BIOS Upgrade
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From: Carey Frisch [MVP] on 25 Aug 2005 17:33 I recently purchased and installed a new Maxtor 250GB hard drive with a 16MB buffer. You would be amazed how fast it is! Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L250R0 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA133 Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144422 You can transfer the entire contents of your old hard drive to the new one using Maxtor's MaxBlast utility. http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxtor/menuitem.3c67e325e0a6b1f6294198b091346068/?channelpath=%2Fen_us%2FSupport%2FSoftware%20Downloads%2FATA%20Hard%20Drives&downloadID=57 -- Carey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows XP - Shell/User Microsoft Newsgroups ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Me2Ewe" wrote: | Wow you guys are fast at the replying mode. | When I said a little problem I meant that on a 20 GB partition I have 2,3 | free space left. That's all. As for the rest I do the basics every 2 or 3 | days since I am on it most of the day. I check for spyware, viruses worms | etc. | By Disc Clean do you mean Disc Cleanup utility if so I run that before | defragmenting at least weekly or sooner if deleting or moving files. | Maybe it is too full that would explain why it is freezing for no reason or | rebooting once in a while. I get a few 16-bit error messages which you kind | folks helped me fix. | So the general advice from both of you is to forget paying for an upgrade. I | always thought you did an upgrade if changing CPUs or something major.
From: Mike Hall (MS-MVP) on 25 Aug 2005 17:36 Me2 For sure forget the BIOS upgrade.. a waste of money from that source.. BIOS updates are produced by a mainboard manufacturer to patch problems that have been found, and also to address issues like hard drive size handling etc.. they are not the panacea for all ills by a large margin, and execution can lead to one's system being executed.. definitely best left alone.. Re. free space.. Windows Defrag needs 15% or thereabouts to function, and it may seem wasteful, but 25% keeps Windows happier.. you have a little over 10% left, which is not really enough.. You might also consider upping RAM to 512mb if you haven't already.. others will tell you that 256mb is enough, but it isn't if you want a decent computing experience.. Windows XP feels the same way as I do about it.. :-) -- Mike Hall MVP - Windows Shell/User "Me2Ewe" <blaray(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:OKl%23PrbqFHA.3304(a)TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl... > Wow you guys are fast at the replying mode. > When I said a little problem I meant that on a 20 GB partition I have 2,3 > free space left. That's all. As for the rest I do the basics every 2 or 3 > days since I am on it most of the day. I check for spyware, viruses worms > etc. > By Disc Clean do you mean Disc Cleanup utility if so I run that before > defragmenting at least weekly or sooner if deleting or moving files. > Maybe it is too full that would explain why it is freezing for no reason > or rebooting once in a while. I get a few 16-bit error messages which you > kind folks helped me fix. > So the general advice from both of you is to forget paying for an upgrade. > I always thought you did an upgrade if changing CPUs or something major. > > "Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" <mike.hall.mail(a)sympatico.ca> wrote in message > news:%23aeH9ibqFHA.2072(a)TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... >> Me2 >> >> <quote>.. My drive is just about full which can be a little problem.. >> <endquote> >> >> It can be more than a little problem.. it will affect a system's ability >> to defragment properly, and will also affect Windows Virtual Memory.. >> the system may crash out occasionally, which will cause problems with >> system files.. it will definitely be a factor in your system running >> slow.. >> >> Re. cleaning, you should be using Disk Clean (already in Windows) and >> also Spybot S&D, Adaware SE, and Spyware Blaster at the very least, and >> regularly updated and run (every week, maybe).. >> >> A handy site to help you is http://www.pcpitstop.com .. run your computer >> through the tests, and it produces a report on system health and gives >> upgrade and tweaking tips.. however, be wary of downloading or trying out >> other utilities that are advertised on the site.. personally, I would and >> do leave them all alone, barring the tests.. >> >> -- >> Mike Hall >> MVP - Windows Shell/User >> >> >> "Me2Ewe" <blaray(a)gmail.com> wrote in message >> news:eazJRbbqFHA.1032(a)TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... >>>I need someone's unbiased opinion. >>> >>> My computer is running slower and acting up sometimes. I have done all >>> the cleaning and tweaking I can. >>> >>> My drive is just about full which can be a little problem. I wanted to >>> check my BIOS homepage to see if there is an update. The homepage sent >>> me to somewhere called support and they emailed me & phoned me [how they >>> got number is beyond me]. They said they had an update that I needed or >>> my machine would not run properly, this is part of their email: >>> "ESupport.com is the Exclusive Authorized Upgrade and Support Center for >>> Award BIOS. For the past 16 years, we have constantly upgraded thousands >>> of motherboards and developed new BIOS upgrades for all the latest >>> technology. Based on the technical specifications you had submitted, we >>> have an excellent BIOS Upgrade for your system. We have the brand new >>> Award BIOS for your motherboard. The price is only $29.95." >>> >>> This is the info that I gave them: >>> >>> BIOS ID String:----- 06/08/2004-KM266PRO-8235-6A6LYB09C >>> >>> OEM Signon:-------- VIG0608 BF 400 >>> >>> Chipset:-------------- VIA 82C3205 REV 0 >>> >>> Super I/O:------------ ITE 8705/SIS 950 REV 2 FOUND AT PORT 2EH >>> >>> I just wonder how badly I do need it and why do I pay I thought upgrades >>> were free, maybe I was too naive there ..the free part that is >>> >>> Thanks for any input >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
From: Carey Frisch [MVP] on 25 Aug 2005 17:36 Maxtor Ultra16 250GB, 7200RPM, Internal ATA/133 Hard Drive - Retail http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/product_info.asp?product_code=316138&pfp=ADPRODUCTS -- Carey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows XP - Shell/User Microsoft Newsgroups ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Me2Ewe" wrote: | Wow you guys are fast at the replying mode. | When I said a little problem I meant that on a 20 GB partition I have 2,3 | free space left. That's all. As for the rest I do the basics every 2 or 3 | days since I am on it most of the day. I check for spyware, viruses worms | etc. | By Disc Clean do you mean Disc Cleanup utility if so I run that before | defragmenting at least weekly or sooner if deleting or moving files. | Maybe it is too full that would explain why it is freezing for no reason or | rebooting once in a while. I get a few 16-bit error messages which you kind | folks helped me fix. | So the general advice from both of you is to forget paying for an upgrade. I | always thought you did an upgrade if changing CPUs or something major.
