PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hi,

I am reformatting both of my drives (C: with 20 gs, and d: with 200 gigs) I do have image DVD's of my entire set up. But I am choosing not to use those and just start everything from scratch. (yes, i will not sleep for the next 24 hours).

I WANT to do everything as right as possible (I have not done this before) to make my PC as good a DAW as possible.

So, I was wondering if anyone could advice me with a step-by-step list of how to maximize this opportunity. What to install first, standard, not standard, hyperthreading when to turn it on, or off. etc.

Here's what I have:

Pentium 4 3.0 gz
VIA Motherboard
1 g RAM
1 20 gs hard drive
1 200 gs hard drive (both 7200)
1 80 g hard drive (10000)
128 Ram Radeon graphics card
3 Pulsar 1 cards (12 DSP)and Pro package
Cubase SX 3.1
Reason 2.5
various VST instruments and FX plug ins

I think I have most of the important bits. I am not terribly technically minded.

I know this might seem like a big request, but, as for me, it might give others a good clue as to what is best (given the differences in systems, etc).

Also, I feel it might save me and many others the time to read bits and pieces here and there in all the posts in this forum.

Thank you so much for your help.

werner

http://www.musicxp.net/

That's a good start...

i'm not sure what EXACTLY are the best settings for the mobo bios. personally, i'd start by disableng EVERYTHING that you do not need(parallel and serial ports, on board audio/ video etc.). i would also disable ht. it may work just fine, but it may just make trouble and the gains are minor if you use it.

i would change out the motherboard NOW. an intel d865perl is about $90 u.s. and would be light years more stable and useful. now is the easiest time to set things right....

regardless, the next step is to remove the scope card and install the os. for the 865perl acpi or standard mode is fine, the via board may like one or the other, acpi will probably be just fine if it's a current model. if it's an older(3-4 years) mobo, standard mode will probably be best.

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... forum=3&10 here's a basic guide to install order, it's a little out of date and you may want to install scope before the sequencer, although you'll have to create a vst plugins folder for xtc plugs(the reason i do it in the other order).

if you have specific questions ask.

i would change out the motherboard NOW. an intel d865perl is about $90 u.s. and would be light years more stable and useful. now is the easiest time to set things right....

I can't agree more with Garyb here... absolutely! You trully should make this extra effort here. I'll look for what for me is the best way. But you have to understand that each computer will have different needs that you and only you, will have to sort out, as the configuration is different practicaly always.

* Go disable Plug & PLay in your BIOS, this is a must off/no.

* In BIOS again, disable boot virus protection, set it to off till you finish your instalation, then put it on, toguether with Plug % Play, if you know you are going to need it

* BIOS again, change your PCI latency timer from 32 to 64. I don't think you will have any problems with it, I have never had, but if you do, just set it back to 32

* Don't partition when installing, do it at a later time, install being your C drive the whole drive you are installing to.

* Don't install with other drivers containing data attached to your computer. Plug ONLY the drive that is going to become your C drive, all other drives should be kept out, there are many good reasons to do it.

* Don't install with anything conected to the back of your computer, any periferal should be unpluged till installation is completer finished, or those items may cose confusion to your instalation.

* Use NTFS all the way, for your C and whichever other disk you are going to use

* In your BIOS you must seup the boot order as follows: firs Floppy, then CD, then HDD

* When installing XP, add inmediately after any servis pack you may need to install

* When you are done with it, clean your registry with some good software like J16 Power Tools 2005, or something similar, as Windows has always some errors that can cause some small problems in the future, but I guess, you don't want even a small one CAREFULL: Don't use "DEEP" cleaning with any application of those, use "NORMAL" settings, as they may let you with problems, and alwyas do a backup of what you do there. You can use the current date of the day so you know which is which, when times goes by

* Now it comes the time for most esential drivers from your MOBO, included in your CD

