First (Re) build in ages.

[Bob Williams]

I spoke about the rebuild of my son’s system on another thread. It’s quite a simple build really: a small mATX AM4 Gigabyte A320M-S2h mobo, Ryzen 3 1200, 1x 8 GB stick of 2400MHz Corsair Vengeance LPX RAM. Case, DVDRW, fans and other bits from his old system, including a venerable but still capable for his needs Sapphire AMD HD 4800 graphics card. He wants Win 7 installed initially, then has an upgrade path to 10.

“First…in ages” ? – it is a long time since I built my own system and that was the last of a long line of builds over the years for friends and family. I realised that technology had overtaken me when I fitted the Ryzen. There were 3 different ways to fit ‘my’ CPU to the board. The one I found for this build was so simple to carry out that I was a bit taken aback: Past AMD CPU’s I always found to be easier than Intel, but this was a doddle. Thermal paste already pre-applied, unscrew and remove retention hooks*, carefully line up the 4 sprung screws with the retention hook screw holes, screw in gradually corner to corner. Job done!

Tomorrow I discover if I did that correctly (how could I not?) when I install the mobo with CPU, HS & fan, connect up the bits and light the blue touch paper.

*Remembering to store those safely in the Mobo box.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Dave Rice]

I really wouldn’t worry about Win 7, it’s only got months left. You can still get Classic Start to make it look like 7.

[Ed P]

+1 for Dave’s response.

There are only a very very few programs that will not run in Windows 10, especially if you use the compatibility mode. The very few that do not are usually the result of the software house deliberately obsoleting their programs to make money. If you have a spare copy of Windows 7 you can install Windows 7 within virtual box or the free version of vmware player. You can then launch Windows 7  and install the recalcitrant program within the Windows 7 guest operating system. I’d say that procedure handles 99% of these difficult cases.

I use this process to setup a Foscam camera that refuses to install in Windows 10 Edge or Firefox.

[Bob Williams]

Thanks guys, I will migrate soon. Problems will start when I upgrade SWMBO’s laptop, which came with 10 or 7, so the 10 installation will be OK on that. But there will be screams of frustration until she learns how to deal with it. Son will get help from a friendly IT tutor at the school/academy group where he is head caretaker. Tutor is originally Romanian, has been naturalised for some time. My granddaughter is taught by him and says he is very good at his job. (If he wasn’t we would know about it!)

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[keith with the teef]

Windows 10 is actually the Dogs. Its real good. Top tip. Customise your start page. remove what you do not want and right click waht you do. Windows 10 also allows vertual links. Which actually stops w10 from getting its grubby mits on what you do not want it to.

Also mobos are moving away from supporting older operating systems. I was toying with mint 10 today and a couple of ubuntu type older distros and no go.

Things are defo changing out there and you have to smart to lay out yer stall as to whats going on. Like problems with HDD which where all hot swopable and now with embeded M2 type drives. You can find yerself right in it.

[Dave Rice]

That is a good point Keith, I’d forgotten that.

If the tech is too new W10 will only allow basic generic drivers.

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