Well, it wasn't hard drive corruption after all

[thermodynamic]

:eyes: My installation of Adobe Premiere was faulty; so every time I exported a file to mpeg2 DVD format, the audio would lose its sync. Why I didn't properly check before is beyond me...

So I currently have 4.5 hours of VHS programs to re-export to DVD format, but now it's workin' properly, whee! :party: It's sad that, despite my computer's setup, it takes 9 hours to convert 45 minutes of video from AVI to MPEG2 DVD format. Of course, I am using special filters to soften and remove the VHS grain, which makes the end result look rather pleasing, though it would be ideal if the proper powers would release more of these shows natively on DVD... (but they're not profitable, so they don't. :eyes: )

My set-up:

*Asus A7V333-X mobo (KT333 chipset)
*AMD Athlon XP 2100+ CPU o/c'ed to 2700+ (equivilant to a Pentium 4 at 2.7GHz)
*BFG GeForce4 Ti4600 video card, 128MB RAM
*SB Audigy sound card
*Maxtor 160GB HD
*Western Digital 40GB HD for OS
*Winbloat XP w/SP1

When the CPU fan (thermaltake volcano 11+ Xaser edition) arrives, I will try the following set-up:
* Abit NF7 rev 2 mobo (nforce2 chipset)
* AMD Athlon 2100+ CPU o/c'ed to 2700+
* BFG GeForce4 Ti4600 video card
* SB Audigy sound
* Maxtor 200GB HD for OS and data
* SuSE Linux 8.2 WITH win4lin version 5, a windows emulator for Linux which claims to run most programs at native OR FASTER speeds. :9 Still debating whether or not to use Win98SE or WinME for the Windows source files, though. (WINE will not work with Premiere...)

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. Do NOT use WinME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a half-baked, flawed, faulty, crap system that never EVER works correctly!!!

On a computer such as you are describing, Win98, properly updated and patched, would scream. Why not Win2K? Price? No biggie, as Win98 would do you good.

Good call, getting rid of the Western Digital drive== they are not known for their longevity under heavy use.

[thermodynamic]

2. Win4lin can't use Win2k :-(

I'd use vmware instead, but the cost is 3x that of win4lin! :eyes: So much for competition keeping prices in check... :-( I do have legal licenses for 98 and 2k, so that's no problem either way if/when I start using vmware. Except the longevity of the 9x line is about to end...

Yipes on WD, now I wish I had bought a replacement plan for it... How much d'you know about Maxtor and drive longevity?

I did buy warranty plans for them (2 years, but with the amount of use I'll be giving them, they'll crap out long before that) but I need to find their receipts... :eyes:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. Maxtor is pretty good

its track record is excellent. I have a Linux install on a 3 year old Maxtor, and it's never given me a hint of trouble. And like most hard drive brands, you can do an online RMA if your drive fails while under warranty. As usual, just make sure you keep your critical data backed up at all times!

[thermodynamic]

4. I bought the walk-in replacement plan at CompUSA

$20 for a 2 year plan is rather good given my circumstances, though for most users the money would otherwise be a wasted expenditure.

With warranties now down to 1 year, I want the extra protection, and the convenience of just walking in is a big plus. Especially when I lack the patience to sit and wait for a new package to show up at my doorstep.