Comodo Time Machine – A Powerful System Restore Utility

If you are looking for an utility that will literally save your PC’s butt, then Comodo Time Machine may be the answer you are looking for. What this innovative utility does is take snapshots of your PC and archives those snapshots so that if you experience a computer problem (like a malware or virus attack), you simply revert back in time to one of the snapshots you had previously taken. In other words, if you mess up your PC and you have the Comodo Time Machine software installed, you can go back in time to restore your PC to a previous good state.

Comodo Time Machine (CTM) is a powerful system rollback utility that allows users to quickly restore their computers to an earlier point in time. CTM ‘snapshots’ are a complete record of your entire system (including the registry, critical operating system files and user created documents).  As part of a layered security strategy, users can schedule automatic snapshots to be taken at regular intervals then roll back to the last known working state in the event of virus attacks or crashes. It is also recommended practice to take snapshots of your computer before large installations or system maintenance like installing a Windows service pack, security updates or new drivers. Software Developers and testers can easily restore test systems to the default configuration after each deployment  without the need to manually uninstall each application. Home users can even let the kids run amok on the family PC for an afternoon and be safe in the knowledge that any damage can be instantly undone and all files recovered.

Comodo Time Machine is an excellent replacement for the “System Restoration” function that is built into Windows.  As a matter of fact, on my main PC, I turned “off” the Windows Restore utility, to reclaim disk space, and started using Comodo Time Machine as my main PC restore (rollback) utility.  Comodo Time Machine is a much more capable restore utility than the restoration function that is built into Windows; AND, what I find amazing is that there is no excessive disk usage bloat (like with Windows Restore).  This utility, when properly managed, could be a lifesaver to you.  I am now using Comodo Time Machine, on my main PC, as a layer of protection in conjunction with my disk imaging and backup software.

Layered Security

• Schedule automatic snapshots to be taken at regular intervals
• Roll back to the last known working state in the event of virus attacks or crashes
• Take snapshots of your computer before large installations or system maintenance

It also comes in very handy when I am testing software. I simply install/test the software; then, instead of uninstalling the software, I revert back in time, using the Comodo Time Machine.  If you have multiple users (like kids) using one PC, this software may help you keep your sanity.

I am not going to get into all of the capabilities of the Comodo Time Machine; however, I highly recommend that you read the “User Guide” [ Click Here ] before you make the decision to use the software. Personally, from what I can attest thus far; Comodo Time Machine is a great innovation and is what the Windows restoration should be.

Why should I use Comodo Time Machine?

• Easy to use – even beginners can quickly create system snapshots with a few mouse clicks
• Provides instant and comprehensive system recovery after virus or spyware infections
• Instantly reclaim your machine after devastating system crashes
• Rollback the changes to ALL your documents – not just changes to system files and the registry
• Boot-up console allows you to rollback even when your system will not boot to Windows
• Test new software and network configurations in the knowledge that you can quickly switch back if problems develop
• Completely remove unwanted software installations without the need to uninstall or clean the registry
• Flexible restore options allow you to mount and browse snapshots to recover individual files or folders
• Right click on any file or folder to synchronize it with a snapshot version
• Schedule regular system snapshots to ensure highly relevant restore points
• Network administrators have another way to quickly fix user or software problems
• Libraries, Internet cafes and other publicly shared networks can schedule a total system restore at the end of each session

Supported Operating Systems:

Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit)
Windows XP with service pack 2
or higher (32 and 64 bit)
Windows Server 2003
(32 and 64 bit)
Windows Server 2008
(32 and 64 bit. Except Windows Server 2008 Core)

Minimum Hardware:

Intel Pentium III Processor or higher
128 MB RAM

Free disk space:
4 GB (minimum) / 10 GB (recommended)

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FREE Software License Giveaway to Prevent Theft of Your Laptop

TechPaul, at Tech-for Everyone is currently running a software license giveway (drawing for 10 licenses) for the software package called LAlarm. Typically LAlarm is FREE for personal use; however, a license is required if you desire to use LAlarm for business use (i.e. on an employees laptop).

Laptop theft is common and a constant threat. Thwart thieves with the free (for personal use) program – LAlarm – which emits a loud siren sound when a thief tries to steal your laptop. More importantly (IMHO) it can destroy selected data (and also retrieve it ¹) if the laptop is stolen — which is an important step in protecting your “identity”, and personal information.

Get over there now to Tech-for Everyone for details on how you can be eligible to win one of those licenses.

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Hang Out with Portable Firefox, Chrome and Opera

When I am asked, “What browser do I use?”, I usually comeback with “I’m a Chrome user”; BUT, when my inner self takes over, the real answer is that I hang out with Firefox, Chrome and Opera. It seems that Chrome is in fact my primary browser (for the moment), but when Firefox and Opera make another leap forward, I just have to be there to witness the leap. For example Opera 10.5 was just released and I had to try it out.  I just can’t help it.  This is what is so fun about software; you can witness technology changing right in front of you AND browsers are where it is at. The competition amongst these (3)-three are pushing the technology envelope on the internet further and further. Think about it, the browser is your windshield to the world wide web.

