Upgrade? And if so, what?

Freewheeling wrote:
Wes Newell wrote:
On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:48:53 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:


Oy. I got about halfway through the installation to where it had
apparently saved the configuration information and backed out. I
couldn't "quit" or even "go back" so the whole thing looked pretty
shakey to me and I just re-booted everything. I was afraid that my
XP box had been compromised, but it seems to work OK. Even the
Desktop/LX seems to still work... so far.

It ask if it can wipe your disk and wrans you even after that before it
starts. So if you didn't tell it to, it didn't. You are safe.:-)

I'm not sure what KnoppMyth did though, so am still a bit worried. It
may have found a section of my main drive that was free and partitioned
it for the installation, possibly wiping out some data or something. I'd
like to repartition everything so that I can wipe out that Lycos
installation and use that for XP, but there isn't even a Lycos user
group any more.

if you already got a linux distro install, it should have what you
need to
watch a dvd. Linux programs for that include mplayer, xine, totem, and
a few more. Check the multimedia menu. the only difference in Linux
distros is manily packaging. They all use the same base linux kernel.
AKAIK, WXP can delete the linux partitions.
Whoever bought them out just killed everything, and
left all the users hanging. Bunch of jerks. Anyway, as a result I'm
not to friendly anymore to Linux.

You can always overwrite that distro with another. just download the one
of your choice, burn the cd's or dvd and install the new one right over
the old one. Mandriva 2006 would be a good choice.

BTW, I tried to update my BIOS but I apparently need to create a
"bootable floppy" to do it, and don't think I can with any of the later
Windows distributions. I'm not sure how to update, but the latest
version for the A7M is 1007 and I have 1004 installed, so it'd be a good
idea to update (if I can figure out how to do it).

Download Freedos.

Thanks. I downloaded the "disk image" but have no idea what to do with
it. Do I need to run some Linux program that actually creates the disk
from the image? It's funny how a lot of these sites leave out the most
fundamental stuff. I guess I'm just supposed to know that... and I
probably once did, but have forgotten.
Never mind, I did a little search engine research and found a utility.
I even found a disk image specifically designed for flashing the bios!

Freewheeling wrote:
Freewheeling wrote:
Wes Newell wrote:
On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:48:53 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:


Oy. I got about halfway through the installation to where it had
apparently saved the configuration information and backed out. I
couldn't "quit" or even "go back" so the whole thing looked pretty
shakey to me and I just re-booted everything. I was afraid that my
XP box had been compromised, but it seems to work OK. Even the
Desktop/LX seems to still work... so far.

It ask if it can wipe your disk and wrans you even after that before it
starts. So if you didn't tell it to, it didn't. You are safe.:-)

I'm not sure what KnoppMyth did though, so am still a bit worried. It
may have found a section of my main drive that was free and partitioned
it for the installation, possibly wiping out some data or something.
I'd
like to repartition everything so that I can wipe out that Lycos
installation and use that for XP, but there isn't even a Lycos user
group any more.

if you already got a linux distro install, it should have what you
need to
watch a dvd. Linux programs for that include mplayer, xine, totem, and
a few more. Check the multimedia menu. the only difference in Linux
distros is manily packaging. They all use the same base linux kernel.
AKAIK, WXP can delete the linux partitions.
Whoever bought them out just killed everything, and
left all the users hanging. Bunch of jerks. Anyway, as a result I'm
not to friendly anymore to Linux.

You can always overwrite that distro with another. just download the one
of your choice, burn the cd's or dvd and install the new one right over
the old one. Mandriva 2006 would be a good choice.

BTW, I tried to update my BIOS but I apparently need to create a
"bootable floppy" to do it, and don't think I can with any of the later
Windows distributions. I'm not sure how to update, but the latest
version for the A7M is 1007 and I have 1004 installed, so it'd be a
good
idea to update (if I can figure out how to do it).

Download Freedos.

Thanks. I downloaded the "disk image" but have no idea what to do
with it. Do I need to run some Linux program that actually creates
the disk from the image? It's funny how a lot of these sites leave
out the most fundamental stuff. I guess I'm just supposed to know
that... and I probably once did, but have forgotten.
Never mind, I did a little search engine research and found a utility. I
even found a disk image specifically designed for flashing the bios!
OK, I've successfully updated the bios to the latest version. The next
step is probably to shop for a new processor. So the max is 133Mhz X 25
= 3Ghz+ ? Is that right? What's a good middling choice in terms of
cost and ease of installation, as well as reliability, etc.?

Regarding the original Video issue, I think I'll probably need a new
card. I got a message after the system crashed while executing Google
Earth that I'd either need to reduce the hardware acceleration of get
the latest driver. But I have the latest driver. Well, maybe the new
processor will help, huh?

Thanks for all your help, BTW. I've left this in the microprocessor and
thunderbird newsgroups, because the video folks probably aren't
interested in this processor upgrade stuff.

