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Resizing OS Partition

The Maximum PC Staff — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:30:02 -0500

I am getting an HP TouchSmart tx2z Tablet PC in the next couple of weeks for college. However, I need to install Windows XP on it, as it’s a requirement for the engineering software I will be using. Is it possible to repartition the hard drive and still keep the copy of Vista that comes preinstalled? If so, how would I do it? I don’t want to pay for a laptop with Vista on it, just to lose it for XP. Especially with Windows 7 right around the corner.

—Andrew Muscha

Andrew, if your school requires XP, you’d better get a different computer. HP’s support site doesn’t have any XP drivers for the TouchSmart tx2z. But the company may have a similar tablet with XP support—you should call HP and see.

Once you get a computer that supports XP, you can shrink your hard drive partition and install Windows XP in the free space. Vista’s Partition Manager can do that, as can third-party apps like EASEUS Partition Master (www.partition-tool.com). When you’ve got the space, boot from your XP install disc and install it to the empty partition. Use your Vista repair disc afterward to restore your boot manager, and you’ll be dual-booting in no time!

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION Are flames shooting out of the back of your rig? First, grab a fire extinguisher and douse the flames. Once the pyrotechnic display has fizzled, email the doctor at doctor@maximumpc.com for advice on how to solve your technological woes.

Windows 7's Multitouch Is Impressive for Productivity and Gaming

Mark Edward Soper — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:36:59 -0600

Gizmodo's Wilson Rothman installed Windows 7 Beta on an HP TouchSmart PC over the weekend, and offers a detailed look at how multitouch works, complete with several videos. Some highlights:

If you install Windows 7 Beta on a system that's already running the manufacturer's touch software, a clean install (instead of upgrading from Windows Vista) provides a truer multitouch experience with fewer configuration headaches
You can use multitouch as a mouse replacement; running Windows Media Center; zooming, rotating, and drawing; and for gaming
You can download a cool AirHockey demo (no quarters needed!)

Have you tried Windows 7's multitouch interface yet? Hit Comment and tell us what you liked about it - and what needs more work.

Illustration from video courtesy Gizmodo.

HP TouchSmart IQ506t

Michael Brown — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:00:00 -0600

HP’s TouchSmart line of all-in-one desktop computers has undergone quite a transformation since we examined the very first model, the IQ770, nearly two years ago. Not only is every change for the better, but HP has managed to slash prices by several hundred dollars.

The formfactor is the most obvious change to the TouchSmart line: The IQ770 was like a monitor stuck on top of a pizza box; the new series looks like an oversize picture frame. Apple, Dell, and Gateway have all taken this tack with their all-in-one offerings, but HP’s engineers also designed the TouchSmart like an easel. By using three feet to support the computer, the company was able to carry over the IQ770’s handy keyboard garage concept (providing a space below the CPU for keyboard storage), but it’s impossible to casually adjust this display’s tilt angle. We loved the fact that we could use the IQ770 while either sitting or standing, but you can’t stand in front of the IQ506 unless it’s on a bar-height counter.

HP sells three preconfigured TouchSmart models. We reviewed the middle offering—the $1,500 IQ506t—which features a 22-inch touch-screen, a 2.16GHz mobile Intel Core2 Duo CPU, a discrete videocard, and a 500GB hard drive.

The TouchSmart achieves its impressively thin profile (it’s just three inches thick) by using many components that were designed for notebook PCs, including an external power supply. This helps keep the rig cool and extremely quiet at the expense of performance, at least when compared to a conventional desktop rig. You need to find a good hiding place for that brick, too.

The TouchSmart’s main attractions, its touch screen and the user interface associated with it, have been radically improved. The screen supports multi-touch gestures, for instance, and the user interface can display an unlimited number of tiles (which serve the same function as shortcut icons in the Windows GUI). The silly three-slot limit on user-created tiles has also been eliminated. HP doesn’t make much use of multi-touch features at this point, though; you can use two fingers to resize tiles, but that’s about it. HP got rid of the stylus, but there’s no need to worry about fingerprints smeared all over that huge LCD. The screen is covered by a sheet of protective glass that the documentation says can be cleaned with “typical household glass cleaner.”

The keyboard is a vast improvement over the one that shipped with the IQ770; it feels very solid and delivers excellent tactile feedback while being just a half-inch thick. HP augmented the Analog Devices SoundMax HD-audio chip with signal-processing software from Sonic Focus to deliver much-improved audio.

The TouchSmart application software is a mixed bag: The music and video programs aren’t terrible, but the photo editor is far too basic and the calendar can’t synchronize with a smartphone (it will, however, automatically sync with Windows Vista Calendar. Woo hoo!).

We’ll sum up by repeating what we said about the first-generation TouchSmart: It would be a big mistake to make the IQ506t your one-and-only PC: It’s just not powerful enough for gaming, heavy-duty photo or video editing, or many other enthusiast applications. But it is an absolutely fabulous family computer and media center.

