I was so favorably impressed by my initial LiveCD testing of Ubuntu 9.04 that I decided to see what a REAL install on a P4 desktop system would be like. Because I am testing lotsa stuff, I didn't want to repartition and reformat my XP hard drive to make this happen, and wouldn't you know there's a really simple way. I don't have to lose my existing Windows XP install to do a real hard drive installation. Check this out.....
The Windows Ubuntu Installer, or WUBI, is a small stub of a program that asks for user name and password, and the amount of space you want to dedicate to the Linux system, and then proceeds to download the appropriate version directly to your computer. My fast web connection still took about two hours to get the CD-sized file, likely because I picked the day the new version 9.04 was released and the servers were being hammered.
After verifying the download and doing some housekeeping, WUBI reboots the system and displays the Windows boot menu which showed my the choices of either Windows XP or Ubuntu (the default selection remains Windows). I selected Ubuntu and the system booted up and proceeded to install Ubuntu onto my hard drive. But wait! Don't I need to reformat my drive and setup swap and root partitions for the new Linux resident? Nope. WUBI makes this so simple by treating the Ubuntu install like any other application. If I don't like what I see, I can UNinstall Ubuntu and my system will be back to "normal".
So the Ubuntu setup took about fifteen to twenty minutes on this P4 2.4GHz system with 2GB RAM installed and presented me with the familiar brown desktop. As I always do when installing Windows, I immediately shut down and restarted the system, chose Ubuntu from the boot menu and was rocketed back into Ubuntu Land where I began another journey of discovery and enlightenment.
This computer is also connected to the Strelecki LAN via wireless, but is done with a D-Link USB adapter which remained connected during setup, so I anticipated difficulties in getting it to work. Imagine my surprise when I asked to see a list of available networks, selected my access point and entered the passphrase and was presented with a working network connection. Again, this happened in something like a minute, without any error messages or other issues. I clicked the Firefox icon and was off surfing the web.
I make it a point to backup and save my Firefox profile so that when I move to another system, or go portable, I have all my logins, passwords, cookies and bookmarks that makes navigating the web so productive. I did a quick lookup of the location where Firefox stores the profile on a Linux system (thank you again, Google) and copied my Windows profile onto a USB flashdrive and moved it into the Ubuntu location. In a heartbeat I was crusing with the very latest Firefox (3.0.9 as of this writing) along with ALL of my bookmarks, cookies, login credentials and everything. I stopped by my Earthlink webmail account and sent a message to a co-worker just to say I was on Linux and making it go. Hey, this feels GOOD, let me tell you!
While I was surfing, I found a few downloads I needed, and Firefox worked exactly the way it always does and stashed the files in a folder of my choice. It feels like the downloads go faster in Ubuntu, even though the transfer rate displayed in the download dialog shows it to be about the same as Windows. The browsing experience definitely FEELS faster, as pages seem to really pop onscreen, subjectively faster than they do under XP where I see the page being composited, section by section, until it's all loaded. In Ubuntu, the page just seems to appear fully formed and ready to go.
OK, so I had a couple downloaded ISO image files I needed to burn, and when I right-clicked on them I saw a choice for "write to disk" which brought up a burning app (Brasero) that worked flawlessly without any tweaking or configuring from me. The burn process was followed by a verification and disc ejection, making the whole idea of burning media a no-brainer. Once again, the new Ubuntu 9.04 made it very easy to just make it go.
As I perused the desktop menus, I came across an item called Remote Desktop Viewer (RDV). I thought it might be a Microsoft-compatible program (remote desktop) so I was very pleasantly surprised to see, from the help system, that it is a VNC-based viewer program. It so happens that I've been working with TightVNC recently to remotely access servers being setup in a new data center in Woodstock, Georgia, as well as some of the systems here on the Strelecki LAN. It was very cool to type in the IP address for one of the local systems, enter the password and be looking at the desktop of one of my Windows boxes.
By default, the Vinagre RDV came up in read-only mode, so I was unable to interact with the remote system, but a quick selection from a menu enabled me to point and click that desktop just as though I was sitting in front of it. It worked just like it does under XP, and the software was already installed in Ubuntu, no additional downloads or installation was required. OK, there's ANOTHER reason I could get to like using Ubuntu - it makes accessing Windows desktops a simple matter of knowing their IP address and VNC password. Very nice, indeed.
Some of the systems I administer are remotely located, and in XP I use the free Hamachi client from LogMeIn. It's a zero-config VPN client that works without any changes to the router/firewall, though I did need to add an entry into the Ghostwall software firewall I use on my XP64 system. Hamachi provides a public IP address for systems that share an Internet connection, sitting behind a NAT router and/or firewall, and it can be used to create and map shared folders and devices. I use it only for the public IP it provides, then use VNC to attach to that address. Works like a champ every time. Did I say that TightVNC was free? Yeah, it is. So is Hamachi.
My initial research tells me that Hamachi, or similar software, is available for Ubuntu, and you KNOW that I'm gonna try and make that go as soon as I get the chance. I figure the more I can do with Linux, and live to tell you about it, the better I'm gonna be. Windows is getting bigger, prettier, and more restrictive when it comes to user rights, but I have a massive history and experience there that I am unwilling to let go. Perhaps the path to take is one of using BOTH operating systems in parallel, which I am doing now with a small KVM that permits me to switch between two computers with a couple keystrokes.
Ubuntu 9.04 is looking to this longtime Windows user to be what we've been waiting for as an alternative to the Windows monolith - a workable, working desktop that networks very easily, leverages the web for all it's worth, and makes discovery of new abilities simple and fun. Oh my gosh! Does this mean I'm heading for the Computing Fun Times again?
I'll keep y'all posted. Thanks for reading.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Ubuntu 9.04 - Critical Mass for Linux?
It's been an eventful 2009 on the operating systems front here in the Strelecki technology labs.
My experiences with Windows 7 initially seemed less than stellar when compared to the venerable XP Pro, but I've spent the past month and a half using the 64-bit version of XP and while it does work well, XP X64 seems to lack the visual "punch" that you get with Windows 7. I like X64 because it supports all the RAM (6GB) installed in this Core i7 system, something the X86/32-bit version can't match, but there remains nagging incompatibility issues and the occasional app or driver that complains about the 64-bit platform. I dunno if that's "growing pains" or not, but it IS a pain to be kept from doing what it is I want to do, in the manner I see fit to do it.
I will spend additional time with Windows 7, because it looks to be what Vista SHOULD have been, and offers many UI tweaks and mods that grow on you over time, like those window animations and translucent window title bars. But as I've said, that's sizzle, not steak, and I must resist the urge to go down that road only because it's prettier than what I'm used to. I'm trying to find the legitimate good in the new platform, like better performance or greater stability, but that will be a very high bar to meet, and I don't relish the prospect of spending more hours learning the ins and outs of another user interface revision cycle.
This week, the RC for Ubuntu 9.04 was released, and I knew that the final version was right around the corner, but I decided that I'd take it for a spin on my Core2Duo Acer laptop to see what I could see. I downloaded the CD image and burned it to disk, then booted from it, and was soon greeted by a familiar Ubuntu desktop. That's when I began experimenting, to see how far I could go with this new build in as little time as possible.
The laptop is connected here via wireless network using an encrypted link which requires a password. Ubuntu showed me the several WLANs within range and I selected my access point and was prompted for my password. Within a few seconds I was connected and browsing the web using Firefox. I installed a few stalwart extensions (NoScript and AdBlock Plus, among others) and cruised the web for a few minutes. Pages loaded snappily, downloads were VERY fast, almost faster than with Windows XP, and I encountered no impediments, no unexpected problems, just a working Internet connection within a couple of minutes of booting the Ubuntu live CD.
