Hi All!

[sf]

I'm migrating over here from win98.gen_discussion. They are a
wonderful group of MVPs, but they have officially given me my walking
papers.



My old computer died and the new one is here - still in the box,
though. So, here I am - taking the plunge into XP newusers.

I have a few questions:

1. My new xp has Media Edition OEM. I read that media edition a
version of XP Pro. Is that true? If so, I won't need to install XP
Pro. If not, what are the vital differences between the two?

2. My new HD is 80 GIGs. Should I partition it? I was thinking one
partition could be media related and the other Office related because
my work will install Office Pro for me.

3. How large is the MS Office Pro program? Since I won't have an
installation disk on hand, I am wondering if I should have it installed
into its own file so that if I want to use a feature that isn't
installed, I can point my computer to it (that sort of tech support
takes practically forever in terms of weeks). Or should I have it
fully installed with all the bells and whistles, even though I may not
have any reason to use them?

4. Is there a compelling reason to convert my HD to Dynamic Disk, if
it's not already dynamic?

TIA
sf

 

[Robert Moir]

My old computer died and the new one is here - still in the box,
though. So, here I am - taking the plunge into XP newusers.

I have a few questions:

1. My new xp has Media Edition OEM. I read that media edition a
version of XP Pro. Is that true? If so, I won't need to install XP
Pro. If not, what are the vital differences between the two?

Media Centre is a "superset" of XP Pro. It essentially is Windows XP Pro
plus the various media centre enhancements; obvious things like media centre
itself come in here, but there are lots of little tweaks to things like
media player and so-on.

2. My new HD is 80 GIGs. Should I partition it? I was thinking one
partition could be media related and the other Office related because
my work will install Office Pro for me.

This is down to personal feelings, I have to admit I do partition things
into a "relatively" small 30gb system partition for programs, and move data
to other drives.

3. How large is the MS Office Pro program? Since I won't have an
installation disk on hand, I am wondering if I should have it
installed into its own file so that if I want to use a feature that
isn't installed, I can point my computer to it (that sort of tech
support takes practically forever in terms of weeks). Or should I
have it fully installed with all the bells and whistles, even though
I may not have any reason to use them?

Its about 500mb fully installed, I think, maybe a little less. If this is a
new computer then you've almost certainly got a CD burner installed, I'd
burn a copy of the CD, or get them to install a copy of the CD to your hard
drive and then burn it to CD yourself. Remember, this isn't a licence
violation, you've either got a licence to use office or you haven't, and how
many CDs you make doesn't enter into it.

4. Is there a compelling reason to convert my HD to Dynamic Disk, if
it's not already dynamic?

Generally, no.
Firstly, it can complicate things, and who needs to borrow unneeded
complications when they are getting into something new?

Secondly, if you do need to convert/upgrade the disk, you can do so at any
time. So there is no need to rush.

Lastly, the benefits for home use are generally minimal. You can extend
partitions into unpartitioned space easily with dynamic disks which is way
cool and a feature I use, but (and I don't mean to sound like i'm passing a
nasty comment on your hard drive spec here), 80Gb isn't so big that you'd
struggle to find ways to allocate it all first time around, especially with
XP Media Centre; recording tv shows will swallow hard disk space faster than
you think!

--

 

[Gordon]

This is down to personal feelings, I have to admit I do partition things
into a "relatively" small 30gb system partition for programs, and move data
to other drives.

Pretty much common sense these days. OS on one partition, data on
another. If the OS goes then you shouldn't need to back up all your data
before reformatting the OS partition and re-installing......

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Responses inline below:

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

I'm migrating over here from win98.gen_discussion. They are a
wonderful group of MVPs, but they have officially given me my walking
papers.



My old computer died and the new one is here - still in the box,
though. So, here I am - taking the plunge into XP newusers.

I have a few questions:

1. My new xp has Media Edition OEM. I read that media edition a
version of XP Pro. Is that true? If so, I won't need to install XP
Pro. If not, what are the vital differences between the two?

XP Media Center Edition is s superset of XP Pro or, more accurately, a
modified edition of XP Pro. There are some minor differences mostly in the
area of networking. XP Media Center cannot join a domain. NOTE: XP Pro
install or upgrade to Pro even if you wanted to. You would have to first
wipe the drive and start over, something you can do from XP setup but you'd
have to boot from the XP Pro CD to properly begin the process. Nonetheless,
as I pointed out, for the most part, the two are the same.

