A Networked Home

Archive for the ‘Software’ Category

If you are using Gmail’s new IMAP feature with Windows Mail (and possibly other clients, although this doesn’t appear to be a problem in Outlook) you will probably encounter the following error message whenever your program attempts to send/receive mail:

Header download for the ‘[Gmail]‘ folder did not complete. Could not select ‘[Gmail]‘ on the IMAP server. You might try refreshing your folder list to synchronize with the IMAP server. Account: ‘imap.gmail.com’, Server: ‘imap.gmail.com’, Protocol: IMAP, Server Response: ‘Unknown Mailbox: [Gmail] (Failure)’, Port: 993, Secure(SSL): Yes, Error Number: 0×800CCCD2

This one, thankfully, has an easy fix.  Right click on the GMail folder and select “Don’t Synchronize”.  This does not affect your sending or receiving of mail or any of IMAP settings.  That’s it!  Error solved!

You may or may not know, but Microsoft, in an effort to boost it’s Office Live Workspace beta, has started a massive sweepstakes with daily drawings of prizes for users.

I am a beta tester of the service (a review will follow).  Therefore, I was automatically eligible for the drawings. Cash, Zunes, etc.

Today I received an email that I had won!  What did I win?  A coupon is being mailed to me for a FREE 12 PACK OF PEPSI!

Oh well, I suppose it’s better than nothing!  Even if I am a Coke drinker…

But, if you sign up and begin using the service there is still time for you to be entered into the sweepstakes.

Recently Google released it’s sync option for Microsoft Outlook.  This has been long overdue in my estimation, but, better late than never.

It’s a quick and simple solution.  Just download the sync tool and run it.  Two-way syncing is easy to set up.

You can check out Google’s complete instructions HERE.

We decided to take a look at some of the leading online backup services available. For those not familiar, online backup is a way of backing up your most important data to an off-site source via your internet connection. This is crucial because if there were a fire or any sort of natural disaster at your home then your data would be safe - all those precious, irreplaceable family photos would survive.

In most cases, you want to only back up the irreplaceable files because it will cost you for the space your backup files use. In other words, don’t back up things like programs (Office, Photoshop, etc.) because you can always re-install them from the CD or from a web site, or, at least, by repurchase. The key files would be your documents, photos, music and video - in other words, things that can’t be replaced with money.

The first thing you need to realize is that uploading all of these files is a large undertaking, so, a high speed connection (DSL, Cable, etc.) is almost required.

Another, and perhaps the biggest, consideration is the destination. In other words, “is this a reliable company who will still be around if my files get wiped out 5 or 10 years from now?”. That is the toughest question because it is really a guessing game. Obviously the clearest choice for this one would be Amazon with their S3 backup service.

Next you need to look at the cost for storage. Most charge by file size per month or annum. Here again we see Amazon coming out on top. They charge $0.15 per GB per month. So, if you store 50GB it would cost $7.50, whereas Box.net will charge $19.95 for 15GB. But, if you have a LOT to store then you may want consider Carbonite which charges $49.95 per year for unlimited storage. Going back to the Amazon 50GB example to compare to Carbonite, this would be $90 per year on Amazon. But, if you have very little to back up then Box.net offers 1GB per month for free and iDrive offers 2GB free.

So, calculate how much you want to backup (but remember not to skimp because if you lose it then it’s probably gone forever) and take a look at our chart below. Figure out what works best for you and don’t hesitate to make this well-spent purchase.

(click the chart to view all services)

Recently I stumbled across Firefox Safe Mode.  This is a great way of starting Firefox when you are having problems such as an extension that failed, etc.

From the website “Mozillazine“:

“Safe Mode is a debugging startup mode where all added extensions are disabled and the default theme and toolbar settings are used. Note, however, that all available plugins are used and any changes made to options and preferences remain in effect. In Firefox, Safe Mode includes troubleshooting options such as the ability to reset toolbars, bookmarks and preferences.”

Personally, I found it handy when I was watching Leo Laporte’s “Tech Guy” show on Twit.tv/live which shows a live video feed, via UStream,  of Leo doing his radio show.

The video seemed to be causing a memory leak in Firefox as “ctrl-alt-delete” showed increasing memory usage for Firefox.

Finally I closed out and tried to restart twice with no luck.  Then I clicked the Start menu, chose Programs and then Mozilla Firefox, which gives the options of starting Firefox or Firefox (Safe Mode).

This allowed me to restart and go back to UStream.

(Click the above image for a full view) 

I wanted a simple backup plan that would prevent me from manually copying files to an external hard drive once a week, not to mention one that covered much more than once per week.

I had an old HP desktop in storage so I purchased a new 320GB internal hard drive and a KVM switch.

I removed the stock 40GB drive after running Boot and Nuke. Unfortunately, I was doing this right before we moved and I tossed that drive out to save space. Now I wished I had kept it for possible future use.

I installed the new drive, plugged the PC into the router and the KVM switch, which I also hooked to my current desktop PC, and booted up.

I installed a VERY scaled down version of XP. I used an extra copy of Media Center, but didn’t actually install any MC components. The only extra I allowed was installing Firefox (just in case).

The first program I tried using was Microsoft’s SyncToy, which I had heard good things about. It required me using Windows Task Scheduler, which I found required me to set a password for logon. I did this, although I have no need for one on the this desktop PC. Then I encountered further compatability problems and decided to go looking for something less intrusive.

I found GoodSync on a Download.com search. I have to say I was under the impression that it was totally free, but later found that only half true.

The program worked flawlessly though. It gave me the ability to sync 2 folders to match or to sync only left-right or right-left.

I chose left-right and began choosing the folders I wanted backed up - My Documents on the C drive and the My Pictures and My Videos which were housed on an external hard drive that plugged in via USB 2.0 (G Drive). All of these I put on the “left side” in GoodSync.

I created folders on the new “backup PC” with logical names - “documents Backup”, “pictures backup”, etc. These I placed on the “right side” of GoodSync. I chose a backup schedule of every 2 hours and I was done!

Now every 2 hours my desktop PC queries my backup PC to check the files and copies (and deletes) the files on the desktop to the files on the backup. I am protected from hard drive failure - but not from natural disaster. That will be answered by off-site storage, which is a topic for another day.

A few things to watch:

• I originally chose plain old “Sync” but soon realized that every time I deleted something that within 2 hours it would be back because this option makes sure each folder matches by syncing BOTH ways. Left-right may cause me to not get a previously deleted file back, but it is much less of a headache.
• The program is not totally free. It is totally free for 30 days and then resorts to a hobbled version which can be used free forever - providing you stick to the very limited limitations. However, the full version is only $19, which by today’s software standards is close enough to free.

FINAL ANALYSIS

I highly recommend GoodSync as an easy-to-use and very affordable backup solution that works for the technologically advanced as well as the casual user.