Disk with Multi-RAM-boot available for purchase

[PeterSt]

Edit, May 2016 : It has been found that the RAM OS Disk does not work with graphics (GPU) functionality on-board of the CPU. That is, when that is used. Using a separate PCIe card for that makes all operate fine.
Also see here : Re: RAM -OS files do not load into 16GB memory.



A few years and maybe a 500 boots for the purpose further, we're in the stage of being able to produce a HDD with all on it to boot from RAM and next pull out the HDD.
And Yes, I surely think it is for the better (SQ).
Requires XXHighEnd 2.03 or higher.

For those who do not know - please notice the purpose : not having any device in the PC other than the processor, 16GB of memory and a network connection facility (and a removable HDD bay).
No electrical noise anywhere, apart from what the processor and the motherboard implies. No heavy spiking (of draw) involved, like a HDD/SDD would imply it (when it is used to supply data). Lower power draw all together.

Watch out : I have been breeding on this idea and text for quite a while and even at this moment of putting out the text I can not be sure whether all stays as it is now. Thus,  later when the disks are physically created (which will be in 2-3 weeks of time as how I see it at this moment), better/other ideas may have emerged.

May you not notice, what I have been doing is finding the ways within the Microsoft ways of doing things (legally). The new Windows 10 licensing strategy is crucial here.
Phasure will NOT provide any HDD with Operating Systems when the hunch could exist that you do not have a (virtual) license for Windows 10 for the targetted PC. This is somewhat harder to explain as you must be fimaliar with the W10 licesing structure.
More below I spend a small paragraph on this.

Below you can see what I currently made of it - a system with actually 5 boots.

From top to bottom :

- A combined Windows 8 and Windows 10-10565 RAM system (choose that and a next choice pops up).
- A Windows 8 BASE system.
- A Windows 10-10565 BASE system.
- A base system which is required for technical reasons and which is never needed at your side (Windows 10 Build 10565 in this case).

It boots default into one of the RAM versions (this is settable).

The W10-10565 Build will soon be replaced by the next formal ("slow ring") Build which will be 10586 (just waiting until the formal downloadable ISO for it is there); after that the disk will be ready to ship. Well, almost, because first ~11 hours will be needed to make a working Install of it and then it takes something like 90 minutes per disk to copy it, apply necessary adjustments and test each of the boots on it;
Assumed that 20 or so people like to have one, then this implies throughput time, obviously.

The way things are organized allows for upgrading of the OS from, say, "here". Thus, whether a new OS or very special settings to it - something which was never thought of but now can be done ... the OS can be downloaded and replaced on the disk(s) by you yourself. Note though that at this very moment this is a bit theoretical because the size (~7GB) is really too big for the upload speed I have here. However, there is work in progress that will higher the upload speed (which determines your net download speed) in 8 weeks or so (it is just waiting on the telecom provider to put through the necessary changes).

Example : In March 2016 a new W10 major version comes about (this really is so). What I will do is install this over here, obviously test it and set settings accordingly, and make it available for download.
Really all you need to do is :
- Download it;
- Put it on the BASE disk in the location I will tell you.
... and now you'll be running that new OS (when you choose it from the boot menu). Nothing to install, nothing to set. I have done this all over here for you.

OS License

I do not intend to provide any Operating System License, because everybody will have one already. This is the idea :
You can run the W8 as well as the W10 without Activation anyway. For W8 this certainly is so, and for W10 it looks to be the same. However, you *must* be legal.
Whether you had (currently have) a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 Audio PC, in either case it is legal for the PC you use. Thus, replace that with another copy (either W8 Pro or W10 Pro) and you can use the key you already have.
Do notice that I will try to get hold of your "license data status" when you order a disk while I do not know about any previously operating Audio PC (like with a new customer).

We talked this through earlier on (other topic), but when you start to use W10 you are allowed to use the W7 or W8 Key you will have laying around somewhere. Next though, nothing will invalidate your W8 Key (of the installed W8 Pro) because it physically can not happen. But stay away from the Internet ... And still you are legal because you can not use two OSes at the very same time on that same PC.
Also, when you don't start to use W10, you thus use the W8 only which is as legal because you had a Key for that (this assumed).
Only in one situation things are a bit odd : when you did not have a W8 Key, but have a W7 Key. Solution :
Because W10 is free when coming from W7 just as it is when coming from W8, after that you are able to fall back to W8 (in legal terms - physically probably not).

Let me be clear : in the end you just never Activate, until it is really necessary.
Lastly on this : The W8 forced me to enter te Key during the Install process. So, I had to enter one and it will be the same for everybody. Never attempt to go to the Internet when W8 is the active OS without first changing the Key into the one you have yourself. Also see here : Activation of your Windows OS.

But notice :
At this moment it seems logical to me that the W10 10565 TRIAL can be used to go to the Internet. It is an OS version which you normally will not use for anything and it is no real pain when something happens to it. However, it will imply that you activate this one (once being connected to the Internet) which officially implies that you lose the license you have from either W7 or W8. Keep in mind for when this is about W8 : The W8 install on the disk can not be affected because it will not run when you run W10-10565. So it is on the disk all right, but nothing can see it.

Prerequisites

As was discussed/implied above under "OS License" you will need a running Audio PC with either Windows 7, Windows 8(.1) or Windows 10. That very (same !) PC is allowed to carry the disk of concern.

