Computer Hardware Servicing NC II Tutorial

What Is A Virtual Machine?

A virtual machine or VM is a program (an operating system) that runs other programs within itself virtually. It is compared to as like having a physical computer within a computer. With the use of a virtual machine, we are able to run software or programs to test without risking the main operating system or host operating system. In this setup, a computer with an XP operating system can be installed with a virtual machine software like Microsoft Virtual Machine, Virtual PC, VMware, or Virtual Box, and when deployed it can be installed with any other operating systems like Linux and the other Window's Operating systems. You can then run different programs like you normally do with your computer.

The current setup of my computer is having a host operating system of Windows XP SP2 installed with Sun Microsystem's Virtual Box (which is free) and I had Windows 7 and Ubuntu 11.10 installed in it. So whenever I feel like using Ubuntu, I just open Virtual Box and run Ubuntu in it. You can have this setup too! It is so easy to install and we are providing some steps here on how to install Virtual Box in your computer.

Here's How Virtual Box Can Be So Useful

How To Install A Virtual Machine - Virtual Box

1. Download Virtual Box.

2. Unzip and run the installer, just follow the wizard and click next if your unsure what to do. The installation should be fine by clicking next even without reading its contents and warnings because the default locations and settings may not be changed at all.

3. Restart your computer.


This is how simple to install a virtual machine like Virtual Box. You also use other VM software like VMware or Microsoft Virtual Machine. The best thing with having a virtual machine is that you can easily remove the guest operating system with a click of a button. It also allows us to mount our flash drive, DVD ROM, or even connect to the internet - just like you normally with any computer! Having multiple operating system is really cool and the solution to that is having a virtual machine installed in your computer.

You might be wondering how other people place their files or backups in the internet? The answer is cloud storage. Cloud storage is having your files uploaded online and is segmented then distributed to different servers or computers. Using this method can significantly increase file security. You don't have to worry how they did it or might your file still be intact when you will try to access it.

Your files are a lot safer when it is in cloud storage servers rather than in your USB flashdrive. You may be able to access and share your files anywhere in the world like accessing your email. What you need to do to be able to use the service is to sign up for a free account and then you're now ready to upload and share your files online. We will be listing some of the cloud storage services that offers small (at most 50 GB) online drive space for free.

Pros - Free, Portable, easy to download and share files

Cons - May take a longer time in uploading files.

So here is a list of Cloud Storage Sites

Dropbox.com

One of my favorite cloud storage options. Its features includes able sync files so that if you are to open a document from one computer with dropbox installed, you can also view those files to your other computers with dropbox installed and files shared. You can also access your files from different operating system like mac, linux, windows or even your ipad! By the way you'll get 2 GB of free storage and will increase if you refer dropbox to your friends.

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SugarSync.com

SugarSync offers realtime backup of your files and able to share these files anywhere and even to using mobile devices. It enables us to steam your cloud saved audio files and even create galleries for your uploaded images. SugarSync gives 5 GB free cloud storage for personal accounts.

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Box.net

An online virtual storage offering a wide array of features having been the choice for many. They may be offering a 10 GB of free space for individual plan and can actually increase the storage space with an account upgrade. Very easy to use and the console is very easy to understand.

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AmazonClouD Drive

A cloud storage by Amazon. Amazon offers a free 5 GB online storage with an upgrade for your need of a larger space for a dollar per per. The best thing with this type of cloud storage is that it enables us to stream audio directly from your virtual storage account. This is perfect for storing mp3's and not so very good for document or file storage.

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Windows SkyDrive

Made by microsoft and it boasts a lot of features and offering 25 GB of free storage for every account. That is way a good deal if you want to upgrade your plan with SkyDrive. This feature rich cloud storage has been in the market since 2007. When you say you want a good cloud storage, I'd say go for SkyDrive.

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MemoPal

MemoPal has been developed mainly as a Microsoft client backup (though they also have Linux, Mac, Iphone, etc). It's strong feature is file sync and auto backup to a remote server via a well secured internet connection. Perfect for offices and personal use who needs constant backup of files.

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ADrive

Other cloud storage companies cannot beat up ADrive's free 50 GB of cloud storage. That could hardly be matched and security wise, it's one of the best and preferred. What Adrive might have to improve is to open its doors to free users of some great features. The prices might be reasonable but I think more features should be accessible and the security for the free account is light.

