Windows Vista Install Guide
Filed under: operating systems, software | Tags: install guide, vista, windows
Leave a Comment Welcome to the Windows Vista Install Guide
This guide is intended for a clean install of Windows Vista and not an upgrade from a previous version of Windows so make sure you have all your important files and such backed up so you can reinstall after the Vista Installation is complete.
Step 1: Boot Computer to Boot to Disc Drive
When you boot from the Install Disc Windows will load the files it needs to install Vista
Step 2: Vista Installation Preperation
The next screen will show Vista is still working in the background
Step 3: Select Language, Time Zone, and Keyboard Layout
You will select Language, Time Zone, and Keyboard Layout
Select by using the pull down menus and click NEXT.
Step 4: Installation
You will have options on to fix the previous installation
or to Install now.
Click the INSTALL NOW Button
Step 5: Please Wait
Vista is working in the background this will take several minutes
Step 6: Enter Product Key
This screen is where you enter your product key
You can also click the option to activate Vista when you first come online. I usually uncheck this box to be sure everything is running correctly.
Click the NEXT button.
Step 7: License Agreement
Here is the License Agreement
Check the box next to “I accept the license terms”
Click NEXT to continue.
Step 8: Upgrade or Clean Install
Here you can choose “Upgrade” install Windows or a “Custom” (clean) install.
Select the box containing “Custom (advanced)” to continue to the next screen.
Step 9: Select Installation Path
This is where you can select which hard drive/partition to install Vista on.
This is also where you would install drivers for your RAID/ACPI controller by using the Load Driver option.
If no additional drivers are needed, select the NEXT button.
Step 10: Configure Partitions
Here you can create of multiple partitions and the option of formatting existing partitions.
After finishing your particular partition configuration that you desire, select the NEXT button.
Step 11: Installation
Here is where Vista will install the major portions of the Operating System this may take a while depending on your system.
Step 12: Reboot
Vista will now need to restart.
Step 13: Vista First Time Load
Vista will start for the first time.
Step 14: Installation Completion
Vista continues to install at this screen.
Step 15: User Accounts
Here is where we create the first user account for Vista.
After finishing entering your information and icon selection, select the NEXT button.
Step 16: PC Name
Here is where you can name your PC in order to identify your PC on a network.
After making your selection, select the NEXT button.
Step 17: Updates
Here we can configure Windows Update with several options. Use the Recommended Settings.
Step 18: Time Settings
Here is where you can set your time zone settings.
Select the NEXT settings.
Step 19: Network Configuration
Vista now asks what kind of Network you are setting up.
Make your selection to continue.
Step 20: Installation Complete
Vista Installation is now complete.
Click the NEXT button to continue on.
Step 21: PC Performance Check
Vista will now check your PC for performance issues in order to automatically configure some options.
Step 22: Vista Login Screen
We are finally greeted with the login screen.
If you entered in a password earlier, enter it again here.
Step 23: Preparing Desktop
Vista will start to prepare your desktop configuration.
Step 24: Account Profile
Vista now sets up profiles for a handful of applications.
Step 25: Vista Installed
Vista installation is complete.
Windows XP Install Guide
Filed under: operating systems, software | Tags: install guide, operating systems, windows, xp
Leave a Comment I am starting a series of posts here at Tech Extremist. This is going to be the first of the series of install guides of installing operating systems. Here is the first one of a step by step guide of installing a fresh copy of Windows XP.
Step 1: Insert the Windows XP Boot Disc
Step 2: Setup
There will be series of DOS based setup screens. You will be asked to press F6 if you want to install any third party of RAID Drivers.
Setup will load files to start XP.
Step 3: Setup Begins
Press ENTER for setup to examine the computer hard drives, and removable discs.
Step 4: License Agreement
Press F8.
UPGRADE ONLY.
If you are upgrading to Windows XP from a previous Operating System the screen will require that you insert your previous Windows Install Disc.
Hit ENTER to Continue.
