I think I have decided on a computer

I think I have decided what I am going to get, if I don't get cold feet before I actually order it. It is more than I wanted to spend but I have had my current computer about 7 years and expect to have this one a long time so I wanted to get one that would serve me well for some time to come.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/series/category/desktops/HPE180t_series/3/computer_store?jumpid=in_r329_personalization/browse1/SDP_SDP

I will take the free memory and hard drive upgrade - and select the creative soundblaseter x-fi xtreme audio - instead of the integrated audio. Also will probaly go ahead and get the Win 7 Pro version just in case I need it. Don't think I would need the ultimate.

If I can get up the nerve I may order it tomorrow - not sure.

What do you guys/gals think?

Fay

I assume you have investigated the following? -

Most programs designed for the 32-bit version of Windows will work on the 64-bit version of Windows. Notable exceptions are many antivirus programs.

Device drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows won't work on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows. If you're trying to install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it won't work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. If you are unsure whether there is a 64-bit driver available for your device, go online to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx

Repa,

I have 2 HP printers. HP had win 7 64 bit drivers for both of them, but for one of them it is a generic driver. I am not sure if the one with the generic driver will work on any version of win 7. It is the one that I will need parallel to usb cable for. The reviews I have read on them are not very good. I went to Belkins web site and sent a question asking about one specific cable they have. They responded that it worked on VISTA so they had reason to believe it would work on win 7 but could not say that for sure.

I ran the compatibility wizard with the printers and my usb hard drive plugged in. The things it flagged as questionable was my parallel port printer. It said I might need a new driver.

I think the printers and the external hard drive is about all the hardware I will have to worry about. If it turns out they don't work - well, I guess I'll kick myself and take the loss. I would be a lot more concerned if I were upgrading the OS on my current computer.

AVAST and SPYBOT are both listed as compatible for 64 bit. I expect I will end up with some software I will have problems with - I hope not too much and nothing too important.

Thanks for you input
Fay

Have you compared this with the Dell Studio XPS 9000? They are on sale right now and come with ethernet card at no cost, and you can add a WiFi card for $40 to $70. I believe the ethernet card stays if you add the WiFi card, but you would have to call to verify that.

Repa,

Thought I already posted a reply, don't know what happened to it. I just looked on their web site - to get some of the same options as the HP it looks like it would cost more. The Dell would have a larger drive, but I don't need it.

I think I am about at the point I need to make a decision before I go completely nuts.

I always appreciate you input and suggestions.

Thanks,
Fay

I did it - I ordered the computer - for better or for worse.

Fay

Good for you, Fay! I think you will like Windows 7. I have the 64x Professional version and so far I have not found any driver or installation problems. And with the Pro version, you can always download the XP mode if you have an older program that won't run in Win7.
I'm sure you'll let us know when you get it

Rike,

I feel a lot better that I finally made a decision. I have been thinking about a new computer off and on for quite a while. The last few weeks I have been thinking about it a lot and trying to figure out exactly what I wanted.

Yep, one reason I got the PRO was just in case I might need the XP mode - hoping that I will not need it

It is good to know that Win 7 is working well for you.
How big did you make your partitions?

It will probably be a couple of weeks or so before I get it. The estimated build date is April 5 and I just took the standard shipping.

Fay

Hope you like your new computer, Fay. Looks like a lot of computer there. Unless I change my mind, I'm going to build my next one myself. If you want a recommendation on partition size, give yourself 20-25GB for Windows and Applications, and use the rest of your drive for data. The 20-25GB for the C drive should be enough for Windows and all applications you use with plenty left over (you need at least 15% free space in a partition to defrag it), but if you think you need more, give it a little more. I've set mine up with 20GB on the C partition and still have 8GB of free space. Remember that you can always set up a program folder in your other (data) partition if you ever need to for special applications and they will work fine from there. I like to keep Windows and Applications separated from my data. If the C partition ever goes bad or gets a virus, the D partition (data) is not affected as long as the whole drive doesn't go bad. I also backup everything to an external drive so if I have to reinstall Windows, it will be easy to reconfigure everything back to the way it was.

Just for everyone's information, in deciding what version of Windows 7 to get based on the possibility that you will need XP Mode, XP mode is available, for free, to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions via a download from the Microsoft web site

Repa,

Looks like I lost a post again, I thought I just posted.

Thanks for the suggestion on partition size. I have never had more that one partition on a drive.

When do you think you will build yours? Do you have any ideas what processor etc you will be using?

