The Great Data Consolidation Begins: Part 2

The Problem:

The bottom line? I've got too much data spread over 3 Windows PC's, one IBM laptop, 1 USB key, 1 SD memory card, and a Treo Smartphone- all of which I work on to some capacity any given day of the week.

The Goal:

Collect all of the data including Favorites, documents, photos, MP3's, etc. and store them on one home PC. Backup all of the data daily and move the most important stuff online where it can be accessible from any computer and my Treo when I need it.

The Hardware Tools:

Newly reformatted Windows XP PC. Recently upgraded with 512mb of memory and an external CDR-RW drive.

A Western Digital 160 gigabyte USB 2.0 drive for backuping up my files that is replacing the 40 gigabyte Buslink I have now (pictured).

An ultra portable IBM x41 IBM ThinkPad with DVD/CDRW, wireless, SD and USB card access. To be used while on the go or traveling.

1gb and 256mb SD cards for temporarily storing MP3's, documents, and other data coupled with a Lexar all-in-one Memory Stick and SD card reader for PC access.

A Sprint Treo 650 Smartphone with unlimited data access, Bluetooth, SD card slot, portable Palm keyboard, extra battery, and a GPS receiver. It looks pretty geeky when it's all put together but it's worth it!

I hope the final result will be easier access to my files no matter where I am. I'll be deleting files I no longer need and protecting stuff I want to keep.

The Great Data Consolidation Part 1.

UPDATE: Boy... I've almost forgotten how refreshing a newly formatted hard drive feels. Kind of like a comfy, newly washed, pair of... uhm... underwear? No lie.

With Win XP Professional installed there are only six folders on the root of my C: drive instead of the 10,000 foldes I had there before.

I can breathe. Next... the armor goes on.



A New Beginning.

Boy did I sound like a geek in that title...

Yup- I'm starting a major overhaul of my 'computing life' sort-to-speak. Twenty five years of working with these darn machines has taught me a lot. Not only that, but I've acquired quite the vast amounts of data all around me that it needs a complete reorganization. I'll be doing this with the help of a few of the newest internet based and hardware based technologies I've already got my hands on.

Admittedly, I got a little bit of a reality check by Razor's own experience with a destroyed home computer and Lidia's hard drive failure on the laptop I was letting her use. Fortunately, I was able to resurrect Lidia's hard drive from sure death and recovered all of her treasured images. And with Razor being in the IT field himself, he should of known better than to leave his PC unprotected using Limewire!

And so it begins. I'll detail my progress here of course without sounding too much like the nerd that I am.

To begin, I'm reformatting my home computer's hard drive and starting from scratch. It's been acting funny anyway, and after injecting a few more memory sticks in to speed it up, I should be in good shape.

More soon....

Can a Treo replace a laptop?

This is an interesting article written by A Wright over at BargainPDA on his experiences with using a Treo as his primary computing device after losing access to his laptop.

I do use my Treo heavily during the day but it's more of a secondary device working in sync with my laptop and home computers. I do carry my laptop with me almost everywhere I go but that's only because, as a network admin, the laptop has tools on it that I need in case of an emergency at work. My Treo does have the more essential tools I need in an emergency such as access to my internal network, servers, and such for when my laptop is not with me, but the laptop is still my primary device.

We ARE nuts!

I absolutely love this story posted at treonauts.com.

Goes to show how nutty we treonauts are about our Treo's.

It looks like the wireless network I've been jumping on for the last 3 years (at unsaid location!) was either locked down or removed thereby disconnecting me from the world outside. But thanks to Junefabrics' PDAnet I'm able to use the data connection on my SprintPCS Treo to get back on line!

It's Friday!

And here I promised myself to write in here at least every other day!

I've got at least 3 posts I'm drafting for this blog- hopefully I'll get them done soon!

It's St. Patricks day and I unpurposely wore green today. It's cool to know this is one of those holidays when you don't have to give presents to anyone. Drink green beer and be merry I say.

It's been a busy week. I've been going full on promoting the radio show, website, and Podcasts at many different places online along with doing research for the radio show. I'm really happy with the way the Podcasts are coming along and Kelly is doing a great job.

I've got to start planning for the 10th anniversary of my annual Pic-A-Nic usually held at Old School forest preserve. I'd like to do something different this year and in a different location involving something different like camping, canoeing, or something along those lines. We'll see what happens!

Yummy

The fabulous lunch that's going to get me through another long day in the world of IT.

Courtesy of my Sweetheart.