January 2008 - Posts
You don't believe me? So go take a look for yourself..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560
It is a DIAGNOSTIC tool. It has never been officially designated an on/off switch, but it became common among Windows 9x users to use it as one. The problem stemmed from a small and finite block of resources in the Windows 9x family.
For instance, if a user changed the screen colours from the Windows default scheme, this took away from the resource block. If a user changed the background of the IE header, this took away from the resource block. If a user insisted upon having a screen full of icons, this took away from the resource block. If a user had multiple utilities starting up with Windows, this took away from the resource block. If a user insisted on having the MS Office floating toolbar at startup (or at all), this took away from the resource block. If the user had a firewall and/or an anti-virus solution running, this took away from the resource block. If a user had MSN Messenger or ICQ (particularly bad for grabbing resources) running, this took away from the resource block. Lotus Organizer, at the time the best selling Windows application of all time, placed an icon in startup.
The absolute worst items you could ever have in startup were programs like Nuts n Bolts. These programs had functions where the user could be warned about impending failure. All they did, in fact, was speed up impending failure by using the very resources being monitored. By now, you should be feeling sorry for the small resource block. It was being hit from all sides constantly.
Wipe away the tears, because the Windows NT family handles resources in a different way. While multiple startup items will slow a machine down, they won't or shouldn't make the machine crash out in the spectacular Windows 9x fashion.
OK. Ears akimbo, ecoutez bien, LISTEN dammit..
If you want to stop an application from starting up when Windows starts, go to the preferences/options of the application in question, and look for a checkbox relating to 'start with Windows' or some similar statement. You can right click on a startup item to find this sometimes.
The trouble with using MSCONFIG is that you may not know which entry relates to what you want to stop. In the past, some users stopped everything and, in doing so, stopped any protection the computer had. NOT SENSE!!!
And while I am on the subject of resources..
Think TWICE before going into Task Manager's resource list and hacking away like a lunatic lost in the jungle. When your computer was new, Windows was running well. Do you remember that? There were seventy or more entries in the list and all was well, so if your computer is slow, YOU DID IT. IT IS YOUR FAULT.
Stopping everything in that list will see a variety of functions fall over, and when you come to install something else which requires a resource that you stopped, it isn't going to work and then you will go into a Windows forum or newsgroup complaining that Windows/XP/Vista (delete as applicable) is crap. I will repeat again..
YOU DID IT. IT IS YOUR FAULT.
QuickTime is an example of what I consider to be a bad program, and not because of its origin. I have yet to find a way to prevent it entering startup. It always comes down the line with iTunes, and I do not like either of them. In fact, I do not like ANY program other than for security purposes which sets itself up in startup and does not give me the option to change it. For this reason, I will not entertain QuickTime on my system. I prefer and use Windows Media Player Classic 6.4.
There are, generally, alternatives available which are way more user friendly. Use your preferred search engine to locate them.
Preface
The general idea behind backups is to create usable retrievable copies of data onto media that is then kept isolated from the computer system until such time as there is a necessity to retrieve any of them. The term 'backup' is also synonymous with 'compression' which leads to problems all of its own.
Each backup program/utility has its own modus operandi, that is to say, it will convert data into a compressed form that only it can read. The same backup program which created the backup has to be used to retrieve the backup.
For instance, a backup created by XP Backup will not be of any use to a Vista system because Vista Backup is not the same as XP Backup. So before upgrading to Vista, it is imperative that all XP backup files are retrieved. Failure to do this will see the user having to re-install XP if the backed up XP files are ever required. Backup applications like Acronis TrueImage should be able to work across differing operating systems, but one should check with Acronis or whoever first.
OEMs and Full System Backup
OEMs like HP or Dell will either supply CD/DVD media from which the system can be recovered, or will at least provide the means for the user to create a recovery set.
There are three methods used.
- A full recovery set comprising multiple CD/DVD's which will, more often than not, carry out a destructive recovery after which the system will be just as supplied from new. There will be nothing left to show any user activity prior to the recovery.
- A CD/DVD will be supplied which starts a recovery process using files in a manufacturer created recovery partition which may or may not do either a partial recovery or destructive recovery.
