=NukeBlaze=

^high five to you for labeling. I have used the beta and the commercial release for more than your assumed "single minute", its XP with a new shell, a purposely forced dx10 upgrade, and more DRM. I am unsure how you can dispute that, other than claiming everything is "nonsense" and leaving it at that. Again, let us check on what I said. In the first post, I mentioned I am tried beta testing MS-es, in which I don't wish to deal with anymore. XP and 98 gold are especially notorious in this. The management bungle of vista's development is legendary and known. The second, is where I spoke of updates and how firms are weary to implement the large SPs, which may be some logical justification for the rumor they are dealing away with them, but on the hand I mentioned it may make it worse because of the lack of static levels of an OS. Updates are good, quick updates are better regardless for an system, but the term "revolutionary" is not something that can be ascribed to vista. If you would like to clue me in onto what superior features it has over a new shell and DX10, I welcome the information. I do not care what perception you want to claim on my knowledge or skill, I am not here to try to haughtily demonstrate, but I would like to point out that it is not all rainbows and unicorns with vista.

^ When large clients, such as intel's CEO Paul Otellini, claim they are waiting for a service pack before considering implementation, I doubt whatever Microsoft wants to claim on their PR line. Implementation of SPs has been cumbersome for the IT people due to fear of items no longer working, but this is the same for updates. The XP SPs at least served as benchmarks for the 3 levels of XP, original/SP1/SP2. I do not see how they are going to go the "update route", especially because without the SP lands , I imagine it would drive admins crazy keeping track of the hundreds of combinations of upgrades without these marks of stagnation. Regardless, the official word to my knowledge is a VISTA SP later this year early 2008 more likely, with the RUMOR of no SPs at all. Below is a Vista developer blog, which again supports the mentioned SP1 for vista. SP1 is not the rumor currently, it is the lack of one which is. http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/04/03/not-a-post-on-sp1.aspx

Vista = Xp + new shell + DRM/WGAplus + forced DX10 "feature" + No fundamental change of security. I've used it, I've installed it. I dislike vista, enough to divert all future upgrades to a flavor of Linux on XP duel boot or just using WINE. I am done fixing windows problems and BETA testing their commercial OS releases until they droll along a service pack. Work has already begun on exporting DX10 library to work on XP via third parties. It anger me to no end Microsoft would fabricate that turd of a fact to claim that "DX10 is too complex for XP implementation".

It is fine if you have 4 GB of RAM running under a 32bit OS, if the hardware supports it. All modern hardware does, so there should be no issue. Windows XP memory addresses are composed of many items, like physical RAM, RAM on Graphic Cards, etc. All consume the 4GB 32bit address space. It does not matter if XP or Vista report less than 4GB, they are just mapping what can be allocated, you should not run into an issue other than the realization that you will be using 3-3.75 GB of system memory, instead of 4GB. AS far as Vista is concerned, I give any version of it the thumbs down. Its XP in a new dress, though slower and crammed with more DRM and cumbersome garbage and its service pack is being delayed. If you are to use a 64-bit version of either, you will have to use 64-bit drivers proved by your hardware manufactures. AS you concern yourself with software, there is software made for 64-bit versions of windows, but there is a compatibility layer named "WOW64" which will enable many 32-bit native programs to run on the 64-bit OS. Typically, AV and some others are excluded from compatibility. I recommend just 'ol 32-bit window XP pro for apple's bootcamp, if you need a windows install, or try Ubuntu if you want something new. AS was mentioned though, Parallel Desktop is going to cut up the RAM anyway between the various OSes.

I agree, Catalyst is currently bulky. The error is a figment of catalyst not finding various files, because you installed ATI components before .net 2.0 framework. The easiest way to fix this problem is to enter Add/Remove, and remove all ATI card drivers, and ATI card utilities. I also recommend, as good practice, running this driver cleaning utility to ensure everything was removed to avoid any future issues. After both are done, restart your computer then reinstall your ATI suite. http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Driver-Cleaner-Professional.shtml If you like Belarc, you may want to try Pc wizard as it gives you more information, and has additional hardware support apart using windows mainly for interpretation. http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

I believe it should be, make note of the grounds: Cord = Motehrboard Vp = power (Either one) Vg = chassis ground ground = Ground (Either one)

