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80% => The Nevillew General Discussion Forum => Topic started by: magicroundabout on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 09:59:27



Title: Comp geeks
Post by: magicroundabout on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 09:59:27
question!

i've just installed XP Pro onto a new computer for the gf's dad.
A Dell E520 (only £100  8)  )

Basically it was giving me the blue screen of death upon instalation because apprently the machine needs the SATA drivers (loaded using the F6 command on startup) but my problem was that i've not got a floppy drive to install these.

sollution i found was in the bios to swap the drive from SATA to RAID AUTODETECT/ATA mode.

once this was done it installed perfect.

Question i've got is, as i've done this will the computer still run fine for the future or should i have installed the SATA drives when installing XP?????

answers on a postcard please


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 10:06:12
If it's working then it's obviously found a compatible driver.

Although I've never come accross XP asking for HDD drivers on install before.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: magicroundabout on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 10:19:16
not sure why it does it. i think it's something to do with the SATA controller on the mobo or within the HD it's self?

i've had to do it before with my XPS.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: sonic youth on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 10:37:03
i had that problem when trying to downgrade this laptop from vista to xp. i had to create a streamlined installation disc with the RAID drivers included


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 11:02:34
Sounds like it wanted Raid drivers.

If it's plugged into the SATA port and it works then all is good. It sounds like a poorly named BIOS menu option tbh. I think the SATA refers to turning RAID.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: jonbd on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 11:56:28
SATA came out after Windows XP was released so it doesn't have built in driver support for it (which is why you need to press F6 and install them from a floppy drive). What you've done is enabled the mode most SATA chipsets have that makes Windows think it's a standard IDE drive which it already supports. You'll have no problems running Windows that way, theres not much difference between the two modes anyway


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: magicroundabout on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 11:58:05
Quote from: "jonbd"
SATA came out after Windows XP was released so it doesn't have built in driver support for it (which is why you need to press F6 and install them from a floppy drive). What you've done is enabled the mode most SATA chipsets have that makes Windows think it's a standard IDE drive which it already supports. You'll have no problems running Windows that way, theres not much difference between the two modes anyway


thats what i was looing for. cheers dude

that explains why vista installs with no such trouble


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 13:41:44
My computer just had a stroke. It's fixing time.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 18:44:11
Booo, it really did jizz in it's own mouth. Oh well could do with reinstalling xp. Luckily I have everything saved elsewhere. I'll only lose a couple of easily installable things. Nothing important. Probably.

While I'm in a fucking about mood I think I'm going to install ubuntu.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 19:14:24
Ooops, I just decapitated my CPU fan  :o

Took it off to clean it and put it back on the wrong way up, booted up the PC and the fan proceeded to grate on the heatsink.  :oops: Schoolboy error.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: JPC82 on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 19:24:46
WOW im so confused reading this thread SATA and all that shit, i must be a bit thick


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Sussex on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 19:24:50
My Dell laptop is still working a treat. Just in case you were wondering like.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 19:48:42
Get the fun installing stuff now.

Got to make a list of things I need to download again now.

I think Firefox, VLC and the free antivir thing are the 3 priorities.

I don't like using Windows Media Player very much, and Winamp's getting a bit bloated as an alternative now. Are there any althernative windows mp3 players kicking about? If not I guess winamp it is.

Think I'll install any other crap as I need it. Happy days. I quite like the cleaness.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Barry Scott on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 21:12:47
Like Sonic said, just create a new iso of xp and add the Sata drivers. I use nLite, which will do the trick. I've bumped into the lack of sata drivers several times recently and nLite solved the issues no probs.

Pointless post i know, but i couldn't resist repeating something someone has already said.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: sonic youth on Thursday, January 10, 2008, 23:29:58
Quote from: "Im_Mint"
WOW im so confused reading this thread SATA and all that shit, i must be a bit thick


yes dear you are a bit thick 8)


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: axs on Friday, January 11, 2008, 00:10:27
Quote from: "Sussex"
My Dell laptop is still working a treat. Just in case you were wondering like.


mine too  :D


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Friday, January 11, 2008, 00:22:37
I've fixed mine now. Might have lost a couple of films but nothing I can't get again.

Oh and probably some old uni coursework. But like that fucking matters.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: axs on Friday, January 11, 2008, 00:24:24
I have a bound copy of my final year dissertation on oestrogen or something. I used thick paper to make it look like there was more content than there really was.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Friday, January 11, 2008, 08:16:36
Another one for you geeks because I've never done it before:

I'm replacing my heatsink & fan after my little incident last night ( :oops: ), I've got some thermal paste and cleaner coming with it. My question is, can I just use any old rag to remove the old thermal paste using the cleaner?


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Friday, January 11, 2008, 09:15:01
Buy a glasses cleaning clothe or get one if you can Sam...

fB - if you want those files back I have a program that can do it for you...


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Friday, January 11, 2008, 09:21:44
I've got one  :D I'm supposed to wear glasses but I never do.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Friday, January 11, 2008, 09:26:39
Just be gentle and make sure the clothe is free of dirt (pretty obvious).

