Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
I am listening to music streaming from my new VortexBox (well if you can call a 2004 repurposed box new)! The hard drive swap was really easy. The motherboard in the old computer has SATA controllers, so all I had to do was plug the new hard drive using a new SATA cable and a molex 4-pin to SATA power cable. Of course this was after vacuuming all the dust from inside the box and swapping the hard drive. At this point Ive only loaded up two albums for testing, but all seems to be working as it should. Ill leave the original files in place and copy them to the VortexBox so Ill have three copies of all the music, one on my Windows 7 computer, one on an external hard drive, and one on the VortexBox. I've got to say its been a pretty cool project. Still finding my way around in the VortexBox, but I'll get there. CharlieG's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32439 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
2004 computer should be able to boot from USB devices, You can install Vortexbox on a USB thumb drive (http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cruzer-SDCZ33-008G-B35-Flash-Drive/dp/B005FYNSUA/ref=sr_1_34?s=pcie=UTF8qid=1347303637sr=1-34). You music can be on USB external drive or NAS. ply3908's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=38634 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
I've done some research on the Dell user forums and it seems my machine is capable of up to a 2 TB SATA drive. It will require cable adaptors but that's okay by me. One TB SATA drives are pretty reasonably priced so I think that's probably what I will use. CharlieG's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32439 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
CharlieG wrote: I've done some research on the Dell user forums and it seems my machine is capable of up to a 2 TB SATA drive. It will require cable adaptors but that's okay by me. One TB SATA drives are pretty reasonably priced so I think that's probably what I will use. Thats excellent then , you find a drive down at the supermarket almost :) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
epoch1970 wrote: (I *think* win xp can't see above 2TB ?) WinXP 32-bit can only see 2TB. I believe the 64-bit version can see drive space larger than that. the nightfly's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=42075 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
Mnyb wrote: The Apple II dad borrowed one when i was a child ,memories (we could not afford such thing back then ) later on friends had the typical Vic C64 etc and transferred software over the phone line from cassettes :) C64, preserved and stuffed: http://www.kingsquare.nl/jsc64 ;) (USB 2.0 is circa 2000 IIRC, and it was quite a success. If the comp dates back 2003 it probably has USB2) (XP 32Bit, correct. However in our case: the P4 with 64 bit architecture was introduced around 2005, same as XP 64 bit edition. AMD was making minced meat of Intel at that time So there is very little chance the comp is capable of running a 64bit OS.) epoch1970's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16711 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
Mnyb wrote: The Apple II dad borrowed one when i was a child ,memories (we could not afford such thing back then ) later on friends had the typical Vic C64 etc and transfered software over the phone line from cassettes :) A, I fondly remember using my Apple II with an attached cassette player for holding data (for younger readers, the Apple II had no harddrive or disk driveyou ran programs and saved data to cassette tapes. Not long after, they produced external disk drives (5.25 floppy drives) that could be connected to the Apple II. I had two (one for holding the disk with the program (visicalc!) and one for holding my data). garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
It seems I had my dates wrong:-) I placed the order for the computer on January 18, 2004 and the date of manufacture is 1/20/2004. It has a Pentium 4 CPU 2.66 GHz and came with 512 MB of RAM (I later added two GB of RAM). It was in 2009 (when I purchased my first Squeezebox) I added the RAM and attached a 1 TB external USB hard drive, which is where my music library was stored. The increase in performance was quite large. In 2011 I got another increase in performance by switching from Norton Antivirus to a free A.V. which had a much smaller footprint. The increase was equally as large, but one month later the computer was infected with the malware:-( CharlieG's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32439 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
CharlieG wrote: It seems I had my dates wrong:-) I placed the order for the computer on January 18, 2004 and the date of manufacture is 1/20/2004. Ok, you need not worry much about the HDD then. If you're looking for a new one, it's going to be crazy expensive anyway (factories only do SATA nowadays), so if you buy a 250GB unit that will be plenty. And in the sorry case this is too much for the BIOS -I have a cheap Dell 2005 machine that supports larger IDE drives in stables right now- then you only need to partition the drive (from an other machine). The OS would use only the 1st partition. Given the capacity and performance limitations I'd go for this: - ''inexpensive' IDE 2.5 drive' (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136114) cough. I hope there are better prices around. Usually laptop drives are more rugged than big drives. They last longer, accept higher operating temperatures, are more quiet. A second hand laptop drive is something you could consider, if the laptop had a quiet life. - 'IDE 40 to IDE44 pins converter' (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119245) 2.5 drives have a larger IDE connector that carries power. This accessory is the needed link between the ATA cable you have in the computer and a 2.5 drive. - '2\5-3\5 mounting kit' (http://http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817990022) (highly optional). Would allow to place the small 2.5 drive where the 35 was. Frankly, given how light a laptop drive is a single screw can secure it. This setup will have better performance than the current one (the IDE link is a bottleneck anyway), produce very little heat, noise, and will shave more than 10W in power consumption. I just hope you can find an affordable drive, I'm shocked at the prices listed there garym wrote: Not long after, they produced external disk drives (5.25 floppy drives) that could be connected to the Apple II. I had two (one for holding the disk with the program (visicalc!) and one for holding my data). :) Our (I commandeered it switfly) Apple //e has twin floppy readers too. I was holding the guys fiddling with cassette tapes in utmost contempt. We still have the machine, a few years ago it was still in service for playing a few games, before being replaced by a retired iMac (an iconic machine, too.) epoch1970's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16711 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
