Legit Reviews

So i am having some trouble getting my OS to boot. I'm trying to boot an invalid Xp OS, so then I can put a valid vista home premium re-install discs over that, so then I can put in my vista ultimate upgrade disc over that. I did it once before, but now I can't even get the xp OS to boot. I have my priority device 1 set as cd-rom with the xp OS in the dvd-rw drive. It's suppose to go right to installation when restarting, but instead it posts and then asks for a system disk just like it does with nothing in the dvd-rw drive. What am I doing wrong? All I want to do is play DX10 games, geez.

Erm, I'd suggest just using a Vista install disc, not an upgrade one...if you don't have one they are easily found

because it costs a considerable amount of $

those other operating system discs I got for free, so I need those to work

Erm I did some looking and apparently the Anytime Upgrade disc is exactly the same as the Retail Install disc so you can just boot from that disc and make a clean install, none of this install from XP nonsense.

On a side note, you could also buy the Retail disc w/o a license and just use your current license to install but that would be kind of silly because you already have the Install disc, it's just labeled 'Upgrade'

And there's no way or hack to make DirectX 10 work on XP correct?

I REALLY REALLY don't want to use Vista as I'm pro privacy.

Skippman wrote:And there's no way or hack to make DirectX 10 work on XP correct?

I REALLY REALLY don't want to use Vista as I'm pro privacy.

There was a project called alky, that intended to get DX10 working on xp, but as far as I know they only got to a alpha version and then abandoned the project (It turned out to be a lot harder than they initially thought).

If you can find the files, you will have temperamental DX10 on XP at best, but even the main website appears to have stopped hosting the files.

Dan

Skippman wrote:And there's no way or hack to make DirectX 10 work on XP correct?

I REALLY REALLY don't want to use Vista as I'm pro privacy.

pro privacy? What feature in Vista can't you turn off that gives you privacy concerns?

The usage caching and DRM related tracking.

I've been meaning to sit down with him but a friend of mine who works for AB went to a Vista Forensics Class put on by Microsoft and you'd be amazed at the number of things it keeps records of. I'm not uber paranoid and delete my cookies every 15 minutes or anyhing, but a program that keeps track of the last 2,000 or so MP3's I've played isn't my idea of "non-intrusive".

Mind you my knowledge of everything it keeps track of is 3rd party and I plan to sit down with him and have him show me exactly what it tracks and how it tracks it but given Microsofts agressive tendencies (black screening people) lately I feel my paranoia is somewhat justified.

Skippman wrote:Mind you my knowledge of everything it keeps track of is 3rd party and I plan to sit down with him and have him show me exactly what it tracks and how it tracks it but given Microsofts agressive tendencies (black screening people) lately I feel my paranoia is somewhat justified.

The whole black screen thing is kind of stupid... it's like if arresting people for stealing stuff suddenly became totally wrong. Let the thieves to all they want...

nvm the problem was my sata cable was like 2mm off from the sata port

as for the complicated procedure, It turns out there's a workaround method for doing a clean install of vista upgrade. YAY happy ending!

Correct me if I'm wrong but XP has a 3 gig memory cap right?

Skippman wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong but XP has a 3 gig memory cap right?

3.XXGB 'cap' depending on the hardware used.

And it's not an XP limitation, but a 32bit OS limitation. There physically aren't enough addresses in 32bits to access over the 3.something range.

Dan

Does XP 64bit have the same limitation?

No, but it's a poor implementation of 64bit and driver support is even worse than vista 64bit (which is actually quite good now).

If you are sticking to XP then 3.2GB (or whatever) should do you fine.

Dan