- The manufacturer 'Flash' screen will show 'F' keys which will give access to BIOS setup, boot order and also the manufacturer recovery process, again using files stored in the manufacturer created recovery partition.
OK.. Now back to the title
The manufacturers recovery partition is sized such that it holds all of the data necessary to carry out whatever recovery functions the manufacturer wants the user to have. This may be just one mega file which allows only for a destructive recovery, or it may be a collection of folders and files which allow for OS repair, device driver or application retrieval.
Windows tells the user when free space on a hard drive or partition falls below what is required for optimum drive performance, so the manufacturer will leave a free space such that Windows will not pop up a 'low disk space' warning.
The problem arises when the user attempts to use a backup program. A backup on the same drive or partition as the original data is about as much use as a chocolate teapot and backup programs know this.
Consequently, they look for another drive or partition and in the case of most computers bought for home use, there is only ever one drive and two partitions. One of the partitions will be home to the operating system and 'documents, pictures, music' folders, and the other will be the recovery partition. In this way, the backup program sees the recovery partition as fair game, but there is never enough free space as discussed further back.
If you have a 'low disk space warning'
you will have to access the recovery partition and very carefully examine the contents. You will need to pay particular attention to the file creation dates, because the recovery files will have earlier dates than any backups you may have created. I would like to be able to advise that you contact the manufacturer, but the chances of the idiot on the other end of the line knowing how to tell you what to remove safely is zero to nil. It would not hurt to give the manufacturer a try, but please do not hold your breath.
Solutions
Purchasing a dedicated backup device complete with software is the best option. They are available in a number of sizes, and are good to go with any or even multiple laptop or desktop computers. The software is generally very easy to use, and the backup device can be isolated from the computer, thereby lessening the chance of anything untoward happening to the backed up folders/files.
If you are thinking about purchasing a larger hard drive for use in your computer, the old one can be installed into an external USB housing. Used with a Backup application like Acronis TrueImage, you can have the same thing going for you as with a dedicated device above.
Note that it is also possible to use the Windows 'copy' and 'move' functions and also 'drag n drop' with these devices. The advantage of doing any of these is that the files remain in their original format, and can be read by any computer without the need to install backup software.
CD/DVD burning software from authors like Nero, Roxio, CyberLink and Ashampoo have a function that enables backup directly to CD/DVD. This is great if you have only a small amount of files to back up and if you don't mind searching through a mass of discs. As per tapes, it is important to store them safely away somewhere.
"This behaviour is the expected result of certain hardware and software factors.
Various devices in a typical computer require memory-mapped access. This is known as memory-mapped I/O (MMIO). For the MMIO space to be available to 32-bit operating systems, the MMIO space must reside within the first 4 GB of address space.
For example, if you have a video card that has 256 MB of onboard memory, that memory must be mapped within the first 4 GB of address space. If 4 GB of system memory is already installed, part of that address space must be reserved by the graphics memory mapping. Graphics memory mapping overwrites a part of the system memory. These conditions reduce the total amount of system memory that is available to the operating system.
The reduction in available system memory depends on the devices that are installed in the computer. However, to avoid potential driver compatibility issues, the 32-bit versions of Windows Vista limit the total available memory to 3.12 GB."
The above is is an extract from a Microsoft web site. If you want to read more, click on the link..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605
Since writing the first part, I have reloaded Halo for PC, Combat Flight Simulator 3 and Fable Lost Chapters.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the DirectX 9 'pack' has improved the way the games play now. I can set detail in each game on the highest settings possible, and they will run without 'blue screening' and the action is smooth. Admittedly, the games are not cutting edge anymore, but the DirectX 9 updates should improve gaming experience across the board for users still running DirectX 9 video cards.
The link again..
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2da43d38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&displaylang=en
To get the DirectX 9 download, you will have to be running an activated Vista. You will be pleased to note that there is no reboot necessary after installation. What you should notice is that games play better. For me, Zuma plays well again, and I think that detail and movement within Age of Empires III has improved too.
There is no time like the present.