Yesterday I cloned the drives in my Mac Mini and my Windows 7 machines. Why would anyone want to clone a drive? Speed and simplicity. Cloning lets you move from a smaller drive to a larger drive with out disrupting your programs or files. Other reasons include creating a restore point if something goes wrong. To clone my windows machine I used CloneZilla CloneZilla is free and easy to use. First you download the ISO image and burn a CD or make a bootable USB drive. Then reboot into clonezilla and follow the instructions. It works fast. Unfortunately Clonezilla failed to boot on my Mac so I was forced to seek other alternatives. Carbon Copy Cloner I also free (but they would like donations) and works just as well. I was able to get up and running in no time.
When the cloning finishes you are left with a duplicate drive (minus space differences). At this point two options exist: 1. Keep the drive as it and use it as a backup incase the other drive fails of 2: Erase it and use it as external storage. Options 2 requires an external hard disk enclosure to house the drive. I have two good enclosures in use around the house. The Black housing: Vantech - NexStar TX is constructed of Aluminum and requires 2 USB ports to run (for extra power). The Vantech is solidly constructed. To the right the OWC Express SuperSpeed USB 3.0 housing is made of impact resistant plastic. While it doesn't feel nearly as strong it has several redeeming features. First it only requires 1 USB port to run (no external power needed) and supports USB 3 for faster file transfers.
USB 3 - Is it worth it
My tests were conducted with a slow notebook hard drive. The speed increase between USB 2 and USB 3 was minimal at best. The notebook hard disk is unable perform faster then USB 2 bottlenecking the test. When using faster drives such as an SSD the bottleneck is eliminated and usb 3 enclosure is allowed to speed ahead.
On my third attempt I successfully built the Cmoy headphone amp. I'm not going to write a tutorial, thats been done. Instead I am going to help you avoid the mistakes I made. The only required tool for this project is the soldering iron, but additional tools make this project much easier and cleaner.
Depicted to the left are the tools I used.
Top left:Wells soldering iron. I am using a medium priced iron at $50 that includes a stand and temperature controls. The iron heats fast and excepts a wide variety of tips. The default tip that came with my iron was to large. I replaced it with a smaller pencil tip. Look for an iron with an insulated grip. My dad's iron works great, but burns my hands.
Top right: multimeter. A basic multimeter is adequate for this project. It is important to test the power supply output voltage before completing the project.
Center: not required but highly recommended. Panavice's adjustable vice makes soldering easier, eliminating the need for a second pair of hands. Mounting the vice on a large wooden surface creates a stable work environment and doubles as a work bench.
Bottom: wire cutters, strippers and pliers speed up the project eliminating excess wire wast. I used 22 gauge wires to connect my components. Klein's blue handled wire strippers/cutters performed flawlessly. Wiha precision cutters and pliers were extremely useful for inserting components and cutting excess wire. Designed for compactness, the Cmoy amp requires small and precise tools. Wiha precision cutters are small enough to surgically remove all excess wire wast.
Tips: To Avoid Common Mistakes
Adhere to proper soldering technique: after the iron is hot and clean heat the wire and circuit board contact for a second or two before applying the solder. Wait for another second or two and then use some pliers and tug on the component you just soldered, there should be no movement.
Cut the leads: after a successful solder clip the leads as close to the solder joint as you can. Un-clipped leads can cause short-circuits. Long leads also get in the way.
Test: After the completion of each section test it with a multimeter to make sure it is working. Problems get harder to diagnose with time.
If you decided to buy the optional plastic enclosure to house your amp donŐt bother cutting the circuit board. The case is large enough to house it. Though I didnŐt have the foresight, shifting the circuit lower on the board provides more room at the top. With this extra room the headphone jacks could be soldered to the board making for a cleaner interior.
While at Radio Shack get a mountable led with a built in resister. It is easier to mount and cleaner to install.
