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About Rider
Expertise
With 20 years experience I can answer almost any question about Intel computers ror build, restore, backup, configure, OS problems, Hardware issures. Setup of hardware components, repair, remove and replace. Trouble shooting hardware/driver issues. Qwner of DIY Computer Repair and autor of the DIY Computer Repair E-Book

Experience
I have been a hardware/os tech for over 20 years, I also own a web site for the do it yourselfer with over 170 articles.

Education/Credentials
AAS Electronics Engineering Technology, MCSE, A , HP/IBM/Compaq hardware repair ceritfications
You can visit my site here: DIY Computer Repair or visit my swickie DIY Swickie

You are here: Experts > Computing/Technology > Focus on PC Support > PC hardware--CPU & Motherboard & RAM > writing directly into a secured device

Topic: PC hardware--CPU & Motherboard & RAM

Expert: Rider
Date: 2/3/2008
Subject: writing directly into a secured device

Question
QUESTION: Hello

Is there any USB device, or any other device, that I can insert data into, WITHOUT it never being on the C drive? Or, remaining on the computer in any way?

Thank you Gabe

ANSWER: Are you asking is there a USB device you can have your data on an minpulate it with out copying it to your C: drive?

Yes, a pen/flash drive, an external hard drive, these act as storage other than the primary drive(s) that are in a system.

Any data on the usb device is accesable and you can open, modify, and close them with out copying them to the C: drive.

HTH

My E-Book:
http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/ebsp-1.html

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your answer. I meant a device in which the data of say, Turbo Tax, would not appear in the C drive - will not accessable in any way to any hacker.

Is this the right one? and if yes, could you please specify one or two?

Thank you, Gabe

ANSWER: You have two choices: Encrypt your data or put it on an external device. Be aware that if you are using the program and have internet access that a hacker can access the data when you are working on it.
I do not adivise using Encryption unless you understand the emplications it imposes on you the user. If you decide on using Encryption I suggest you study the topic very well, a lost password means lost data.

Using an external device:

Here is how I would setup my Turbo Tax, remember if you use a pen drive you should back up your files to another device also, a floppy or burn it to CD.

Normally when you install a program it installs to C: drive, for Windows, then under Progam files\Quicken\Turbo Tax (haven't done it yet this year and this system doesn't have it installed from last year so this is a guess).

Now you have to understand that if you change your computer and do it this way it will not work next year. (That is you reinstall the Operating System for any reason).

Connect your usb device (Flash drive, externa hard drive, etc.)insure it has the capactity to install the TT progam on (The version I have bought is TT Premier) from 265 to 355 meg of space on the device.

When you do the install select 'Custom' or what ever Quicken uses to chose different options, one of the options will be the path of the progam when it is installed, chose your usb device. Once it is completely installed you can remove the device when you are not activly using it.

Be aware that if you click on the Icon when the usb device is not installed your Operating System may delete the short cut to the program, to keep this from happening create a folder on the desk top and move the shortcut to that folder, that way you have to open the folder to click on the short cut.

If you are worried about hackers then you need to protect your data, have a look at these two articles I have written about protecting your computer from hackers/thieves/criminals:

http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/router-cable-setup.html

http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/windows-firewall.html

HTH

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This was such a nice answer, thank you very much and I will also look at your web site. I have another consideration, and I wonder if you can give me your opinion here.

I have a 5 year old computer 2 Ghhtz. , with a S3, 64 meg AGP video card (my motherboard supports 4 x ), 1.5 Gig of Ram. I want to upgrade my current video card. The monitor is CRT 19" Princeton with only VGA connection supports up to 1600.

I am looking at these card here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102410

Questions please -
1 Any heat problems , as I have only one 80 mm. case fan?
2 Will it really improve my graphics? If yes, how? Or, is it an overkill?

I do not play games, (so far ) so this will be just to update for regular work and video watching.

Thank you, Gabe

Answer
Both of these video cards are AGP 8x, you need to check your motherboard bios and see if it supports AGP8x. They do however support backward comptablity to 2x and 4x but it would be a waste of money to buy an AGP 8x and not use it.

As for the heat problem the reviewer said the room was always 'hot', when you are checking the AGP support, see if your bios has a hardware monitoring section. If it does see what the current tempature is. If it is around say 35-45*C then adding either of these cards will not raise the tempature much, maybe 5*C.

You will want to clean the dust/dirt out the comptuer when you install the new card, this will help with it running cooler.

The 512 Meg card will give a higher quality on you visual display than the 256. If you do graphics work then that quality will make a lage differance in your product.

If you plan on playing games on the system in the furture then the 256 will work but the 512 will give you a higher quality and faster game play.

I just upgrade my main comptuer, I put in a PNY GeForce 8500GT that has 512 meg of ram, the game play is faster and I see things that the old PNY GeForce 5300 with 128 meg of ram could not display.

HTH

http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/cleaning-a-computer.html

http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/pny-verto-8500gt.html

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