-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Computers
- From: "dsw32952" <dsw32952@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 13:53:30 -0800
See below.
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gman" <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 12:09 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Computers
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don" <dswabc@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <PCtechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 8:19 AM
> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Computers
>
>
>>I am now the proud (???) owner of:
>> HP Pavilion a6650f as previously described
>> Dellfromhell Dimension 8300 as previously described
>> Dellfromhell Dimension 2350 (?) My Mom's old computer
>> Compaq Presario v5315wm laptop
>>
>>
>> The HP has a 500GB hard drive and I plan on taking a 160GB drive out of
>> the Dimension 8300 and putting the Vista premium OS on it and then taking
>> the 500GB drive and partitioning it to dual boot XP Pro and 2 or 3
>> virtual
>> drives.
>
>
> Be aware that spanning multi-boot operating systems across more than one
> physical drive requires that each drive have its own Primary partition.
> The
> all important boot files (NTLDR, boob.ini, etc.) will be located on the
> drive that receives the first installed OS. As long as THAT drive one has
> one partition, you'll be alright. However, if you later decide to break
> it
> up into multiple partitions, it will cause shifts in drive letters that
> may
> break your multi-boot-ability. In most circumstances, this won't happen
> (letters C & D will still be given to the Primary partitions), but the
> rest
> of your letters WILL shift. If you've told either system to move the My
> Docs folder to the E drive, that resource will have been shifted to a
> higher
> letter and you'll need to modify it again.
===============================
I was aware of most of that. I may decide to use the 500GB with 4
partitions.... 1 for XP Pro, 1 for Vista and two for misc. use. Then use
the 160 GB in two partitions, one for each OS to use for temp files, My
Documents, Program files and swap files.
===============================
>
>
>> That will leave a 250 GB hard drive in the 8300 which I might also move
>> to
>> the HP or else leave it to test out Windows7. If I move it, I have two
>> or
>> three PATA drives sitting around I can put in the 8300 and use it as a
>> test bed.
>>
>> Mom's old computer has XP home on it and will become a printer and file
>> server. I hope it is still possible to tell setup to boot without a
>> keyboard or monitor attached.
>
>
> That ability, if it exists, will be found within the system's BIOS. All
> OEM
> systems replace the standard BIOS with their own branded version. In some
> cases, they remove WAY too much control and turning the keyboard/mouse off
> could be one of the victims. Look before you leap.
=================================
I know it used to exist, but knowing Dell they probably mucked it up. I'll
look for it in setup.
=================================
>> The laptop, since it is better equipped than Larry's will be swapped over
>> to him and configured for his email, internet and banking/bill paying. I
>> will take his laptop and use it strictly for email and internet while on
>> the road or vacation.
>>
>> I have two 16GB thumb drives. One will be setup primarily for tools and
>> utilities (all portable of course) and the other will have Firefox and
>> Thunderbird as its primary use. Several 4GB and smaller thumb drives I
>> have will be set up with certain specific purposes as they may arise.
>> I'll probably fix one or two for Larry's laptop also.
>
>
> If any of the tools you want to store on a thumb drive are high-tech and
> possibly subject to removal by an overly zealous AV or AM utility if
> scanned, keep a copy of the tool encased in a RAR or ZIP file set to
> READ-ONLY on the thumb drive. This will prevent an AV/AM from completely
> removing your access to the tool. You'll need to disable the offending
> security app before extracting the tool to try your testing/whatever
> again.
> I always keep the compressed file in the same folder as the uncompressed
> one, just to keep things relatively simple. For some of my more
> complicated
> tools, I also keep a copy of any 'readme' files in that same folder.
===================================
I have already begun doing as you suggest. I started a thum drive with both
LupoPen Suite and PortableApps Suite. Both folders have the original zip
file and was unzipped into a subfolder. I will foloow that process for any
other portable apps I add.
===================================
>> I have taken the XP Home disc that came with my Dellfromhell and
>> slipstreamed it using nLite. So far it looks good in a VM hosted by XP
>> Home. By the way, VPC 2007 warned me that it does not support XP Home,
>> but might work anyway. It did. So if that warning has scared anyone
>> away, go back and try it again. It should work.
>>
>> My HP came with a recovery partition which I used to create a set of
>> recovery DVDs. It spans 3 disks. If it is possible to make a
>> slipstreamed install disk from that can anyone direct me to a website
>> that
>> explains how?
>
>
> If you wish to use nLite to create this beast, check the 'stickies' at the
> nLite forum for this. I know that some folks have success while others
> can't use their copies, so it likely comes down to how the OEM structures
> the recovery disks.
===========================
I will go there when I get home from vacation.
===========================
>
>
>> When I get to a wi-fi hot spot later today I will Google for this, but if
>> anyone with XP Pro x64 experience has found a good source of drivers for
>> it I would appreciate a link.
>
>
> 64-bit drivers are available directly from the manufacturer of each
> device,
> including the motherboard. If it's for an OEM system, they are only goin
> gto supply drivers for the OS that was available for that system and
> you'll
> need to get your hands dirty to figure out who actually made the
> individual
> parts (many use ASUS motherboards). I normally can find this info either
> by
> manually inspecting the devices or by searching various
> overclocker/tweaker
> forums.
==============================
I've been going through some older messages that were intesting enough to
keep but low priorty for time and I found one talking about Driverpacks. I
will go there first.
HP uses ASUS. I'll use SIW, BelArc and anything else I can find to
identify everything I need drivers for.
===============================
>
>
>> I know there are literally dozens of drivers installed on a computer
>> besides the "usual" ones we think about everyday. How many of them will
>> actually be x32 or x64 specific? How likely is it that some drivers on
>> my
>> Vista x64 system will be compatible with XP x64?
>
>
> Highly unlikely. There are many VERY significant differences under the
> hood
> between the XP & Vista, so most drivers will need to be OS specific.
> Since
> device drivers are the translators between hardware & software, the same
> advice applies for 32 vs 64-bit.
=====================
Kinda figured that. Bummer.
=====================
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