Backup options for your PC

Backing up the system is a form of assurance that you need not worry. You are relaxed as even if the system fails whatever be the reason no files would be lost. You can backup through few options which are mentioned below: 

We would provide various backup options for safeguarding your data on which you can rely. 

External Hard Drive

External hard drive is one of the most popular methods for storing data on the PC as they are easy to set up. The hard drive is connected to the system through FireWire, USB or eSATA. Several external manufacturers provide such application with their drives which can be used as unusual solution for backing up.  

USB Drive

In case you do not have huge data to backup say less than 128GB then simple USB drive would do. This basically moves data from on PC to another or other device but high capacity ones are popular. They are very effective. For additional capacity there are manufacturers who offer 128GB USB drive which are purposed for that including ready backup software installed onto the drive. 

Additionally, some USB drives slot in a physical single touch button on actual drive that works with the backup software. Just tap the button on USB drive and the backup is ready. 

Backup Internal Hard Drive

If only single computer needs backup then you can add an extra internal hard drive to the system. Since hard drive would be connected directly to motherboard extra speed would be offered which can be connected through USB. If you have a spare hard drive then install it on the PC n the manner the hard drive is connected. You can buy an extra SATA cable in order to connect the drive. Now choose a reliable back up program, an external hard drive and you are ready. 

Cloud

Many people use cloud storage in order to backup important files as well as data on their computers. This is used as a storage location for some important data. Create new folder or location by using a cloud provider of your preference and name it as “backup.” Copy important data to cloud and PC. You can encrypt the data too.

Network attached storage

Network attached storage is a good option if there are multiple devices or PCs which you want to back up to centralized location.  If you have multiple computers or devices that you want to backup then choose a centralized location. Most of the NAS storage options involve connecting an external hard drive or backup device to the router or network.

Tape Drive

If you have important data which needs to be backed up and archived for a particular time period then a tape drive is the best answer.  It uses reels in order to wind magnetic strip. Chronological access storage is offered where device like standard HDD hard drive make use of random access storage. Tape drive is a good choice for durational or archive backup and they are reliable good qualities of data preservation.  It is not suitable for consumer backup tasks and standard storage purposes. These are expensive and are coupled with a more costly backup application.   

DVD / CD /Blu-ray

Burning of CD/DVD burning is a known method for creating periodical and incremental backups. This is not cheap and reliable. As you are backing up certain data or executing system backups to removable media, create a defined data backup and keep the CDs/DVDs safely.

To know more about Antivirus, online backup and service. You could visit https://www.protectandaccess.com/online-backup.php

Zip and unzip files on Chromebook

There are users who find Chromebooks very useful and some others lament its purchase. Users are confused about its functionality of whether it has the ability to unzip or zip files. Chromebook users have three options in this regard.

Zip or Unzip Using the Chrome OS

ZIP files are dealt with unconventionally. However both are not compatible.  Unzipping is not difficult as several methods used are known to Windows and Mac users. Just right click on zipped file and extract its contents to new folder. You can also double click that zipped file.

Chrome OS treats a zipped file like external drive. If you double click on it, file is mounted thereby allowing you to browse through those files. If you have decided the files that you want, just copy them to Downloads folder or Google Drive by using the Chromebook’s File app. The ZIP file should be saved locally in Downloads folder. It is bewildering to create a zipped file but simple enough for an inexperienced user.

However if you try to create it form the files saved in Google Drive then it is highly confusing. If you choose the files you want to zip, right click, ‘Zip selection’ option would be unavailable. Just move the files to Download folder before zipping them.  Chromebooks save documents automatically in the cloud by default, once the files are moved to local storage and then create a ZIP file you would see that ‘Zip selection’ option is available now.

Unzip with the help of apps in Chrome Web Store

You need not use Chrome OS to unzip files. Use an app from Chrome Web store. There are several third-party zipping tools for Windows and Mac. There is not much choice as far as Chrome OS is concerned.  

