Posted by Cycovision
Linux can be installed directly to a partition formatted to FAT32, but it depends on how you actually install it. For example, Mandriva Linux comes with it's own installer package that is similar to XP's. If you just click 'Yes' and 'next' to all the options, it'll create three partitions and format them to linux filesystems such as ext2, ext3 etc. Some twiddling might be required to get it to install directly on the FAT32 partition.
The FAT32 File system has a limit of 32Gb per partition, but I think XP disk manager has a way round it. Not sure where the missing 30Gb has gone to be honest
I think your best bet would be to just repartition the drive and install linux first, using it's own installer to make two (or more) partitions. Then, install XP on the remaining partition.
One thing to bear in mind, Linux can read FAT32, FAT16 and (some distributions) NTFS formatted partitions, but Windows cannot read Linux formatted partitions
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If your life seems dull and boring, that's probably because it is.
[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2006-10-31 09:44 ]
Posted by mustafabay
Thanks, as far as I know PCLinuxOS can change partitions or leave them alone. What I'm trying to do is install Linux on a currently unformatted HDD, its new. I've come to the conviction that I'll have to dig up my XP CD to format and partition the disk.
I dug up my motherboard utilities disk and well it had some Intel app, accelorator which is a work around for the system to recognise disks above 137GB, currently device manger sees the disk as being 156000MB which is about right I guess.
Posted by Cycovision
I don't think you'll need the XP disk to do the partitioning. Just leave a blank, unformatted partition when you install linux. XP setup should see the blank partition and allow you to format and install to it.
Of course, if you want to use FAT32 for XP, you'll have to make sure that the partition is less than 32Gb otherwise XP setup will only give you the option of formatting to NTFS.
Posted by spikeyjac
hi im trying to burn a disc image ripped off a disc but it says unfromatted dsic and wont let me burn to the dvd what do i do :S
itd about burning my own games lol and alcohol 120%is the program i use lol.
and no becuase it burned to another dvd.
these are cheap dvds made by logik lol
Posted by joebmc
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Yeah thats what im doing
, just need to install xp, all's going well so far, i got an msi board (socket 754) with a a sempron 2800, nice and cheap and also got the psu cyco pointed me towards, seems to work fine (so far) considering the cost of it.
Anyways i have a question for cyco (or anyone really).
I think its about time i updated the onboard sound drivers for my old pc, but cant seem to find the latest drivers for it (or how to do it tbh). The motherboards a NF7-S (v2) btw.
Thanks in advance.
Posted by Cycovision
Should be just the standard Nvidia nForce audio driver I think?
http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
Click on 'platform / nForce drivers', then 'nForce audio driver' then 'windows xp / 2000' in the web form thingy.
Posted by scottt
Right this is a real nOOb question but what the hell.
I have a reasonably specced Desktop which is fulll of crap, spyware etc etc. Runs extremely slow. I want to do a fresh install of XP, there aint nuthing on the HD i want to keep as its all on my laptop. So where do i start?
Thanks
Posted by Danny_BFC
Hi - having this problem with my PC. My graphics card fan is sooo loud! Its a nvidea ge-force 5700+ 128mb model. Is there anything i can do to stop the buzzing? Im 100% sure its this thats buzzing - and theres nothing in its way.
Also; When i had XP home, im now on XP PRO, i had nvidea Display porperties, allowing me to edit how the s-video out was shown. Allowing me to play videos thru to my tv - while my pc still could browse the net. Can i re-download this anywhere?
Thanks
Posted by Cycovision
@Danny
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_93.71.html
They're the latest drivers and they include the nvidia control panel too.
@scott
It's a bloody long procedure to describe in detail here
it's one of those things that's quick and easy to do but long to put into words.
Firstly, have you got a restore disk or just an ordinbary windows XP disk? Secondly, do you know about the BIOS setup screen, device drivers etc? If I know how much you already know about computers, I can skip certain bits to make it quicker, you see
Posted by scottt
@cyco
yup i know about the BIOS screen etc, i do have a basic understanding about computers, i did get an A-Level in ICT after all lol
I dont have any disks at all, been reading online and i did'nt get any with the machine i actually think the computer prompted me to burn a restore disk when i first got it but i may be wrong....
