[est1895]

I've had problems with the FSOpen 3.6.12 for a very long time when it comes to playing BP.  So please discuss 

[Scotty]

I can guarantee you that BP has been tried repeatedly, exhaustively, even, on any and all release builds of FSO, and more than a few internal builds.

[est1895]

Well I used to have a very bad system crash and I tried to get help, I did get help but no solution.  BP 2 did it very often and now I may have to replace my hard drive becuase everday I'm getting errors on my machine.  The CCleaner is so far holding it together like a splint. 

[LHN91]

Sounds more like your hard drive is failing. Highly doubtful that BP2 was the cause.

[jr2]

Get a new hard disk ASAP and avoid using your other one unless there is nothing you need from it.  Do a new install on the new HD with the old one disconnected.  Then hook up the old disk and copy anything you need over.  If you can't copy everything, copy what you can, then run a chkdsk on the old drive and try again.  There is also a link in my sig for more extreme measures that may be taken if you need.

EDIT: For future reference, keeping your hard disk defragged will reduce wear over the long run and increase the odds of recovering data in the case of a crash (files are in one place rather than scattered all over the disk).  I recommend IOBit Smart Defrag 2, however others here would recommend (I also concur that it's a good program) Piriform Defraggler.

Use one of those in addition to CCleaner.

[est1895]

Well I am using the Windows XP home defrag that it came with.  In addition, I won't be getting Windows 7 Pro until there is a SP2 released.  But yes the hard drive needs to go.  I already have a replacement drive sitting in the living room, but I need to make this dying drive last as long as it could.  Whats the problem?  Money and poor service. 

[LHN91]

Well I am using the Windows XP home defrag that it came with.  In addition, I won't be getting Windows 7 Pro until there is a SP2 released.  But yes the hard drive needs to go.  I already have a replacement drive sitting in the living room, but I need to make this dying drive last as long as it could.  Whats the problem?  Money and poor service. 

Windows 7 has been quite possibly the most stable Windows release I have ever used, and I've been using it since the RTM. I don't think waiting for an SP2 is really worth it when the base is as solid as it is.

EDIT: and that includes XP sp2 and sp3. Honestly, they seem positively buggy and crash-prone (at least in my experience) in comparison.

That said, I would get any important files off that hard drive and onto some form of external storage NOW. Things tend to die when you least want them to.

[est1895]

I think your right.  I have started backing up my stuff in the form of DVDs, since it is the cheapest way.  But I can't afford to buy a copy of Windows 7 at this time.  And I have been burned by almost every place I been to in this area.  One horror story includes, PC Salvage, a place ,that's gone, here in the Tacoma, WA where I lost over $600 and I wasn't the only victim either  .  So as you can see, these freebie programs making my hard drive last has been invaluable to me.  I used to get blue screens too, from time to time. 

I've used Windows 7 at college, and it's great.    Has anyone using Windows XP home had any trouble with BP?

I guess, the next question is, what are my options?

[The E]

I guess, the next question is, what are my options?

First, do not blame us (the BP team or the FSO team) for your crappy hardware. Second, no, there are no reported issues with running FSO on any version of XP.

Also, why the hell do you need to make your current drive last as long as possible when you already have a replacement drive ready to go? Install that ****er, throw your current XP version on it, copy over all data you need, and go on with your life.

[est1895]

Sounds good E!  I just have to wait till I get enough money to do the installation. 

[LHN91]

It's honestly not that hard to install things yourself you know. Free of charge.

[est1895]

That brings up a good question.  The last guy I had install Windows, first put it on drive D, then wiped drive D clear, then install ed it drive C.  One thing that is particular is when I used the Windows defragmenter, and it suppost to show a thick green band; when I got that back I had 2 thick green bands.  Was Windows installed properly? 

As for installing it myself, don't I need special tools and antistatic gloves?  If only E where here, I'd pay him $50 to do the install.

But really thanks guys and God Bless.  I really do appreciate the help.  I'll try someone else to do the work (if I can).

[Parias]

As for installing it myself, don't I need special tools and antistatic gloves?  If only E where here, I'd pay him $50 to do the install.

