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3601

Living Room / Odd Windows XP installation problem WRT boot options

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 09:04 PM »

Having just reinstalled Windows XP and go a nice stable system I have just discovered that there is an odd configuration problem ...

Before reinstalling the orginal disc had three primary partitions:

C: Windows (Active boot partition)
D: Data
E: Data

During the reinstall I used the tool in Windows setup to delete the Windows partition, create a new formatted partition for the new installed version.

All went well and everything works fine EXCEPT the partition table is now:

C: Extended Partition containing 1 Logical Partition (Windows)
D: Data (now the active partition)
E: Data

The problem is that Windows setup has put ntldr and boot.ini etc on the D: partition

The trouble is that MSCONFIG no longer has any boot.ini options and also if I want to reformat D: at any time I can't.

I can convert the C: partition to an Active Primary partition easily enough but how do I get all the boot related stuff onto drive C: and working properly?

Anyone got any ideas? TIA

3602

General Software Discussion / Re: XP boot display problem

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 08:51 PM »

Have you always had that problem or is a new thing recently? Perhaps image your drive so you can restore it later and install an absolutely basic copy of windows with mobo and graphics drivers only and see if the problem is cured - it could be a problem in your Windows installation. If you don't want to do that run MSCONFIG and disable all startup items and all non Microsoft services, reboot and then try it. If it is a conflict with something else you may be lucky to get it functioning.

3603

General Software Discussion / Re: Easiest replacement for windows system restore?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 08:47 PM »

Another vote for Acronis TrueImage BUT .... I have given up using their consumer level versions and now only use the business products (Acronis True Image Echo Workstation). They are stable and work brilliantly (much better than the experiences I have with PowerQuests V2i - which died with the Symanetc buy out, Norton Ghost which I never found easy to use in any of its incarnations and is now basically PowerQuests Drive Image which was bought by Symantec ... theme here).

OK Acronis business products are a bit pricier but their annual maintenance is cheap and you then get all versions as they are released. The speed of development of the business/enterprise range of poducts is much slower and properly tested unlike the permanent public beta system that seems to plague the home user range.

Having said that I do think that support forums is the wrong place to go to look for postive comment. By definition Wilders forums are pretty full of disgruntled users for one reason or another. They are good forums but remember most people only go there when they have problems to solve.

3604

Living Room / Re: Microsoft extends XP--for budget laptops only.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 08:13 PM »

If Adobe insist on 64-bit Vista I think they will find a huge group of people cross grading to the Mac. Who in their right mind would want to be forced to use Vista for PhotoShop ?

I have been playing with Vista (32 bit) for the last couple of weeks - my biggest gripe is the HUGE (and I mean exponentially H...U...G...E) waste of disc space. I installed a fresh version of Vista Home Premium (mainly because I got a free OEM copy) and updated it from Windows update - by the time it was complete it had used 16Gb of hard disc space before installing any applications!

My new Notebook arrived with 1Gb of memory and 2 core Intel CPU and just running Vista Home Premium without doing anything else the memory usage was nearly 90% and the CPU was permanently clocking at around 40% usage.

OK I added anoth Gb of memory and things settled down a bit but nevertheless it is a mad OS.

I haven't tried running PhotoShop on Vista yet but I can't imagine it will be a pleasant experience. Add to that the lack of support for a 64 bit OS in other applications and supported hardware addons (not least graphics cards) the WTF are Adobe on - or is it all a plot to kill of MS with the humiliation ?

3605

General Software Discussion / Re: Power Desk 7

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 05:48 PM »

You can get it for $19.99 at http://www.avanquestusa.com/pd7

3606

Living Room / Re: How to install a driver in XP Setup without a floppy drive ???

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 09:15 AM »

Thanks thats a useful summary.

I too was trying to use a vendor (Belinea in this case)  supplied OEM Windows XP Pro SP2 CDROM. Beats me how any company can send out an installation disc that won't work on their machines - even when the system spec supports it and has it as a preinstalled option. Unfortunately my BIOS won't let me change anything much - most stuff is locked or invisible. I suppose I could look for an Intel BIOS for the notebook motherboard but I guess the OEM activation would then fail - and anyway I don't know if the mobo has been modded in any way.