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IDrive

IDrive offers 2 GB free cloud storage for the personal account. Backup features is great and allows you to have backup schedules. The use of a proxy is a priced feature which enables you to heighten the security of your files to be backed up. The interface of IDrive is excellent. Really very to use and what amazes me is that it offers different file version backup that in case you'll accidentally delete a file, you can still access it!

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Google Docs

Google docs has been around last 2006 and been a document storage of choice by many. I personally use Google Docs to store my office and personal documents. Why google docs is favored by many it that it enables to to convert documents to be converted to Google Docs format or PDF or even just retain its format. You can even edit the files online if you want to and share it online to your friends or whoever you want to share it with.

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Zumo Drive

Zumo Drive allows 2 GB of free cloud storage for personal accounts. It boasts to trick your computer that when it save files on the local drive, it actually is using Zumo's online storage. Though designed for Mac, Zumo Drive also allows Windows users to enjoy its services. Zumo Drive is perfect for storing images for it has its own gallery which you can share online and for music files.

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CX.com

You'll get 10 GB free online storage by CX.com. Like other cloud storage, its features includes file sync, auto backup of files, share, and even can be accessed anytime and anywhere using your computer or phone. It is compatible with Windows, Mac or Andriod

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Syncplicity.com

With Syncplicity you don't have to worry a thing because once you got it installed in your computer, it monitors for file changes and automatically uploads those files to Syncplicity's servers. Syncplicity offers like any other cloud storage a 2 GB free of online webspace for a personal account.

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Mozy

Though Mozy's service is not intended for sharing special with mobile devices, what makes Mozy out edge other providers is that it uses 128-bit SSL Encryption to ensure no data interception. Mozy provides standard support options and its interface is simple thus making it easy to use.


So here is a short list of cloud storage you can use for your free online storage of files and other media.

You may be looking a lot of hard drive reviews on the net but can't find a technical review but rather marketing reviews. Of course, most sites do a marketing review to mark up sales and any Hard Disk Drive is good as long as it sells. With today's technology, reliability and performance are no real big issues. Even new storage technologies are emerging and one that is so promising are Solid State Drives or SSDs.

Regarding SSDs its primary advantage is the reduction ( some says total removal ) of shock problems, lesser weight, more portable, and faster data transfer rate. And the downside? Yes there is, lesser data capacity than Hard Disk Drives can handle and way too expensive as compared with bytes per $. That is why hard disk drive will still thrive in the market as long as SSD technology cannot surpass the advantages of hard disk drives. Now if you ask me which hard disk drive is most preferred to use? Take a look at the review below according to my 43 computer technician friends.


Top 5 Hard Disk Drives According to Computer Technicians


5. Maxtor

- Maxtor had been around for quite some time until it has been bought by Seagate Company. HDDs made by Maxtor was greatly appreciated because it doesn't produce much heat as compared with the other bands of drives. This is the sole advantage of Maxtor. I know it's quite harsh but that's how the technicians had experiences with it. Maxtor is slow and doesn't lasts long. It may be because it is so sensitive to shock and power disruption. Anyway, you won't be buying Maxtor these days because Seagate already had.

RATING : 5/10


4. Samsung

- Samsung originally makes optical drives then until hard drives. Samsung hard disk drives are not recommended by most technicians because it does not last long. It's common problem is overheating. This may be the cause of the possible warping of the platters or the actuator heads and cause squeaking sound inside the HDD as it ages. This can somehow be temporarily resolved by freezing the drive to be able to do file backup. Samsung however is new to the game, give it some time to perfect its hard disk drive technology.

RATING : 6/10


3. Hitachi

- The response was positive when the technicians were asked. Hitachi hard disk drives
are commonly used by laptops ( 2.5" ). Hitachi hard disks are designed for anti-shock and can has higher heat capacity. However, the 3.5" drives used for desktops cannot outrun the performance of the top hard disk drives. It usually has problems with longevity. It will just crash in some moment but will it take a longer time yet before it does.

RATING : 7/10


2. Western Digital

- This may sound unfair but that is how it has been rated by our technicians. WD hard drives are data reliable because it is fast and not so expensive. The only flaw we knew of Western Digital is that is produces a lot of heat. This intense heat may be the cause of the squeaking sound in the hard disk drive as it ages. The squeaking is caused by the heads brushing the platters. This disadvantage does however fair with the top brand. Why? Because the drive seldom fails to be detected during POST. I once had a Western Digital 20 GB hdd which I left and thought to be defective in my storage room and just recently tested it and it ran.