Some DVDs have video encoded in wide screen, some DVD have video encoded in full screen...Some come with both on the disc. They typically tell you directly on the box. The idea of letterbox comes from the manufacture knowing that people will probably get a disc that that not match the common 4:3 -full aspect ratio televisions. In letterbox, you still to see the movie, because otherwise either side would be blocked off and you would be missing parts. AS odwin mentioned, there are additional output otpions on your DVD player in most cases, but they are not intelligent options that can dynamically adjust to compensate for what is cut off from wide-->full. This movie theater format to TV has been a problem for a long time. You see, when they mod a movie from 16:9 ofa movie theater, they have to edit it in such a way that you still see most everything important to the movie. For example: If in one scene in the theater, you had some character peering out from the far right, they would have to make sure the full screen adaptation did not cut him out by intelligently editing. This adds turnaround time between box office and your seat, as well as additional cost. As new TV are embracing the wide screen format, this will become a null problem one day.

^ Expanding a bit further. The basic reason why Cache exists is as follows: Memory subsystems suck. In a perfect world, where RAM and processor spoke to one another at the same speed with little latency in between, and the hard disk could transfer data just as quickly as the previous two, cache would not exist. Cache exist to act a small, but quick memory buffer to lessen the performance impact caused by the lack of bandwidth and the the lag between communication of two devices called "latency". If you are interested what type of memory cache is composed of, I recommend looking into DRAM, and SRAM, of with cache is typically SRAM, due to its speed attributes. Now, you might ask why they just don't ratchet up the bandwidth between all the chips in the system to not have use Cache. Well, it starts to get expensive and complicated. You have to start adding more copper traces on the motherboard for data to travel between chips, greater complexity in making sure those signal stay free of interference as you crank out the frequency of transmission, the manufacturing gets more expensive, making sure there is good latency times between everything...etc..etc. It becomes a mess. The hard drive is automatically crippled in speed because of the mechanical method it uses to read/write data. There is a spinning metal plate/s covered in a ferrous-magnetic surface that is read by a platter read/write head floating fractions of a millimeter above it as it spins at 7200 RPM(typical). I think it amazing that modern HDD can even transfer information at 30-50 MB/s using this method. But, here is a bottle neck. Compare the Hard disk transfer speed of 30-50 MB/s, to a modern RAM system that has a bandwidth of 6400 MB/s! This is yet another reason why most modern HDD comes with 8 MB of Cache , built into their own little circuit board. Now, lets say you are buying a laptop, and they advertising cache on the processor. This means you are probably looks at intel's core 2 duo chips, which have either a 4 or 2 MB on chip cache. In performance tests, the difference between two chips with the same frequency, but one has 2 MB cache while the other has 4 MB, is roughly ~5% on average. Intel's chips are a bit more affected by cache since they do not have an on processor memory controller like the AMD athlon64 line, but that is another tale for another day. What does this mean? If you are looking at an intel chip in a laptop, how much cache its has should be lower in priority than say...how much RAM it has...or if it has better video/screen capability.

I reccomend resetting the entire router via its reset button. You will find the reset button on the back of the router, it will probably look one of the pin-hole buttons you need a paperclip to press. Hold it in for at least 12 seconds let it sit for 30, then power it on and off and give it a go. Unfortunety, you have the modem/router god-awful combo. I prefer my ISPs when they give me just the modem, and I use whatever router I want.

Tell me, when you referred to "reset" the router, you were speaking about cycling the power on and off, or physically holding in the router configuration reset button for about 10 seconds? What is the router model/brand , how long it has been in use, and your ISP type(cable/DSL?)

Humm... In the mean time. If you are running Xp SP2, please type the following into the command line. Netsh winsock reset -Then hit "enter". It may ask you for confirmation, then restart. Tell it yes to both. This will reset your winsock file back to default if it has become corrupted. Define? Windows wireless is connecting/reconnecting every 10, or in general hardwired? In addition, are you now using DHCP or manually IP assignment your system?

^ Give TweakUI a try. When installed, open it and find the "repair" tab. In the drop down box, select to "rebuild icons", then click the "repair now" button. See if that does the trick. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

I agree. Make sure you have a mouse pad that is not a uniform color or very shiny. Typically, a mouse pad will have information in retail wither it not it is optimal for optical mice.

Your speakers? Have you tried media player classic that comes with its own codec pack? It can be attributed to many things, but especially with sound integrated onto the mainboard, they are notorious for picking up electrical interference from the rest of the motherboard circuitry, especially the mouse and keyboard ports which are nearby. In some cases, drives can help fix the problem...While others it is no possible complete remove it.

