When in times of [computer] trouble there are a few prized possessions that you can never take for granted. This is my Essential list; stuff that I always have on hand when on the go.
- Firstly, find yourself a copy of a UBCD4Win (Ultimate Boot CD for Windows) – This disk you can never take for granted. It slip it into your CD-ROM bay and tell bios to boot from your disk drive. The disk loads a “live” operating system that contains a bundle of utilities ranging from spyware detection to recovery tactics. Make use of the file explorer to back-up files on a corrupt hard drive. My favorite application is “Ghost32″. Use it to make an exact copy of your computer, save it away, and re-image your hard drive when spyware or viruses get the best of you. Alternatively, you can also wipe your hard drive to DoD standards. More on this later. FREE! – http://www.ubcd4win.com/
- USB flashdrive – These little guys are great and have come along way. I picked up a 16gig Cruzer from woot.com for 20 some odd dollars. It has proved to be the best companion. It has enough space to hold onto all my docs, some music, a few Linux distros and some essential applications. Another great use is to make it a bootable drive; Puppy linux or BackTrack would be something to look into.
- External Harddrive- So a 16gig flash drive will hold a lot but probably not your entire desktop computer. As with flashdrives, space is a lot cheaper now a days. You can find a 1 Terabyte (1000 Gigabytes) harddrive for around $100. It is a great investment. Use that Ghost Utility from the UBCD to copy your entire computer uncompressed. Many have auto-backup software built in to secure your information behind the scenes.
- External DVD-CD-RW drive – Okay this is not always necessary but definitely a good thing to have around. You could get a heavyduty plug-in one but I recommend a slimline laptop style drive paired with an external enclosure. The advantage of this is there is no need for external power; it draws all it needs from your USB ports. It complements a Live OS nicely when backing up files. They are very laptop friendly. Drive ~$70, Enclosure ~$15
- Ethernet Cord – You never know when you need one of these. Serves many purposes beyond recovery. Use to get an internet connection, access/evaluate ethernet resources or move items to and fro your home server. WIFI is another alternative but proven to be unreliable and not always secure. I would get a 20ft or longer Cat5e cable. ~$10
- Harddrive adapter / screwdriver – If your computer can not even get as far as turning on your only option is to take the hard drive out and connect it to another computer. They are not to expensive and can be a life saver. Why pay someone at a shop to do when you can do it yourself? You can scan the drive for spyware and viruses and once again back-up your files to that external drive. ~$20
- A copy of your native operating system – When you see your hard drive is irreversibly wacked (happens way to often), your best bet is to back-up what you can and cut your loses. Follow the same process as booting a UBCD and follow on screen instructions. If you happen to be a licensed Windows customer refer to the serial on the COA sticker to complete installation.
- Netbook – These things are great! For those of you unfamiliar, a Netbook is a small, low power laptop. There are literally dozens on the market right now, many under $300. It provides a great lifeline on the go. If these interest you and are considering purchasing one, I recommend Asus, MSI, or Acer. HP also makes a great product too.
- A Targus notebook backpack – These are great protection for your valuables and a techy fashion statement too. They come in many shapes and sizes with enough pockets and compartments to hold everything on this list. ~$50
Well thats my Essentials. Being prepared is the best defense against data loss. Always backup important documents and keep them in a secure location. What items would you put in your essential tech bag?
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