Edit, May 2016 : It has been found that the RAM OS Disk does not work with graphics (GPU) functionality on-board of the CPU. That is, when that is used. Using a separate PCIe card for that makes all operate fine.
Also see here :
Re: RAM -OS files do not load into 16GB memory.
A few years and maybe a 500 boots for the purpose further, we're in the stage of being able to produce a HDD with all on it to boot from RAM and next pull out the HDD.
And Yes, I surely think it is for the better (SQ).
Requires XXHighEnd 2.03 or higher.
For those who do not know - please notice the purpose : not having any device in the PC other than the processor, 16GB of memory and a network connection facility (and a removable HDD bay).
No electrical noise anywhere, apart from what the processor and the motherboard implies. No heavy spiking (of draw) involved, like a HDD/SDD would imply it (when it is used to supply data). Lower power draw all together.
Watch out : I have been breeding on this idea and text for quite a while and even at this moment of putting out the text I can not be sure whether all stays as it is now. Thus, later when the disks are physically created (which will be in 2-3 weeks of time as how I see it at this moment), better/other ideas may have emerged.
May you not notice, what I have been doing is finding the ways within the Microsoft ways of doing things (legally). The new Windows 10 licensing strategy is crucial here.
Phasure will NOT provide any HDD with Operating Systems when the hunch could exist that you do not have a (virtual) license for Windows 10 for the targetted PC. This is somewhat harder to explain as you must be fimaliar with the W10 licesing structure.
More below I spend a small paragraph on this.
Below you can see what I currently made of it - a system with actually 5 boots.
From top to bottom :
- A combined Windows 8 and Windows 10-10565 RAM system (choose that and a next choice pops up).
- A Windows 8 BASE system.
- A Windows 10-10565 BASE system.
- A base system which is required for technical reasons and which is never needed at your side (Windows 10 Build 10565 in this case).
It boots default into one of the RAM versions (this is settable).
The W10-10565 Build will soon be replaced by the next formal ("slow ring") Build which will be 10586 (just waiting until the formal downloadable ISO for it is there); after that the disk will be ready to ship. Well, almost, because first ~11 hours will be needed to make a working Install of it and then it takes something like 90 minutes per disk to copy it, apply necessary adjustments and test each of the boots on it;
Assumed that 20 or so people like to have one, then this implies throughput time, obviously.
The way things are organized allows for upgrading of the OS from, say, "here". Thus, whether a new OS or very special settings to it - something which was never thought of but now can be done ... the OS can be downloaded and replaced on the disk(s) by you yourself. Note though that at this very moment this is a bit theoretical because the size (~7GB) is really too big for the upload speed I have here. However, there is work in progress that will higher the upload speed (which determines your net download speed) in 8 weeks or so (it is just waiting on the telecom provider to put through the necessary changes).
Example : In March 2016 a new W10 major version comes about (this really is so). What I will do is install this over here, obviously test it and set settings accordingly, and make it available for download.
Really all you need to do is :
- Download it;
- Put it on the BASE disk in the location I will tell you.
... and now you'll be running that new OS (when you choose it from the boot menu). Nothing to install, nothing to set. I have done this all over here for you.
OS LicenseI do not intend to provide any Operating System License, because everybody will have one already. This is the idea :
You can run the W8 as well as the W10 without Activation anyway. For W8 this certainly is so, and for W10 it looks to be the same. However, you *must* be legal.
Whether you had (currently have) a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 Audio PC, in either case it is legal for the PC you use. Thus, replace that with another copy (either W8 Pro or W10 Pro) and you can use the key you already have.
Do notice that I will try to get hold of your "license data status" when you order a disk while I do not know about any previously operating Audio PC (like with a new customer).
We talked this through earlier on (other topic), but when you start to use W10 you are allowed to use the W7 or W8 Key you will have laying around somewhere. Next though, nothing will invalidate your W8 Key (of the installed W8 Pro) because it physically can not happen. But stay away from the Internet ... And still you are legal because you can not use two OSes at the very same time on that same PC.
Also, when you don't start to use W10, you thus use the W8 only which is as legal because you had a Key for that (this assumed).
Only in one situation things are a bit odd : when you did not have a W8 Key, but have a W7 Key. Solution :
Because W10 is free when coming from W7 just as it is when coming from W8, after that you are able to fall back to W8 (in legal terms - physically probably not).
Let me be clear : in the end you just never Activate, until it is really necessary.
Lastly on this : The W8 forced me to enter te Key during the Install process. So, I had to enter one and it will be the same for everybody. Never attempt to go to the Internet when W8 is the active OS without first changing the Key into the one you have yourself. Also see here :
Activation of your Windows OS.
