Subj : 10 net To : CHARLES ANGELICH From : WAYNE CHIRNSIDE Date : Tue Sep 13 2005 07:10 pm -> WC> The blasted proprietary setup partition. Messes with Linux -> WC> to. FIPS non-destructive partitioning docs warn it's IS -> WC> destructive in Compaqs. -> Seems few understand the Compaq 'setup partition'. It was an Count me among them. -> idea ahead of it's time (sort of). IBM used something similar -> for the PS2 line of computers. Hated it there too, tossed a model 55 on account the proper setup disks failed to work. -> A portion of the BIOS was -> written on the hard drive and, I suppose, because it must be -> read in by a 'bootstrap loader' must be in the _first_ -> partition. I can imagine ways they could've worked around this -> but putting it first was probably the easiest least complicated -> method at one time? -> I have two Compaq machines and neither has this 'setup -> partition'. Contrary to what the documentation tells users I -> did find software that will access the Compaq BIOS to make -> changes that works without this setup partition being on the -> hard drive. I might have differing opiniions if I knew about how this is done and experience with same. Compaqs can sure be had used cheap in the paper's classifieds, they dominate computers for sale. -> Both are older models using DOS and W31. I have no idea what a -> new Compaq would require or even if Compaq continues to use -> this 'setup partition'. HP has hidden directories with Windows -> CAB files in them to make life easier for their helpline -> employees I suppose? -> ->>> Keyboards also seem to pack it in faster on Compaqs for -> ->>> whatever reason. Perhaps they are overpowering the ps2 -> ->>> port? -> ->> This is a compaq-labeled keyboard I'm typing on at the -> ->> moment, one of the few I have that has tactile response, -> ->> but then this one doesn't get as much use as the IBMs that -> ->> I have here. -> WC> This post seems to have been misdirected. No experience -> WC> with Compaq keyboards. Still using the old heavy IBM here. -> One of my very lightest keyboards is a Compaq keyboard and it -> has 'puddles' worn into the keycaps (especially the spacebar) -> but continues to function with no problems. :-) -> --8<--cut -> WC>>> Tossed the H.P. software sound card - modem combo as -> WC>>> refuse. Oddly a salvaged Turtle Beach Sound card uses -> WC>>> precisely the same Vortex sound drivers and it's a -> WC>>> hardware card :-) -> FWIW: The combination of the Conexant sound card and Roland -> soundfonts creates some of the best musical instrument sounds -> for MIDI that I have found so far. TIMIDITY is good for -> orchestral arrangements but is also a 10 meg (or more) -> proposition to add to a machine. I expect since the Turtle Beach uses the same fonts it'll sound the same but I need to pick up a "wall wart" to power the speakers. No amp on the hardware sound card. -> ->> Hm. I got given a couple machines a while back that are -> ->> probably gonna be used as upgrades in the not-too-distant -> ->> future, one's a Compaq and one's an HP. :-0 -> WC> I'd prefer the H.P. Micron PCI100 168 pin Dimms will work -> WC> in it even if their web site claims otherwise ( PCI66), -> WC> assuming of course that's the sort of memory that H.P. uses. -> WC> I have heard tell of Compaqs without the proprietary -> WC> partition but I've not played with such a one. The H.P. is -> WC> likely to have the proprietary SFX power supply as well, -> WC> Compaq too. -> ->> I had yanked the chip out of the Compaq thinking that I'd -> ->> put it in a box here, but then found that the MB jumpers -> ->> for voltage won't go *quite* far enough in the right -> ->> direction, so it's sitting here.. Oh well. I don't want to -> ->> use that box itself because it has a *teeny* little power -> ->> supply in there. -> WC> SFX alright. -> I know this is terribly 'geeky' and all that but whats to stop -> a person from just sitting a HUGE powersupply -> _outside/alongside_ the tower rather than finding one that fits -> _inside_ the tower? I remember one of my friends having 3 hard -> drives sitting on the table with his XT computer with longish -> ribbon cables connecting them to the machine. It worked. Looked -> very geeky but it worked. It's a *very* good idea and one that has occured to me, say an Antec 450 watt? One thing to watch is to use oversize wiring as the error voltage controlling power regulation could be thrown off due to voltage drop from high current draw. Another is the standard ATX PS differs from the SFX in one pin that can be disasterous if not taken into account on some systems. I believe the SFX drops the -12V while the ATX retains it? --- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5 * Origin: Try Our Web Based QWK: DOCSPLACE.ORG (1:123/140) .