1 Reply by jimbo45

(37 replies, posted in Windows 8 Discussion)

Helmi wrote:

Couldn't even get it to install on VirtualBox, but worked in VMWare.
First 15 minutes impression was somewhat mixed, probably due to the host being too slow for smooth Metro animations.
But, what is thatm the Start button is a mere fake on Desktop now!
Whaaaaa...!

Hi there
Please note that when  running W8 as a HOST OS you need vmware workstation W8 or (FREE) vmplayer V4.
On W8 X-64 you need to add your user to the group _vmware_ or you will get errors unless you run it in administrator mode.

On W7 Hosts running W8 x-64 guests I'd still recommend upgarding to Workstation V8 or VMPLAYER R4 -- these support "Batch or server type VM's and have decent 3-D graphics and some pass through cvapability for using some of the actual HOST's hardware rather than a totally 100% virtual BIOS.

Can't comment on Virtual Box as I've never used it.

Cheers
jimbo

Go to forum: Windows 8 Discussion

2 Topic by jimbo45

(0 replies, posted in Windows 7 Discussion)

Hi all
I don't know if people are trying out the new FREE Windows 8 Development facility from MS  -- there was a "Win2GO" utility on the EARLIER release - it's gone in the current version but MS says it will be back.

My testing shows that MOST but not all W7 drivers will work but the ones that aren't detected need a method of adding them manually -- The SAD utilty seems to check for version of OS installed -- W8 isn't a recognized OS.

In theory it should work as I doubt whether there are huge changes to most current hardware drivers -- W8 will probably be loaded on to tablets and things before PC's but it does very well on a decent pc.

Anybody doing any work on W8 PREVIEW.

Cheers
jimbo

Go to forum: Windows 7 Discussion

3 Topic by jimbo45

(6 replies, posted in Hardware)

This link hopefully will help you track down or identify the vendors of drivers you can't find.

(although Linux based the info could help you track down the actual Windows driver).

http://pci-ids.ucw.cz/

or example say my driver  gives me the following info

PCI\VEN_1217&DEV_7120&SUBSYS_A00314FF&REV_01\4&3029DB9D&0&32F0

looking in the data base at the given site
I get 1217 O2 Micro, Inc
clicking on 1217 for dev 7120 i get 7120 Integrated MMC/SD Controller

Cheers

Jimbo

Go to forum: Hardware

4 Reply by jimbo45

(5 replies, posted in Hardware)

Another Good reason for partitioning is that you can separate your OS from the data. This means you can restore your OS from an image such as GHOST or Acronis without having to restore all your applications again (plus all the updates, fixes, service packs etc). Your data on separate partitions remains untouched.

You can also perform a "Bare Metal restore" on your OS partition via a Stand alone Boot CD / DVD. (These Imaging type programs will also backup and restore individual files / directories).

I use Acronis Workstation 9.1  (http://www.acronis.com). A 14 GB windows partition can be recovered from scratch on an average laptop in around 15 - 30 mins. Much better than a Windows re-install.

The slight performance penalty in partitioning a disk is more than compensated for by the flexibility of backing up and restoring the OS.

Cheers
jimbo

Go to forum: Hardware

5 Topic by jimbo45

(1 replies, posted in DriverPack Mass Storage)

Hopefully I'm not stating the obvious here but if you are going to do a clean Windows XP / W2K3 installaton on a new Laptop / desktop with SATA disk controllers then you will avoid a lot of errors and grief by ensuring SERVICE PACK 2 (SP2) is slipstreamed either before or at the same time.
The SP2 download is available from Microsoft on the download area.

Sometimes the original XP won't load the SATA drivers.

You might also have to slipstream SP2 first and then add the driver packs afterwards via a 2nd slipstream. Using DVD RW's will also save you from wasting media -- if you add most of the driver packs you'll exceed the capacity of a CD anyway.

I post this as some colleagues I know only have the original Windows XP cd's (pre-sp2) as newer computers rarely gave you a Windows Install CD anymore.

I found that I had to slipstream SP2 first before I got an error free installation uisng the driver packs.

Ensure you have a running computer to do this on as well - --it's not much fun finding out AFTER the fact that Windows Cannot find any hard disks.

Cheers

Jimbo

Go to forum: DriverPack Mass Storage

6 Reply by jimbo45

(2 replies, posted in DriverPack Mass Storage)

Finally located it
http://support.averatec.com/customercare/downloads.asp

just scroll down to bottom and click on memory card reader in the LEFT column (AV2370)
although it says vista drivers these are also for previous releases of windows as well.

There's other good stuff on this site as well.

Note this driver works for my laptop (Philips Freevent X59) so it might not be applicable to other  4-in-1 reader cards. However there's plenty of other memory card drivers on this site.

Before this I tried various Ricoh drivers which didn't work on my system although they do work for several laptop makes.

Cheers

jimbo

Go to forum: DriverPack Mass Storage

7 Topic by jimbo45

(2 replies, posted in DriverPack Mass Storage)

I have a Philips Freevents X59 Laptop --very nice and portable 1GB Ram and dual Core. The computer came pre-installed with VISTA HOME PREMIUM which I have since removed and replaced with W2K3 server standard edition.

Initially -- I got the usual No hard disks found problem but slipstreaming SP2 and the DRIVERPACKS it worked fine EXCEPT for the wretched internal 4 in 1 media reader. Of course there was no info on the manufacturer etc.

I finally located the drivers in a file  called  2300 Memory Card reader.zip which fixed the problem

It's something like msi_mpi_07128_flashmemory    etc.

The hardware screen shows something like Microsoft iSCSI initiator and O2Micro Integrated MMC / SD controller and MS/MSpro controller.

Hopefully you can add this type of stuff to the next Mass storage driver pack.
These Internal readers are always a bit of a problem.

BTW if you want to make W2K3 server suitable for a workstation --add themes, games, multi-media etc, and make it look and behave like XP use this link.

http://win2k3.msfn.org

W2K3 is MUCH MUCH better than VISTA IMO currently and IT FLIES after doing the mods shown by the link. 

Cheers

Jimbo

Go to forum: DriverPack Mass Storage