Question 1
One of the challenges that are experienced in upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista is that of hardware compatibility. Windows Vista comes with advanced graphical features and requires a higher display resolution due to its Windows Aero interface. Windows XP does not require high resolution when compared to Vista. There will be the need to check the installation of Windows Vista in the computer to be installed before anything takes place. This will be achieved by making use of Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.
Another challenge that will be encountered is that of business application compatibility. Although it is possible to migrate applications that were installed in XP, there will be the need to install updates in most of them so that they function well in Microsoft Vista. There will be the need to use the application plug-in to check if an application can be installed.
Another problem, though similar to the one listed above is that of in-house business application compatibility. Since there are applications that are developed in the organization, these organizations are meant to run in a specific Windows environment. It will therefore, mean that they will stop working in the new Windows environment. This challenge is easy to deal with since the in-house application development team is in the organization and they can plan for the migration to Vista. They will have to update the applications so that they continue working in new Windows environment.
Another challenge with this is user account control. With this feature, it is meant to prevent malicious software from infiltrating to user PC. It requires that all users will have to run in standard mode. The security feature in Vista has helped improve the security issues that come with Windows.
Question 2
The process of installing DVD is fairly straightforward and is the same whether one is trying to install a new DVD or an old one. Before one starts the installation process, they will require a DVD drive (IDE), four screws that are used to secure the hardware with the computer body (casing), IDE cable, in case this will be necessary (there are SATA cables that are used lately). There will also be the need to have an Anti-Static wrist strap although it is not compulsory to have this.
If the above tools are available, the first step is to remove the blank plastic cover that is located in the position where the DVD drive will be installed; this will be applicable if a new installation will be done. In cases where a replacement is done, one will be required to uninstall the faulty drive first. After the blank space is available, keenly check the back of the DVD drive to look for the jumper selection criteria. This is the criteria that will enable a drive to work optimally. There are drives, which will work best when they are masters and others when they are slaves and still others when they are cable select. Select the Master if there is no other drive in the computer or there is another drive but that drive is set to slave. The slave is selected if there is another drive in the computer that is set to Master. The cable select is chosen if the cable depicts so. Check the IDE cable that will be used to make the connections and note that one end will be connected to the motherboard. There is the slave and the master in this IDE cable. These two will be used to connect to the DVD.
After this, insert the device in a gentle manner to the empty slot that was obtained above. Ensure that there is no obstruction in this process. After this, take the screws that came with the DVD, secure it, and make sure that it flushes with the front cover of the case. Make sure that all screws are used.
The last step wills Bethe connection of cables. There are two cables to be connected, the power cable and the IDE cable. When connecting the power cable, use the marking where one side has a black strip, which indicates Pin 1. Match this with Pin 1 indicated in the device. The IDE cable has a blank space on one side of the cable. This is meant to stop you from inserting the cable the wrong way. If there is an audio cable that will need to be install, install according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Check the connections to make sure that all cables are connected. Also, make sure that the device is detected by rebooting the machine.
Question 3
Dear Sir,
RE: ADOPTION OF EXTERNAL DRIVE STORAGE OVER DVD DUAL LAYER DRIVEs
I am writing to request that we adopt the use of external storage drives over DVD Dual Layer Drive. The most overriding factor here is reliability. External drives allow ease of data transfer. This is in contrast with DVD where data have to be burned to the devices. DVDs will lose data if they get scratches are broken into pieces. There are many instances where business operations and company time has been lost because there is a no DVD drive in a given laptop. I am more than convinced that there is a lot to be gained when we migrate to external disks storage drives.
There is also the future it thinks of. We are heading to smaller and smaller computing devices come with no DVD drives of late. It is a technology that is being faced out by technology. Soon, there will be no DVD drives and yet we will be having information that is stored in the devices that we have. It is therefore important that the technology be phased out in the company before the new technology makes us lose important information.
External drives are easy to use as they do not require training. It is plug-and play. There has been time wasted in having to install the DVD drive first before recording takes place. External data storage devices are easy to use and play-and-plug. With them, the staff will not have to check if the DVD drive is faulty.
There are many reasons as to why we should adopt external drives as a form of storage without mentioning the strategic position we shall have taken for the future.
Bibliography
Andrews, J. (2009). A+ guide to hardware: Managing, maintaining, and troublshooting . New York: Cengage Learning.
Hennessy, J. L., & Patterson, A. D. (2007). Computer architecture: A quamtitative approach. New Delhi: Morgan KAufman.
