder to keep on hand and easier to misplace, I got slack and would skip days and weeks worth of entries.

What worked and still works for me is still the small, pocket sized datebook. I know Moleskine makes one and they are nice.  It’s their Moleskine Weekly Notebook 12 Months Hard Red Cover Pocket version.  But it is a little too bulky for my tastes - and that bright red has got to go! Why not stick with black like their other journals?  I prefer something more the size of the Mini Weekly Planner. 

Turns out nothing beats having a journal in your back pocket at all times.

Keeping the years in line

Maurice shared another tip with me for keeping your years in order when the journals start piling up.  After all, when you have 50 or so of these books lying around or on a bookcase, it might be tough figuring what happened in what year.  His method?  Every New Year’s day, he and his wife (now deceased) would go through the prior year’s journal and type up a 1 page index of the most important happenings from that year.

There as an additional benefit to indexing the prior year.  It helped to reinforced the memories of the events.  At the end of the year, almost like studying, he’d review his notes and make a cheat sheet. 

He would then fold up the index and tape it to the inside cover of the journal so it would be handy.

99 Year Old Man Keeps 100 Year Journal?

So how was my friend Maurice able to get 100 years of the Journal from 99 years of life? His secret was that he went to the library and pulled the microfiche of the newspapers that existed that were planted at the time of his birth. So here you had someone 99 years old and from the time of its conception there was a historical record of his life from conception on.

I think this is a pretty cool way to share your history with your family. If you're going to create a unique life worth living, it is worth recording and sharing with future generations.

Don't you agree?

]]>

moleskine_12_month_journal Do you keep a journal?

These days you might feel like you don’t have time or you don’t want to keep up with another “thing” like a paper journal. I hear ya…

But journaling is still important. A journal helps you reflect on what you did right. It helps you learn by reminding you what you did wrong so you can avoid the same mistakes in the future. It is also great fun to sit down and read your own history and how far you’ve come.

In my early 20s, a 70-something British friend of the family gave me my first journal. It wasn’t a big journal.  It was slightly larger than a book of matches – which surprised me.  His method of keeping a journal was brilliant in its simplicity.  Even lazy students like me could keep up with writing every day.

My friend Maurice’s journals covered his World War II experience as a foot soldier, his dating life, marrying his true love and 100 years of life details until his death two years ago at the age of 99.  He explained how those journals were such a great addition to his and his wife’s life.  How simple it was to reminisce.  How easy it was to remember when everything was written down.

Again, his method was simple.  Keep a tiny, pocket sized or smaller date book in your pocket at all times.   Each day has only about a 1 inch by 1 inch space to write.  That means you can’t write a whole book.  You can only write 2 or 3 of the most important details.  “You’ll remember the details, just write down the important topics and the details will come back to you.”

I was on my way.  I kind of liked keeping a journal this way.  Every night before bed, I’d write down the most important events of the day.  But eventually, I ran into trouble.

Maurice would sometimes ask me how my journaling was going. I’d sheepishly explain that while I did ok keeping a journal sometimes, there were sometimes months, and possibly years of gaps in my record keeping.

You see, I tampered with his method. I tried doing a ‘traditional’ 8 x 10 journal here and an ultra thin month-only journal there. Since both these types were harder to keep on hand and easier to misplace, I got slack and would skip days and weeks worth of entries.

What worked and still works for me is still the small, pocket sized datebook. I know Moleskine makes one and they are nice.  It’s their Moleskine Weekly Notebook 12 Months Hard Red Cover Pocket version.  But it is a little too bulky for my tastes – and that bright red has got to go! Why not stick with black like their other journals?  I prefer something more the size of the Mini Weekly Planner.

Turns out nothing beats having a journal in your back pocket at all times.

Keeping the years in line

Maurice shared another tip with me for keeping your years in order when the journals start piling up.  After all, when you have 50 or so of these books lying around or on a bookcase, it might be tough figuring what happened in what year.  His method?  Every New Year’s day, he and his wife (now deceased) would go through the prior year’s journal and type up a 1 page index of the most important happenings from that year.

There as an additional benefit to indexing the prior year.  It helped to reinforced the memories of the events.  At the end of the year, almost like studying, he’d review his notes and make a cheat sheet.

He would then fold up the index and tape it to the inside cover of the journal so it would be handy.

99 Year Old Man Keeps 100 Year Journal?

So how was my friend Maurice able to get 100 years of the Journal from 99 years of life? His secret was that he went to the library and pulled the microfiche of the newspapers that existed that were planted at the time of his birth. So here you had someone 99 years old and from the time of its conception there was a historical record of his life from conception on.

I think this is a pretty cool way to share your history with your family. If you’re going to create a unique life worth living, it is worth recording and sharing with future generations.

Don’t you agree?

What are your opinions? Do you keep a journal? If so tell us your insights in the comments.

Find out more tips, tricks and techniques for enhancing your success by subscribing to our RSS feed.

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The Ultimate iPod Touch 2G Dock: How to Make http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/11/ipoddock/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/11/ipoddock/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:43:52 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/?p=1354 Dear subscribers,

The instructions are too large to email them all. So feel free to check them out on the blog

This is one of those Saturday afternoon projects that turned out much better than even I imagined. 

ultimate ipod dock

I was needing a docking cradle for my iPod touch, but two things bothered me about buying one.  First, I didn't want to spend the money.  But I also didn't want to bring another piece of plastic gadgetry into the house if I could avoid it.