When you want to apply all in the meant well-fashion, you will need a 2.5" hot-swap removable hard drive bay (people with the XXHighEnd PC as povided by Phasure will have that). This needs to connect to internal SATA, preferably SATA3.
Notice that you really don't need to build in the bay and that it can lay on top of the PC or anywhere else; If you can access it easily to remove the HDD from it (or insert it) then it is fine.
Please notice : When you arranged for some external enclosure that connects via eSata (which often is a connection at the back of the PC) it is up to you whether you can boot from that (connection). But, you can try in advance (put in a 2.5" OS disk and see whether you can make it boot from it).

Just to be 100% clear : It is NOT an option to have any boot-over-USB means. This includes USB connected harddisks;
Any boot over USB implies 20 minutes of boot time (mind you, when booting from RAM is in order and what this is all about), which really is a no-go. And yes, did I try (thumb drives, normal disks); this appears not to be USB speed dependent, but depends on the way "disk sectors" are being read from a USB device which is - when done at that level (and which is required here) - super slow.
I'm afraid this excludes laptops (which never ever have been advised anyway).

An XXHighEnd 2.xx (or higher) License.
Notice that the disk comes pre-installed with everything and all, thus also XXHighEnd in Activated fashion.
If you already own a 2.xx License then no new License needs to be obtained.

Surprise : There is NO XXHighEnd PC required for this, hence it should work on all Motherboards.

Price

The cost price consists of these components :

• My 100s and 100s of hours spent on the idea, all the trialling and the installs themselves.
  
• The (sadly !!) time needed per copy.
  This comprises the copying itself (which is only partly unattended) and manual adjustments each copy requires and the boot into each OS on the disk to see whether these adjustments were performed correctly.
  This easily takes one hour per individual copy.
  
• The costs of the disk.
  
• Packing.
  
• Support people may need.
  

I hope 350 euros (ex VAT for those liable to VAT) is regarded fair. But although currently I am the only one who can judge the SQ coming from the RAM boot, I can promise you that you'll enter another era.
The price excludes shipping costs which can be 10-18 euros when you want to wait 1-2 weeks depending on your location on the globe, or 35-45 euros for two day UPS shipping again depending on where you are (same price as for the Clairixa USB cable, for those who experienced that).

More to expect ?

I can put the lot under "Prerequisites" a bit more positively, by saying this :

Without the possibility of the removable HDD bay, you can still SATA connect the disk in fixed fashion and enjoy the 5 (or more) different Operating Systems; the only thing you will miss out on is the possible removal of the HDD when the OS is up and running.
But notice :
When you are of the leage that likes a laptop for the better, you really won't need to remove that HDD anyway (read : you digest so much "misery" to begin with that you wouldn't care less about this disk to be permanently connected).

Regarding the latter ("permanently connected") :
Oh, you can even connect it via USB (and a USB dock);
You will be perfectly able to boot the TRIAL and the BASE versions in a fair boot time (think under one minute). This, of course assumed that your PC/Laptop can boot through USB.

Done ? hehe, still not, because as already told in between the lines :
You can still boot from RAM if you accept the 20 minutes or so boot time. Thus, you boot via USB (dock) after all and when the OS is up you pull out the USB cable.
Now you can have a taste of the again different sound, but with the hopefully honest remark that A-B the lot isn't something to do on the same day (a RAM boot taking 20 minutes) and even when shutting off the PC each night needs preparation of 20 minutes the next day.
This is how I told "this does not work". Technically it sure does, though.

Apply

Of course at this moment I don't know how many people are going to apply for the disk, but it will be first come first serve, just in case the list grow so long that a waiting queue will be there.
At this moment I have 12 persons (a theoretical close to 1000 minutes of work excl. packing) who applied earlier on (when I started to announce the maybe-possibility). Those 10 are first always. They too need to please re-announce themselves in this topic to confirm that they are still into this.
Otherwise people are encouraged to put themselves on the list by mentioning it in this topic.

And when everybody is at it anyway, please mention your preferred shipping method (cheap-slow-unpredictable or expensive-fast-predictable).

Of course people are allowed to ask what they want or deem necessary.

Keep in mind that at this moment we can't start making the disks because first the official W10 10586 ISO must be available which must be installed and "set" as well.

Regards and thank you,
Peter

[acg]

Yes please Peter.  I will ask around, we may have a few that can be sent out in the same package to Australia (you already know this, but I will ask the other NOS1a owners in my part of the world).

Cheers,

Anthony

[boleary]

Count me in, though I'll have tons of questions when it comes to getting it up and running--fast shipping. Thanks for all your efforts!

[AlainGr]

Hi Peter,

These are very good news !!! I certainly wish to add myself

Just to be on the safe side: I am actually using a SSD to boot my system through an external enclosure, with Esata. I suppose that this would not be ok, since there will not be any application to allow a disconnection of the OS drive... So this means that we boot through USB right ?

I will be able to work like this with what is also called a "toaster". It allows very easily to disconnect a drive.

What will be the size of the disk ? Can it be a SSD ? I actually use a 120GB SSD drive for my music PC, but some SSDs have seen their prices drop up to .50 cents a GB. So a 240GB can cost no more that $120 (canadian)...

I probably will have other questions, but with only one coffee, this is all I have to ask for the moment

But I am excited, that is for sure !

Regards,

Alain

[PeterSt]

Hi there Alain,

I hope it is clear to me what you want to say :

If the eSata connection does not allow you to officially "eject" (like USB can do this) then *this* is not a problem. Just unplug the eSata cable ...
Your problem only emerges when you want the OS disk to be live again (which would be the situation that you want to save (by then unknown) settings to permanent storage.
Notice : Such eSata devices ("boxes") sure exist, enabling hotswap of the devices.