It's times like this I wish Microsoft had released a live CD for XP - just boot up and go. Yes I know about Ben Burrows' fine Ultimate BootCD for Windows, and I use it regularly to create my own rescue and recovery disks, but I'm talking about the Windows equivalent of the Ubuntu live CD experience, something you can download, burn and boot with to get working fast without a learning curve and a lotta software to install.
Since I had the Internet working, the next step was to see what LAN connectivity was like. I was able to browse my local network, attach to a shared folder and access the files inside it. I copied several files from the Ubuntu laptop to the Strelecki server just as though I was using Windows. Transparent, working flawlessly, and again, very fast data transfers.
It was a piece of cake to attach to a shared HP printer and print a test page, and my previous experience working with Ubuntu helped me get setup quickly. The share method is Windows SMB, selected from a list of more than a half dozen choices, and perhaps the less experienced might have an issue but I was able to get connected and printing in less than five minutes. I think that is wonderful, to say the least, especially knowing my past difficulties getting ANY Linux distro to print over a network, let alone a wireless network.
Next up I tried to play a video file I downloaded from the web, and the default player was complaining that it needed a codec, asked me if I wanted to search for it and download it (which I did want to do), but then popped up an error that it was not found. OK, detective time. I cruised over to Google and searched for my problem and found directions for adding additional repositories (online sources) to my Ubuntu desktop, then used the default package manager (software installation program) to look for VLC, a freeware, open source media player that has all those pesky codecs built-in.
The install of VLC went quickly and without a problem, and in a very few minutes I was viewing that same video file that had stymied me earlier. It feels really good when you can discover a way to work around the problems you encounter, and in many years of troubleshooting Windows problems for myself and others, I've discovered that not only is Google your friend, it's also your all-knowing, all-powerful friend when it comes time to answering your questions about an error message, system condition, or other anomaly you will likely encounter on your technological travels.
So, I'm booted from a live CD, no install on my hard drive required, browsing the web with a secure browser, using LAN shared folders and printer, and watching videos. I had to stop for a minute and revel at the speed and ease of getting this new Ubuntu 9.04 (9 for 2009, 04 for April) up and running on my wireless laptop. It could NOT have been any easier. And did I say that the high performance video drivers were installed by default, giving me desktop UI effects every bit as snazzy as those offered by XP? And that the sound worked great, right from the get-go? Yup. That, too.
My next phase of testing Ubuntu will revolve around running Windows in a VM using VirtualBox from Sun, as well as running Windows apps natively on the Ubuntu desktop using Wine. I need to see Flash video working so YouTube is an available option. I'll look for a firewall, though I'm convinced that its necessity is orders of magnitude reduced, compared to Windows, as is the need and availability of antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-Trojan protection. I need to be able to open and edit my office documents, as well as create new ones that my Microsoft-using contacts can use. I will need a Linux that supports X64 hardware and uses all that RAM, not just the first 3GB or so that 32-bit Windows can see. And at some point, I would like to be able to create my own customized Ubuntu installation media, geared for supporting computers the way I use them, with all the apps and support already built-in, the same way I use Nuhi's great nLite program to develop customized, updated, driver-packed Windows installation CDs and DVDs.
The main reason I have yet to embrace Linux for full time use is that I can still do more with Windows. I know HOW to do new things, and I can find a universe of support when I have issues, so whatever the challenge I can continue moving ahead using XP. Ubuntu is a new OS, a new environment, a new model for how we can use our computers and greatly reduce or eliminate the vast bulk of the cost we pay for our software. Yes, there is a learning curve, and yes, it IS worth it on many levels. I like the fact that it's another New Frontier to explore, one free of the control and legal hassles I've endured for all these past years. Nobody at Ubuntu forces customers to validate and authenticate their ownership, or marks their machines as "non-genuine" if they don't meet some Orwellian specification. Nobody at Ubuntu treats their valued users as criminals. What a refreshing approach!
If you're a techie I strongly recommend you take a good look at Ubuntu 9.04, and see all the goodness it has waiting for you. If you're not so much a techie, the good news is that this one looks like it's simpler to setup and Make Go than anything that's come before. The live CD means you won't disturb anything on your Windows hard drive, and the point and click UI will be familiar and open to your exploration. Don't be afraid. This Ubuntu is unlike anything you may have looked at before. I believe it may be the critical mass for more general Linux adoption. It is for this Windows user!
Excelsior, webheads!
My experiences with Windows 7 initially seemed less than stellar when compared to the venerable XP Pro, but I've spent the past month and a half using the 64-bit version of XP and while it does work well, XP X64 seems to lack the visual "punch" that you get with Windows 7. I like X64 because it supports all the RAM (6GB) installed in this Core i7 system, something the X86/32-bit version can't match, but there remains nagging incompatibility issues and the occasional app or driver that complains about the 64-bit platform. I dunno if that's "growing pains" or not, but it IS a pain to be kept from doing what it is I want to do, in the manner I see fit to do it.
I will spend additional time with Windows 7, because it looks to be what Vista SHOULD have been, and offers many UI tweaks and mods that grow on you over time, like those window animations and translucent window title bars. But as I've said, that's sizzle, not steak, and I must resist the urge to go down that road only because it's prettier than what I'm used to. I'm trying to find the legitimate good in the new platform, like better performance or greater stability, but that will be a very high bar to meet, and I don't relish the prospect of spending more hours learning the ins and outs of another user interface revision cycle.
This week, the RC for Ubuntu 9.04 was released, and I knew that the final version was right around the corner, but I decided that I'd take it for a spin on my Core2Duo Acer laptop to see what I could see. I downloaded the CD image and burned it to disk, then booted from it, and was soon greeted by a familiar Ubuntu desktop. That's when I began experimenting, to see how far I could go with this new build in as little time as possible.
The laptop is connected here via wireless network using an encrypted link which requires a password. Ubuntu showed me the several WLANs within range and I selected my access point and was prompted for my password. Within a few seconds I was connected and browsing the web using Firefox. I installed a few stalwart extensions (NoScript and AdBlock Plus, among others) and cruised the web for a few minutes. Pages loaded snappily, downloads were VERY fast, almost faster than with Windows XP, and I encountered no impediments, no unexpected problems, just a working Internet connection within a couple of minutes of booting the Ubuntu live CD.
It's times like this I wish Microsoft had released a live CD for XP - just boot up and go. Yes I know about Ben Burrows' fine Ultimate BootCD for Windows, and I use it regularly to create my own rescue and recovery disks, but I'm talking about the Windows equivalent of the Ubuntu live CD experience, something you can download, burn and boot with to get working fast without a learning curve and a lotta software to install.
Since I had the Internet working, the next step was to see what LAN connectivity was like. I was able to browse my local network, attach to a shared folder and access the files inside it. I copied several files from the Ubuntu laptop to the Strelecki server just as though I was using Windows. Transparent, working flawlessly, and again, very fast data transfers.
It was a piece of cake to attach to a shared HP printer and print a test page, and my previous experience working with Ubuntu helped me get setup quickly. The share method is Windows SMB, selected from a list of more than a half dozen choices, and perhaps the less experienced might have an issue but I was able to get connected and printing in less than five minutes. I think that is wonderful, to say the least, especially knowing my past difficulties getting ANY Linux distro to print over a network, let alone a wireless network.
Next up I tried to play a video file I downloaded from the web, and the default player was complaining that it needed a codec, asked me if I wanted to search for it and download it (which I did want to do), but then popped up an error that it was not found. OK, detective time. I cruised over to Google and searched for my problem and found directions for adding additional repositories (online sources) to my Ubuntu desktop, then used the default package manager (software installation program) to look for VLC, a freeware, open source media player that has all those pesky codecs built-in.
The install of VLC went quickly and without a problem, and in a very few minutes I was viewing that same video file that had stymied me earlier. It feels really good when you can discover a way to work around the problems you encounter, and in many years of troubleshooting Windows problems for myself and others, I've discovered that not only is Google your friend, it's also your all-knowing, all-powerful friend when it comes time to answering your questions about an error message, system condition, or other anomaly you will likely encounter on your technological travels.