On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:29:50 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:
Download Freedos.

Thanks. I downloaded the "disk image" but have no idea what to do with
it. Do I need to run some Linux program that actually creates the disk
from the image? It's funny how a lot of these sites leave out the most
fundamental stuff. I guess I'm just supposed to know that... and I
probably once did, but have forgotten.

Everything you need is here.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-.../old/beta9sr2/

fdos1440.img 30-Nov-2005 17:26 1.4M
rawrite.exe 30-Nov-2005 16:03 14k
readme.html 30-Nov-2005 16:03 6k
readme.txt 30-Nov-2005 16:03 27k

---
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 21:32:44 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

OK, I've successfully updated the bios to the latest version. The next
step is probably to shop for a new processor. So the max is 133Mhz X 25
= 3Ghz+ ? Is that right? What's a good middling choice in terms of
cost and ease of installation, as well as reliability, etc.?

The max multiplier on K7 cpu's is 24x. Your board will do 133MHz max
without overclocking. they didn't make any K7 cpu's that would run that
fast. I don't know what the CPU's are going for now, but you either want a
Tbred B core (CPUID 681) or a barton core ( don't recall cpuid). you also
want one that is not multiplier locked if you want to clock it higher. I'm
giving my brother my old Athlon 64 3000+ tomorrow and getting back my old
2100+ Tbred B core and MB.

Regarding the original Video issue, I think I'll probably need a new
card. I got a message after the system crashed while executing Google
Earth that I'd either need to reduce the hardware acceleration of get
the latest driver. But I have the latest driver. Well, maybe the new
processor will help, huh?

I've got an old Geforce 3 with 64MB of DDR ram sitting in the closet. Make
me an offer, or look on ebay next week. I'm going to put a bunch of this
stuff there.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Wes Newell wrote:
On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:29:50 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:
Download Freedos.

Thanks. I downloaded the "disk image" but have no idea what to do with
it. Do I need to run some Linux program that actually creates the disk
from the image? It's funny how a lot of these sites leave out the most
fundamental stuff. I guess I'm just supposed to know that... and I
probably once did, but have forgotten.

Everything you need is here.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-.../old/beta9sr2/

fdos1440.img 30-Nov-2005 17:26 1.4M
rawrite.exe 30-Nov-2005 16:03 14k
readme.html 30-Nov-2005 16:03 6k
readme.txt 30-Nov-2005 16:03 27k

---
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Well, Knoppix didn't work. It gets to the end of the installation, and
just starts intermittently "flashing" some stuff on the screen. I let
it go for close to an hour, and it just kept flashing. Tried both
version 4 and version 5, with the same result.

Again, if I wanted to set up a system to play HDTV off of
cable/internet/phone what would I need to get? A new hard drive
probably, right? (I currently have 2 40 GB drives, but they'd obviously
be unsufficient for TIVO.) A new CPU probably, also? And a new video card?

I wonder why Knoppix behaves this way? Perhaps it's the same problem
that I have with video? Some sort of intermittent problem? Some
hardware conflict?

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:08:25 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Well, Knoppix didn't work. It gets to the end of the installation, and
just starts intermittently "flashing" some stuff on the screen. I let
it go for close to an hour, and it just kept flashing. Tried both
version 4 and version 5, with the same result.

That's strange.

Again, if I wanted to set up a system to play HDTV off of
cable/internet/phone what would I need to get? A new hard drive
probably, right? (I currently have 2 40 GB drives, but they'd obviously
be unsufficient for TIVO.) A new CPU probably, also? And a new video card?

For cable, you'll need a QAM capable tuner. Phone? (Fios maybe, don't
know). Internet, you can forget for HDTV. 1080i broadcast take about 7GB
per hour. 720p about 4GB per hour. SD only takes about 1GB per hour.

I wonder why Knoppix behaves this way? Perhaps it's the same problem
that I have with video? Some sort of intermittent problem? Some
hardware conflict?

Maybe that IRQ sharing you have.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Wes Newell wrote:
On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:08:25 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Well, Knoppix didn't work. It gets to the end of the installation, and
just starts intermittently "flashing" some stuff on the screen. I let
it go for close to an hour, and it just kept flashing. Tried both
version 4 and version 5, with the same result.

That's strange.

Again, if I wanted to set up a system to play HDTV off of
cable/internet/phone what would I need to get? A new hard drive
probably, right? (I currently have 2 40 GB drives, but they'd obviously
be unsufficient for TIVO.) A new CPU probably, also? And a new video card?

For cable, you'll need a QAM capable tuner. Phone? (Fios maybe, don't
know). Internet, you can forget for HDTV. 1080i broadcast take about 7GB
per hour. 720p about 4GB per hour. SD only takes about 1GB per hour.

I'm getting the Cable TV "triple play", with phone, TV and internet.
I've ordered two converter boxes for regular TV, but thought I'd give
HDTV a try. So all I need is a tuner card? Can I get that with video,
and kill two birds?


