Hardware Upgrades? Can anyone help?

[ChitownTaper]

Okay, here's what I'm running and i've been having problems lately...
First off, Recently everything seems to be running very slowly. Taking loooooooong times to delete and open audio files and such. I can't figure out why anybody know how i can check what I have running and stuff?

How can I configure my 120gb HD to deal use NTFS? I'll upgrade my OS to Win2000 since I think that's necessary.

And... when i added my second HD i just patched it into the cable that was connecting my current HD, is that the best way?

Thanks in advance
Cal
ChitownTaper@attbi.com

Here's what i'm running:
ECS Mainboard K7S5A
1.4 ghz Thunderbird AMD
512mb DDR PC2100
GF2 MX 32mb soundcard w/ tv out
40 gb 7200 rpm WD
120 gb 7200 rpm WD
12x DVDrom
Mitsumi 16x8x40 CDRw
DiO2448 Digital I/O Soundcard
4 port Firewire Controller Card
Iomega usb external zip drive

Software (for editing purposes):
WinME
Premier 6.0
Sound Forge 5.0
Cool Edit Pro

[Greg12]

that shouldn't be to much of a problem if the hard drive with the operating system is the master and the new one is the slave.

If u have an extra ribbon u can make it so u have the other one as a master.


For NTFS, it's a command, search for it.

Also try defragging ur hard drive.

[Nelson37]

In between BEFORE, when it ran OK, and NOW, when it runs slow -

What has changed on your machine? ANY new software, hardware changes, upgrades of any kind? Any unusual electrical events, suspicious e-mails? Are you certain that the slow opening files are the SAME files which opened faster in the past? ANY new codecs installed, changes to antivirus software? Are their other ways which indicate a performance problem, or is it just sound files? Benchmark tests run? Have you checked the BIOS to make sure it hasn't returned to default bus, processor, or memory speeds?

On the HD - the 120 GB probably has a higher ATA speed than the 40 GB, if so you are losing performance. ANY time 2 non-identical drives are paired on a cable, there is a potential for performance loss, EVEN WITH SIMILAR DRIVES, this can be dramatic. If these problems started after adding the new drive, remove it and test.

WinME sucks, when you get Win2000 or XP, make sure and do a complete fdisk, format, and re-install.

[ChitownTaper]

The only real change I can find is the wireless network I installed. I hadn't done much audio editing since I installed it a couple weeks ago. I didn't do any comparison tests other than the fact that I edit audio frequently and typically they're approx the same size and this time it was considerably slower.

I will try a defrag tonight, maybe that will straighten some things up.

As for the performance loss b/w the drives, is tehre any way to fix taht? If i connect the 120 to the board will that solve it? Is that possible?

Thanks for the help!

Cal
ChitownTaper@attbi.com

[timacle]

NTFS works better with larger disk.

[Two2Tango]

Windows XP supports NTFS files. Two diff size disks should not degrade your system. It sounds like you have a program with a memory problem or a driver problem. Check your processes to find out which program is tying up your system.

[Nelson37]

OK, I would try removing all traces of the wireless system and then speed test, try to test similar files, subjective analysis can be misleading. Since this is the only change to a previously functioning system, good odds its related. Did you check those BIOS speed settings? Also, can you precisely quantify the time difference? 10 minutes to 15 minutes, or 10 minutes to 1 hour - how big a change are you seeing?

It is possible that installing the card triggered the BIOS back to defaults (did you unplug the power cable?), or an interrupt conflict, or software/driver problem, or perhaps there is some periodic polling going on that saps resources.

HD - Size of the two disks is irrelevant other than possibly indicating date of manufacture and therefore ATA rating. For those who may have missed it, I will repeat - any time two non-identical drives are mixed on the same cable, there is a potential for performance degradation, which I have personally seen to be huge on occassion. If the two drives differ in ATA rating, the slower drive will dictate the speed you get. Other incompabilities are also possible. Put fastest drive by itself on one cable. A cheap ATA-133 controller can give you up to four seperate IDE channels.