An old problem has crept back into Microsoft Windows Installations!
The old setup utility (wizard) used to automatically ofdisk and oformat hard drives to maximum capabilities; however, we have discovered that the updated utilities when set to auto (meaning you let windows do this for you) DO NOT work correctly with ATA-66 and ATA-100 disk drives. The result is EXTEREMELY POOR drive performance!!!
To correct this problem ALL DRIVES MUST HAVE FDISK and FORMAT MANUALLY PERFORMED BEFORE attempting ANY Windows installation. The problem has been replicated in our laboratory on ALL versions of Windows 98 S/E, Windows ME, Windows NT and Windows 2000!!!!
Builders using GHOST will have the same problem, so again you must still manually FDISK and FORMAT the drive BEFORE attempting to ghost a pre-install over to a new drive!
For curiosity, we decided to run out and buy a couple computers to see if other OEMs were affected:
Sisoft Benchmarks: Dell computers (3 different desktop units tested) = On average, 26% below potential, Corrected by ghosting old config to a second drive, re-fdisk and re-format primary drive, ghost configuration back to primary drive! (Our lab guys were all running around imitating Mr. Burns from the Simpson’s ("Exxxxxccccellllllent Smithers!")
Gateway's 31% below potential. Same procedure corrects problem.
Compaq (yes them too) 31% below potential, same procedure fixes the problem.
We have notified all of the above manufacturers and suspect they will take immediate action to correct the problem from occurring in future releases. If you already own one of these systems, you should immediately download the freeware utilities software from Sisoft and test your system. If affected, you should either perform the above procedures (if you have the capabilities) or take the system into your local computer shop ASAP and have them perform this procedure for you!
Steve Benoit
Stable Technologies
'The way IT should be!'
The old setup utility (wizard) used to automatically ofdisk and oformat hard drives to maximum capabilities; however, we have discovered that the updated utilities when set to auto (meaning you let windows do this for you) DO NOT work correctly with ATA-66 and ATA-100 disk drives. The result is EXTEREMELY POOR drive performance!!!
To correct this problem ALL DRIVES MUST HAVE FDISK and FORMAT MANUALLY PERFORMED BEFORE attempting ANY Windows installation. The problem has been replicated in our laboratory on ALL versions of Windows 98 S/E, Windows ME, Windows NT and Windows 2000!!!!
Builders using GHOST will have the same problem, so again you must still manually FDISK and FORMAT the drive BEFORE attempting to ghost a pre-install over to a new drive!
For curiosity, we decided to run out and buy a couple computers to see if other OEMs were affected:
Sisoft Benchmarks: Dell computers (3 different desktop units tested) = On average, 26% below potential, Corrected by ghosting old config to a second drive, re-fdisk and re-format primary drive, ghost configuration back to primary drive! (Our lab guys were all running around imitating Mr. Burns from the Simpson’s ("Exxxxxccccellllllent Smithers!")
Gateway's 31% below potential. Same procedure corrects problem.
Compaq (yes them too) 31% below potential, same procedure fixes the problem.
We have notified all of the above manufacturers and suspect they will take immediate action to correct the problem from occurring in future releases. If you already own one of these systems, you should immediately download the freeware utilities software from Sisoft and test your system. If affected, you should either perform the above procedures (if you have the capabilities) or take the system into your local computer shop ASAP and have them perform this procedure for you!
Steve Benoit
Stable Technologies
'The way IT should be!'