It occurred to me my iPod touch 2G came in an attractive jewel case.  Perhaps there'd be some way to convert it into a docking cradle.  Sure enough, there was a way and the results were jaw dropping!

Enjoy!

Brad

P.S. As always, I appreciate your comments, Stumbles and support!

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This is one of those Saturday afternoon projects that turned out much better than even I imagined.

ultimate ipod dock

I was needing a docking cradle for my iPod touch, but two things bothered me about buying one.  First, I didn’t want to spend the money.  But I also didn’t want to bring another piece of plastic gadgetry into the house if I could avoid it.

It occurred to me my iPod touch 2G came in an attractive jewel case.  Perhaps there’d be some way to convert it into a docking cradle.  Sure enough, there was a way and the results were jaw dropping!

Supplies needed

Here’s what you need:supplies needed to build ultimate ipod dock

  • Leatherman
  • Dremel with cutting blade
  • Sharpie
  • Jewel case used in packing your iPod 2G
  • Plastic docking adapter that came with iPod 2G
  • Sync cable

Step 1.  Outline the cut pattern on top of jewel case

Center the dock adapter under the TOP of the jewel case.  Then outline the INSIDE curves of the adapter.  Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, the top of the dock adapter will cover mistakes.

trace cutting edges

Step 2:  Carefully cut out a square with Dremel cutting blade

Take your dremel and cut a square in the plastic.  This makes the rest of the cutting easier.  Take your time and make this as accurate as possible.  One false move and you’ll put an ugly scratch in your case.

cut a square with dremel

Step 3: Carefully SCORE the rest of pattern with Dremel

With the Dremel blade, simply follow your sharpie pattern.  I was able to cut some of the plastic away.  But I simply scored the rounded sides so I could finish with my Leatherman.  Also notice, I did NOT cut out space for the dock adapter tabs.  Later, you’ll be able to hook those in place.

scoring the rest of the plastic

Step 4: File the clear plastic until the dock adapter fits perfectly

This might take some time.  Simply file around the edges with your Leatherman until the dock adapter fits.

file until perfect fit

Step 5: File a v-notch into both side of Sync cable

Your sync cable will eventually snap into the dock adapter.  In order to do this, you need to cut and file a v-notch into each side of the top attachment near the top.  (Double click the pictures to see).

v-notch the top of the sync cable v-notch

Step 6: File down “hooks” if your cable has them

Older ipod sync cables had hooks in them to keep your iPod attached.  If yours is one of these, you’ll need to file down the hooks.  Simply hold your Leatherman / file on a table and scrape the top sides of the sync components until the hooks are gone.

file off hooks

Step 7: File hole in dock adapter so it can fit top of sync cable (keep it snug)

Out of the box, the hole in the dock adapter is not large enough to fit the top of your sync cable.  So get to filing.  You will need to file all edges of the hole to make it wider and longer.  Tip:  Frequently insert the sync cable to make sure you aren’t making the hole too big.  You want it to just barely fit so it can support the weight of your iPod.  Eventually, it will snap into place.

DSC01095-25%

Step 8: Snap top of sync cable into dock adapter

After carefully filing, you see the top of your sync adapter barely fits into the hole.  Keep pressure on it until it snaps into place.

insert sync cable snapped into place

Step 9: File notch into bottom of jewel case for sync cable to go to computer

Almost done.  File a notch approximately 1/2 inch long one one of the long edges of the bottom of the case.  You will probably want it centered but you can go an inch to the left or right if you prefer.

file a notch in the case bottom

Step 10: Finally, put it all togetherput it together

  1. Insert the dock adapter into the top of the case by hooking the tabs under the clear plastic and pressing it down flush with the top of the case.
  2. Place the cable over the hole you filed in the bottom of the case
  3. Close the top of case to the bottom.
  4. Youre done!

Step 11: Enjoy your new dock!  P.S. It doubles as a storage case

Again, this dock looks far better in person than in the pictures.  It works great too.

Remember, you can always pack up your earphones, cable, polishing cloth and other small accessories into this dock.  You might even choose to put the iPod in it too.  But you have to take it apart more.

DSC01115-25% DSC01116-25%

For more fun projects like this, be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed or my 100% spam free newsletter.

If you like this iPod docking cradle, please share this post with others by submitting it to Digg or StumbleUpon.   Thanks!

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Listen to My Goal Setting and Motivational Meanderings On Your Cell Phone http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/06/listen-to-my-goal-setting-and-motivational-meanderings-on-your-cell-phone/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/06/listen-to-my-goal-setting-and-motivational-meanderings-on-your-cell-phone/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:45:49 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/06/listen-to-my-goal-setting-and-motivational-meanderings-on-your-cell-phone/ Do you get a lot of ideas, but forget them before you can write them down?  Well my friend, if you aren't using Jott, you should be. 

What is Jott?

Jott is a service you call and leave voice note, set an appointment, send an email or you can even do a short blog post!  The great thing about it is you don't get back your voice... Jott transcribes your voice into readable text.  :)

That means, you can blast out a quick email you forgot to write at the office without having to find a computer or fumble with text entry on your phone.  You can record an idea when you don't feel like writing or typing.

For longer writing sprees, you might want to check out my post at Lifehacker about Jotting into Evernote.

Ok, Jott is cool, but what use is it?

