New GS3 FAQs and WinXP Optimization

[Martin Hines]

Tascam has updated their website to include some GS3 specific items:

- GS3 FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

- GS3 Windows XP Optimization

http://www.tascamgiga.com/general.html

[mal7]

thanks for that Martin

[ddarwin7]

Its funny that I just read all this stuff minutes before looking at this post, but thanks anyway Martin.

I am kinda prepreparing myself for the arrival of GS3 orchestra on Monday. I am still afraid to install GS3 onto my single DAW system with Cubase SX 2.02.035 (I have never worked with GS ever). I pretty much meet the requirement of the Ultimate GS3 machine specs in the tascam site, except I have a P2.8 instead of P3.0 or above.

Do these computer Specs in tascam site refer to a dedicated Gigastudio PC specs or a single DAW with host sequencer specs, or for both. Any comments

I fear that things may start crashing on me, but I am trying to be as positive as I can possibly be. Here is part of the reason for my fear. prior to installing Kontakt on my computer, I had a very robust computer, that never crashed on me, but after my recent Kontakt installation (even with latest updates), my system crashes on me with an error message and I have to restart Cubase.

Now, to add to this I will also be installing GS3 on the same computer, and I fear that it may add to more problems.

Any suggestions

[Gamera]

Any suggestions

Back up your system first. Better yet, use an alternate boot drive with a removable drive system for testing until you know everything's going to be cool.

G

[Digital AudionetworX]

"Disable System Restore"

"Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > System Restore Tab. Tick the "Turn off System Restore on all Drives"

this is bull~~~~, REALLY!

system restore is really needfull sometimes.
backps are better though!

dont do this on your system disk. changing this has no impact onto the performance of you GS3 system at all!!! so there is no reason to dissable this.

there are other tweaks in the list which dont improve the system performance at all to but these dont to bad things dissabled so it dosent matter if they are dissabled.

[JBacal]

Are there any tweaks which you do recommend that were not listed in the FAQ. I noticed in another thread that you have been able use much more memory than I can (I think you got your machines to use over 1.3 GB whereas I'm only getting .9 GB on a 2 gig system).

Thanks,
Jay

[ddarwin7]

Thanks for the response

I backed up my files using my removable hard drive. But How do I boot with an alternate boot drive. I do have a removable drive system. My OS is on C drive, and I have another drive for audio, and 2 SATA raptors in raid 0 for samples. Where would I Install GS3 for testing, and how would I be able to boot in order to install GS3 for testing.

When I initially built my DAW, I did a lot of win XP tweaks including disabling system restore.

[Crystal]

An option : http://www.hyperos2002.com/07042003/products.htm#hyperos2004FEproduct

[Digital AudionetworX]

An option : http://www.hyperos2002.com/07042003/products.htm#hyperos2004FEproduct


you dont need this. just select the drive in bios you want to boot from. thats it!
you get into bios with pressing delete or F2.

version 3.03 dont allows much more then 1100mb in msg.exe.
i was able to load more then 1300mb in msg.exe with v. 3.01 after i dissabled allmost all services.

[ddarwin7]

OK, I'll try that, Thanks

[Gamera]

But How do I boot with an alternate boot drive. I do have a removable drive system. My OS is on C drive, and I have another drive for audio, and 2 SATA raptors in raid 0 for samples. Where would I Install GS3 for testing, and how would I be able to boot in order to install GS3 for testing.

The cleanest way to have your removable drive as your C drive (boot drive). It's not clear if you're just using a removable for data storage.

With a removable C drive, you can swap in totally different installations and be assured they are clean & independent. Using the BIOS to switch is possible but you have to be VERY careful about installation. You do not want the two Windows installations aware of each other or co-mingled. Removable boot drives completely eliminates that.

For more details:
http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?p=221285#post221285

G

[ddarwin7]

Hi Gamera:

Thanks for taking the time to help me out on this.

That sounds like a brilliant idea, I read your other post in detail as well. But the problem with my computer is that all my drive bays are filled and there in no more room to put in another removable HD. Currently I am using my removable bay as storage and backup only. I can't transform this drive into a removable boot drive either, because the Ide cables won't reach. My C drive (OS drive) is permanently installed inside. So this is what I am thinking of doing, I know its more work but right now I don't think I have a choice.

I am going to treat the C drive as a "removable HD", except I am going to go inside the computer and physicall remove it for swaps, for now, or until I feel that GS3 is stable enough. So, I guess what I will be trying to do is create an Identical drive to my C drive, or in other words, a mirror image of my C drive on to another drive so I can boot off either, at will.

So I am assuming that I should be able to put an empty formatted drive into my current removable HD, and create a copy of my C drive onto that drive using an application like Ghost or Drive Image, and keep that as my "Just in case GS3 crashes" drive. right.

Here is where I am a little confused, with the 3 installations you are talking about. (I 've copied

part of your quote from the other link you sent me, as a reference)

(1) Baseline Windows - do I need this if my PC is a DAW and is not used for anything else?

(2) Optimized Windows (musicxp.net) - is this the drive that I would install GS3 into -- my current C drive as used in my DAW

(3) Working config with apps & drivers" - is this the drive that would be on the shelf just incase GS3 crashes and would also be identical to the drive in # (2) prior to GS3 installation.


Will this also take into consideration the microsoft windows XP registration code that is PC specific. And also, I have a raid 0 set up for my sample drive, would that affect anything.

So I should be able to boot using either of these drive and everything should work fine, right.

Thanks Gamera



Here is the quote from your other forum.

"Here's the next level... Use a drive imaging app like Ghost or Drive Image (both now from Symantec). Install/activate Windows & make an image - that image will be your baseline Windows install for both drives, just put the image off on a separate data drive. From there you can install apps to a known working config & image again. Now you have two images... a Windows baseline and a known working config. You'll not only have the separate boot drive to test with, you'll also have a fast way to roll back to a known working (or baseline) config, without messing with Windows "Restore".

I take this one step further with actually three images:
Baseline Windows
Optimized Windows (musicxp.net)
Working config with apps & drivers"

[Gamera]

Will this also take into consideration the microsoft windows XP registration code that is PC specific. And also, I have a raid 0 set up for my sample drive, would that affect anything.

The key is to activate Windows first, then image the drive. As long as you stay on the same computer, that image restored to another drive will still be activated - in my experience. If you start changing a lot more hardware Windows may think you're on another machine and require re-activation.

G

[ddarwin7]

Thanks again Gamera, I will give that a shot and I hope for the best.

[fizbin]

4. Now it is recommended that you turn off any services or programs in Windows that run in the back ground.

This would be a big mistake.