Step 5: Choose an Instillation Partition
This step requires you requires to specify which partition to install Windows onto. Typically you would install Windows onto the C: drive. Another possibility is to have XP install into one partition, and your data onto another.
Step 6: Choose the file system
In this next step you will want to either select the traditional Windows file system, FAT. Or you can choose the more modern NTFS. I recommend choosing NTFS. Choose the Quick Format option of which ever one you choose if you need to reformat it will go much faster.
Step 7: Format The Partition
If you decide to format the partition you will verify the location of the partition to format.
Hit the letter F to begin the Format.
Step 8: Setup Copy
Setup will copy system files to the new partitions. This lets the computer boot to the C: drive and boot to a Graphic User Interface setup mode.
Step 9: Reboot
The computer will now reboot. If you see a message to boot from the installation CD “DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING.”
STEP 10: Graphic User Interface Setup
A graphic version of Windows XP Setup begins. XP will examine your computers hardware configuration.
Step 11: Regional and Language Options
Here you have the option to change your Language and text input language if you are in the United States you will not have to change anything.
Click NEXT to Continue.
Step 12: Personalize Your Software
Enter your Name.
Click NEXT to continue.
Step 13: Enter Your Product Key
Now enter the 25-key product key, which is located on the sticker found on the back of the Windows XP CD Slip Case.
Step 14: Enter a Computer Name & Administrator Password
You will now enter a name for your computer that will identify your computer on the network.
If you are installing Windows XP Pro you can enter a password too.
Step 15: Enter the Date & Time
You will then enter the date and time. The date should not be required to be adjusted which should be the same as your settings in your bios. The time is preset to Pacific Standard Time. Adjust accordingly.
Step 16: Network Setup
XP will now examine your hardware to detect network settings and will install drivers for network connectivity.
You can either choose the default settings or change with custom settings. Generally it is better to go with the default setting unless specifically instructed to do so by your Internet Service Provider.
Step 17: Enter Workgroup Name: Windows XP Professional
In Windows XP Professional you will be able to enter workgroup and domain name information.
Step 18: Setup Completion
Now Setup is complete without any further user input.
Setup 19: Boot
Your computer will reboot and you will see the Windows XP splash screen.
Step 20: Change Display Settings
You may see a dialogue screen asking you if you would like XP to set the resolution.
Click OK to change the resolution then accept the resolution if you can read the display.
Click OK to accept the screen resolution.
Step 21: Welcome to Microsoft Windows
A final setup wizard will begin.
Click NEXT to continue.
Step 22: Network Setup
You will be asked to setup your Internet connection.
Click NEXT to continue
Step 23: Activate Windows
You will be given the opportunity to activate Windows you can also do it later if you wish
Step 24: Setup Users
This step lets you add up to five users who will use the computer (you can add more later if you wish.)
Step 25: Logon to Windows XP for the first time
DRM Free iTunes Have User ID Emedded
As I reported in an earlier post iTunes will be DRM Free. But there is a catch. The tracks you have downloaded from iTunes will have your personal information embedded within the track. Files downloaded from iTunes will contain the e-mail address embedded within the file. Even though you can share the music or play it on any other media device. I would be cautious if users plan to upload them onto file sharing networks which means the uploaded tracks can be traced back to the user.
Will We 3-D TV?
Filed under: gaming, hardware, video | Tags: 3d, ces, high definition, tv
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Is 3D TV the next big thing to go in your living room. We have had LCD, Plasma, DLP, and Projection TVs. So will 3D TV be able to replace any of those. At the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show taking place in Las Vegas this week companies have focused as 3D to be the next big thing in the TV wars. TV makers showed off prototypes of 3-D TVs. There is expected to be around 40 movies of with 3-D capabilities to be released within the next year, which includes Toy Story 3 and Monsters vs. Aliens. Many theatres have the capabilities to show 3-D movies. The next step is to bring them into the living room. Sporting events have been broadcasts in theatres which included and NFL game between the Oakland Raiders & San Diego Chargers. The big question is whether or not consumers would want to invest in this technology. I could see gamers being interested but not necessarily your mainstream consumers investing in something that is may not be much better than their current LCD or Plasma TV. I guess we will wait and see.