For the past few months, I've been using it (almost daily) to capture ideas that occur to me.  You see, I get a right many ideas while I am driving my car.  While driving, writing on a notepad or PDA could be deadly.  Instead, I whip out my phone and call Jott and send a note to myself.  If I need a reminder, I Jott directly into my Google Calendar.  Jott has a built in SMS reminder system as well so it can notify you in that way too.  But I prefer calendar reminders.

Other creative things I've done with Jott:

  • Jotted to my Twitter feed
  • Set ToDos and calendar entries with reminders
  • Sent an email to friends
  • Outlined blog posts
  • Brainstormed headline ideas for ads

How can I listen to this site on my cell phone?

This morning, I was spending some time updating my Jott address book and clearing out some of the outdated notes when I noticed an icon called Jott Feeds

Jott Feeds lets you call Jott  and listen to your favorite web sites on your cell phone.  Amazing!

Step 1.  Click the button below to add this site to your feeds list:

Listen to this site on my phone with Jott Feeds

Step 2:  You will see a screen that says add a feed.  I recommend you name it Persistence Unlimited for clarity.  But you can name it what you want.  Just don't call it "I hereby declare my allegiance to Persistence Unlimited" because it's too long, weird and frankly a little creepy.  ;)

jott_setup

Step 3:  Call Jott Call (866) JOTT-123 and say "Jott Feeds" then say "Persistence Unlimited"Jott feeds

That's it!

I was amazed at how well the service works when I tested it.  I called up and listened to the first post.  The voice was clear and easy to understand.  She muddied a few words here and there, but you tend to understand anyway. 

So I recommend you give it a try.  I'd love to hear your feedback. 

What do you think of the new Jott feed service - especially with regards to this blog?  Do you use Jott for other interesting purposes?  If so, please share in the comments on the blog.  Thanks!!

]]>

Do you get a lot of ideas, but forget them before you can write them down? Well my friend, if you aren’t using Jott, you should be.

What is Jott?

Jott is a service you call and leave voice note, set an appointment, send an email or you can even do a short blog post! The great thing about it is you don’t get back your voice… Jott transcribes your voice into readable text. :)

That means, you can blast out a quick email you forgot to write at the office without having to find a computer or fumble with text entry on your phone. You can record an idea when you don’t feel like writing or typing.

For longer writing sprees, you might want to check out my post at Lifehacker about Jotting into Evernote.

Ok, Jott is cool, but what use is it?

For the past few months, I’ve been using it (almost daily) to capture ideas that occur to me. You see, I get a right many ideas while I am driving my car. While driving, writing on a notepad or PDA could be deadly. Instead, I whip out my phone and call Jott and send a note to myself. If I need a reminder, I Jott directly into my Google Calendar. Jott has a built in SMS reminder system as well so it can notify you in that way too. But I prefer calendar reminders.

Other creative things I’ve done with Jott:

  • Jotted to my Twitter feed
  • Set ToDos and calendar entries with reminders
  • Sent an email to friends
  • Outlined blog posts
  • Brainstormed headline ideas for ads

How can I listen to this site on my cell phone?

This morning, I was spending some time updating my Jott address book and clearing out some of the outdated notes when I noticed an icon called Jott Feeds.

Jott Feeds lets you call Jott and listen to your favorite web sites on your cell phone. Amazing! I immediately added this site to one of the feeds in the Jott lineup.

Here’s how to listen to this site on your phone:

Step 1. Click the button below to add this site to your feeds list:

Listen to this site on my phone with Jott Feeds

Step 2: You will see a screen that says add a feed. I recommend you name it Persistence Unlimited for clarity. But you can name it what you want. Just don’t call it “I hereby declare my allegiance to Persistence Unlimited” because it’s too long, weird and frankly a little creepy. ;)

jott_setup

Step 3: Call Jott Call (866) JOTT-123 and say “Jott Feeds” then say “Persistence Unlimited”Jott feeds

That’s it!

I was amazed at how well the service works when I tested it. I called up and listened to the first post. The voice was clear and easy to understand. She muddied a few words here and there, but you tend to understand anyway.

So I recommend you give it a try. I’d love to hear your feedback.

What do you think of the new Jott feed service – especially with regards to this blog? Do you use Jott for other interesting purposes? If so, please share in the comments below. Thanks!!

Technorati Tags: jott,productivity,goal setting,motivation,audiobooks
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Freeware: Turn Off Windows Update Restart Nag http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/06/freeware-turn-off-windows-update-restart-nag/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/06/freeware-turn-off-windows-update-restart-nag/#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:27:36 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/06/freeware-turn-off-windows-update-restart-nag/ Nothing is more annoying than working in the zone and getting interrupted.  When it turns out Windows Update is pestering you to reboot, a double homicide is imminent. 

Microsoft likes to "help out" by installing patches in the middle of the night.  That is a good thing.  But whatever goodwill they earn with this convenience is immediately destroyed when first thing in the morning a "reboot computer" message appears.  And appears... and appears...

disable_windows_restart

If you choose Restart Later, it waits about 10 minutes and then pops this screen up again.  Argggh!

leave_me_alone

It occurred to me some of you may hate this as much as I do, but you don't want to go fiddling around in Services.msc or have to memorize "net stop" commands.  Worse is the articles that teach you to shut it off permanently.  If you shut it off for good, you don't get updates unless you manually go to Windows Update.  In the long run, this can be more painful than rebooting as soon as you see the message.

So to address this problem, I created a simple little app called Leave Me Alone!  When you run it and click the "Leave Me Alone" button it temporarily turns off the source of these restart messages.  It is certain to boost your productivity when the WU Restart beast comes calling.

