casi, Disk cloning uses a special software program such as Symantec's Norton Ghost to create an exact copy of one hard disk on a second drive. This does not involve copying files as such. Rather, the software creates an "image file" of the drive's contents which is then applied to a new hard drive, or stored elsewhere. See link provided. Here is a link that might be useful: Disk cloning

OMG!!! I had the same thing happen to me! I would hear the sound of a digital camera flash/capture (slow click sound) about every 5 - 10 minutes, or so!! Very scary!! 1 have 4 different computers in my home: I have 1 (IBM Thinkpad) laptop, which was the ONLY computer I used to go on line. The other 3 PCs (HP, Mac, Dell) have NEVER been connected to the internet - but do have a wireless that I disabled after I noticed the problem with the camera flash sound. ALL of my comptuers now make this sound!!! Just started happening in December 2008 and I've been looking for some information, or mention of someone with the same problem SINCE then. This is the first time anyone else has reported the same issue. >> When I checked the Device Manager and revealed all hidden devices, I noticed that there was a "Video Capture" controller, and some other wierd things that have never been there before: a bunch of controllers, terminal services keyboard, terminal services mouse, terminal services redirector, more video controllers, video capture devices, channels, pipes, some kind of message que process... ALL of which I never installed on my computer and I can't figure out when they became installed. After trying to disable the Video Capture controller, I noticed the camera sound went away, and NOW my CD drive makes a noise at the same approximate 5 - 10 minutes interval. SOMETHING is happening. I thought that I was really proficient with my computer, but I missed something and now I've been breached. I believe that my computer activities are being "captured," or photographed (maybe even video recorded) and are transmitted somewhere through one of the "secure" pipes that I discovered on my computer. I NEED HELP! I have a bunch of other related issues, but this was the start of everything. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP. (No my camera isn't attached, no I didn't change the audio drivers yet, because I never changed them in the first place, and they've been working well until now.) I want to know WHY it has happened before I start to change what this "thing" has done. I need to understand it so that I can combat it. CAN ANYONE HELP?

First I have to confess that I have not gotten to backing up the hard drive - or working on the start up programs. Other computer issues in the family took priority - and then we had non-technological family difficulties. So my focus has been elsewhere. The internet connection still sometimes drops. Less often but it happens. I can just buy a wireless dongle. The laptop had been running cooler after getting all the bogus programs off. But lately it's sluggish again and running hot. The hard drive is making a bad noise. Not sure how to describe it but kind of like a car struggling to turn over. It does it just occasionally - some times if it's just trying to perform some action - and just now when I started the laptop. (It has not made the sound since it started up). Since hard drives are mechanical, does this sound like the hard drive might be failing? if it's hardware failure, is there any point in running chkdsk? or any other test? If the hard drive is failing, could that be causing it to run hot and slow at times? seems logical to me but I have no idea. I could inexpensively replace the hard drive. And get a wireless dongle. I imagine all that could be done for under $100 and just a small amount of time. The other troubleshooting I did was partly to learn. Here's what I like about the computer and why I may want to save/keep it: great size - 13", light - but has a great, great keyboard for such a small laptop. like the trackball and no touchpad. includes a free upgrade to Vista (so it could be used after XP is not supported) What I don't like: ongoing wireless adapter problems, sometimes running hot, possible failing hard drive, no web cam. Not sure if I'll put it to sleep soon - or try to resuscitate it. If I decide to let it die a peaceful death, there's no need to back up the HD. If I decide to replace the hard drive (if it needs it) or keep it if the HD's fine, I will back it up and make that a priority. And of course, now that I'm writing this post, it's behaving absolutely fine. Quick, cool, no noise. Thanks. Lynn.

Colin - your explanations of restore, system restore, back up, etc were very helpful. They were a very useful edition to what Ravencajun wrote - it didn't seem repetitive to me. I think I can really use any reiteration at this point. Now I actually understand that the system can be backed up to a hidden spot on the hard drive as well as my backing it up on dvd - to be used in the event that the hard drive back up doesn't work. By George, I think I've got it...........Well - at least that part. I'm not sure that I saw any option to create a back up start-up disk. Was that automatically included when I backed up the entire hard drive - or is there a separate step I should take? I also realize that I hadn't understood what you meant by blue button. I was looking at an actual blue button the thinkpad keyboard. Will that button do - or should I be looking for something else. I didn't not notice any blue buttons on the screen (except the Avast buttons in the task bar). Raven - I have a question about revo uninstaller. What would it uninstall? I noticed that I have Office on my computer but I don't know if it came with Office - or if this is a trial program. Is there a way I can figure that out? If it's a trial, I'd like to remove it. If it's permanent, I'll keep it. I know I did not get Microsoft Word with this and thought I had chosen no office software. I was planning on getting open office for the few times I might need to work on a word document (working on a document that is in Word on my desktop). Zep - good point about the printer software. I know when I chose the Canon mx850 and was researching printers, these were considered much better in terms of minimal bloatware (than say the HP's). I know when I installed the software on my desktop (and my daughter's) that several files were installed, but I think I want them all. The computer is networked so I can scan documents to any of our computers - print from any computer, fax from any computer, etc. I'm not sure how I would determine if any of those canon files are bloatware. More on my progress: -I did do all the lenovo updates. -ran javara and updated java and removed old programs. -installed and ran malwarebytes, spywareblaster. Any particular settings I should choose for spywareblaster,malwarebytes or Avast? I have so far just chosen the defaults - but don't know if I should "protect?" cookies - or anything else. And I just realized that I forgot to install superantispyware. For Avast, I did not set up scans on the screensaver - because at this point I will be turning the computer off if it is not being used for a while. If I just happen to walk away for 20 minutes or so, I don't want a scan automatically running that I have to wait to finish - or interrupt and cancel it - and run it manually later. Does it seem okay to just run it manually? If so, how often? Maybe I should use the screensaver option? I think "protecting (I know that's the wrong word - unselecting ?) cookies was for ccleaner - not anti-spyware programs. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. So now I'm off to get superantispyware - run secunia and get any necessary updates - and set up the printer software. This is extremely gratifying to be able to do this (with everyone's help). It really helps me to understand what's going on with my computer. Thanks. Lynn. PS - if I get open office, is there anyplace in particular I should download it from? Are there parts to download and parts to avoid - or do I just download the whole program?