Zxian

iPod - Yes. iTunes - No. I just can't stand iTunes. If I used OSX on a Mac, then I might consider it, since a lot of it's UI elements seem to have been developed for it, but it just doesn't fit into Windows at all. If you're going to use an iPod (which I suggest), then get yourself Winamp with the ML_iPod plugin. It'll sync your entire media collection to your iPod, with album art and all. I've only had one small problem with it, but I can't really explain why - my Crystal Method collection appears under the Artists list in the iPod a couple of times...I haven't really bothered working hard to solve it, but just letting you know that there are still minor bugs.

@oldgoat43 - You own the hardware, and you own a licence to use the software as it is provided. When you install XP, you did click a button saying that you agreed with the EULA (or you put that into the WINNT.SIF file), under which it states that you may not reverse engineer or modify the OS. Technically speaking, patching the uxtheme.dll file is illegal, but doing so doesn't cause Microsoft any harm or risk of people pirating the software. On the other hand, since minlogon does bypasses WGA, it can cause harm to Microsoft. And you're right - you can do whatever you want with the computer, but you can't do whatever you want with Windows.

An iframe will probably do what you want. Have a look here for more information.

If you want a really good site for case and PSU reviews, look at Silent PC Review. They're the only site that I know of that properly tests PSUs to their rated limit. We've got a PSU tester that should now be able to handle a 1KW PSU... look for a review of the Galaxy soon... The reviews are focused towards quiet computing (which is good IMO), but will also give you insight into the build quality of cases, and the electrical characteristics of PSUs.

If it's not a bluescreen, then it's most likely hardware. First things to check: -Temperatures (although newer systems will throttle speeds as opposed to a flat out restart) -PSU -RAM -Everything is properly seated -Mobo (if you can) Faulty PSUs can cause unexpected behaviour, much like the kind you're seeing here. What make of PSU is it that you have? In fact... if you can, list all your hardware.

You can either run a batch file to install the updates manually, or you can integrate them into your install source.

Do you use nLite? tasklist works for me. The other explanation is that your path is messed up.

Good lord... neither! Ultra PSUs are alright, but noisy as ever. Chenming - meh. Antec or Lian-Li cases, and then Antec or Seasonic PSUs are unbeatable combinations. CoolerMaster has some good cases as well (Centurion 534 for example).

You want only one of them to show up? Go to Start-> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management From there, you can set and remove the drive letters for each of your partitions.

I'll add another vote for Avast. I've got it running on all my relatives' computers and they are quite happy. It's also nice and light on resources. My mother's computer is an Athlon 1GHz with 256MB of RAM, and it hums along without any troubles.

Obviously... it's all your fault. There's no other explanation. I'm with gamehead on this one - it's just a bug. How many messages do you actually have in your inbox?

Wow... I try to offer a suggestion and I get flak... (I can hear the sarcasm quite clearly thank you) If you've changed the network setup, then you need to run the Network Setup Wizard on the two XP machines. It sounds like you've simply changed the network locations of the computers, but not configured them for the new network setup. I'm just wondering what in your existing network was distributing DHCP, or if you had all the computers set up on static IPs. Secondly, if you're going to set the computers to be on a workgroup, make it anything other than "workgroup" or MSHOME. It's one of the first simple steps in network security.

I get Vista Business for free through MSDNAA from my university, so that's what I'm gonna move to after this term is over.

Whoa whoa whoa... what's with the hostility here? ripken was providing an alternative, and I've got to say, I agree with him. Think about the topic itself for a second before ranting off about "thread hijackers". The fact that AMD has 3 or 4 different socket configurations on the market right now is a VERY bad thing for buyers. AMD changed directions too many times recently, and quite frankly it's confused and annoyed customers (like the thread starter). I wouldn't buy and AMD system today for one good reason - upgradability, or lack thereof. People with S939 motherboards are pretty much screwed when it comes to upgrades, since AMD is making very limited numbers of new chips for those. Sure, AM2 is the new thing, but now socket F as well? Why, why why? Is it really necessary? People who want to upgrade need to do so with their motherboard and CPU. Like crahak said, LGA775 is here to stay for a while. Buy a decent LGA775 motherboard and you'll be able to put just about anything in there. I built a system for my gf's parents. Total cost ~$500 USD (including tax). The great thing about it - C2D capable, DDR2, and PCI-Ex16. In a couple of years, when they choose to make the switch to Vista, they'll be able to put in a dual core CPU and a decent video card for not that much money, and the parts are still going to be readily available. That all being said - to answer the original post - don't buy AMD right now. Until they've sorted out what platform they want to work with, buy yourself a nice Intel based motherboard and get a C2D E6300 or E6400. You definitely won't regret it.

Yes... I tried to, and I tried to offer a better suggestion. You didn't answer my question either. Are you trying to use ICS to distribute the internet to the XP Laptop? If you are, I wouldn't recommend it. I've had too many headaches trying to setup ICS, and found it much easier to buy a router.

Yea... his right hand was busy with the pen, so he flips his left hand over... @DL - there's no making fun of ourselves... we engineers rule!!! That's why we carry rocks around in our backpacks... it's called strength training...

Is it a Centrino based computer? If so - Notebook Hardware Control is all you need.

@war59312 - There is one big one - using msconfig you can disable the Remote Procedure Call service - doing that would essentially kill your system! So... short answer - don't ever disable services using msconfig. I don't recommend disabling services in general, since there's no real benefit and a whole lot of downsides.

Disabling services can cause problems like this one (like Jeremy mentioned). Also - check your hardware drivers, and whether or not your hard drives are running in PIO mode.

So... you had a network with ICS through a Windows 98 machine that worked, and now with XP it doesn't? Why not just get yourself a cheap router and be done with it? You'll save yourself a LOT of headaches by laying down $20, and you'll be able to expand the network with as little work as plugging in the next computer.

Nonono... it was the arts guy who had the small box. But that girl... I'd jump the gap too! B)

"It's the iHouse" "But it has no windows..."

Thanks mmX. I didn't really know about the different kinds of slots that there were. I had my hands on on Slot1 PIII a while ago, and I managed to remove the heatsink, but it was a major PITA.

Look at all that majesty... B)

There isn't really much reason as to why your computer should be getting much much slower over time. Things don't just slow down on their own. Defrag your hard drives and make sure that there are as few unneeded startup items. Other than that - like others have said, the memory is the bottle neck of your system.