Please notice : You can not test this at this moment, because it just as well might work because of what XXHighEnd 2.03 explictly does. Thus, in the normal situation too, the disk will not automatically be found (it is SATA(3) connected) and once removed, it needs special "code" to make it live again. This code is in XXHighEnd 2.03 for the purpose. So maybe it just works for you ...

The UNplugging is harmless because nothing has been written to the disk during the copy to memory (hence no "dirty caches") . Nothing even knows about it except for some very low level boot code. However :
If something is "killed" because of electrical constraints hence nothing expects the cable to disconnect and that causes troubles ... well, what to do.

Peter

PS: Let's try to avoid PM and keep the discussion clean (which means in here)

[pedal]

This is great news, Peter!

What would be the price for your XXHighEnd PC, including this Multi-RAM pre-installed?

(The Silverstone I already own).

[PeterSt]

Hey pedal,

Strange answer perhaps : The same 1975 euros as it was for NOS1(a) owners. The logic ?

Well, that the copying of a disk has to happen anyway - that the post-work (checking, changing settings) for such a PC is there always anyway and what lacks is the effort of the investment (say a small $$ Phasure seems to earn on it) but that this is replaced by the now NOT provided other disks.

I think the latter was already announced sort of in the XXHighEnd PC board (in the main post about it) - about the changed strategy from "have all the music on-board" as how it was previously, to have nothing in there as how it is advised today.
Thus no Playback Drive in there and no Gallery SSD in there (this is now all supposed to be in the music server (could be your current tower)). The Playback Drive is just RAM (Drive C: to the OS).
So this saves a bit.

One remark before it is wrongly understood :
The new XXHighEnd PC would be the typical example of a new PC which requires an OS license which I have to regard to be not available. This license always was provided with the PC and it still is ...

Peter

PS: Good question !

[toddn]

Sounds Good Peter!

Count me in and of course I'll want the fast shipping method

Todd

[manisandher]

One for me please Peter.

Mani.

[Gerard]

Yes please 

[tillen]

I want one too 

[juanpmar]

Hi Peter,

...please notice the purpose : not having any device in the PC other than the processor, 16GB of memory and a network connection facility (and a removable HDD bay).
No electrical noise anywhere, apart from what the processor and the motherboard implies. No heavy spiking (of draw) involved, like a HDD/SDD would imply it (when it is used to supply data). Lower power draw all together.

Coincidentally, after a long time, the next weekend I had decided to start to take out all the devices I still have in the Audio PC in order to build a LAN. After the tests I did, unfortunately I can not yet do without the CPU fan because the temperature rises to around 60ºC. I imagine that, although there is still a fan inside, the improvement in SQ loading the OS and XXHighEnd to the memory will be worthwhile. Besides, of course, that it will allow to receive the latest OS with the appropriate settings.

So, please count on me and put me on the list.

Regards,
Juan

[PeterSt]

Juan, I too have a CPU fan (as the only moving part left). I could make it water cooled, but at this moment I feel it is not necessary.
Edit : This fan is a most constantly running fan (does not rev up or down either or otherwise "very" long term) and that is crucial (for the better).

Edit2 : I must admit that I did not mention the fan in the quote I now see you gave. Could still good to strive for (so I better don't change the text) but anyway I have one fan in.

Thank you ...
Peter

[juanpmar]

Juan, I too have a CPU fan (as the only moving part left). I could make it water cooled, but at this moment I feel it is not necessary.
Edit : This fan is a most constantly running fan (does not rev up or down either or otherwise "very" long term) and that is crucial (for the better).

Edit2 : I must admit that I did not mention the fan in the quote I now see you gave. Could still good to strive for (so I better don't change the text) but anyway I have one fan in.

Thank you ...
Peter

My fan runs at constant and as low speed  as possible and, well, if you have still one inside and your sound is as good as you say I won't be in a hurry to change it 

Juan

[KnB]

  I still want one 

[esimms86]

Count me in. I may even spring for another XXHE PC.

Esau

[Dantana]

Hi Peter

  I like to re-confirm. Thanks

Daniel

[Stanray]

Prerequisites
When you want to apply all in the meant well-fashion, you will need a 2.5" hot-swap removable hard drive bay (people with the XXHighEnd PC as povided by Phasure will have that). This needs to connect to internal SATA, preferably SATA3.
Notice that you really don't need to build in the bay and that it can lay on top of the PC or anywhere else; If you can access it easily to remove the HDD from it (or insert it) then it is fine.
Please notice : When you arranged for some external enclosure that connects via eSata (which often is a connection at the back of the PC) it is up to you whether you can boot from that (connection). But, you can try in advance (put in a 2.5" OS disk and see whether you can make it boot from it).

For some, those who have some space behind their pc, a 2.5" SATA Removable Hard Drive Bay for a PC Expansion slot might do the trick, f.i.: http://www.startech.com/HDD/Mobile-Racks/25in-SATA-Removable-Hard-Drive-Bay-for-PC-Expansion-Slot~S25SLOTR

Stanley

[Scroobius]

Hi Peter - count me in

Cheers

Paul

[PeterSt]

Stanleyyyyyyy ...

Maybe I am wrong, but I recall that it is not the first time that you come up with something that at least to me is new.
But then I'm slow.

Now I have another strange hint, which nicely combines :
Turn around your PC - like I do. So in my case the back is at the front side. The only inconvenience is the power button (the boot button) which is now in the "back".

For visualisation see below. But what this is about is that (for me) just a tad too often I need to plug in (and out) the monitor cable, keyboard cable and mouse cable, while I by standard don't want to have them in (RDC controlled). But go figure - so many installes I perform (can't go over RDC).
Btw, on top you see my removable bay thingy, this disk sticking out.

Stanley, great find !
Peter


PS: Never mind all the wires - I used an existing photo.

