Operating System / Software Installation Guide

[tszykowny]

I've always wondered about that. Do most people only use only about 10GB for the operating system? Should applications be put on a seperate drive other then the one the operating system is on?

[CrowdAds]

[Mr Steveo]

Originally posted by BBThumper
...I just didn't want to mess with King SteveO's thread....

The first part of your post was quite helpful info. Thank you. But you edited your post five hours later just to add the above quote? LOL

On your experience with Q820128, I agree with you totally. Ive had no problems either. So far the only report of a problem Ive heard is some incompatibility with bootvis. However with so many software configs out there, Im always curious to hear if people find any new bugs.

Originally posted by Holartic
I think I found a minor typo. Please advise.

. . . it appears that Q822603 is in actuality KB822603. . . .

. . . I assume that both steps refer to KB822603, not Q822603 . . .

My apologies for any confusion, Holartic.

In Microsoft jargon Q (QFE) and KB (Knowledgebase) have been used interchangably over the last year or so. THats my understanding at least. If Im incorrect, or if the Q vs KB designation is genuinely confuisng; let me know and Ill edit out the prefixes at the next revision.

Originally posted by Holartic

I'm working on a guide for Windows 98 based off of your Software Installation Guide. . . .

Great work Holartec!

I really cant comment too much on Win 98 as its been ages since I installed that version of WIndows on a machine. Hopefully those wiser than I with WIn98 can offer you some feedback.

If and when you have a finished copy of a Win 98 Guide, let me know and Ill be happy to link to your work from the front page of this OS Guide.

Thanks again for helping out around here!

Originally posted by Brin
Hi Guys, I have a couple of questions about the reinstall. I’m going to try to explain it the best I could. Before the reinstall my C: drive was 19 GB.. . . The D: drives capacity would be around 19 GB also …..Now after the reinstall I have one drive, Its C: and its 38 GB. I guess I didn’t partition the drive like it originally was. Whats the pros and cons of doing it like this?

If there is any "cons" its that some people prefer to keep their data on a separate partion, drive, or external drive. With one big partition, and if you dont have a second internal or external hard drive, then your data is going to be jumbled in with your OS and programs partition.

The disadvantage is if you ever need to reinstall the OS which will reformat that entire partition. Had you made a second partition or used a second drive for data then you could leave that partition alone and just reformat the OS / program partition if you ever had to reinstall XP

As for "pros" to what you did. If you beleive Microsoft, a single OS partition covering an entire drive will give better performance over time due to XPs background disk optimization routine. Also as you noticed with a single partition you will usually have more free space than with multiple partitions.

Beyond those points, most of anything else having to do with partitioning is a matter of personal preference. Just choose the partitioning scheme that best fits your needs.

Originally posted by Brin
My next question is on step 24. Its says in the device manager click on your USB controllers (my mother board is the Intel D850MV 850 chipset). It says I should see 2 universal Host controllers and 2 USB root Hubs. I do see them but I also see “Generic USB Hub”. Should I have stopped and asked for help like it said if I saw something different? Everything else went very smooth ……Thanks for the help guys! Brin

Do you have an external USB hub like a Belkin plugged into your computer?

Originally posted by giga_dude
someone should write an xp install with raid setup.......

Thats a really good idea.

Theres lots of stuff that could be written up to help folks choose the best stripe size for their needs and best drive allocation setup. If you notice, recently added to the Guide is a very basic RAID setup subsection. ANd while its likely helpful for someone to get up and running, it really doesnt address all the RAID topics that probably should be discussed.

My dilemna was and still is, how to present that material in a GUide that is designed to be generic for the masses. Everyones RAID usage and needs is different. And every RAID chip out there responds differently to different stripe sizes.

So I agree with you that a RAID Guide per se is needed. ANd maybe thats the ticket, a separate Guide. Is there any chance you would be interested in working on one of these Giga_dude?

Originally posted by tszykowny
I've always wondered about that. Do most people only use only about 10GB for the operating system? Should applications be put on a seperate drive other then the one the operating system is on?

I think everyone does it differently depending on what they prefer. WIth NTFS5.1 many of the advantages and needs for tons of partitioning were eliminated.