I see about 5 advantages to using this software:

  1. You can get back to work immediately
  2. Does not permanently disable your updates
  3. You don't have to memorize net-stop commands
  4. You don't have to fish around in the system services panel
  5. You don't have to set a system policy

Trivia:  I coded Leave Me Alone! in C#.  It is my first stand alone C# program.  Woot!  

Download Leave Me Alone! (Windows XP/Vista)

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Nothing is more annoying than working in the zone and getting interrupted.  When it turns out Windows Update is pestering you to reboot, a double homicide is imminent. 

Microsoft likes to “help out” by installing patches in the middle of the night.  That is a good thing.  But whatever goodwill they earn with this convenience is immediately destroyed when first thing in the morning a “reboot computer” message appears.  And appears… and appears…

disable_windows_restart

If you choose Restart Later, it waits about 10 minutes and then pops this screen up again.  Argggh!

leave_me_alone

It occurred to me some of you may hate this as much as I do, but you don’t want to go fiddling around in Services.msc or have to memorize “net stop” commands.  Worse is the articles that teach you to shut it off permanently.  If you shut it off for good, you don’t get updates unless you manually go to Windows Update.  In the long run, this can be more painful than rebooting as soon as you see the message.

So to address this problem, I created a simple little app called Leave Me Alone!  When you run it and click the “Leave Me Alone” button it temporarily turns off the source of these restart messages.  It is certain to boost your productivity when the WU Restart beast comes calling.

I see about 5 advantages to using this software:

  1. You can get back to work immediately
  2. Does not permanently disable your updates
  3. You don’t have to memorize net-stop commands
  4. You don’t have to fish around in the system services panel
  5. You don’t have to set a system policy

Trivia:  I coded Leave Me Alone! in C#.  It is my first stand alone C# program.  Woot!  

Download Leave Me Alone! (Windows XP/Vista)

Want more free software that keeps you more productive?  Be sure to subscribe to my software-riffic RSS feed.

 

Technorati Tags: freebies, software, xp, vista, productivity

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Gadget Lust: Kindle e-Book Reader http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/05/gadget-lust-kindle-e-book-reader/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/05/gadget-lust-kindle-e-book-reader/#comments Sun, 25 May 2008 17:00:24 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/05/gadget-lust-kindle-e-book-reader/ Am I lusting after the right gadget?  kindle Help me decide if Amazon Kindle e-Book reader is for me or is it going to kill my productivity...

I think I've made it plainly known that I love reading e-books.

Since the year 2000 I've been reading novels, how-to books and biographies on Pocket PC devices.  Pocket PCs are great for reading in short spurts - especially in bed because of their backlit screen.  You don't have to worry about waking the Mrs. while reading. 

However, the trade off is the text is small (probably eye straining) unless I up the font size.  When I increase the font the type decreases the screen real estate.  Thus, I might only be reading 1 paragraph before having to turn the page.

Many of the early reviews of the Kindle say my Pocket PC headaches are solved.  And this review makes me want to drop the money today.  But I don't want another gadget just lying around if I can help it.  Maybe you can help me decide if it's right for me

PPC Productivity and Vocabulary Building

Another major benefit of the Pocket PC and Mobipocket reader (which happens to be the underlying technology of the Kindle) is it's dictionary option.  I purchased an Oxford dictionary which turns any reading session into a learning session.  As I read and come across a word I don't know, I immediately tap and hold and choose look up.  Then I get a definition immediately.  From there, I copy and paste the word and definition to my Supermemo flash card program. 

Although this is cumbersome to an extent, it works well for building my vocabulary.

Also, there's something to be said to having all your tools in one place.  If I can manage my task list, calendar, email and read an e-book from the same device that's good right?

PPC Reading Downsides

  • Screen real estate - As mentioned, you don't have the screen real estate for say reading for an entire afternoon.  I've often felt some eye strain after reading for longer stints.  Also some books I wouldn't even attempt to read on the Pocket PC.  Technical manuals on programming are a good example.  Reading code is challenging enough.  Having it roll on for 100 pages makes it nearly impossible.
  • Fewer Selections - What is frustrating to me is hearing about a book I'd love to read and it not being available for Mobipocket reader.  That is where the Kindle seems to have a huge advantage.  Where many of the Pocket PC Mobipocket books are Romance novels and Adult erotica, Amazon has captured many more professional titles including most of the bestsellers list.  More selections mean more reading.
  • Short Battery life - By most everyone's measurement, the Pocket PC gets very short battery life.  Try 6-8 hours one one battery charge.  A lot of it has to do with the back light eating up the energy.  Some of it goes due to the WiFi radio.  The Kindle boasts the possibility of weeks on one charge.

Perceived Advantages of the Kindle

Since I do not own a Kindle, I can only go on what I've read.  Here are the advantages that the Kindle seems to boast.

