[AccessD] OT: Windows 7 .. I'm VERY impressed

You got lucky!  And you validate my position that a hardware controller is much safer.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


Drew Wutka wrote:
> Actually there are utilities out there that let you rebuild a raid.
>>From about 2001 to 2007, I used to always run a server OS on my work
> desktop, so that I could mirror the OS drive and RAID 5 a data drive
> using Dynamic Disks.  It was workable, though definitely slower than a
> real raid controller.  One day I reinstalled my desktop, and didn't
> backup what was on my data drive.  When I did the installation, I only
> formatted the C: drive, however, with Dynamic disks, the volume
> information is stored in the first volume, so when the OS was installed,
> my RAID 5 was gone!  Found a little utility that let me rebuild the
> RAID.  (It's not a click and go, you have to find and get some values so
> that it can sync the RAID right), but with a little help (for a fee) I
> was up and running in a few hours.
> 
> But you are right, that a true RAID controller is going to be less
> hassle and better all around.
> 
> Drew
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 7:46 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Windows 7 .. I'm VERY impressed
> 
>  > With drives getting so cheap, and SATA Raid Controllers becoming more
> standard on motherboards,
> 
> One caution is that raid controllers created by motherboard hardware can
> cause a disaster if the 
> motherboard dies.  At best you will need to get the same raid chip set
> (intel, or AMD or ...), at 
> worst your raid array can be unreadable.
> 
> I use a hardware co-processor raid array and have never had that issue.
> I have moved the entire 
> raid setup from one box to another with an entirely different
> motherboard, and in fact even a 
> different OS and the raid array just turned on and ran (after driver
> installs of course).
> 
> For critical data, a hardware controller is highly recommended.
> 
> John W. Colby
> www.ColbyConsulting.com
> 
> 
> Drew Wutka wrote:
>> Preach on Brother John! ;)
>>
>> VMWare and VPC aren't like the great bound/unbound debate.  There are
>> advantages to both.  I started with VPC 2004, and that was ok.  It
>> brought my 1 ghz pIII to it's knees trying to run a Windows XP box.
> Now
>> on my laptop, 2.2 ghz duo core, with 3 gigs of RAM, I can run several
>> machines (I've run three 2003 servers and a client XP machine at the
>> same time) and the performance wasn't bad at all.  Virtual Server
> let's
>> you run each machine in it's own thread.  And the two apps are both
>> completely free (though I think you have to pay for the absolute
> latest
>> Virtual Server) and interchangeable.  VMWare performs better, (even
> now,
>> from what I've read about 6 months ago) and it is simple to run any
> OS,
>> even non-MS stuff.  I have a ubuntu Linux VM in Virtual PC, but you
> kind
>> of have to jump through some hoops to do it.  VPC will get closer and
>> closer to VMWare, as far as performance, but it will always be slanted
>> towards running Windows based OSes.  I'd probably play around with
>> VMWare a bit when I have some time (LOL, who has that?), but I took
> the
>> time to create a base hard drive with every MS OS from DOS 6.22 to
>> Windows 7.  (Though I've tossed the Vista and 7 one, cause they are
>> pretty big, and unnecessary right now, and I never touched ME,
> couldn't
>> pay me enough to have the .iso image of that install on any of my
>> machines! LOL)
>>
>> Couldn't agree more on RAID drives.  It's one of my favorite preach
>> points when people ask me about machines.  With drives getting so
> cheap,
>> and SATA Raid Controllers becoming more standard on motherboards, it's
>> almost a crime not to be using a RAID.  (Though I use RAID 0+1's more
>> then anything else.)
>>
>> As for the ISO images, try this:
>>
>> http://www.magiciso.com/tutorials/miso-magicdisc-overview.htm
>>
>> Get the 106 version, behind the Windows 7 link (and one of the others
> I
>> think).  I can install that version on anything (just put it on a
>> netbook running XP pro the other day, and it runs fine in Windows 7 64
>> bit and Vista 32/64 bit).  In vista and 7, you'll be prompted about an
>> unsigned driver, but it works great.  You can add as many Virtual
>> CD/DVD-Roms as you want.  (one of my favorite games is FreeSpace, and
>> old 'space' game I got with my first PIII.  It needs the DVD to play,
> so
>> I usually have a drive specifically housing that iso image all the
> time
>> on my laptop.  Fun to play when I'm bored).  It runs in your system
>> tray, and is very user friendly.  It'll even make ISO images for you
>> (and other formats if you want).  I stick with ISO.  Did you know
>> another feature of Windows 7 is that it will natively burn an ISO
> image
>> to a blank CD/DVD with no other software?
>>
>> With the 'working' VM machine on standby, I use it a lot, cause Access
>> 97 is a little finicky on a windows 7 box, if you use another version
> of
>> Access, Access 97 tries to right to the registry and fails, so you
> have
>> to restart it 'As Administrator', which is a pain.  I use 97
>> periodically, still have a lot of working .mdb's still in 97 format.
>> Easiest way is to use my XP box (which has Office 97 and 2003
> installed
>> together).  But another big reason I keep that, is that when I setup a
>> dev machine, I do a few extra things, which are just time consuming.
>> Like setting up file extension special commands (like when I right
> click
>> on an MDB, I make it so I have the option of what version of Access I
>> open it with, and if I open it with a secured mdw.).  
>>
>> Drew
>