Re: Slightly off topic: bare iron, or Three Geeks and a Goat

["Steve Crutchfield" SCRUTCH@xxxxxxxx]

Allow moment to add to what Patricia just said. I just went through the
exercise of buying a new PC, and running alternative operating systems
was a prime concern for me (I use eComstation/OS2). Here's my advice.

1) If you're buying from a mass merchandiser (I used Best Buy), spend a
few moments inspecting the hardware that's installed on the computer.
You can do this by running Control Panel->System->Device
Manager->Hardware. You can find the exact model names and numbers of
all the relevant hardware devices that way. Write down the names of the
devices (for example, my computer had a SoundMax audio driver and Intel
Pro 100 network card). Then, check the web for information about the
Operating System Other than Windows of Your Choice to see if drivers are
available for that specific hardware. In my case, I found that
eComStation supported all of my hardware devices out of the box, and I
was able to install an alternate OS without a hitch.

2) If you can afford it, I strongly recommend buying a second hard
drive if you want to run a non-Windows OS. Windows is very, VERY picky
about co-existing with other operating systems, and if you aren't
careful you can trash the computer by fidding around with partitions on
the C: drive. Geekily speaking, Windows insists on being installed on
the first primary partition on a hard drive. Placing another partition
in front of the Windows partition (such as with Partition Magic) can
render Windows inoperable. That happened to me once, and of course the
computer came without a Windows CD. Many new computers come wiht a
"Maintenance Partition" instead of a real CD, and recovering from such a
mistake can be difficult. For my new PC, I purchased a new 120 gig
hard drive for $79.00 after a rebate, and then installed eComStation on
the second drive without disturbing Windows at all. An extra advantage
is that you can use the second drive as backup media in case the first
hard drive fails.

Of course, be sure to ask the salesperson (or check the web) to see if
your computer has an available expansion bay for a second disk drive. If
the salesperson doesn't know (many don't) try another vendor.

Steve Crutchfield, XyWriter since 1982.

>>> pmgodfrey@xxxxxxxx 8/30/2004 1:29:44 PM >>>

I have sung the praises of buying one's systems from local or mail-order
dealers before on this list, so I think I should add a few caveats.
First of all, some of the dealers who are starting up are neither as
knowledgeable nor as honest as they should be, so it behooves one to
check references. Second, one must know what one is getting and follow
a certain procedure:

1. Insist that you get a list of at least the model numbers, with chipset
numbers, of all component parts (well, you can probably skip floppies,
mouse, and keyboards, which are pretty much commodities); serial numbers
are even better. Also one or more CDs with the driver files for all
components.

2. If you are thinking of installing any opsys other than XP, you will
have to check and make sure that the particular hardware you are
planning to buy HAS drivers for the desired opsys. This may involve first
getting the spec sheet, then visiting the components' manufacturers' WebSites
to verify the existence of such drivers. (You may also find later drivers
than the one on your CD; download them.) By now, very few motherboards
are having 98 drivers written for them; more AMD-compatible boards
seem to than Intel ones.
3. The whole point of this exercise is to install the opsys yourself,
after having first partitioned the hard drive with FDISK. If you
cannot do that, you will need to have two hard drives, and use the second for
your DOS apps and data. (Actually, that is a BETTER modus operandi
than partitioning, but of course it costs more.)
4. If you go the 2-drive route and have the dealer install the opsys,
make sure that he either:
	4.1 Gives you a real Windows CD, not just a restore CD; or
	4.2 Puts the Cabinet files on the hard drive and gives you the
install key. Then, first thing, burn those CAB files to a CD-R (or two), write
down the install key, and store it in a file somewhere (on another
system or a floppy or CD).
5. The driver CD will have drivers for other components as well as
those in your system. Also possibly for other opsyses. Find the appropriate
ones, and copy them to the second drive or the second partition. If
you are installing the opsys yourself, install from there when the New
Hardware Wizard gives you the "have disk"option. Once everything is
installed, burn just those drivers to a CD. You do NOT want to search
through eight or nine deeply nested folders on the original CD looking
for the right driver.
Patricia