So, I'm booted from a live CD, no install on my hard drive required, browsing the web with a secure browser, using LAN shared folders and printer, and watching videos. I had to stop for a minute and revel at the speed and ease of getting this new Ubuntu 9.04 (9 for 2009, 04 for April) up and running on my wireless laptop. It could NOT have been any easier. And did I say that the high performance video drivers were installed by default, giving me desktop UI effects every bit as snazzy as those offered by XP? And that the sound worked great, right from the get-go? Yup. That, too.
My next phase of testing Ubuntu will revolve around running Windows in a VM using VirtualBox from Sun, as well as running Windows apps natively on the Ubuntu desktop using Wine. I need to see Flash video working so YouTube is an available option. I'll look for a firewall, though I'm convinced that its necessity is orders of magnitude reduced, compared to Windows, as is the need and availability of antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-Trojan protection. I need to be able to open and edit my office documents, as well as create new ones that my Microsoft-using contacts can use. I will need a Linux that supports X64 hardware and uses all that RAM, not just the first 3GB or so that 32-bit Windows can see. And at some point, I would like to be able to create my own customized Ubuntu installation media, geared for supporting computers the way I use them, with all the apps and support already built-in, the same way I use Nuhi's great nLite program to develop customized, updated, driver-packed Windows installation CDs and DVDs.
The main reason I have yet to embrace Linux for full time use is that I can still do more with Windows. I know HOW to do new things, and I can find a universe of support when I have issues, so whatever the challenge I can continue moving ahead using XP. Ubuntu is a new OS, a new environment, a new model for how we can use our computers and greatly reduce or eliminate the vast bulk of the cost we pay for our software. Yes, there is a learning curve, and yes, it IS worth it on many levels. I like the fact that it's another New Frontier to explore, one free of the control and legal hassles I've endured for all these past years. Nobody at Ubuntu forces customers to validate and authenticate their ownership, or marks their machines as "non-genuine" if they don't meet some Orwellian specification. Nobody at Ubuntu treats their valued users as criminals. What a refreshing approach!
If you're a techie I strongly recommend you take a good look at Ubuntu 9.04, and see all the goodness it has waiting for you. If you're not so much a techie, the good news is that this one looks like it's simpler to setup and Make Go than anything that's come before. The live CD means you won't disturb anything on your Windows hard drive, and the point and click UI will be familiar and open to your exploration. Don't be afraid. This Ubuntu is unlike anything you may have looked at before. I believe it may be the critical mass for more general Linux adoption. It is for this Windows user!
Excelsior, webheads!
Friday, February 27, 2009
XP 8, Windows 7 (XP "Ate" Windows 7)
I've spent the entire past month (February 2009) using Windows 7 on a new system, and I'm ready to share my thoughts and feelings about the latest member of the venerable Windows family.
It's not all bad, and this trial was a first for me in more than one respect.
1. The new box is 64-bit, so I installed the appropriate Win7 version, only to discover the world is still almost exclusively 32-bit, at least when it comes to hardware drivers and special use applications.
2. On top of Win7 x64 I installed Sun's 64-bit VirtualBox virtual machine manager to experiment with running other OSes like XP (64 and 32 bit), Ubuntu and Ultimate Edition (64 bit, naturally), and a few server variants (mostly 64-bit) for good measure. What an eye opener that was!
3. The new system has 6GB RAM installed, and can handle up to 24GB, so it takes a 64-bit system to recognize and utilize all that memory. 32-bit systems can see only about 3GB, give or take, due to limitations inherent in that architecture. Back in the mid-nineties (the 640KB world), when the 32-bit era of personal computing arrived, who could have guessed that we'd be bumping up against the "limits" of four gigabytes of main memory.
Wow, how times have changed!
The bottom line for me on Windows 7 is that it really is Vista, Second Edition, with more of the same UI tweaks for geeks and less of the securing of the OS foundation that has been so sadly lacking in almost every Windows release since NT. It seems to me this is yet another missed opportunity for the Redmond giant to do the right thing and provide a safe, stable, familiar, compatible, secure and speedy environment for users, and instead they chose to concentrate on the sizzle at the expense of the steak.
Let me be clear: Windows 7 is a very attractive product and is a welcomed improvement to Vista, but it is still much slower than XP, less compatible than XP, and with that same confusing "why did they move everything" interface that makes Vista so darned difficult to navigate. I'm sure that if I had the training and guidance the Microsoft folks got while developing and using Vista/Windows 7, I might feel differently. And if a condensed version of that training had been made available on the installation DVD, so my decades of experience with previous versions could be leveraged instead of wasted, I might feel better and more confident about migrating everything to this latest version.
But, no.
As has been the case for the last several versions of Windows, Microsoft's approach has been to make it look pretty and make it work differently, as opposed to fixing the underlying architecture of the operating system. They included more and more applications with less and less focus on booting the machine with the leanest, meanest, most secure OS they could make.
I would not be lying to say that there are some VERY smart folks working for Gates and Ballmer, and I'm certain that the right thing to do was at least entertained and acknowledged internally, prior to release. But what we got - what was delivered to paying customers - was not what we so desperately needed (and asked for). No, what we got was more lipstick on the same old pig, no rethinking of the underlying security mechanisms, no effort to address compatibility by using the tremendous hardware potential that exists today (virtualization, anyone?), and instead taking the easy and cheap way out. It's really pretty shameful, knowing how many really smart folks are there, and all.
It's called Windows 7 because it's maker deems it to be a newer version of the venerable NT OS created by Dave Cutler, ex-Vax Supremo. When NT came to market it was christened version 3.1 (no prior versions ever existed) because that was the version of the then-current MS-DOS GUI, Windows 3.1. NT 3.1 looked just like it's less capable but ubiquitous cousin, and was designed for business and professional users. It got a "shell update" in version 4 to match the wonderful new UI introduced in Windows 95 (I can't believe it's going on fifteen years).
NT 5.0 was brought to market as Windows 2000, and what would have been 5.1 was instead christened Windows XP. Vista took the place of the 6.0 generation, so Windows 7 ties it all back together with a number (again). I just don't think what we'll see in the finished product is anything close to a "real" version seven, like I called it, Vista Second Edition, would be more accurate.
I see the engineering blogs describing the dozens of changes made in Windows 7, ostensibly at the behest of testers, but I read more punditry that suggests this product was almost fully baked before the beta testers ever got their hands on it. It can be assumed that 7 is an evolution of the Vista codebase, because that's how Microsoft has always done it. With the exception of NT, designed and developed by an outsider working inside, Windows continues to "improve" upon itself by taking what was, and making it into what will be. Again. So maybe Windows 7 is this year's Vista, in fancier clothing, at inflated prices, in more flavors and SKUs than ever.
The bottom line for me is that Windows XP will continue to have a prominent place in my system implementations, and I will continue to work with what I know works better for myself and others, especially in light of the greater strides made in hardware, like CPUs, GPUs, and motherboard chipsets and memory. It seems that today's version of the OS costs more (as a percentage of the computer's cost), runs more slowly (given the abilities of today's hardware), is less compatible and reliable (because newer driver models force developers to change what they already know that works), as well as making users wonder where all the familiarity went because everything - everything that they used and knew about is different.
That's not change I can believe in. It's change for the sake of it, by folks who should know better and take more care in their decisions.
For me, it'll be Windows XP for a while longer.
Now, as far as the virtualization lesson, an interesting fact is that all this great hardware I'm running gets "translated" into relatively vanilla stuff when it comes to virtualized OSes. My 9800GTX+ wondervideo card looks to a guest OS to be a plain jane VGA adapter, and my super duper Realtek HD audio comes out looking like a Soundblaster 16 or an "AC'97" interface. Gigabit network adapters are interpreted as merely fast Ethernet ports, and then there's the challenge of making USB2 and card reader resources available to the guest OS. Maybe it's the VirtualBox way of doing things, but that's what I've got at my disposal right now and I need to find a way to make it go.
