Prep/backup:
- Deactivate Adobe software
- Uninstall SuperSync in case I need to free up the serial number
- Make sure iTunes is up to date
- Consolidate iTunes library (File->Library -> Consolidate Library)
- Deauthorize iTunes (Store->Deauthorize)
- Export Browser favorites
Backup
- Browser favorites (including Yuki's)
- Backup desktop
- Backup Lego data files
- Backup Battlefield 2142 My Documents folder
- Backup data drive
- Including Outlook data file (D:Outlook)
- Make sure photo stuff is backed up
- Check out RAID block size
* 64KB
+ Make sure that Acronis 11 works on the computer
+ Make sure that I have a RAID disk for Windows install
Install phase 1:
X Unplug USB media drive
+ Install Windows
+ Install video driver
+ Install Ethernet driver
+ Install updates
+ Get RAID/DVD/CD driver installed
Hardware
+ Microsoft Security Essentials
+ EVGA E-LEET utility
+ Realtek
+ X-Fi
+ X-FI updates
+ Monitor
+Image
External hardware
+ Huey Pro
+ Epson R1800
+ Epson glossy ICC profiles
+ HP PCL 1220
+ EPSON Scan
+ Bamboo tablet
Image
+ Firefox
+ Adobe Reader
+ TV Tuner
+ Adobe Flash
Image
Software
+ Covenant Eyes
+ Office
+ Office updates
+ Outlook
Image
+ iTunes/QT
Image
+ LR
+ Design Premium (rename c:\Users\Public\Public Documents to c:\Users\Public\Documents
+ Adobe Updates
Image
+ Restore browser favorites
+ FileZilla
+ PlayOn
+ Fix channel line up
----
Didn't install
- SuperSync installer
- VPN
- Battlefield 2142
- Lego star wars
- Lego Indiana Jones
- Logitech game controller vista driver
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Windows 7 install problems and workarounds
Here are some problems I encountered installing Win7 and the workarounds I found for them:
- Couldn't recognize by DVD/CD rom drive after the installer launched from the DVD (hello? you just loaded from the DVD player dumb installer?). Turns out it needed the RAID driver for the EVGA chipset. The appropriate driver was on the chipset CD that came with the motherboard, but it was under a folder titled AMD (weird.).
- iTunes 9 didn't install correctly. It stalled out during the step labeled "Status". Fix was to exit out of the installer (at which point it said it succeeded, weird), and then I ran the Apple Updater. It installed 9.0.2 again and this time no errors. Weird.
- The trick to getting Outlook to point to the right non-C drive folder was to go to Mail control panel (so messed up that this isn't controlled in the Outlook 2003 preferences).
- CS4 installation had errors where it couldn't install the English language packs. Arg!!! The solution was found here. Basically rename the C:\Users\Public\Public Documents folder to C:\Users\Public\Documents and it works fine. Man...
- Couldn't recognize by DVD/CD rom drive after the installer launched from the DVD (hello? you just loaded from the DVD player dumb installer?). Turns out it needed the RAID driver for the EVGA chipset. The appropriate driver was on the chipset CD that came with the motherboard, but it was under a folder titled AMD (weird.).
- iTunes 9 didn't install correctly. It stalled out during the step labeled "Status". Fix was to exit out of the installer (at which point it said it succeeded, weird), and then I ran the Apple Updater. It installed 9.0.2 again and this time no errors. Weird.
- The trick to getting Outlook to point to the right non-C drive folder was to go to Mail control panel (so messed up that this isn't controlled in the Outlook 2003 preferences).
- CS4 installation had errors where it couldn't install the English language packs. Arg!!! The solution was found here. Basically rename the C:\Users\Public\Public Documents folder to C:\Users\Public\Documents and it works fine. Man...
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Paul T. to the rescue
For instructions on those of us that have legit copies of Vista and want to save money by buying the upgrade version of Windows 7, but want the ability to later do a clean install if things start breaking.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Key articles to getting a blue screen XP install going
Some key sites and insights I learned after spending a full day and a half resurrecting a good friend's computer:
- You will only get the "repair in place" option from the Windows XP install disc if you have an exact match between the type of XPs (i.e., Windows install is Home Edition and the install disc is Home Edition). I tried using a WinXP Pro disc to do a repair install of a Home Edition install and it wouldn't give me the option to do so.
- PC World article on how to create a bootable CD (Linux) that will recognize a USB hard drive (key to getting off data from an unbootable computer).
- Good instructions on how to do a Windows XP Repair Install. It helped me figure out the first point on needing to match XP disc to actual install.
- Key instructions on how to restart a stuck MSI installer instance on XP.
- And finally, the mother of all articles on how to do a manual fix of an unbootable XP install. This was the key to resurrecting the install without having to reinstall the applications.
Important Note: there are two sets of important typos on the above link.
a) The first two lines on the first code section should read:
md c:\windows\tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
b) In the third code snippets the software, sam, security and default files are all under
c:\windows\repair\
not
c:\windows\repair\system\
Hope that helps someone out there!
- You will only get the "repair in place" option from the Windows XP install disc if you have an exact match between the type of XPs (i.e., Windows install is Home Edition and the install disc is Home Edition). I tried using a WinXP Pro disc to do a repair install of a Home Edition install and it wouldn't give me the option to do so.