2. My new HD is 80 GIGs. Should I partition it? I was thinking one
partition could be media related and the other Office related because
my work will install Office Pro for me.

Partitioning is strictly a personal preference and there is no better or
best way as it depends largely on your needs. That said, it is not
advisable to have separate partitions for applications. If you need to
reinstall the operating system from scratch, any applications installed on a
separate partition will need to be reinstalled. There's no benefit as far
as overall system operation and since you'd have to reinstall all apps in a
the above scenario anyway, you mght as well keep all applications installed
on the system drive. Personally, I try to keep my data files on a separate
drive from the system drive. If the system partition should go down and you
need to format and start over, you still have all your data on a separate
partition and I see nothing wrong, from an organizational standpoint in
having your data on one partition and your media files on another. This is
by no means a substitute for backing up those files as those drives can
become corrupted or the whole hard drive itself might fail but using
separate partitions as described is a convenience. I even keep a copy of my
backup on a separate partition for quick and easy retrieval but I also have
one copy off the hard drive to protect against the possibility of hard drive
failure.

3. How large is the MS Office Pro program? Since I won't have an
installation disk on hand, I am wondering if I should have it installed
into its own file so that if I want to use a feature that isn't
installed, I can point my computer to it (that sort of tech support
takes practically forever in terms of weeks). Or should I have it
fully installed with all the bells and whistles, even though I may not
have any reason to use them?

I don't fully understand the question. If you don't have an installation
disk, they must give you some means of recovery, either a separate, often
hidden partition, the actual setup disks or a recovery disk that has an
image of your entire factory fresh setup. You will need to inquire of the
OEM precisely how they handle this. Since the new computer has already
arrived but still in the box, I would assume the notion of how to install
office is a moot point as it is either installed or it isn't.

4. Is there a compelling reason to convert my HD to Dynamic Disk, if
it's not already dynamic?

Not that I'm aware.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

sf

Answers are interposed below..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

I'm migrating over here from win98.gen_discussion. They are a
wonderful group of MVPs, but they have officially given me my walking
papers.



My old computer died and the new one is here - still in the box,
though. So, here I am - taking the plunge into XP newusers.

I have a few questions:

1. My new xp has Media Edition OEM. I read that media edition a
version of XP Pro. Is that true? If so, I won't need to install XP
Pro. If not, what are the vital differences between the two?

It is a version of XP..
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/compare.mspx .. unless you
particularly need heavy file security or connection to a domain, an XP Pro
installation will remove some of the features of the Media version.. read
the link.. one assumes at the point of choosing that the user has determined
what OS version is best.. why would you have picked a computer with Media
Edition installed, if you didn't want the features that it affords..

2. My new HD is 80 GIGs. Should I partition it? I was thinking one
partition could be media related and the other Office related because
my work will install Office Pro for me.

Best left as it is.. you can use folders to sort your work.. saves having to
use 3rd party partitioning utilities..

3. How large is the MS Office Pro program? Since I won't have an
installation disk on hand, I am wondering if I should have it installed
into its own file so that if I want to use a feature that isn't
installed, I can point my computer to it (that sort of tech support
takes practically forever in terms of weeks). Or should I have it
fully installed with all the bells and whistles, even though I may not
have any reason to use them?

A full installation of MS Office is not actually that large.. certainly not
enough to make a difference to an 80gb drive.. it installs into its own
'file' anyway.. leave the default installation path as it is..

4. Is there a compelling reason to convert my HD to Dynamic Disk, if
it's not already dynamic?

None at all as bought from a store for use as a standalone home system..

 

[Ken Blake]

In

My old computer died and the new one is here - still in the
box,
though. So, here I am - taking the plunge into XP newusers.

I have a few questions:

1. My new xp has Media Edition OEM. I read that media edition
a
version of XP Pro. Is that true? If so, I won't need to
install XP
Pro. If not, what are the vital differences between the two?

Yes, it's true. It's XP Professional with additional features. I
don't have a list of those additional features handy, but I'm
sure you can easily find them on the Microsoft web site.

2. My new HD is 80 GIGs. Should I partition it? I was
thinking one
partition could be media related and the other Office related
because
my work will install Office Pro for me.

