VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

[Autumn]

My computer has been returned with a new motherboard and 2 Gb of RAM replaced? It mentioned that there was the original 2 Gb and 2Gb customers own.

Do they think the 2Gb I installed from Cruicial could have been the problem?

Anyway, I haven't switched the computer on yet, because I was wondering whether to use the DVI or the VGA monitor connection. I previously used the VGA. What would be the advantage of using the DVI lead?

Also I previously made another partition for Photoshop overflow (this is not the right word, but I can't think of the proper one.) Did I ought to do this before I do anything else or can it be done anytime? I can't remember how big it was. I think it was quite small.

My hard drive is 500 Gb.

I was also wondering about putting my photographs on yet another partititioned part of the hard drive in addition to my existing external hard drive. My thinking is that if I had just done a repair of Vista and my pictures were on a partitioned drive they would not have been touched, or would they? As it happened this time it would have been no good to me.

Your help and advice would, as always, be appreciated.

[Patrick]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

My computer has been returned with a new motherboard and 2 Gb of RAM replaced? It mentioned that there was the original 2 Gb and 2Gb customers own.

Do they think the 2Gb I installed from Cruicial could have been the problem?

Anyway, I haven't switched the computer on yet, because I was wondering whether to use the DVI or the VGA monitor connection. I previously used the VGA. What would be the advantage of using the DVI lead?

Also I previously made another partition for Photoshop overflow (this is not the right word, but I can't think of the proper one.) Did I ought to do this before I do anything else or can it be done anytime? I can't remember how big it was. I think it was quite small.

My hard drive is 500 Gb.

I was also wondering about putting my photographs on yet another partititioned part of the hard drive in addition to my existing external hard drive. My thinking is that if I had just done a repair of Vista and my pictures were on a partitioned drive they would not have been touched, or would they? As it happened this time it would have been no good to me.

Your help and advice would, as always, be appreciated.

Hi Audrey

I can't give an opinion on VGA v DVI but I can on your hard drive.
My advice would be your OS and programs on one partition, and all your pictures on another, don't keep any pictures on the OS partition.

I have partitioned by H/D approx one third for OS & applications, and two thirds for data (pictures). and re-named them as such. If therefore I get trouble with the OS partition and have to format or reinstall my pictures are unaffected.
Then on an external or separate internal H/D I have backed up all pictures, and on yet another H/D have a mirror copy of my OS partition so that it can be restored intact and working easily.
As belt and braces I have all this backed up again on a home server.

Patrick

[Autumn]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

Thanks Patrick. That was what I had in mind. I just needed someone to spell it out for me. I needed to know the proportions.

I am going to give the DVI lead a try as I read about it and it seems that is the way things are going. I can always change it if need be.

[rogleale]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

Go with the DVI Audrey. With LCD monitors it produces a cleaner, more precise display.The problem with the trusty old VGA is that the digital signal of the computer has to be converted to analogue and back again, which can sometimes introduce fuzzy displays.
I'll bet that you didn't know that 'fuzzy' was a technical term!

Roger

[Ian]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

I second the use of DVI - if you have it, use it

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

Hardy able to contain my excitement, I plugged in all the bits and bobs last night, switched on and saw ... ... ... something like:

"Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter."

I shut it down for the night and decided to ring Medion at 8am today, which I did, only to find they didn't open until 10am on Saturdays.

I thought OK, I'll just put the disk in and give it one try. Too easy!! The cd drawer would not open!

Went to town ... ... ... on my return rang Medion who wanted me to try to get into the BIOS by pressing first Ctrl, Alt and Del. Nada! Then holding Delete whilst starting up, then tapping Delete whilst starting up! Nada!

He then asked me if I could get into the computer! I thought yes, but I'm blowed if I am going to. He wanted me to see if the cd equipment had been connected and if it hadn't then I was to connect it and then input the application disk and then what, I asked him? "We could get into the BIOS and get it started."

I pointed out that I had sent it back for repair over a week ago BECAUSE it would not boot up and I am blowed if I am going to scramble on the floor after rigging it all up.

So a man will call on Tuesday - Medion will ring before to confirm. Watch this space.

It's a good job Roy has my old computer. The days of one computer in a house seem to be long gone. I have to admit, that I just miss it being there to ask it questions.

Anyway thanks for informing me about the DVI cable. It is atm fixed in.

[Autumn]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

Just thought, I suppose this is a blog! I have never done one before.

[Ian]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

You didn't by any chance have a USB stick plugged into one of the USB ports, or a USB card reader with a card inserted?

If the CD/DVD drive won't open when you press the open button, that does suggest its power cable is not connected. But of course if its light blinks at all on power up, then it IS connected.

The BIOS idea could be that the boot up sequence is wrong...

