David Wrigley's Microwave Website, Manchester, England
Computer overview
History:
I started work on computers in the late 1960's and early 70's. My job was to design interface cards and build automatic test and control systems initially using the Ferranti Argus 600 processor. This was very laborious work - using handkeys and paper tape to input the program in machine code. -things haven't half changed! In the 70's I to used a Commodore personal computer and then in 1980 came the IBM PC - the same basic system which I use today. I have also written programs for the ZX81 and the Spectrum machines (Z80 processor)
Present Status:
My previous computer was a Pentium 120MHz with 17 inch VDU - which was the state of the art when I bought it in 1997 and even now isn't really limiting. The main limiting factor in my usage was the bandwidth of the telephone system and the internet - it causes the time consuming waits for info. This is now making ADSL look a real possibility for me in 2001 - 250kbytes/s permanent connection £260 installation and £1320/a - maybe lower in 2001?.
Oh I forgot to mention I don't have any games on my machine and that is probably why I don't need the extra speed for multimedia and don't really see the need to update yet. I still have an old 386 which I use for running DOS programs and packet radio.
Well I finally made a move to improve my setup. I now have an AMD 1800+ processor and an MSI KT3 Ultra-ARU motherboard. I have also gone for broadband (ADSL) internet connection to remove the frustrating waiting for info - it works well. I have also had a forced upgrade of my screen - the 17" Illyama finally died after a period of internal arcing - I gave up on fixing it and got another 17" screen, this time a TFT by Samsung. The TFT LCD screens give you a genuine 17" diagonal unlike the previous 15.5" or so. It will be interesting to see how long it lives.
I also acquired a clunky old IBM 365X laptop - it works and has a good display and battery - this will operate from 12 Volts and is used portable with the DSP-10 transceiver.
Working Practices:
One of the real risks one takes with any computer system is the possibility that a significant amount of work will be lost due to a crash or theft. I have spent a some time thinking about this and I have adopted several strategies
A -Maximize reliability (Minimize risk of failure)
1. Building Security and alarms - make sure they are as good and reliable as they can be
2. Electrical supply system - if it isn't reliable, get a UPS
3. Backing up work - It's amazing how few people back up work.
4. Dispersed backup location - duplicate backups on CD stored at a different building
B -Minimize downtime
5. Speed of reinstatement in the event of a problem
a.- Have all diagnostic info and software to hand
- and get familiar with it whilst all is well.
b.- Have an image of the HDD program setup already saved to CDRom or second HDD
- have some trial runs to gain confidence restoring the system with it.
c.- Locate an accessible machine which could be used in the event
of a major problem. - Friend or relative?
C -Essential tools
6. A Start-up disk which must include CD operation- get used to DOS keyboard working.
7. Norton Ghost - a superbly quick way of reinstating your system from a CD image
8. HDD Drawer units - A way of removing or changing your system drives over for security, backup or for system change eg: WIN95/WIN98/LINUX
- I currently have WIN98 on one and Mandrake 9 LINUX on another
9. CD Writer - for regular personal data archiving - or sending photos to friends
10.USB HDD - (40Gb) - I have used this to store Ghost images of the system
(last updated: 2003 October 15)