Digital Dave by Digital Dave
Digital Dave answers your tech questions.
A reader needs a recovery tool for a corrupted SD card; is anyone still manufacturing laptops without touchpads?; a recommendation is sought for a professional-grade anti-malware too.

Backup Strategies for Hard Drives
by Michael J. Ross
It's time to think about the unthinkable.
The health of your data is like the health of your body—prevention is the best cure. In the world of hard drives, that prevention takes the form of backing up all of your important data.
Plus, an orginal Jim Whiting Cartoon!

Planning and Testing Your Backup Strategy
by Tim McGuire
Have a good plan in place in advance.
Dealing with backups is important, and having a good plan in place, maintaining that plan and periodically testing that plan will help ensure that your backup is solid.

Windows Tips and Tricks: Using the British Pound Symbol (£)
by Jack Dunning
Accessing Special Characters That Aren't on Your Keyboard
Here is a trick that will quickly give you access to some of the most-needed special characters, almost regardless of what program you're using, without searching through long character tables.

Wally Wang's Apple Farm
by Wally Wang
The Simplest Backup Solution
Backing up files isn't an inherently fun task, but it's an important one, so make sure you have both an external hard disk and an online storage site to store your files. Also, a look at the Runtime Revolution programming tool, and a tip on booting Snow Leopard in 64-bit mode.

Linux Lessons: Installing Ubuntu
by ComputorEdge Staff
Step 1: Getting Ready for Ubuntu
Ubuntu is touted as one of the easiest Linux distributions to use. Here is the first part in a series that will show you its step-by-step installation process. Also, more on removing the GRUB boot loader; and a reader sings the praises of Karmic-Koala Ubuntu 9.10.

Rob, The ComputorTutor Does VB.Net 2010
by Rob Spahitz
Custom Controls
Last time, we continued exploring Visual Basic with databases. This week, we explore the idea of custom controls in VB.

ComputorQuick Reviews
by ComputorEdge Staff
Computer Product Opinions from ComputorEdge Readers and Staff
If a motherboard with bad caps is worth saving, check out BadCaps.net, as this reader's experience was positive. A reader offers his method of safeguarding data—online; another reader shares an experience with a program for making backups to an external hard drive.

Spam of the Week: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
by ComputorEdge Staff
The latest in annoying and dangerous e-mail currently making the rounds.
An e-mail purportedly from the IRS with "Notice of Underreported Income" in the subject line can strike terror in one's heart. Fortunately, this e-mail is only a phishing scam.

EdgeWord: A Review of Windows Data Backup Tools
by Jack Dunning
Choose the approach that will work best for your situation.
In Windows, there are a number of ways to back up your data. Here is a summary of different backup methods and links to more detailed explanations.

Editor's Letters: Tips and Thoughts from Readers
by ComputorEdge Staff
Computer and Internet tips, plus comments on the articles and columns.
"Warning for Simple Table Creation," "Free MP3 Resources," "Digital Cameras," "Destroying Hard Drive Data," "Windows Tips and Tricks: A Windows 7 Review"