Windows 7 or 8? SSD?

[rassy7]

Been reading through the threads about SSD's and have been considering including one in my own system. I would have just posted my issue here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=119112 but I didn't want to hikack the thread and my prob is a bit different.

 

Hard drive crashed this morning. Won't boot. Aarrgghh. Fifth internal laptop hd I've lost in five years (four different computers). Think I finally want to introduce a single SSD for OS, DCS and everything else. Currently using about 360 GB or so of the 700 I had available.

 

1: Recommend brand/model?

 

My machine a laptop, which changes the problem a little bit - Alienware M18X R1, with an i7, two nVidia GTX 580M'S and 16GB HyperX DDR3, if that makes a difference, honestly I don't know.

 

Everything comes preloaded on those so when the hd crashes, I have to either dust off the repair disk or use it as an opening to just buy a standalone version of Windows and avoid reinstalling all the bloatware.

 

2: Stick with Win7 or try Win8?

 

2A: A little OT, but how in the world am I ever going to recover my module serials?

 

Thanks for any help!

[cichlidfan]

1. Samsung 840 EVO - they make them up to 1TB if your wallet can handle it. ;)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-EVO-Series-2-5-Inch-MZ-7TE500BW/dp/B00E3W19MO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1391712650&sr=8-3&keywords=samsung+ssd+840+evo

 

2. Win 8

 

2a. If you bought from ED, all of your keys are available under your account.

[rassy7]

Oh thank God! I did buy everything from ED.

 

So I'm guessing DCS works all right on Win 8 then, as far as you know? I remember I saw it come up a couple times but can't recall what the issues were.

[mig29movt]

Been reading through the threads about SSD's and have been considering including one in my own system. I would have just posted my issue here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=119112 but I didn't want to hikack the thread and my prob is a bit different.

 

Hard drive crashed this morning. Won't boot. Aarrgghh. Fifth internal laptop hd I've lost in five years (four different computers). Think I finally want to introduce a single SSD for OS, DCS and everything else. Currently using about 360 GB or so of the 700 I had available.

 

1: Recommend brand/model?

 

My machine a laptop, which changes the problem a little bit - Alienware M18X R1, with an i7, two nVidia GTX 580M'S and 16GB HyperX DDR3, if that makes a difference, honestly I don't know.

 

Everything comes preloaded on those so when the hd crashes, I have to either dust off the repair disk or use it as an opening to just buy a standalone version of Windows and avoid reinstalling all the bloatware.

 

2: Stick with Win7 or try Win8?

 

2A: A little OT, but how in the world am I ever going to recover my module serials?

 

Thanks for any help!

 

2: 7, seven, SEVEN for gods sake!!! :puke:

 

Don't you know the rule: good, Sh*t, good, Sh*t?????

95-good, 98-BSOD, NT-good, Me/2000-bullsh*t, XP-good, Vista-sucks, 7-good, 8-???

 

No, seriously if would go for Windows 7 there will be Updates for quite a long time (XP will shut down this April and it started in 2003 IIRC)

I'm using Windows 8 at work and I obviously hate it for several reasons, but my one was preassembled (coming with Win8 ). I now bought 5 workstations which I assemble on my own, all of them with 7

[rassy7]

... go for Windows 7 there will be Updates for quite a long time

 

Hmmm ... good points. I am going to have to look into the OS a bit more then, which I guess is fine since I won't have to spend much time looking at SSD's. I am shocked at how cheap that EVO Series one is, even for 750GB.

 

BTW, not sute if you're a SciFi fan, but the Star Trek movies have a similar sequence, ;-)

[Gerg]

You dont even need to buy another copy of Win 7 as long as the Win key sticker is still readable on the case somewhere.

 

Just download a fresh MS Win 7 sp1 iso from Digital river.

 

Legal links:

 

http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

[rassy7]

You dont even need to buy another copy of Win 7 as long as the Win key sticker is still readable on the case somewhere.

 

Just download a fresh MS Win 7 sp1 iso from Digital river.

 

Legal links:

 

http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

 

Gerg, thanks. I had no idea this was even an option. My rig's in pieces right now but I just grabbed the bottom door and sure enough, the Windows genuine actication product key is there on the sticker. Can't wait to try this. Thanks again.

[Gerg]

Gerg, thanks. I had no idea this was even an option. My rig's in pieces right now but I just grabbed the bottom door and sure enough, the Windows genuine actication product key is there on the sticker. Can't wait to try this. Thanks again.

 

 

No problem, just remember to download the correct version you had before - Home/Pro/Ultimate etc, the key will activate both 32 and 64 bit just whatever needed.