And my takeaway from the 64-bit universe is simple: while some applications may work properly, all device drivers MUST be 64-bit or they won't work, and so far, there are far fewer of them available than we leading edgers would like. It's true that 64-bit systems can address more RAM, and process more data in a unit of time than their 32-bit predecessors, but the challenges of making new devices (and especially older ones) work in the new universe are very real, and must be considered when contemplating migrations in any environment.
Personally, I see virtualization as a great thing for servers (because so few users operate them), making it easier to deploy, recover, and distribute processing as needed by changing business needs. The desktop is a trickier place, because virtualization has many technical hurdles and foibles, making the road far more difficult for the average technology worker. If the challenges can be met simply and reliably, it seems to me that change for the sake of it will become unnecessary, and what we already know will be better used to move us ahead, personally and professionally.
I am waiting.
It's not all bad, and this trial was a first for me in more than one respect.
1. The new box is 64-bit, so I installed the appropriate Win7 version, only to discover the world is still almost exclusively 32-bit, at least when it comes to hardware drivers and special use applications.
2. On top of Win7 x64 I installed Sun's 64-bit VirtualBox virtual machine manager to experiment with running other OSes like XP (64 and 32 bit), Ubuntu and Ultimate Edition (64 bit, naturally), and a few server variants (mostly 64-bit) for good measure. What an eye opener that was!
3. The new system has 6GB RAM installed, and can handle up to 24GB, so it takes a 64-bit system to recognize and utilize all that memory. 32-bit systems can see only about 3GB, give or take, due to limitations inherent in that architecture. Back in the mid-nineties (the 640KB world), when the 32-bit era of personal computing arrived, who could have guessed that we'd be bumping up against the "limits" of four gigabytes of main memory.
Wow, how times have changed!
The bottom line for me on Windows 7 is that it really is Vista, Second Edition, with more of the same UI tweaks for geeks and less of the securing of the OS foundation that has been so sadly lacking in almost every Windows release since NT. It seems to me this is yet another missed opportunity for the Redmond giant to do the right thing and provide a safe, stable, familiar, compatible, secure and speedy environment for users, and instead they chose to concentrate on the sizzle at the expense of the steak.
Let me be clear: Windows 7 is a very attractive product and is a welcomed improvement to Vista, but it is still much slower than XP, less compatible than XP, and with that same confusing "why did they move everything" interface that makes Vista so darned difficult to navigate. I'm sure that if I had the training and guidance the Microsoft folks got while developing and using Vista/Windows 7, I might feel differently. And if a condensed version of that training had been made available on the installation DVD, so my decades of experience with previous versions could be leveraged instead of wasted, I might feel better and more confident about migrating everything to this latest version.
But, no.
As has been the case for the last several versions of Windows, Microsoft's approach has been to make it look pretty and make it work differently, as opposed to fixing the underlying architecture of the operating system. They included more and more applications with less and less focus on booting the machine with the leanest, meanest, most secure OS they could make.
I would not be lying to say that there are some VERY smart folks working for Gates and Ballmer, and I'm certain that the right thing to do was at least entertained and acknowledged internally, prior to release. But what we got - what was delivered to paying customers - was not what we so desperately needed (and asked for). No, what we got was more lipstick on the same old pig, no rethinking of the underlying security mechanisms, no effort to address compatibility by using the tremendous hardware potential that exists today (virtualization, anyone?), and instead taking the easy and cheap way out. It's really pretty shameful, knowing how many really smart folks are there, and all.
It's called Windows 7 because it's maker deems it to be a newer version of the venerable NT OS created by Dave Cutler, ex-Vax Supremo. When NT came to market it was christened version 3.1 (no prior versions ever existed) because that was the version of the then-current MS-DOS GUI, Windows 3.1. NT 3.1 looked just like it's less capable but ubiquitous cousin, and was designed for business and professional users. It got a "shell update" in version 4 to match the wonderful new UI introduced in Windows 95 (I can't believe it's going on fifteen years).
NT 5.0 was brought to market as Windows 2000, and what would have been 5.1 was instead christened Windows XP. Vista took the place of the 6.0 generation, so Windows 7 ties it all back together with a number (again). I just don't think what we'll see in the finished product is anything close to a "real" version seven, like I called it, Vista Second Edition, would be more accurate.
I see the engineering blogs describing the dozens of changes made in Windows 7, ostensibly at the behest of testers, but I read more punditry that suggests this product was almost fully baked before the beta testers ever got their hands on it. It can be assumed that 7 is an evolution of the Vista codebase, because that's how Microsoft has always done it. With the exception of NT, designed and developed by an outsider working inside, Windows continues to "improve" upon itself by taking what was, and making it into what will be. Again. So maybe Windows 7 is this year's Vista, in fancier clothing, at inflated prices, in more flavors and SKUs than ever.
The bottom line for me is that Windows XP will continue to have a prominent place in my system implementations, and I will continue to work with what I know works better for myself and others, especially in light of the greater strides made in hardware, like CPUs, GPUs, and motherboard chipsets and memory. It seems that today's version of the OS costs more (as a percentage of the computer's cost), runs more slowly (given the abilities of today's hardware), is less compatible and reliable (because newer driver models force developers to change what they already know that works), as well as making users wonder where all the familiarity went because everything - everything that they used and knew about is different.
That's not change I can believe in. It's change for the sake of it, by folks who should know better and take more care in their decisions.
For me, it'll be Windows XP for a while longer.
Now, as far as the virtualization lesson, an interesting fact is that all this great hardware I'm running gets "translated" into relatively vanilla stuff when it comes to virtualized OSes. My 9800GTX+ wondervideo card looks to a guest OS to be a plain jane VGA adapter, and my super duper Realtek HD audio comes out looking like a Soundblaster 16 or an "AC'97" interface. Gigabit network adapters are interpreted as merely fast Ethernet ports, and then there's the challenge of making USB2 and card reader resources available to the guest OS. Maybe it's the VirtualBox way of doing things, but that's what I've got at my disposal right now and I need to find a way to make it go.
And my takeaway from the 64-bit universe is simple: while some applications may work properly, all device drivers MUST be 64-bit or they won't work, and so far, there are far fewer of them available than we leading edgers would like. It's true that 64-bit systems can address more RAM, and process more data in a unit of time than their 32-bit predecessors, but the challenges of making new devices (and especially older ones) work in the new universe are very real, and must be considered when contemplating migrations in any environment.
Personally, I see virtualization as a great thing for servers (because so few users operate them), making it easier to deploy, recover, and distribute processing as needed by changing business needs. The desktop is a trickier place, because virtualization has many technical hurdles and foibles, making the road far more difficult for the average technology worker. If the challenges can be met simply and reliably, it seems to me that change for the sake of it will become unnecessary, and what we already know will be better used to move us ahead, personally and professionally.
I am waiting.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Is "Back-Revving" the same as "Downgrading"?
Who knew that the idea of a Clean Install would become such an important ability?
A Clean Install is where you reformat (erase) your hard drive and reinstall the operating system with all current patches and updates, latest drivers, newest applications and then defragment everything and tweak the system so it runs lean and mean. A Clean Install is the way to completely rejuvenate a computer, and eliminate issues like poor performance, malware infestation, instabilities/crashes, or any other symptom of a less-than-optimum operation.
Clean Installs are usually done to rejuvenate/restore to top working order a system that has been in operation for some time. It just so happens that new systems that come with Windows Vista installed by default also benefit greatly from this method as it allows removal of Vista and installing XP Pro in its place, all with the end result of faster, more stable and compatible operation.
