|
Please note: Older issues may contain information that is now out of date How To
Subscribe and Unsubscribe is at the end of this
note. Mailing List Trouble? See
http://langa.com/help.htm Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!) An easier-to read formatted
HTML version of this newsletter is available The
LangaList 2006-03-27 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) --- --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------
1) A Complete Terabyte System For $500A short while ago, I received a challenge from a reader who didn't believe me
when I said in print that it was possible to put together a brand-new terabyte
(1,000 Gbytes) file server for around $500. Well, you can, and I did: The
example system I put together now resides on the far side of my office, offering
up a thousand gigabytes--- that's a *lot* of disk space--- as network storage on
my office LAN. As you'll see, with just a little effort, it's entirely possible to get a full terabyte of storage in a brand-new PC for around $500, total. I did it; and so can you! Click on over!
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=183702383 Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- "I signed up for the Plus! edition because
your newsletter has the most --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 2) Drive-Moving QuestionAlthough the item above (a 1,000GB system for $500) is the culmination of a three-part series, the first two parts--- disk management and adding new hard drives to a system--- drew lots of comments, and are still doing so:Dear Fred: From http://www.informationweek.com/LP/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=181502411&pgno=5 you said:"Still running the operating system on the old drive, I enter the Device Manager and uninstall the current entries under "Disk Drives." This in effect makes Windows "forget" what drives it's currently using. I then reboot to my disk imaging tool and create an image of the "no disks configured" version of Windows residing on the old drive." No, you're not being thick, Peter. In trying to avoid too much repetition, I didn't go into full detail there. Instead, a little further up that same page, I said:
The referenced article on drive imaging explains it all: http://langa.com/backups/backups.htm But in short: Yes, you boot to a software tool that runs from floppy, CD or USB--- something other than the drive you're trying to image/back up. Using this type of self-contained tool, that runs without requiring that the main OS be active, gives you far more flexibility and certainty than those tools that run *inside* the main OS. Again, the complete article at http://langa.com/backups/backups.htm explains it--- and several alternatives and options--- in great detail. Click to email this item to a
friend 3) "98SE2ME"
Thanks Bill--- interesting question. (And BTW, AXEL216/MDGx's site is at http://www.mdgx.com/ , and 98SE2ME itself is at http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#KRM9S ) Win98 was a truly great OS in its day--- I used it and loved it for years! But it and WinME (which is really just a refreshed version of Win98) have really been outpaced by hardware. For example, all Win9x-class OSes have trouble with large hard drives, large amounts of RAM, and with newer devices that may not even ship with 98-class drivers any more. Creating a Frankendows mix of ME and 98 parts may work, but I put it in the same category as overclocking a CPU: It's a fun hobby, and it may work, but it's not something you want to try on a machine you need to count on. As Axel216 even clearly states on his page (and the capitalizations are his): "WARNING: By replacing Microsoft copyrighted files you will BREAK the EULA, VOID your software warranty and FORFEIT your right to benefit from tech support (if any)! DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!" And even if it does work, you still have an OS that's mostly obsolete, and not getting any younger, so what's the long-term benefit? With official support for these OSes withering away, trying to keep those OSes alive will be like maintaining an antique car: You can do it, but it's going to take more and more time and effort. And when you're done, the vehicle still won't be one designed for today's roads or traffic.... In short, the Win9x OSes are approaching "hobbyist" status rather than "daily driver" status. And that's perfectly OK, if that's what you want. So, sure; As a hobbyist experiment, fine; have at it. But if what you're trying to do is eke more life from aging hardware, I'd suggest you look at one of the smaller Linuxes. They're happy in lower-powered, smaller, older systems, and yet are technologically up to date. And, not trivially, they're free. I think this really is one of the areas where Linux shines without peer--- in enabling the continued use of older, slower hardware. I've been having excellent results from "Puppy Linux" of late (even though I cringe every time I type the name) Its site at http://www.puppylinux.com/ describes it as "blindingly fast, incredibly powerful, amazingly tiny..." and I have to agree. It's also a cinch to get running, and has excellent hardware-detection routines. It's an awesome little distribution. So, if your goal is hobbyist fun, then by all means, hack away at your copy of Win98. But If your goal is to keep older hardware useful in today's world, then something like Puppy Linux is probably a better option. Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) --- --------------( the above is an advertisement )------------- 4) XP Home to Pro?
Your note actually requires two separate answers, Rea. You
have a couple different options for installing Pro: The one I prefer--- because
it gives a "cleaner" install, and is less likely to retain anything bad or munged from the original install--- is to install it as a
dual boot, alongside Home. When Pro is running, you can use its Files and
Settings Transfer ("FAST") Wizard to move your data and user settings (you'll
have to boot back into Home once or twice to use the FAST
Wizard there to gather the necessary files and copy them to a location
where Pro can get at 'em. When you've moved all you can from Home to
pro, you can then delete the copy of Home, and revert back to single booting.
