How To Get Hardware Information In Linux

http://www.webupd8.org/2011/07/how-to-get-hardware-information-in.html

 ~ Web Upd8: Ubuntu / Linux blog

To use lshw, run the following command in a terminal:

 sudo lshw

To get the hardware information in a HTML file, use the command below:

 cd && sudo lshw -html > hardware_info.html

After running the command above, you should find a file called "hardware_info.html" in your home directory - you can open this file using a web browser.

BootMed Teaches You How to Save Ailing PCs

http://www.pcworld.com/article/235074/bootmed_teaches_you_how_to_save_ailing_pcs.html

 | PCWorld

By Jon L. Jacobi, PCWorld    Jul 12, 2011 12:19 AM

BootMed is not a program, it's an Ubuntu-based boot disc tailored (or "remixed," in BootMed jargon) with the idea of recovering failed or malware-infected Windows PC installations. More than that, it's also aimed at helping less tech-savvy users through the process. The first thing BootMed (free/donationware) does after booting is open Firefox and browse to the BootMed site to display help and advice on recovery operations. It has versions for 32-bit and 64-bit PCs.

A stark representation of the Ubuntu desktop highlights the handy BootMed recovery tool collection.I'm sure the idea of using Linux to help teach Windows users how to recover their files has invoked a few chuckles amongst the Linux community as well as grimaces from Microsoft, though it's nothing radically new: I use Slax and Parted Magic all the time to recover data from Windows PCs. BootMed is not dead-simple--you must at least understand the concepts involved and be fairly proficient at navigating a file system--but it's a boon for less experienced users that want to learn the basic processes of recovery and of course, recover things.

I'm definitely adding BootMed to my bag of tools for no other reason than that it presents a small but very useful array of tools on an uncluttered desktop. Said tools include the GParted partition manager as well as WINE, which allows you to run Windows programs such as the included McAfee Stinger and ClamWin to remove viruses and other malware. Also on hand are the PhotoRec file recovery tool and the TestDiskpartition recovery and boot doctor.

One other nice BootMed touch is the Computer icon, which will be familiar to Windows users, and jumps right to the file system. It allows you to copy off files just as you would with Windows Explorer. For those who understand Linux commands, there's also a terminal icon (the equivalent of CMD in Windows).

It's a large download, but BootMed is worth it. It's a handy recovery as well as learning tool. BootMed is free, but author/maintainer Jake Teater accepts donations.

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5 ways to recycle or revitalize your old computer

http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/12/24/5-ways-to-recycle-or-revitalize-your-old-computer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fdownloadsquad+%28Download+Squad%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

by Sebastian Anthony on December 24, 2010 at 02:30 PM

FILED UNDER: features, green, desktops, laptops, networking, storage, linux

Christmas is coming, and you're about to have a ton of time off. Some of that time will be spent energetically tearing apart beautifully-wrapped gifts, and eating food is certainly next on the list of priorities. Obviously you have to play with your new gifts (or put on your new socks), but after that... after the postprandial sofa-surfing grunts and burps and farts... well, there isn't a whole lot you can do.

The other big thing about Christmas is the amount of waste it produces. Wrapping paper, cards, ribbons, the plastic packaging of the presents themselves... there's an awful lot of trash on Christmas Day. Then, of course, you need to throw out all of the things that have been replaced by new gifts: old kitchen appliances, clothes, televisions, printers and, most importantly, computers. A new laptop or desktop is incredibly cheap nowadays, which makes them very popular gifts.

But shouldn't we do something with the old stuff, rather than just throwing it out? Of course, you couldFreecycle, or give your clothes to charity -- but hold onto those old computers! You'd be surprised with how many cool things you can do with an old desktop or laptop computer. You could finally learn how to use Linux, or set up a media center PC so that you can watch downloaded movies on your TV. You could create a locked-down box for your kids to surf the Web on, or a network-attached storage server for your backups. There's almost no end to the list of neat things you can do with an old PC!