[juanpmar]

Prerequisites
When you want to apply all in the meant well-fashion, you will need a 2.5" hot-swap removable hard drive bay (people with the XXHighEnd PC as povided by Phasure will have that). This needs to connect to internal SATA, preferably SATA3.
Notice that you really don't need to build in the bay and that it can lay on top of the PC or anywhere else; If you can access it easily to remove the HDD from it (or insert it) then it is fine.
Please notice : When you arranged for some external enclosure that connects via eSata (which often is a connection at the back of the PC) it is up to you whether you can boot from that (connection). But, you can try in advance (put in a 2.5" OS disk and see whether you can make it boot from it).

For some, those who have some space behind their pc, a 2.5" SATA Removable Hard Drive Bay for a PC Expansion slot might do the trick, f.i.: http://www.startech.com/HDD/Mobile-Racks/25in-SATA-Removable-Hard-Drive-Bay-for-PC-Expansion-Slot~S25SLOTR

Stanley

Good idea  Stanley, this will be an easier place to put it in my PC as it has the expansion slots in the upper side  

Juan

[Stanray]

Haha, well Peter, I'm a tidy type of a guy, so I'll stick to the back.

And, please put me on the list. Post.nl is ok for me.

Thanks,
Stanley

[Arjan]

Hi Peter,

Put me on the list as well. Yes, something new......

Short question: I currently do not have a videocard in the computer. It runs via rdc from the iPad. Will it be needed for the first startup with the new drive to have the videocard in again? Because rdc will not be possible out of the box? What do you think.

Regards, Arjan

[PeterSt]

Hi there Arjan,

At this moment the answer should be Yes - needed. But this is because nothing is capable of telling what to boot into if you don't want the default. This is also what's holding up XXHighEnd 2.03 because I try to make options for this (but is not so easy).

Example :
When the disk is shipped, it *has* to come with the BASE OSes in Normal OS Mode. Why ? because else D/A converters may not install automatically (that is, their drivers). Your NOS1a is an example of that. Now, automatic boot is into one of the RAM-OSes and tell that to boot into MinOS when the DAC is installed, does not help much (because the boot always takes the BASE OS to copy to RAM). So at some stage we *have* to denote which OS to boot into and this can not be done over RDC.

If I can get XXHighEnd to prepare for the next boot (which one to choose) then all is fine with RDC.
Obviously we also use this to try "the other" OS.

I hope it is clear !
Peter

[brunok]

I would like to ask SinterKlaas to be put on Peter's list, and for Amerigo to please choose the faster route (HoHoHo).

Thanks,
brunok

[PeterSt]

[arvind]

Hi Peter,

Count me in too. Have already sent you a PM on this subject.

Best regards,

Arvind

[PeterSt]

A short "update" :

I could not work on this the past two weeks because now first XXHighEnd 2.03 had to go out. Also there's the sort of disappointment about 10586 which I originally planned to be on the disk (to replace the 10565 which is on there now).

To be honest I am now waiting for people to judge 10586 in its real environment (MinOS) while so far there is none. Also not from myself because I didn't get around the required 11 hours (for me ! (RAM)) to install 10586. But I guess it needs to happen.

So be patient please as the disk *will* be there for sure.
Peter

[PeterSt]

A small update again  :

With the XXHighEnd-internal boot possibilities now (2.04) at hand, I can freely continue the testing without too much "pain".
I will make the XXHighEnd software now so that it can also update further boot data, so when the disks go out we will be able to "upgrade" to another OS.

About two weeks ago I tested with an SSD and while that works better (faster) than a HDD, it was too small (I didn't pay attention on how large (GB) it has to be).
Since a week now I have a larger one (240GB) and will test that soon. I expect it to be OK. It is only that the price will be 10 euros higher (the SSD is more expensive than the HDD I originally planned) but I think it is worth while :
- less risk on damage with transportation;
- less risk on damage with taking it out (an hdd might still spin and you need to know how to handle it to prevent damage);
- booting goes in 2 minutes full cycle instead of 3 minutes.

I now have a 100mbit upload link physically ready in the main office, and it will be functionally available the upcoming week. This means that the part about "installing a new live OS" will be ready soon as well, regarding the transport of it. But that too will need the support of software (XXHighEnd) so that it can "self install" and be obtained in the Boot Menu without too much hassle.

Peter

[hbrew]

I want to try this out too. Put me on the list -- following behind the others.

[Scroobius]

About two weeks ago I tested with an SSD

Hi Peter - SSD sounds great but is there a potential problem?   I understand that SSD has a limited time of about 2-3 months if it is not powered before it starts to lose bits. I would think that once installed many of us will leave our PC's on with the OS in RAM and the SSD sitting on a shelf.

Paul 

[PeterSt]

WHAT ?
When flooded maybe. Ok, bad joke.

But Paul, I didn't start Googling for that yet, but is that really so ?
Link ?

Thanks,
Peter

[jhmvl]

WHAT ?
When flooded maybe. Ok, bad joke.

But Paul, I didn't start Googling for that yet, but is that really so ?
Link ?

Thanks,
Peter

Hi Peter,

I know you disn't ask me but look here for starters: http://www.extremetech.com/computing/205382-ssds-can-lose-data-in-as-little-as-7-days-without-power

There is much more to be found of course.

Hans

[PeterSt]

I am not definitive yet, but I don't think this is true ...

[Arjan]

Hi Peter,
There is a reaction on this statement in pcworld of 21 May 2015 stating:

It was intended to help data center and enterprise customers understand what could happen to an SSD—but only after it had reached the end of its useful life span and was then stored at abnormal temperatures. It’s not intended to be applied to an SSD in the prime of its life in either an enterprise or a consumer setting.