  • Screen real estate of a paper book - The Pocket PCs screen is so small that I don't read certain books because in increasing the font size, I lose the amount of text that is displayed on the page.  I wouldn't have this problem with the Kindle.
  • Clearer typeface - Although I can enable ClearType on the Pocket PC, ClearType looks blurry to me.  So I don't use it.  Everything I've read about the Kindle from independent reviews says the typeface is brilliant.
  • No LCD flicker - I haven't noticed LCD flicker on my Pocket PC, but they tell me it's there.  the flicker contributes to eye strain and potentially headaches. 
  • Less eye strain - Having clearer reading, no LCD flicker and larger screen real estate means less eye strain.  Thus, one could expect a
  • Larger selection of titles - A several time a month problem I have with the Pocket PC Mobipocket reader is the lack of titles.  I don't read any Romance novels or adult erotica, but those appear to be the largest selection of titles.  Amazon has a great advantage here in their ability to deliver hundreds of thousands of titles.
  • $10 Price Tag on Books - Many of the Mobipocket books are priced at retail.  Meaning I can go up to Barnes and Noble and buy the same book for the same price of the e-Book.  I never liked that because where paper, binding and floor space cost a lot of money, electronic bits cost very little.  They could at least cut the price substantially.  But Amazon has set up a price plan where you can buy current titles for $9.99.  Buy 30 books and you'd conceivably save enough money to pay for the device itself.  It's a good deal, but something about it makes me wary.  Although the $10 titles are a great deal now, I wonder how long will it last before they raise the price on all the books? 
  • Built in dictionary - This is a wash because I've got the same Oxford dictionary installed on my Pocket PC.  But it's good to know I won't have to buy another one.
  • Battery life - Where a Pocket PC with an extended battery lasts 6-8 hours, the Kindle will last perhaps a week or more.  Not that I'd be reading that long non-stop. 
  • Free built in EVDO wireless Internet - Another wash for me, I have more Internet than I need, including EVDO via Bluetooth tethering on my cell phone.

Perceived Disadvantages of the Kindle

  • No back light -  I have mixed feelings on this.  The Pocket PC allows me to read from bed at night without disturbing Kim.  If I get a Kindle, I'd have to use a light or buy a "book light".  I'd probably opt for the book light, but still, that's another gadget to keep up with.  Some people comment that the lack of a back light is an advantage because the flicker of LCD screens are stressful on the eyes. 
  • High price tag - $400 for a Kindle.  Whew!  Although Pocket PCs are expensive too, I already have one.  So for me (at least) I save $400 if I read from my Pocket PC.
  • Another gadget to keep up with - Bringing another gadget into my world means having another gadget to keep up with.  I probably would not carry the Kindle every day like I do the Pocket PC thus, wouldn't have all my books with me. 
  • Fragile hardware? - Some comments and reviews point to the Kindle as having some delicate hardware.  Breakage isn't so much a concern for me because I've been carrying fragile devices for years.  But if the Kindle is more fragile than a Pocket PC we might have a problem.  Accidents do happen.  I don't want to be out in the cold when one happens.
  • No built in flash card software - As mentioned above, I clip vocabulary words and facts from books and paste them into Supermemo.  Kindle would mean I'd have to copy the text somehow to my computer and import it to my computer.  From there, I'd have to manipulate the text into flash card format.  This is something I could definitely do, but it would mean tripling the amount of work to get the same flash cards made.

So what do you think?  Do you own a Kindle?  If so, do you think it's a good gadget for me?  Or will it kill my productivity?

]]>

Am I lusting after the right gadget?  kindle Help me decide if Amazon Kindle e-Book reader is for me or is it going to kill my productivity…

I think I’ve made it plainly known that I love reading e-books.

Since the year 2000 I’ve been reading novels, how-to books and biographies on Pocket PC devices.  Pocket PCs are great for reading in short spurts – especially in bed because of their backlit screen.  You don’t have to worry about waking the Mrs. while reading. 

However, the trade off is the text is small (probably eye straining) unless I up the font size.  When I increase the font the type decreases the screen real estate.  Thus, I might only be reading 1 paragraph before having to turn the page.

Many of the early reviews of the Kindle say my Pocket PC headaches are solved.  And this review makes me want to drop the money today.  But I don’t want another gadget just lying around if I can help it.  Maybe you can help me decide if it’s right for me

PPC Productivity and Vocabulary Building

Another major benefit of the Pocket PC and Mobipocket reader (which happens to be the underlying technology of the Kindle) is it’s dictionary option.  I purchased an Oxford dictionary which turns any reading session into a learning session.  As I read and come across a word I don’t know, I immediately tap and hold and choose look up.  Then I get a definition immediately.  From there, I copy and paste the word and definition to my Supermemo flash card program. 

Although this is cumbersome to an extent, it works well for building my vocabulary.

Also, there’s something to be said to having all your tools in one place.  If I can manage my task list, calendar, email and read an e-book from the same device that’s good right?

PPC Reading Downsides

  • Screen real estate - As mentioned, you don’t have the screen real estate for say reading for an entire afternoon.  I’ve often felt some eye strain after reading for longer stints.  Also some books I wouldn’t even attempt to read on the Pocket PC.  Technical manuals on programming are a good example.  Reading code is challenging enough.  Having it roll on for 100 pages makes it nearly impossible.
  • Fewer Selections - What is frustrating to me is hearing about a book I’d love to read and it not being available for Mobipocket reader.  That is where the Kindle seems to have a huge advantage.  Where many of the Pocket PC Mobipocket books are Romance novels and Adult erotica, Amazon has captured many more professional titles including most of the bestsellers list.  More selections mean more reading.
  • Short Battery life - By most everyone’s measurement, the Pocket PC gets very short battery life.  Try 6-8 hours one one battery charge.  A lot of it has to do with the back light eating up the energy.  Some of it goes due to the WiFi radio.  The Kindle boasts the possibility of weeks on one charge.

Perceived Advantages of the Kindle

Since I do not own a Kindle, I can only go on what I’ve read.  Here are the advantages that the Kindle seems to boast.