From: ~ FreeSpirit ~ on 26 Aug 2005 00:03 "Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" <mike.hall.mail(a)sympatico.ca> wrote in message news:%23aeH9ibqFHA.2072(a)TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... > Me2 > > <quote>.. My drive is just about full which can be a little problem.. > <endquote> > > It can be more than a little problem.. it will affect a system's ability > to defragment properly, and will also affect Windows Virtual Memory.. the > system may crash out occasionally, which will cause problems with system > files.. it will definitely be a factor in your system running slow.. > > Re. cleaning, you should be using Disk Clean (already in Windows) and also > Spybot S&D, Adaware SE, and Spyware Blaster at the very least, and > regularly updated and run (every week, maybe).. > > A handy site to help you is http://www.pcpitstop.com .. run your computer > through the tests, and it produces a report on system health and gives > upgrade and tweaking tips.. however, be wary of downloading or trying out > other utilities that are advertised on the site.. personally, I would and > do leave them all alone, barring the tests.. ================================ It doesn't work if you have SP2 on your PC as I do. Even following the instructions SP2 still blocks any downloads. FROM THE SITE: NOTE: If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2, look at the top of this page and see if the yellow Information Bar is displaying a message about PC Pitstop. If so, click the Information Bar and select "Install ActiveX Control". ## SP2 gives me NO CHOICE to install the ActiveX thing. Even when I change it in Tools/Options/Security. How do I shut off SP2 or STOP this SP2 problem rather than do a complete reinstall of my OS? We were unable to install the PC Pitstop utility. Here are the most common causes and solutions to the problem. For more information, see our troubleshooting page or ask for help on our forums (free; separate registration required). ## How is Sp2 disabled so I can download updates etc? FS~
From: DL on 26 Aug 2005 09:52
If you cannot install Active X controls, its likely a setting in your IE SP2 does not prevent the installing of an active x control Try setting all the IE options to default Clear the IE temp files and clear your PC temp files - Diskcleanup - and retry "~ FreeSpirit ~" <spammenot(a)nospam.net> wrote in message news:%23g8ueMfqFHA.4072(a)TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... > > "Mike Hall (MS-MVP)" <mike.hall.mail(a)sympatico.ca> wrote in message > news:%23aeH9ibqFHA.2072(a)TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl... > > Me2 > > > > <quote>.. My drive is just about full which can be a little problem.. > > <endquote> > > > > It can be more than a little problem.. it will affect a system's ability > > to defragment properly, and will also affect Windows Virtual Memory.. the > > system may crash out occasionally, which will cause problems with system > > files.. it will definitely be a factor in your system running slow.. > > > > Re. cleaning, you should be using Disk Clean (already in Windows) and also > > Spybot S&D, Adaware SE, and Spyware Blaster at the very least, and > > regularly updated and run (every week, maybe).. > > > > A handy site to help you is http://www.pcpitstop.com .. run your computer > > through the tests, and it produces a report on system health and gives > > upgrade and tweaking tips.. however, be wary of downloading or trying out > > other utilities that are advertised on the site.. personally, I would and > > do leave them all alone, barring the tests.. > ================================ > It doesn't work if you have SP2 on your PC as I do. Even following the > instructions SP2 still blocks any downloads. > FROM THE SITE: NOTE: If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2, look at the > top of this page and see if the yellow Information Bar is displaying a > message about PC Pitstop. If so, click the Information Bar and select > "Install ActiveX Control". > > ## SP2 gives me NO CHOICE to install the ActiveX thing. Even when I change > it in Tools/Options/Security. How do I shut off SP2 or STOP this SP2 > problem rather than do a complete reinstall of my OS? > > We were unable to install the PC Pitstop utility. Here are the most common > causes and solutions to the problem. For more information, see our > troubleshooting page or ask for help on our forums (free; separate > registration required). > > ## How is Sp2 disabled so I can download updates etc? > > FS~ > > > > > |