Maybe that will make more sense....

Regards, Arjan

[PeterSt]

Yes. This is the full "article" :
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2925173/debunked-your-ssd-wont-lose-data-if-left-unplugged-after-all.html

Or one here, just randomly :
http://www.itworld.com/article/2921047/hardware/no-you-wont-lose-data-on-your-ssd-if-you-leave-it-off-for-a-week.html

This is all not real proof that things will be fine after even many months, unless I am going to dig up one of my older ones ... (and then again it is no real proof).

Peter

[PeterSt]

OK, let's have some fun ...

I found two old SSD's ...

One is the old one of 90GB which held my Galleries of - as I see it correctly - October 2010.
I inserted that in my Audio PC's OS removeable bay (haha) and ...
Nothing. Empty drive.
5 minutes later I realized that I was looking at the wrong "PC" (the audio PC being accessible on that same monitor over RDC).
Coincidentally I tested something with a RAM Disk in there and this was still there. So I thought it was the empty SSD, but it was an empty RAMDisk.
Looked at the correct PC and ...
Nothing at all.
Ok, is in MinOS and that is not good for "new" devices. So ... removed it to ...
Nope. Removed nothing because it is stuck.
It is stuck in my removable bay that I need to boot the PC. That is, once I shut it down or when it hangs etc.
I have to shut down the PC to take out the bay and (try to) fix it.


On to the other one. This says "Vista backup, December 27, 2009". Put that in a removable bay elsewhere and ...
In full glory. Btw that is an OCZ Vertex. You know, those you "of course" should not use because "lolgically" they stop working after 7 days without power.
I just calculated ... this has been without power for 2196 days but I did not count the leap years.
I applied a chkdsk to it and no errors show up.
I tell you : the risk of losing an SSD is higher when you use it.

Regards,
Peter

[PeterSt]

After freeing the other one (also an OCZ Vertex, generation 2 this time) it appears that that one too is just fine.

I now can see that this was used for the last time on March 2, 2013. So this is 1035 days only.

Oh, the reason it got stuck is because it is 1.5mm thicker than normal (these days) standards.

I like to continue with the SSDs because they boot much faster ...

Peter

[AlainGr]

You can see there is something abnormal with the SSD. The informations are unreadable

Alain

[PeterSt]

Oh ? what then ?

[manisandher]

You can see there is something abnormal with the SSD. The informations are unreadable

Plain English into Double Dutch in only ~1000 days! That's about as bad a deterioration as you could imagine.

 

Mani.

[PeterSt]

Hi all,

I just sent everybody the invoice for the "RAM-OS".
Can you please check whether I maybe forgot something for you ? You can just respond to the email, when needed.

A few remarks :

Some of you will find 72 euros for XXHighEnd 2.xx on the invoice. This will be because you did not obtain a Code for 2.xx yet (this requires a one-time 72 euros).

The shipping date has been set to Januari 14 for everybody. In practice this will vary a few days.

Please check your address on the invoice (I recall from at least one of you it has changed - but by now I forgot who it is).

Especially check for the additional cables you may have ordered and which I can have missed.

And of course ... when you did not receive the invoice, I did something wrong in the first place.

Best regards to all and thank you !
Peter

[AlainGr]

Thanks to you Peter ! Your dedication is matched only by your creativity and your sense of pushing the limits beyond our solar system !

One extra-terresttial to another: "Have you seen this guy going ? I am reasonably sure that he is not from this world..."

 

Alain

[hbrew]

Various setup options exist. May need a manual (?) so not to "break" it.

I use Amanero Combo 384; presume I install this onto the particular OS boots.

Currently using a Music Server and Audio PC which of course I can change the Music Server's TCP/IP as needed if already setup for that.

Previously written that all motherboards should work so that is good.

I believe there is a significant difference between RamDisk operation v.s. SSD and Music Server over LAN -- on  minOS. Hope there is another significant improvement.

-- Anxious

[PeterSt]

Dear people,

I have been thinking about this yesterday and then decided to shut up, but I can't because formally I need to say this :

It hasn't been said so explicitly I think, but from the former (kind of) "group buys" it should be known to you that this is cheaper than when separately arranged for later. It is quite easy :

If I need to purchase an SSD for you separately, the supplier charges 10 euros for the shipment (and no, I am not going to put 20 etc. SSDs to stock, hoping some will buy them).

If we ship all together, it is about 10 euros cheaper, which is in today's shipping calculation (different per country). In other words, for this smaller and few weighing package (Netherlands not counted) it will be 10 euros more for that.

Point is : Maybe nobody is afraid of paying 20 euros more later, but I personally don't like to pay that 20 euros 20 times, later, only because 20 of you thought "oh well".

In other words, the 360 of today will be 370 after today and e.g. 38 shipping for the US of today will be 48 for the US, later (this is an extreme at the low (cost) side - the other extreme is 44 which becomes 56 (Norway, Australia) - others are in between that).

So you see, I have to tell this or otherwise later you did not know / could not know.

Regards,
Peter

[PeterSt]

I am starting to get a little nervous ...

Envision - It takes about 90 minutes to prepare one SSD (all starting with a clone from a base SSD). But I can forget so many things and I can do so many things wrong. It really starts to occur to me only now that I/we never did such a thing and that whatever I forget is for you to deal with. Maybe that isn't all so bad, but what if I am actually finished and only then find out that all the SSDs fail something. So what then ? change all XX in uncountable hours ? re-clone etc. all XX in XX times 90 minutes ?

