Polarman

When i got a new PC, i had to setup my hard drive (WD Raptor) using the Data lifeguard tools. This is assuming your hard drive is a Werstern Digital and SATA. I could not install windows at all before i partitionned and format using that disk.

I finally made up my mind. I've been looking at ratings, reviews, spec and all kinds of data for a quite a while now. So here's my decision. Sorry but the next part is going to make some people upset i guess. So what! 1st is Screw Vista... I'll wait for them to come out with Vista SP2 before i get rid of XP wich will be SP3 way before that happens. It's going to take them at least a year to get all the flaws out and the same for all the drivers that are still waiting for the final product to come out before they actually do anything. 2nd Screw new thecnology... What's the point in upgrading my 939 to AM2. the difference is barely noticible with same processors (X2-4600 for exemple). What's the point of changing my AGP for PCI-X. I bought an ATI AIW X800XT today. I would need a X1800GTO to be able to beat it and i'll loose my tv on my pc. My previous card was a AIW 9700Pro. I played Doom3, HL2, Oblivion and much more. No problems here. Ok, i don't have max details but i can play all those games and finished them all. I scored 2502 in 3Dmakr05. I'll redo this test when i get my new card. I'm pretty sure i'll have around 6000. I play some 3D intense games but i'm more of a RTS person. So i don't need a card that will score 25,000 in 3dmark05, burning holes trough my case and sucking a 1000 watts per hour. 3rd Money... It does'nt grow in my back yard. I've got to work hard for it. So why go on a spending spree to have new thecnology that is expensive and has bugs. My board is fine and up to date. Some mobo makers wait for ages to get a new bios out to correct flaws. DDR2-800 is still more expensive then DDR-400 and by the way there's not too much diffrence with benchmarks. Video cards a way too expensive especially if you get 2 for sli ofr crossfire. So my new build will be the following: Motherboard MSI K8T Neo 2-F (No change) = 0$ AMD X2-4600 (New) = 280$ Memory Corsair Twinx1024 3200C2 (No change) = 0$ Video ATI AIW X800XT (new) = 185$ Sound Audigy 2 ZS (No change) = 0$ Case Antec Sonata 2 (New) = 150$ Hard Drive 2 Raptor 74GB (No change) = 0$ CDR/DVDR Plextor PX708A (No change) = 0$ XP Home (No change) = 0$ My wife will have this build: Motherboard Asus A8V (Got from my brother in law) = 20$ AMD 3500 (from my old pc) = 0$ Memory Corsair 512M (New) = 100$ Video ATI AIW 9700Pro (from my old pc) = 0$ Sound (On board) = 0$ Case Antec Sonata (from my old pc) = 0$ Hard Drive Maxtor 40GB (from my old pc) = 0$ DVD-Rom LG (New) = 28$ XP home = 100$ Total Price tag is 863 Canadian Dollars. I'm very satisfied and she's overjoyed! Please feel free to rant if you wish.

So you had enough patience and time to download Vista RC1. It would be interesting to know wich games or software actually works in this release. So feel free to post your experiences here. Try to keep this simple. Exemple: Software X = Not working : Comment Game X = Working : Comment Sorry that i can't post any of my experiences because i don't have it right now. P.S: PLZ don't post Vista's integrated stuff.

Just to let you know. ATI has updated their Catalyst Drivers for RC1. https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBAnswe...uestionID=19933 For Nvidia they have the 96.33 beta here http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_96.33.html

I Like it!

To aswer the previous questions. The Antec Sonata 2 case comes with a SmartPower 2.0 450W PSU (it has 1 pci-e connector) and it was 135$ Let's say that on a scale of 1 to 10 gamer, (1=solitaire player, 10=Hardcore gamer). I'm a 7. I will never overclock and i do not intend tu use a 2 video cards on my pc (SLI). My actual gear works decently playing Oblivion (not in high res of course). I'm more of a RTS person. BTW... Can't wait for Supreme Commander Budget wise now! i expect to spend about 150$ for the board, memory should be between 200$-400$ depending on amount of ram i get. CPU prices will go down, so let's say around 300$ near december. Video card is another story, but i'm sure to put around 300$ there too. Vista home premium 300$. Note that $ is Canadian dollars.

