Some basic windows advice for a mac head??

[Lee]

Hi all....
The only windows computer I've used outside of work for 15 years now is in my observatory, and it is gradually accumulating software and data, that needs protection....
I could google forever, but with the sheer volume of win software, it is hard to know what is good...

I'm after
- a good backup utility, basically one that can clone the internal HDD to an external?
- basic antivirus - something unintrusive with a minimum of impact on my computing experience fullstop (ie I'd prefer to hardly know it was there....)
- drive maintenance - for running sector scans on drives, directory repair/rebuild etc (if this is even needed...)

Any pointers?? Software need not be freeware, reasonable priced, prefer from small developers who give decent support, need to reward these guys....

[rogerco]

I would recommend AVG for your virus protection, I have found it to be reliable and the most unobtrusive of them, (Norton being the most obtrusive). As to the other backup and disk check I can't rcommend. I just copy my data folder across. Disk crashes are much rarer now than they used to be, can't remember the last time I had one. Mind you using a UPS power supply helps a lot as it is generally the power line glitched that cause equipment failure.

[Octane]

Try Clonezilla for backup.

H

[2stroke]

True image is the best for non tech heads, intel use there migration tool and package with all retails ssd's its that good. http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/#overview I use to backup my system's after a fresh install and just restore the image when i broke xp installs. Ghost wasn't bad in the day though i hate nortans bloatware these days.
For drive issues smart covers that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T. , though if your got real important data run a mirror raid and never fear losing data from a dieing drive again. AVG for your virus if you want something free, though i tend to use trend and its being one of the nicest iv'e used so far in terms of gui, looks, function and use of hardware resources alround, though there are better ones which are lighter weight, they just have a bland gui and arn't so user friendly.

[pluto]

By a billion miles the most unobtrusive antivirus software I've ever used is Microsoft Security Essentials, or Windows defender as it's known in Win8.

Have a read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Security_Essentials

Seems it does very well at everything except for detecting 0-day threats but it's certainly good enough if you also run a firewall (which is on by default since XPsp2) and don't run executables that you find in your email ;)

[Lee]

Thanks guys....
I did some googling, and actually used windows itself to make a system image to start with as a backup, will check the other options though....

Windows 7 does seem to scan downloads - is this Windows Defender?
I've left the firewall on, and only have the pc on when I'm in the obs... maybe enough??

[troypiggo]

Agree with Microsoft Security Essentials. I was using AVG but later versions are becoming increasingly more bloated, they're making it harder to not install the stupid AVG search toolbar, and harder to just install the free version.

The "scan" while downloading isn't MSE or some built-in antivirus. It's likely Windows Defender, which on Win7 is for spyware only, not antivirus. Install the real deal. See here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect_start/windows-defender-and-microsoft-security-essentials/5309cb8d-02e1-40e8-974f-0dcedb9ab9fd

For backup, as you've discovered, there is a built-in one. But I've also used Clonezilla and on my wife's computer EaseUS Todo Backup. Very intuitive and easy. And free.

Yes, I'd always have the firewall on.

Assuming this computer is connected to the internet?

[pluto]

Apart from a few worms exploiting some fundamental flaws and some dodgy javascript on a few unsavory sites, viruses are installed by users being tricked into downloading and clicking on them. If you have a firewall running, don't use Internet Explorer and don't run untrusted executables then you'll be fine.

[Draco]

Hi Pluto.

Please note that Microsoft security essentials has a long way ahead of it before it can catchup with any of the "real" antivirus products out there. I have been a Systems Administrator for more than 15 years and I cringed when Microsoft came out with their version of AV. I use ESET Antivirus. It is unobtrusive and quite good.. identifies malware websites, viruses etc. Trend Micro is quite good as well. I hate Symantec/Norton because of its high cpu/memory usage

Whatever you choose to use, do note that on older machines, these products will take more cpu/memory than running on a new computer. This is merely for the fact that older computers are a whole lot slower than what these software might be produced for (check the minimal hardware requirements).

Hope I have muddled the waters for you abit ;)

[pluto]

I'll have to check out ESET, never heard of it. I have used a few free and paid AV software over the years, mostly unnessesarily as I don't install viruses and any Windows boxes I have are safely behind firewalls running on more secure OSs. The best AV is common sense :D

[Draco]

Hi Pluto. Yes I completely agree. Knowledge is the greatest protection. However in the wrong hands, it can cause devastation... it just takes a single website to infect your computer. There are a lot of zero day exploits that remain unpatched by vendors for days.. time which can be used by baddies to create viruses/malware and entice people.

I remember there was a usb sold by Aldi some months back that came laced with malware :sadeyes: