Kara-Moon Forum

I'm back in business......with a vengeance!  >:D A few days ago,I had sought the services of PCesupport...which provides online virus removal via remote access to your computer...but as it turned out,everything that this technician tried to fix my PC,was precisely every method I had tried myself...so the whole deal was a complete bust.The good news with that though,is they only charge you the $89 if they successfully remove the infection,so I paid nothing.
Don't know if my old music computer is still salvageable via a new OS,so I decided to take out a loan to not only buy a new computer,but mainly to consolidate all of my credit debt into a single payment plan,with a single interest rate charge.
Today,I had the immense pleasure of chatting with a very knowledgeable salesman at my local PC Richards computer store and he not only turned me onto a more powerful computer,that was actually cheaper than my old one...but also turned me on to an anti-virus program called Total Defense Unlimited.
It's anti-virus,anti-spyware,anti-spam,anti-phishing,download protection,social network protection and 25GB of online backup.It was $80...but the rebate is for $80(provided that you print out the rebate form)...but I don't currently have a printer.  ::)
Still though,I think the $80 was a good investment(considering all of the hassles and expenses that I've been subjected to).I also made it a point to set my browsing preferences with a strict filtering setting...so no more girly pictures for me to peruse any more!  :P ;D

I was also offered an in-store 12 month,interest free payment plan on the computer...so I only put down $200,so I don't have to sweat being able to pay it off within that time frame.I now have Windows 8.1,which has a very intuitive and efficient layout and I love it!
I also now have the pleasure of Comcast Internet,which is lightening fast and only $3 more a month than my DSL! I'm not all that thrilled about going through the arduous task of re-loading all of my music software,but at least now,I feel safe enough to where I am comfortable with just this single computer for both internet and music use....at least for the time being.[B/]

Really pleased to hear you got this sorted and look forward to seeing you more active on here again ;D

That's great news Thom!

Do you have someone near you with a printer, a friend, library etc?
If not send me the URL and your address and I'll print it out and send it to you.

Now my advice is to keep your anti program up to date every day and to backup, backup, backup!  You can use the backup program that came with your OS to backup to the cloud but I will strongly suggest that you immediately get an external hard drive and back up to it right after you install your music software.  After it's backed up disconnect the HD and place it in a safe place.  That way it can not get infected.  Of course you may want to update the backup occasionally.  I don't trust cloud storage as no matter what they say it can get infected.  I say that as on three separate occasions my bank and retirement accounts got infected and they were supposedly infection proof!  Fortunately I did not loose anything. Just saying.

Thanks for the warm welcome back,Will! :)

Mario...I was thinking about my printing options & I've used the Staples store for printing before...so that's probably my best bet.

As for the security software,it is of course,a paid version...so updating is automatic....but I will call their 800 # to confirm this.When I plug in a USB stick,a message pops up to ask me if I want to scan it,which is great.
As for my Propellerhead license key USB stick(which I was really concerned about),I did not get the pop up message...but I manually scanned it & it was clean.I think I will buy an external HD...but not sure what size to get yet.
With regard to the cloud storage,I think I will call Total Defense and inquire about that issue.Thanks for the tips! 8)

Schweet! ...  :-* ...  :-

Don't trust their answer!  Of course they will say that they are secure, they all do.  My method that I described in my previous message is the only guaranteed way to secure your assets.

Listen to Mario, Thom.  O0
Other than having way too much hair, this guy has it going on! A one terabyte external hard drive costs very little, and will back up your important data and software securely.

Doing my best Curly impression "Hey I resemble that remark"!

This is what I ordered....I hope I did right; http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=invoice&A=details&Q=&sku=980459&is=REG  It's listed as compatible for Windows 8...but I have Windows 8.1.  :-\

The price was right and it was so well reviewed...so I jumped on it.

Looks good! :-

...always been a fan of Western Digital drives...

Yes Thom this will work with Win 8.1.  It should work with any computer that has USB 2 or 3 as USB external HDs will be plug and play.  The only computer OS compliance will be with the extra programs that come with the HD.  Things like automatic backups etc.  Personally I never install those programs and use Acronis.  You may either use the included Smartware programs or the Win 8.1 backup program, your choice.  Just be sure to make a start up disc as soon as you are finished installing your programs.

PS - I should add that this will work if you are trying to backup an internal HD of 1 terabyte or less.