HP Launches TouchSmart TX2, World’s First Multi Touch Laptop

Alex Castle — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:00:00 -0600

Image Credit: HP

As predicted, HP today announced that they will immediately begin taking orders for the TouchSmart TX2, the first multi touch laptop widely available to consumers. The laptop, priced starting at $1,199, will begin shipping at the end of November.

The TX2’s multi touch interface will work with any program that already supports multi touch, as well as with HP’s integrated MediaSmart media suite. The laptop features an array of gestural controls, including all of the multi touch standards, like pinch-zooming and two finger rotation, as well as the ability to open MediaSmart at any time by drawing an “m” on the screen with both fingers. The screen uses capacitance-based touch detection and is designed to accept input either from the pad of a finger or from a built-in digital pen.

With a 12.1 inch screen and weighing in at 4.3 pounds, the TX2 is physically nearly identical to its predecessor, the TX2000. The only thing differentiating the two visually is the TX2’s glossy, charcoal-colored finish and “Reaction Imprint” design.

All but the cheapest loadouts of the TX2 come equipped with Turion X2 dual-core processors. All models will ship with Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics, and consumers can opt for up to 8GB of DDR2 SDRAM and 500GB of hard disk storage. The laptop also features a webcam and optional fingerprint reader.

What do you think of the TX2? Are multi touch laptops going to become the norm? Let us know after the jump.

Where's my SLI? 5.1 Switcher? Functional Keyboard?

The Maximum PC Staff — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:05:13 -0600

A 5.1 SWITCHEROO

Ever seen a device that can switch between 5.1 components?

I have 5.1-capable headphones with an attached mic and 5.1-capable speakers. I want to be able to easily switch between the speakers and headphones, but I currently have to physically disconnect my speakers and then connect the headphones, which is very tedious. Logitech speakers have a desktop controller/volume control that accepts headphones, but it has only a single input.

—Chris Ramirez

The Doc has never seen the type of analog 5.1-channel switcher you’re describing, but he suggests you take a look at Turtle Beach’s Ear Force HPA2. This headset delivers 5.1-channel surround sound and has a boom-mounted mic, but it also comes with a splitter cable that enables you to plug in a set of 5.1-channel speakers. You can switch between the two outputs without having to unplug any cables from your soundcard. The Doctor realizes that’s not an ideal solution, but he’s listened to both the Turtle Beach phones and the Razer HP-1s you’re using and much prefers the Turtles.

DUAL CARD DOESN’T WORK

I recently bought a Dell XPS 710 with an XFX GeForce 8600 GTS videocard. I am running dual Dell 2007WFP 20-inch monitors. I want to install a second XFX GeForce 8600 GTS card, so I can run a third Dell 2007WFP, maybe even four monitors. I haven’t had any luck installing the second card.

When I bought the XPS 710, the salesperson said Dell could spec the XPS 710, with two videocards. If he was correct, the two cards should work. Dell did have to replace the motherboard last week for a different reason. When the technician changed the board, she tried installing the second card but was also unsuccessful. Any suggestions?

—Frank Fugate

Never content to leave well enough alone, Dell customizes the XPS 710 with what it calls “Dell’s OEM Implementation of Nvidia nForce 590 SLI.” If Dell’s tech-support staff can’t get SLI to function on its own product, you should explore returning the system and getting your money back.

TOUCHSMART, TOUCHSMART, SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME

I bought an HP TouchSmart PC in March 2007 (my first mistake in this venture). I have had keyboard issues since day one. The keyboard is wireless and it works intermittently. I look at the keyboard, not the screen when I type, so when I look up, half of my letters are missing and a third of the others are duplicates. Other times the keyboard works well.

After calling HP support, I was sent a replacement keyboard. That did not resolve the issue. So I called back and was sent another. Same problem. I noticed that it uses 2.4GHz for its comm signal. Since my wireless router (Linksys WRT54g) is in close proximity, could that be interfering? Should I switch the router to a different channel?

The HP help desk wants me to reinstall the operating system. I refuse to do that because it took too much time to set up.

—Steve Broudy

The HP TouchSmart IQ770 has a built-in Bluetooth transceiver for its mouse and keyboard, but soon after HP began shipping these machines, the company decided to augment it with a USB Bluetooth dongle. If you didn’t receive a dongle with your machine, contact HP and ask them to send you one. After you’ve paired it with your keyboard, you should see a big improvement in keyboard performance. The Doctor certainly did after he added one to his TouchSmart. If you’re still having trouble, the Doc prescribes moving your router—it could be interfering with the Bluetooth network.

Spider Doctor. Spider Doctor. Does whatever a Spider Doctor does. Can he swing, from a web? No he can’t, cause he’s the Doctor. Look out! He is the Doctor. Solves your problems. If you send. An e-mail to doctor@maximumpc.com. Running out! Of space for song….