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

I had 2 dongles - one for the mouse and the other (I think) for the keyboard. Also the antennae for the keyboard has a usb connector.

I have just removed all three and booted up and the same message is still there.

Thanks anyway. Just glad it is still under warranty.

[Autumn]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

A technician came out yesterday, undid the computer and found a lead had not been connected (or had become dislodged in transit)

As soon as he connected it it booted up. The cd drawer has to be pinched to open it, but I can handle that.

[Autumn]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

Hi Audrey

I can't give an opinion on VGA v DVI but I can on your hard drive.
My advice would be your OS and programs on one partition, and all your pictures on another, don't keep any pictures on the OS partition.

I have partitioned by H/D approx one third for OS & applications, and two thirds for data (pictures). and re-named them as such. If therefore I get trouble with the OS partition and have to format or reinstall my pictures are unaffected.
Then on an external or separate internal H/D I have backed up all pictures, and on yet another H/D have a mirror copy of my OS partition so that it can be restored intact and working easily.
As belt and braces I have all this backed up again on a home server.

Patrick

Well Patrick, I have made a mess of things. I have somehow allocated the two thirds to the H/D and one third to My Data and Photographs. See screengrab.

Two questions - is it possible to undo these settings through System Restore? If not and I decided to go through the procedure again, how would I do that, because it probably would shrink the C Drive but I can't see how the shrunken space would be allocated to my new J Drive (Documents and Photographs). I think it would make yet another New Drive/partition

Also I think "My Documents" would be in the C Drive. Would I be able to move them to the J Drive?

I followed Roger's instructions from way back on how to do it.


"Start > Click RUN
Type into the Run box diskmgmt.msc (It may take a few seconds to react)
In the diagram which appears Right click on the 'C' partition.
Select 'Shrink Volume'
In the next dialogue select the size you fancy - 5 gb should be ample. - click OK
A new partition will show up as 'Unallocated'
Right click this new volume and assign a drive letter - I would suggest 'S' as being easy to remember and unlikely to change if externals added.
Format the new volume as NTFS - and you're ready to tell CS3 where to scratch!

Good luck,

Roger"


I would appreciate anyone's thoughts and ideas. If there is no return, I'll just have to leave it.

[Patrick]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

Well Patrick, I have made a mess of things. I have somehow allocated the two thirds to the H/D and one third to My Data and Photographs. See screengrab.

Two questions - is it possible to undo these settings through System Restore? If not and I decided to go through the procedure again, how would I do that, because it probably would shrink the C Drive but I can't see how the shrunken space would be allocated to my new J Drive (Documents and Photographs). I think it would make yet another New Drive/partition

Also I think "My Documents" would be in the C Drive. Would I be able to move them to the J Drive?

I followed Roger's instructions from way back on how to do it.


"Start > Click RUN
Type into the Run box diskmgmt.msc (It may take a few seconds to react)
In the diagram which appears Right click on the 'C' partition.
Select 'Shrink Volume'
In the next dialogue select the size you fancy - 5 gb should be ample. - click OK
A new partition will show up as 'Unallocated'
Right click this new volume and assign a drive letter - I would suggest 'S' as being easy to remember and unlikely to change if externals added.
Format the new volume as NTFS - and you're ready to tell CS3 where to scratch!

Good luck,

Roger"


I would appreciate anyone's thoughts and ideas. If there is no return, I'll just have to leave it.

http://www.acronis.co.uk/promo/ADDS/...FWIB4wodyjp3pg.
Very easy to use and allocates if you don't tell it otherwise the drive letters for you, and shows you the changes you are making.

You should be able to do it again, the way you want it.

Patrick

[devilgas]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

my 2p.....

don't bother trying to re-partition. just add another drive and keep all of your data on that. have another hard drive as backup (external USB jobbie is fine). this way, if your system disk dies, you still have the other hard drive, containing your data, which will be unaffected. it also means that your data is transportable between computers as you don't need to mess with the operating system disk. likewise, you can remove the data drive from the computer as and when required without affecting anything else.

[Patrick]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

my 2p.....

don't bother trying to re-partition. just add another drive and keep all of your data on that. have another hard drive as backup (external USB jobbie is fine). this way, if your system disk dies, you still have the other hard drive, containing your data, which will be unaffected. it also means that your data is transportable between computers as you don't need to mess with the operating system disk. likewise, you can remove the data drive from the computer as and when required without affecting anything else.

Its been suggested Audrey has an external H/D as well. So what you say is true but in addition.

Patrick

[devilgas]

Re: VGA or DVI Port for monitor?

i'm advocating locating photos / data etc on a disk physically separated from the OS drive, not just locating them on a logical partition on the same piece of hardware.
after that, add another backup drive into the equation if desired.