Wow....I never imagined that trying to retrieve a rebate could be so much work & so stressful.It's been an incredibly long day.As I had mentioned earlier in this thread,I planned to go to Staples to use their PC to fill out Total Defense's online form for print-out,so this morning,I embarked on my quest to do just that.
As it turned out,I was unable to complete the online form,due to the website rejecting my e-mail address(I suspected,that because I wasn't on my personal PC,the website detected a different ISP...which is why my e-mail was considered invalid.
This really sucked,because Staples makes you use a vending machine to obtain a card that you have to put money on(as they charge you .30 cents a minute to use their computers for internet access and printing...so I pissed away $3 and ended up buying a printer to get the job done.
I was eventually planning on buying a printer later on anyway,because I really miss having the ability to scan & upload photos and making CD album covers and considering that I got a Canon all-in-one printer for $50...it worked out okay.
The installation wasn't too tedious,but trying to sort out how to print images from the internet,was a certifiable nightmare...that took all day to figure out.I couldn't print directly from the website's print icon button,nor could I successfully print from my start menu on my PC.
After contacting Canon tech support,I was instructed to go to my Google Chrome control task bar,click on print and from the print preview page,click on print once again and then choose print dialog from the drop menu(but only after requesting a rebate form via e-mail,from Total Defense)!  ::)
To makes matters more frustrating,it was 5 to 10 weeks for my mail to be processed AND THEN....it was an additional 5 to 10 weeks for my rebate(which would be in the form of a prepaid debit card),to be processed as well!
HOWEVER....if I had $8 deducted from my $80 rebate card,they would expedite my mail processing to only 5 to 7 days from the time they received my rebate in the mail...but I would still have to wait 5 to 10 weeks for the damn rebate card,with only a $72 credit.
Since I didn't feel like waiting nearly 6 months to see my rebate,I opted for the expedited mail processing for the $8 fee. :P For all of the hassle,it almost not worth it...but in the end,the cost of my printer will have been paid for and then some.

As for backing up my files,I still have yet to locate all of the software I had purchased that I had saved on several USB flash drives and I probably have about a terabyte worth of various content to rummage through!  :-[

When all is said and done...ultimately,it's wonderful to have internet access again in the comfort of my home and to make music again and the printer is a nice bonus...so it's all good...exhausting,but good!

Mario,

Can you be more specific on the Start Up Disc thing?Meaning...I'm a bit nervous about where to begin,as I was thinking that an external hard drive was all that I needed.
In the interim,I will do some research on this,because I'm afraid of screwing something up...like missing a step or two along the way.
I think I also need to get more familiar with Windows 8.1,before I begin such a task.

Is this tutorial correct? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEvoVcB2cXQ

-Thanks

Thom, I am not that familiar with Win 8.1 but that seems like a very convoluted way to do a start up or as it is also called a back up or as Windows now calls it a bootable-recovery-disc. The first answer here tells you how to do it much easier:
 http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-system/can-i-create-a-bootable-recovery-disk-in-windows-8/02ea7e33-7d6d-4e3b-bf9e-80561c83f3dd?page=1

Apart from contacting the salesman at PC Richards who sold me this computer,I don't feel safe going through with this process(just based on this one link alone).
Maybe I'm being hysterical...but I can't help being nervous after what I went through with my other 2 PC's.Step 6 is a scary one; "The wizard will warn you that everything on the drive will be deleted as part of the formatting process."

That Microsoft community thread is making me bat-sh*t,because there's so many conflicting opinions,different methods,revisions,corrections,revisements etc.,..
I would call Microsoft,but the help that is free of charge,is only for tech issues,so any sort of tutorial instructions will cost me.
I think I need to talk to someone who knows Windows 8.1.

Thom, step 6 refers to a thumb drive or external drive.  It will format any drive that is going to be the bootable drive.  A bootable drive can have no other data on it.  If you make a bootable disc, CD or DVD-I don't know what Win 8.1 requires, you will not need to do that as they come formatted all ready.

If you are still a little afraid to try it take your computer to where you bought it and they could make you a bootable disc for a small fee, if any.

Mario,

I'm really interested in Acronis...but the basic or premium version?I was going to ask someone from the Acronis staff,but I am out of long distance time on my cell phone.

From what I've read on Acronis's website(if I understand it correctly)..with the premium version,I can not only create an image recovery,but also back up my entire PC just using my external HD?

I have been using Acronis for years now.  I just bought the Acronis True Image 2014 Family Pack as I have three computers here that I have to keep an eye on!  I am assuming that by basic you are referring to the True Image 2014.  You can make a bootable CD/DVD as well as back up your entire computer with this version.  Like I said I have been doing that for years now.  Here is the official Acronis info on bootable discs:
http://www.whatsabyte.com/P1/create_cd.htm

I just bought Acronis Premium...I thought it would be a relatively simply program,but it's very intimidating!