You've probably already figured this out, that if you buy a new PC at retail, your only choice is to have MS Vista installed. XP is no longer available unless you go through an online source (like Dell.com) and check out options for businesses. Don't be surprised, but "downgrading" Vista to XP will actually cost you a hundred dollars or more, and that's if your particular model can be downgraded.
Vista uses an entirely different device driver model, one almost entirely incompatible with XP, even though Vista and XP share a common programming heritage (along with Windows 2000 and NT). The fact is, drivers have to be rewritten (or newly developed) for Vista, and many hardware manufacturers don't want to create and maintain two versions of drivers for their hardware. Invariably this means your new computer has Vista drivers but not XP drivers.
So, what's "downgrading" all about, then?
Certain versions of Vista (Business and Ultimate) have included in their license the right to install XP Pro instead of Vista, if the user so desires. I guess the idea is that many business users are still using XP and want any new systems they deploy to be similar for purposes of compatibility and administration, knowing that Vista does so many things differently than XP. Purchasers of the most expensive edition of Vista are likely given similar rights simply because they've paid for the most expensive edition, or are sophisticated enough to be able to use one or both systems interchangeably.
Whatever the reasoning behind the allowable "downgrading" option, it would appear that many users are resistant to Vista on many other grounds: the user interface is so different as to be an entirely new world which must be relearned no matter how much experience and comfort they may have with Windows; the device driver model is so different as to be incompatible, so more often than not, older hardware just wont work properly or completely in Vista; security features like the User Access Control (UAC) are constantly asking the user if what they are doing is really what they want to be doing ("You are trying to install a new program. Cancel or Allow?"); whereas 1GB RAM would work well for XP and prior versions, Vista is sluggish and hesitant, and even with 2GB RAM still underperforms it's predecessor; and lastly, the sheer cost increase of virtually all versions of Vista make users ask "What makes Vista worth the money?"
So here we have a situation where users are provided Vista on their newly purchased hardware and not understanding how to use it, how to tweak it like XP, how to organize it like XP, or how to get things done in a timely (or better) fashion, like XP.
I'm not speaking out of hand here, as I've spent my own time and effort installing Vista and using it on hardware that was more than adequate. I was continually frustrated by the fact that, in all the years I've been using Windows (twenty, by now), I was unable to quickly pick up on the new layout/interface (like the lack of menu bars), repeated questioning of my decisions, and less than optimal performance, to be kind about it. My computer, whose icon is so prominent in XP and was nowhere to be found in Vista, felt alien and unworkable, and I was unable to surmount the idea that everything I'd learned about using Windows as a power user had just gone "out the window" (pun intended).
This chapter in my technological trek began some months ago when I took delivery from Dell of a new Inspiron laptop that I was to "downgrade" and configure for a good client. Fortunately, Dell's online support is wonderful, and their website quickly revealed to my searches most everything I needed to make the new laptop an XP convert. But I didn't find everything I wanted, and there were a couple small sticking points that prevented me from seeing a perfectly happy Device Manager, complete with everything working properly.
My Plan B was to use a great free product designed by Wim Leers called DriverPacks, which is a holy grail of drivers for several Windows OS versions (2000, XP, Server 2003) that had already saved my bacon on more than one occasion. DriverPacks are divided into several categories, like Chipset, Graphics, Sound, LAN, wireless, disk controllers, and more, and you can use them by integrating them into your install media (the preferred way, and the one which I've had most success), or by creating a standalone driver CD that can be used on an existing installation to install and upgrade drivers. There are even more ways that you can use this great free tool, so by all means pay a visit to their website and discover them for yourself.
You can find these wonderful tech marvels at http://www.driverpacks.net and be sure to register in their online forums, as there are many very talented and insightful folks there (nods to Overflow, Helmi, mr. smartepants and muiz, not to mention 'Bashrat the Sneaky') who genuinely want you to be able to use their creations to be able to make your computers go in the manner in which you desire. They offer feedback as to the way to do things, and how DriverPacks can be used by other programs (like nLite, RyanVM's Integrator, BartPE, etc.) to make whatever you might need to deploy, maintain or repair Windows computers.
Bottom line on the Dell laptop, I created an updated install DVD of Windows XP Pro with SP3 and RyanVM's Update pack (many patches and fixes since SP3 was released) along with the DriverPacks and installed everything at one time and everything just worked. Even on a system _with_ vendor support for XP, the transition from Vista was still a sophisticated process and entailed a lot of patience to make it all come out right. My client is using this "downgraded" laptop every day, all day, without issues of performance or reliability, everything we've come to expect from a mature, dependable OS like XP.
I was less fortunate in my acquisition of an Acer Aspire laptop in getting vendor support for a downgrade or locating drivers I might need to get the job done. Thankfully it was the DriverPacks that came to the rescue and just made everything work. I don't know how these folks have done it, but the sheer volume of devices they can make work is absolutely staggering! Between the free downloads and the awesome forums they maintain, I'd have to say that they deserve the gold star when it comes to making it go.
The Acer is a Core 2 Duo, 64-bit system, so the choices are to install XP in 32-bits or 64, the latter being able to fully utilize the 4GB RAM installed but having driver availability issues. As much as I love the DriverPacks, they are 32-bit only, and while they have begun to embrace the 64-bit universe, there's still a long way to go to have parity with their 32-bit product. Initially I selected 32-bit because of the support I had and the availability of device drivers, and other than only seeing about 3.2GB RAM of the 4GB, everything worked perfectly, including the built-in webcam, microphone and speakers, wireless networking, AHCI support for the SATA hard drive controller, integrated card reader and fancy 1366x768 LCD monitor. Obviously, XP in 64-bit was another challenge, so I decided to look at the new beta of 64-bit Windows 7, just to see what kind of hardware support there might be out of the box.
I was not disappointed. Other than the idea that Windows 7 could be called Vista Second Edition. The user interface is virtually the same, as is the different layout of almost every feature on the desktop. What surprised me was the almost complete support of the hardware in this laptop, and of course, there is the matter of being able to access all the installed RAM, as well as the peppier operation of 64-bit environments, in general. Windows 7 is leaner and faster than Vista, but it is still an alien user interface (pretty, but alien), and it does offer fairly good driver support, at least for newer hardware.
The Acer laptop has since been reverted to 32-bit XP Pro and is working very well crunching old VHS home movie videotapes into DVDs the whole family can enjoy.
But there is a new system that was to arrive, challenging all my Clean Install abilities, of which I shall write next time.
A Clean Install is where you reformat (erase) your hard drive and reinstall the operating system with all current patches and updates, latest drivers, newest applications and then defragment everything and tweak the system so it runs lean and mean. A Clean Install is the way to completely rejuvenate a computer, and eliminate issues like poor performance, malware infestation, instabilities/crashes, or any other symptom of a less-than-optimum operation.
Clean Installs are usually done to rejuvenate/restore to top working order a system that has been in operation for some time. It just so happens that new systems that come with Windows Vista installed by default also benefit greatly from this method as it allows removal of Vista and installing XP Pro in its place, all with the end result of faster, more stable and compatible operation.
You've probably already figured this out, that if you buy a new PC at retail, your only choice is to have MS Vista installed. XP is no longer available unless you go through an online source (like Dell.com) and check out options for businesses. Don't be surprised, but "downgrading" Vista to XP will actually cost you a hundred dollars or more, and that's if your particular model can be downgraded.
Vista uses an entirely different device driver model, one almost entirely incompatible with XP, even though Vista and XP share a common programming heritage (along with Windows 2000 and NT). The fact is, drivers have to be rewritten (or newly developed) for Vista, and many hardware manufacturers don't want to create and maintain two versions of drivers for their hardware. Invariably this means your new computer has Vista drivers but not XP drivers.
So, what's "downgrading" all about, then?