- PC World article on how to create a bootable CD (Linux) that will recognize a USB hard drive (key to getting off data from an unbootable computer).
- Good instructions on how to do a Windows XP Repair Install. It helped me figure out the first point on needing to match XP disc to actual install.
- Key instructions on how to restart a stuck MSI installer instance on XP.
- And finally, the mother of all articles on how to do a manual fix of an unbootable XP install. This was the key to resurrecting the install without having to reinstall the applications.
Important Note: there are two sets of important typos on the above link.
a) The first two lines on the first code section should read:
md c:\windows\tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
b) In the third code snippets the software, sam, security and default files are all under
c:\windows\repair\
not
c:\windows\repair\system\
Hope that helps someone out there!
Stupid status.msi... HP!!!!
I've never found HP software to be any good, but this error just takes the cake:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistahardware/thread/fc920e97-956f-411e-98d2-e79a4602cacf
Man, hoping the fix from Swwillia does the trick...trying now...
This did the trick. Nice!!!!!!!!!
So for those getting the "you need to point to status.msi" error message and don't have your original HP install disks on hand this is your ticket to relief.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistahardware/thread/fc920e97-956f-411e-98d2-e79a4602cacf
Man, hoping the fix from Swwillia does the trick...trying now...
This did the trick. Nice!!!!!!!!!
So for those getting the "you need to point to status.msi" error message and don't have your original HP install disks on hand this is your ticket to relief.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
NYTimes article on amount of exercise and falling ill.
NYTimes article on amount of exercise and falling ill.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Toyota wiper blade replacement numbers
Irks me to no end that the only place I can buy replacement rubber for my windshield wipers is at the dealer. They also kept giving me the wrong driver side part.
Driver side: G600, 85214 YZZD5 TM
Passenger side: G475, 85214 YZZE4
Driver side: G600, 85214 YZZD5 TM
Passenger side: G475, 85214 YZZE4
Friday, October 9, 2009
I hope I never have to do this...
But if I'm in charge of a tech conference, good little article on common wi-fi problems:
here.
here.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Stats before changes according to EVGA E-LEET
CPU
Core voltage - 1.235
core i7 920@2.67 GHz
Core speed 2786.0 MHz
Multiplier x21.0
Bus speed 132.7
QPI link 2388.1 MHz
Memory
6144 MBytes
NB Frequency 22122.6 MHz
DRAM frequency 520.7 MHz
FSB:DRAM 2:8
CAS# Latency (CL) 8.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 8 clocks
RAS# precharge (tRP) 8 lcocks
Cycle time (tRAS) 19 clocks
Refresh Cmd Delay (tRFC) 59 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 1T
Voltages
+3.3V 3.31V
CPU VCORE 1.23 V
DRAM 1.54V
CPU VTT 1.21 V
NB CORE 1.09V
+5V 5.05V
+12V 12.11 V
VSB3V 3.26V
VBAT 3.18V
Temps under load
CPU 54.0
VREG 68.0
Systems 35.0
CPU Core #1 68.0
CPU Core #2 64
CPU Core #3 64
CPU Core #4 64
Temps not under load
CPU 32.0
VREG 58.0
Systems 34.0
CPU Core #1 48.0
CPU Core #2 43
CPU Core #3 46
CPU Core #4 43
Fans
CPU 1435 RPM
NB 4615 RPM
Overclocking
CPU 2793.0
QPI 133.0
RAM 532.0
PCIE 99.2
PCI 33.3
Core1 x 22
Core2 x 21
Core3 x 21
Core4 x 21
Turbo mode on
Enable "Brink O/C" off
Voltages
0
1.5
1.1
1.8
1.1
1.1
1.5
1.05
Core voltage - 1.235
core i7 920@2.67 GHz
Core speed 2786.0 MHz
Multiplier x21.0
Bus speed 132.7
QPI link 2388.1 MHz
Memory
6144 MBytes
NB Frequency 22122.6 MHz
DRAM frequency 520.7 MHz
FSB:DRAM 2:8
CAS# Latency (CL) 8.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 8 clocks
RAS# precharge (tRP) 8 lcocks
Cycle time (tRAS) 19 clocks
Refresh Cmd Delay (tRFC) 59 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 1T
Voltages
+3.3V 3.31V
CPU VCORE 1.23 V
DRAM 1.54V
CPU VTT 1.21 V
NB CORE 1.09V
+5V 5.05V
+12V 12.11 V
VSB3V 3.26V
VBAT 3.18V
Temps under load
CPU 54.0
VREG 68.0
Systems 35.0
CPU Core #1 68.0
CPU Core #2 64
CPU Core #3 64
CPU Core #4 64
Temps not under load
CPU 32.0
VREG 58.0
Systems 34.0
CPU Core #1 48.0
CPU Core #2 43
CPU Core #3 46
CPU Core #4 43
Fans
CPU 1435 RPM
NB 4615 RPM
Overclocking
CPU 2793.0
QPI 133.0
RAM 532.0
PCIE 99.2
PCI 33.3
Core1 x 22
Core2 x 21
Core3 x 21
Core4 x 21
Turbo mode on
Enable "Brink O/C" off
Voltages
0
1.5
1.1
1.8
1.1
1.1
1.5
1.05
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