PC Issue, please help!

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technominds

technominds

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OK, i've had the same installation of XP running for a while now, giving me errors from time to time. Recently its gone a little haywire giving me BSOD almost every 5 minutes, different ones at that.

I decided enough is enough and went out and bought and extra 320GB HD.

I thought the best idea would be to reinstall windows on either the old or new HD, and then i'd be able to keep all my files (which I do need) and be able to access them from the new installation.

A few questions.

1. I do believe my PC is 64 bit compatible. Should I go for 64bit version of XP?
2. I'm using Sonar, if I dont go XP Home, which is the most stable OS to be running?
3. My old HD is 120 GB, my new 320 GB.. ive read that its best to keep the OS on one and samples on another, or something of the sort. Which combination would be best?

Please get back to me ASAP so I can go buy my OS, install and make music without the damn thing imploding on me every 20 seconds!


Thanks a bunch,

- TM
 
to answer

1. no way, dont even think about it.
2. XP home or pro will be equally as stable for you.
3. depending on how big your sample libraries are and how big the patches will be, use the faster drive for sample streaming.
 
How can I find out which drive is faster?
My libraries are over 100GB I believe, infact I think I had to end up running some off a USB HD because I ran out of room!

EDIT:
Also, i'l still have all my old VST plugins on the HD. Is there any way of using them off the old drive without completely reinstalling them? They were all installed to a VST folder but I dont know wether VST's register more information with maybe the registry or something?
 
The new 320 is more than likely a faster drive. drive rotation, connectivity, and cache size will tell the story.

Some libraries can be moved and you just have to update the paths in the application, depends on which ones you're using.
 
I seem to have come into a little bit of trouble.
When installing XP, the system creates a temporary separate boot and restarts.. loading to 'Windows XP Pro Setup'.
My CD seems to be damaged so I cant get anywhere with the setup, but I cant NOT enter the setup because i'm using a USB keyboard that doesnt seem to have any affect in BIOS :S

Does anyone know a way around this?
 
Solved the situation, just a corrupt disc.

Should I be installing program files on the larger HD also, or have program files on the same HD as the windows install?
 
1) 64bit is heavily debated, some say yes. Others say F*** it. Over all it's up to you. Just make sure there are 64bit drivers for all of your hardware.

2)If your going Xp might as well go Xp pro which is seams you already have.

3)Hard2hear hit drive speed info stuff on the head.

4)I find the best way to do things when it come to "where to install" is on the system drive for applications (same drive windows is on). Then I make sure all my data such as presets, save files, samples, basically every thing I create gets saved to a non-system drive. This way all the stuff I create is safe from a windows meltdown.

Some people may have other more technical opinions that are better/more efficient/faster performance wise, but i say nuts to that I want to protect my data. Having lost tons of data before I do my best to stop it from happening ever again.
 
The one good thing about 64 bit xp is that it can support up to 128 gig ram (or something sick like that). Whether your motherboard can handle it or not is a totally different story.
 
technominds said:
OK, i've had the same installation of XP running for a while now, giving me errors from time to time. Recently its gone a little haywire giving me BSOD almost every 5 minutes, different ones at that.

I decided enough is enough and went out and bought and extra 320GB HD.

I thought the best idea would be to reinstall windows on either the old or new HD, and then i'd be able to keep all my files (which I do need) and be able to access them from the new installation.

A few questions.

1. I do believe my PC is 64 bit compatible. Should I go for 64bit version of XP?
2. I'm using Sonar, if I dont go XP Home, which is the most stable OS to be running?
3. My old HD is 120 GB, my new 320 GB.. ive read that its best to keep the OS on one and samples on another, or something of the sort. Which combination would be best?

Please get back to me ASAP so I can go buy my OS, install and make music without the damn thing imploding on me every 20 seconds!


Thanks a bunch,

- TM
Click to expand...
Wow.

First of all, the fact that you are getting the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) has nothing to do with your HDD. Not intending to ruffle any feathers, but that is somewhat akin to getting new spark plugs because your tires go flat.

64bit XP is for dual core systems. It is telling that you do not know whether or not you have a dual core system. Go to START/RUN and type MSINFO32.EXE which will tell you what kind of processor you have.

Given that you already have a copy of WinXP however, I wouldn't buy another copy unless you really have money to burn or can't find the authorization code and/or disc for the current copy.

Since you already have the new HDD pull the old one and set it aside. Format a new install of XP on the new HDD.

If you continue to have BSOD issues the next thing you should look to is the memory. Memory is cheaper than HDD and since a repartition/reformat of a HDD will fix errors on a HDD, memory is the safer investment.

Strickly speaking the most stable OS is a stripped down install of Windows Server, but if you don't know what your doing, you'll be wasting money.

As far as keeping audio files on one HDD and OS on another, yeah, I've listened to a lot of people who swear it's the only way to go, but unless you (a) are making money with your music and (b) need to mirror your data drive to minimize the potential you'll lose money, personally I wouldn't bother.
 
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