Posted on 03/13/2010 10:18:10 PM PST by JoeProBono
By the end of January 2011, almost all new hard drives sold will have switched to a new format that will increase their size and efficiency, but will leave those clinging to Windows XP frustrated.
Traditionally, data on hard disks has been broken up into 512 byte chunks. Each broken-up sector requires additional space on a physical disk to mark the beginning and the end of each piece. Extra space is also needed for error correction, and there needs to be a bit of room to separate it from the next chunk. This wasn't much of a problem when the format debuted in the '80s when hard drives were measured in megabytes. Now that we have entered the terabyte era, the extra room required for each sector leads to wasted space on the surface of a disk.
A new format, which all disk manufacturers have agreed to migrate to by the end of January of next year, increases these sectors to 4 kilobytes, or eight times the size. This reduces waste and increases disk size, but an operating system must be able to recognize the new format. Vista and Windows 7 users are in the clear, as are Mac users with OS X 10.4 or higher and Linux users with a kernel released after September of 2009... XP users, on the other hand, may encounter some problems.
Windows XP must use an emulation layer that makes the 4KB sectors appear to be several 512 byte ones. This won't have much of an impact when reading from the disk, but could lead to slowdowns of as much as 10-percent when writing data. That could be a particularly big problem for those performing media intensive tasks like video editing.
We know this is some pretty techy stuff, but what it boils down to is, if you plan to build a new Windows XP computer in the future, you might want buy your hard drive now. Otherwise, it might be time to consider that upgrade to Windows 7.
OK then - sorry I asked.
My Hat’s off to you Joe - sounds like you are in my age bracket - but a hell of a lot more resourceful!
Something wrong?
I have a dell dimension c521 and I’ve found that my virus software slows me down. And some unneeded programs starting up in the background took up memory, so I stopped them from starting.
“Inferno sweeps through Los Angeles.”
“Inferno sweeps through Eric Wilson’s back yard.”
Which gets the headline?
No mention of Linux because no-one uses Linux for home computing.
Thanx for your help, but YIKES! That’s way over my head.
Have you ever opened up your computer to see the parts inside?
No, I’m not sure how to. I’m also worried about messing something up if I do....not to mention the fact that I’m legally blind & have trouble being able to see small items & am unable to work around them.
I thought there was a program that I could download to clean up my cmptr...something that could return it to its original state, or close to it.
XP will be put to pasture (no more updates) by year end or early next year-NO? PPL will be forced to upgrade their Hardware to run WIN 7 or actually buy Vista, can you imagine anyone buying Vista?
WIN 7, 64 bit rocks.
XP=eXPired
I thought of something else. Is your service provider slowing you down? I use Verizon wireless and if you use a certain amount of broadband they cut your speed.
I complained to them several times about my speed being like dial up and they kept telling me it’s because I’m too far away from the cell tower. But then one service rep did something on the other end and Wow! My speed wizzed along for a week or two & then boo hoo, it went back to slow ville.
I found out that they cut your speed down if you use more then so many what evers a month. And I use more then the allowed amount.
Oh, a few years back my other computer slowed down to a slow crawl because I needed a new battery. Just a thought.
It is real easy to open the case with a screwdriver and then remove the old memory from it’s socket and push the new ones in, you just use your fingers, no tools are needed, and no wires are touched or even connect to it at all, it is just something that is unplugged and is plugged in, in a simple socket.
You can get a friend to help you, I think that is what Joe was suggesting, it would really speed up your computer.
Try doing theses things on this page: http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/maintenance/speed.aspx
After that try CCleaner. I use it everyday to keep my computer clean and it’s FREE! Go here for the free download: http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/CCleaner/ccleaner.html
from the article:
“XP users, on the other hand, may encounter some problems.
Windows XP must use an emulation layer that makes the 4KB sectors appear to be several 512 byte ones. This won’t have much of an impact when reading from the disk, but could lead to”
SmokingJoe’s question:
“How do you know MS will not offer a patch for XP when the time comes?
Remember, these new hard drives don’t even hit the market till the end of January of next year”
J Edgar’s reply:
Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought that was the point of the article under discussion -XP users are are of luck - left in the cold by MS for not upgrading to vista or win 7
I believe that XP is to be updated until at least April, 2014.
Argg! Die a horriable death! (So I can steal your rig)
CCleaner also allows you to stop/start loading programs, but I don't think it's available at this very moment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.