Unzip with the help of a Cloud-Based Service

In case you do not want to use Chrome OS, apply a web-based service like ‘ZipShare‘. It is developed by WinZip makers, this extraction tool allows to upload ZIP files from local machine or online storage spaces before placing the unzipped files in the personal online ZipShare account. It has a 50 Mb upload limit. It allows sharing of unzipped files through several social media platforms.

Add useful toolbars to Windows taskbar

Windows desktop can be a lovely pace to work provided it has been set up properly. Native toolbars would make it more efficient by placing details and shortcuts at your fingertips. If you are located in Windows taskbar then you would not have to close windows or open folders and files through Windows Explorer to access them. We can see how these toolbars can be useful:

How to add Toolbar

Just right click Windows taskbar, choose Toolbars from menu and either choose an existing toolbar, or click on new toolbar. When adding new toolbar, choose a folder on your computer which contains the apt content. Create a new folder as you would pick the location and later add the content. 

Useful toolbars from Windows: 

Address: Open the latest used folders type the application names, files, folders as well as launch websites in default browser. If you want to go to the address toolbar with the help of keyboard shortcuts, click Windows + B, followed by Shift + Tab.

Links: Add the favorite websites and make them the default browser. This is same as Internet Explorer Favorites Bar. You can search as well as edit the content of the folder in the Windows user folder under Favorites.

Tablet PC Input Panel of Windows 7 or Touch Keyboard of Windows 8: This button launches a keyboard which would respond to touch input on the touch screen. It works with mouse too.

Desktop: View the desktop items in a single long list. This maintains easy access to shortcuts when the desktop icons are hidden to make it look clean.   

Quick Launch Bar: This is a list of icons which are embedded in taskbar. It is no more featured as a toolbar anymore but is an important component of Windows OS even in Windows 8. If you want to launch programs quickly it’s great. Files can also be added by launching your most used programs, but you can also add files you need to access frequently.

If you want to customize it, right-click and unlock Taskbar. Now right click Quick launch and remove checkmarks for Show text and title.  Taskbar is not locked they, Quick Launch can be dragged to a different location. 

Short Notes & Lists  

If you keep looking at bits of information repeatedly then keep it organized and accessible through toolbar located in the taskbar. If you want to find your things quickly then this is the best solution.   

Custom Toolbar  

In order to create this list, form a new toolbar and then fill it with files. Since note is title of the shortcut file, the characters and its length are limited. Notepad files can be used which can also be saved as.LNK files. You can choose custom icon: right-click on file, choose Properties, and click Change Icon… button.

Start Menu Toolbar

Those who are using Windows 7 OS, you can use as well as customize existing Start Menu. If you are using Windows 8, install a third party Start Menu.  Make use of toolbar to re-create Start Menu. Just create a new toolbar, take it to folder which contains content of the substitute Start Menu. Add the desired content to respective folder, and finally move toolbar to local Start Menu location which is on the far left of taskbar.

Start Menu    

You can use the combination of Win+X Power User Menu. This open as you click Windows + X keys; then right-click Windows 8 Start button.

For any technical support for windows you could contact protectandaccess.com. 

Be in shape with Chrome apps

Winter is a season in which one tends to grab all oily snacks and other heavy items. However summer is just the other way. In short it’s time to get that perfect size! 

Good news for you! Chrome has introduced apps in the web store which has free workout apps for health conscious people like us.

GAIN Fitness: This app allows you to create customized workout regimes for home and gym. They are based on scientific and fitness theories. It also has plans from health experts. There are more than seven hundred individual workouts suitable to all fitness levels. There are some which require other equipment. However most of them can be done if you have the will to do. You can also tell the app if there is any gym or equipment in the home and the app would build accordingly the workout. 

The workouts include fitness methodologies. iPhone users can get to see it in iOS format.   