First, a word on the terminology. You *must* partition it.
Partitioning is the act of creating one or more partitions on the
drive, and without at least one partition, you can't use it.

So I assume what you meant to ask whether you should have more
than one partition. Although some people will tell you "yes," and
others will tell you "no," my answer is "it depends." There's no
answer to this question that's right for everyone. Don't have
multiple partitions just to separate one kind of thing from
another (media vs. work, for example); folders can work just as
well for that. The main reasons for having multiple partitions,
in my view, are for booting multiple operating systems, and
because a particular partitioning scheme gets along better with
your backup scheme.

3. How large is the MS Office Pro program?

It depends on what features you install, but I'm not an MS Office
expert and I'll leave this question to others.

Since I won't have an
installation disk on hand, I am wondering if I should have it
installed into its own file

"Its own file"? Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by that.
Do you mean its own folder? It has to be installed into its own
folder. Do you mean its own partition? There no good reason I can
think of to do that.

so that if I want to use a feature that
isn't installed, I can point my computer to it

Sorry, I don't understand that either. If it isn't installed, and
you don't have the CD, you can't use the feature.

(that sort of tech
support takes practically forever in terms of weeks). Or
should I
have it fully installed with all the bells and whistles, even
though
I may not have any reason to use them?

That's really the kind of question that nobody but you can
answer. You have to judge the likelihood of your wanting some
feature in the future that you don't want now, and weigh that
against the cost in disk space of installing it now.

4. Is there a compelling reason to convert my HD to Dynamic
Disk, if
it's not already dynamic?

There's not only not a compelling reason, it would probably be a
serious mistake for the great majority of people. Unless you have
a clear reason to do this, don't.

 

[PA Bear]

I'm migrating over here from win98.gen_discussion. They are a
wonderful group of MVPs, but they have officially given me my walking
papers.

But did anyone invite you in /here/? <eg>

Welcome aboard, sf!

 

[sf]

Pretty much common sense these days. OS on one partition, data on
another. If the OS goes then you shouldn't need to back up all your data
before reformatting the OS partition and re-installing......

It does sound like common sense, but I've never heard of it before.
So, how is that done? I mean both how is it set up and how would my
computer find the OS in a different partition. I thought every
partition needed its own OS unless the disk is dynamic.

TIA
sf

 

[sf]

In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.


I don't fully understand the question.

Just thinking ahead. What if I want to tweek it? If I decide I need a
feature, like equation editor, I'll need the disk.

If you don't have an installation
disk, they must give you some means of recovery, either a separate, often
hidden partition, the actual setup disks or a recovery disk that has an
image of your entire factory fresh setup. You will need to inquire of the
OEM precisely how they handle this. Since the new computer has already
arrived but still in the box, I would assume the notion of how to install
office is a moot point as it is either installed or it isn't.

My workplace is installing Office Pro for me (I work at home too) and
they don't hand out recovery disks to my knowledge. We're expected to
submit a blue form and wait for them to get around to us. I asked
because the types of things I foresee needing this for would put me at
the bottom of their "to do" list. They will also install XP Pro, but
it sounds like I won't need it from the previous responses.

I need to need to be as specific as possible with my requests so they
won't play dumb - it will make my life easier in the long run.

Thanks,
sf

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Gordon

Data is best saved away from the primary drive, which is more likely to fail
than a second 'slave' hard drive.. HDD failure will inevitably render all
partitions useless..

I partitioned my 40's into equal parts, but was re-installing so nothing
lost.. the OP has a fresh Media XP and would be silly to lose it at this
stage..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[sf]

sf



It is a version of XP..
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/compare.mspx .. unless you
particularly need heavy file security or connection to a domain, an XP Pro
installation will remove some of the features of the Media version.. read
the link.. one assumes at the point of choosing that the user has determined
what OS version is best.. why would you have picked a computer with Media
Edition installed, if you didn't want the features that it affords..

LOL! My only criteria was "FREE" after I found out my workplace would
install XP Pro and Office Pro (saving me a couple of hundred $$). I'd
never heard of the media edition before I selected it and obviously, I
don't know a single person who uses it. Now that I'm looking at it,
I'm wondering if it's not so bad after all.