See: But there are also other ways to upgrade-in-place (without
removing everything from the hard drive first), too. See: As for the issue of how to upgrade an SP2 install with an SP1 setup CD, check out the next item. Click to email this item to a
friend 5) New, Highly-Automated SlipstreamerWe've covered "slipstreaming" several times in the past; it's the odd name for the process of adding newer patches and updates to an original installation CD's files to produce a new version of the Setup process that already includes the newer patches and updates. (More info, including why it's called "slipstreaming:" http://www.google.com/search?as_q=slipstreaming&as_sitesearch=langa.com ) Slipstreaming saves time because, after the software's installed, you don't have to patch everything you just set up: Whatever was included in the slipstreamed version is prepatched and ready to go. Slipstreaming also addresses Rea's other question in item #4 above: She could prepatch her setup CD with the SP2 files, giving her a copy of XP Pro's setup prepatched and ready to roll with SP2. This would let her avoid the error messages that "the current version installed on the machine is a more up to date version than what you are trying to install...." We've covered the how-tos of slipstreaming starting back when it was a laborious and fussy manual process. Over time, better and better scripts and other tools have emerged to make the process much faster and easier. Now, see this:
Thanks, Robert! That looks like it might be the best, fastest, easiest tool yet! Click to email this item to a
friend 6) Last Days To Enter March's FREE DrawingAt the end of the month, I'll randomly choose three more winners of the
FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the LangaList Plus! edition. (If your
name is drawn and you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current
subscription will be extended by a full year.) Click to email this item to a
friend 7) Misc: Free Windows Stuff, Vista Delay...In researching some of the information for this issue, I revisited the Microsoft Downloads Center. This is entirely separate from Windows Update, and also is not the collection of linked downloads found in the Knowledgebase. Rather, it's a library of free add-ons, applications, and utilities for all versions of Windows. It's changed a lot since I'd last visited: The XP page is here: And the general download center (all versions) is here: If you haven't been there in a while, take a look! Separately, you've probably also heard by now that "Vista" (the next version of Windows) has been delayed. It's not a big surprise--- I can't recall any major OS rollout from Microsoft that shipped on time. <g> And, because Vista wasn't shaping up to be a huge leap forward from XP--- it's looking to be a nice, but not "must have" step up--- this delay has very little real effect on us. One small benefit: The Windows products (eg XP Home) whose end-of-life countdown will start in earnest when Vista ships have gained some extra months of life and support. Now, Microsoft is saying Vista will roll out in January 2007. I predict March. <g> In any case, this is just a heads-up. No action is required. Click to email this item to a
friend 8) Another Code Load Success StoryAfter their site was listed in the "Load The Code" section, these folks wrote:
Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.)
Please click over to http://langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join
the thousands of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If
you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will
appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see
http://langa.com/link.txt ) View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At MizM's Blog Safe Cleaners Food Blog Personal portal meditative intercession PC 1 Stop Microlights WSUN tech IntenseLiving Southern Highlands Computer Users Group (AU) Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) --- --------------( the above is an advertisement )------------- 9) DVD Life?Good Afternoon Fred--- I know you have written a number of times about the lifespan of CDs. Recently a friend read an article from http://www.pressofac.com/life/story/5972740p-5966674c.html which had the following excerpt: CDs first appeared on the market in 1982, so the oldest CDs in existence are just 24 years old. DVDs arrived in 1996; the oldest DVDs are only 10 years old. And, because both technologies were slow to take off, the vast majority of discs in existence are relative newborns. Plus, the technologies have changed over time; some newer dyes, for example, have only been around for a relatively few years. All of which simply means that no one can say, with certainty, how long these discs will usefully hold data over the long haul; it's all guesswork and extrapolation based on accelerated aging tests. There just hasn't been enough time to know--- really know, for certain--- how long they'll last. Best guess for ordinary office or home storage of CDs and DVDs (e.g not a darkened, climate-controlled, refrigerated vault): If you keep you discs out of direct sun or bright fluorescent light, don't use labels or any kind of adhesives on them; write on them only with water-based or safe-solvent felt-tipped pens; and protect them from abrasion; you probably can count on at least 10 years life. Maybe it's a lot more, but again, know one really knows yet. Ten years isn't a long time in historical terms, but it's a very long time technologically: 10 years from now, who knows what the current best archival storage medium will be? So, your best bet is to treat your CDs and DVDs carefully, test them from time to time, and plan on moving their contents to newer, better media when it comes along. (Even if your new DVD lasts 100 years, who's going to have an ancient PC and an ancient operating system to play it then? It'd be like someone handing you an Edison wax recording cylinder today: Even if you knew what it was, all you could do with it is give it to a museum!) Lots more, including info on the different dyes used in
CDRs: Click to email this item to a
friend 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) Plus! Edition Only:Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains about 40% more content including:
Plus! Edition info: http://langa.com/plus.htm Click to email this item to a
friend 15) Just For GrinsIn today's item on DVD life (#9, above) I mentioned wax
recording technology, which was state-of-the-art audio a century ago. It's a fascinating look into yesteryear's high-tech; and
it got me to wondering about the other tech battles in history: Which parchment
was best; or which clay for cuneiform; or which ocher for the cave walls; which
shape for atlatls; which flint for spear tips.... Click to email this item to a
friend (Give a gift subscription to
the LangaList Plus edition! The LangaList is published about 72 times a year, or about 6 times a month. See you next issue, 2006-03-30! Best, Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!) An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://langa.com. (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site. UNSUBSCRIBE (instant removal!):
http://langa.com/leave_langalist.htm This newsletter is SPAM PROOF and requires two levels of subscriber confirmation
before delivery begins: See
http://langa.com/info.htm |
|
|
|