So I have been experiencing some weirdness in my DAW and it appears one of my HD is on its way south (C:\; bad sectors reported). This seems like an opportune time for my long delayed upgrade in OS to Win 8.1. I’m curious if any of you have a good feel for the difference between Win 8.1 and Win 8.1 Pro. The price differential isn’t that important to me.
 
And since I’m here: I’m also planning a slight configuration change. Currently I have two 1T HD, the D:\ drive is being used for all project files. I will be adding a 240MB SSD for OS and applications and then splitting the sample libraries out to the new HD. I plan on leaving my current D:\ as just that and installing the new replacement drive for the samples as the E:\ drive. I’m not sure what, if any, problems might occur with a remapping of the current D drive to something else but I thought it would be best to leave the D as D and put all the samples libraries on the new E:\ drive.
 
Your thoughts are welcome.
Thanks,

I have no comment on your D and E drives, but one tip about replacing a hard drive with a SSD.  During installation, Windows will recognize an SSD and turn off disk defragging for it.  However, if you replace a drive in a system already running, you should check to make sure Defrag is turned off for your SSD drive.  You may have to turn it off yourself.  This will save the life of the SSD drive.  Then, run the supplied Trim utility periodically.
 
 
 

Thanks riojazz I will bear that in mind when I do the installs.
 
Regards,

Hello,
 
Consider getting Windows Pro if you intend to use more than 16Gb RAM. If not, you won't see any difference between pro and home.
 
I do not understand well...You have 2 1TB HDD and one is dying and you intend to replace the dead one with a 256GB SSD.You also intend to split the SSD to put OS on c: and samples on the second partition.
That's it?
 
That seems ok to me,but, if I was you, I'd get 2 SSD's (it seems price is not a problem). One 128GB and one 256GB. A 128GB is something like a hundred euros so it's not that expansive.
I then would put the OS on the 128GB one(should be sufficient) and samples on the 256GB one (if on budget, you may get 2 128GB if 128GB is enough for samples).Why 2 hdds? With 2 separate HDD's you will use 2 sata ports and be able to get full bandwidth for both OS and samples. Imagining the OS is performing an operation while playing, it won't be such an issue if samples are located on another SATA line. Another advantage is that putting the OS on a dedicated SSD will enable to either change the SSD (when it's dead or to small) or reinstall the whole system without bothering backing up you sample libraries. I tend to isolate as much as I can OS from datas.
 
Concerning drives letters,it won't be a problem for your sessions. Sonar can record audio files in a subdirectory,so if you move the whole directory,you'll always find your audio. It will be a problem for your sample libraries since samplers tend to store full pathes (for halion that's the case). I have set my sample HDD to Z:.That way I can add as many HDDs I want to my computer without bothering about the fact that it can change HDDs orders and name. As long as I set to Z: my sample library, I always get all my samples (and Z: is easy to remember,it's the last one).
 

Pro allows up to 2 CPU's (physical sockets, not cores) and up to 512GB RAM. Non-pro allows only one CPU and a maximum of 128GB. Pro allows remote desktop connections into the machine, supports VHD booting, EFS and client Hyper-V. It also supports bitlocker and bitlocker to go. And, lastly, WIndows 8(.1) pro supports windows domains.
 
If you plan on only using one cpu and not more than 128GB ram, and you don't have a windows domain you need to log on to, take the non-pro. For most people that is enough.

guigz2000
Hello,
 
Consider getting Windows Pro if you intend to use more than 16Gb RAM. If not, you won't see any difference between pro and home.
 
I do not understand well...You have 2 1TB HDD and one is dying and you intend to replace the dead one with a 256GB SSD.You also intend to split the SSD to put OS on c: and samples on the second partition.
That's it?
 
 
Concerning drives letters,it won't be a problem for your sessions. Sonar can record audio files in a subdirectory,so if you move the whole directory,you'll always find your audio. It will be a problem for your sample libraries since samplers tend to store full pathes (for halion that's the case). I have set my sample HDD to Z:.That way I can add as many HDDs I want to my computer without bothering about the fact that it can change HDDs orders and name. As long as I set to Z: my sample library, I always get all my samples (and Z: is easy to remember,it's the last one).
 

Thanks for the response. I am replacing the current 1T drive that is failing and adding a 256G SSD. When done I will have a 256G SSD, a 1T HDD and another 1T HDD...3 drives total. The SSD is for OS and EXE one of the 1T will be for samples only and one for projects.
 
Nice tip on the Z: drive. Might have to do the same.
 
Thanks again,
 

c5_convertible
Pro allows up to 2 CPU's (physical sockets, not cores) and up to 512GB RAM. Non-pro allows only one CPU and a maximum of 128GB. Pro allows remote desktop connections into the machine, supports VHD booting, EFS and client Hyper-V. It also supports bitlocker and bitlocker to go. And, lastly, WIndows 8(.1) pro supports windows domains.
 
If you plan on only using one cpu and not more than 128GB ram, and you don't have a windows domain you need to log on to, take the non-pro. For most people that is enough.

c5: Currently I use a Surface as a remote control surface via a Remote Desktop Connection. Would that be the same as what you are referencing (in bold above)?
 
Thanks for the response,
 
Regards,

Mike,
 
   In case you are new to SSDs, here is a nice write-up on things to be aware of (sorry for it being Win7):
   http://blog.tune-up.com/tips-and-tricks/four-steps-to-optimize-your-ssd/
 
    The only other things I would check are that your apps and hardware are compatible (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/CompatCenter/Home "Scan your computer" in the upper left) and that drivers exist for your intended OS version before starting the install (seen too many forum posts to blindly trust that they will).

See my very detailed checklist I posted for preparation and converting to SSD and reloading Windows.  Go Pro for the OS.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Checklist-for-new-install-on-64-bit-OS-and-SSD-m2966976.aspx

mmorgan

c5_convertible
Pro allows up to 2 CPU's (physical sockets, not cores) and up to 512GB RAM. Non-pro allows only one CPU and a maximum of 128GB. Pro allows remote desktop connections into the machine, supports VHD booting, EFS and client Hyper-V. It also supports bitlocker and bitlocker to go. And, lastly, WIndows 8(.1) pro supports windows domains.
 
If you plan on only using one cpu and not more than 128GB ram, and you don't have a windows domain you need to log on to, take the non-pro. For most people that is enough.

c5: Currently I use a Surface as a remote control surface via a Remote Desktop Connection. Would that be the same as what you are referencing (in bold above)?
 
Thanks for the response,
 
Regards,

Yes, it is. All versions of windows allow remote desktop connections to be initiated to another host (as a client), but Pro also adds the possibility to use the machine as a remote desktop host (as a server). So, you would need Pro to be able to connect from your Surface to your new machine.