Here's a new trick I recently learned, and it comes in handy for System Builders, as well as system restorers.

I was installing a non-branded copy of Windows 7 Professional on my Dell Studio 1536 laptop.  While installing all the drivers from Dell, I included a registry patch that inserted the model number as well.  Going into the System Properties screen, I saw it now showing the model, but it did not have the manufacturer information.

My testing of the Mediasonic HF7-SU3S3 enclosure was successful.  One negative that I learned was that the small Western Digital Black 500GB drive that I tried in one bay was bad.  The other 3 drives I tested it with worked without issue.

I received daily emails from various online tech stores about various sales or daily deals that they are having.  On December 4^th, the Shell Shocker email from Newegg.com had a device that interested me.  It was an external hard drive enclosure that could host 4 drives, up to 8TB each. This device had a mail in rebate that brought the final price to $49.99.  Having several Western Digital MyBook external drives, this interested me.  With the thought of if it worked, I could (void the warranty) move the MyBook drives into the single enclosure, and go from 4 external power supplies down to just 1.  That would make it a lot easier on my UPS.

On July 29, 2015, Microsoft started a free upgrade to Windows 10 for consumer level versions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1.  This was started by using the Windows Update feature, but required you to make a reservation to get the download.  Once your reservation time was reached, you would get a popup saying that Windows 10 was ready to install, and as I mentioned in my August post, this went fairly simply on my primary system.  I also mentioned that Microsoft made available a Media Creation Tool as well for creating a USB Flash Drive or DVD which can be used to update other computers without waiting for the reservation time, or for reinstallation.

Here, I will go through the process of creating a USB Flash Drive.

When I wrote my last article, I promised the next would be installing Windows 10 on my laptop.  Unfortunately, a few things have hindered me from writing that.  First was that the rough draft, with screenshots, apparently wasn't saved as I thought it was, so I lost it and would have to start over.  Second, and more important, I began having issues on my main computer.  Six times in a two week period, I received the Windows 10 version of a BSOD error.  I have to admit the new screen (which I think was actually implemented with Windows 8) doesn't look as confusing as we have grown used to over the years, but still frustrating and annoying.  Especially when it happens to a "computer geek".

Well, as many know on July 29th, Microsoft started rolling out FREE upgrades for Windows 7/8 users to the new Windows 10 through the Windows Update service.  Anticipating massive bandwidth issues, Microsoft made it where you had to reserve your upgrade, and then the upgrades would be staggered, so not everyone was able to get the upgrade on July 29.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="5" gal_title="Project 2015 - Phase 1"]

The upgrades to my Main PC went as expected, and also as expected its performance has increased.  Unfortunately, I do not have any benchmark software, so I am relying on my own perception.

The plan has come together, not just to replace my 8 year old Dell Dimension E521, but to also perform some upgrades to the other two computers.

By going with a AM3+ motherboard for the new system, I am able to upgrade both the memory and processor in my main system.  Also, since the Dell and my HTPC have AM2 motherboards, the Athlon x64 5600+ from the Dell can replace the 5400+ in the HTPC.  Also the HTPC has an external 3.5 bay that is not in use, so the card reader in the Dell should be able to move over to there.  There is also the possibility of increasing the RAM in the HTPC with the RAM from the Dell.  And finally the hard drives, DVD drive, and video card in the Dell will go into the new system.

So, as I previously mentioned, I have a nice new case and need to fill it up with a computer.  I had also mentioned that this new system would be replacing my 8 year old Dell Dimension E521 and be my new home file server.

So with that in mind, time to make a list of what I will be putting in this case:

As previously mentioned, I now have a nice versatile case that will fit in my computer desk without any issue.  Now I have to deal with the question: Now what?

With three computers, I really don't need a fourth, so it would make sense that in order to use the case, I will need to sacrifice a current computer.

The case isn't a suitable replacement for my HTPC system as that one is in a cube and a tower really won't work in that spot.