BodBot: This has become one of the inevitable fitness apps. This app allows planning the work schedule as per your stamina while taking care of food requirements as a comprehensive food plan is generated. The workouts are personalized and based on the fitness ambitions. It also informs the user as to which items can be used for exercises at home. It can also make use of ladders, footballs, chairs and beds to build the workout equipments. 

The app would also help you manage goals as well as schedules by administering the available equipment and exercise history. It would also offer new workouts and regimes based on the progress of the user. When fitness improves workout decree would be difficult. 

Personal Trainer- Yoga: There are people who do not like to hit gym regularly or even have no time. You can consider doing yoga which is best for flexibility, mental health and musculoskeletal problems. This is one of the best yoga apps for Chrome. You would be able to learn simple yoga postures and provide beneficial and therapeutic options. You would be guided through a warm up before making a customized routine depending on your likings. Each position is coupled with a step-by-step diagram and clues to maintain it and how to prevent injuries.

Fitocracy: If you are a social networking bee then this app would inspire and motivate you to be in shape. It tracks workouts as well as provide feedback. This is created around the social element which allows you to make friends with users by following them, motivating them, and commenting on performances and scores. This also has a gaming feature which allows you to earn points for the workouts. It also has an iOS as well as Android version.

Google chrome has become one of the most popular browser in internet. Through google chrome we could do a lot of useful things and solve a significant number of problems. Here are the few post regarding Chrome and its usefulness.

Zip and unzip files onChromebook

How to prevent auto playingHTML5 and flash in Chrome

How to Create Addthis Button in Google Chrome Browser

Enhance OneDrive Experience in Windows 8

OneDrive if not used properly can be a curse or a blessing. It is one stop shop for cloud storage. It has been integrated with Windows 8.1 It’s deeply integrated into Windows 8.1 and offers itself to become the one stop for Cloud storage and syncing is done across for several devices.  After setting up everything you would log into Windows 8 from a device and find that the setting, files and apps are there.    

Change location of OneDrive folder

Changing the default location is not hard and several benefits. Just free up some space on hard drive, decrease the operations which puts pressure on the SSD. You can also use external drives in an efficient manner. 

By default the cloud storage facility is in the C: drive. If you want to move it to some other partition or external drive open the Windows File Explorer and in the left hand side get a OneDrive. Just right click it and choose properties. 

In the Properties window, switch to tab location, choose Move… and pick the preferred location. Do see to it that only content of OneDrive folder would be moved and not the folder. Thereafter create a folder called OneDrive in case that is the preferred if that is the desired destination. Now click OK.

Just confirm that you want to shift all files contained in the old OneDrive folder to new location. After this check whether the files are removed safely which have been sifted to new place. Just go back to old one and get rid of the empty OneDrive folder.

Customize the Sync Settings

OneDrive doesn’t automatically sync all the files you’re storing in the Cloud to your local drive. What you see in your local OneDrive folder are often “smart files”; you could also call them “ghost files”. They’re smart because they save you space. Instead of taking up disk space all the time, only files you want to open are downloaded from the Cloud. The drawback is that you won’t have access those files when you’re offline, for example while traveling.

Here is a simple trick to make sure important files are always available to you. Open the OneDrive folder on your computer, right-click a folder you need to be able to access anytime, and select make available offline. That’s it.

If you need a copy of all your files on your local drive, go to the OneDrive app, open the right-hand menu, go to Settings, then Options, and set Access all files offline to On.

Enable Camera Backup  

OneDrive offers the Camera Roll feature which is required for backing up the videos and images to cloud. Search for the Camera Roll through the Charms bar to the settings directly. Uploads are by default turned off. To save storage space upload photos and back up photos for the best quality. Using Onedrive to upload them is totally a different option. 

OneDrive would get you images and videos the relevant libraries. The folders can be moved in the manner you move OneDrive through explorer.  

This can backup videos and photos from mobile devices. 3GB of free online storage can be earned if Onedrive mobile app is installed and enable Camera backup utility.

You can also use OneDrive as by default save. If you have extra storage then you can sync all your files across the dives having Windows 8. You would like to have Windows 8 save your files by default to OneDrive.