The computer was more than I really wanted to spend, but I plan on having it a long time and wanted one that will serve me in the future and could be upgraded somewhat if I found the need..

It will probably be a couple weeks before I get it. I will be anxious to get it but not so anxious to have to try to get everything loaded and set up on it, especially having to learn a new OS etc.

I hope I can find a parallel to usb cable to make my printer work. And I hope the office can find me a KVM switch that will work with the usb ports.

One good thing, I can just keep this computer hooked up and use it till I get my new one up and running

Thanks
Fay

fay47 wrote:

Repa,

Looks like I lost a post again, I thought I just posted.

Thanks for the suggestion on partition size. I have never had more that one partition on a drive.

When do you think you will build yours? Do you have any ideas what processor etc you will be using?

I'm losing posts too, Fay. If it continues through tomorrow, I'll contact Forumotion. Let me know tomorrow if you have any more problems.

I won't be building mine until one of my desktops go. One is a Dell and the other is a custom-built that I helped build at a local computer store. I want to do it myself next time. The Dell is likely to go first, as it is over 8 yrs old, but still going strong. I've replaced the hard drive, added RAM, and replaced the power supply in it. When the power supply went, it took one side of the motherboard with it. Fortunately, there was a backup side in which to plug in my hard drives that still works.

If you install applicatons on other than the C drive - is it necessary to change the path to include the folder where they are installed?

Fay

Yes, you have to tell the installation wizard what folder you want it to install the application in. Otherwise, by default it will create a folder for the application in C:\Program Files. I created a folder on my D drive named Program Files and pointed to that, i.e., D:\Program Files. But I only have one application there - Photoshop. It is a very large application and a resource hog. I wanted it on the same drive as where I store my photos because it speeds up the processing of the large .tif files I create and store on the D drive. It uses a buffer area in virtual memory, and having the buffer on the same drive as both the application and the data folder seems to speed things up a little and avoids applications freezes due to running out of RAM with that large of an application processing very large .tif files. All my other applications are on the C drive.

Repa,

Sorry, what I meant was, if apps are installed in a different location is it necessary to change the PATH environmental variable? I guess probably not.

What all folders did you leave on you C partition - for instance Documents and Settings - - is it on your C partition?
Do you have just 2 partitions?

When I partition, I want to make sure I leave enough room on C especially if I decide I will install my apps there which is probably what I will do. At one time I had Visual Studio Express. Lost it when my hard drive crashed and haven't re-installed but might decide I want to later. I don't know how much space it took but probably quite a bit. My new computer will have a 750 G drive, I currently have only a 150 G drive and have used less that 30G - so I should have plenty of room.

Thanks,
Fay

fay47 wrote:

Repa,

Sorry, what I meant was, if apps are installed in a different location is it necessary to change the PATH environmental variable? I guess probably not.

What all folders did you leave on you C partition - for instance Documents and Settings - - is it on your C partition?
Do you have just 2 partitions?

Thanks,
Fay

No, Windows will establish the correct path for you - you don't need to do anything. You can put an application on any partition you want; it's just normal to put them on the C drive. My C drive is configured the same as any C drive with C as the only partition, with all the same default folders. I use D strictly for data files except for Photoshop, and put that one application there for the reasons stated above. That stopped the application from freezing up on me when I had a lot of large .tif files loaded in it and doing image editing.

So yes, I don't change the normal Windows configuration for the C drive - everything looks the same as when you install Windows and then install your applications and drivers for any devices you attach.

I only have 2 partitions. Can't think of why I would need more. Basically, I want my data separated from the Operating System and applications.

Repa,

So, do you have word files etc stored in Documents and Settings on C - or do you put them in the partition with your data? Since I am the only one that uses my computer - I usually put them somewhere else. I don't like them buried down so many levels. But just kind of curious what others do -especially if they set up another partition for their data.

Fay

I put all important documents, photos, etc., on my data partition. I have some documents in My Documents on the C drive, but if I lost the C drive it wouldn't matter if I lost those documents.

Here's how my C Partition is configured:



and here's how I've configured my Data Partition:



Hope this helps.

Repa,

Ok, I don't put much in My Documents either. I almost always override and put somewhere else. So, I think doing something similar to what you are doing should work for me.


When I get the computer one of the first things I will probably do is re-partition. I just saw some information about creating a recovery disk - maybe I should do that first and then re-partition. I'll have to go back and find that information again.


I will probably have more questions. I really appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Fay