1. Format the hard drive and install Linux

Every computer, as it grows older, aspires to one day be a Linux box -- Linux puts a bounce in the step of any computer, no matter how old it is. It's like the retirement home of PCs. If you've got an older (pre-2005) computer on your hands, it would be ideal for more menial tasks, like downloading torrents. Newer processors are quite capable of doing fancy things, like transcoding HD video in real time (more about that later) and streaming it to your TV.

As for which Linux distro you should install, you can't go far wrong with Ubuntu. The Desktop version is a good starting point if you've never used Linux before, but there's also a Server buildif you're feeling adventurous, or if you're a developer. Ubuntu is probably the most universal as far as hardware support goes, too, which hopefully means you won't have to spend hours hacking your Wi-Fi card into submission...

Once you've got Ubuntu installed, get reading the documentation. You'll be surprised at how 'familiar' Ubuntu feels, but at the same time, don't expect to become a Linux pro without a lot of experience.

2. Convert your desktop or laptop into a media center/home theater PC

You have two options when making a media center PC: either you make a complete system that outputs video via VGA or DVI and plugs straight into the TV, or, if you have a newer TV that has an Ethernet (LAN) socket, you stream video over your local network using DLNA.

In most cases, it's easier to have a computer close to your TV, and connected directly via VGA or DVI. Most people don't want a computer in their living room, though, especially if it's ugly or noisy. The next best option, then, is to hide your media center PC in a cupboard somewhere, and run a long cable to the TV. A 10 meter DVI cable isn't cheap (about $40), but it's a small price to pay to remove the sound of whirring computer fans from the living room.

The other alternative, DLNA -- hooking your media center PC up to the home network -- is more advanced, but also much more powerful. There are good, free options for both Windows (TVersity) and Linux (uShare). Your media center PC could also double up as your BitTorrent box -- so all of your downloaded TV shows and movies are automatically in the right place and ready to stream.

It's worth noting that you could just use your own, new computer to stream video to your TV -- you don't have to use a separate computer. Also, if you don't have a new TV that supports DLNA, but you do have an Xbox 360 or PS3, you can stream to your console, which will then output to your TV!

3. Make a bullet-proof Web surfing box for your kids, a loved one, or for yourself

If you only have one computer at home, or a computer that's shared by a few people, it will have the tendency to get very messy very quickly. If you have kids, or someone in your family that doesn't quite understand 'safe surfing', it won't be long before the computer attracts its very first malware infection. If you're lucky, you'll be able to clean it up with Malwarebytes -- but if you're unlucky, you might be forced to format, thus potentially losing lots of important documents and photos.

Really, the best solution is to keep work and play separate. It's just common sense: don't store important files or check your online bank on an untrusted computer. Fortunately, it's really easy to make a bullet-proof Web surfing box that is just for surfing (and playing a few Flash games, of course!)

Again, you could use Linux (Ubuntu!), or if you have a spare Windows 7 or XP license, use that! Almost everyone knows how to use Windows, so they'll be able to jump right in -- but of course, if you're a bearded type, you might want to take this chance to teach your kids the basics of a real operating system.

There's no real need to burden the Web surfing box with things like virus scanners -- it'll just make a slow computer even slower. Instead, just roll the entire system back with something like Comodo Time Machine.

4. Grab a cheap hard drive (or two), and make a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device for easy home backups

In the past year alone, I've generated something in the region of three terabytesof digital photos and videos. Because I sell my photos, I have to keep them backed up. For most people, backing up to the cloud with something likeSugarSync is ideal, but if you have vast amounts of data, a NAS, or network-attached storage device, is by far the better choice. Unless you have a fast Internet connection, a NAS might be your only choice, too.

A NAS is basically a bunch of hard drives attached to a LAN. With Samba shares, you can make those drives appear as local drives, which as you can imagine makes backing up files a very trivial task.

The best and easiest way to make a NAS is to grab FreeNAS, a FreeBSD (similar to Linux) distribution. Put it on a USB flash drive (it's only a few megabytes), plug it into your old computer... and that's it! Well, you may need to do some fiddling if FreeNAS doesn't detect your hardware, but there's a lot of documentation, and the support forums are great.