Wait until the very end to install the amp. I know this is stated in the instructions but it is important.
Use electrical tape to prevent short circuits. My amp worked great but developed problems when jammed inside the enclosure. I fixed the problems by applying electrical tape over the exposed contacts preventing them from shorting out.
The Tutorial
Let the games begin. Tangent Soft made an excellent tutorial that goes into detail about building the headphone amp. If you are new to these kinds of projects I suggest you read the entire wright up. I worked off the parts list and schematic when building my amp.
I ordered my parts from Mouser and was very satisfied with their shipping speed and prices. Mouser also carries soldering irons and Panavices so you can do one stop shopping. I ordered everything on the recommended parts list plus the enclosure.
Soldering should be done in a well ventilated room, and try not to breath in the fumes. I did my work outside. Also it is best to cover over your working surface to protect it from molten solder.
Long Nose Pliers Review
Disclaimer
This review is not intended to be comprehensive. Instead, it merely compares some long nose pliers that I happen to own, or were available to me. I purchased the Wiha and Klein tools using my own hard earned money. The unknown brand and the craftsman were from my dad's eclectic collection. The two tests I devised and conducted should represent typical plier usage.
Build Quality
The jaws on the Klein, Wiha, and Craftsman pliers have interlocking teeth and clamp tight. They grip wires nicely, and their plastic coated handles feel good in the hands and don't abrade. The Klein and Craftsman pliers move smoothly across their entire range, and stop at metal lips on the hinge. The Wiha pliers get sticky when extended fully. The Klein pliers have a 12 gauge wire stripper built into the cutters, while the Wiha have a crimper. The unidentified pliers appear fairly new but have mangled jaws with worn teeth teeth. Their handle coverings may be glued on, and are slippery, providing little grip. They don't open completely, and the hinge rotation is jerky and stops about 1/16 inch from the end.
The picture to the right compares the Klein, Wiha and Craftsman pliers. The Klein pliers are obviously larger then the Wiha pliers, so Wiha's comparable performance on some tests (described below) underscores their quality. The Craftsman pliers also performed well, despite their greater age.
Wire Cutting
Appearance tells a lot, but performance in use is definitive. I tested their abilities to cut wires and to grip weighted wires and plastic cable ties. As shown in the table, all three pliers easily cut a single 12-gauge copper wire, with the exception being the unknown pliers. The Klein and Craftsman long nose pliers also snipped a 3-conductor 12-gauge insulated electrical wire. The Wiha pliers were not successful at this, apparently due to their smaller size. A larger set of Wiha lineman pliers did however succeed. The unbranded pliers failed this test.
Grip Test
To test the grip of the pliers I loaded up a coated wire with 16 and 19 pounds of weight respectively. I then tried to pick up the weight and hold it using the pliers with the wire perpendicular to the jaws of the pliers. The grip test had some surprising results. The Klein pliers tied for first against the unknown brand which is shocking considering how destroyed the unknown brand was and how badly it failed in the first round of tests. All four pliers passed the wire test but the ziptie test proved more of a challenge. At 16 pounds the Craftsman pliers failed to hold and at 19 pounds the Wiha pliers joined them. Because the Wiha pliers are smaller than the competition I tried the 19 pound test again using the larger Wiha lineman pliers, they also failed. It is worth noting that a set of 3 Wiha basic pliers cost just $5 more than the Klein pliers. When value if factored in the decision is much harder.
Conclusion:
All three name brand pliers performed great in my test and seem good choices. The unbranded pliers, despite their good showing in the grip test, are crummy and should be avoided. My conclusion was based on several factors: plier usage, utility and life expectancy. I frequently cut/strip wires, because of this is weighted my review. Tight working spaces require low profile tools. The Klein, Wiha and Craftsman all cut/ strip wires easily and have low profiles. The unknown brand can't cut or strip and are bulky. The big three are built to last while the unknown pliers are already falling apart. The unknown pliers have slippery handles resulting in dropping. Falling tools are dangerous and can damage themselves and their surroundings.
