[slackline]

I've really no idea what slackline is waffling about. best ignore him

  You've never updated your BIOS?

[Jaspersharpe]

I love you guys.

[Tris]

You've never updated your BIOS?

Yeah - but Jasper said it was "a CD with motherboard drivers on it", last time I checked BIOS's didn't need drivers? You are talking about firmware..or am I wrong?

[slackline]

BIOS is invariably a form of firmware.

I've never come across having to update drivers for a motherboard under the OS, as everything that would be improved would (most probably) have come from the motherboard manufacturers, and surely they'd have implemented improvements at the BIOS level so that they're independent  of the OS? 

I guess you might get third parties who could write software that adds functionality to the motherboard under a given OS, but never encountered it before (not that my experience is a good measure of anything!).

Never have to specify what drivers are required for the motherboard (/what my motherboard is) for any of my Linux systems when configuring the kernel.

[Tris]

In my experience motherboard drivers are drivers that are needed by Windows so that the OS can recognise various hardware on the motherboard - graphics, audio, network, chipset, bluetooth etc

You may get a utility to flash (upgrade) the BIOS firmware - but no BIOS drivers....

[slackline]

Strange, you'd have thought the OS would have everything compiled in to recognise the possible hardware it might be installed in.  Most features of MB's are fairly standard, its the quirky peripherals (such as bluetooth, CD/DVD/Blu-Ray, graphics cards, dedicated sound cards) that have unique features that can be anticipated by the OS coders that require specific drivers.

Actually thinking about it there is one driver for the on-board sound that I do compile in to my kernels (AC97 sound support).

Still if Win7 is so great you should never need a special drivers disc 

[Jim]

Still if Win7 is so great you should never need a special drivers disc 

finally!!!!!!!!!!!!

all the rest of your words about bios drivers are nonce-sence.
the bios doesn't contain drivers for specific onboard devices that are used in the OS.
BIOS is basic input output system, which gives just enough control of certain things (eg video/keyboard/dvd drive/USB) so that the OS can be loaded which then assumes control over everything (clues in the name etc)
updating the bios can give you benafits but this is only if you are an experienced user and assuming that there is an update available.
99% of home computer users should never need to update the bios

[slackline]

Still if Win7 is so great you should never need a special drivers disc 

finally!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just like Vista did!

all the rest of your words about bios drivers are nonce-sence.
the bios doesn't contain drivers for specific onboard devices that are used in the OS.
BIOS is basic input output system, which gives just enough control of certain things (eg video/keyboard/dvd drive/USB) so that the OS can be loaded which then assumes control over everything (clues in the name etc)
updating the bios can give you benafits but this is only if you are an experienced user and assuming that there is an update available.
99% of home computer users should never need to update the bios

Cheers, thats clarified things that I should have known 

[Jim]

no disrespect but your previous posts suggested that you didn't really know what you were talking about. Your post only seemed to serve to confuse people. You were getting updating bios and updating drivers mixed up which are 2 very different things. Also to confuse things further (jasper-ignore all this stuff)I have updated bios' via the OS on a number of different computers, I seem to remember dell seem to like doing it like this and I think my eeepc was also via the OS

Vista was shit, even microsoft admit this, win 7 is great

[Jaspersharpe]

(jasper-ignore all this stuff)

Don't worry, I am doing!

[slackline]

no disrespect but your previous posts suggested that you didn't really know what you were talking about. Your post only seemed to serve to confuse people. You were getting updating bios and updating drivers mixed up which are 2 very different things.

None taken, it wouldn't be the first time, and won't be the last that I'm wrong, and thanks to yourself I've now learnt something and won't mis-inform people again, so thank you. 

[Jaspersharpe]

It's up and running. 

Just got a minor issue to sort with BT who have fucked up the phone socket in the attic when failing to fix a previous broadband issue the USELESS FUCKING CUNTS.

[slackline]

It's up and running. 

 

Just got a minor issue to sort with BT who have fucked up the phone socket in the attic when failing to fix a previous broadband issue the USELESS FUCKING CUNTS.

No surprises there then!

[Jaspersharpe]

Utter bastards. Just glad I shouldn't have to deal with them again after this.

[Paul B]

As Jasper seems to be finished with this thread I was hoping I can get away with a bit of a Hi-jack.
A few years ago my parents stupidly bought a computer through work which has been a ball ache for me every time I visit. From two hard drive failures, a card reader that they hadn't bothered hooking up and many many more things.
Its f*cked once again and they're willing to replace it.

They only use it for light internet, backing up all of their music and word processing/finance packages etc.

The screen and peripherals that came with it were all fairly poor so It'd be the whole lot to be replaced (although doesn't have to all be one package).

The eee boxes look interesting but none of them have optical drives which is one thing (as well as a card reader) that I think they'd like.

Jaspers option looked good but the screen is no longer stocked, and the lack of card reader and OS might be a bit of a ball ache. I'm not sure which OS would be best to be honest, Win 7 or sticking with something XP based, on one hand they know a bit in XP but they don't know enough for the change to absolutely confuse them.

Ideas?
Thanks.

[Jim]

something like this?
http://www.aria.co.uk/Systems/Special+Offers/AriaNet+Value/Asrock+Nvidia+Ionstar+330+Nettop+PC+?productId=36632

[Paul B]

Cheers jim that looks great.

No OS: I'm a bit worried that if I go the "mate in jail" route, they'll do something with windows updates and all will fall down.

[Paul B]

which OS would people suggest?

stick with XP
or Win 7?

[Houdini]

^  No brainer.


Be more inclined to ward you away from AMD & the woeful multitasking ability.

[Paul B]

multitasking isn't something my parents do with computers, much like maintenance. but thanks

[Houdini]

Tune Up Utilities - one click maintenance.


It maintains it for you.  PM

[Jaspersharpe]

Win 7 is brilliant from what I've seen of it so far. Very very easy to use.

[Paul B]

did you go mate in jail jasper? If so do updates etc. still work.

[Jaspersharpe]

Indeed. I've always had updates set so I check em before installing so no change there and its working fine. Seems it's just like XP and it's only the Genuine Advantage Tool thing you have to watch out for but a mate in prison reckons even if you cock it up there will be an easily downloadable patch to correct it etc.

[Jim]

what Jasper said.
Soemthing like the product I linked to but with windows 7 as part of the package would be ideal. My mate in jail could always hook you up to.

There are a lot of those small box PC around now, I didn't really have time to search, look at all the usual suspects; ebuyer, dabs etc...