This edition of Hard Disk Manager 8.5 is mainly a disk-partitioning utility, and in that respect it does the job very well indeed. The wizards make it hugely accessible, although it still isn’t perfect, and we like the push towards more OS and file system independence. The backup options are a useful extra for keeping things in order, although we’d still recommend using a proper file backup program such as Ghost or True Image along with it. But when you consider the power and range of features on offer here, it’s a decent investment for users on a budget.

Cons Help system geared more toward experienced users than novices; backup process slower than with some other apps; Rescue CD performs inconsistently

The boot management tool, once in place, refused to spot the main Vista partition on our hard drive, and thus wouldn't boot. If we booted straight to CD and loaded up the Hard Disk Manager from there, we could find a way in, but this slowed down the workings of the computer enormously.

deep thoughts by sysadmins: Steve Stady and Seth Vidal Licensed under Creative Commons By Attribution license. 1. do it the same, over and over and over again 2. Backups are sacred! If you do not know if your backups are current, then test them by restoring the data and comparing. 3. Do not make many, tiny partitions, make a smaller number of larger partitions, instead. etc.

If you run a business, finding an efficient system for managing invoices is critical for sustaining a positive cash flow. Here's how you can create an easy invoicing solution using OpenOffice.org Writer and Calc.

Vivek Kundra is tapped as the federal government's CIO. But is that a new position, or just a new title?

Here is an excerpt from an article about Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University: Through more than three decades of systematic research, [Carol Dweck] has been figuring out answers to why some people achieve their potential while equally talented others don’t—why some become Muhammad Ali and others Mike Tyson. The key, she found, isn’t ability; it’s whether you look at ability as something inherent that needs to be demonstrated or as something that can be developed. To anyone who is into personal growth and self-improvement, this seems obvious. But clearly, it is not obvious to everybody: look at the this diagram by Nigel Holmes representing the two types of mindsets and I’ll sure you’ll recognize the attitudes of many people you know.

This guide will show you how to take Gmail beyond email, by transforming it into a powerful GTD action list manager for managing your workflow. These suggestions will provide the greatest value if you have some familiarity with the David Allen Company workflow mastery model, as outlined in Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Using our method, think of a Gmail Label as a To Do list heading and an email as To Do list item. In GTD terms, these labels will organize your context-based Action lists which hold your “next actions.” By assigning a Label when processing your incoming emails, or using filters on new emails that you send to yourself, you will be putting something on a list.