Even I loose data sometimes.  I had a Excel file that I accidently overwrote, and the local Windows 7 Previous Versions didn’t capture the changes I needed, but SugarSync did!  My savior.  It backs up changes as I save files, quickly and quietly in the background.

I’ve used lots of backup and file sync technologies over the years to keep data in more then one place. Sometimes for backups (disaster recovery), sometimes for convenience, sometimes for collaboration.  No product until SugarSync did it all for a reasonable price.  After 6 months of using it across 3+ computers, two iPhones, etc. I can say it’s worth the monthly subscription (2GB plan is FREE).  Here’s my favorite features:

• Sync files between computers
• chose which folders to back up (not just one root folder)
• Keep a copy in the cloud
• Instantly backed up after saving changes. (not ‘schedule based’)
• Keep 5 versions of the files online for recovery
• Access them all from web browser or mobile client
• Chose to make files public or post pics on Facebook from the webapp
• get a single-click public link to send your friend for downloading that 500MB file you need to send!
• edit files on the web
• stream your synced music from web and on iPhone (whaaat?  awesome)

Feature List and Comparison Chart

I used Carbonite for years for computer backup, but that’s ALL it did, for $50+ a year.  I used Live Mesh to sync files between computers and the cloud, but I couldn’t buy more storage and it didn’t have a iPhone client.  I’ve used SyncToy for years but it’s only a LAN client and not easy to automate.  Mozy, Box.net, DropBox, some Amazon storage clients, and more…. none of them could do 1/2 of what SugarSync does.

Check it out buy using this referral link to get extra free storage.

Problem: when you send a link from Communicator client to another, the link isn’t clickable, has a _ (underbar) in front of it, or both.  Results may be different on different computers. It’ll look like this

_http://www.google.com

Solution:  Two things are happening here that are not related.  The first is the OCS Server (and Edge Server) have the URL Filter enabled, which are adding the _ underbar to all links.  Also called “Intelligent IM Filter”.  You need to tone that filter down or disable all together to your liking.  If users are coming in through an Edge Server, they will follow the Filter settings of the Edge Server they are using, which seams to supersede the Front End Server (my guess is the most restrictive wins).  So be sure to set it on both servers separately.  Results were instant in new IM’s.

The other issue is the lack of a clickable hyperlink.  If you disable the URL Filters above, the underbar goes away but links are still not blue and underlined.  To fix this you need to apply a GPO or set a local registry setting to allow Communicator to make hyperlinks clickable:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Communicator\
new DWORD EnableURL=1

After that exit and restart Communicator.

In both of these cases they are secure by default, which is great; but even years after this features release over several versions their use and configuration are still a mystery to most starting out.

I discovered one more resaon beyond the obvious permissions problems.  If you put a graphic or something embded in a page, then publish that page but NOT the embeded object (i.e. it’s still draft or unapproved) you’ll get an auth prompt when the page loads.

On a busy (lots of stuff) page it can be tough to find what’s the issue.  The quickest way I’ve found to discover the problem (99% of time an image) is to cancel out of auth prompts, then look for broken stuff on the page.  An image you can right click the broken icon and find the location of it… then jump to that library and check the file.  My bet is it’s never been published.

• Needed to upgrade Google XML Sitemaps. I just deactivated the old and uploaded/activated the new.
• The new plugin upgrade feature in WordPress told me to upgrade my WordPress Database Backup, which wasn’t activated, so I just overwrote the file.
• My K2 theme is so advanced it had it’s own Widget manager before WordPress did. Once WP added the feature, you needed a K2 plugin to disable the WP widget manager (because K2′s is still better). Now, the K2 theme disables the WP one on it’s own without the Plugin. So, I’m removing this plugin and updating my K2 next.