Surviving a PC Meltdown: Syncing With SugarSync, Restoring From Mozy

I seem to be living in a technology Bermuda Triangle. Two weeks ago my media-centerfield PC died suddenly, and two days agone my primary desktop went belly upwardly. Sure, I was able to switch finished to my laptop and bring back to forg, but for the time being my information was cornered privileged the defunct desktop. At to the lowest degree, it would experience been trapped, if non for my secret arm: SugarSync.

Like Dropbox and similar services, SugarSync provides me with "magic folders" that automatically sync to online servers. Frankincense, every Word of God document I save to uncomparable of those folders is quickly, quietly, and securely derived to the cloud.

Likewise, because I have SugarSync connected my laptop, that same data gets downloaded to folders there. So although I still have stuff I need to rescue from my desktop, my most important files are already available to me–and not just on my laptop computer, just also on the Web, my iPhone, etc. It's a beautiful matter.

I'm not saying SugarSync is the ideal solution for everyone, but I definitely recommend using few kind of folder-syncing table service for rich and effective data redundancy. Because, take it from me, you never know when your PC is leaving to die a uncanny and unexpected death.

Keep File Dates Intact When Restoring Data From Mozy

Even though, I've suffered some fairly ruinous hardware failures, no critical data was curst–in part because I utilize Mozy to file away the important stuff (Word documents, my Outlook PST file, then on) to the cloud.

It's interesting the things you learn about your backup system when the metre comes to restore from it. For example, I once learned the hard way that the image Indian file I'd created categoric-out didn't work the new hard drive I'd installed. (Why? I never did figure it out, which is why you should always do a "test restoration" whenever implementing a new backup system.) And freshly I ascertained a weird, annoying anomaly in the way Mozy restores files.

Specifically, after victimization Mozy's Furbish up Director (a small utility well-meant solely for restoring files) to download my Word documents to my new PC, I disclosed that from each one file's creation date (aka "Appointment restricted") had been altered to today's date. That might non be a big deal for certain kinds of files, but I ofttimes need to know when a particular document was authored.

Why does this happen? I have no idea, but it's a bug that needs fixing. In the meantime, there is a way to urinate careful your file dates remain intact: Use the Mozy guest software, non Restore Manager, to handle the restoration. (If you're working on a revolutionary PC like I was, you'll believably want to install that in any case.) That's accordant to a Mozy employee World Health Organization posted the solution in a Mozy community meeting place. And I'm happy to cover my tests stomach this prohibited.

Fixate 'Green' YouTube Videos

Owing to my recent computer meltdown, I'm in the mental process of breaking in a new system (hopefully without "breaking" it along the way).

I weird anomaly cropped up suited away: When I tried to watch a YouTube video, everything went green. Specifically, I could hear the audio, but the only image was a big greenness square. Huh? This was particularly vexing because I was sure I'd installed the fashionable version of Adobe Flash, and I definitely had the modish video drivers.

Thankfully, I remembered a fix from umpteen moons past. If you'Ra encountering this same publication, try on this:

Open your Web web browser and head to YouTube.
Choose some hit-or-miss video (or the one you'Ra actually trying to look out).
Flop-flick anywhere in the video window, then click Settings.
Clear the check box next to Enable hardware acceleration, then get across Close.

Presto! Now your videos should play reasonable dustlike.

If you've got a hassle that needs resolution, send it my way. I can't promise a response, simply I'll definitely read every email I get–and bash my best to address leastways some of them in the PCWorld Hassle-Rid of PC blog . My 411: hasslefree@pcworld.com . You can also sign heavenward to own the Hassle-Free PC newsletter e-mailed to you from each one week.