When you apply the thermal past use a finger covered in clingfilm (or a sandwich bag) or use a thin bit of plastic as a spreader (old plastic credit card style thing).
What thermal paste have you got. Just be uber careful with the conductive stuff and don't use a lot - try getting the thinnest layer you can to cover the heat spreader.

Jobs a good'n


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Friday, January 11, 2008, 09:43:12
It's called Arctic Silver Ceramique, comes in a little syringe type thing.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Friday, January 11, 2008, 09:46:36
Ceramique isn't conductive I don't think so if it all goes pete tong it shouldn't short circuit the board.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: magicroundabout on Friday, January 11, 2008, 10:46:57
Quote from: "Samdy Gray"
It's called Arctic Silver Ceramique, comes in a little syringe type thing.


i used that and it's the dogs.

to clean my cpu etc i used an old credit card to scrape the old compound off.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: magicroundabout on Friday, January 11, 2008, 11:27:30
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=403502

is what i used


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Friday, January 11, 2008, 12:39:30
That's what I use. You have to be careful with that because it's electrically conductive.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Friday, January 11, 2008, 13:09:58
Hehe, I've been playing half-life. I forgot about all the fun little bits.

I'll save you!
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/flammableben/HL1.jpg

Hang on in there!
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/flammableben/HL2.jpg

Noooooo
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/flammableben/HL3.jpg

The joyfulness.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: magicroundabout on Friday, January 11, 2008, 13:20:13
Quote from: "Si Pie"
That's what I use. You have to be careful with that because it's electrically conductive.


didn't realise that  :o

i'll have to double check mine later to make sure it's not squeezed out the side of my heatsink.

doubt it has cos i didn't use a massive amount but always best to check


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: BANGKOK RED on Friday, January 11, 2008, 13:39:02
Quote from: "magicroundabout"
Quote from: "Si Pie"
That's what I use. You have to be careful with that because it's electrically conductive.


didn't realise that  :o

i'll have to double check mine later to make sure it's not squeezed out the side of my heatsink.

doubt it has cos i didn't use a massive amount but always best to check


Nah, just whack it in and hope for the best, and when/if it all goe's Pete Tong just blame whoever is closest to you at the time.

That's what I do.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: sonic youth on Friday, January 11, 2008, 15:30:50
Quote from: "flammableBen"
Hehe, I've been playing half-life. I forgot about all the fun little bits..


ooh, i could play that on my laptop. top notch big fun!

see you in a few years


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Friday, January 11, 2008, 15:31:48
I'd offer you some multiplayer action but I think you need steam installed to get all the patches and stuff. I can't be fucked with that.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: sonic youth on Friday, January 11, 2008, 15:33:56
yeah probably. HLDM is mental fun from what i remember.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Saturday, January 12, 2008, 08:09:54
Oh dear. I think my main hard drive is a bit fucked. It's been a bit sketchy for ages, too many re-partitions; sort of, I always liked the comfort zone of having a '98 backup if xp fucked up.

 XP has never really liked the mix of a FAT32 partition (I like to start up in my old '98 sometimes) and 2 NTFS's. Looks like I might lose my old windows '98 installation. I'll live.

I've got enough space to back up thing off my files partition. I'll still lose stuff but I think I can live with downloading starwars again.

happy days.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 16:30:51
Well, fitting my new heatsink was a bit of a bastard. The old one had a mounting plate so I had to take the mobo out just to fit the new one. Grr.  :twisted:


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Bennett on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 16:32:24
oh whilst there's a geeky thread...

my adaware has gone a bit special. can anyone recommend a free anti-spyware program i can download please?


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: sonic youth on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 16:36:01
CCleaner


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 17:02:09
spybot search & destroy


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Bennett on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 17:45:25
can i tag on-where can i download these from should you be able to recommend any?


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 17:50:57
www.softpedia.com will have them all.

Or use google to find them.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Sussex on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:00:02
My Dell laptop...


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:00:36
I hope it dies soon and we can all laugh at you


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Miss Angry on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:03:15
Quote from: "Si Pie"
I hope it dies soon and we can all laugh at you


Like your msn has?
gaylord.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Sussex on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:04:40
I'll just throw it out the window and plug the mac back in. Probably will die now you've said that. Wanker.  :(


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:08:35
Quote from: "Miss Angry"
Quote from: "Si Pie"
I hope it dies soon and we can all laugh at you


Like your msn has?
gaylord.


My msn is fine. Must be yours.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Simon Pieman on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:09:33
Quote from: "Sussex"
I'll just throw it out the window and plug the mac back in. Probably will die now you've said that. Wanker.  :(


It will probably die because somebody was gloating too much  :D


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Sussex on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 18:12:47
My De...

Ok, I'll stop now.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: Samdy Gray on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 19:17:35
This new heatsink's pretty damn good.

The old one was running the CPU at 65°C in idle with a fan speed of 1750 RPM.

The new one runs the CPU at 55°C at moderate use and the fan's only at 760 RPM. Think it'll probably run even cooler with a new PSU with a 120mm fan.


Title: Comp geeks
Post by: flammableBen on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 19:26:30
I normally just leave the side off the case.