I personally would not stick with the anemic power supply HP installs in all of their systems. They are sufficient for what the company placed into the case and are usually rated at peak wattage, not continuous. That card will add another 40-50 watts during 3D, which which place the supply into saturation analogous to running an engine at peak levels, decreasing lifespan and amplifying the possibility for malfunction. In addition, you have other issue that are attributed with running at near watt saturation, like additional electrical noise, and worse voltage flux...Not good for all the devices attached to it, HDD especially. Power supplies can die in a number of ways, you just always are hopeful that the damage is limited to the supply and not everything attached to it... Enermax, Seasonic are nice. Enermax is quite good and has some 350-400 watt continuous power in the 40$ USD range. Please get a decent power supply if you do not already have one.

Aye, Windows System Assessment tool is influenced by raw bandwidth over sheer capacity in the upper 2+ GB area. If you recall, the preliminary vista requirements had a bandwidth component that was removed when it was commercially released. That idea still lives in the System Assessment tool for performance numbers.

Pictorial post. Windows XP + + Additional resource overhead: + developers... + UAC + dash of: = Vista -------------------------------------- Lim(Vista), --> 0 <-- = Windows xp XP is the last Microsoft OS for my primary PC OS. I'm terribly sorry, it is the only permanent solution for vista.

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=331&model=1311&modelmenu=1 That looks to be yours. As was already mentioned, update your audio driver through this page. Verify it is the correct motherboard before installing the new audio driver.

I reccomend DvrMS toolbox, if the above does not work. It worked well when I used it, and it is very specific to that format conversion. http://babgvant.com/files/folders/dvrmstoolbox/entry2311.aspx It has other useful feature, like the ablity to skip commericals while recording a televison program in Xp MCE.

You have not listed your DVD playabck software, your audio card or it driver version, OS, motherboard information, or DVD drive information. I reccomend posting details about the parts in addition to the symptoms. If you need assistance in this task, feel free to ask. In the short term, try VLC player for your DVD and report this result in addition to the hardware, iff possible.

Someone has a linksys router, from the sounds of it. All linksys routers based on Linux firmware instead of Vx works, have issues with P2P and bittorent that is inherent in the nature of Linux and the limited RAM of the router. The fault is actually many connections associated with bittorent begin to pile up because of a long timeout cycle, and ip_conntrack-table to gets full and fills up the limited RAM in the router, usually crashing it. Solution? If you are using linksys official firmware, none. If your hardware is compatible with custom firmware, you can use DD-WRT replacement firmware, among others, there is a fix in additional to many other favorable new features. With the new firmware , you can solve this by setting a much lower timeout on these connection which dumps them from the router memory.

I concur. A new supply is easier and safer...And cheaper if you end up frying the entire mess.

There is actually a very easy solution, they are both incompatible products when trying to use features in excess of the G standard. You see, your Netgear 240 router uses a pre wireless-N MIMO(multi in, multi out) approach to increase the overall bandwidth. This is not a standard. Lets now address the 108 advertisement. There are two primary forms of 108-wireless G. The first implementation is a Broadcom's "Afterburner" technology, with the second being Atheros's incompatible "Super G". Both are not standards. Netgear usually favors Atheros's chips in its products. So, here is a quick summary of what you have: Router: 240Mbs by atheros's pre-N MIMO chip. Wireless card: 108 by atheros's "super G" chip. Verdict? : Incompatible. They each use a different method to exceed the wireless G standard. Regardless, lets say it did work, if you are using the windows xp integrated wireless zero configuration, instead of the netgear dongle client, windows will pick up on anything that is not part of the wireless a/b/g standards and it will say 54 regardless. Solution? If you want the extra speed, you will need a wireless apadter that is compatible. If you list both the model number of the router and wireless card, this can be done. G'day

Here is what most likely happened: Windows froze for reason xyz, registry/dll file corrupted. Method one: Linux rescue: http://www.knoppix.org/ Download the CD image and burn the image. You will be able to boot into a linux environment which offer NTFS read and ability to mount external USB storage for transfer. After your data is safe, you can try a repair install from your windows XP disc. Method 2: Downlo...err...Obtain rightfully and properly from a certified vendor: ERD Commander 2005 and boot from it. Mount your windows xp install to it an try a system restore, which it will give it access to. BartPE is a free alternative. Either will give you USB access.

For me Firefox 2 has worked fine for me in every version since the beta. I still think IE7 is crappy. I hate the layout, a few tab things annoy me, and there are still problems with gifs. Opera seems nice, I tried it a few weeks ago. I still like the KDE browser.