Replies

Joe,

Thanks – that’s all I needed to know. I will delete them.

Most USB drive access security is via software encryption, i.e., it is handled by the PC that is accessing the drive meaning that the process is transferred to the PC for encryption/decryption. It is secure enough for most casual users, however, it is vulnerable to a cold boot and other exploits and once the drive is accessed the data is not protected and is available. Typically, encryption of the data on the drive with something like TrueCrypt is much more secure, but that requires the decryption software on the PC where the drive is accessed or on the USB drive itself. Paul T above is correct in that the only secure drive access is hardware encryption in the drive itself. Most governments require hardware encrypted drives that conform to FIPS 140-2 Level 3 as a minimum for mobile data. Iron Key drives are an example; they are expensive.

Hi Roderunner,

I assume you are running Ubuntu from the USB and you cannot make a wireless connection is that correct? I ask that because I think there is also a Live CD version you can put on a USB that requires an internet connection when you actually start to do a full install. I downloaded the full ISO version (~720 MB) to run on the USB and never tried the Live CD version. I ran the Ubuntu netbook only long enough to see if it would work properly on a Lenova S10 3 netbook then actually installed it. I did not test the wireless from the USB as I was using a wired connection at the time. But after installing the Ubuntu on the hard disk, booting, and updating (w/ wired connection), it had no trouble connecting to my wireless after I put in the wireless key. I have a Linksys router set for WPA2-Personal and a 63 character key. Ubuntu recognized my Broadcom netbook wireless card and connected immediately once I set my connection to WPA2 and pasted in my key on the netbook.

If your wireless connection works on your Win OS on the same laptop, it should work with the Ubuntu assuming it has a compatible Linux driver. On the left side of the Ubuntu screen click the System tab, then the Network Connections icon. Click on the Wireless tab, then the “Wireless Connection 1” or whatever it is called in the table. Once it is high-lighted, then the edit button. From there you can type in your SSID name then go to the wireless security tab and select the WPA, WPA2, or your preference, and then insert your wireless password key. After you save all that, the little computer screen icon at the top of the desktop screen may still show a red X on it, which means it has not yet connected. Click on it and a drop down will show wired connection and wireless connection. Below the wireless connection it should show your SSID and there you can click connect. The screen icon will show a set of green bars when it is connected.

Again, I am describing the wireless connection after Ubuntu is installed, and I never tried the wireless while running from the USB. Also I did get all my updates, etc. with a wired connection before I ever turned on the wireless and configured it. Luckily all the drivers worked (either they were installed initially or they downloaded in the updates).

Like I said before I am far from being an expert on this — hope this little bit helps.

You can do this easily, but be very careful if you have only one HDD on your laptop. In any case, backup your hard drive image before you start. I am not an expert at this but I have done it several times with various desktop and netbook versions of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Suse, and Fedora.

Assuming you will use something like the Ubuntu netbook version (the desktop version can sometimes be a little flaky on a laptop or netbook until you get it configured properly) read the instructions on the Ubuntu site for preparing a bootable USB with a downloaded Ubuntu netbook ISO. Be sure to set the laptop BIOS to boot from the USB first. In most current versions you can actually run the Linux OS from the USB without installing it to decide whether or not you actually want to install it.

If you decide to install it, you will have to partition your hard disk during the install. Assuming you already have Windows installed and only one partition and one hard disk, run disk cleanup and then defrag your disk to be sure you have empty space for a new partition. (One more reminder, backup your hard drive image before you go any further). The next choice is about booting and this is the other part where you can get into trouble when reverting back to the original Windows OS. With one hard disk the choice is usually for a dual boot system assuming Linux will remain on the disk as an alternate OS. This changes your MBR (master boot record) so that each time you boot you will be given the choice of which OS to boot. Ubuntu sets itself as the default, but you can change that to the Windows OS which I would recommend if you plan to remove the Linux later. Ubuntu will save your original MBR so that you can restore it in Linux before you uninstall Ubuntu. Since you are planning to remove the Linux OS it might be better to leave the MBR as is and just boot into the installed Linux with a USB for testing before uninstalling it later.

Uninstalling Linux is easy, assuming your original MBR has been restored (or you can repair it with a boot capable Windows USB). Boot into Windows and expand the Windows partition to include the full disk thus wiping out the Linux partition and installation. The next time you boot Windows it may make some changes concerning the expanded partition before you see the login screen.

There are other options but this is relatively simple. The most serious things that can go wrong are writing over part of your Windows data when partitioning for Linux (make a backup beforehand) and messing up your MBR (either stay away from the dual boot option or restore the original before you remove Linux)

There are several free software apps that can recover passwords stored by browsers, e.g., NirLauncher (http://launcher.nirsoft.net/). I have run that one on my own machines and it works, easily recovering passwords stored by browsers. That being the case, I can reasonably assume that passwords stored by a browser are not sufficiently secure and could possibly be retrieved remotely. And that is why I never use a browser to store passwords. That type of software cannot retrieve passwords encrypted in something like Password Safe.

Ted Myers,
What is the “Plus Pack” you referred to?
I have been using Acronis TrueImage for a long time, from version 6 to Acronis True Image Home 2010, but sad to say with my Windows 7 64-bit Dell Computer, when I try to run it,all I get is a message saying “Acronis True Image has stopped working. A problem has caused it to stop working..blah blah blah. Up to this point their Tech Support has not come up with a solution. Any input from anyone would be appreciated.

Jack

A comment on Jack’s message above: After hearing so many good comments on Acronis, I bought Acronis TI 2010 last Fall for a new PC. While other versions apparently enjoyed good success, Acronis TI 2010 had serious problems with Win 7 64-bit from its beginning (check the Acronis forum to read the frustrations). It frequently froze Win 7 64-bit OS, caused stop errors (BSOD), and the TrueImage.exe process would continue running after closing TI 2010 and would not respond if you tried to open TI 2010 again. You had to use Task Manager to kill it and reboot to get it TI 2010 to restart (either that or just let it run continuously in the back ground and not be able to reopen TI 2010 at all). And like Jack mentioned support was of no help. Oddly though, TI 9 would work flawlessly with Win 7 64-bit, but those like myself whose first version was the TI 2010 could not get a version 9 download and the 2010 license would not work with TI 9. I suffered through two rebuilds of 2010 including a special workaround procedure to modify a SnapAPI module (whatever that is) with no significant improvement before finally uninstalling it. The latest build is #7046, and they claim to have the problems fixed (as they also claimed with #6053). I may eventually try this version sometime (since I still have a paid up license) but for now I cannot comment on whether it has solved the problems or not.

But if you are running Win 7 64-bit, my advice is that you download a trial version from Acronis first and try it before you buy. If it works to your satisfaction, you can buy a rebate or discounted license from Newegg or someone. But do not be surprised at how slow the Acronis servers are (0 to 152 KB/s, with about 138 KB/s avg when it is not stopped cold, so plan on 15 – 20 min for a 115 MB file). That too is a chronic point of contention with Acronis customers.

I too had an installation problem with this MSE upgrade (on Win 7 64). I let Win Update download and create a restore point, but it hung up during installation. Could enable Task Manager but it too would hang and not function. Eventually clicked Shut-Down and let that run for about 30 minutes with no success. Finally did a power-off and a safe boot and then a system restore to the automatic restore point just before the install. Could find no problems, so tried another install (Win Update showed already downloaded this time). No install problems. All seems to be functioning properly a day later, and can log into other accounts, etc. Also later used Win Update to download and install it on my wife’s PC (Win 7 32) with no problems there. Who knows????