Boomerang Cards

In our ongoing mission to serve our members with current computer technology, HAL-PC is now offering to sell and/or install Boomerang cards in our members' computers. Some of HAL-PC's technical experts have referred to this as a "way-back machine." So far, our experts have not been able to get this device to fail.

The Boomerang card protects your hard drive from unwanted changes. Malicious viruses and worms operate by installing components on your machine and altering existing files. The Boomerang card keeps track of the state of information on your hard drive and will return your computer to its original state when you reboot. When you make intentional changes to your data, you 'inform' Boomerang, and those changes are made permanent. Here's how it works:

When you first install the recovery card, its firmware scans the hard disk drive(s). It maps which sectors are in use and which are not.

In protection mode, it monitors disk read and write activity.

It detects all attempts to write to the protected drive(s). It then re-maps the new data to a free sector on the drive (like a dynamic pointer). It creates a table where the physical location of the new data is kept. It does this until you tell it to either keep the data (delete the table and make the change permanent) or throw it away.

When you reboot in protection mode, Boomerang wipes out the map (location table) - returning your computer to its previous state and rendering any infections impotent.

When you reboot in save mode, Boomerang moves the changes (from the previous session) from the mapped location to a permanent location and deletes that session's corresponding table. And Boomerang does all this while using a maximum of 1.3 MB of drive space to map the data.

Because all viruses, worm, spyware, and adware are eliminated when you reboot your computer, it is highly recommended that you keep your programs on the C: drive or partition and save your data to another drive or partition. It will be defeating the purpose of Boomerang to use the 'save' function in the Boomerang boot sequence to save your data to the C: drive because the new snapshot will record not only your data, but also everything else that is harmful to your computer.

HAL-PC is offering to sell the Boomerang card for $49.95 plus tax. We are also offering a service based around Boomerang that includes “cleaning” your computer of all worms, viruses, adware, and spyware. In other words, we will return your computer to a pristine state. Then we will install Boomerang, and instruct you in its proper use so that you will never again have to worry about malicious attacks from hackers. This restoration service requires a knowledgeable computer technician, so HAL-PC is making the service (includes Boomerang) available to our general membership for just $100.00 plus tax and to non-members for $140.00. To make an appointment for this service (performed at our Headquarters), please call the HAL-PC Front Desk at 713-993-3300. Tell the HAL-PC desk volunteer that you want a Boomerang.

Except for the monitor, bring everything related to your computer (CPU, mouse, keyboard, operating system, all software, etc.) For more information about how the PC Upgrade SIG works, go to http://www.hal-pc.org/~jeffb/.