Microsoft & Verizon Strike Deal
Filed under: cell phones, internet, software | Tags: cell phones, microsoft, search engine, verizon
Leave a Comment According to Cnet Microsoft & Verizon has made a deal which will see Microsoft’s search engine become the default search engine on all Verizon Wireless Cellphones for the next five years. It cannot be any worse than the default one that came on my Blackberry 8830.
MacWorld Expo 2009
Filed under: hardware, software | Tags: drm, garage band, ilife, itunes, macbook, macworld
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The Macworld Expo 2009 has arrived here are the headlines from todays keynote.
iTunes will now offer DRM free downloadable songs which means a user should be able to play them on any music device not just an apple brand. Apple also plans to remove the DRM from its entire catalog by the end of April. The different music labels will be allowed to charge different prices for their songs from the traditional 99 cent policy.
Apple announced a new 17-inch MacBook Pro this makes all the current MacBook Pro laptops all current. This includes the new display, track-pad, etc. This will cost $2,799 which is the sameprice as the old 17-inch Macbook Pro. The laptop will not come with a the ability to replace the battery by the user, which is similar to the iPod, and iPhone. In order to have the battery replaced the user will have to have it done at an Apple retailer.
iLife ‘09 features geotagging software in iPhoto ‘09 which takes advantage of GPS technology when tagging your photos. While Garageband features instruction on how to play an instrument featuring instructions by John Fogerty, Sting, among others.
Firefox 3 Download Day June 17th
Firefox 3 will be available to be downloaded on Tuesday June 17, 2008. Mozilla is declaring this day as download day to set the record for most software downloads in a 24 hour period.
The New 3G iPhone
Steve Jobs today announced that Apple will be finally releasing a newer iPhone on a 3G network. For those of you who do not know a 3G network is the third generation of networks particularly for mobile devices. The new iPhone will be available in July for $199. This is a big drop from the initial $599 when the iPhone launched last year. Other new features of the new iPhone include a GPS, a store to allow users to download third party applications which was not available on the previous iPhone.
Facebook To Become Open Source
Filed under: web 2.0 | Tags: applications, facebook, social networking, web 2.0
Leave a Comment Facebook will become apparently will become open source this week. According to an article on Techcrunch.This means that any social networking site can use Facebook’s applications to have them run on their own social networking site as well. I think this is a good idea. I actually was surprised that this did not happen already. I think Facebook is an excellent example of what can be done with open source applications. I find Facebook unique not for its Social Networking features, but more for its applications within a larger application. I find that as a major stand out feature of Facebook.
Videocard Fun
Filed under: gaming, hardware | Tags: agp, gaming, pci-express, videocards, world of warcraft
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I recently replaced the video card in my PC this past week because the fans had on the video card had quit running properly and was causing the video card to overheat. Which resulted in my computer beeping at me and then shutting down every time I played World of Warcraft which is not a really graphically intense game. I thought this would be an opportunity to provide information on the different video card configurations.
The first one is on video configuration this means there is no video card but rather the video output comes from the motherboard. This configuration is beneficial for the non-gamer because it does not demand real time rendering of video. If a gamer wants this two use this configuration one would tend to see slow, and jagged movement on the more high end games.
The other configuration is having an actual videocard in an actual slot on your memory card. There were many different configurations of video card technlogies since the beginning so I will only mention the more recent ones.
One technology that is not really used anymore is AGP or Accelerated Graphics Port. This technology was a dedicated port on the computers graphics board dedicated to graphics. This has been replaced by PCI-Express.
PCI-Express was designed to replace the traditional PCI, PCIx, and AGP. PCI express set a point to point technology to replace the bus which are called lanes. Without getting two detailed this means it runs much faster than traditional buses.
With that being said when choosing a memory card note it has its own dedicated video memory. Obviously the higher number the faster the card such as 256 vs. 512MB. Take this all into account as preliminary account for video cards.
