Computer woes, again
Jan. 7th, 2012 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chrishansenhomeWell, I am back on a computer yet again. My woes started two days ago when the other computer froze on me around 5 minutes after I started up. I thought it was some kind of software problem. but after taking the SSD out and putting it in a bay on this computer, I discovered that the SSD was freezing after around 5 minutes. Luckily, I back up everything daily, so I only lost a few hours of email, and the other disk is OK, so all of my real data is present and accounted for as well.
So I've restored my Thunderbird profile from backup, downloaded two days' worth of email, got Chrome up and running, and learned some stuff.
First, I've learned how to switch my profile directory from C:\Users to F:\Users and link it from F:\ to C:\. This will mean that my C: drive will remain mostly the operating system. On the other computer, I didn't know how to do this, and my C:\ drive was more than 95% full. Won't happen again.
Second, I've decided to replace the SSD in these two computers with regular HDDs: 2-1/4" 250GB drives. HWMBO will source them from Singapore when he goes next week. Yes, the computer will be slower booting up. However, after some investigation online, I discovered that, in general, this generation of SSDs is not considered to be very reliable. The one in the other computer lasted around 9 months. A regular HDD, for me, generally lasts around 3-5 years, and some have lasted much longer than that.
Now I have to reload all the programs that I had on the other computer. That should be a treat. Will do it slowly. However, as I've backed everything up, I don't have to bother with disks and things (generally).
So I've restored my Thunderbird profile from backup, downloaded two days' worth of email, got Chrome up and running, and learned some stuff.
First, I've learned how to switch my profile directory from C:\Users to F:\Users and link it from F:\ to C:\. This will mean that my C: drive will remain mostly the operating system. On the other computer, I didn't know how to do this, and my C:\ drive was more than 95% full. Won't happen again.
Second, I've decided to replace the SSD in these two computers with regular HDDs: 2-1/4" 250GB drives. HWMBO will source them from Singapore when he goes next week. Yes, the computer will be slower booting up. However, after some investigation online, I discovered that, in general, this generation of SSDs is not considered to be very reliable. The one in the other computer lasted around 9 months. A regular HDD, for me, generally lasts around 3-5 years, and some have lasted much longer than that.
Now I have to reload all the programs that I had on the other computer. That should be a treat. Will do it slowly. However, as I've backed everything up, I don't have to bother with disks and things (generally).
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no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 01:59 am (UTC)anyways, im afraid, you may have to give ssd another chance. price for hdd has gone up a lot that ssd is a better/cheaper option.
you may want to check out the prices on hardwarezone sg or vrzone sg before deciding on which to get.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 03:57 pm (UTC)I looked at prices at Misco (online retailer here) (http://www.misco.co.uk/Cat/15000/Hard-Drives?Size_In_STRING=2.5&Type__STRING=Internal+hard+drive) and while some are pricey they're well within my ability to buy. I realise they're notebook drives but I could also buy a different enclosure and put a 5-1/4" drive in as my boot drive.
Thanks for your insights; I'll also check out the websites you've mentioned, since HWMBO will be there and our friend BK (who originally put these computers together) will be able to guide him to the best prices.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 04:38 pm (UTC)it may correct itself once the flood waters dry up, or it may not.
if your friends know our local stores, well enough, they should have the updated pricings. :)
back to ssd, that Coding Horror article is scary. :(
tho my next purchase is unlikely to be ssd, i was thinking of going for the hybrid versions - those hdd that comes with ssd partition on-board, just for OS loading.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 07:12 pm (UTC)You betcha!
I haven't heard much about the hybrid drives...will do some research. The SSD would have to be very robust for me to buy one like that.
The prices of HDDs have gone up marginally here, but I can get a good one for under £100 (ie, Sg$200).
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 06:14 am (UTC)((BIG HUGS!))
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 03:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 02:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-09 01:42 am (UTC)At my work, we had a batch of Kingston 128GB drives that were so bad that they were failing in groups. Contacted their support line and they are replacing all the v100 models with v200s, no questions asked. They didn't even want serial numbers. :P Just quantity shipped.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-09 08:19 pm (UTC)Interesting that Kingston just took the drives back…sounds like they knew there was a problem but hoped that no one would notice.