Earlier this year, I grabbed some cheap 1TB drives (they're only about $50 now), a gigabit Ethernet switch ($40), and made my own FreeNAS box. It's liberating to have almost limitless amounts of free space (it's trivial to plug in a new drive), and great to know I have a backup if my main system dies. Did I mention that you can use a FreeNAS box as a BitTorrent client too...?

5. Dismantle it -- or upgrade it!

If I'm brutally honest, most of my new computer purchases have been to replace broken computers. It's probably something to do with pushing the hardware beyond its limits, or something. Anyway: it makes little sense to give a broken computer to someone -- and it will most likely just get scrapped if you give it to charity -- so you only really have two options: upgrade it, or dismantle it.

Upgrading a computer is surprisingly easy -- but you need to know your way around a computer's innards, or you'll just end up breaking it further. If you've never dismantled a computer, now's your opportunity! Whilemicrochips are infinitely complex, the actual layout of a computer is surprisingly easy to understand. Before you know it, you'll be able to point out the RAM and CPU, and, one day, maybe even locate the fabled BIOS/CMOS reset jumper.

To get you started, Instructables has a fantastic guide on how to dismantle a desktop computer. Laptops, on the other hand, vary a lot between manufacturers -- they're also a lot harder to take apart. In general, I wouldn't recommend trying to fix or upgrade a laptop yourself, but if you just want to dismantle it, check this guide on taking a Sony Vaio apart.

Now, having dismantled a computer, you have the opportunity to upgrade it. If you can locate the motherboard's serial/model number (it will be on the board itself), you can then find out whether it can accommodate a faster CPU or more RAM. Once you've successfully upgraded the computer, give it to a friend, or close family member -- it would make an ideal Christmas present...

If you know of other great ways to rejuvenate old and unwanted computers, leave a comment!

TAGS: BACKUP, COMPUTER, DESKTOP, DISMANTLE, DLNA, FEATURES, FREENAS, HARDWARE, HGG, HOW-TO, LAPTOP,LINUX, NAS, NETWORKING, RECYCLING, STORAGE, STREAMING, TV, VIDEO, WEB, WINDOWS

Gain Administrator Access Without a Password

http://www.pcworld.com/article/206809/gain_administrator_access_without_a_password.html?tk=hp_new

Lincoln Spector, PCWorld

Oct 11, 2010 7:36 am

Alexleonardme acquired a used PC but doesn't have an administrator password. He asked the Windows forum for help.

There are a number of ways to gain access to a password-protected administrator account. I'll offer two.

The first one is quick and easy, but only works in XP. If the used PC runs Vista or Windows 7, skip the next three paragraphs.

XP contains a backdoor entrance to administrator control. The following will only work if the previous owner didn't know enough to close the backdoor.

First, boot into Safe Mode: Start your PC, and press F5before the Windows logo appears. (It may take a few tries to get the timing right.) From the resulting Boot menu, select Safe Mode. When the logon screen appears, it will probably contain a user you've never seen before, Administrator, that does not have a password. Thus, you can enter Windows as an administrator-level user.

Once inside Windows, you can use Control Panel's User Accounts applet to change the password on the other administrator account or create a new one for yourself. And while you're there, you might also want to add a password to the Administrator account in order to close the backdoor. But that's probably the case.

If you're using Vista or Windows 7, or if someone closed that backdoor already, you can remove the administrator password with Ubuntu Linux. This gets a little complicated, so follow it closely.

If you don't already have a live Ubuntu Linux CD, download the current version. Double-click the just-downloaded .iso file. Windows might start a program that burns your Ubuntu CD. If it doesn't, download and install ISO Recorder, then try again. Simply copying the .iso file to a CD won't work.

The instructions below are based on Ubuntu version 10.04.1 LTS--the most current version as I write this.

Once you've created the disc, boot off the CD. When asked, click the Try Ubuntu button.

You'll first need to install the software: From the menus in the top-right corner of the screen, select System, Administration, Software Sources.

