On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:52:26 -0800, GPO
Hi I recently purchased the following system and it has been nothing but
trouble since day one. It was assembled and "tested" by the vendor.
Speaking as a vendor, I have to say it's impractical to fully test
every aspect of every application. That's why I never deliver a new
PC less than 7 days before I travel away from base
The vendor is basically blaming problems on the fact that so much
common software seems incompatible 64 bit Vista.
Yep - I picked that up from orbit, when testing data recovery and
malware cleanup tools from Vista-64 DVD boot and Bart CDR boot,
operating on a Vista-64 installation.
Just about nothing worked, so I decided Vista-64 wouldn't be suitable
for general use. I'd only suggest it if:
- you have a huge speed-hungry app written for 64-bit OS
- you don't do much else with the PC
- the PC is not exposed to Internet, WiFi or other users
- you have really good backups
Going 64-bit breaks a lot of compatibility anyway, so it provides a
good opportunity to "do it right"; DEP as standard, signed drivers
required as standard, kick 3rd-partyware out of the kernel for once
and for all (no, we aren't going to let malware in there to "add
value" to your av solution) etc. Brave new world... I see it as
significant that Vista's server equivalent will be 64-bit only.
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz, 64-Bit, 1066FSB, 2MB Cache
ASUS P5N-E-SLI board
GeiL DDRII Ultra 800 Dual Channel 2x1Gb Ultra Low Latency 4-4-4-12
Inno3D (PCI Express) GF 7600GT 256MB 128-bit DDR3, PCI Express X16, 560MHz
Core Clock, 1400MHz Memory Clock
Seagate 320GB SATA II 7200.10 ST3320620AS NCQ 320GB / Serial ATA / 7200RPM /
16MB (raid 0)
Sony DRU830A Internal Double Layer, Dual Format DVDRW Drive, 8x DVD+R DL, 8x
Friends don't let friends buy "rootkits-r-us" Sony... would you trust
them to write the firmware of your media-ripping DVD drive?
DVD-R DL, 18x DVD+/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64Bit DVD
Pinnacle PCTV 310i Digital and Analogue (Hybrid) (Internal PCI)
Looks like a nice box. Perhaps you're running some large foreground
app that will benefit from 64-bit "size"?
The main problem is that it shuts down at random intervals without warning
about once an hour or so, and reboots to the safe mode menu.
Now that sounds a bit hardware-ish. On a new build, I'd start by
checking that the processor heat sink is well-seated (easy to leave
one "leg" loose), all fans plugged in, no loose metal objects in case,
etc. and then I'd disconnect the HDs and do a 24-hour MemTest86 with
the disk out, so I can spontaneous reboots. If that's what I'd get,
I'd presumptively swap out the PSU for starters.
Is that case well-ventilated? it's not only the processor that cooks
up, and the usual hassle is a great CPU heatsink that efficiently
dumps heat into the case, where it hangs around frying the mobo
chipset, SVGA, HD etc. until caps cook or sectors die.
The other galling problem is that none (0.00%) of the software that was
bundled with the hardware (Nero 7, Pinnacle stuff, Sound Blaster etc) - not a
single solitary byte - will run on Vista 64.
Yup, that's crap, isn't it? It's especially tricky with bundleware
such as Nero, sound etc. because those tend to go quite "deep" into
driver-like territory. The Nero Express 6 that ships right now with
Samsung DVD writers doesn't even install in Winsta-32, let alone -64,
and the FaxTalk that came with a brand new LG modem won't work either.
I paid for this software as a part of a 64 bit system,
Now you know what Linux users must feel like... they're lucky if they
get raw drivers, let alone bundleware.
Vista-64 today is like NT 3.1 in the age of DOS, Win3.yuk etc. - still
a niche product, I suspect. Or perhaps like looking for apps that
would make use of Win3.0's new 386 Enhanced Mode.
would have thought that I'm entitled to have it work (and I'm not overly
delighted by the idea that I have to download hundreds and hundreds
of megabytes of beta software in the hope that some of this might work).
Yup, IKWYM. Neither Samsung nor Nero have a thing to help Vista users
stuck with dead Nero Express 6 bundleware, and unfortunately Vista's
native optical disk writing is still pretty grizzly.
The vendor (who seems to be doing their best) is recommending we install
Vista 32 bit instead.
Yep.
It seems my hardware is probably appropriate for 64
I might pass the army medical too; doesn't mean I'll enlist though...
but that naff-all software is. I want to know what the difference is,
between running a 64 bit and a 32 bit OS.
You mean, aside from hardly anything working with the 64-bit OS?
Big apps that need speed and especially capacity, can run more
effectively if they are coded for 64-bit, and the contemporary
multi-core processor opportunities as well.
So if you're paid $3000 an hour to render some Industrial Light anbd
Magic sort of stuff that ties the machine up for an hour to complete
tasks before you can use it again, then building a dedicated 64-bit PC
just to do this in 20 minutes makes sense.
For the rest of us, we'd get some bragging rights for a couple of
months, but beyong that I'm not sure of the value - especially given
the hassles. I'd let someone else early-adopt for now.
Is there any point in having a 64 bit machine if it can only run 32 bit software?
I'd be tempted to say No (in terms of using a 64-bit OS to run 32-bit
software). In terms of getting new hardware that happens to be 64-bit
capable, as even the Celerons are these days; sure, why not? As long
as "64-bit" isn't the driving reason for the upgrade, that is.
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Saws are too hard to use.
Be easier to use!
64 bit enabled