Several months ago Microsoft released a new search tool call Windows Search 4.0 (an update to Windows Desktop Search). With Windows Search a user on Windows XP or Vista Machines can perform a search onthe network drive and recieve instant results.
This type of search capability is extremely powerful and productive, previously tools that provided such capability were extremely expensive (Google search appliance) and/or complicated (dtSearch).
I myself created an ASP based webpage that my clients could browse to. The webpage would perform an ISXXO query to the Index Server on the file server. This worked pretty good - but was a but buggy, not as fast, and definitely not integrated into the user experience.
It has taken me so long to figure out the Remote Query Capability of Windows Search because for me it was just not working. I finally ran into this article (http://biztechmagazine.com/article.asp?item_id=416) that explained for the Remote Query functionality of desktop search to work - the path you had to be accessing in the file explorer is \\computername\share using the IP address or FQDN woudl not work. I look forward to Microsoft updating this limitation in future versions of Desktop Search.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Windows 7
Yes the next versionafter Vista. Really Vista nowadays is a fine operating system. It is stable, pretty, and has some fancy features. But it is also a bit clunky in its attempt to provide tighter security.
Widnows 7 is what Vista should have been - it is FAST (was faster than Vista) - just as secure but ot nearly as obtrusive. Also has some great new Windows management tools. The Beta is comming out soon and I am really looking forward to it.
Widnows 7 is what Vista should have been - it is FAST (was faster than Vista) - just as secure but ot nearly as obtrusive. Also has some great new Windows management tools. The Beta is comming out soon and I am really looking forward to it.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Back up your data!
About a year ago I had a client lose all their pictures on the Hard drive f their home PC. They did not have backups and all the computer tools a typical tech guy has would not work. I had to send this out to a company that specializes in data recovery - in the end it cost $2000 and they got back ALL the data.
Recently, this happened again to another client who list their financial data in quicken. They certainly did not want to shell out $2,000 - I was hoping I could start putting the skills I have been developing in HTCIA to use. I met with the Computer Forensics Investigator for the SLO PD - he showed me plenty of tools - lucky for me this was not an easy recovery so there was alot for me to watch. In the end I was able to recover the Quicken data and have used these skills more than once on other hard drives.
Please, backup your data - and also be careful with what you store and transmit digitally.
Recently, this happened again to another client who list their financial data in quicken. They certainly did not want to shell out $2,000 - I was hoping I could start putting the skills I have been developing in HTCIA to use. I met with the Computer Forensics Investigator for the SLO PD - he showed me plenty of tools - lucky for me this was not an easy recovery so there was alot for me to watch. In the end I was able to recover the Quicken data and have used these skills more than once on other hard drives.
Please, backup your data - and also be careful with what you store and transmit digitally.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Computer Forensics w/ the FBI
So I had a neat experience the other day, being a member of HTCIA (A law enforcement, computer forensics group) we had our monthly meeting at the FBI office in Santa Maria. It pretty cool when you have to go through three different security gates/doors all with buzzers and cameras.
I have been a member with HTCIA for three years now and have learned so much. When it comes to crime and obtaining evidence it is amazing how much stuff you can find on someone's computer, cell phone, and GPS unit.
I have been a member with HTCIA for three years now and have learned so much. When it comes to crime and obtaining evidence it is amazing how much stuff you can find on someone's computer, cell phone, and GPS unit.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Bill Gates' Last Day
I was browsing around Digg.com - they now have a section for Videos and pics and came across a Microsoft video of Bill Gates' Last day in the office. Quite funny, I am sure M$ paid a pretty penny to make this. I think they are finally realizing the importance of being personal - and humor is a key way to starting a personal feeling. Bill Gates' Last Day
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Vista Battery Saver
So I am running Vista on my laptop, and it has a bunch of little gadgets and graphical candy built in. Let's face it, Vista is pretty. With all this, when you are using a laptop on battery, it really eats the juice.
I was doing a little search for more advanced power management, such as turning off Aero when on battery - and it is not built in. But I stumbled across an open source website sponsored by Microsoft that has all kinds of user enhacements and plug-ins: http://www.codeplex.com/
I was doing a little search for more advanced power management, such as turning off Aero when on battery - and it is not built in. But I stumbled across an open source website sponsored by Microsoft that has all kinds of user enhacements and plug-ins: http://www.codeplex.com/
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