• Please use real names.

    Greetings to all who have registered to OPF and those guests taking a look around. Please use real names. Registrations with fictitious names will not be processed. REAL NAMES ONLY will be processed

    Firstname Lastname

    Register

    We are a courteous and supportive community. No need to hide behind an alia. If you have a genuine need for privacy/secrecy then let me know!
  • Welcome to the new site. Here's a thread about the update where you can post your feedback, ask questions or spot those nasty bugs!

Rebuilding a PC and establishing a flexible and stable working platform

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Hi All,

Every now and then, my operational requirements change, the applications I use change and the hardware I use changes. This makes using a static single PC rather challenging on the long term, to say the least. Hence, I end up continuously fiddling with my PC configuration to suit my ever changing needs. Mostly, these modifications are minor ones but once a year or so, I rebuild and reinstall my main PC from scratch. Well, it's about time I do just that again. This time, it is going to be a major rebuild with lots of hard disks and multiple installations of the OS on different partitions.

So I was wondering, would it be interesting to you folks if I'd report my progress here? I could periodically report on why I take certain design decisions, how the rebuild goes, which problems I run into, etc.

Cheers,
 

ron_hiner

New member
Cem -

I've using Windows since version 2.1. I don't use the word lightly -- but I've had an epiphany... an experience that completely changes my understanding of something that I have well understood for 20 years.

My epiphany came in middle of a process of converting my photo studio machine from a Dell/WinXP machine to a macpro machine. I installed Parallels on the windows machine and it took the entire windows installation and converted it to a single file. Whoa! That file (a big file, 100gb) was saved to a external drive, then copied to the Mac. Then it opened right up and I had everything from my PC running on my mac. I was absolutely shocked at how well it worked.

Ok... so hopefully you are still with me. Here is the point: It is possible to reduce an entire windows installation to a single file on a single computer. And of course, you can have multiple files on a single computer. This is the concept of VM - virtual machines.

For my next windows machine build, my plan is to install windows first, then a VM platform such as Parallels before I install anything else. Then I'll build a production environment on the same machine -- just a normal windows installation with all the applications I need. Then I can copy that entire production environment to a new file, and then try out new software alongside my old apps without messing up my primary installation.

Check this out... I'll be able to back up the system by backing up one file! In a typical windows installation, you back up your data files, but you have reinstall all your software when you recover from disaster. In this scenario, you install the OS, the VM software, then your last backup file. The one file you backup is going to be big, but that is far more manageable then trying to backup a gazillion little files.


That should expand the thinking a bit!

Ron
 

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Hi Ron,

Thanks a lot for the excellent ideas, I appreciate it. Being a long time user of VMWare, my setup consists of a mix of real OS installations on multiple partitions and hard disks as well as multiple virtual machines on a separate partition. VMWare Workstation has the ability to create snapshots on-the-fly by pressing one button. This takes care of backing up the whole OS very easily and allows experimentation with new software. If it does not work as it should, it can be easily reverted back to the situation before the snapshots. One can have many snapshots and jump between various states. For some apps, a VM is not the best thing. Especially if they need to communicate with hardware devices, such as calibration software. For those, I use Partition Magic and/or Ghost to backup the whole OS partition to another drive. For backing things up and executing system maintenance tasks, I have yet another dedicated OS installation that enables me to copy partitions as a whole.

So as you can see, I am with you all the way; you have been preaching to the converted <LOL>. Thanks again.

Cheers,
 
Last edited:

ron_hiner

New member
Well, Cem... you are not completely converted.. you are, after all, building a Windows machine! :)
Hopefully others will benefit.

Ron
 
Cem,

I am interested in the technology decisions you make, but only in light of their context.

In other words, I am just as interested in the context of your decisions as I am in the actual decisions themselves!

I am wondering what kind of demands require such an elaborate seutp!?
 

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Cem,

I am interested in the technology decisions you make, but only in light of their context.

In other words, I am just as interested in the context of your decisions as I am in the actual decisions themselves!