Having said that Acronis True Image Echo Workstation works fine with this mobo in windows XP and Vista and the rescue disk boots and finds the SATA AHCI disc OK without having to change any settings. This would therefore make a viable easy alternative to Ghost if you want to migrate.

Acronis Disc Director Suite works OK too in Windows but only boots from the safe version from the rescue disc - otherwise it reports it can't find a hard disc.

3607

General Software Discussion / Re: Any app to auto-replace Notepad ??

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 08:15 AM »

EditPad Pro (there is a free version EditPadLite) is very good and has a built in set of options to associate different files.

3608

General Software Discussion / Re: Adobe Lightroom V2.0 Beta — Killer Photo workflow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 07:44 AM »

I think v. 4 (at least the final) is more recent than that .... though my awareness of the passage of time seems to be becoming rather limited - like your memory buffer

3609

General Software Discussion / Re: Adobe Lightroom V2.0 Beta — Killer Photo workflow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 05:46 AM »

Have you tried Capture One 4 - it has changed a bit since version 3

3610

Living Room / Re: Aviary invitations (I have 5 to give away)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 04:33 AM »

I'd like to try it if you still have a spare invite. 

3611

General Software Discussion / Re: Adobe Lightroom V2.0 Beta — Killer Photo workflow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 04:06 AM »

I have LightRoom and like it a lot (I got a free upgrade from Pixmantec RawShooter which Adobe bought out so it was pretty cheap for me - unfortunately version 2 won't be cheap). I am not sure I will download version 2 beta as I will only end up wanting to upgrade and I am not sure there is much justification for that as it is a while since I did enough photography to justify it! I am sure going 64bit is the way forward - but how many people are actually using windows 64 bit versions? How easy it to get drivers? It seems pretty difficult in Vista to get drivers for a lot of hardware anyway so 64 bit Vista must be a right PITA. (Oops didn't read properly it can be used in 32 bit windows too)

I also have PhaseOne CaptureOne 4 which is also good for RAW workflow (I got version 3LE free with SanDisk memory cards and version 4 as a free upgrade).

Another nice RAW workkflow app is Dx0. I actually bought this and kept updating to version 4 but haven't gone for version 5 as I can't justify upgrading any more when I have LightRoom version 1. That is tied to particular file formats so you install the main app plus plugins for your camera and lenses. It is a really nice app but I don't like the way it is so specific about lenses as they don't have a full range of plugins available. They do work on new plugins all the time but they tend to reflect newer lenses and cameras as they appear and as I have a Canon EOS 300D and for my puposes can't see much point in upgrading it any time soon I feel slightly left behind. See http://www.dxo.com for a a trial version.

Another app that is worth a look is Silverfast. I tried it one and it was very nice too, but I didn't use it for long (too many choices).

For a number of years I used ACDSee and upgraded to ACDSee Pro version 1 when they had a cheap promotion a couple of years ago. I always like the look of ACDSee and mean to use it more but I can never quite get round to using it. AT various times I have tried and developed a somewhat love-hate relationship. They keep sending me upgrade notices for version 2 which are getting cheaper each time but I really can't justify upgrading and having just resinstalled my system from scratch I think I may not even reinstall verion 1.

3612

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerDesk Pro v6 very very cheap.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 03, 2008, 03:51 AM »

Worked fine the other day. Probably a feeding frenzie of free PD6 !!

3613

Living Room / Re: RAM PROBLEM?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 02, 2008, 08:28 PM »

I have had a look at the MSI website and there are a couple of useful links and bits of info:

1) Memory tested to be compatible with that mobo is listed here. I would check your memory is actually listed as I found MSI to be picky about what it will accept.

2) The manual says you can put the RAM in any slot you like so it shouldn't make a difference. Personally if i only have one stick of RAM I always put it in slot 1 (the one nearest the CPU in this case).

There is some confusion (IMHO) in the manual because there are only 2 memory slots but the maximum memory allowed is 2Gb in 4 banks. The 4 banks refers to the fact that it accepts double sided memory cards with 512Mb on each side. I am not sure what would happen if you install a 1Gb single sided card because the slots are obviously designed to take either 1 x single sided 512Mb card or 1 x double sided 1Gb card (with 512Mb on each side). Have a look at your 1Gb card - does it have chips on one side only or both?

