Replies

Thanks guys … Ted, can I ask how big your C: drive is? My SSD is 60GB so I’m wondering if that’s big enough for what you’re suggesting (currently I have about 30GB free after shifting my swap file to my SATA II D; drive).

Keke

Hi Guys,

Thx for the replies … it’s OK, I’ve solved my issue by the simple method of a rebuild.

I think my basic problem derived from the fact that my initial update failed (or appeared to) due to the default power saving configuration forcing me to restart the system … I don’t think it liked that! This time round I disabled any power issues (i.e. setting all system power downs to “Never”) so avoiding any chance of a power related issue. I’m sure there was probably an easier way to do it but …

Now all I need to figure is how to redirect the default profile folders to my D: drive which should (in effect) leave my SSD purely to the OS (well that’s my plan).

Keke

Possibly but there isn’t likely to be much cached on account of it being a newly built system … I’ll try it but I’ve not done anything but updates with it so far.

Keke

I want one that looks like my old Radio Shack Model 1! Or maybe my Osborne 1. Yeah I’m that OLD!

LOL … the first computer I used (discounting mainframes and such) was a Horizon Northstar running CPM/80 …

… and used it later for my degree dissertation (the only person in my class to not either type it themselves on a real typewriter or hire someone to do so). It looked dead cool

My first personal computer was a Commodore VIC20 … ah 8K of memory, what luxury

OK … so I ended up winning a Sony Vaio on eBay. Not quite as high spec as the one I was looking at (only 4GB memory, 500GB HD & 1600×900 screen) for £752 including delivery.

I figure the memory can be upgraded some time so isn’t an issue and screen kinda works for me (in the sense that I couldn’t get my head around buying a monitor the only difference of which was size as opposed to resolution). As Deadeye says, the HD is the worst part of the “downgrade” being smaller and slower (5400rpm) but I figure if the RPM would simply be solved by a disk exchange at a later time.

So yeah, thanks for the advice guys … in a few days I’ll have a Sony Vaio (with Blu-Ray & USB 3)

Keke

To the best of my knowledge most docking stations don’t include any graphics capability except to pass the output of the laptop to a standalone monitor. Most of these docking stations can be pretty expensive and unless you have a lot of extra’s you’re going to leave at your desk when you take the laptop they’re probably not worth the money.[/quote]

OK … thanks

What you might consider is: a wireless kbd/mouse {I have a logitech that I love … uses a single receiver that is very very small} and an external monitor and maybe a powered USB hub. So you have a cable from the monitor to the computer, the wireless receiver & your printer and maybe an external USB drive in the USB hub and the USB hub plugged into your laptop. Want to move, disconnect the monitor & USB hub and you’re on your way. With more weight in your pocket! IMHO the way to go.

Yeah, I already have a 10 port hub with mouse, keyboard, various external hard drives and so on attached but part of the appeal of a dock is that it would also do audio (so run my speakers etc. without having to fiddle with wires and such) … of course if I bought a USB audio card that problem would get more-or-less solved with my current setup

Unfortunately, I’m not retired either. Wish so but it just ain’t so. I have found that it’s not just the younger studs that can have advanced PC knowledge to share with others. There are times I can get my brain cell fired up and actually make sense in an answer.

It’s true (and I say that as the oldest member of a team of 15 or so engineers) but here’s the thing, there’s not THAT much to get excited about these days … I remember the days when Win 3.1 was new and oh so flash, I remember when my friend would call me up to say he’d got the new DOS 5 floppies and I’d drive 50 plus miles to get them, I remember having to (and more to the point knowing how to) configure AUTOEXEC’s and CONFIG’s to get the best performance out of the system and play the latest games. Ah … them were the days!

Keke

p.s. did you know you can get PC’s that look like Commodore 64’s now? They ain’t cheap but how cool is that?

Thanks for the replies guys … I definitely want an i5 or i7 since this is the laptop that is going to have to last the next 5 years maybe but yeah, some good advice there

Does anyone know anything about these USB or expresscard docking stations (how good they are etc.)? If I could get one of those and it had half-decent graphics I wouldn’t need to worry about better onboard graphics at all as I only need them at my desk.

The apparent age of you guys replying is interesting … I haven’t retired yet but I’m looking forward to it being 54 next month (only 12 years to go I hope)

Laters

Keke

seems like “Google would be your friend” in this matter. Might start by having a look at this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Opteron_microprocessors

Wow Fred … I think you just got me exactly what I need! Thanks a lot

Keke

Hi Guys,

I never succeeded but it turns out that the site has the capability to do what I want (a standard control panel)

Thanks for the help anyway

James

Have you tried the phpMyAdmin site for answers?

Yeah, I’ve tried just about everything (including the Agora forum, they’re the people that said use phpMyAdmin to solve my problems) … now I’ve asked a friend to have a look.

Thanks

Kyu

OK … but to do this I’d need to switch my users to roaming profiles and then test it, yes?

Sounds like it might be easier to go the way I was trying to avoid especially since I don’t have that may users 4 (and my own account doesn’t matter since I’ve got the new Win 7 which I plan to install this weekend.

Kyu

Alternatively, what happens when you remove a domain PC from the domain and add it into a (dummy) workgroup?

I don’t know … if you guys don’t then it looks like I might have to go through the whole thing

Kyu

I do know that adding new disks to a cluster will caused the disk ID’s to change (to the new disks). I had to edit the registry and change the disk ID’s to match the new one. Otherwise the cluster service would not start.

Thanks for that … in the end it proved easier because there was (once I’d had it explained to me) less confusion. I will post the solution up her later

Kyu

You may want to try Microsoft One Note 2007, it is the most underrated underused office product. It’s a fantastic information depository.

I think it’s part of the cut-down version of Office 2007 I have at home (it’s not on my portable at work) so I’ll give it a try there.

Thanks

Kyu

Sounds like you’re having a lot of fun with this network! Do please keep posting your solutions so we can learn with you as you make progress.

Oh yes!!!

The DHCP failed and I’m still not sure why (I think it may concern the fact that 2008 gets “upset” when it hasn’t got IPv6 configured, I’m only using IPv4) … I eventually solved it by building a server 2003 VM and that now handles DHCP.

Perhaps I should start playing with IPv6?

Kyu

For the distributions that you did get to run, do they connect via ethernet cabling?

Eventually I did (all that installed OK) … turns out it was my 2008 server that was at fault. For some reason (and still not sure why) the DHCP simply stopped serving IP addresses & configuration. I tried everything I could to resolve this and failed … my ultimate solution was to create a virtual 2003 server and THAT now handles DHCP and works a treat.

Thanks for the reply

Kyu