epoch1970 wrote: :) Our (I commandeered it switfly) Apple //e has twin floppy readers too. I was holding the guys fiddling with cassette tapes in utmost contempt. We still have the machine, a few years ago it was still in service for playing a few games, before being replaced by a retired iMac (an iconic machine, too.) And I thought I was really doing well when I discovered that I could take a hole-punch and clip out a bit of the Floppy disk, and double my storage space (by simply turning the floppy over and re-inserting). garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
CharlieG wrote: I guess you are right about the drive not lasting much longer. It was the only computer in the house for eight years, and ran 24/7 for the last two. At one point I researched (on the Dell site) getting a larger drive, but none was available for this model. I may look in other places for a larger drive. ? why buy one from dell internal hardrives are pretty standard 2,5 or 3,5 SATA or PATA/IDE thats about it ? Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
On that old machine, there is a chance the bios will only see the first 137GB of any drive. I'd favor a laptop drive (more robust) over a larger desktop drive. I remember I've had met this limit with an iMac that came with a 30GB drive Those were the days. epoch1970's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16711 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
epoch1970 wrote: On that old machine, there is a chance the bios will only see the first 137GB of any drive. I'd favor a laptop drive (more robust) over a larger desktop drive. I remember I've had met this limit with an iMac that came with a 30GB drive Those were the days. +1 You are old if your current phone outperforms your first computer :) ( and I do suspect that my controller does to ). Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
epoch1970 wrote: On that old machine, there is a chance the bios will only see the first 137GB of any drive. I'd favor a laptop drive (more robust) over a larger desktop drive. I remember I've had met this limit with an iMac that came with a 30GB drive Those were the days. Okay, how would I find that out? I am looking at the specs (I still have the original documentation, and software CDs) and don't see anything about that. The manual does mention there are two bays for 1-inch-high IDE hard drives. CharlieG's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32439 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
Mnyb wrote: You are old if your current phone outperforms your first computer :) ( and I do suspect that my controller does to ). I was lucky enough to have my father bring an Apple //e in the family. My first computer can be emulated in javascript inside a web browser#8230; CharlieG wrote: Okay, how would I find that out? I am looking at the specs (I still have the original documentation, and software CDs) and don't see anything about that. The manual does mention there are two bays for 1-inch-high IDE hard drives. It's a BIOS limitation, I don't know of a way of detecting it, except googling your computer name and 137GB limit. But 2003 seems a bit early. If you hit the limit: 1. you would be able to use the drive, not all of it, simply; 2. as your computer should feature USB 2 (and not the older USB 1 which is unbearably slow), you should be able to use any modern drive for music storage (I *think* win xp can't see above 2TB ?) via USB. So it's not a huge problem. Separating the music disk and the system disk is always a good idea. epoch1970's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16711 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
Bizarre I've never heard of computers with this kind of bios limitation ? live and learn . mobo must have been old design even back in the day ? 137GB does not acount for much for music storage but this is more than enough for the OS . If you got no SATA interface USB may be the only option left ,btw does it atleast suport USB2 ? for the music storage . The Apple II dad borrowed one when i was a child ,memories (we could not afford such thing back then ) later on friends had the typical Vic C64 etc and transfered software over the phone line from cassettes :) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
Yes and yes. As for the name under which the USB drive would attach, I think this is Vortexbox dependant. They have a forum, and even 'a nice wiki page' (http://info.vortexbox.org/tiki-index.php?page=USB+Media+Library) for you. I would recommend applying the optional steps 11 and 12 shown in the wiki page. epoch1970's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16711 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
The computer is fine for Vortexbox but 9 year old drive will not last for long if keep it on 24/7.I installed Vortexbox on a thumb drive for my HP ProLiant MicroServer. ply3908's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=38634 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
Re: [SlimDevices: Plugins] Converting an old PC to VortexBox
ply3908 wrote: The computer is fine for Vortexbox but 9 year old drive will not last for long if keep it on 24/7. Why not buy a bigger drive? If you don't need the space, install it on a USB drive if the BIO has the boot from USB drive option. I installed Vortexbox on a thumb drive for my HP ProLiant MicroServer. I guess you are right about the drive not lasting much longer. It was the only computer in the house for eight years, and ran 24/7 for the last two. At one point I researched (on the Dell site) getting a larger drive, but none was available for this model. I may look in other places for a larger drive. CharlieG's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32439 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96347 ___ plugins mailing list plugins@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/plugins