  • Screen real estate of a paper book – The Pocket PCs screen is so small that I don’t read certain books because in increasing the font size, I lose the amount of text that is displayed on the page.  I wouldn’t have this problem with the Kindle.
  • Clearer typeface – Although I can enable ClearType on the Pocket PC, ClearType looks blurry to me.  So I don’t use it.  Everything I’ve read about the Kindle from independent reviews says the typeface is brilliant.
  • No LCD flicker – I haven’t noticed LCD flicker on my Pocket PC, but they tell me it’s there.  the flicker contributes to eye strain and potentially headaches. 
  • Less eye strain – Having clearer reading, no LCD flicker and larger screen real estate means less eye strain.  Thus, one could expect a
  • Larger selection of titles – A several time a month problem I have with the Pocket PC Mobipocket reader is the lack of titles.  I don’t read any Romance novels or adult erotica, but those appear to be the largest selection of titles.  Amazon has a great advantage here in their ability to deliver hundreds of thousands of titles.
  • $10 Price Tag on Books – Many of the Mobipocket books are priced at retail.  Meaning I can go up to Barnes and Noble and buy the same book for the same price of the e-Book.  I never liked that because where paper, binding and floor space cost a lot of money, electronic bits cost very little.  They could at least cut the price substantially.  But Amazon has set up a price plan where you can buy current titles for $9.99.  Buy 30 books and you’d conceivably save enough money to pay for the device itself.  It’s a good deal, but something about it makes me wary.  Although the $10 titles are a great deal now, I wonder how long will it last before they raise the price on all the books? 
  • Built in dictionary – This is a wash because I’ve got the same Oxford dictionary installed on my Pocket PC.  But it’s good to know I won’t have to buy another one.
  • Battery life – Where a Pocket PC with an extended battery lasts 6-8 hours, the Kindle will last perhaps a week or more.  Not that I’d be reading that long non-stop. 
  • Free built in EVDO wireless Internet – Another wash for me, I have more Internet than I need, including EVDO via Bluetooth tethering on my cell phone.

Perceived Disadvantages of the Kindle

  • No back light -  I have mixed feelings on this.  The Pocket PC allows me to read from bed at night without disturbing Kim.  If I get a Kindle, I’d have to use a light or buy a “book light”.  I’d probably opt for the book light, but still, that’s another gadget to keep up with.  Some people comment that the lack of a back light is an advantage because the flicker of LCD screens are stressful on the eyes. 
  • High price tag – $400 for a Kindle.  Whew!  Although Pocket PCs are expensive too, I already have one.  So for me (at least) I save $400 if I read from my Pocket PC.
  • Another gadget to keep up with – Bringing another gadget into my world means having another gadget to keep up with.  I probably would not carry the Kindle every day like I do the Pocket PC thus, wouldn’t have all my books with me. 
  • Fragile hardware? – Some comments and reviews point to the Kindle as having some delicate hardware.  Breakage isn’t so much a concern for me because I’ve been carrying fragile devices for years.  But if the Kindle is more fragile than a Pocket PC we might have a problem.  Accidents do happen.  I don’t want to be out in the cold when one happens.
  • No built in flash card software – As mentioned above, I clip vocabulary words and facts from books and paste them into Supermemo.  Kindle would mean I’d have to copy the text somehow to my computer and import it to my computer.  From there, I’d have to manipulate the text into flash card format.  This is something I could definitely do, but it would mean tripling the amount of work to get the same flash cards made.

Link: Amazon Kindle Wireless Reading Device 

So what do you think?  Do you own a Kindle?  If so, do you think it’s a good gadget for me?  Or will it kill my productivity?

]]>
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Beta: Convert this blog to pdf http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/05/beta-convert-this-blog-to-pdf/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/05/beta-convert-this-blog-to-pdf/#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 18:05:10 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/?p=1147

I was working on some background blog cleanup when I stumbled on a cool plug-in called Web2pdf that converts any and all blog posts to pdf (Acrobat) format.

I took the 30 seconds and installed it just for fun.

Give it a try on any post here by clicking on the Save page as pdf button

Might I suggest to new readers to look over to the right under the Popular Posts?  Those would be a good place to start for PDF generation.

Let me know what you think!

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Eluma “Online Life Organizer” to Launch Tuesday http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/eluma-online-life-organizer-to-launch-tuesday/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/eluma-online-life-organizer-to-launch-tuesday/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:26:09 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/eluma-online-life-organizer-to-launch-tuesday/ If you spend a lot of time researching online, then Eluma might be the tool for you. It is a stand alone piece of software that lets you download and organize "clips" you find on the Internet. And much like other social websites like Digg and Reddit, you can share your favorites with friends.

I'd say the biggest difference between Eluma and the others is you can view your favs off-line if you don't have an Internet connection.

Eluma

People can use it to organize their web stuff, and then they can share their stuff with others in “collections." (It’s anonymous; no Facebook-like transparency. It’s all about the content - not the networking.) Eluma 2.0 mashes together features of bookmark managers, RSS readers, desktop alert managers, and social sharing and discovery services. Kind of like “iTunes for your Web stuff.”

If you'd like to download, I've got some invitations left. You can download it here until those invites are gone.

Let me know what you think!

]]>

If you spend a lot of time researching online, then Eluma might be the tool for you. It is a stand alone piece of software that lets you download and organize “clips” you find on the Internet. And much like other social websites like Digg and Reddit, you can share your favorites with friends.