Part of what's there to do is not even really known to me. For example, how to really clear all what I have been using myself ? Normally (e.g.) XXHighEnd freshly installs or anticipates *your* old situation. Now it is just mine ...

Just to give you an idea, this is what I woke up with today. My ToDo for it all :

Make all the PC Names the same for each OS.
Change all "PeterSt" workgroup to the default "Workgroup" for each OS.
Upgrade the 10565 TRIAL to 10586.0.
Activate all XXHighEnd's in all OSes.
Put all OSes in Normal OS Mode (needed to let install your devices).
Put the latest XXHighEnd (2.05) in all OSes.
Install the 1.04 NOS1 Driver version everywhere.
Cause the Driver103.tss to exist everywhere (not the .tst).
Set the date "properly" everywhere.
Check XXHighEnd settings for general acceptance (e.g. not that there's a too low SFS for general purpose).
Clear the Playlist Area everywhere.
Somehow clear the Favourites and everything like Gallery data in all OSes.
Clear the XXHighEnd Logs in each OS.
Remove the Drive Mappings I use myself.
More ??
Clone the SSD.
Apply the necessary "repairs" after cloning.

It would be best if I aplogise in advance for all what I may forget and what you thus have to do individually (of course with guidance).

Brrr
Peter

[juanpmar]

It would be best if I aplogise in advance for all what I may forget and what you thus have to do individually (of course with guidance).

Brrr
Peter

Do not worry Peter, we are used to work together. This has been always the way to be in this site.

 

Juan

[AlainGr]

Hi Peter,

I know this may sound weird, but if you could just have the latest version (10586.0) for my hard drive and what is required to have it work (for the maintenance updates that you may send to us), I would be happy. Adjusting for one version and knowing that this version is the best will suit me fine, as I do not have the intention to go back to windows 8 or 10 build 10074 (as an example).

Of course, only if that will NOT extend the time you will take to have it done this way...

Regards,

Alain

[Gerard]

Hi Peter,

I know this may sound weird, but if you could just have the latest version (10586.0) for my hard drive and what is required to have it work (for the maintenance updates that you may send to us), I would be happy. Adjusting for one version and knowing that this version is the best will suit me fine, as I do not have the intention to go back to windows 8 or 10 build 10074 (as an example).

Of course, only if that will NOT extend the time you will take to have it done this way...

Regards,

Alain

Yes Peter, if it makes it easyer for You only the most basic best OS Will be good enough.

[PeterSt]

Thank you guys. But nah ... it will all be as planned.

[PeterSt]

Time for a break here

I planned to ship the whole lot today, but I'm afraid it will be zero of 'm. No, I am sure.

Apart from other issues I wasted the whole of yesterday on, today all I have been doing is rebooting. 4 hours of it;

I now ran into a problem of which I don't know how many more boots and copying and what not it requires - before I am sure there really is an unsolvable problem. But it looks like it. Look :

First there's the nasty habit of 10586.0 regularly losing RDC connection, the only solution being a reboot. Yesterday I was a bit fed up with that and thought to boot into 10565 (RAM).
That suddenly appeared to be XXHighEnd-deactivated.
So I went back again to 10586.0 and luckily (for my mood) experienced no further problems there.
This morning I started investigating that 10565 activation problem, wanted to look into some log files but was told that the TemporaryData folder was inaccessible because corrupt.

XXHighEnd would not start anymore either and the boot file is then marked as corrupt by Windows. So, can not boot into it any more. But, easy to copy back a backup file of it.

30 boots or so and several OS copying activities later, it is definitive : The SSD can not cope with something. The "what" is not clear yet, but the least I should tell you guys is that we must expect that the whole pile of SSDs need to go back to the supplier and be exchanged for HDDs.
Possibly that also solves the 10586.0 disconnecting problem, because it is since the SSD that I have that issue.
Anyway ... this is NOT funny because of the throughput time it takes. Actually I am considering driving 350 Km or so to exchange the lot because otherwise I feel I won't have all in a week of time (RMA must be aproved, must possibly pay for all the HDDs first while the SSDs won't be credited - thus this must all be arranged for "in advance").

So what's happening is that as soon as I try to access the TemporaryDatafolder in 10565 of the SSD, that OS gets corrupt and can't be repaired (that I have seen, so far).
Copying a backup to the SSD lets happen the exact same, as if the base backup file was not right after cloning to the SSD. Copying from the original HDD implied the same again, and finally I checked the same "procedure" when booting from the HDD and there all was fine.
So it really is something with the SSD. Possibly it is about MinOS and while 30 minutes ago I thought to check that, I already saw several copy activitities coming, because how to get to Normal OS when the OS itself is corrupted. So do that in the HDD, copy that file of it to the SSD and then ...
Yea, then what ? I don't even want to know and rather started typing in here ...

Strange thing is that this only happens to 10565. But before someone says "never mind 10565 then" ... no. This can not be trusted now.

Peter

[acg]

Yowser!  I can't imagine what could cause those symptoms Peter...very strange.

[manisandher]

Hey Peter, I can only speak for myself, but there is absolutely no need for you to rush. It really makes no difference if I get the RAM-OS disk next week or next month.

I can't imagine anyone else who has ordered one would feel any different. We all know how much effort this has taken on your part.

Just my 2c...

Mani.

[PeterSt]

Anthony, yeah, I am now looking into possible 10565-SSD problems (Google). So if *that* would come forward ...
But the whole siituation is so specific that I have no hope to find anything. Or maybe a little hope, because operating systems sure treat SSDs in a specific fashion (about deleting and the TRIM feature and maybe more).

Btw I forgot to tell : the exact same happens with two of those same SSDs.

