Subscribe to How-To Geek
We encourage you to register on our forums and post any questions you might have. The How-To Geeks monitor this forum and will respond to your question quickly.
I am considering having a computer made with a solid state drive. I would want to run Windows XP as the main OS but would also like the ability to run Windows 7, Ubunto 9.04 and OS X in a virtual mode.
Is this feasible and how big of a solid state drive would I need?
thanks
SM
smorton,
---
That will work.
---
Remember you will need another mechanical HD or use a network to [ ALWAYS ] backup your important data.
---
Need 4 Gig of Ram in the machine for XP 32 Bit O/S and VMs. Will actually use around ~ 3.5 because of address limit.
---
Regards,
Rick P.
This model would do. I have that myself. If you can afford it, this model would be even better. Note that you have to learn a lot of new stuff. SSDs are quite different to spinning disks. You have to align them to get max. performance and you have to tune the OS for them. Here is the Tweak Utility you can use for tuning the OS (XP, Vista and W7). No idea about Linux. The OCZ Forum is very useful for learning about SSDs - not only of the OCZ make.
@whs,
---
Aligning to sector boundaries is not new.
---
Most software and mechanical HD controllers just don't do it anymore.
---
I remember some program that would do it from years ago but can't remember what the name was. :(
---
This may be a different alignment process than what you are speaking about.
---
Best Regards,
Rick P.
I can't figure out how you do the quotes, the ones that appear in blue. I use an external hard drive for keeping all of my files, etc. My Documents on my computer goes to an external hard drive. So I should be ok there, right? I need to back that up also I know.
I would get 6 gig of Ram. I want to use Dragon Naturally Speaking and I think it hogs the resources.
My IT guy claims he can do this but he thinks I need to start out with OS X and then use VMware to acess the windows, etc. Does this sound right? I don't want to get into something so complex I can't run it.
Thanks for the help and any further input is welcome.
Sm
"Remember you will need another mechanical HD or use a network to [ ALWAYS ] backup your important data"
---
"Need 4 Gig of Ram in the machine for XP 32 Bit O/S and VMs. Will actually use around ~ 3.5 because of address limit"
smorton,
---
From your wishes expressed above, you need a 64 Bit Edition of an O/S and a 64 Bit Hardware Machine.
---
Suggest some 64 Bit Edition of Windows 7 as Primary O/S and start from there.
-------------------------------------------------------
Here is a comparison of 32 Bit and 64 Bit XP only because you ask about XP.
Same MS Specs should apply to Vista and Win7 I should think?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294418
------------
Regards,
Rick P.
Actually my IT guy turned one of my old Dells into a Hackintosh. I use a KVM switch and in about one second I can go back and forth between the two systems.
Today I received a copy of the latest edition of ubuntu in the mail. I guess I don't understand how the ubuntu folks do this for free, but it is nice of them.
Have a good one.
sm
smorton,
---
You too. :) :)
---
I hope Ubuntu or some other distro of Linux will soon be able to finally pass the "Grand Ma" test so it will become the O/S of choice.
---
It's not the fact that it's Free BUT rather the fact that one can use the O/S WITHOUT the Constraints of PA or WGA and other such "Garbage" that makes Linux so appealing.
---
Regards,
Rick P.
I went to the OCZ forum and it was strongly suggested that I get ". . .at least a 120 gig drive for that and a Vertex or newer OCZ drive family." That is costly. The one on this thread was 200.00. Is it necessary to get 120 GB when I store my info and files on an external hard drive?
Thanks
SM
I think 60GBs is enough (that's what I bought). If you move the user files to another HDD, the system is well served with 60GBs. A Vertex is highly recommended. Keep watching the prices at Newegg. They sometimes have "specials" with rebates. But it seems to change frequently.
You must log in to post.