I’d say the biggest difference between Eluma and the others is you can view your favs offline if you don’t have an Internet connection.

Eluma

People can use it to organize their web stuff, and then they can share their stuff with others in “collections.” (It’s anonymous; no Facebook-like transparency. It’s all about the content – not the networking.) Eluma 2.0 mashes together features of bookmark managers, RSS readers, desktop alert managers, and social sharing and discovery services. Kind of like “iTunes for your Web stuff.

If you’d like to download, I’ve got some invitations left. You can download it here until those invites are gone.

Let me know what you think!

]]>
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Become a File Recovery Wizard: 5 Expert Tips http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/become-a-file-recovery-wizard-5-expert-tips/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/become-a-file-recovery-wizard-5-expert-tips/#comments Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:13:08 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/become-a-file-recovery-wizard-5-expert-tips/ Recover your files like a wizardSo you weren't satisfied deleting that project you've been working on for 3 days to the Recycle bin you had to choose Empty Recycle Bin too?

Now what? Another embarrassing call to the helpdesk? Or do you just start over?

Don't worry, you can now have a backup plan.

For those who are in the PC/Server support industry - or people who find themselves accidentally deleting files and emptying the recycle bin, it's always nice to have a good file recovery software on hand. But you need more than just recovery software. You need to know how to use it.

Recovery software can be confusing to someone who has never used it. So I will cover 5 expert tricks that will make you an expert at data recovery in no time - and I'll also point you in the direction of some good file recovery software you can get for free - but today only. Soon you'll be turning back the hands of time and amazing your friends and neighbors with your ability to bring back files from the dead....

First the free software:

Over at GiveAwayofTheDay, they have a program called EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard that will do the trick. If you miss this give away, you can get the Recuva which is freeware all day every day.

A few notes on file recovery from someone who has been doing it for years:

1. Names of the file can change - For instance you might have a report called "2008 Cease and Desist Proclamation". Yet when you search for it in the file recovery, you don't find it. That's because it's either reverted to it's DOS alias name or - heck I don't know.. Some of the names are just plain weird. :)

When you delete a file Instead try searching for dates you last accessed it. You can also search for filetype. (like *.doc) for Word documents.

2. Deep Search for Prior File Edits - Have you ever worked a day on a project and realized you overwrote 2 days worth of good work? It's happened to us all. When you wish you had a backup, this could be your safety net. Deep search will list multiple files of the same name but prior dates. So you can go back to Tuesday's build.

I did this once for a software development project. I back up every day, but found my backup was corrupted, so I used my other file recovery software to go back 2 days and I recovered that build. - Saved me not only time, but the headache of tracking back what I had changed.

3. File Recovery on RAID Disks Requires Special Care - Listen up Network Admins. If you attempt to recover files on a server or workstation with RAID arrays or mirroring, you need to take special care.
Disconnect the server from the network
Turn off disk shadowing
Turn off virtual memory or move it to another (separate) disk

What happens if you attempt file recovery on an array that is currently accessed and written to is you get garbage results. It can also cause for more lost files. And in some cases death from angry clients... I'm kidding!

The key point is you want only the recovery software to access your array - nothing else.

4. Restore Files to DIFFERENT Drives - When performing a file recovery, never restore a file to the same drive it came from. In other words, restore a file off a C: drive to a memory stick or out to a server. Why? Because when recovering multiple files, you could actually be overwriting files you are trying to recover.

Look at it this way - when you restore a file, it requires hard drive space. You don't know which hard drive space it will use. Since prior files were deleted, that hard drive space becomes available for use if needed. Supposed you are trying to restore files 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and when you get to file #4 it overwrites #5? Then you'd lose the ability to restore file 5 forever.

So always restore to a hard drive or disk other than the one you are recovering.

5. Back Up Your Files! - File Recovery is your last hope when everything else has failed. It is not a replacement for backing up your files. Make sure you back up regularly. The way to think about it is this - which would take you longer, to recreate a file or restore it from backup to CD, DVD, Tape, Memory Stick or separate hard drive? Typical restores take 15 minutes for an expert. So can you rebuild from scratch what you are working on in 15 minutes or less? If not get to backing up!

Backing up is also a good habit to develop for computer use. As the sheer data increases, the tendency to lose files and misplace them becomes easier. A backup lets you sleep better knowing that you can get the important stuff back if and when you lose it.

What if I can't recover?

Hopefully, this will help you get back your files. But if not, treat it as a learning experience. If you feel enough pain of having to create or buy the files again, you are more likely to backup in the future. Backing up is a good thing and it's no longer just for geeks in the back office anymore. We all should backup and backup frequently.

Good luck in getting your files back .

Feel free to send this tip to a friend or bookmark this article on StumbleUpon or Del.ici.ous so others can find it.

]]>

File RecoverySo you weren’t satisfied deleting that project you’ve been working on for 3 days to the Recycle bin you had to choose Empty Recycle Bin too?

Now what? Another embarrassing call to the helpdesk? Or do you just start over?

Don’t worry, you can now have a backup plan.

For those who are in the PC/Server support industry – or people who find themselves accidentally deleting files and emptying the recycle bin, it’s always nice to have a good file recovery software on hand. But you need more than just recovery software. You need to know how to use it.

Recovery software can be confusing to someone who has never used it. So I will cover 5 expert tricks that will make you an expert at data recovery in no time – and I’ll also point you in the direction of some good file recovery software you can get for free – but today only. Soon you’ll be turning back the hands of time and amazing your friends and neighbors with your ability to bring back files from the dead….