By the way....I bought the premium,because it appears you can do a complete back up...just using an external HD...but still trying to get my head around this.....

Wow...the more I look into the tutorials and start guide screens,the more my mind goes blank,as this is not for amateurs at all....it's a very deep program.
I find it annoying,that I paid $80 and that does not even buy me 5 minutes of free phone time(I just want to talk to a live person,so that I can get a foot hold on this program,because I am not sure were to start).
I really can't bare to f**k up my new computer!

I created a bootable disc and I began looking at tutorials from 3rd party individuals...but I don't know if that's a good idea.The reason I am in such a mad rush to get this done,is that from my experiences,a Windows OS can crash at any time...randomly,for any reason and I need that piece of mind of being protected...as soon as possible.
I'll keep at it...but I wonder if I may need to wait until next month,when my cell is refreshed with new long distance minutes...I mean,I'd really rather not turn my studio upside down....by disconnecting everything and dragging my computer back to PC Richards to talk to my salesman and ask him to help me with software that I did not even buy at the store(I'd have to wait until the middle of next week anyway,just to get a ride to Bricktown,which is 20 minutes away from here).

I'm a bit more stressed out than usual,because in the process of upgrading my studio monitors,I ran into a snag....whereby I bought those 1/2 price speakers from Guitar Center...but the Tannoy monitors are noisy as hell,with a terrible electrical noise and get this...it's not a "defect" per say,as many people online in various forums...have been complaining of the same problem!
So.....3 hours after the monitors arrived in the mail today,I had packed them up to be shipped out...but I have no UPS store that's in walking distance from me....and to add to my frustration, I had to request some "free" UPS shipping labels from Guitar Center...but they're not actually free....because when GC receives my shipment,they will deduct the cost of the shipping from my refund for the speakers!  >:(

This prompted me to max out one of my credit cards,because I wanted to have a replacement upgrade now,rater than having to wait for Guitar Center to issue me my refund.
I've got some equipment I can sell for some extra coin and that will really come in handy,because I am getting dangerously close to maxing out my gear budget(as I am certainly not going to dip into my funds that I have reserved for paying off the bulk of my credit card debt!)
It's nice to keep busy....but I am drowning in activities....way too much multi-tasking!  

Thom, just hold on and calm down.  I will be installing our 2014 True Image program in a couple of days.  DO NOTHING until I get back to you.  Once I look at this new version I can walk you through it.  Are you still adding your programs to your new computer?  There is no reason to back it up until you do.  Just do a system restore prior to adding a new program, that way if it screws up you can go back to where you where just before the screw up.

PS- Acronis can do a ton of things but there are only two that I use, boot disc and partition backup.  I back up my C:/ partition but I  copy the files, wavs and MP3's on my other three partitions.  I find that to be better for me but YMMV.

Ok...gotcha...I'm in idol mode....but just one more question if I may...is it not possible to back up what I have now and then back up new programs as I go...in the future?
Reason I ask,is that I am not sure at this point,what programs I will add and what I will discard or reserve for a another PC in the future.
Besides which,I am still in the process of trying to locate all of my Reason-related purchases that I have on various DVD's and/or USB drives.

The answer is yes.  You can backup anytime you want.  In fact I always have two backups, the newest one and the previous one, just in case.

Here is an outside thought for you.  Now that you have a new computer you can format your old ones and use them as either backups and/or for installing some of you software and sounds and connecting them to your new computer via an Ethernet cable. I'm thinking about doing that for my old XP machines.

Mario,

I think I may need to swap hard drives in my gaming computer(my 3rd PC,I will discard),as I think the existing drive is done for.If possible,I had thought about using Acronis to salvage that PC(which is one of the reasons I opted for the premium version).

Thanks a mint for your unrelenting assistance,as you've bailed me out of trouble many times....your a good man & a good friend,amigo!  8)


-Thom

Thom if you think that your HD is done for and you have no data on it that you want to save try starting the computer with your XP disc in it.  Then choose install XP and format the drive.  This will determine if the drive is ok, shot or if only some sectors are bad.

I'm glad I'm helping you!

I have Windows 7 actually,with no disc...on my other computer.

OK left click on my computer, right click on the C:/ drive and click format.  That should work but remember EVERYTHING on that computer will get wiped out.