In the resulting window, check the two options not yet checked: Community-maintained Open Source software (universe) and Softrware restricted by copyright or legal issues (multiverse). Click Close, then Reload.

After the program is done processing, select System, Administration, and Synaptic Package Manager from the top-right corner menus.

In the resulting window's Search field, enter chntpw. A program with that name should appear in the list of packages below. Click it and select Mark for installation. Click theApply toolbar icon. Click Apply, and wait until the installation is complete.

Now mount your drive: From the top menus, select Places, then your internal hard drive or Windows partition. When it's mounted, a File Browser window (much like Windows Explorer) will appear.

By double-clicking the folder icons, go to the Windows drive's Windows\system32\config folder. Leave this window up.

Now you can remove the password.

From the top menus, select Applications, Accessories, Terminal. This brings up a black window similar to Windows' command line (or the DOS box for you old-timers).

Arrange these two windows so that you can see the top section of the File Browser window behind the Terminal window.

In the Terminal command line window, type cd /media/(note the SPACE after cd) and the path to your config folder, using the folder names at the top as a guide. I wish I could simply tell you to type "cd /media/windows/system32/config", but unlike the Windows command line, Ubuntu's Terminal is case sensitive. Depending on what version of Windows you're trying to reclaim, it may be windows/system32 or Windows/System32, and Ubuntu won't see it if you get the case wrong.

When it's typed, press ENTER.

Now type sudo chntpw -u logon SAM, where logon is the logon name for the administrator account. For instance, if you're trying to take over my account, you'd entersudo chntpw -u Lincoln SAM. Remember, everything here is case sensitive, including the logon name.

After you hit ENTER, a lot of text will scroll up very quickly. If you entered the text correctly, the last section will begin ". . . . User Edit Menu:"

Now press 1 (the number, not lower-case L), then ENTER.

At the resulting question, press y.

When the program is done, click the power button logo in the upper-right corner and reboot into Windows. The account in question will no longer require a password.

Read the original forum discussion.

Add your comments to this article below. If you have other tech questions, email them to me at answer@pcworld.com, or post them to a community of helpful folks on the PCW Answer Line forum.

Speccy - Show your System Information

http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Piriform products

CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning
Defraggler - Disk Defragmentation
Recuva - File Recovery
Speccy - System Information

What's in your computer? If you're like most of us, you can probably name the processor (Intel or AMD, Celeron or Pentium), maybe how much RAM it has, and maybe how big the hard drive is.

When you go to a computer store and see all the bright shiny PCs laid out next to each other, most will have tags or stickers indicating the:

• Processor brand and model
• Hard drive size and speed
• Amount of memory (RAM)
• Graphics card
• Operating system

Two or three years later, when it comes time to upgrade your computer, that tag or sticker may be long gone. Speccy was designed as a free electronic "what's inside" sticker for your PC.

Isn't this information in Windows?

Yes and no. Some of the basic information can be found by right-clicking My Computer and then clicking Properties. The General tab lists some statistics, and the Device Manager on the Hardware tab lists all of the hardware you've got installed. But it misses out lots of information that you need.

Speccy will give you detailed statistics on every piece of hardware in your computer. Including CPU, Motherboard, RAM, Graphics Cards, Hard Disks, Optical Drives, Audio support. Additionally Speccy adds the temperatures of your different components, so you can easily see if there's a problem!

Why do I need Speccy?

At first glance, Speccy may seem like an application for system administrators and power users. It certainly is, but Speccy can also help normal users, in everyday computing life.

If you need to add more memory to your system, for example, you can check how many memory slots your computer has and what memory's already installed. Then you can go out and buy the right type of memory to add on or replace what you've already got.

If you're going to be selling your PC, you can use Speccy to quickly list out the components. Or, if you're buying a PC, you can use Speccy to check that the computer has what the label says it has.

Also, Speccy comes in handy for support. If you're on the phone with technical support and they want to know what video card you have installed, there's no need to hunt around Windows. Speccy has all the information on one easy-to-understand screen.