Great that you got it working, Decrepit!

Fired up my second backup Win7 Ultimate (HP Compaq 32 bit) and uploaded tons of pics, musik, downloaded youtube vids and small games. This computer is a bit weird; if left on its own for too long, with or without a screensaver active, it will go into a freeze mode that can only be fixed by ctrl-alt-del but it seems if I leave PvZ on just hanging in the garden for instance, this problem never occurs.

Got a computer from work last year and I just now fired it up to have a look. It's an XP identical to another one I have that I use to play Star Wars: Rebellion on.

I tinkered around with it a bit and tidied things up but I have no idea what to use it for. For now I'll just keep it around.

Started up my primary Windows XP (the one I play Star Wars: Rebellion on) and copied over pics, savegames, youtube videos and games. I even got everything to work after just some minor tinkering, even the youtube videos!

Successfully managed to copy every picture from my iPhone to my Windows computer. I just made sure to go through them all in my phone library first since I believe that will grab them from the cloud in full resolution, otherwise I only get the low resolution version stored on the phone (to save space). I might be wrong here.

Funnily enough, the only two pics that didn't work were sent by Android which I believed were the ones that would definitely work.

Also, none of the four videos worked other than the audio. Don't know what's up with that.

iPhone query; can one download security updates without updating iOS itself? I know there is an option in the settings but can I 100% get the security updates without triggering the download of iOS 26?

Main backup Win7; iPhone pics and Oblivion/Bioshock 2 saves copied over.

Also started up my secondary backup Win7 and did the same thing plus tidied up the pics folder; got rid of duplicates.

This post has been edited by mirocu: Feb 7 2026, 08:14 PM

Main backup Windows 7 Ultimate again. Pics and savegames copied plus made a computer save point. Also updated Windows Defender.

Agh hey, it's me, with a bunch of n00by questions, perhaps. I'm going TO try rebuilding my gaming computer this week & weekend and have some questions.

Firstly, I'm going to try installing TWO solid state drives; one for gaming, another for everything else, such as typical necessary Windows 10 programs (and yes, I know 10 is no longer officially supported) and typical folders such as Documents, Pictures and so on. My plan is to have Norton on this second drive but NOT on the drive I'm planning for games, does that make sense, or is that even possible? Thing is, in the past when my computer was running a year ago, Norton does a great job keeping track of temp files, junk, and so, but it's intrusive. It would occasionally just ramrod some message on my monitor right in the middle of gaming. But at least it would never interfere with game modifications or installing. I seem to remember Windows Defender being even more intrusive back when my computer only had that program protecting it, but Defender missed a bit of malware which got into my system a decade ago while trying to modify Sims 3. -- Maybe there's even some other defense-type program I should be looking at which is best for gaming? But the main goal is: two drives, one for gaming, the other for other programs which are more Windows based. The gaming drive = no expense spared, but I'll try to spend less on the second, non-gaming drive, make sense? I'll be going to Micro Center probably tomorrow, or whenever some extra money lands in my checking account. I know I can just order this stuff from Amazon or Newegg, but I like the idea of bugging a real live person instead, with dummy questions and whatnot. PLus, the hour-long trip to MC is kind of a trek, which I've enjoyed in the past.

So that's the first set of thoughts I'm concerned about, the second concerns have to do with SSDs themselves. I'm thinking I want two 3.5 inch drives because this means they'll be able to fit nicely into my computer, which has an entire column of 3.5 inch drive slots, top to bottom, but MC only seems to carry 2.5" drives and M.2 drives, whatever those are, not sure, M.2 = a new term for me. So here's the Micro Center SSD page, narrowed down to Internal drives with 4.0 TB of space, 2.5 inch or M.2.

And I'll probably narrow this down further to WD, Samsung, and Corsair, all names I either grew up with, use currently (my Gaming comp has a WD Blue but it's an old-fashioned/mechanical which broke last summer) or have heard good things about. I know nothing about Inland and Crucial or several others, never heard of those companies. They might be fine but I'm going with what I know.

Now, here's an example of a Samsung 990, within my price range and so on.

Now what I'm noticing is, after zooming in, the right side of the drive, which looks 'exposed' rather than internal. Is this where I'd plug the SATA cables to? Oh gosh I sound like such a noob. I don't know what these terms should be. Basically, am I 'safe' buying such a drive and then hooking it up to the SATA cable already in my case?

Sorry if I'm mangling terms, really trying to do this on my own but if I have to, I can also take my rig to a local geek-type shop, but don't really want to go that route if I don't have to.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 24 2026, 07:31 PM

<link> Here's a YouTube video explaining the different drive types, from conventional hard-disk drives to M.2 NVMe drives. <link>

Nice, this is perfect.

Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB does not use SATA cables. It mounts directly to the motherboard. Check your motherboard for M.2 NVMe compatibility. If I can help with that let me know the model number of your motherboard.

What you are planning to do with multiple drives will work. I have done similar;
SSD: Drive C: Samsung NVMe 950 250GB | boot drive, Win10, system apps, Photo & Music editing apps, Desktop Game Theme Screens
SSD: drive E: Samsung 860 1TB | Documents, Pictures, Music, Downloads, TES Mods DLs
SSD: drive F: Samsung 850 500 GB | TES game files, screen pics, docs, etc.
HDD: drive G: Western Digital Black 250 GB | back up files

When at the MicroCenter ask about adaptors for mounting the SSD into a 3.5 HDD slot. I found adaptors that will hold two SSD in one HDD slot.

Thank you, macole and Decrepit. Well I JUST returned from Micro Center not long ago and now have an SSD card for my gaming computer, so I'm gonna focus on that. Hope I get it right, but of course I'm completely nervous something will go wrong. Maybe I'll put off installing the new drive until tomorrow.

