[lagerstarfish]

Hopefully I'll be getting a new 'puter soon. What method do you people recommend for testing that everything is working as it should?

Is there some sort of test(s) that can be run under Ubuntu (so that I don't need to install any OS at all to find out if everything is working ok)?
Or should I just go ahead and install Windows 7 64bit, CS5 DogsBollox Collection and see if it works like what I think it should?

Not really sure whether I'm even asking the right question. 

[GCW]

Is this something home built and you're wondering if the hardware is OK?

[lagerstarfish]

Most likely be a ready built job, but there is still a slight possibility that I will be doing a home build.

[GCW]

It's ready built, just bung the OS in.  You'll get an error code if there's an issue.

If you build it yourself, you can do the same.  Although you can go looking a components in BIOS/ listen to the beeps.

What exactly are you concerned about?  SoundCard/ Graphics?  You can check all that shit once the OS is in.

[Tris]

What exactly are you concerned about?  SoundCard/ Graphics?  You can check all that shit once the OS is in.

Word 

[lagerstarfish]

Guess I just want to know as soon as possible that everything works in case I need to send it back and was wandering what other people do. I thought a Linux/Ubuntu solution would be best just because its free and legit (don't want to be arguing with a supplier based on what I might have found using a copy of a popular OS that might not be 100% legitimate)

[GCW]

Why didn't you say so?  Did you get it from Dave's Mate?

You can go into BIOS and check hardware settings, so that should tell you what's working.

Your other option is to install your OS and if there's an issue, use something like WipeDrive/ format your drive.

[Jaspersharpe]

I was going to say "can't you just wipe the OS off if there is a problem?" but GCW beat me to it.

I was, honestly. Regardez Moi!

I never thought of any of this shit mind. Just chucked Win7 on and assumed everything would be ok.

[slackline]

You can use live CD's to run things like 'memtest' or 'hdparm' the former physically checks your RAM to check for problems, the later allows you to set parameters on the HD to improve power management, there are also tools for checking HD's.  System Rescue CD is quite good for this stuff.

Although as others say things will become apparent pretty quickly if they don't "Just Work^TM" upon installing your OS of choice.

[GCW]

You can use live CD's to run things like 'memtest' or 'hdparm' the former physically checks your RAM to check for problems, the later allows you to set parameters on the HD to improve power management, there are also tools for checking HD's.  System Rescue CD is quite good for this stuff.

This is all true, but if you start a Windows 7 install it'll test all of that for you anyway and pop an error message during installation.  It all depends how much time and energy you have, and how much you need to avoid your parole officer finding out.

[slackline]

That must confuse the hell out of some people, asking them how long they want to wait before idling the discs, or if they want to use "read-ahead" features/leave discs 'spun-up' etc. etc. on the HD's.

Good to see that M$ are providing such basic tools these days though, never saw them in Win95 when I used/installed as far as I recall.

[GCW]

 

[Tris]

Good to see that M$ are providing such basic tools these days though, never saw them in Win95 when I used/installed as far as I recall.

95 still did the basic checks it needed to run (disk space or problems/memory/graphics etc)...

Windows 7 is just more advanced - things have changed in 15 years you know 

Linux is now slightly less shit too...

[slackline]

:D