2009 October | Computer Repair Training Plus

Filezilla

Filezilla is an FTP (file transfer protocol) utility for uploading ordownload files to website. Filezilla is another great Open Source program that is fast and efficient. FTP is a convenient utility for managing files on a website. It normally uses ports 20 and 21 for commands and data but by using its passive mode you can bypass firewalls that block or filter those ports. Passive mode works by having the client side assign new FTP ports to the server for both commands and data transfer that side steps the firewall. When you first start Filezilla you see a window that has you local computer files listed on the left and the website files on the right. Just highlight the folders on the website by right clicking and then select the folders on your computer by selecting and right clicking and select upload. The files and folders will immediately start to transfer to the website. A report provides some details concerning the transfer process. We also have some FTP Filezilla YouTube videos providing a demo and some details.

The Computer Repair Training website has some additional information you might find helpful.

GParted – Open Source – Partitioning Utility

GParted is a great Open Source partitioning utility. This utility, a Partition Magic clone, is fast and reliable. I use this utility frequently to partition new physical and virtual hard drives. You can select a number of file system types, including NTFS. I usually run GParted from Insert, which is a Linux LiveCD. Insert is only 60MB so it starts and runs quickly. To begin you need to boot your computer from the CDROM, so you might need to make a BIOS change for first boot device to be CDROM. Once you have made the BIOS change just place the Insert CD in the CDROM and restart your computer. Insert will bootup and provide a nice blue desktop.

1. Right click on the blue desktop and select Applications>Recovery/Backup>GParted GParted 1

2. The GParted window opens. Now right click in the unallocated area and select new. Create Disklabel if needed and then right click again in the unallocated space and select New.

3. The first partition you create should be a Primary Partition (which is the default). The file system should be NTFS for Windows XP or FAT32 for DOS. You can also adjust the size of the partition you are creating by grabbing the right edge of the bar or typing in the amount in the New Size box. GParted 3

4. Next click on the Add button and the first partition will be added to the main window.

5. Now right click in the unallocated space and select new again. This time change Create as from Primary Partition to Extended Partition and click Add to use the remaining space for the Extended Partition.

6. Now right click in the unallocated space again and create a Logical Partition (the only option). Set the partition size and the Filesystem to either NTFS or FAT32 and click the Add button. (Note: FAT32 does have some limitations.) Now right click again in the unallocated space and create your second logical partition.

7. When you are finished creating the partitions click on the Apply button with the green check mark to apply and GParted 5 save all the changes. You will be amazed on how fast the partitions are created and the file systems are set.

8. Congratulations if this is the first time using GParted.

The Computer Repair Training website has some additional information you might find helpful.

Partimage – Open Source – Image Creation Utility

Partimage is a great program for backing up important files. I have successfully used it in a large computer lab to backup and maintain operating system images for a numbers of computers using different operating systems. Partimage is fast and reliable and since it is Open Source it is also free.

To begin you will need a copy of Linux LiveCD that you can use to boot your computer. Using a LiveCD allows you to run your computer from the CD and not the hard drive. This allows you complete control over the hard drive files. You can copy, delete, modify, repair, or backup files, folders, partitions, or complete hard drives. LiveCDs have become a very important tool for maintaining computers. I use the Insert LiveCD that has both Gparted and Partimage and is less than 100MB. Because of its small size it boots and runs very quickly. You can even install it on a flash drive for added convenience.

1. Boot your computer using Insert LiveCD. You might have to change your boot settings in BIOS to allow the CDROM to boot first. You can access the BIOS settings during startup by pressing a key on the keyboard. There is usually a message that appears and tells you which key to press. (Usually the Delete key.)

2. After Insert starts up right click on the blue desktop and select Terminal Session>Aterm -super user. This open partimage 0 a terminal window. Now type mkdir /backup and press enter. This creates a /backup directory using the mkdir command.

3. Now type mount -t vfat /dev/hda6 /backup and press enter. This mounts hda6 and allows files to be routed to the /backup directory.

4. Now right click again on the blue desktop and select Applications>Recovery/Backup>Partimage. You will have a window that opens showing you the hard drive partition information. The partitions are listed hda1, hda2, hda5, and hda6. Hda1 is the first and primary partition that is set active and therefore bootable. Hda2 is the extended partition which is divided into 2 logical drives hda5 and hda6. The numbers hda3 and hda 4 are reserved. Hda1 is selected by default so tab to the next area. Here you will type /backup/WinXP.img and this will tell Partimage you use the /backup directory and file name WinXP.img. Tab again partimage 1 the default is Save partition. Press F5 to go to the next windows.

5. This windows partimage 2 provides some configuration setting options which you can leave in their default and press F5 to go to the next window.

6. For the next several windows you can accept the default settings and just keep pressing F5 and/or Tab until Partimage starts partimage 7 creating the image and saving the file. It will finish with a report of elapsed time, speed, and size of the image.

7. I also have a Partimage YouTube video that you

The Computer Repair Training website has some additional information you might find helpful.

might find helpful.

Computer Repair Training Plus

Categories

Archives

Filezilla

GParted – Open Source – Partitioning Utility

Partimage – Open Source – Image Creation Utility

Recent Posts

Blogroll

Meta