First, i'd like to say hello. Like anyone here knows, Vista is slowly coming to life and should be up and about at the beginning of next year. And like a lot of people out there. i am considering upgrading my current pc in preparation for the new OS. Another reason for my upgrade is to replace my wifes antiquated Pentium 2 that is still running Win98. My current Pc specs: Antec Sonata Case (380W) AMD 64 3500+ K8T Neo 2 Motherboard Corsair Twinx DDR 400 1024M ATI AIW 9700Pro 128Mb Audigy 2 ZS 2 X WD Raptor 74GB Plextor PX-708A Windows XP Home SP2 My Wife Pc specs: Pentium 2 - 300 128MB Ram (???) Elsa Riva TNT2 32MB Maxtor 6.4 GB Sound Blaster Live Windows 98 SE You can see that she needs the upgrade more that i do. Over the next months, i'm going to buy components to upgrade my current pc. Last week, i bought my new case. I chose the Antec Sonata II. Good case, good PSU, looks great and very quiet. I'll buy another component in a month or so. Now i get to the hard part... Choosing the rest. I'm not changing my entire rig. Just the board, cpu, memory and the video card. My main concearns are Power comsuption, Heat dissipation and stability. I will never overclock my system and i do not intend to use 2 video cards. Intel or AMD. I had both working for me without any problems. so i can't really shun one. For the motherboard i had so many problem with Asus in the past that i crossed them off my list. MSI won my heart. So the next board will be MSI for sure. But wich chipset to choose. Nforce, ATI or VIA. Personnaly i think VIA is going on the endangered species list. Nforce sucks power and is too hot. ATI Xpress on the other hand... i like bit better because of compatibily with ATI video card. Video Card. I like my ATI AIW 9700pro. I like working on my pc and watch tv at the same time. I will probably stick with an All in wonder model for the next card. But should i wait for a DirectX 10 card or just settle for a DirectX 9 one. I'll stick with Corsair Memory. 1GB or 2GB... DDR2 667, 800, 1000!!! So many makes and models to choose from. Diversified technology is giving me a headache. I'll stop for now before i black out

I was waiting for this... I took thie from: http://www.celestialheavens.com/ Ubisoft announced a new game under the Might and Magic brand, Heroes of Might and Magic V. From the press release: "Gamers will delve into a more mature, consistent fantasy universe that will appeal to fans of all fantasy genres. (...) The new game will benefit from the features and characteristics that established the success of the initial saga while offering a wealth of innovations such as a highly immersive scenario, a variety of appealing factions, modern 3D graphics, a revolutionary tactical combat system, and a story-based campaign mode." Nival Interactive, the company behind the Blitzkrieg and Etherlords series, is developing the game. The game's Web site can be found at: http://www.mightandmagicgame.com/teaser/uk/

I'm not looking for a software "Cleaner" I'm looking for a software manager to be able to choose which software and services to be loaded on windows startup depending on wich user uses the computer.

I need some opinion on this software. Absolute StartUp manager http://www.fgroupsoft.com/Absolutestartup/index.html

I understand that part, I reboot and choose the hardware profile. But then, i would still need to select a user profile for the software settings. Is there a way to make this work in a single operation ? Exemple: I boot my PC and i get too choosse between Work or Play and that's it!

It's almost that time again to make the big clean up of my PC. Meaning formatting both drives (I have 2) and re-installing everything from scratch. This time i was thinking of something new. I use Windows XP Home by the way. So here my question! I want to make two totally diffrent profiles. Sound simple. I want to make a Work-Internet environment profile. That is, having all the necessary drivers for this profile: Internet, Network, Printer, Scanner, Mouse, Pen Tablet and Photo Docking Station. I would put all my work related software: Norton stuff, imaging, word processing and internet related software. Tweaked for work (services included) I also want to make a different profile for Gaming. That is, having ONLY the required drivers necessary to make my games run : Video, Sound. No internet. Tweaked for gaming. This way, I can play my games without any unwanted drivers or other crap running in the backround. Is there a way to make this kind of profile work! No flaming plz. Thanks in advance!

Is there anyone here who has tried or is still using StarOffice 7? Before i make a purchase (YES! I BUY MY SOFTWARE), I'd like to know your personal opinion of this software. I do not want to know opinions for any previous version: Is it a viable option for MS Office? Does it take more space/resources than MS Office? Ease of use? Compatibility between major brands? Did it fulfill your expectations? The cost of StarOffice 7 (75$) is nothing compared to MS Office 2003(400$). I know of the free OpenOffice but i'm more interested in StarOffice 7. I've read some good things about it in big reviewing sites. That's why i need a more personal approach. Here's their website. http://www.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/index.xml

I saw some pretty nice looking destop designs here. I'm posting mine now. B) http://pages.videotron.com/polarman/myscreen.jpg Note that i'm not using anything fancy. Just the regular things that is available in Windows XP. No plus pack, no StyleXP, no Windowblinds and no Toolbars. I don't trust those toolbars that want access to the internet (very suspisious )

Why not use Partition Magic (if you have it!) Does a good job if you don't to start from scratch.

I use ATI All in Wonder card (9700pro to be exact) I'm very satisfied. No problems yet.

By the way, there's build 62 out. I know because they (ACD) emailed me to say it was out. I'm using acdsee 7 (wich i paid for and registered) and i have yet to see a crash. One of my friend is using a (cracked version) and his cheated copy crashes often. I told him to split the expenses to buy it with me but he was to cheap to do so. That's why i'm curious about your version.

Yes! I found something that actualy could work dos game in Windows XP. Check this site. http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1 It's the only thing that i found that could allow me to play all my oldies. I can remember the good old days when a whole game could fit on a couple of 3 1/2" disks. Hope i helped