[tszykowny]

Mr Steveo, thanks for the answer.

[Mr Steveo]

Originally posted by tszykowny
Mr Steveo, thanks for the answer.

YW

If you give some thought and time to how you plan to use your computer and where you want data located, Im sure you will be happy with whatever partition scheme you decide on for yourself.

BTW, I see youre a Feb 2004 member! Welcome to ABXZone!

Theres lots of great friendly people who contribute to this thread and others at ABXZone. Feel free to pull up a chair and join in. If you have any questions at all as you set up your system, feel free to ask folks around here.

[giga_dude]

Originally posted by Mr. Steveo

My dilemna was and still is, how to present that material in a GUide that is designed to be generic for the masses. Everyones RAID usage and needs is different. And every RAID chip out there responds differently to different stripe sizes.

I am actually in the process of researching the RAID "issue". As you mentioned, there are many things to consider when setting up a RAID....I am in the process of putting together something.....might take a few weeks pending on my variety-pressured schedule.....but if you don't mind I would like to send you the draft before I post it.

[tszykowny]

Mr Steveo, thanks for the welcome. This is a great Forum, I already have found so much useful information and everyone has been great.

[tszykowny]

I have a wireless keyboard/mouse that has both USB and PS/2 capablity. The guide says that I should use PS/2 at first. After I have everything up and running should I switch it to USB? Will there be a difference or not?

[Mr Steveo]

Originally posted by tszykowny
I have a wireless keyboard/mouse that has both USB and PS/2 capablity. The guide says that I should use PS/2 at first. After I have everything up and running should I switch it to USB? Will there be a difference or not?

The PS/2 recommednation in the Guide is primarily intended to help you avoid running into problems when installing the USB drivers and Intel INF software. After everything is set up, theres no reason not to use USB if thats what you prefer.

As for which is better, PS/2 vs. USB, theres lots of debates about that on the imternet with good arguments for each. In the end I think it just comes down to a personal preference matter.

[tszykowny]

Ok thanks, Mr Steveo.

[sandman55]

Hi Holartic
I think the Win98 guide is a good move and I agree that there will be people using it on old machines for some time.

As a suggestion do you think it would be worth it to include how to make a boot disk and use it to partition and format.

Theres been some talk about having a second partition or drive for programs. I think that a D: drive is very handy for saving any drivers (even in Zip form) so that if you ever have to reformat your C: drive you dont have to go on the net and search for them, as time goes on they may be harder to find.

Good luck with the guide

[Sandog]

Hey Mr.Steveo, I'm not sure if you mention this in your guide but would it be a good tip to add that its better to remove all unecessary devices before you do an install. I take all my stuff out that I have drivers for such as my scanner, printer, soundcard, joystick, and PVR/tuner card. I only leave the keyboard and mouse. Its an old habit I have so as not to install any old drivers. By the way I'm trying that PCI latency = 64 now.

[Mr Steveo]

Originally posted by Sandog
Hey Mr.Steveo, I'm not sure if you mention this in your guide but would it be a good tip to add that its better to remove all unecessary devices before you do an install. I take all my stuff out that I have drivers for such as my scanner, printer, soundcard, joystick, and PVR/tuner card. I only leave the keyboard and mouse. Its an old habit I have so as not to install any old drivers. By the way I'm trying that PCI latency = 64 now.

Sandog,

When you have a chance see if step 19 in the preparation notes is what you are referring to. If yes, is that where youd like me to expand upon things? Let me know and Ill add it to the suggestions list.

[Sandog]

Ok, sorry I missed it.

[Mr Steveo]

Originally posted by Sandog
Ok, sorry I missed it.

NP. I made a note to elaborate that section so its not so easily miss-able.

BTW Thanks for popping in the thread! - Busy day here.

[djt]

Mr. Steveo,
At what point in relation to your guide is a good time to install firmware upgrades for CD-RW’s and DVD-RW’s? I have my Plextor Premium and Pioneer DVD-R on the secondary and primary IDE channels, will the firmware upgrades conflict with the pre-SP2 IDE drivers?

On an unrelated subject what are your views on installing Bootvis?

Thanks