If you haven't got a motherboard manual you can get one from here

The product website is here. Have you tried updating the BIOS? There is a Live BIOS uility with MSI boards (see the BIOS downloads section on the product webpage and read the Live Update instructions). Important: to use Live Update you MUST use Internet Explorer to access the webpage.

There is another webpage about this mobo too (talk about a badly designed website) here with the following comment - which may or may not be relevant to the problem:

Main Memory
  • Supports Four memory banks using two 184-pin unbuffered DDR333/400 DDR DIMM.
 
• Supports up to 2GB memory size.
• Supports 2.5v DDR SDRAM.
Due to the High Performance Memory design, motherboards or system configurations may or may not operate smoothly at the JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) standard settings (BIOS Default on the motherboard) such as DDR voltage, memory speeds and memory timing. Please confirm and adjust your memory setting in the BIOS accordingly for better system stability.
Example: Kingston HyperX DDR500 PC4000 operates at 2.65V, 3-4-4-8, CL=3.
For more information about specification of high performance memory modules, please check with your Memory Manufactures for more details. 

So you may need to set your memory timings manually in the BIOS - not trivial if you aren't sure what to do. This will be even more complicated if you are trying to use two memory modules with different timing specs, different chipsets etc. and really reinforces sticking with matched memory sticks or only one stick.

The voltage setting is particularly key - if the BIOS expect 2.5V memory (the stuff that was preinstalled is probably set to this since it is what is expected in the system) and you are adding 2.7V or 2.8V memory (quite possible - my Corsair memory runs at 2.8V) then to avoid frying the old memory it will default to the lowest value - the 1Gb stick then wouldn't have the correct voltage and could account for why Memtest freezes when you have two sticks installed. You can get the memory specs from the memory manufacturers website by looking up the part number. Having said that if you aren't sure what you are doing fiddling with BIOS voltage and timing settings can have serious consequences including physical damage to your system. You may want to get someone in the know to come and set them for you rather than damage the memory or your motherboard.

3614

Living Room / Re: How to install a driver in XP Setup without a floppy drive ???

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 02, 2008, 05:53 PM »

Thanks all - actually I found nlite soon after posting the original messge. Worked a treat.

For those not in the know nlite takes the original Windows Installation Media, rips it to the hard disk, integrates the required drivers (and allows lots of installation tweaks and customisations if you want them) and then lets you build a new ISO file which when burned to a CDROM can be used as an installer.

It hasn't got the most user friendly of interfaces but it works like a charm.

For Vista there is a similar program vlite (but that is still in its early stages of development).

nlite supports windows 2000, XP and 2003.

3615

Living Room / Re: RAM PROBLEM?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 02, 2008, 02:27 PM »

Probably - tell me what the motherboard model number is and I can check

3616

Living Room / How to install a driver in XP Setup without a floppy drive ???

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 02, 2008, 01:41 PM »

I am trying to get rid of Vista on my Notebook computer and install XP instead.

The trouble is that booting from the setup CD gets to a point where it says there are no hard drives present.

I have downloaded a floppy based driver for the Notebook motherboard which you are supposed to use as an 'F6' driver disc during setup.

Unfortunately I haven't got a floppy drive on the Notebook and when I get to the stage where it asks for the driver disc I just get 'can't find a floppy drive'.

Anyone any idea how to supply a driver to windows setup without a floppy drive (I have tried using a CDROM with the driver but that doesn't work)?

3617

Living Room / Re: RAM PROBLEM?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 02, 2008, 01:32 PM »

As I said when we exchanged emails I have never had a good experience of mixing memory sticks of different capacities or different manufacturers. The fact the Memtest seizes is unusual (you usually get a list of errors in red if there is a problem) but does suggest that there is something not right about the combination of sticks you have.

Your best bet for the moment is to put the 1Gb stick in slot one and remove the 512Mb stick altogether. If you can buy another identical 1Gb stick (same manufacturer, preferably the same batch too) you may be able to update to 2Gb of RAM but you will probably find 1Gb more than enough unless you are using memory hog applications like PhotoShop.