First the free software:

Over at GiveAwayofTheDay, they have a program called EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard that will do the trick. If you miss this give away, you can get the Recuva which is freeware all day every day.

A few notes on file recovery from someone who has been doing it for years:

1. Names of the file can change - For instance you might have a report called “2008 Cease and Desist Proclamation”. Yet when you search for it in the file recovery, you don’t find it. That’s because it’s either reverted to it’s DOS alias name or – heck I don’t know.. Some of the names are just plain weird. :)

When you delete a file Instead try searching for dates you last accessed it. You can also search for filetype. (like *.doc) for Word documents.

2. Deep Search for Prior File Edits - Have you ever worked a day on a project and realized you overwrote 2 days worth of good work? It’s happened to us all. When you wish you had a backup, this could be your safety net. Deep search will list multiple files of the same name but prior dates. So you can go back to Tuesday’s build.

I did this once for a software development project. I back up every day, but found my backup was corrupted, so I used my other file recovery software to go back 2 days and I recovered that build. – Saved me not only time, but the headache of tracking back what I had changed.

3. File Recovery on RAID Disks Requires Special Care - Listen up Network Admins. If you attempt to recover files on a server or workstation with RAID arrays or mirroring, you need to take special care.
Disconnect the server from the network
Turn off disk shadowing
Turn off virtual memory or move it to another (separate) disk

What happens if you attempt file recovery on an array that is currently accessed and written to is you get garbage results. It can also cause for more lost files. And in some cases death from angry clients… I’m kidding!

The key point is you want only the recovery software to access your array – nothing else.

4. Restore Files to DIFFERENT Drives - When performing a file recovery, never restore a file to the same drive it came from. In other words, restore a file off a C: drive to a memory stick or out to a server. Why? Because when recovering multiple files, you could actually be overwriting files you are trying to recover.

Look at it this way – when you restore a file, it requires hard drive space. You don’t know which hard drive space it will use. Since prior files were deleted, that hard drive space becomes available for use if needed. Supposed you are trying to restore files 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and when you get to file #4 it overwrites #5? Then you’d lose the ability to restore file 5 forever.

So always restore to a hard drive or disk other than the one you are recovering.

5. Back Up Your Files! - File Recovery is your last hope when everything else has failed. It is not a replacement for backing up your files. Make sure you back up regularly. The way to think about it is this – which would take you longer, to recreate a file or restore it from backup to CD, DVD, Tape, Memory Stick or separate hard drive? Typical restores take 15 minutes for an expert. So can you rebuild from scratch what you are working on in 15 minutes or less? If not get to backing up!

Backing up is also a good habit to develop for computer use. As the sheer data increases, the tendency to lose files and misplace them becomes easier. A backup lets you sleep better knowing that you can get the important stuff back if and when you lose it.

What if I can’t recover?

Hopefully, this will help you get back your files. But if not, treat it as a learning experience. If you feel enough pain of having to create or buy the files again, you are more likely to backup in the future. Backing up is a good thing and it’s no longer just for geeks in the back office anymore. We all should backup and backup frequently.

Good luck in getting your files back .

Feel free to bookmark this article on or Del.ici.ous or StumbleUpon so you can come back to it when you need it.

For more time and money saving tips like this, subscribe to my free RSS feed.

]]>
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Do Some Dreaming With The 4-Hour Workweek spreadsheet http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/do-some-dreaming-with-the-4-hour-workweek-spreadsheet/ http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/do-some-dreaming-with-the-4-hour-workweek-spreadsheet/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:55:24 +0000 Brad Isaac http://persistenceunlimited.com/2008/03/do-some-dreaming-with-the-4-hour-workweek-spreadsheet/ Jared Goralnick created a pretty cool "Dreamline Worksheet" based on Timithy Ferriss's book The 4-Hour Workweek. (see my mini- review of the book here.)

dreamline2_snapshot.png

The worksheet looks to be a well-thought out Excel spreadsheet that is attractive as well as functional. You can enter your dreams for having, being and doing on page 1 and do a budget on page 2.

"It’s been almost eight months since 4-Hour Workweek Dreamline spreadsheet; it’s been both an inspiring (many success stories) and enlightening (many helpful suggestions) time. I’ve used much of the feedback that I’ve received to create a new version, which you can download below.

The most noteworthy new feature is allowing both one-time and monthly expenses. In the previous version, one had to determine the monthly cost of each of their goals. Now one can enter the full cost and the spreadsheet will divide that total by the number of months for the Dreamline..."

You can download it and get more info at Technotheory

]]>

Jared Goralnick created a pretty cool “Dreamline Worksheet” based on Timithy Ferriss’s book The 4-Hour Workweek. (see my mini- review of the book here.)

dreamline2_snapshot.png

The worksheet looks to be a well-thought out Excel spreadsheet that is attractive as well as functional. You can enter your dreams for having, being and doing on page 1 and do a budget on page 2.

“It’s been almost eight months since 4-Hour Workweek Dreamline spreadsheet; it’s been both an inspiring (many success stories) and enlightening (many helpful suggestions) time. I’ve used much of the feedback that I’ve received to create a new version, which you can download below.

The most noteworthy new feature is allowing both one-time and monthly expenses. In the previous version, one had to determine the monthly cost of each of their goals. Now one can enter the full cost and the spreadsheet will divide that total by the number of months for the Dreamline…”

You can download it and get more info at Technotheory

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