I didn't have enough money for two cards today; forgot to factor Maryland 6% state tax into the final bill, so I only got a WD Red at the moment, but maybe that's enough for now. Micro Center does carry Samsung 990 EVOs sized 2.5 inches, although, yeh, The link I posted yesterday does lead to an M.2 card. But that doesn't matter. I couldn't afford both the 990 and the WD, but it's fine. No hurry on this project.

Cool, I really like that arrangement of multiple drives, mac; nice to know such things can be done. I forget who told me of the idea for more than one disc in the first place; either Lena or mALX, two drives is my overall goal, but maybe it's better to focus on one drive at a time. Well first, I'm gonna try to see about making an 'install media drive' as described on this page. Can Chorrol's biggest computer dummy figure it out? 🖱Let's find out.

Question: I seem to remember HDDs can get their memory erased if a strong magnet is nearby, what about solid state discs?

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 25 2026, 10:58 PM

Edit: PHEW, OKAY DID IT! Made an empty thumb drive into a Windows 10 install device.

Only weird thing is: I didn't get charged this time. When I DL'd Win10 back in August of 2024, Microsoft charged somewhere around $144. But there was no charge this time. Is this because I already paid two+ years ago? -- I had to use an Administrator account to download 10, maybe Microsoft "remembers" this same account? Anyway it's done.

Thing is, I didn't make an install media back in 2024, so I'm not sure how I got Windows 10 on my gaming computer back then. Maybe I put in the new HDD, hooked the gaming rig up to the 'net, and instead of install media I downloaded 10 directly from that Microsoft page onto the new drive back then, make sense? Either way, seems the install thumb drive should be ready to go, though I won't put the new SDD in until tomorrow.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 26 2026, 12:14 AM

youtube is my goto for video demonstrations


An SSD or any flash drives are not normally affected by magnets.

It would take something strong like an MRI to cause damage to the stored data. Even then it is not the magnetic field that is the problem it is how fast the field changes from on to off. It’s like heating glass marbles in a frying pan and then plunging them in ice water. If you haven’t tried that give it a go. It pretty neat, the marbles get all cracked up inside.

Good luck with your cumputing stuff, Renee! Wish I was savvy enough to also help you



So, iOS 26.4 contains age verification in the UK. Yeah, my "Automatic updates" stays off for as long as possible. Just like on my computer that I got 2009.

Renee: it’s awesome that you are undertaking this pc project! From my own experience putting my PC together, it was quite scary at first, but I learned so much and the feeling of accomplishment after it booted up for the first time was incredible. I found it to be a very rewarding experience. I’d love to do it again, but I’ve got a big change coming to my life and I just don’t know if I’ll ever be able to afford the components again. I’ll be living vicariously through you guys, lol

Cool, thanks y'all. I did get my case opened yesterday just to see how the drive will get configured in place. Turns out it would've been a huge waste of money to get that second drive because the SATA cable's smaller 'data' side (the smaller connectors) only has one connector available. Plenty of larger 'power' connectors, but only one 'data' connector left available. I have errands to run today but hopefully around 5 eastern standard time I'll be able to start on this project, hook up electricity and so on.

Yeah I Think I'm just stuck. Got the drive installed. Hooked the PC'a VGA cable up to a monitor, turn everything on. Inserted the thumb drive which supposedly has Windows 10's install on it.

Seems to boot up normal at first...

Whoa, new window just popped up called Windows Setup, holy [censored]. I swear this didn't happen before. Ten minutes ago there was a message saying "NO BOOT DRIVE OR HARD DISC FOUND' or some such. But now there's a window with several drop-down menus like...


Language to install: English (United States)
Time and currency Format: English (United States)
2Keyboard or input method: US, I guess. There's a bunch of options here. Fork it, let's try the Next button.


That's an onscreen button. Heck yea I'll install now.

Really, what happened in between my first try and this second one is I Google'd the error message which showed up ("no disc or boot drive...." and it suggested I turn off my computer, unplug its power, and then hold the power button for 15 seconds, so I did all that before plugging it back in And turning it on again.


"Setup is starting" it says. 'MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS" the next screen which POPS UP, like Jiv Hirtel in Hackdirt says, along with a bunch of legalese, which I scroll down taking a brief read here and there, pretending to understand what it's saying. hee hee!

I accept the license terms, sure, why not? Let's press next.

Which type of Installation do you want? asks the next page with two buttons: 1). Upgrade: Install windows and keep files, settings, applications? -- What files, settings & applications? The SSD is supposed to be blank, so I'll choose the next option, which 2). is "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) The files, settings, and applications aren't moved with this option....blABLABLA" okay, sounds about right. I select this second option.

Weird. Where do you want to install Windows? it asks, and it's showing a picture of two discs. The old HDD IS still in there, but I swear I disconnected it. Dangit I gotta look into this. BRB.

Alright I'm back. Apparently I had a second thumb drive hooked up. Removed it. Back in business now. "Let's add your account" this new page says. Cool it just found our wifi and I just made a PIN number.

"Always have access to your recent browsing data? Hmm, Not now I choose. Not a fan of having my devices all 'synched up'.

"WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING READY FOR YOU, This may take several minutes...." Heck yea!!!


Holy [censored] I got a desktop, whoa!!! Let's try installing Elder Scrolls Arena!

See y'all later.

This post has been edited by Renee: Mar 27 2026, 04:39 AM

Great job, Renee!!



Also might I add I just love the way you write all this!



IBM Technology: How hackers steal passwords

Really good video explained as if it's actually for humans

This post has been edited by mirocu: Mar 27 2026, 09:10 AM