larasa

Thanks to everyone that responded. I have already re-installed windows as per the first post on one of my systems and im keeping a close eye on how it goes. So far so good. I still have to re-install on another 2 systems and im thinking of using either Raid 0 or Raid 5 instead of Raid 1 on those as suggested, but need to look into it...decisions decisions Are there any differences on using Acronis vs Norton Ghost for the backup images? Norton images are very big and the process can take 2-3 hours (backing up once a week - incremental backup) slowing the whole system at the same time...

Do you thing the x38 will be around the same sort of price? I have always used intel but have heard plenty of good stuff about ASUS apart from there support which people dont seem to happy about.

Im trying to decide between the Asus Striker Extreme vs Asus P5N32-E SLI PLUS to go in my new system with a pentium Quad Core Q6600 + 2-4 GB Ram. The P5N is around £90 and Stricker Extreme is going for £145....as the price difference is not major, money is not an object here. Im simply trying to make my system future proof for at least 5 minutes and I really dont want to wish id gone for the other option a few months down the line and shell out all over again. I dont mind spending the extra but is it worth it? Ive read amillion reviews, articles and forum posts but still cant make up my mind (feels like the hardest decision ive had to make lol) The system will be used for heavy-ish desktop applications such as Photoshop, Dream weaver as well as other web and graphic design applications, usually simultaniously. Im currently running a pentium D system of 3.4Ghz and 2GB Ram but feels more like a pentium 2 on 256mb....I really need more horse power. Which one would you go for? and why? P.S. I prob will look into overclocking the system at some stage also.

Im about to re-install windows XP PRO onto my system and I would like to Know the best way to partition the system? Im aiming for performance as well as data security. The system is running 4 SATA hard drives. Two of the drives are normal and the other 2 are running Raid 1 which mirror each other. This is how i plan to re-install windows XP: Disc 1 - non raid C: Windows XP D: Documents and Settings Disc 2 and Disc 3 - Raid 1 Mirror E: Paging File F: Program Files G: Data Files ( My documents, My pictures, My music) H: Downloads Disc 4- non Raid I: Norton Ghost Backups & Backups - I chose to keep the "Document and Settings" folder separate from my data files. From what ive seen, most viruses tend to end up in this folder (temp folder , internet folder) - Paging file on first partition of second Disk for performance. Separate from XP. - Program Files on second partition of disk 2 for performance? and more importantly if windows crashes, I still have my program files info. I.E. Which programs I have installed and my customized user settings for each program. I understand that on OS re-install the programs wont function but it should be possible to overwrite the program settings after re-installing the programs. - Data Files such as my documents and my pictures on the second drive as its Raid 1. Should one drive go belly up, the documents will be safe on the mirror drive. - Downloads on a separate partition to data files in disk 2 just in case i download some virus and nasties. - Backups on their own dedicated Disk as Norton Ghost images tend to be Big Files and also to be independent from the system and data files in case of problems. What do you think? and how would you do it differently?

Thanks for the usefull info everyone...im off to re-install windows now

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your support on this one I found the paging file as described, but there doesnt seem to be an option to move the file to another partiton from the windows menu (Performance > Settings button > Advanced tab > Change button)..I looked up the registry value for the paging system and this is what shows up - C:\pagefile.sys 2046 4092 Im I correct in assuming that to change the location, I simply replace the C: for the partition of my choice, say E:\pagefile.sys 2046 4092? I just want to make sure I dont mess anything up Also, When I add more RAM to the system will I need to change the paging file size or will the system adjust this automatically for me? And finally, for photoshop paging file...what is its location? Im assuming I need to have a separate partition for this paging file than the windows paging file (I will be placing both paging files on the second hard disk i think) I plan to place the windows paging file in the first partition and the photoshop paging file on the second partition...is this the way to go? Thanks again

Im using Nlite and abit of hand editing to create my XP Pro install (Unattend / Unattended install) disks and im using NERO to burn the Boot Disk, as I was having troble with Magic Iso ( the discs lacked a boot image file I think, not sure) The problem is that when I burn the disk with nero (I set the file system to ISO9660), some folders and files change name! For example: !DELL_XP changes to _DELL_XP $OEM$ folder changes to _OEM_ cyclad-z.inf - CYCLAD_Z.IN_ cyclom-y.inf - CYCLAD_Y.IN_ nlite.inf - NLITE.IN_ Because of the issue above, the XP Pro setup cannot find the files (due to the name changes i assume) and keeps coming up with error messages during install and asking me if I would like to retry to find the file (which never works), press esc to ignore the file or F3 to quit install This really sucks! Can anyone help out?

I am planning on re-installing windows XP Pro on my systems and have been researching partition/ partitioning info online for the past few days... One thing that keeps coming up is PAGE / PAGING FILE Until last week, I had no idea what a PAGE / PAGING FILE was and what it did, but now I know the basics. What i need to know is: - Does my system need to work off a PAGE / PAGING FILE? Im running "heavy- ish" programs like dreamwever, MS front page and photoshop on a system currently running 2GB RAM (Looking to upgrade to 3-4GB in the very near future)? - Should a PAGE / PAGING FILE be kept on a separate hard drive from the system as the first partiton to improve system performance? - Were is my PAGE / PAGING FILE current location and can it be moved without affecting the system? - If I run a windows Unattend install, can I point the PAGE / PAGING FILE to another partition than the standard? - How would I install the PAGE / PAGING FILE through the unattend / unattended install? Ive got Nlite, Tweak UI and Partition Magic available to help me out. Sorry for the million questions BTW

Just re-installed xp pro and managed to change the required directories to another partition..Thanks for the advice

Koden, Did you manage to relocate your C:\Documents and Settings folder to D:\Documents and Settings ? Is the fix ( ProfilesDir= ) also possible for C:\Program Files to D:\Program Files? Thanks