RATING : 9/10


1. Seagate

- Seagate has somehow "perfected" the hdd technology. Of course there is no such thing as a perfect technology but this brand so far has met our needs. It may not be as fast as Western Digital, but it can handle greater heat and shock tolerance. Its major drawback however is that if the hdd starts to squeak, you need to backup your files because the drive wouldn't last long. The price? Worth it if you want a reliable data storage.

RATING : 9.5/10

What is a failing hard drive? How do you know that your hard drive is failing? Is there a chance to fix hard drives? These are the common questions one may ask regarding a failing hard drive.

Let us now try to answer the common questions above and let me give you some friendly and sometimes aggressive and slightly dangerous procedures just to save your hard drive from failing or sometimes reviving it. What is a failing hard drive and How do you know that your hard drive is failing? A failing hard drive is a condition where you will be having limited operations on your computer due to system crashing and stalling contributed by a over-heated, mechanically failing, read/write errors, and so on.

There are few indications that proves your hard drive is failing, but be very careful because hard drive errors are also relative to RAM, Operating System, or even PSU errors. A defective hard drive has similar indications with virus infection like system hang-up or freezing and constant restarting. So before doing the procedures to fix hard drive errors provided here, ensure and verify that your hard drive is really the component that is failing. Hard drive mechanical errors are not hard to detect, you can determine it by simply listening to it. Overheating also contributes to hard drive failure. Here are some of our tested procedures in trying to fix failing or defective hard drives.

Please be warned that on our tests, only less than 30% of the procedures done proved success.

Fixing Noisy Hard Drive

A. Before turning on your system unit, listen closely to your hard drive. Turn your system on and if you hear a brushing or sometimes accompanied with little sharp squeaks, your hard drive is already in very bad condition and you need to have file backups and replace it. The brushing sound is caused by a slightly bended actuator arm due to heat. The read/write heads then touches the platters's surface thus producing sound from the friction. To "fix" the bending of the actuator arm, we need to reverse the effects of heat by freezing it. Yes freezing "might" relieve the bending. Here's how its done.

1. Remove your hard drive from the system unit. Wrap your hard drive tightly with a newspaper and secure it with a tape. Then wrap it with a plastic bag or similar that will restrict moisture from getting in. Have multiple layers of plastic wrappings enough to prevent moisture from getting into the hard drive.

2. Set your fridge to a lower temperature. Place your hard drive vertically in the freezer. Leave it their from 24 to 48 hours. 24 or 48 hours after, remove the hard drive from the freezer and just let it open in the air for a day. Please don't remove the plastic yet, the hard drive is cooled down and the moisture will build up in the cold.

3. After settling the hard drive for a day, remove the wrappings and put it back to your system unit and power it up. If there is no significant reduction on the brushing and squeaking sound, then its time to buy a new hard drive.


System Stalling or Freezing Contributed by HDD

B. Over-heating can cause some components to fail. It doesn't exclude the hard drive, an overheating hard drive can cause a system to freeze or stall or even sometimes constantly restarts a computer. How to determine if the hard drive is overheating? How to resolve this type of problem? Here's how.

1. To determine whether the hard drive is overheating, while your computer is in operation place a piece of paper on top of your hard drive. Touch it paper covered part of your hard drive with the back of your palm. If it gives you a burning sensation, your hard drive is overheating.

2. Removing or reduction of the overheating can easily be done by installing a hard drive fan. It costs a little and it works effectively to reduce to heat of your hard drive. Recommended to be used by specially by gamers and people who works on graphics and animation. If this won't give you significant results, buy a new hdd.


Hard Drive can't be Detected Sometimes

C. A dirty and corroded terminals and data paths on the hard drive controller board can cause problems like hard drive is unable to be detected on POST and other unusual hard drive error. This can be resolved by:

1. Remove the controller board from the hard drive, the PCB with components held by three or four screws is the hdd's controller board. Clean the controller board by using an old toothbrush and a lacquer thinner. This will in turn wash away the varnish and also the accumulated dirt. Let the controller board be completely dried before reinstalling it back to the hard drive and test it. If it doesn't work, try reheating the components with a hot air or with a hair dryer. And if again it doesn't work, buy a new hard drive.


Hard Drive Error is Neither Nor Here

D. That's good, your desperate. :-) The last option that I recommend is for you to find another hard drive exactly the same as you are having, the size, brand, and series. You can have an old and defective hard drive. What should you do with the other hard drive? Here's what:

1. Remove the controller boards of both hard drives, swap it. Test each hard drive to determine which will function. If this still doesn't work, BUY A NEW HARD DRIVE :-)

These are the most common way of approach of fixing a failing or dead hard disk.