I wonder why Knoppix behaves this way? Perhaps it's the same problem
that I have with video? Some sort of intermittent problem? Some
hardware conflict?

Maybe that IRQ sharing you have.

Wes Newell wrote:
On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:08:25 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Well, Knoppix didn't work. It gets to the end of the installation, and
just starts intermittently "flashing" some stuff on the screen. I let
it go for close to an hour, and it just kept flashing. Tried both
version 4 and version 5, with the same result.

That's strange.

Again, if I wanted to set up a system to play HDTV off of
cable/internet/phone what would I need to get? A new hard drive
probably, right? (I currently have 2 40 GB drives, but they'd obviously
be unsufficient for TIVO.) A new CPU probably, also? And a new video card?

For cable, you'll need a QAM capable tuner. Phone? (Fios maybe, don't
know). Internet, you can forget for HDTV. 1080i broadcast take about 7GB
per hour. 720p about 4GB per hour. SD only takes about 1GB per hour.

I wonder why Knoppix behaves this way? Perhaps it's the same problem
that I have with video? Some sort of intermittent problem? Some
hardware conflict?

Maybe that IRQ sharing you have.

I got this creatu

http://tinyurl.com/rvoaf

(Used http://www.tinyurl.com to resolve wrap problem for long URLs)

It will at least solve my DVD playback, although it didn't actually say
it was QAM tuner capable. If not, I suppose I can bring it back for an
exchange. But they only had three TV/Video AGP cards available, and
this was the cheapest.

Now, I suppose I'll need to upgrade the HD (if I intend to use TIVO) and
the processor, in that order. I'd still like a more substancial hint on
what to use as a processor. I just can't figure out what all the
nomenclature is about. Can you just suggest something in the $60-$70 range?

Thanks for all your help, BTW. Usenet is fantastic, as are you!

On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:44:03 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

I'm getting the Cable TV "triple play", with phone, TV and internet.
I've ordered two converter boxes for regular TV, but thought I'd give
HDTV a try. So all I need is a tuner card? Can I get that with video,
and kill two birds?

For regular cable, you don't want or need cable boxes for clear QAM. Just
plug the cablke from the cable company into a QAM capable tuner card. you
can get all cable channels except the encrypted ones. For those, and
HD, you need a cable box that has a firewire output and you'll need a
firewire input into the PC to record it. Since I've never had cable or
sat (and never intend to), that's about the extent of my knowledge on it.
If you just want OTA HDTV, all you need is a $25 HDTV (ATSC) tuner card.
Your setup is going to be at least 10-20 times that.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 14:34:45 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:
On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:08:25 -0400, Freewheeling wrote:

Well, Knoppix didn't work. It gets to the end of the installation, and
just starts intermittently "flashing" some stuff on the screen. I let
it go for close to an hour, and it just kept flashing. Tried both
version 4 and version 5, with the same result.

That's strange.

Again, if I wanted to set up a system to play HDTV off of
cable/internet/phone what would I need to get? A new hard drive
probably, right? (I currently have 2 40 GB drives, but they'd obviously
be unsufficient for TIVO.) A new CPU probably, also? And a new video card?

For cable, you'll need a QAM capable tuner. Phone? (Fios maybe, don't
know). Internet, you can forget for HDTV. 1080i broadcast take about 7GB
per hour. 720p about 4GB per hour. SD only takes about 1GB per hour.

I wonder why Knoppix behaves this way? Perhaps it's the same problem
that I have with video? Some sort of intermittent problem? Some
hardware conflict?

Maybe that IRQ sharing you have.

I got this creatu

http://tinyurl.com/rvoaf

(Used http://www.tinyurl.com to resolve wrap problem for long URLs)

It will at least solve my DVD playback, although it didn't actually say
it was QAM tuner capable. If not, I suppose I can bring it back for an
exchange. But they only had three TV/Video AGP cards available, and
this was the cheapest.

IMO, you're wasting your money on crap like that. And no, it won't do QAM.
And when NTSC is disconbtinued in Feb. 2009, it won't do much of anything
except be a video card.

Now, I suppose I'll need to upgrade the HD (if I intend to use TIVO) and
the processor, in that order.


What Tivo? I don't understand what you're saying. I dumped my Tivo and all
my DVR's over 6 months ago. They won't record digital broadcast.

I'd still like a more substancial hint on
what to use as a processor. I just can't figure out what all the
nomenclature is about. Can you just suggest something in the $60-$70
range?

AMD 754 Sempron 3100+.

Thanks for all your help, BTW. Usenet is fantastic, as are you!

I think you're jumping into this too fast. Their are many many things to
consider before buying anything. If you've definately settled on regular
or HD cable, then that All in wonder probably won't even work for you to
record. And there aren't any Tivos that will record cable HDTV. The S3
should work if you can afford it whenever it's released. See last line in
sig.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm