phone modems

[Faustus]

SATA is Serial ATA, it replaces the old standard PATA drives we've been using.

Because its pretty new there are no default drivers built into XP for them so you need some method of give the Windows XP setup those drivers if you plan to put the OS on a SATA drive.

[ViRaL1]

Don't forget about any SCSI or RAID controllers not supported out of the box by your OS. While we're getting rid of something, I vote for PS/2 ports. How long ago did the PS/2 come out again? As far as integrating them, there are too many people who already DON'T use them to justify the added cost. Granted, millions don't use the onboard ethernet, but that's the way communications are moving, and it's almost a necessity for broadband unless you want to go USB and sometimes that's not even an option.

[Doramius]

COrrect me if I'm wrong, but I don't think USB can match the speeds of the ethernet port.

Granted Using the floppy is a bit of a step back, but many bios still read it over the USB port. Sometimes you even need to flash your bios in an update before it'll read the USB for the drivers of an SATA drive.

Also, you can get away with a WinXP upgrade version, just by having a few certain files on a floppy, and save yourself $100 from buying the full version. And it still installs complete in NTFS format.

[Guest]

"boot to cd-rom"

[Doramius]

I usually do that, but you need a Win95, 98, or ME disc to do it that way, or you have to burn a disc with the files. I've also had a few problems with some of the newer SATA ROM-drives not being recognized. It puzzles me as to why, but I'm not heavy with in depth knowledge of SATA drives. I just have the light basics.

[Guest]

I usually do that, but you need a Win95, 98, or ME disc to do it that way, or you have to burn a disc with the files. I've also had a few problems with some of the newer SATA ROM-drives not being recognized. It puzzles me as to why, but I'm not heavy with in depth knowledge of SATA drives. I just have the light basics.

you mean with an upgrade version?

[Doramius]

Yes. Like I said, the upgrade version is $100 cheaper. I get everything the full version has, I just need to show a previous version of windows somewhere on the system.

[Guest]

Yes. Like I said, the upgrade version is $100 cheaper. I get everything the full version has, I just need to show a previous version of windows somewhere on the system.

yeah,plus a bunch bugs.I've yet to see an upgrade OS work smoothly.

[ViRaL1]

Yes. Like I said, the upgrade version is $100 cheaper. I get everything the full version has, I just need to show a previous version of windows somewhere on the system.

yeah,plus a bunch bugs.I've yet to see an upgrade OS work smoothly.

Who said you had to upgrade just because you have the upgrade CD? All it needs is 'proof of ownership (i.e. burned copy of w9x or w2k). You can still do a fresh install on a clean drive / partition.

As far as USB vs Ethernet, there are USB to ethernet adapters out there. Linksys even has a USB2 to GbE adapter. Of course you can always attach a USB floppy drive if you need to use floppies. I make use of my USB floppy and USB2 to 10/100 ethernet adapter weekly for machines without supported NICs and ones without good working floppy drives.

On the other hand, today I was working on one of the (semi) new BTX DELLs. No floppy, (although the board had a connector on it), no PS/2 ports, no serial, no parallel. 2 SATA connectors, 1 PATA connector (running 2 optical drives), 1 Floppy connector, a flash card reader, front rear USB ports and it was refreshing in a way. It's nice to think that at some point we can rid ourselves of technology that has not only outlived its usefulness, but held us back with extra devices and drivers that have viable, functional replacements.

[Doramius]

That's what I was saying. You install a full version of XP, not an upgrade. It just needs to recognize a previous OS. It'll do the full install of XP, with an Upgrade disc.

[Guest]

I dont get it. Why even sell an upgrade version then?

[Doramius]

I agree, but the point was -you already bought a Windows license, but you are purchasing an upgrade license as well, therefore a discount is given.

There are so many people who don't know this. I try to inform people and tell them, JUST BUY THE UPGRADE VERSION. Why pay another $100 for a version, just so you don't have to use a previous OS disc? I don't know if Vista will be the same way, but I haven't heard anything about an upgrade version if there will be one.