 

You might also need to activate over the phone as some OEM keys are funny about doing it automatically but is only a 2 minute automated free phone call.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Gerg

[maddabboyahoo.com]

Been reading through the threads about SSD's and have been considering including one in my own system. I would have just posted my issue here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=119112 but I didn't want to hikack the thread and my prob is a bit different.

 

Hard drive crashed this morning. Won't boot. Aarrgghh. Fifth internal laptop hd I've lost in five years (four different computers). Think I finally want to introduce a single SSD for OS, DCS and everything else. Currently using about 360 GB or so of the 700 I had available.

 

1: Recommend brand/model?

 

My machine a laptop, which changes the problem a little bit - Alienware M18X R1, with an i7, two nVidia GTX 580M'S and 16GB HyperX DDR3, if that makes a difference, honestly I don't know.

 

Everything comes preloaded on those so when the hd crashes, I have to either dust off the repair disk or use it as an opening to just buy a standalone version of Windows and avoid reinstalling all the bloatware.

 

2: Stick with Win7 or try Win8?

 

2A: A little OT, but how in the world am I ever going to recover my module serials?

 

Thanks for any help!

 

 

I have a lenovo x220t laptop with an i7 proc 8gb.

I switched to a 500GB ssd. Plextor PX-512M5P. It's 400+GB/sec. They are up to 1TB now.

 

I'm windows 8.1 pro 64bit.

 

I use an external GPU Nvidia GTX660TI.

 

Windows 7, 8 , 8.1 all work fine with DCS in my experience tried them all.

 

The SSD is great in general won't see any super huge advantage specifically in DCS but in general your system will rock.

 

Win 8.1 is better overall but there will be things that bug you here and there till you set it up the way you like it.

 

I highly recommend you invest in Acronis True Image. Get the best version and you can restore to different hardware. In 60 min I can backup my entire system and 60 min I can and have many times restore back fully after completely wiping the contents be back to where I was. It's awesome. Let's you experiment with no fear and back everything up.

 

It was awesome migrating from win7 to 8 to 8.1 with acronis. No fear. 60 minutes to any os i wanted.

 

But once i went win8 i never looked back. I don't mess with metro much but i like the tweaks to the desktop better in 8-8.1. I do have touch convertable laptop with a pen so I can draw on it and I do convert to tablet for movies alot. I watch netflix and old tv shows on my laptop in bed in converted mode. Win 8 is very nice for that.

 

But have no fear DCS and steam work great in win8.

[Lange_666]

Got 2 Samsung 840 EVO's (120 for OS and 250 for sims) here.

And Win 8.1 64-bit installed with Classic Start, ain't going back to Win7...no sir.

[maddabboyahoo.com]

drive crash

 

My drive just failed.

 

It was a plextor 512gb m5p pro still under 5 year warrenty.

 

I was at frys and grabbed a new 1TB samsung 840 evo. About same price as my last drive 2x storage and a bit faster. Only 3 year warrenty though.

Fry's matched amazon's online price.

 

 

 

I again reccomend acronis true image. I was up and running again the same day.

[rassy7]

Thank you ALL so much. Very helpful in getting me back in businesa. Gave Acronis a solid look and will definitely be venturing that way! Officially back up and running now and just in time too because we're now burried under snow here and here is NOT prepared for snow.

[Pepec9124]

My drive just failed.

 

I again reccomend acronis true image. I was up and running again the same day.

 

Clonezilla is cheaper....

 

 

 

 

 

oh wait, it's free :P

[rassy7]

Clonezilla is cheaper....

 

But is it any good, because it seems there are many ways this could go wrong and this is something I'd say is worth spending a little $$ to make sure it goes right? Acronis seems pretty founded.

[cichlidfan]

I am lazy. An OS upgrade goes on a new drive. The old one goes on a shelf. :P

[maddabboyahoo.com]

I am lazy. An OS upgrade goes on a new drive. The old one goes on a shelf. :P

 

I used to think that way. But now with SSD and usb3 the new lazy is actually backing up and using an image way longer than you should. The new not lazy is reinstall once in a while for a fresh os. But with the new lazy of backup you do get to keep all kinds of files too. It's amazing the peace of mind once u have a loss and need to recover and realize it works flawlessly and in an hour your up and running like nothing happend. Then you realize you can have tons of images and just screw around with them. I can be backup in an hour why not play with that os. Why not install that.

You can't lose. Though I am pretty anal. I keep redundant backups on 2 external drives that match at all times.

 

-mikey