1
Long nose Pliers
2
Needle nose Pliers
3
Linemen Pliers
4
Bit box with screwdriver
5
Insulated Screwdrivers
6
Precision Torx bits
7
Precision Ball Hex bits
8
Precision Phillips / Regular
9
ESD safe handle
10
ESD Drive lock handle
11
ESD safe mini-crowbar
12
10" Adjustable Wrench
13
Screwdriver
14
Multi Screwdriver
15
Wire Strippers / Cutters
16
Security Bits
17
Nut drivers
18
Steal Tape
19
Locking Pliers
*
System 4 Canvas Bag
Left
Klein level
From my limited experience, you can't go wrong with either Wiha or Klein Tools. They are constructed to a high standard, well worth the premium in price. The attention to detail is outstanding. Little things such as comfortable grips, hardened blades and precision alignment all come standard.
Pliers and Wrenches
The pliers (#1-3 &19) close tightly, resulting in a lock-tight grip. Most have plastic coated handles that are easy to grip, but don't conduct heat on hot days and don't slip when oily. The pliers cutters cut with a crisp snap. The Klein wire strippers (#15) strip wires effortlessly from size 10-22 gauge -- everything for home wiring to electronics work. The spring between the handles allows multiple wires to be processed effortlessly one handed. Wiha precision needle nose pliers (#2)come to a 1mm point, with enough control to conduct delicate work. The locking pliers, # 19 , lock and release easily. They are machined to a precise finish.
The gear on the adjustable wrench (#12) moves smoothly and operates silently. Its jaws come to a clean tight grip when dialed in, and have little lateral wobble. The wrench has a plastic dipped handle that feels great in the hands. It tightly grips nuts allowing for easy working. Its jaw is polished to mirror finish.
Screwdrivers and Nutdrivers
The Wiha screwdrivers have an ergonomic handle while the Klein have a fantastic rubber handle allowing for extreme torque to be applied without slipping or cutting the hands. Both Screwdrivers feel solid and have well made tips that should last. They have long narrow shafts, allowing insertion into holes and other tight places. The Klein Screwdriver has a cast resin handle encased in rubber. The tops of the handles are labeled for easy identification. The Wiha insulated screwdrivers (#5) are rated at 1000 volts but are tested at 10,000 V, allowing a large safety margin when working on live wires. (Note to self: turn off power when working.) Both manufactures make drivers with magnetic 1/4" bit holders. The Wiha bit holder comes with an optional bit set and box, providing a compact tool set (#4). With a vast catalog of bit styles and sizes available, Wiha makes it easy to tool up. The Compact bit set I have provides a semi-stubby handle with an extender plus a vast array of common/ uncommon bit types.
Wiha differentiates its self from other vendors but providing a unique solution to precision screwdrivers. They sell the System 4 (#6-10), which allows for the customization of mini bit sets. Sizes range as follows: Torx 1-10 , Phillips 000-1, and small slotted bits. Multiple handles are available with added features such as ESD (Electrostatic discharge) protection and drive lock. Number 9 is the standard ESD safe handle and #10 is the drive lock handle. The drive lock (for use with drive lock bit) allows the bit shaft to be adjusted to any length and to be locked in place providing a secure grip. Klein also make a smallish screwdriver set that ranges: Phillips 0 and 3 small flat heads.
The Klein Nut drivers (#17) have the same handle as the screwdrivers but have hollow shafts allowing long screws to pass into the handle.; this allows the nut drivers to function on long bolts.
Other tools
Klein make a nice metal level. Strong rare earth magnets on one side enable it to securely grip metallic surfaces. It is well labeled with a standard and metric ruler. The levels allow measurement of 0, 90, 45, 30 degree angles.
We used our vent as conduit to wire our house with Ethernet. The Klein steel tape (#18) allows for snaking of tight spots and vents. It make the wiring possible.
