MacBook Hard-drive Replaced - The Importance of Backing Up Your Data

I had the opportunity this week to swap out the hard drive in a MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, there was no backup of the data. Only the cloud-saved contacts and e-mails from the Gmail server were salvaged. Please back up your data. It's not a difficult thing to do. Even if it's just a USB jump drive that you copy your important documents onto every now and then. That is better than nothing.

Backing up is very simple these days. The easiest is to use a cloud-based backup service. After the initial copy of your entire hard-drive (which can take quite a while) your data is backed up continuously when you are connect to wifi. Other solutions include an external hard drive, or even DVD-RWs. Regardless of the method, BACKUP!!!

The rule of thumb for when to back up is any time you have done something that you do not want to repeat. Even if you have not done a lot of data manipulation, if you needed to restore from an older backup and reprocess the changes, you may not remember everything you did. If you choose not to use a real-time backup process like cloud-based services, you should at least back up every day.

You will never regret backing up. You will always regret not doing so. Please call if I can be of service to you.

Dudley Harris
256.366.4201

35mm Slides and Negatives of Any Size

I have a new piece of equipment that will scan slides and negatives of any size and create digital images. It is pretty amazing how it makes these old media forms come alive and become sharable on social media or printed and framed.

If you have any in the closet that you would like to see live again please contact me. My rates are very reasonable. I guarantee you will like the results or there's no charge. It's not too late to have them before Christmas.

I also transfer cassette and vinyl to CD, as well as VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, and Hi8 video to DVD. I can even transfer reel-to-reel audio to CD.

Contact me for a quote.

dudley.m.harris@gmail.com
256.366.4201

Media Conversion

I'm working on another video conversion project; transferring VHS tapes to DVD. If you have any tapes that you would like to have converted let me know. I can convert. VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, and Hi8.

I can also convert cassette tapes to CD or mp3, record (33 and 45), and even reel-to-reel tapes to CD or mp3.

Let me know if I can help you.

Dudley Harris
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com
256.366.4201

More Media Conversion

More Media Conversion.

I just helped preserve some precious memories that were on a VHS tape that had been damaged. I was able to salvage the video and get it transferred to DVD.

Also, I'm putting the wraps on a huge CD duplication project. I transferred about 40 cassette tapes to CD and made 5 duplicate sets. A long project but much appreciation from the customer. These one-of-a kind cassettes can now easily be shared, but more importantly, are on a much more stable media that the magnetic tape.

If you have any conversion needs let me know.

Dudley
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Media Conversion

I just finished a major media conversion project. I copied about 40 cassette tapes to CD. These were priceless one-of-a-kind recordings and the customer was very happy to have them preserved. Also, they can now be shared with friends and family very easily.

If you need help converting any media please contact me. Prices are very reasonable and quality is guaranteed. Media formats include:

Cassette to CD

Hi8 or Super8 to DVD

VHS or VHS-C to DVD

I can also duplicate CDs or DVDs for you.

Let me know if I can help.

Dudley Harris

256.366.4201

dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Free (Almost) Software

Whether you have a Mac or PC you need software apps to be productive. The perennial favorite of most is Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.). Unfortunately, this comes with a pretty nice price tag, depending on the level you purchase (Home, Student, Professional, etc.).

There are equivalent packages available for both Mac and PC that are basically free: OpenOffice for PC and NeoOffice for Mac. The document types are interchangeable so it makes sharing things very easy. The last time I upgraded NeoOffice I had to make a one-time "contribution" but it's worth it. Check them out to see if they will work for you.

If you need any help getting these downloaded and installed on your computer give me a call. I'd be glad to help.

Kurios Consulting
Dudley Harris
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com

Windows On a Mac

There are still a few applications that will not run on a Mac. If you are a Mac owner but need to run, for instance, Quick Books, you are not without hope. There are a couple of ways to run Windows on a Mac. The first is through BootCamp, which comes with the Apple OS. Another way, and my preference, is using VMWare.

With BootCamp you can run your computer as a Mac or Windows machine, but not both at the same time. With VMWare you can run Windows and still use your Mac without having to reboot each time you swap from one to the other.

I helped a client set this up on an iMac tonight. It is very quick and easy to do. If you have Windows applications that you need to run, but like Mac computers, give me a call and I'll get you set up.

Happy computing!

Dudley Harris
Kurios Consulting
256.366.4201
dudley.m.harris@gmail.com