Posted by Cycovision
Ah right! first step is to get hold of an XP disk then!
Seriously, the only problems you're likely to face is getting the right drivers. This little program helps:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
download and install that BEFORE you begin the reinstall. It'll give you at least a clue as to what drivers you're going to need to download after you've reinstalled. Also, make sure you've got your Internet Service Provider's disk to get you back on the net straight away. If you use a router, you don't need to worry about this.
Basically, it goes like this:
1. Go into BIOS and make sure the PC is set to boot from the CD drive before the hard drive.
2. Stick the XP disk in and restart the PC. Press any key to boot from CD when prompted.
3. Follow the XP setup wizard. It's mainly just 'Next, next, next...' except for:
- When it asks you if you want to install XP to the current partiton, you don't! Highlight the partition and press 'delete'. Follow the prompts to confirm the deleting, then press 'c' to create a new partition. Follow the prompts again from thereon. If you have more than one partition, delete 'em all first, then create the new one as above.
- When it asks you for regional and language settings, go through all of the menus and make sure that everything is set to 'UK'. This saves you mucking about in control panel later to sort out the keyboard layout etc.
4. Several 'next, next, nexts' and a little while later, you'll have a fresh install of XP! Get the PC back on the internet (install your ISP's software / modem drivers etc.) then go to www.windowsupdate.com and get all of the available updates.
5. Go driver hunting! You did print out your Belarc advisor report or write the necessary drivers down, didn't you? Google is your best friend here, along with www.driverguide.com and of course the hardware manufacturer's websites. For example, if you know you've got an nvidia card, www.nvidia.com is a good bet
That's a VERY vague description of a reinstall, but it basically goes like that!
Posted by scottt
Sweet guide cyco thanks, seems easy enough. Now to find an XP disk
any ideas? Could i just borrow a mates? or would it be possible to get a Vista Beta disk and just use that? and have vista running on it?
thanks again for the help
Posted by Cycovision
You could get the vista beta and use that but to be honest, you might have driver problems. Even though it's close to release, there's still a few issues with it.
A mate's disk might be ok but only if you have a windows sticker with the product key somewhere on your PC. When you install, you'll need HIS key first and then, once you've installed and try to activate windows, it'll most likely ask you to enter YOUR key. It depends on how often your mate has reinstalled and activated windows.
Other than that, I seem to recall a technology called 'Bittorrent', not quite sure what it does though *whilstles innocently*
Posted by Danny_BFC
@cyco- anything i can do to the buzzing?
Posted by Cycovision
Yeah, sorry danny
I usually just give the fans a good clean, then spray them with a bit of WD40 spray oil. Don't use too much, try to get it into the gap between the inner and outer rings of the fan and wipe any excess off with a bit of kitchen towel before re-fitting the card and switching on.
Posted by Danny_BFC
Any ideas how to remove the ran from the card?
Posted by Cycovision
You can't always. If it's not just screwed onto the heatsink, you'll just have to clean it up and lubricate it as best you can
Posted by Danny_BFC
ok thanks
Posted by mustafabay
I've got my HDD set and I've installed Linux (Yay!), I only have a slight problem. I have a USB ADSL modem and when I boot my PC with the modem on it freezes while booting linux. Yesterday, turning on the modem while I'm in linux cause it to freeze too, today it didn't freeze just the cursor would jump around and it wouldn't register any mouse clicks or anything else.
Posted by Cycovision
It's maybe that the Linux installer has detected the modem and loaded a driver in during setup. Sounds like the wrong driver! Did you have it plugged in while you installed Linux, or did you install it afterwards?
If you can get into shell mode as administrator, you should be able to uninstall it manually and install the correct driver. I've never installed / unistalled a USB adsl modem on Linux before so I can't describe exactly how you do it, but there should be tons of info and probably step-by-guides available via google.
If it's anything like PCI cards with Linux, it's not too much of a headache
Posted by mustafabay
As I said, Linux wouldn't load while it was turned on. Should I consider connecting it through ethernet instead?
Posted by Cycovision
Yes, it should be fine with ethernet, it's most likely a USB driver issue.
Posted by joebmc
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Just a little thankyou for your excellent help, all sorted. (till the next time)
Posted by mustafabay
Yep ethernet sorted it out, I might try to figure it out later but for now I'm fine.
