bruceb news

There is more frustration with passwords than almost any other part of our interactions with computers. Part of the frustration is the difficulty of remembering them, of course, but there is also no consistency to help you understand when a password is required or what it’s for.

Passwords will be a fact of life for a long time. They are crucial to our security as we move forward into an era when our data is stored online or is accessible online. Frequently it is only a password that protects you against identify theft or financial loss. I’ve written […] continued

Share on Facebook

Philip Churchill’s WHS blog has more details on the HP Data Vault, built on Windows Home Server. There are some fuzzy screen shots in the HP white paper showing that HP’s software has been lightly overhauled to make it look more businesslike, with less emphasis on media streaming and sharing photos and music. The HP Data Vault is otherwise virtually identical to HP’s consumer MediaSmart boxes.

This strikes me as a good thing. The Windows Home Server devices deserve a businesslike look and feel – they’re tremendous for small businesses. I’m looking forward to setting them up.

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

Devices built on Windows Home Server can be perfect for backups and file sharing in small business networks. Here’s more information about what it means to use Windows Home Server to back up workstations in small businesses.

It’s been hard to explain that to business owners. The name “Windows Home Server” does not precisely shout out, “Backup System For Small Businesses,” does it? I’ve felt uncomfortable in law offices unpacking the HP MediaSmart from boxes festooned with dancing photographs and filmstrips and happy children’s faces.

The reality is that Windows Home Server backs up […] continued

Share on Facebook

I recently wrote an article praising the use of Windows Home Server as a backup device for small businesses. Shortly after that, Microsoft put up a web page about using Windows Home Server in small offices. I can’t prove that Microsoft was reacting to my article but I think we all can draw the obvious conclusion.

Setting up a WHS device for backups couldn’t be simpler – the software installs like a dream on the first computer from the CD, the device spends a few minutes getting updates and settling down, and bang, it’s done. […] continued

Share on Facebook

Backups – Introduction
Backups – Data Backups vs. Drive Images
Backups – External Hard Drives
Backups – Software for Data Backups
Backups – Online Backups
Backups – Image-Based Backups
Backups – Seagate Replica
Backups – Windows Home Server
Backups – Small Business Server
Backups – Recommendations

We’ve talked extensively about different ways to back up individual computers, but even the smallest businesses (and many homes) are likely to have multiple computers that should be backed up. Let’s talk about a little-known way to accomplish that.

Microsoft released an interesting operating system under the name Windows Home Server late in 2007. Here are the notes I […] continued

Share on Facebook

Windows Home Server deserves more recognition. It had a nasty bug that took too long to cure but that’s over now and it’s back to being the helpful tool that I described a year ago. It offers safe storage of your files and photos,  easy ways to share your photos and other files, and remote access to your computers from anywhere. The best devices – like the HP MediaSmart EX475 – are attractive and easy to set up.

One of the best tricks for Windows Home Server is the way it backs up computers on your […] continued

Share on Facebook

Tough week! Here are the kind of things that fill my days. And bear in mind, these are all stories about software and services that I love dearly – this is the good stuff, these are what I recommend because they’re better than the rest!

Client with hosted Exchange mailbox at 1and1.com. Mailbox doesn’t connect this morning, so no incoming or outgoing mail. Try it from a different computer, try Outlook Web Access – nothing works. Call tech support in India and get through without delay. “Very sorry! That server is down. The experts are working on it.” Any […] continued

Share on Facebook

This is getting to be an old, old story.

The story is: a manufacturer forces unwanted software on consumers, and the software slows down or breaks perfectly nice devices.

This time, the villain is HP. The device is HP’s version of a Windows Home Server, called the HP MediaSmart Home Server.

Microsoft finally delivered an important update for the Windows Home Server software, potentially a turning point for devices that should be better known and more widespread.

HP released an update at the same time for the proprietary software that runs on top of WHS, enhancing some of its […] continued

Share on Facebook

Microsoft has released Power Pack 1 for Windows Home Server, fixing a rare but embarrassing data corruption bug, adding new features, and improving stability.

Reports of occasional data corruption were enough to seriously tarnish the reputation of a new product that deserved better. Many people would appreciate having a WHS device – centralized storage of files, remote access to home computers, and especially a tremendous system for backing up all the networked computers.

The WHS team decided to issue the fix for the data corruption bug along with “Power Pack 1,” perhaps to make completely sure that the […] continued

Share on Facebook

The products developed using Microsoft’s Windows Home Server software do a number of extremely useful things – backups, remote access, file and photo sharing, and file storage – using a very smart mixture of new and old technology.  Here are some notes about Windows Home Server from last year.

Unfortunately, a bug has been identified the causes data on the server to be corrupted in rare circumstances.  It affects a very small number of people and only occurs under very specific conditions, and it has been very difficult for the Windows Home Server team to track down.  But the […] continued

Share on Facebook