Posted 11/02/2009 at 10:52:39am

I just installed the Home Premium version via clean install on a customer's computer and during the install, it scanned the drive and gave me the option of 'Upgrade' or 'Custom' install. After installing the OS, I went to activate and it worked just fine. They were using the Ultimate 32-bit RC that their son in law installed. I installed the Home Premium 64-bit copy via clean install (as always). No problems.

I didn't have to do a hack. I know if I choose to install it on a fresh drive (like I plan to do, from a Raptor to the new Caviar Black 2TB drive) then I need to do the hack.

Is there something I'm missing where the install should not have activated from the RC?

Posted 10/27/2009 at 02:29:26pm

Since the Libraries in Windows 7 are tied into the User folder, it's easier to have the applications know to look into C:\Users\<USER>\Videos. The 250GB drive is used for video editing and compiling Blu-ray movie discs. Takes a lot of room to grab data off a high def camera, compile, and then burn it to a Blu-ray disc. Even my SD projects can be upwards of 100GB, so I need just a 'temp' work drive for it. Then I Acronis the folders and compress them to an external backup drives (one I'm working with is 1TB).

I plan on upgrading all my drives eventually. I have a Antec NINE Hundred case, so I'm not hurting for room. I'll probably get the 2TB WD as the primary with all my content loaded on it (movies, games, apps etc) and then another two 1TB drives for editing and backup purposes. Just need to start somewhere.

By the way, the file types are M4V files opening up in Media Player 12 64-bit, so the super low latency of the Raptor is seen. The 20GB AVI files I output for editing, it's more about memory than read speeds. A standard 1TB with 32MB Cache would suffice.

Thanks for the tip.

Posted 10/23/2009 at 09:19:54am

I saw this advertised on Newegg yesterday, and I jumped over here to see what was the current favorite drive in Best of the Best...and it was the same. I didn't see the review yet but you were fast to get it out.

I currently have a Raptor (love the speed!) but the 67GB of converted movies (I'm not even half done with my DVD collection) is drying my drive up. I wanted performance AND capacity especially since most of my movies are around 2GB a peice and I load games like Unreal 3 and L4D. My DSL connection is my PING downfall, but I'm still the first one on the map 98% of the time.

Being bound to the SATA I spec isn't easy with a SATA II mobo, though most of the time the pipeline is enough for what I do but I didn't want to go backwards in speed. I also wanted it as my primary drive, not a secondary like my 250GB WD for video editing. Thanks Max PC for the great review. I'll wait a couple of months and buy it when it drops down to around $200. I'll install my full copy of Windows 7 then since the RC is still good.

Appreciate the excellent review.

Posted 10/22/2009 at 10:21:42pm

I got that error too but I realized that you need to run the setup to extract the "expandedSetup" folder. Then create the ISO using the command prompt. Also, to burn the ISO, RC includes a Right Cllick>Open With>Windows Disc Image Burner function (awesome)! One more for Windows 7!

 Burn it and away you go. Hope that helps.

Posted 10/22/2009 at 06:02:21pm

I'm downloading this for my girlfriend's laptop right now and installing it for her this weekend at her college and this actually crossed my mind when I initiated the download and saw the downloader. Wasn't sure how it was coming! I had to drop over the site anyway to see your recommended drives (I think it is time to part with the 150GB Raptor and upgrade to a SATA II drive) and I saw this! Think I'll hold my retail copy of 7 and keep the RC installed until I find a new drive. Got to make room for all my movie content! I'm running out of space!

 Thanks Paul for the tip!

Posted 10/16/2009 at 04:55:46pm

I got one of those Keytronics right now and the darn spacebar broke. I thought the thing would last me a while. The left CTRL button wouldn't work until I took apart and cleaned it out (all that crouching action on Expert while down-front in L4D I guess). Since the space requires ridiculous amounts of pressure, it makes dodging in Unreal 3 a chore!

 It's expensive but I think it would be well worth it. I recently got a promotion, so besides putting the money in the house fund (which is the goal lol), I think I should take care of my gamer and general use computing needs. Hell, I'm a geek first.

 Are we going to get another review on this? I know you guys did a Das review a while back.

Posted 08/12/2009 at 04:53:31pm

Not that this information is not helpful, but do companies need to start taking away cell phones away from ignorant employees (*wink* Best Buy)?

Posted 07/17/2009 at 02:48:17pm

Looks pretty good. Granted it is a sudden brilliance of white, but I think the red on white and black text is more readable. The page does load faster which is a plus.

 I like it. Good job!

Posted 07/13/2009 at 11:15:41am

Sorry Will. I think you stole this one from Stargate's 'The Link' interface on P3X-289.

No I had to Bing that one. It just reminded me of that episode. Cool idea though and I would probably have to agree that would be nice to have personally. Then again, I think I'd rather be able to fly to avoid long lines at security at the airport, and even better, avoid traffic in the morning.

Posted 07/12/2009 at 02:11:13pm

That's what I did with my Vista Ultimate install before I wiped the drive for the Win 7 RC installation. Short of having to copy my content over manually because of a security (SID) thing with trying to restore docs and such with the Acronis app, having a backup copy of the original install is a great peace of mind for ANY IT guy. I'm going to do the same thing with the RC install before I try the upgrade and wipe the drive. At least the restoration of files should go well.