Just thinking ... I have another brand laying around which I could check too. But time time time ...

Regards,
Peter

[PeterSt]

Thank you Mani.
Yes, I really hope people can wait a bit. So mentioned "time time time" is not at all about my time, but the being late is something I normally hate.

Peter

[Gerard]

Yeah take your time please..... No no no hurry.... And do not deel bad please!!! It is all in the game 👍

[KnB]

Yes, same with me I do not mind to wait 

[AlainGr]

Peter,

Please take the time you need.

Alain

[PeterSt]

Well ...

Just thinking ... I have another brand laying around which I could check too. But time time time ...

I see it is 1.5 hours later now before I managed to do that.
Advantage : I had to try the "upgrade with a new OS" for real and found that I forgot something somewhere (it is really quite crazy how many permutations exist of "being" in an OS type (hdd/ssd, file, RAM) and creating a type (file, RAM)).

But on to the result :
On this other SSD 10565 just works fine.

I'm afraid it won't tell all because this other SSD is smaller (64GB) and I can't put all the OSes on it. I mean, the error on the other SSD (brand) can be related to the coincidental physical layout (both were cloned from the hdd in the exact same fashion).

The only thing I can say is that it won't be 10565 and SSDs in general. But at least I have a better reason to dump these SSDs back to the supplier.

Peter

[Gerard]

Better try a new ssd or hdd first. Meaning order just one. Will take more Time but less money and trouble.

 

[PeterSt]

Ok ... SSDs go back and HDDs will be the replacement (they are 2 euros more expensive, but twice as large. For some 3 times because of "availability" )
Of course nobody needs to pay that 2 euros and I only mention it because at first I told about the SSDs being 10 euros more expensive than the HDDs. But this was about another brand/type and if you don't mind - I now don't trust anything anymore which needs to go in "quantities"; These HDD's are the same we always ship(ped) in the XXHighEnd PC.

Actually I am super glad now that yesterday that 10586.0 connection failed on me again and that I thus revisited 10565 for that reason; If that had not happened then tomorrow most of them would have gone out to you.

Before I forget :
Tomorrow we will receive a first bunch but not all. Monday or Tuesday the remainder will arrive.

Thank you for bearing with me !
Peter


PS: The person starting that discussion about the SSD losing its data when not under power must have some special senses.

[PeterSt]

Better try a new ssd or hdd first. Meaning order just one. Will take more Time but less money and trouble.

 

Yes Gerard - exactly what I just said.

FYI : Testing first is exactly what I did and this was the 2nd SSD I got for the purpose and I received it on December 19. So that is almost 4 weeks (using it continuously) and even that was not enough. And about permutations ... I used 10565 all right, but from RAM. Thus, the OS file is copied to RAM a run from there. Today though I booted into the BASE version because I yesterday saw that XXHighEnd was not activated any more - somehow; and only there this problem shows, hence go into that normal boot and it gets molested right away (dig deeper and messages about the Partition Table being corrupted are thrown at you). After that the RAM Boot also does not work any more.

Regards,
Peter

[Scroobius]

The person starting that discussion about the SSD losing its data when not under power must have some special senses.

Nah just something I read somewhere sometime seems it is not that that is causing the problem anyway.

Better for this to happen now rather than after shipping - I am in no hurry.

Paul

[juanpmar]

Peter, before you send my ram disk I'd  like to order another Clairixia but I'm not sure  about the length I need until I return home by the 20th of this  month. So please wait until l confirm with you that length.
In case I'd need around 1m would be this length a problem to maintain the correct impedance or I should get a shorter one?

Juan

[acg]

Ok ... SSDs go back and HDDs will be the replacement

Important information Peter...are they 2.5" or 3.5" HDD's?  Through laziness I have not yet ordered my 2.5"-3.5" hotswap adapter/box/thingamy...but if the HDD are 3.5" then I don't need to order it now.  Please confirm.

Cheers,

Anthony

[PeterSt]

Anthony, they will be 2.5".
Peter

[PeterSt]

Peter, before you send my ram disk I'd  like to order another Clairixia but I'm not sure  about the length I need until I return home by the 20th of this  month. So please wait until l confirm with you that length.

Hi Juan,

For the 100 euros and your second Clairixa it is 30cm by standard. So I hope you can use that (everybody thinks he can ) or otherwise it has to be the usual price.
The 20th should be 2 days too late (maybe 1) as all will ship together (shipping is now 10 euros less).
So I hope it is okay ?

Peter

[hbrew]

No hurry here either. Take as much time as you need. I appreciate the effort to get it right and appreciate your work on this!

[juanpmar]

For the 100 euros and your second Clairixa it is 30cm by standard. So I hope you can use that (everybody thinks he can ) or otherwise it has to be the usual price.
The 20th should be 2 days too late (maybe 1) as all will ship together (shipping is now 10 euros less).
So I hope it is okay ?

That's Okay  Peter, please ship a 30cm Clairixa with the ram disk the same day as all the others.

Juan

[acg]

Anthony, they will be 2.5".
Peter

Thanks Peter...I've ordered the 3.5" - 2.5" sata hotswap adapter.

[PeterSt]

Ahum ...

Now I don't like it anymore;
Received a box today which was too heavy and too large to my idea about it. Just opened it (instead of doing that 3 hours ago) and found half of the disks to be 3.5".
f*ck
I guess that happens when all goes by telephone and ad-hoc is sorted out what is available.

So, now I can call about this Monday and then ...
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[AlainGr]

They mixed 2.5 and 3.5 ??? Someone surely smoked seomething while preparing the order...

[PeterSt]

No, I am to blame myself (at least partly).