* It is always better not to install USB from your MOBO CD, but doing it from Windows, once you have finished the installatin of SP2. Go to "Start", then to "My PC", then right clik it, "Properties" and reach your hardware tab. You'll see the typical yellow question mark, ask Windows to install outomatically your drivers for USB there, but depending of some installation factors, you may have it installed already automatically

* If you are going to install your INF drive, do it right here. It is silly to say that, but I will, alwyas use the latest drivers

* Now it is time for DirectX 9.0c, which it seems to be working fine, I have just installed it, and installs much faster than before, and it seems you don't need to restart your computer, but anyway, it may happen in yours that it asks you to do so, do it

* HERE install your LAN drivers with the same procedure as you have installed your USB drivers, and let Windows choose what to do, just have your CD into the drive, so the drivers can be found by Windos

* If your DSL ADSL connection is through USB, install your drivers with same procedure as above, here

* Windows is installed and everything avobe done: Now go and try to change your CD and DVD drivers from IDE to DMA if posible. I don't remember well right now how, but this is the the hardware secction too, you have to right click and an option shows up

* Remove all Windows rabish you don't need or like, like Windows Messenger, OutLook, etc., etc., etc... with proper procedures, uninstalling it through the interface of your copy of XP

* Install Pulsar latest driver, reboot and install SCOPE and all the rest.

* Do a complete defragmentation of your computer, before installing anyting more, this is strongly recomended, if you do not, you may end with a slowler computer just for being impatient... I'm sure you don't want to hold back, do you? he

* Switch your computer off, install your other drivers, and restart your machine. Windows should have recognised it, do what you need with your drive, format it, change to NTFS, whatever

* Install anything else, starting by your main software host, and at the end, all your smaller pieces of software like VST plugins.


I have already said that you, and only you will have the latest answer. Please! I beg you to be patient when doing it, don't rush... Plan and clearly write your install, print out a copy of your plan, and follow it with great precaution.

Finally, I have to say that it doesn't matter how much effort you may put into stability, there is alwyas some little issues, this is NOT you, it is "computer science"... After you have installed and set everything up, you'll fine tune your DAW, but again, with patiance, taking your time... Well, I hope not to bother you with my recomendations, in any case, take it as a very friendly aproache to you, right? Good luck

Please, post here how things went, we want to know...

_________________
Music is the most Powerful Language in the world! *INDEED*


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Nestor on 2005-03-24 02:15 ]</font>

VIA chipset ? = better not

some will say HT enable, some disable, in my experiences and with my mobo (asus P4C800-de)is the same, i have tried both


other is already mentioned before....



matej

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: fidox on 2005-03-24 04:11 ]</font>

I am overwhelmed with the response.

Thank you so much. Please keep this topic near at hand. I am sure this will help many others in the future.

I will soon start the ardous task of following each of these steps.

My apologies to some, I actually have an Abit Motherboard IS7, with an Intel chipset

Wonder if its a good enough board.

Thanks so much, I will keep posted as to how things fare.

I had much trouble previously with overwhelming pops and crackles, and lately very regular freezing.

Werner

If you have done everything correctly, those pops and crackles are not a serious thing... don't worry. It is a matter of farther configuration, there are many posible reasons. I tond you that it will never be perfect, there are always some issues that you have to fix mannualy. Sometimes they are so simple... but you'll spend a day searching for them.

Keep going, you'll come with a beautiful bitch, ya'l see!

A suggestion, for everybody who needs a step by step, I would suggest you to rename this thread to:

REINSTALLING STEP-BY-STEP

it will be easier to find. Cheers.

and really, although nestor's suggestions are right on, there are a couple of steps that i omit(because i won't allow the process to take more than a day) and i have no problems. be advised that most of those things are extra security measures. the process itself is not difficult, it will just take a little time.

I have created a new post, as was suggested, and have put all the ideas in order, both from this forum, and from Cubase SX forum, in the hope that others will benefit from it.

Please have a look at it, and perhaps add some more, or tell me where I got something wrong,

regards,

werner