The trouble is that even if you buy more than one stick from the same manufacturer they use chips from different sources as prices fluctuate. The only way to guarantee a multiple memory stick config is to either buy them as a matched pair or buy from a manfacturer that guantees the memory will work on your system - at least then you can send it back if it doesn't work.

www.crucial.com has a memory identifier tool which pinpoints the correct model for your system (and they are good value reliable memory that comes with a worthwhile warranty). If you use their memory chooser they guarantee the memory will work - if it doesn't you'll get a full refund.

Other reliable makes are Crucial, OCZ and Samsung (to name a few).

I had an MSI board a while ago that never liked two sticks of memory installed at the same time (even when I bought matched memory). Some mobos are strange!

3618

General Software Discussion / Re: Recommendation please: web wireframe "sketcher"

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 02, 2008, 08:33 AM »

Have you tried http://www.inkscape.org/ ?

3619

General Software Discussion / Re: RANT: High Software Prices!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 01, 2008, 11:52 AM »

They have had enough trouble getting Vista to work properly with its miriad editions - what chance do they have where most of the OS is available as plugins.

Personally I would guess that an awful lot of people will continue to stick with XP !!

I am just in the process of removing Vista from my laptop - can't stand it any longer and the company that make it are sending me a copy of XP Pro gratis (despite not having a downgradable version of Vista) so it shows what they think!

3620

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerDesk Pro v6 very very cheap.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 01, 2008, 11:49 AM »

Have you got and ad blocker or anything similar running - it may have removed the graphic!

3621

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerDesk Pro v6 very very cheap.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 01, 2008, 11:30 AM »

Just click on

http://www.shop.avan...;tr1=AQ_US_AF_CJ_PD6

Click add to cart

Reject the offer of version 7 and choose to stick with version 6

Select your country or state from the dropdown boxes

Untick the send it on CD box

Enter the code AFFPD7 in the Special Discount Promotion Code box and click OK.

If you want more than one free copy just hit the + buttons to the left of the item.

It should now say is costs 0.00 and you can click proceed to place the order.



If it doesn't work for you which browser are you using (it works for me in Firefox for UK and US addresses)?

3622

Living Room / Re: RAM PROBLEM?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 01, 2008, 11:13 AM »

Nope that's it just insert the disc and restart your system - the test starts and runs automatically.

3623

General Software Discussion / Re: Directory Opus 9

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 01, 2008, 07:03 AM »

Hey guys - bucket of water time. Let's calm it down and drop the personal attacks please.

If you disagree with someone's view that is fine but let's not get personally abusive about it.

3624

Living Room / Re: RAM PROBLEM?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 31, 2008, 11:25 AM »

If you are having problems with the original stick of memory on its own it sounds like the problem was elsewhere to start with.

Either that or you damaged a memory slot inserting/removing memory sticks - but if it works at all that seems unlikely.

Did you jog anything else accidentally when you were fiddling - you can easily get another expansion card to have an intermittent connection when you are fiddling or pull a cable slightly loose so that its contacts aren't 100%.

I'd check out everything that plugs together in your system that you may have inadvertently even touched - take cards out and put them in again to ensure they are properly seated, disconnect all plugs and cables one at a time and make sure they are seated correctly and securely when you put them back.

Get it working again with your original 512Mb RAM before you add the new RAM - and personally I would suggest putting the 1Gb stick in place of the 512Mb before you try and run them together. You might want to also reset the BIOS to safe defaults before doing that in case the BIOS has got confused by two sticks of RAM with different specs. If there is a BIOS option to clear NVRAM use it after changing the memory config so NVRAM starts with a clean known state.

I used to use MSI mobos but I had endless problems with 'mix'n'match' memory slots - they aren't as mix and match as you might think.

3625

General Software Discussion / Re: MAILSTORE EMAIL ARCHIVER

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 31, 2008, 11:17 AM »

You only need to open MailStore and import emails when you want to search them or view archived emails in MailStore. It is pretty easy to press one link and wait 10 seconds before you use MailStore if you want to look at recent mail that way.

Another approach would be to use MailStore as your POP client since you can POP email directly into MailStore and leave it on the server so that you can still take it into Thunderbird if you want to.

MailStore is very nice but it is basically a teaser in its current form to get businesses to buy the server version (which will automatically archive your emails). Hopefully scheduling will be added to the Plus version when it appears.

You could always write a simple AHK script to automate the update process