If you have been wanting to give one of these (or all of these) browsers a test run, there is a way to do that without performing a full install of the browser software; AND, that is through downloading the portable versions. The portable versions of Firefox, Chrome and Opera are designed to be downloaded, saved and run from a folder of your choice without making system wide changes to your computer. The portable versions are primarily designed to be carried on a flash drive (as a portable app); however, I can personally attest the portable versions will run just fine from a folder on your PC, as well.  The “cool factor” with this is that if you don’t like the  browser,  just delete the folder where you saved it to.

Now, unlike myself, most normal people will focus on learning and using one browser. Once you tried one of the portable browsers out (like Firefox) and you can’t live without it, then I would delete the portable version and install the full version from their website. Personally, my advice to most computer users, is to stick with one browser on their PC for security reasons; however, if you need a change and want to try something different or want to see what all the excitement is about, then take a look at these portable versions.

Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition [ Link ]

Mozilla Firefox is a fast, full-featured web browser that’s easy to use. It has lots of great features including popup-blocking, tabbed-browsing, integrated search, improved privacy features, automatic updating and more. Plus, thanks to the PortableApps.com launcher bundled in the Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition, it leaves no personal information behind on the machine you run it on, so you can take your favorite browser along with all your favorite bookmarks and extensions with you wherever you go. – PortableApps.com

Google Chrome Portable [ Link ]

Google Chrome’s features include:

• Quick to start up
• Loads web pages in a snap
• Runs web applications faster than ever
• Designed for efficiency and ease of use
• Search and navigate to web pages from the same box
• Arrange and organize tabs however you wish — quickly and easily
• Get to your favorite websites with just a click, from the thumbnails of your most visited sites in the New Tab page
• Themes to add delight to your browser
• – PortableApps.com

Portable Opera for USB [Link]

You want to use all Opera features also in this version – no problem !
- there are no unwanted effects on IE or other browsers
- existing Opera versions are not affected
- make no entries to the registry
- works with every Windows PC (company,Internetcafe, friends,..)
- leave no data on the host computer

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Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#51)

The content presented by the authors of each of the articles below are examples of dedication, pride and commitment.  Each week What’s On My PC posts random articles, called Geek Squeaks’,  that have been crafted by the authors who are members of the What’s On My PC blogroll community… If your blood runs thick with the information technology and you need a daily fix, then check out these blogs.

Snakebytez
Ninite : Easily Install Multiple Free Windows Apps in One Go

TTC Shelbyville
Put Your Computer to Sleep With Sonar

I Love Free Software
EtherPad: Collaborate in Real Time on Word Documents

Worthy Tips
Gmail now let you fetch POP accounts instantly & easily

TuneUp Blog about Windows
Myth Busted: Why Disabling SuperFetch
on Vista and Windows 7 Is a Bad Idea

WP Xpert
Intense Debate Is Now WP.com Enabled

Mrintech
Flickr Pro Account: Features and Review

Canadian Tech Blogger
Opera 10.5 Released To Windows Users

Internet Security Blog
Protect, Hide, Store and Send Files Secretly Under EXE Cover

Free PC Security
Threatfire Test with MSE and Avast 5

AskBillFirst
Trojan Pretends to Be Microsoft Security Suite

Tech-for Everyone
This Reader Question Is A Doozie

Rarst.net
Best sync and backup routines guidelines

Lifehacker
Manually Refresh POP Mail Fetching in Gmail

Crazy World of G
Export This Part 3

AKS-Feel The Change
Lock Keyboard and Mouse Buttons with Kid Key Lock

Carol’s Vault
PowerPoint to Video Converter

411-Spyware.com
How to Remove Security Essentials 2010

Plato Press
Baby Starves While Parents Tend to Virtual Child

Evilfantasy’s Blog
Unlocker 1.8.9

Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts
Your Car is a Connected Device and Ford’s Security Hits the Road

Right On Technology
Google Introduces Starred Results Feature

thePC Security
Control Internet Traffic Bandwidth Used
by Different Programs with NetBalancer

What’s On My PC
John’s Background Switcher

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A Smartbook (computer) for less than $100

I was just over at Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts to look over what he had posted this past week and noticed under the article Tech Thoughts Daily Net News – March 4, 2010 a news alert item titled

Would you buy Coby’s 7-inch smartbook for $85?

I did some backtracking of the links and discovered (see below Web Clip) that this smartbook (for internet access or cloud computing) is a for real deal and apparently will not to be available in the U.S., until this spring (which is right around the corner – I Think : )  You can preview a video description of the Coby Smartbook at engadget by clicking any of the links below.