You could read these postS related to cloud computing.

Must use Google driveadd-ons
Are your documents securedin Google drive?
Benefits of Google driveintegration with Gmail
Use Google Drive add ons

Cloud Computing – Pioneer of Change

As far as developing technologies are concerned cloud has been a subject of controversy. There have been several arguments, debates that have left people confused. Several firms however have shifted their IT department to cloud. Cloud computing would influence the way we do business, offer advantage to companies who are bold enough to think outside the box”. We can have a look at how cloud computing can benefit people:

Healthcare  

Just consider a dentist or a doctor who can check the radiograph and zoom into certain areas of radiograph with a button. This would allow the practitioners to make medical decisions immediately irrespective of the location or whether they have access to any desktop PC. With introduction of this technology this would soon turn into reality. 

Staff can access several clinical records from tablets which also improve the patient experience as well as allow one-to-one care.  

Immediate payment  

Time is always valuable for business. Online payment providers has benefited greatly. It can offer the customers self-service as well as the ability to immediately add a payment method to service. Simultaneously, businesses such as online gaming companies use this to stay ahead of competitors and provide new options to its customers. Customers are used to having immediate access and the ability to get real-time feedback. Company can react quickly to several market events, create as well as use new applications in order to capitalize on major trends. 

Cloud ensures that the employees are in contact always. It allows new forms of collaboration. This technology is gradually becoming critical part of the company’s infrastructure. Several businesses are relying on mobile devices. This has crept in so much so that people are ready to leave job if they are not allowed mobile devices.  

These are among the several ways as to how cloud is influencing our lives. This is just the beginning but the technology would develop. Several businesses have realized that cloud can do so much more. Other than this cloud can do so much more than speeding or reducing the cost.   

Here are few useful resources about cloud computing.
Benefits of Google driveintegration with Gmail

Are your documents securedin Google drive?
Use Google Drive add ons

Pros and Cons of Online File Storage

Would you use online storage at work? These sites are becoming popular and many are free services too. However the big question is that is it worth using these sites? Are your details safe? Let’s look at some of the popular online storage external providers:

Google Online Storage

With the online storage system of Google it wants to take care of your life. This also includes Google Drive. With the combination of Gmail and Google drive it is possible to have office which runs on net only. This however has its share of good and bad. One of the major merits is that the files can be accessed from anywhere whether you use a mobile phone or a computer. Google Drive allows installation of applications. Despite having a quick internet connection, these applications are slow and not meant for professional use. Google Drive even permits to upload entire hard disk and allows viewing as well as editing some files if the application installed is proper.  Gmail stores images and files. This should be used for communication only. Google Drive should look after file storage.

Zoho

Zoho offers a complete office solution for a business for databases, spreadsheet and so on. Basic editing can be done. All business can be done online but files cannot be made with each other. This is best for basic business as well as university students. You would have several utilities like chats, meetings, note and everything that a desktop computer has. Some among these are not free and they would have to be upgraded. 

Dropbox

Dropbox provides good sharing and syncing facilities between computers. If a document is edited and the same is done by your friend too, when uploaded to drop box there would be trouble and it would be overwritten through the automatic sync. Google drive is better here.

Skydrive, Office 365 and Hotmail 

MS started initially with live storage which saved files. Thereafter it upgraded to Mesh which failed. Then it updated to Office 365 and now Skydrive. This is not suggested for online business. Google Drive is competent universally. 

Yahoo Mail

This has no online storage solution other than Yahoo mail that has limited space. Therefore files can be uploaded to inbox and saved later. Here the files are not encrypted in the server. It does not have free POP3. This is not reliable as far as speed is concerned. You would have to download all one by one in order to access them.   

There are several merits and demerits as far as working with online tools are concerned. However several experts and users based on their experience say that desktop is better as far as speed, reliability and such factors are concerned. The cloud needs to catch up and till users use optic fiber, cloud cannot defeat desktop.