Posted by Aware
An interesting one for consideration......
Trying to get a MAC code from BT, in order to change providers. However, on contacting BT, although we pay for our phone line, they say that our Broadband service belongs to somebody else - very strange, as I'm posting via it!!! The person whom BT say owns the account has never inhabited this address(we've lived here for nearly two decades, and also know the previous owners), yet they are adamant that this person is the only one whom can request the MAC code........
As I said, an interesting one(and typical for a Monday); sorry it's not a straight 'PC help' question, but of course, if life was straightforward, everyone would be permanently content(and most probably, bored)! All advice will be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Posted by lamont
i think theyve transferred you to LLU. which means that other ISP's use your line, its happened to me as well
Posted by Aware
LLU - sorry for the inexperience, can you elaborate?? Suerly another ISP using our line is illegal??
Posted by fatreg
cyco...
one wee one for you im sure you can answer..
my iccle bro has a advent pc from good ol pc world....
since day one his VGA and sound drivers have been missing.. i cant find anyone anywhere, is there a free driver updater program on the about?
cheers
fatreg
Posted by Cycovision
Quite possibly, but Belarc Advisor might tell you what's in the box. Also, the formerly-named pcservicecall website might be of use with a bit of luck
@aware
It's not illegal
All the ISPs do is install their own routing gear into BT's exchanges. By routing gear, I mean the bits of kit and wiring within the the exchange only that your ADSL broadband connection needs to end up with a connection your ISPs servers.
You only get connected to this small part of the very long communications chain if you sign up with an ISP that offers LLU at your telephone exchange. Other than that, you use BT's stuff just as you always did.
It came about because, a few years ago, OFCOM decided that BT's competitors should have equal access to the wires that connect your home directly to the exchange, but pretty much nothing else.This meant that the competitors (broadband ISPs) have almost full access to BTs exchanges and can put their own stuff in. Like stuff to make your tinternet faster
Having said that, results of LLU have been variable to say the least, particularly during the upgrade process. Slow or non-existant connections for long periods of time, shoddy customer service from newly set up and, in some cases, inexperienced ISPs, even crashing computers after rushed-out driver updates were released for aging USB broadband modems
I'm all for LLU. If we wait for BT to upgrade their exchanges all by themselves then the middle of the bloody Congo will have faster broadband than the UK before us poor sods even get 16meg as standard!
_________________
If your life seems dull and boring, that's probably because it is.
[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2006-11-06 19:32 ]
Posted by leeboy13
@cyco
Right i have to retrieve some very important data off a laptop that wont power up or nothing... its dead as a door nail....
So what im asking is, could i strip it down and use the harddrive within my pc setup to get teh data? would i need any convertion cables etc?? sorry ive never looked inside a lappy before so i dont know if the cables are normal ide ones...
Any help would be grand mate
Posted by Cycovision
No problem at all mate, all you need is a 3.5" to 2.5" IDE converter. Do a google UK for it, ebay comes out tops usually but if you need one in a hurry there's tons of online stores with next day delivery listed lower down the results
Posted by leeboy13
legend cyco!
Serously nice one, its a novel my friends friend was writing - apprently for the last 8 years - so its kinda important i save it for them lol
thx matey... i might i add how much of a benifit to this site you are...
Posted by Cycovision
Awwww shucks, I'm blushing now
Seriously, you might hit problems when you try to fish this novel out. If she password protected her XP account and / or made the folder that contains the docs 'private', you might get 'access denied' when you try to copy it. Give me a shout if that happens, thankfully there's a way round it
Posted by leeboy13
ok matey, will let you know when i tackle it.... bear in mind shes been working on it for 8 years... so its running windows 95..... dont know if that matter atall....
Posted by Cycovision
Oh right! You shouldn't have a problem getting it at all in that case
Posted by leeboy13
thats music to my ears buddy
nice one
Posted by jmash
I need your help.I have DVD shrink on my pc(xp pro sp2) and lt's been running ok since l installed it a couple of months ago.Lately l started experiencing problems with my pc as a whole including shrink.The programe launches fine but when you start the rip process,it will analyse the dvd for about 3percent then the pc reboots.Since the pc was sick,I re-installed the OS and l'm still having the same problem with DVD Shrink.I don't know what to do!