A “What’s On My PC…” Web Clip!

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Coby $85 smartbook
feels like a hundred bucks (hands-on)

By Joanna Stern posted Mar 3rd 2010 9:58AM

Funny how our tune on smartbooks totally changes when one’s got an $85 price tag. We happened upon Coby’s booth at CeBIT this morning and of all the fairly cheap feeling laptops the company had on display it was its 7-inch NBPC722 smartbook that cozied right up to us. Okay, so it isn’t as thin or attractive as the $499 Lenovo’s Skylight, but again let us remind you that it costs about as much as a couple of new printer ink cartridges. Inside the little guy packs a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor, 2GB of flash storage and runs Windows CE which all should be good enough for some light Web browsing and e-mail writing.

[Source: engadget]

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Secure USB Flash Drive

Anyone who uses a flash drive on a regular basis knows that the drives can be easily misplaced or lost and that the data can be easily compromised.  There are many software options out there to encrypt the data on these drives; however, it requires some tech know how to jump through all the hoops. Would not it be nice there was a way to protect the data on the flash drive from the “hardware” side, instead of the “software” side?

Just recently Corsair (maker of flash drives and memory modules) has come up with a 8 GB flash drive (called Corsair Padlock 2) that requires entering a 4 – 10 digit (PIN) Personal Identification Number, on a small built-in keypad, in order to make the drive accessible.

How secure is the Corsair Padlock 2 ?

The Corsair Padlock 2 will automatically lock once the drive is removed from the computer; however, if you are an IT guy and you are travelling from one PC to another, there is an option to keep the drive unlocked until you lock it again. If you fail to enter the correct PIN, multiple times, you will automatically be locked out of the drive for 2 minutes.  If you forget the PIN, you can reset the drive back to factory specs; however, resetting the drive securely erases the data on the drive.

Current retail on this product can be found for $55.00 or less.  I am currently investigating this drive for my personal use and would love to hear from anyone who is currently using the Corsair Flash Padlock 2.

Details as published by Corsair:

The Corsair Flash Padlock 2 is perfect for transporting and protecting your sensitive business or personal information. With built-in 256-bit hardware data encryption, and access limited by a PIN, you can rest assured your information is safe from unintentional viewing. Built with the same ruggedized rubber housing found on the Corsair Flash Voyager family for durability, your data is protected from the elements as well.

Because the PIN keypad is integrated directly onto the flash drive, there is no software to install. Simply enter your own Personal Identification Number and your data is unlocked for use on virtually any PC operating system: Windows, OS X, or Linux—even game consoles. Without the PIN, your information stays secure and inaccessible.

• Secure: Hardware 256-bit encryption secures your data
• Protection: Your own 4-10 digit PIN protects and locks access to the Flash Padlock 2
• Capacity: Large 8GB storage gives you ample room to store all your sensitive documents, or up to 2,480 images, or up to 2,000 songs
• Compatible: No software to install — Works on Windows, Mac or Linux based computers — Plug & Play compatible with virtually any USB port
• Hacking Detection: Multiple failed entries locks device for 2 minutes to prevent repeated attempts to access data
• Drive Recovery: If you lose your PIN, you can reset the Flash Padlock to its factory default state, securely erasing all data from the drive
• Confidence: Protected by a limited 10 year warranted and backed by Corsair’s renowned customer service and support

View The Corsair Flash Padlock 2 Owner’s Manual [HERE] .

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Got My Blogger Batteries Recharged

My friend TechPaul, at Tech-for Everyone, recently responded to a comment on his blog explaining how blogging is hard work,  how Thank You’s are far and few between; BUT, when recognition does occur (especially from a peer) it really charges up his blogger batteries. I couldn’t agree with him more.

Recently, by pure chance, I came across the web site My Life Scoop which is a site devoted to useful stories on Family Life (including parenting, holidays, education, and cooking), Personal Life (including career and health), and Tech Life (including travel, music and videos).”

What jumped out at me at this site was that they had my blog (What’s On My PC) and TechPaul’s (Tech-for Everyone) listed as one of their Top 10 Tech Advice Blogs [click here] alongside some of the big guns that are out there.  What was rewarding about this was that I was included with one of my mentors (Tech Paul).  I actually got into blogging from the encouragement of Tech Paul (at Tech-for Everyone) and from the encouragement of Bill Mullins’ (at Tech Thoughts). To this day I look up to these guys and when something good happens the real reward is paying them back with words of sincere thanks that recharges my blogger batteries and hopefully gives them a charge to their blogger batteries, as well.

I just wanted to publicly recognize and say Thank You to My Life Scoop for this recognition; AND, most importantly for recharging my blogger batteries.  I really needed that…

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