I am wondering what kind of demands require such an elaborate seutp!?
Hi Ed,

It goes without saying that the context is as important as the decisions and their execution. So I was planning to do that anyway. Having said that, since there seems to be no public interest at all from the 50-odd readers of this thread so far I don't think I'll do any reporting after all. It just creates a lot of extra work for me and I am not looking forward to doing any more work than absolutely necessary since I am very busy ATM <wink>.

Cheers,
 

Mike Bailey

pro member
Cem,

Make that 51-odd readers. Used to be I'd buy a Dell when I wanted to do an upgrade, but several years ago decided I'd get a better machine for half the price if I built it myself. Since I was constantly adding and subtracting from store-bought machines, it wasn't that big a leap to buy all the parts and take it from there. So now I have two machines built from scratch, dual-boot between XP and W2K, AMD-processor based, etc. If I screw up a partition I use Acronis True Image to restore from a backup.

However, after a couple of years, my AMD 3200-based system is already feeling slow and showing signs of age, so have long been considering another machine based on something dual-core, XP/W2K as the operating system(s).

So... watching someone else build a machine is of interest, but I doubt if only one more reader makes enough of a difference.

Seems the biggest expense are licenses for the operating systems and the software on them, though most of the licenses can be transferred, I tend to keep older machines networked for storage and things like printing, burning DVDs, so on, keeping my main machine free to work on developing photographs.

Mike
 

Ray West

New member
Hi Cem,

report on the interesting bits like whether 'tis better to install the biggest hdd you can, or two smaller ones, or usb external, whatever. Most of the decisions are in how much money to throw at it, and when. Tomorrow, it will be different. Hdd space is far cheaper and more reliable than dvd. Do you want to write dvd's? Is it really worth shopping around to save a fiver on a hdd. Why not wait a month and save a tenner?

Personally, I am interested if you will go for the now common blue case lighting, or something more adventurous.

Best wishes,

Ray
 

John_Nevill

New member
I've just finshed my PC building endeavours and decided to write a short essay, the first part is a re-hash of what I wrote here. whereas the rest of it maybe of interest if your tempted to go down the overclocking route.
 

Ray West

New member
Hi John,

Nice essay, but no magic smoke escaped, sure you put some in? Did you shop around for the cheapest parts, or go to one supplier. I find it takes like for ever if you look for the cheapest - maybe add vat, delivery, etc. I tend to sort of stick to folk I know, even if more expensive than ebay shops. Intel processors were guaranteed for life, iirc. I chopped some pins off one some years ago. The problem was in convincing the distributor it was guaranteed/getting a replacement. A bit like the seagate 5 yr guarantee - not if its a drive in external oem usb case.

Best wishes,
Ray
 

John_Nevill

New member
Thanks Ray, I had to get the thing buiilt before the 1st July as England introduces the smoking ban and all that magic smoke might upset a few people :eek:)

Most of the run of mill parts, processor, memory, drive, motherboard and grfx came from an internet outlet in Norway (similar to Novatech but a tad cheaper), while the Antec P180 case, Ninja Heatsinks and SilenX fans etc, were bought through UK internet outlets that specialise in overclocking bits.

On the case front, the Antec is absolutely superb, very well designed, plenty of space, great airflow and very quiet, with the added advantage no Blackpool illuminations, just one tiny glowing blue neon to denote the system is on! The way I like it.
 

Ray West

New member
Hi John,

Interesting that, but everything in Norway is more expensive, very odd that pc stuff is cheaper. (unless less than £18.00, then no VAT). Novatech are useful. They have a depot near me, but you have to phone to check they have it in stock if you go to collect, since the web site does not give the stock level/location.

Best wishes,

Ray

PS, does the forthcoming 'smoking in closed public spaces law' effect the use of table candles in restaurants, and many of the table side food preparation methods. It should.
 

Cem_Usakligil

Well-known member
Sorry for the delay...

Hi folks,

Due to having a real "life" outside of OPF and my computer room, I have been distracted a bit.
But I'll start posting real soon :).

Cheers,
 
Top