5 Must Have Firefox Extensions
No Script -- LastPass -- Certificate Patrol -- Tree Style Tabs -- Firefox Sync
No Script blocks JavaScript,Flash and Java on sites. By blocking JavaScript, Flash and Java No Script speeds up everyday browsing while increasing your security. The Majority of online threats are from scripts, by disabling scripting you increase your security. It integrates an "allow all" button and "temporally allow all" button to use when you need to enable short term and long term scripting on a site. It also allows you to force a site to use SSL (encryption). For example: by default my bank does not encrypt ALL traffic, thus my username is transmitted in the clear. By using No Script I can easily force my bank to use SSL encryption everywhere.
Click the right most button to full-screen video making text readable Using an insecure master password with LastPass defeats the purpose of using lastpass so here is good article to read on the topic of password creation.
Secure connections on the internet are based on a trust relationship. Trusted parties called certificate authorities sign certificates authenticating third parties, they include governments and select companies. Certificates are issued for domains (websites), thus criminals can register domains that closely match trusted sites and even intercept communication between you and the trusted site. This behavior requires them to obtain a certificate that may pass initial inspection but is actually bogus. Certificate Patrol keeps a list of certificated for sites you have visited and warns you if odd behavior is detected. Inspection of a sites certificate is a good way to determine its legitimacy, and Certificate Patrol does it automatically.
Wide screen displays have more horizontal space then vertical. By moving the browser tabs to the side of the browser you maximizes your reading space. It also manages large numbers of open tabs more effectively.
Firefox Sync
Firefox Sync encrypts and uploads your browser profile to the web allowing all computer using firefox to be synchronized. This a must have addon for anyone using multiple computers.
Microsoft Released a bootable rootkit scanner that you can easily download and burn to a cd. This is useful tool because it boots / runs off the CD or USB drive created by the program allowing it to safely scan an infected system with out interference. Creating the bootable media is simple and easy. First download the version that matches the architecture of the version of Windows you are running. ALL xp users should download the 32bit version while users of Windows 7 and Vista should determine which architecture they are running and download accordingly (All our Win 7 PC run the 64bit version) To determine your Windows architecture right click on "my computer" or "computer" and choose properties. Under "system type:" it will say 32bit or 64bit, that is your architecture. After you have download the file (its small), open it. It will present you with 3 options:
Make CD / DVD
Make Bootable USB drive (that will format and erase the drive)
Make ISO (you can then use the ISO to burn a CD)
Choose an option and insert the corresponding media into your pc and click next. Now the program will download a larger file (about 200MB) and copy it to the disk. When it finishes reboot the computer and boot onto the drive you just created. You may need to make an adjustment in your systems BIOS but thats another topic. Booting off the media will look like the windows 7 setup. after its done loading, it will present you with a window with some options. Click full scan and get some coffee the scan can take a long time (30 min - hours depending on the number of files ). When it finishes it will display the results.
I hope none of you are infected but this will discover and remove most common rootkits.
Costa Rica 2011- A SlideShow
I finally made a video slideshow consisting of our pictures from Costa Rica . The pictures are in chronological order. We visited 4 Costa Rica locations over two and a half weeks. First we visited the Arenal Volcano then drove to Flamingo Beach. From there we drove to the Monteverde cloud forest; finally we visited Manuel Antonia. The slide show is in order except only one picture was taken at Flamingo (the sunset).
I just made another video on browser plugins:
To save space I am going to create a new page just for the videos you will be able to reach it by clicking on the video tab
I made a few short videos in a effort to help my family understand their computers
To enlarge the videos for better viewing click the 4 little arrows in the bottom right corner of the video
Click the video to play
Please feel free to email me to suggest other topics for movies or to comment.
Download links:
I have provided a link to download J disk report Windows installer I have provided a link to allway sync Windows installer