Certain versions of Vista (Business and Ultimate) have included in their license the right to install XP Pro instead of Vista, if the user so desires. I guess the idea is that many business users are still using XP and want any new systems they deploy to be similar for purposes of compatibility and administration, knowing that Vista does so many things differently than XP. Purchasers of the most expensive edition of Vista are likely given similar rights simply because they've paid for the most expensive edition, or are sophisticated enough to be able to use one or both systems interchangeably.
Whatever the reasoning behind the allowable "downgrading" option, it would appear that many users are resistant to Vista on many other grounds: the user interface is so different as to be an entirely new world which must be relearned no matter how much experience and comfort they may have with Windows; the device driver model is so different as to be incompatible, so more often than not, older hardware just wont work properly or completely in Vista; security features like the User Access Control (UAC) are constantly asking the user if what they are doing is really what they want to be doing ("You are trying to install a new program. Cancel or Allow?"); whereas 1GB RAM would work well for XP and prior versions, Vista is sluggish and hesitant, and even with 2GB RAM still underperforms it's predecessor; and lastly, the sheer cost increase of virtually all versions of Vista make users ask "What makes Vista worth the money?"
So here we have a situation where users are provided Vista on their newly purchased hardware and not understanding how to use it, how to tweak it like XP, how to organize it like XP, or how to get things done in a timely (or better) fashion, like XP.
I'm not speaking out of hand here, as I've spent my own time and effort installing Vista and using it on hardware that was more than adequate. I was continually frustrated by the fact that, in all the years I've been using Windows (twenty, by now), I was unable to quickly pick up on the new layout/interface (like the lack of menu bars), repeated questioning of my decisions, and less than optimal performance, to be kind about it. My computer, whose icon is so prominent in XP and was nowhere to be found in Vista, felt alien and unworkable, and I was unable to surmount the idea that everything I'd learned about using Windows as a power user had just gone "out the window" (pun intended).
This chapter in my technological trek began some months ago when I took delivery from Dell of a new Inspiron laptop that I was to "downgrade" and configure for a good client. Fortunately, Dell's online support is wonderful, and their website quickly revealed to my searches most everything I needed to make the new laptop an XP convert. But I didn't find everything I wanted, and there were a couple small sticking points that prevented me from seeing a perfectly happy Device Manager, complete with everything working properly.
My Plan B was to use a great free product designed by Wim Leers called DriverPacks, which is a holy grail of drivers for several Windows OS versions (2000, XP, Server 2003) that had already saved my bacon on more than one occasion. DriverPacks are divided into several categories, like Chipset, Graphics, Sound, LAN, wireless, disk controllers, and more, and you can use them by integrating them into your install media (the preferred way, and the one which I've had most success), or by creating a standalone driver CD that can be used on an existing installation to install and upgrade drivers. There are even more ways that you can use this great free tool, so by all means pay a visit to their website and discover them for yourself.
You can find these wonderful tech marvels at http://www.driverpacks.net and be sure to register in their online forums, as there are many very talented and insightful folks there (nods to Overflow, Helmi, mr. smartepants and muiz, not to mention 'Bashrat the Sneaky') who genuinely want you to be able to use their creations to be able to make your computers go in the manner in which you desire. They offer feedback as to the way to do things, and how DriverPacks can be used by other programs (like nLite, RyanVM's Integrator, BartPE, etc.) to make whatever you might need to deploy, maintain or repair Windows computers.
Bottom line on the Dell laptop, I created an updated install DVD of Windows XP Pro with SP3 and RyanVM's Update pack (many patches and fixes since SP3 was released) along with the DriverPacks and installed everything at one time and everything just worked. Even on a system _with_ vendor support for XP, the transition from Vista was still a sophisticated process and entailed a lot of patience to make it all come out right. My client is using this "downgraded" laptop every day, all day, without issues of performance or reliability, everything we've come to expect from a mature, dependable OS like XP.
I was less fortunate in my acquisition of an Acer Aspire laptop in getting vendor support for a downgrade or locating drivers I might need to get the job done. Thankfully it was the DriverPacks that came to the rescue and just made everything work. I don't know how these folks have done it, but the sheer volume of devices they can make work is absolutely staggering! Between the free downloads and the awesome forums they maintain, I'd have to say that they deserve the gold star when it comes to making it go.
The Acer is a Core 2 Duo, 64-bit system, so the choices are to install XP in 32-bits or 64, the latter being able to fully utilize the 4GB RAM installed but having driver availability issues. As much as I love the DriverPacks, they are 32-bit only, and while they have begun to embrace the 64-bit universe, there's still a long way to go to have parity with their 32-bit product. Initially I selected 32-bit because of the support I had and the availability of device drivers, and other than only seeing about 3.2GB RAM of the 4GB, everything worked perfectly, including the built-in webcam, microphone and speakers, wireless networking, AHCI support for the SATA hard drive controller, integrated card reader and fancy 1366x768 LCD monitor. Obviously, XP in 64-bit was another challenge, so I decided to look at the new beta of 64-bit Windows 7, just to see what kind of hardware support there might be out of the box.
I was not disappointed. Other than the idea that Windows 7 could be called Vista Second Edition. The user interface is virtually the same, as is the different layout of almost every feature on the desktop. What surprised me was the almost complete support of the hardware in this laptop, and of course, there is the matter of being able to access all the installed RAM, as well as the peppier operation of 64-bit environments, in general. Windows 7 is leaner and faster than Vista, but it is still an alien user interface (pretty, but alien), and it does offer fairly good driver support, at least for newer hardware.
The Acer laptop has since been reverted to 32-bit XP Pro and is working very well crunching old VHS home movie videotapes into DVDs the whole family can enjoy.
But there is a new system that was to arrive, challenging all my Clean Install abilities, of which I shall write next time.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
"Bare Metal" Windows XP Clean Install
If your desktop or laptop PC is two years old or more, it may be suffering slowdowns, freeze-ups, spyware or virus infections, Trojan Horse compromises, system crashes or bluescreens of death. These ailments are caused by a wide variety of issues, but, in general, a completely fresh (clean) installation of Windows XP WILL make that system run even BETTER than when it was new. Here's why:
PCs purchased at retail are loaded with extra software - trialware, demoware and "shovelware" - stuff you will not likely ever use. Much of it loads up every time you startup the computer and runs invisibly in the background, sapping precious memory and processor resources. Retail PCs are not updated with the latest service packs (typically) and all security patches and upgrades. They MAY have a limited anti-virus program running, but few if any have software firewalls, browser protections, script blockers, anti-spyware, system cleanup, or any kind of general malware protection. That's a fact of life in the PC business.
PCs that have been used for any length of time have had a variety of applications installed and uninstalled, many hardware and software configuration changes made, updates, patches and security fixes applied, device drivers installed and then abandoned for other, newer devices, stuff connected, stuff disconnected, and in general seen lots of things come and go in their life as a tool for business, an outlet for creative expression, an extremely fanciful plaything and game player, and all the other things we do and ask of our computers. Bottom line is that we get these machines into a pretty tattered state as we use them, and they tend to slow down and misbehave more and more as time passes.
This means that a typical unsecured, non-updated, unpatched retail computer, or one that's seen active duty in the trenches of technology, WILL slow down, crash, freeze, bluescreen, become compromised/infected after it's connected to the Internet, and generally NOT do what you most need it to do at the moment you need it most. Hey, the Web is a jungle out there, it's the wild west where outlaws operate uncontained and unrestrained, and you gotta be secure and protected against the tidal wave of crap that is everywhere out there.
It's a simple thing to do: wipe the hard drive with a complete reformat, install a SECURED and UPDATED copy of Windows XP that has been tweaked to minimize its vulnerabilities and maximize its performance. Then inoculate the PC to protect it from the bad guys. Defrag the drive and spend some time testing everything. Then take a snapshot of the finished installation and save it to CD/DVD so it can be restored quickly and easily should you hose the thing all over again.
That's where I come in.
