What's a Bigfoot? (re: I shoulda listened to Emeric)

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Brian Ferrell

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I called tech support at Cyberpowerinc and was told that I wouldn't be able to add an internal CD-R due to lack of a third bay, just as I suspected. They said I could either send the PC back for a 3 bay case or get an external CD-R. I looked up the case on Cyberpower's website and it was described thusly; "2 5.25" bays + 1 Bigfoot." The only thing I can figure out a 'Bigfoot' to be is possibly a space for putting in a device that's a bay and a half high, which would explain the half space at the top of my DVD player. Anyone ever heard of that?
Also, someone said (Sorry, I can't remember who and I can't find the thread to help me) that they had problems running two USB apps at the same time- an external CD-R and something else. That person suggested I get an external SCSI CD-R to avoid that problem. Would I have to add any other SCSI hardware to add the SCSI CD-R? Also, I've read on BBS that you shouldn't run any other apps when burning anyway, or am I missing the point?
Also, would I be able to disable and remove the Live!Drive and run the Platinum Live! out the rear ports, thereby freeing up the needed extra bay?
I know, a lot of questions, but thanks for your help!

Brian F.
 
Not sure what they mean by Bigfoot. Unless the machine has SCSI on-board or already has a SCSI adapter, you would have to add one in order to use any SCSI device. How bad do you need that internal DVD player? You could replace it with an internal CD-RW if it really came down to it. If you use it to play DVDs then you'd lose that functionality of course. What is in the other external 5.25 bay? Is this a low profile desktop case that only has one external 5.25 and the other is internal?

Removing the Live drive is possible, but you'll lose the additional connectors it gives you. Not a problem if you only want the normal inputs that come on the back of the SBLive card, but really defeats the purpose of spending the money on the Platinum version.

For the most part I would say don't do other things while burning, but with the newer drives and faster computers it sometimes is ok. I still don't however, just because if it does screw up, I've wasted a disc.
 
No idea what the a "bigfoot" is. But anyway. JonX brings up an good point. How important is the DVD to you? If it's not something you use often, you could always swap it in and out.. kinda inconvenient though.

Or sell the DVD you have now, and get a DVD/CD-RW. Maybe an option? Maybe run that by the place you bought it from... send the DVD back and send me out a DVD/CD-RW. And you pay the difference. Probably around $100-150 diff. But for that amount you could get a case and swap them around.

I think swapping cases is still the best route. I'd do it for ya but your miles away :)
 
Quantum (or Seagate?) makes a drive called "Bigfoot", a very famous and popular drive (or it used to be).

My guess, and it's just a guess, is that "Bigfoot" means "hard drive". If you're reading proprietary information, then it's very possible they'd have used the drive name instead of just saying "hard drive".

Basically what it probably meaans is: one internal 3.5" bay and two external 5.25" bays.

I'm not familiar with your situation so I'm really just wondering aloud. My question is, do you have a CDROM drive and a DVD Drive? Why? Ditch the CDROM drive and just use the DVD drive. That would free up a spot for the CDR.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Good point about dropping the CD drive Slack. Exactly why I was asking about how many bays and were they external or internal. Definitely no need to have a CD and CD-RW if space is a concern. If you are right about the Bigfoot being for one of those hard drives, then I bet that bay is 5.25, as every one of those drives I ever saw was that big. So maybe it has two external 5.25 bays and an internal 5.25.
 
That's possible, though I haven't seen a hard drive that required a 5.25" bay since 1990. Either way your situation is the same though I suppose.

Your DVD player will probably play CD's at a pretty good clip (24 - 50X), so you'd be well off either selling the CDROM drive if it's a really nice one, or saving it for those "other" projects that pop up.

However, it might be wise to simply exchange the case. You're really limiting yourself even if you do pull out of this situation. You only have room for one hard drive, and when it comes to audio, you definately want room for at LEAST two.

You can pick up a case with 7 to 11 bays and a power supply for like 50 bucks if you shop around.

Slackmaster 2000
 
That's possible, though I haven't seen a hard drive that required a 5.25" bay since 1990. Either way the situation is the same though I suppose.

The DVD player will probably play CD's at a pretty good clip (24 - 50X), so he'd be well off either selling the CDROM drive if it's a really nice one, or saving it for those "other" projects that pop up.

However, it might be wise to simply exchange the case. He's really limiting himself even if he does pull out of this situation. He only has room for one hard drive, and when it comes to audio, a person definately wants room for at LEAST two.

A case with 7 to 11 bays and a power supply can be had for like 50 bucks if you shop around.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Yeah, new case would be the best choice because it will free you up for future expansion.


Friend of mine bought a brand new HP Pavillion in '98 that had a Bigfoot drive in it and was 5.25". Huge, ugly 10GB thing that was as slow as it was hideous. That's the only one I've seen in several years too. I was putting in a new drive for him last year and we both started laughing when we opened the case and saw that thing. :)
 
I don't have a CD-ROM drive other than the one in the DVD player. The other bay has the Live! Drive. I, too, thought of either temporarily swapping either drive for the CD-RW, but if I did this often, it might eventually screw up the connections. I don't want to sell the DVD player because I'd rather use that for playing CDs than the CD-RW to save wear and tear on the burner. Also, since DVD's contain more info, a friend told me that they will be the wave of the future for loading software. If a 7 to 10 bay case can be had that cheaply, as you say, Slackmaster2K, then that seems like the best option. Think I'll be able to change it myself? (I appreciate greatly the fact that you'd be willing to do it for me, Emeric. Too bad you're not closer. Thanks anyway.) I have done a lot of electronic repairs, but never with a full-blown PC. I guess I have to get my feet wet sooner or later, it's just that it's baby's first PC and he doesn't want to go tearing it apart immediately.

Thanks again for your help, guys, and thanks for your input on 'Bigfoot'. I'll check and see if it does have an internal bay for such a hard drive.

Brian F.
 
Don't know if anyone's interested in this anymore, but I finally get your points, guys. That extra 5.25" bay that's half the height of the DVD player at the top of the case IS an internal one and would accomodate an extra wide, low-profile hard drive i.e., a 'Bigfoot'. It sounds like an out-dated idea.

Brian F.
 
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