Thom, I have True Image 2014 up and running so if you still need help just let me know. It is really simple now and much better than any other version thus far.  It is also very fast, minutes instead of hours.  I completely backed up my system, made a Acronis Boot disc and a Win 7 repair disc (from the Windows menu not Acronis') in about 45 minutes.  Granted there isn't a lot on my Internet computer.

I have the guys coming over for a recording the afternoon but I should be on again in the early evening.

Mario,

I would very much appreciate some help,as there is so much content in this program and I am a bundle of nerves.Besides which,it's only logical that I follow your lead,since you've had Acronis for years.

I mean after all....you did instruct me not to touch a thing,until I consulted you!  ;D


-Thanks

Mario,

I did some poking around in my WD Passport HD and discovered a Windows 8 set up app.I backed up my entire PC in less than 30 minutes...which was fantastically simple....but it appears that the whole process had nothing to do with Acronis,whatsoever?

I am very relieved to have my computer safeguarded,but did I just pay $80 for a software program that I didn't need at all??

Mario,

The first PNG file is a screen from the back up process I executed.The 2nd,is a screen from me just launching Acronis afterwards,to see what was going on.
I'm guessing that,in conjunction with me running the Western Digital Window 8 app,the Acronis is activated upon when I manually execute the save process from within my Windows OS?

I just want to be thorough and make certain that there is nothing more I need to do.

Hi Thom,  I am not that  familiar with Win 8.1 but it looks like Acronis is your backup program when you use it.  I say that as I see Acronis cloud as an option and the backup name is "my backups"  and that is the standard name for Acronis backup.  Plus I see that you may be able to save individual partitions.  But I may be wrong, don't know.

What I do know is that Acronis has more options than Win 7 and previous versions and Acronis has saved my wife and son's computers a couple of times.  Thus I swear by it! 

Previous Window's backup was all or nothing while Acronis you could back up individual partitions.  Acronis was also faster plus you could image a disk if you wanted.  There are of more in depth options but I never really played with them.

FWIW - Here is what I am doing to all of our computers.

1-Using Acronis make a full disk backup.  Acronis will ask you when to do this say right now - I forget the language that they used - CRS!
2-click on Create bootable media to make a bootable disc - I used a CD for this.

Then search your Win 8.1 menu (if it is like Win 7 click on my computer, C:/ drive, tools) and make a Win repair disc.  Again I use a CD for this.

You will now have an external HD and two CDs that you should store on a shelf or someplace safe.

You can program Acronis to schedule regular backups (I saw this on your Win menu also and that is another reason I believe Acronis has taken over.)  I do not use this as I do not keep my backup external HDs plugged into my computer for obvious reasons. Whenever I add new stuff I make a new backup. I always keep two backups on one drive, the latest and the one just prior to it, just in case.  I know I'm really paranoid!

That is how I backup my computers.

PS-you did not waste money on Acronis.  I may be wrong but I don't think you needed the premium version but you got it so why not use it.  As I said Acronis has saved me a couple of times thus I know it worked for me.   That is why I recommend it to everyone with a computer.

Mario,

Windows 8.1 is set up very differently.I did not find anything that was termed "disc repair"...only recovery.Funny thing is,I seem to recall seeing "disc repair" somewhere yesterday,but don't know where.

The screens below should give you an idea of 8.1's layout.

Thom I found this when I binged how to create a system repair disc in Win 8,1: http://mywindows8.org/create-system-repair-disc-cddvd-windows-8-1/

According to this you can not make a system recovery disc in win 8.1.  You can recover when you install your original Win 8.1 disc. 

You did make an Acronis boot disc right?

Yepper....sure did.So I guess I got all the available bases covered.

I'm assuming you made a backup from the Acronis program, right?

Affirmative. :)

AS long as you have unplugged the external HD and put it in a safe place you are all set!  The only time you want to plug it in again is after you have made changes and/or added software or data to your system. I wouldn't necessarily plug it in after every song, maybe after 4 or 5 songs.  However you may want to do it after every song, your choice.

Congratulations on getting things up and running smoothly!

PS - If you haven't already get the free Ccleaner and Malwarebytes anti-malware on this machine, I'm assuming that your music computer is connected to the Internet.  Run each every week.  This takes time but between your anti-virus and these two programs you will be extremely well protected.

Mario,

When I bought this PC,I also purchased a very comprehensive security program called Total Defense Unlimited.It has ant-spam,anti-spyware,anti-virus,anti-phishing,firewall,download protection,social network protection,performance optimization and registry cleaning.
Don't want to add anything that would interfere with this program.