I know Dell wanted to sell me a $600+ monitor for TV viewing, but all I
want is a little picture in picture to "watch" TV in real time while I
word process or post to newsgroups. Do they sell that type of card
anymore?

Best left as it is.. you can use folders to sort your work.. saves having to
use 3rd party partitioning utilities..

That's the way I usually deal with files, but I was told that XP can
partition itself. What about defragging? How many hours does it take
to do 80 GIGs?

A full installation of MS Office is not actually that large.. certainly not
enough to make a difference to an 80gb drive.. it installs into its own
'file' anyway.. leave the default installation path as it is..

So, I will be able to access features w/o a disk?
Thanks,
sf

 

[sf]

But did anyone invite you in /here/? <eg>

Welcome aboard, sf!

Hi big fella... didn't know you hang out here too! It's good to see a
familiar face.

What do you have to say about 2 40gb partitions? One would be XP Pro
and the other Media Edition. The more I read about media edition, the
funner (not a typo) it sounds. When I ordered it, I was going to dump
it for XP Pro, but now I'm not so sure.

Thanks,
sf

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

This and your other question are really the same. In both cases, you'll
need to contact your system administrator or express your concerns to the
Sys Admin or IT at your company responsible for such things. I can't offer
you advice about this because the installation and disk are controlled by
them.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Robert Moir]

It does sound like common sense, but I've never heard of it before.
So, how is that done? I mean both how is it set up and how would my
computer find the OS in a different partition. I thought every
partition needed its own OS unless the disk is dynamic.

With XP its done as part of the install (you need to create at least one
partition at this time, subsequent partitions in unused disk space can be
created from inside windows afterwards). With Windows 98 you'd have done it
prior to the install with the fdisk utility.

As to how the computer finds a parition, one partition is marked as "active"
during creation and this is where the computer looks to find the OS to boot
with.

 

[Robert Moir]

What do you have to say about 2 40gb partitions? One would be XP Pro
and the other Media Edition. The more I read about media edition, the
funner (not a typo) it sounds. When I ordered it, I was going to dump
it for XP Pro, but now I'm not so sure.

If I may be so bold as to intrude here, why install XP Pro at all? Unless
you need a few of the specifc different issues between media edition and Pro
(and these are uncommon in the home) then you won't notice a difference.

I run XP Media Centre Edition 2005 on both my Windows machines at home. It
works fine for me. It doesn't get in the way of the things I do at home at
all. I can run visual studio, Office, Virtual PC just as well on Media
Centre as I did on XP Pro before.


--

 

[Ken Blake]

In

What do you have to say about 2 40gb partitions? One would be
XP Pro
and the other Media Edition.

Since XP Professional is a subset of Media Edition, there is
little if any point in dual-booting between them. There's nothing
in XP Professional that's not also in Media Edition. Just install
Media Edition.

 

[PA Bear]

What Robert & Ken said.

Hi big fella... didn't know you hang out here too! It's good to see a
familiar face.

What do you have to say about 2 40gb partitions? One would be XP Pro
and the other Media Edition. The more I read about media edition, the
funner (not a typo) it sounds. When I ordered it, I was going to dump
it for XP Pro, but now I'm not so sure.

Thanks,
sf

 

[Sharon F]

3. How large is the MS Office Pro program? Since I won't have an
installation disk on hand, I am wondering if I should have it installed
into its own file so that if I want to use a feature that isn't
installed, I can point my computer to it (that sort of tech support
takes practically forever in terms of weeks). Or should I have it
fully installed with all the bells and whistles, even though I may not
have any reason to use them?

I agree with Robert Moir that you should get a copy of the Office CD
(Office 2003, correct?). It's handy to have when you want to add/remove
features or repair the installation. Most important: When visiting the
Office Update page, it is not unusual to get a request that the CD be
inserted before the updates will install.

 

[sf]

Hi Robert... I was kicked off of google for a while (too much posting).

I was trying to find out what if any difference there are between XP
Pro and media edition. Is ME a full on XP Pro with added goodies or a
cut down version like Home XP? If it's cut down, what's missing?

TIA
`````````````````````

 

[sf]

In


Since XP Professional is a subset of Media Edition, there is
little if any point in dual-booting between them. There's nothing
in XP Professional that's not also in Media Edition. Just install
Media Edition.

I have media edition now. and I was wondering if I was missing any
features of Pro - if so, I'll have Pro installed.