Ask an IT Pro

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Kraftster
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Kraftster »

dodint wrote:
Kraftster wrote:
Far from IT, but does anyone have any familiarity with forensic recovery tools?
Just curious. What are you actually trying to do? Kali Linux is a free penetration testing build of Linux that has a bunch of built in forensics stuff. I haven't gotten around to fooling with them yet though.
I'm looking to retain someone to do some imaging and possible forensic review in a case I'm working on, and I want to keep him on a short leash. So, I want to get some idea of the capabilities of the tools so that I can give very specific instructions and avoid unnecessary expert time.
shmenguin
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by shmenguin »

TIL kraftster's job is more interesting than mine.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Sarcastic »

OK, dodint or whoever. Thingie.

Windows 7. It takes forever to do a Windows update. Takes like 20-30 minutes to create one of those restore points, then it takes maybe as long to do the actual updating. I did some reading and the supposed official fix is deleting the update folder then making a new/empty one. Is that OK or will that screw something up in the updating process. I am not planning to undo any of those updates so I don't NEED the folder, I'm just curious if that's the proper fix.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Sarcastic »

Hellooooo?
Sarcastic
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Sarcastic »

btw, something broke my computer today. i just got done fixing it. well, to fix things i just press a button and revert my whole drive 100% to an earlier image like from today (not with that junk MS revert, but a special app. i talked about it before.) - nope, didn't work, something happened last night - so i went to yesterday morning's image and it fixed it.

my virus scanner said "can't communicate with the kernel". i rebooted a few times, nope. maybe some malware sneaked in somehow or maybe it was the large windows update i did yesterday. whatever, it's fixed now. :)
Kraftster
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Kraftster »

shmenguin wrote:
TIL kraftster's job is more interesting than mine.
Ha, I will say, I have had some really interesting cases. It's a shame that even the fun ones can have the fun sucked out by the grueling process of discovery.
dodint
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by dodint »

Sarcastic wrote:
OK, dodint or whoever. Thingie.

Windows 7. It takes forever to do a Windows update. Takes like 20-30 minutes to create one of those restore points, then it takes maybe as long to do the actual updating. I did some reading and the supposed official fix is deleting the update folder then making a new/empty one. Is that OK or will that screw something up in the updating process. I am not planning to undo any of those updates so I don't NEED the folder, I'm just curious if that's the proper fix.
I would do it.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Hockeynut! »

FYI, I was able to get my Tivo to connect to the network again. But dodint, you can still visit in a few months. :)
Pavel Bure
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Pavel Bure »

When I try to defray my computer it just won't. Why is this?
dodint
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by dodint »

Have you booted into Safe Mode and attempted to defrag that way?
shmenguin
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by shmenguin »

"That defrag was super helpful", said no one I've ever known
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Pavel Bure »

dodint wrote:
Have you booted into Safe Mode and attempted to defrag that way?
Yep, been like that since day 1. Googled all over the place, nothing.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by dodint »

shmenguin wrote:
"That defrag was super helpful", said no one I've ever known
If I spent time telling users they're wasting their own time I'd never get any work done. When I was contracting with the Marines word got around that defragging was the cure all for a slow computer. I never saw great results but it gave them the peace of mind of actually trying something.

Buying a new computer helps.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Pavel Bure »

I like to be organized damn it.
mikey287
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by mikey287 »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/dell-studio-xps ... 4190a237d0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That doesn't look too bad, really, eh? Extra $50 for the better HD/Ram. I don't know what SSD is or whatever, but the IT guys rave about it...

$300 for

Intel Core i7-920 CPU (Quad core, HyperThread Technology= 8 threads processing power!)
8GB DDR3 Memory
120GB SSD Hard Drive
Stock Dell Video Card
Like New Lite-on 550w Power Supply
DVD/CD/RW Burner
Windows 7

Might be worth rolling the dice on as a good base. Then make a couple upgrades as needed...
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by MalkinIsMyHomeboy »

SSD:HDD::J. Staal:Sutter


Aka SSD is better but more expensive
dodint
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by dodint »

Easy way to think of it is that SSDs are like giant memory cards. There is no spinning disc to read so the data can be retrieved very quickly.

The extra $50 is worth it just for the jump from Vista to Win7. With Win7 you'll be able to upgrade to Win10 for free this fall so you'll effectively go from Vista to Win10 for $50. Plus an SSD with 40GB more space than the base configuration.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by mikey287 »

So, value-wise that's looking pretty on-point you'd say? Sure seems like it...
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by MalkinIsMyHomeboy »

Ugh, my Pens third line centers analogy falls on uncaring ears
dodint
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by dodint »

mikey287 wrote:
So, value-wise that's looking pretty on-point you'd say? Sure seems like it...
If you're okay with the case cosmetics I don't see why you would have a problem with it. Obvious weakness is the video card but you were talking about getting a tuner card anyway.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by mikey287 »

MalkinIsMyHomeboy wrote:
Ugh, my Pens third line centers analogy falls on uncaring ears
Haha, I got it, don't worry. I speak hockey. Thanks.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by tifosi77 »

Pavel Bure wrote:
When I try to defray my computer it just won't. Why is this?
How full is the HDD you're trying to defrag? Generally, you need to have something like 20% of the drive empty in order to defrag.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by Pavel Bure »

tifosi77 wrote:
Pavel Bure wrote:
When I try to defray my computer it just won't. Why is this?
How full is the HDD you're trying to defrag? Generally, you need to have something like 20% of the drive empty in order to defrag.
It's not even half full. Oddly enough the Toshiba keeps floating along and my wife's Lenovo crapped the motherboard bed about a year ago... Still probably gonna get a Lenovo for the next one cause of the good reputation of Think Pads.
dodint
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by dodint »

Lenovo is my preferred laptop/notebook/netbook platform.
Samsung for phones and tablets.
Desktop is a Dell XPS, but I think next time I'm building from scratch.

On my desktop I do a weekly defrag in the middle of the night so it's not something that would be a diagnostic or clean-up improvement for me.
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Re: Ask an IT Pro

Post by tifosi77 »

My work laptop is a Lenovo. It's so fast I thought it had an SSD.