Thanks for all of your help,much appreciated sir!

You have  everything covered :;

The only other thing that I can think of is do you have a router with a hardware firewall?  Most do now-a-days.  This add another layer of protection against intruders.

[/quote]

You have  everything covered :;

The only other thing that I can think of is do you have a router with a hardware firewall?  Most do now-a-days.  This add another layer of protection against intruders.
[/quote]

I have very basic router,but currently,I am just running the cable modem(as they only other machine I have besides my PC,is an XBOX)...but I'm not concerned with hooking that up right now.
My spending spree is officially over and it's time to focus on getting the rest of my debts sorted out.

What make and model of router do you have?

I have a Trendnet broadband router model # TW100-S4W1CA/AS.I looked it up and it does have firewall protection,but it's a DSL router...not a cable router....don't know if that makes a difference.

Thom, This is a cable/dsl router so it will work with cable.  See here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=646284&Q=&is=REG&A=details

I would definitely hook it up and use it. You can plug up to 4 different computers, video games or anything else that can use an Ethernet port to access the Internet.

Just plug the Ethernet cable that come out of your modem into the router's wan port then plug your devices into the router using ports 1 through 4.   You will probably have to buy a couple of Ethernet cables but they are pretty inexpensive now.

I hope this helps.

Good to know,thanks.I've had this router for quite some time and I did have multiple devices hooked up when I had DSL...but I thought there might be a difference between DSL & cable,in terms of devices like routers.

I definitely need the router,as I am buying MagicJack Plus.Reason being,is that when I first got my house phone with Verizon,I was eligible for a discount of my phone service(due to my disability)...but when I also got DSL from Verizon,I was rendered ineligible for that discount.
Since I got rid of my DSL,for weeks...I have been trying to reinstate my Lifeline discount for the phone(talking to several people along the way)...but to no avail.
With MagicJack,it's $30 a year and I will get long distance to anywhere in the country and Canada,free caller ID,call forwarding,voicemail,call waiting and free 411 and I can plug my regular phone into eother my PC or directly into my modem! :-

I am buying MagicJack tonight and canceling my Verizon phone service tomorrow(f**k the bozos)!

Mario,

I did what you said,but my computer does not respond to my router(I have an older model,it's blue in color)...maybe it's outdated?Maybe there is a cable-specific broadband router I am supposed to get??
I just spent $60 on a MagicJack device and now I have to buy another friggin' broadband router? >:(

I found a firmware update for my router,but how in the hell am I supposed to update it,since I can't get an internet connection to it??

Perhaps if a more recent model if Trendnet is reasonably priced,I'll spring for one. :-\

My router has a reset switch and I tried to reset it,but it was unresponsive.I don't see any other alternative,but to buy a new one.Fortunately though,the latest model is $3 cheaper($21).

I placed an order for this;http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=invoice&A=details&Q=&sku=646284&is=REG ...keeping my fingers crossed. :P

Unless your router was dead, which is a possibility, sometimes there are different ways to get up and running depending on what equipment you have.  Here are the two methods to try with both your old and your new router.

1- unplug the power to your modem
2-conect the router to the modem
3-turn on the router - wait about 3 minutes or so
4-power up the modem - wait about 3 minutes or so
5-power up your computer and see if all is ok.

If not then
1-unplug the power to both the modem and router but keep them connected
2-power up the modem - wait 3 minutes or so
3-power up the router - wait three minutes or so
4-power up your computer

One of these two ways has always worked for me.

Good luck

Mario,

Since I had already placed the order and it was already shipped out from the warehouse,I thought that I would just wait for the new router to see what happens.
When I unpacked it,the manual had these really elaborate instructions on how to set it up...such as typing in an address in the search bar,contacting my cable company for the Mac Address..etc.,....which was a nightmare.

I then called Comcast and explained the whole proposed scenario from the manual and she told to forego all that,and just execute the procedure you mentioned and it was just plug & play.
More than likely I guess,your 1st method you mentioned would have worked(on my old router)...but I'm not going to make a fuss and disrupt my set up,just to save $20...by returning my new router.
The way I look at it,I'll have a back-up router...just in case.

Thanks again for all of your help!By the way...the MagicJack phone is great and I'm saving myself $270 a year! :- 911 calls are an extra charge,which is odd...but I have a free cell phone for that.

-Thom

That's good news.  Most of the time typing the router's address is for the more advanced options, which I suggest that you do not get into.

FYI-many times you can daisy chain routers to give you more inputs but it depends on the router itself.  A switch will also give you more inputs if you need them.