BlacX USB 2.0

[MilesAhead]

For disaster recovery image backup is far superior to system restore. Restore may fix some nuisance attacks like little registry hacks designed to annoy. The main reason I keep current with it is even the Home Premium editions will let you get back versions of files from the restore set if you use Shadow Explorer. It comes in handy now and then.

I haven't had much problem with clutter on my systems once I decided to keep the disk usage down. Typically I keep 70% or higher free disk space on the system disk. But I defrag frequently and now and then do NTREGOPT to smooth booting. Most of the stuff I install then uninstall then install again is my own software so that tends to be the same bunch of apps. I don't think I have too much in the way of registry floatsam. If there was a really easy free way to do slipstreaming in Vista I'd probably do it but for my purposes it doesn't justify investing of lot of time.

It's too bad these HP have changed how they hang the HD in the case otherwise it would be easy to store a clone in the closet and just swap.. but I guess I could do pretty much the same thing with backup images.

I have my 32 bit Vista image saved for when W7 32 bit eval times out.. in case I need to put it back on.

[dr_ml422]

You could use nlite to slipstream vista also. He has that option in the nlite vista. Free of course. Everything will be integrated. Your drivers, service packs, and you'll be able to remove any crap you don't need. Once you get the hang of it it'll be quicker each time.

[doctorhardware]

And that is why I have a spare hard drive for all the systems that is not used except to restore the system. Even for the laptops. That way if I do get hit I can put the hard drive into the computer and format the drive then use true image then it is done.

[MilesAhead]

It's my understanding you need the Vista install disc. I did the WAIK bit to get a VistaPE disc but it's only for 32 bit and just boots an environment that lets you access files on the HD. It's not a slipstream. They don't put the install system stuff on Vista like they used to on preinstalled XP. At least not on the PCs I have.

I don't see the big advantage of slipstreaming for a single PC. If I have an image of a tuned system with all my stuff installed that scans clean for viruses and has less than 30% HD used why do I need to slipstream? I don't see it.

[doctorhardware]

Miles if your computers have a x1 pcie slot you can add a eSata slot for around $20. I saw some of the cards online.

[MilesAhead]

What kind of throughput are we talkin'?

[doctorhardware]

It is what the drive thru put is rated at, it is 3 gps. Which is what the drive I have is rated at. Also if you go to thermaltake web site, the drive docking station with Esata is $24.99 with free shipping. That is a refurbished unit. That is where I bought mine at.

[MilesAhead]

Hmmmmm, I like to get my machines prefab but lately I can't figure out what HP is doing. There seems to be no correlation between CPU, memory speed, and drive speed. You look up what should be a kick ass AMD Quad Core PC on Best Buy and it says 1 TB HD, but then you see it's 5400 RPM. Phenom II, but DDR2 Ram. Weird!! Seems like they stick the faster memory on the PCs with the slower CPUs. Either that or I've got the designations backwards!!

Right now I'm not lookin' to open up any boxes though. I've got enough software to keep myself amused for awhile.

[doctorhardware]

That is really a waste to put ddr2 motherboard that has the new phenom ll CPU. I was looking at some Asus motherboards socket am3 and some of the motherboards are still using ddr2 memory. That does not make any sense. Just like using a 5400 rpm drive. When 7200 rpm drives are plentiful. Makes no sense. I will get a motherboard that uses ddr3, it is faster and has better specs then the ddr2 has.

[MilesAhead]

Yeah, believe me I can see why some of you guys put together your own systems. I used to have some cars that were all banged up on the outside, but would idle so quiet people standing next to 'em didn't realize they were running. That was one of the fun things about the old cars before they had computers in 'em. You could often times smooth out how they ran for almost no money. A set of points and a rotor for like $5. The rest was in the tuning and adjusting.

[dr_ml422]

Miles you never received a install or backup disc from HP when you got your pc? Even the restore discs if they boot of course is all you need to b able to slipstream a service pack or w/e. on why it might be warranted it eliminates all those windows updates and hotfixes that were installed previously and integrates them all w/your drivers into the bootable disc as 1 whole piece in stead of several. That's part of tweaking big time.

I must admit though that it gets tricky slipstreaming the drivers when they are in .exe form. I still make a boo boo and have to add a driver after the install.

I just ordered a e-sata pci-e 1 e-sata card for my 1st build. Talk about quick. How about being able to backup 2 to 2 1/2 hour flics in about 9 to 11 mins.

Build is the way to go 4 me from now on and it's quicker every time. Both my AMD CPUS are virtual capable. Can't say that for most of Intel's stuff.

[MilesAhead]

It's my understanding Vista doesn't provide the stuff you need unless you have the install DVD, not the recovery set that you can burn from HP. I did VistaPE on my 32 bit machine but it required WAIK, didn't support 64 bit, and other than maybe running ERDNT or copying or editing a file, was pretty much useless unless you spend months tinkering with it.

I don't see the advantage unless you're a technician with multiple systems to work on.

[dr_ml422]

Well I don't think I have a install disc4 xp mce 2005. I'm not sure. I do know however that I have copied w/e I have to the desktop and also copied sp3 to the desktop. sp3 is only for xphome and pro I believe. Anyhow all that was need is the 32 or 64 .dll's and w/e else the recovery uses to install the system. Then you just fetch the .inf files 4 your drivers. that should also be on the recovery disc or just go to vista's site w/make of os and it'll have the drivers. when you begin the process nLite will automatically detect any hotfixes or updates you may have and tell you it has to delete them because the new sp will include all that. Just makes it quicker I guess and the installation less bloated after you chuck unnecessary stuff as well.

Those recovery discs have to have the os and .inf files w/the drivers. What would it recover if it didn't? I make the .iso bootable copy of the nLite version and when time for clean install for w/e reason just throw it in. Only thing left is activation and that can be done also as a unattended bootable. It's just fun also. Remember that oem's activate offline.

[MilesAhead]

Vista is different. It's my understanding you can get the stuff you need for nLite from XP recovery set. For Vista you can't. That's why I had to download WAIK to do VistaPE. Look on vLite forum if you don't believe me.

[dr_ml422]

I believe you Miles. I just couldn't understand how if you bought a pc and license outright, why Vista or M$ wouldn't give you a repair disc or even the recovery disc w/drivers. That's a ripoff flat out. What is one to do when a clean install is needed then?

I had to look up WAIK and PE. I understand fully now. I just experienced nLite w/xp and stood away from Vista so I had no idea it was like that.

7 64 is coming along nicely though.