Posted by Cycovision
Sounds like a memory chip problem to me. Restarting is a common symptom of duff memory chip(s), especially when you're in the middle of doing something memory intensive (like ripping DVDs)
It could also be overheating, take the side off and make sure all of your fans and heatsinks are clear of dust and working properly.
_________________
If your life seems dull and boring, that's probably because it is.
[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2006-11-12 20:02 ]
Posted by luigithfc
hi i got a new wireless package from aol, i got the router and now bought an adaptor but unfortuntley, it comes with "limited or no connectivity".
but it has a full signal etc......
it usually fails when saying aqurring network address, which i dont know nothing about or if it is the problem???
please help, any ideas???
Posted by jmash
Hi Cyco,I'll follow your advice and see lf l can solve the problem
Thanx man!
Posted by Cycovision
@luigithfc
What's happening is that the computer is trying to talk to the router but can't. As always with computers, this could be for a number of reasons
Few things to check:
1. Go into control panel, then 'Network connections'. Right-click on the icon for your wireless adapter then select 'properties' from the menu. In the new window that appears, left click on 'Internet protocol (tcp/ip)' then press the 'properties' button. Ensure that all of the settings are on 'automatic'.
2. Make sure that all firewalls are turned off, including windows firewall (in control panel). If it turns out to be the problem, you'll have to configure the firewall to allow local network activity.
3. Download and run 'winsock fix':
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
This can solve all sorts of network problems by basically resetting all of the network configuration settings back to default.
Give those a try first and get back to us if it doesn't solve the problem
Posted by luigithfc
thanks ill be going tommorow to try what you said and ill let you know
Posted by scottt
Right a problem i have this morning.
I go to sign on in MSN, i get this.......
Not usually a problem but when i press ok it just pops up again 2 secs later...
And the only way i can get in MSN is by disabling Norton until next system restart, if i select say 5 mins, when Norton enables again MSN signs out and i am presented with that message again.
What i do?
Only started doing this, this morning and is bloomin annoying
Posted by Cycovision
Ahhhh, norton. My absolute favourite</sarcasm>
It's probably due to a buggy norton update and to be honest, I'm not sure what to do! Firstly, I'd try adding messenger to the firewall's permit list manually as described here:
http://messenger-support.spac[....]ns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!3606.entry
Other than that, I'd be looking at uninstalling norton, running RNIS to completely get rid of all registry enteries, then reinstalling it again.
Might be worth looking at the symantec support website too
Posted by scottt
Sorted, reinstalled MSN, and thats done the trick. I am running the BETA 8.1 version of MSN maybe theres a bug in that. Time will tell if it does it again. Cheers anyway cyco
_________________
scott ™ +49, -1 (the negative courtesy of a certain numbnuts named si-egdell)
(formely scott_87)
[ This Message was edited by: scott ™ on 2006-11-14 11:33 ]
Posted by Cycovision
Now why didn't I think of that?
Still too early in the morning for me
Posted by slattery69
heres an intresting problem that i m looking for help with. my broadband has started playing up, its been faultless for over a 2 years.
however in the last week it keeps disconnecting but if i make a phone call or just leave the phone off the hook it reconnects and and i can surf fine the minute i hang up the phone it stops working
any ideas ?
Posted by Cycovision
Faulty ADSL filter or even the phone itself maybe? Unlikely as it sounds, it wouldn't be the first time I've seen a poorly phone cause broadband problems.
Posted by joebmc
Couple of days I decided to format and reinstall windows (as you do) mainly to get rid of all the crap I’ve installed of the past year and a half but also because I was changing case and installing a new heat sink (temps were hitting 70c when idle).
Now, is there any thing else I can try to do to keep the temps down (non-hardware wise), there still hitting 60c when pc is in full swing (is that ok, it is rather an old cpu/board now, over 3 years)?
Posted by Cycovision
There's not a lot you can do software wise to keep temperatures down, with the exception of underclocking the CPU maybe although I doubt it'll make much difference.
60 degrees is a bit high for a CPU when idle but not excessive. It's certainly not excessive if the PC's working flat out! Just keep your eye on the temperatures but I wouldn't worry too much.
_________________
If your life seems dull and boring, that's probably because it is.
[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2006-11-14 17:36 ]