I guess that happens when all goes by telephone and ad-hoc is sorted out what is available.

That 3.5" HDD is also an HDD which is shipped in the XXHighEnd PC, and I was looking in old shopping baskets and the pictures of the 2.5" and the 3.5" are exactly the same. Also, the type and specs etc. I looked for is the same for 2.5" and 3.5".
Add to it that I am using such a 2.5" myself so I could easily recognize it (ahum).

It is only that someone at the other end of the line could have noticed that I was (partly, because of availability) exchanging 2.5" SSDs for 3.5" HDDs. But like me, he was behind a computer screen and then things easily go like this. And as said, pictures look the same.

Djeez, had I a bad mood yesterday.

Peter

[PeterSt]

All went out today.

Peter

[briefremarks]

Thank you for all the effort!!!  Looking forward to it.  I saw the shipping notice this morning and can hardly wait.

[Gerard]

Man what a work!! 

Thank you so much.....

 

[toddn]

That's awesome Peter!
Quite a comeback considering the drive saga 

So now on to that surprise announcement

I'm looking at this ATX linear power supply:

http://www.hd-plex.com/HDPLEX-Fanless-300W-ATX-Linear-Power-Supply-with-Modular-ATX-Output.html

But don't want to pull the trigger if you've got something related up your sleeve!

Todd

[AlainGr]

Hi Peter,

I also receive a notice from UPS I don't know what to say... So I will say nothing

But thanks ! You know

Alain

[juanpmar]

Received!! Thank you Peter. I'll let you know when I get it working

Best regards,
Juan

[PeterSt]

Ha !

Btw, I hope that people have seen this small Tutorial :
Unboxing the RAM-OS disk.

Also : be careful please with trying things yourself without knowing the outcome. It is better to ask (forum please !), plus I need/like to add more "tutorial" later today.


Regards,
Peter

[juanpmar]

Thanks Peter, I just opened the envelope with the ram-disk and the usb Clairixa. I´ll wait to work with it until I know what and how to do. I guess that would be nice if we wait a few days until more people receive the shipment and we can work together, meanwhile we can study your tutorial when it gets ready.

Juan

[AlainGr]

I should receive mine tomorrow I will let it get to temperature before I do anything and use a "toaster" (dock with vertical hole to insert either a 2.5 or a 3.5 hdd. Very practical !

Will let know of course how it is going

Eager to get it ! But will put my reading glasses to check the documentation (OF COURSE)

Alain

[PeterSt]

Alain and all,

Well, I thought I could overdo it by warning people about the cold, but it sure would be true that such an actually frozen HDD should warm up first (just let it be in the living room). With us too a batch which arrived Tuesday had been in some unheated storage at -7C overnight and the morning after and the things are literally frozen. Not good to start using them in those conditions (me thinks).

Peter

[manisandher]

Damn!!! I missed the UPS delivery. Hopefully they'll try to redeliver tomorrow.

Mani.

[Gerard]

Damn!!! I missed the UPS delivery. Hopefully they'll try to redeliver tomorrow.

Mani.

Get your car and search for the bastard ;-)

[PeterSt]

haha
Mani, admit it; at 10:30 am you were just still sleeping.

[AlainGr]

Hi Peter,

I always wait until a component gets to room temperature...

I even used to do that with ice cream, but someone took me apart and talked to me...

Alain

[PeterSt]

Damn!!! I missed the UPS delivery. Hopefully they'll try to redeliver tomorrow.

Mani.

Mani,

I was just reviewing all the (non)deleveries and only see now that the package - as far as I can see - will not be redelivered but was dropped at the closest-by UPS access point. See in your UPS email.

Not sure how "normal" this is ...

Peter

[hbrew]

Got the RAM OS disk today, sooner than expected! Have 10586 running in RAM. Haven't setup the others yet. Instructions worked just fine and had it running in 30 minutes or so. Setup TCP/IP and loaded DAC USB driver. In normal mode got some errors during playback: Fail! TEMP ERROR B, Error during Playback Initialization BUFFER TOO LARGE and one other. These went away in MinOS. Haven't tried Unattended yet.

I was getting great sound before with the ASRock Fatal1ty MB and 8-core CPU I just built. May be at the end of the road for my dual DAC.

I think I did get some refinement running the 10586 OS in RAM. I thought perhaps going from 4 cores to 8 was more an improvement and this a final refinement to my system as it now stands.

Great sound no matter! Thanks Peter!

OK, spoke too soon so I had to edit this. Unattended  mode does it for me! Amazing presence and depth. Was amazing before I thought now even better. So I won't be sending my disk back 

Read some stuff from a few years back -- bit perfect, etc. Who cares? If it sounds better that is all that matters. What am I missing?

Day 2: RAM OS is outstanding! I must have been fatigued from driving and not in the mood to hear. Very glad to have the RAM OS disk!

[PeterSt]

What am I missing?

That counts for a few more in here.

Sound can be so utterly different from one setup to the other, that it seems completely impossible that all is bit perfect. Still it is ...

If you got used to 10586.0 somewhat, then try 10565 with the same XXHighEnd settings; You just won't believe the difference ...

Peter

[ismewor]

I hope i wasn't too late, please add me in for the driver.

-ismewor

[PeterSt]

Hi ismewor,

I sent you an email to the address you used for the forum.

Regards,
Peter

[PeterSt]

It has been found that the RAM OS Disk does not work with graphics (GPU) functionality on-board of the CPU. That is, when that is used. Using a separate PCIe card for that makes all operate fine.
Also see here : Re: RAM -OS files do not load into 16GB memory.

I've put this text in the first post of this topic as well.

Peter