I've setup laptops that bootup in less than twenty seconds (really!), and desktop systems that are ready to go in thirty. I can't guarantee these numbers for older hardware, but I can tell you that a clean, secure, optimized installation of Windows, along with a balanced set of security software that includes using Firefox for your web browser and Thunderbird as an email client, can and will make your computer run better, faster, longer and more reliably than it ever has before. Period, end of quote.
There are MANY performance optimizations that can be made to a typical retail PC that will make it work better, and I know many of them. I'm always willing to listen to YOU if you want something special, so just tell me what you need. Special orders don't upset us.
I've been doing custom installs on PCs for over twenty years, and secured, high performance Windows setups since the nineties. I KNOW how to make your old hardware run better than new, because I won't install all that crapware that slows you down and hogs hard drive space, and I will install the latest updates and service packs, all secured and tweaked to run at blazing speed. I'll download all the latest drivers so your hardware works as well as possible, and test networking, video and sound to be certain I did it right.
Caveat - you can't get lightning in a bottle, and sometimes you might NEED small hardware upgrades to make your system realize its full throughput potential. If your computer has only 256MB RAM, that will limit you - A LOT. 512MB is a much better place to start, and 1-3GB RAM truly makes the PC sing like a bird!
Hard drives also affect how fast you can go - usually the larger the drive, the faster it works. 7200 RPM drives work much better than 5400 RPM or 4200 RPM drives, and of course, newer drives usually work better than older ones. SATA interfaces are faster than PATA ones, and 32MB caches make hard drives work even faster. Are you getting this picture?
You may not need or want any hardware upgrades, and if so I'll do your Bare Metal Clean Install of Windows XP for ONLY $199. Here's the deal: You bring the system unit to me (no mouse, monitor, keyboard or printer - just the CPU), along with a deposit, then give me about five working days to get it all done and tested. You can pick it up and pay me the balance due at the time of delivery. Simple. If you need it sooner, I can turn it around in two days for just $249, or in one day for only $299.
If you are REALLY rushed and need it THE SAME DAY, I'll usually do the work BY APPOINTMENT for $399. Rush jobs are available first come, first served, require full payment in advance, and you'll need to have the system to me by 11AM to get it back by 7PM that same day. Any desired hardware upgrades will be priced separately from the clean install with full payment to cover the cost of parts. That's just the way I do it, and it works for me.
Here's what YOU have to do: backup any and all data you want to keep. My Bare Metal Clean Install process will absolutely, positively destroy every last bit of data on the hard drive, both good and bad - this includes documents, downloads, pictures and music, as well as viruses, spyware and all the other bad stuff. If I have to back up your data it will cost you AT LEAST $200 extra and probably more because everything will be saved to DVDs and then restored back to your newly repartitioned, reformatted, clean-like-a-baby's-behind hard drive.
Just remember that old data and old downloads can contain spyware and worse, so I will virus scan all of it to verify it's clean and safe to put back on your pristine, new system. I know what I'm doing, so you can rest easy that this important work will be done the right way, the first time. No excuses. Just field-tested, battle-proven results. You'll have the backup data disks to put in a safe place in case anything else goes wrong later. Better to be prepared, right?
I'll also need any CDs/disks that came with your computer, if available. You will also need a valid Windows XP Product Key/ID sticker, usually located somewhere on the exterior of your computer system unit. This is five sets of five characters and is proof of your ownership of an OEM Windows XP license, either Home Edition or Professional. If you have no license, I'll have to charge you extra, between $90-$140 at current mail-order prices. I would prefer using your license, and I want all the legal beagles to be happy knowing I'm doing this all the right way. Any additional application software or drivers will have to be installed by you, as well as drivers for your peripherals (printers, scanners, cameras, and the like). I can do it for you, but it'll cost more - I'll give you a reasonable quote.
Over the years, I've collected a wonderful set of freeware and shareware Windows programs that you can use to do all kinds of stuff, like create and edit office documents and spreadsheets, burn CDs and DVDs, compress and backup your data, protect your computer from spyware and clean it if necessary, check for programs that run at startup time, diagnose all manner of problems, analyze network traffic, check your software licenses, display every detail of your system, remotely control your office PC from home or vice-versa, and MUCH MORE.
This CD collection contains dozens of updated, current freeware and shareware applications and utilities, and I'll give you a copy with any Bare Metal Clean Install service I perform for you. You could spend days or weeks locating and downloading these fine programs, but now you won't have to!
I've done these custom setups for many years with well over a thousand systems, and they ALL WORKED BETTER. No useless crapware, all the latest Windows updates and service packs, current device drivers, antivirus and system security software, better browser and email clients (Firefox, Thunderbird), hard drive defragmentation, boot-time optimization, BIOS tweaking, cooling fan cleaning, and a general physical inspection are what you NEED to get the most from your technology investment. I've been doing that long enough to GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
Bare Metal Clean Installs are just the tip of the iceberg.
I can help you with data conversions, backups, recoveries, network design, setup and security, user training and documentation, Internet connectivity, general information research, technical writing, digital media (audio, video, photos, etc.), spyware and virus cleanup, direct mailing with mail merge, website setup, maintenance and domain registration, remote PC access, printer setup, and much more. I can be YOUR personal technology consultant to help you OR YOUR BUSINESS move up to the next level of productivity. More choices makes for a better world. I will help you Make It Go!
I'm located in Roswell, GA.
THANK YOU and Good Luck in all your computer and technology endeavors.
MARK STRELECKI, ACP
markworks@strelecki.com
http://www.strelecki.com
PCs purchased at retail are loaded with extra software - trialware, demoware and "shovelware" - stuff you will not likely ever use. Much of it loads up every time you startup the computer and runs invisibly in the background, sapping precious memory and processor resources. Retail PCs are not updated with the latest service packs (typically) and all security patches and upgrades. They MAY have a limited anti-virus program running, but few if any have software firewalls, browser protections, script blockers, anti-spyware, system cleanup, or any kind of general malware protection. That's a fact of life in the PC business.
PCs that have been used for any length of time have had a variety of applications installed and uninstalled, many hardware and software configuration changes made, updates, patches and security fixes applied, device drivers installed and then abandoned for other, newer devices, stuff connected, stuff disconnected, and in general seen lots of things come and go in their life as a tool for business, an outlet for creative expression, an extremely fanciful plaything and game player, and all the other things we do and ask of our computers. Bottom line is that we get these machines into a pretty tattered state as we use them, and they tend to slow down and misbehave more and more as time passes.
This means that a typical unsecured, non-updated, unpatched retail computer, or one that's seen active duty in the trenches of technology, WILL slow down, crash, freeze, bluescreen, become compromised/infected after it's connected to the Internet, and generally NOT do what you most need it to do at the moment you need it most. Hey, the Web is a jungle out there, it's the wild west where outlaws operate uncontained and unrestrained, and you gotta be secure and protected against the tidal wave of crap that is everywhere out there.
It's a simple thing to do: wipe the hard drive with a complete reformat, install a SECURED and UPDATED copy of Windows XP that has been tweaked to minimize its vulnerabilities and maximize its performance. Then inoculate the PC to protect it from the bad guys. Defrag the drive and spend some time testing everything. Then take a snapshot of the finished installation and save it to CD/DVD so it can be restored quickly and easily should you hose the thing all over again.
That's where I come in.
I've setup laptops that bootup in less than twenty seconds (really!), and desktop systems that are ready to go in thirty. I can't guarantee these numbers for older hardware, but I can tell you that a clean, secure, optimized installation of Windows, along with a balanced set of security software that includes using Firefox for your web browser and Thunderbird as an email client, can and will make your computer run better, faster, longer and more reliably than it ever has before. Period, end of quote.
There are MANY performance optimizations that can be made to a typical retail PC that will make it work better, and I know many of them. I'm always willing to listen to YOU if you want something special, so just tell me what you need. Special orders don't upset us.