But notice :
At this moment it seems logical to me that the W10 10565 TRIAL can be used to go to the Internet. It is an OS version which you normally will not use for anything and it is no real pain when something happens to it. However, it will imply that you activate this one (once being connected to the Internet) which officially implies that you lose the license you have from either W7 or W8. Keep in mind for when this is about W8 : The W8 install on the disk can not be affected because it will not run when you run W10-10565. So it is on the disk all right, but nothing can see it.
PrerequisitesAs was discussed/implied above under "OS License" you will need a running Audio PC with either Windows 7, Windows 8(.1) or Windows 10. That very (same !) PC is allowed to carry the disk of concern.
When you want to apply all in the meant well-fashion, you will need a
2.5" hot-swap removable hard drive bay (people with the XXHighEnd PC as povided by Phasure will have that). This needs to connect to internal SATA, preferably SATA3.
Notice that you really don't need to build in the bay and that it can lay on top of the PC or anywhere else; If you can access it easily to remove the HDD from it (or insert it) then it is fine.
Please notice : When you arranged for some external enclosure that connects via eSata (which often is a connection at the back of the PC) it is up to you whether you can boot from that (connection). But, you can try in advance (put in a 2.5" OS disk and see whether you can make it boot from it).
Just to be 100% clear : It is NOT an option to have any boot-over-USB means. This includes USB connected harddisks;
Any boot over USB implies 20 minutes of boot time (mind you, when booting from RAM is in order and what this is all about), which really is a no-go. And yes, did I try (thumb drives, normal disks); this appears not to be USB speed dependent, but depends on the way "disk sectors" are being read from a USB device which is - when done at that level (and which is required here) - super slow.
I'm afraid this excludes laptops (which never ever have been advised anyway).
An XXHighEnd 2.xx (or higher) License.
Notice that the disk comes pre-installed with everything and all, thus also XXHighEnd in Activated fashion.
If you already own a 2.xx License then no new License needs to be obtained.
Surprise : There is NO XXHighEnd PC required for this, hence it should work on all Motherboards.
PriceThe cost price consists of these components :
- My 100s and 100s of hours spent on the idea, all the trialling and the installs themselves.
- The (sadly !!) time needed per copy.
This comprises the copying itself (which is only partly unattended) and manual adjustments each copy requires and the boot into each OS on the disk to see whether these adjustments were performed correctly.
This easily takes one hour per individual copy.
- The costs of the disk.
- Packing.
- Support people may need.
I hope
350 euros (ex VAT for those liable to VAT) is regarded fair. But although currently I am the only one who can judge the SQ coming from the RAM boot, I can promise you that you'll enter another era.
The price excludes shipping costs which can be 10-18 euros when you want to wait 1-2 weeks depending on your location on the globe, or 35-45 euros for two day UPS shipping again depending on where you are (same price as for the Clairixa USB cable, for those who experienced that).
More to expect ?I can put the lot under "Prerequisites" a bit more positively, by saying this :
Without the possibility of the removable HDD bay, you can still SATA connect the disk in fixed fashion and enjoy the 5 (or more) different Operating Systems; the only thing you will miss out on is the possible removal of the HDD when the OS is up and running.
But notice :
When you are of the leage that likes a laptop for the better, you really won't need to remove that HDD anyway (read : you digest so much "misery" to begin with that you wouldn't care less about this disk to be permanently connected).
Regarding the latter ("permanently connected") :
Oh, you can even connect it via USB (and a USB dock);
You will be perfectly able to boot the TRIAL and the BASE versions in a fair boot time (think under one minute). This, of course assumed that your PC/Laptop can boot through USB.
Done ? hehe, still not, because as already told in between the lines :
You can still boot from RAM if you accept the 20 minutes or so boot time. Thus, you boot via USB (dock) after all and when the OS is up you pull out the USB cable.
Now you can have a taste of the again different sound, but with the hopefully honest remark that A-B the lot isn't something to do on the same day (a RAM boot taking 20 minutes) and even when shutting off the PC each night needs preparation of 20 minutes the next day.
This is how I told "this does not work". Technically it sure does, though.
ApplyOf course at this moment I don't know how many people are going to apply for the disk, but it will be first come first serve, just in case the list grow so long that a waiting queue will be there.
At this moment I have 12 persons (a theoretical close to 1000 minutes of work excl. packing) who applied earlier on (when I started to announce the maybe-possibility). Those 10 are first always. They too need to please re-announce themselves in this topic to confirm that they are still into this.
Otherwise people are encouraged to put themselves on the list by mentioning it in this topic.
And when everybody is at it anyway, please mention your preferred shipping method (cheap-slow-unpredictable or expensive-fast-predictable).
Of course people are allowed to ask what they want or deem necessary.
Keep in mind that at this moment we can't start making the disks because first the
official W10 10586 ISO must be available which must be installed and "set" as well.
Regards and thank you,
Peter
