I need professional help before I install Windows 7 Ultimate later this weekend. I will probably buy the 32 bit version as I'm not sure everything will run fine when using the 64 bit version. Most of my PC hardware components have been purchased the last 18 months, except for the Audigy 2 soundcard and the Epson Stylus COLOR 880 printer. You can still try and convince me to purchase the 64 bit version if you want. Not really a gamer. Just using PC for the usual everyday tasks. You can find an overview of the hardware at the end of this post.
Currently I'm using Windows XP SP3. I have installed 6 internal SATA HDD. Over 4TB total disk space. First, does installing that many HDDs have a negative impact on performance? At the moment I use the IDE setting in the BIOS. When I install Windows 7 later this weekend (clean install), is the only thing I need to do to just change the setting in the BIOS to AHCI before installing Windows? Will I lose data on any of my drives doing so? Most of the HDD are only used for backup purposes. I use a DeLock PCI Express card for 2 extra SATA II ports. Will this cause of problem? I don't have RAID enabled on any of the disks.
Other useful tips and advise? Maybe upgrading to Windows 7 isn't necessary? Thanks in advance for all your help. It's really appreciated!
Computer:
Computer Type ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name xxx
User Name xxx
Logon Domain xxx
Date / Time 2010-02-10 / 00:10
Motherboard:
CPU Type DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3000 MHz (9 x 333)
Motherboard Name Asus P5Q Deluxe (2 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Eaglelake P45
System Memory 3328 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (06/25/08)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Display:
Video Adapter ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (512 MB)
Video Adapter ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (512 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon HD 4850 (RV770)
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 940BF/MagicSyncMaster CX903B/CX916B (Digital) [19" LCD] (HVEA101106)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ ATI RV770 - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter Creative Audigy 2 Platinum (SB0240) Sound Card
Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH10 Family 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 3A26
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH10 Family 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 3A20
Storage Controller AK7CQUI0 IDE Controller
Storage Controller Silicon Image SiI 3132 SoftRaid 5 Controller
Disk Drive ST3500630AS (500 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive ST3500630AS (500 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive ST3750330AS (750 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive ST3750330AS (750 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive WDC WD10 EADS-00L5B1 SCSI Disk Device (931 GB)
Disk Drive WDC WD10EADS-65L5B1 (931 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive FYJUT XEZOLAJ4XUN SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223F (DVD+R9:16x, DVD-R9:12x, DVD+RW:22x/8x, DVD-RW:22x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 953859 MB (527034 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 476929 MB (12793 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 476939 MB (1744 MB free)
F: (NTFS) 715394 MB (1393 MB free)
G: (NTFS) 715394 MB (1475 MB free)
I: (NTFS) 953859 MB (385894 MB free)
Total Size 4191.8 GB (908.5 GB free)
Input:
Keyboard Logitech HID-Compliant Keyboard
Keyboard PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
Network:
Primary IP Address xxx
Primary MAC Address xxx
Network Adapter Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (xxx)
Peripherals:
Printer Adobe PDF
Printer EPSON Stylus COLOR 880
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
FireWire Controller Creative Audigy IEEE1394 Firewire Controller (PHY: TI TSB41AB1/2)
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
DMI BIOS Version 0803
DMI System Manufacturer System manufacturer
DMI System Product P5Q DELUXE
DMI System Version System Version
DMI System Serial Number System Serial Number
DMI System UUID C0DA001E-8C00014C-B6640022-15170C11
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
DMI Motherboard Product P5Q DELUXE
DMI Motherboard Version Rev 1.xx
DMI Motherboard Serial Number MB-1234567890
DMI Chassis Manufacturer Chassis Manufacture
DMI Chassis Version Chassis Version
DMI Chassis Serial Number Chassis Serial Number
DMI Chassis Asset Tag Asset-1234567890
DMI Chassis Type Desktop Case
DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets 4 / 2
Currently I'm using Windows XP SP3. I have installed 6 internal SATA HDD. Over 4TB total disk space. First, does installing that many HDDs have a negative impact on performance? At the moment I use the IDE setting in the BIOS. When I install Windows 7 later this weekend (clean install), is the only thing I need to do to just change the setting in the BIOS to AHCI before installing Windows? Will I lose data on any of my drives doing so? Most of the HDD are only used for backup purposes. I use a DeLock PCI Express card for 2 extra SATA II ports. Will this cause of problem? I don't have RAID enabled on any of the disks.
Other useful tips and advise? Maybe upgrading to Windows 7 isn't necessary? Thanks in advance for all your help. It's really appreciated!
Computer:
Computer Type ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name xxx
User Name xxx
Logon Domain xxx
Date / Time 2010-02-10 / 00:10
Motherboard:
CPU Type DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3000 MHz (9 x 333)
Motherboard Name Asus P5Q Deluxe (2 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Eaglelake P45
System Memory 3328 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (06/25/08)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Display:
Video Adapter ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (512 MB)
Video Adapter ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (512 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon HD 4850 (RV770)
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 940BF/MagicSyncMaster CX903B/CX916B (Digital) [19" LCD] (HVEA101106)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ ATI RV770 - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter Creative Audigy 2 Platinum (SB0240) Sound Card
Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH10 Family 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 3A26
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH10 Family 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 3A20
Storage Controller AK7CQUI0 IDE Controller
Storage Controller Silicon Image SiI 3132 SoftRaid 5 Controller
Disk Drive ST3500630AS (500 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive ST3500630AS (500 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive ST3750330AS (750 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive ST3750330AS (750 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive WDC WD10 EADS-00L5B1 SCSI Disk Device (931 GB)
Disk Drive WDC WD10EADS-65L5B1 (931 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive FYJUT XEZOLAJ4XUN SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223F (DVD+R9:16x, DVD-R9:12x, DVD+RW:22x/8x, DVD-RW:22x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 953859 MB (527034 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 476929 MB (12793 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 476939 MB (1744 MB free)
F: (NTFS) 715394 MB (1393 MB free)
G: (NTFS) 715394 MB (1475 MB free)
I: (NTFS) 953859 MB (385894 MB free)
Total Size 4191.8 GB (908.5 GB free)
Input:
Keyboard Logitech HID-Compliant Keyboard
Keyboard PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
Network:
Primary IP Address xxx
Primary MAC Address xxx
Network Adapter Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (xxx)
Peripherals:
Printer Adobe PDF
Printer EPSON Stylus COLOR 880
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer Send To OneNote 2007
FireWire Controller Creative Audigy IEEE1394 Firewire Controller (PHY: TI TSB41AB1/2)
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB2 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
DMI BIOS Version 0803
DMI System Manufacturer System manufacturer
DMI System Product P5Q DELUXE
DMI System Version System Version
DMI System Serial Number System Serial Number
DMI System UUID C0DA001E-8C00014C-B6640022-15170C11
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer INC.
DMI Motherboard Product P5Q DELUXE
DMI Motherboard Version Rev 1.xx
DMI Motherboard Serial Number MB-1234567890
DMI Chassis Manufacturer Chassis Manufacture
DMI Chassis Version Chassis Version
DMI Chassis Serial Number Chassis Serial Number
DMI Chassis Asset Tag Asset-1234567890
DMI Chassis Type Desktop Case
DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets 4 / 2
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