I've been doing custom installs on PCs for over twenty years, and secured, high performance Windows setups since the nineties. I KNOW how to make your old hardware run better than new, because I won't install all that crapware that slows you down and hogs hard drive space, and I will install the latest updates and service packs, all secured and tweaked to run at blazing speed. I'll download all the latest drivers so your hardware works as well as possible, and test networking, video and sound to be certain I did it right.
Caveat - you can't get lightning in a bottle, and sometimes you might NEED small hardware upgrades to make your system realize its full throughput potential. If your computer has only 256MB RAM, that will limit you - A LOT. 512MB is a much better place to start, and 1-3GB RAM truly makes the PC sing like a bird!
Hard drives also affect how fast you can go - usually the larger the drive, the faster it works. 7200 RPM drives work much better than 5400 RPM or 4200 RPM drives, and of course, newer drives usually work better than older ones. SATA interfaces are faster than PATA ones, and 32MB caches make hard drives work even faster. Are you getting this picture?
You may not need or want any hardware upgrades, and if so I'll do your Bare Metal Clean Install of Windows XP for ONLY $199. Here's the deal: You bring the system unit to me (no mouse, monitor, keyboard or printer - just the CPU), along with a deposit, then give me about five working days to get it all done and tested. You can pick it up and pay me the balance due at the time of delivery. Simple. If you need it sooner, I can turn it around in two days for just $249, or in one day for only $299.
If you are REALLY rushed and need it THE SAME DAY, I'll usually do the work BY APPOINTMENT for $399. Rush jobs are available first come, first served, require full payment in advance, and you'll need to have the system to me by 11AM to get it back by 7PM that same day. Any desired hardware upgrades will be priced separately from the clean install with full payment to cover the cost of parts. That's just the way I do it, and it works for me.
Here's what YOU have to do: backup any and all data you want to keep. My Bare Metal Clean Install process will absolutely, positively destroy every last bit of data on the hard drive, both good and bad - this includes documents, downloads, pictures and music, as well as viruses, spyware and all the other bad stuff. If I have to back up your data it will cost you AT LEAST $200 extra and probably more because everything will be saved to DVDs and then restored back to your newly repartitioned, reformatted, clean-like-a-baby's-behind hard drive.
Just remember that old data and old downloads can contain spyware and worse, so I will virus scan all of it to verify it's clean and safe to put back on your pristine, new system. I know what I'm doing, so you can rest easy that this important work will be done the right way, the first time. No excuses. Just field-tested, battle-proven results. You'll have the backup data disks to put in a safe place in case anything else goes wrong later. Better to be prepared, right?
I'll also need any CDs/disks that came with your computer, if available. You will also need a valid Windows XP Product Key/ID sticker, usually located somewhere on the exterior of your computer system unit. This is five sets of five characters and is proof of your ownership of an OEM Windows XP license, either Home Edition or Professional. If you have no license, I'll have to charge you extra, between $90-$140 at current mail-order prices. I would prefer using your license, and I want all the legal beagles to be happy knowing I'm doing this all the right way. Any additional application software or drivers will have to be installed by you, as well as drivers for your peripherals (printers, scanners, cameras, and the like). I can do it for you, but it'll cost more - I'll give you a reasonable quote.
Over the years, I've collected a wonderful set of freeware and shareware Windows programs that you can use to do all kinds of stuff, like create and edit office documents and spreadsheets, burn CDs and DVDs, compress and backup your data, protect your computer from spyware and clean it if necessary, check for programs that run at startup time, diagnose all manner of problems, analyze network traffic, check your software licenses, display every detail of your system, remotely control your office PC from home or vice-versa, and MUCH MORE.
This CD collection contains dozens of updated, current freeware and shareware applications and utilities, and I'll give you a copy with any Bare Metal Clean Install service I perform for you. You could spend days or weeks locating and downloading these fine programs, but now you won't have to!
I've done these custom setups for many years with well over a thousand systems, and they ALL WORKED BETTER. No useless crapware, all the latest Windows updates and service packs, current device drivers, antivirus and system security software, better browser and email clients (Firefox, Thunderbird), hard drive defragmentation, boot-time optimization, BIOS tweaking, cooling fan cleaning, and a general physical inspection are what you NEED to get the most from your technology investment. I've been doing that long enough to GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
Bare Metal Clean Installs are just the tip of the iceberg.
I can help you with data conversions, backups, recoveries, network design, setup and security, user training and documentation, Internet connectivity, general information research, technical writing, digital media (audio, video, photos, etc.), spyware and virus cleanup, direct mailing with mail merge, website setup, maintenance and domain registration, remote PC access, printer setup, and much more. I can be YOUR personal technology consultant to help you OR YOUR BUSINESS move up to the next level of productivity. More choices makes for a better world. I will help you Make It Go!
I'm located in Roswell, GA.
THANK YOU and Good Luck in all your computer and technology endeavors.
MARK STRELECKI, ACP
markworks@strelecki.com
http://www.strelecki.com
Geeks On Time - AVOID THE BAD MEN
Here is the reason I decided to create this web log here at Blogspot.
Geeks On Time (GOT) owes me several hundred dollars and they haven't paid me many months after I performed scholarly work for them and spent my own money on expenses. I'm not just out for the labor, I'm out of pocket for my expenses, and that makes it a doubly hurtful situation.
A VP at GOT told me "they lost their short term funding." (What does that REALLY mean?)
Heck - they lost a Great Experienced Technician, too. (I KNOW what that means!)
Bottom Line - AVOID THE BAD MEN calling themselves Geeks On Time. I'm sure they continue to string along other techs and they are not paying on-time and in a timely fashion like the signed contract demands. (Anyone know a really good contract lawyer?)
I'll revise my comments here ONLY upon the deposit of the monies owed to me, whenever that happens. And you, dear blog reader, will be the first to know.
UPDATE: As of May 2009, no contact from Geeks on Time or any demonstration of good faith on their part. What a bunch of criminals these folks are. Cheating, lying lowlifes, Venus McNabb and her crew of no-gooders. DO NOT TRUST THEM OR DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Mark Strelecki, ACP
Atlanta, GA.
Geeks On Time (GOT) owes me several hundred dollars and they haven't paid me many months after I performed scholarly work for them and spent my own money on expenses. I'm not just out for the labor, I'm out of pocket for my expenses, and that makes it a doubly hurtful situation.
A VP at GOT told me "they lost their short term funding." (What does that REALLY mean?)
Heck - they lost a Great Experienced Technician, too. (I KNOW what that means!)
Bottom Line - AVOID THE BAD MEN calling themselves Geeks On Time. I'm sure they continue to string along other techs and they are not paying on-time and in a timely fashion like the signed contract demands. (Anyone know a really good contract lawyer?)
I'll revise my comments here ONLY upon the deposit of the monies owed to me, whenever that happens. And you, dear blog reader, will be the first to know.
UPDATE: As of May 2009, no contact from Geeks on Time or any demonstration of good faith on their part. What a bunch of criminals these folks are. Cheating, lying lowlifes, Venus McNabb and her crew of no-gooders. DO NOT TRUST THEM OR DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Mark Strelecki, ACP
Atlanta, GA.
Welcome to my first-ever Blog here at Blogspot!
I've been computing and programming since 1975, and started using BBSes in 1986, but my introduction to the Internet and the Web in 1994 was a real eye opener.
I hope to post here often and regularly, but likely will do neither. Please feel free to drop me a line here or at my email address blogspot@strelecki.com if you'd like to share something.
Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope to see you again soon!
I've been computing and programming since 1975, and started using BBSes in 1986, but my introduction to the Internet and the Web in 1994 was a real eye opener.
I hope to post here often and regularly, but likely will do neither. Please feel free to drop me a line here or at my email address blogspot@strelecki.com if you'd like to share something.
Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope to see you again soon!
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