Nope, don't really need much beyond a screwdriver (unless you've got one of those fancy computer cases) and a rough understanding of what cables plug in where. Just spend a bit poking around, do a couple of Google searches, and you should get a feel for it pretty quick.

There's nothing wrong with being prepared to deal with static discharge, but for common consumer-grade PC work, average paranoia about it is way overrated. Just touch a metal piece of your computer chassis before working with anything sensitive and don't rub a bunch of balloons all over yourself while you're working on your computer, and you shouldn't have any issues.

[est1895]

well.. it is a lian-li case just earlier than the PC-65.  One place I when to burned up 2 Fujitsu Hard Drives just by tying to installing them each at a time.

[KyadCK]

Sounds good E!  I just have to wait till I get enough money to do the installation.

Do you mean installing XP? Pro tip: the same XP key can be used twice every six months, use your old key and CD and install the damn thing before your current drive gives out.

But I can't afford to buy a copy of Windows 7 at this time.

Win 7 Pro is only worth it if you plan to use a domain. Otherwise save a few bucks and get Home Premium.

As for installing it myself, don't I need special tools and antistatic gloves?  If only E where here, I'd pay him $50 to do the install.

How to install a harddrive

[LHN91]

well.. it is a lian-li case just earlier than the PC-65.  One place I when to burned up 2 Fujitsu Hard Drives just by tying to installing them each at a time.

You really seem to manage to find awful computer techs. I'm honestly not sure how you would even manage to burn up 2 hard drives just by trying to install them into what by all appearances is a relatively easy to work in case. That takes skill for them to fail that bad.

Reminds me of the time I got a perfectly working C2D desktop from somebody because the shop (Staples) said a motherboard sensor was gone, at a cost of 170 bucks to fix; when the problem was that the processor fan was seized and not spinning. 10 dollars for a used fan and the system ran like new.

[est1895]

I remember another tech said that I had kicked the case and made the CPU fan come off.  That's just like a slap in the face.

It looks like my brother wants to get the retail version of Windows 7 Full Pro.  Cheapest one I could find was at Newegg for $250.00

Well I can't try to install it yet, until I'm out of college which will be 2 weeks.  That way if there are any problems, the computer can sit and wait till I get enough money.

[LHN91]

One more pro-tip: If you only plan on installing your copy on your one computer, grab an OEM copy. HUGE discount.

Home Premium 64bit, 32 is the same price: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Pro, same thing: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116992

[est1895]

That is true that 7 oem is much cheaper, but my brother wants the retail version for free technical support from Microsoft. 

When I do get the money, how can you know if to get 32bit or 64bit?  Is there some program out there that will tell you?

[jr2]

Hmm.  IMHO free tech support is overrated.  You've got what, three free shots and then they start charging you?  Well, that's if you can Google most of the answers yourself, then it's not worth it.  If you really need help, I suppose.

BTW, You know, you can re-install XP on your new hard disk just to get going.  Then, burn yourself a Live CD (like [_Mini_Windows_XP]]Hiren't Boot CD, choose the "Mini XP" option, and when you get Windows 7, you can just move your old install to a new directory.

Example:

C:\Windows  (Windows XP is installed here, but we need 7)
C:\Documents and Settings   (your documents etc will be here under your username, e.g. \John\My Documents
C:\Program Files  (you can't have old programs installed for XP still in this directory when you install 7, it will mess things up)

from the live cd, open Windows Explorer, and move these folders to a new directory called "old" in your mail folder of your Hard Disk.

Now install 7 (choose "leave filesystem intact" when asked if you want to format, so you don't erase the "old" directory)

Then, from 7, copy your data from the "old" directory... when you have everything, you can delete the "old" directory to save space.

This way, you have a working computer until you can get 7.

If XP gives you any problems installing and you need to call M$, tell them that you had to replace the hard disk and are re-installing on the same computer that this XP was installed on before, and they will let you install (if your XP was legit to begin with ofc).

NOTE: Windows 7 stores documents in the "Users" directory, e.g. \Users\John\Documents