Tiny PCI Express 630 Plus

The beast has arrived

2005-05-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

Got the call from The Computer Shop and collected my PC.
Before hooking everything up I opened the case and removed the modem (I connect through an ADSL router) and the PCI WiFi adapter (I'll use it on another PC).
Booted straight into WinXP home - very much Tiny branded.
Rebooted using Ultimate Boot CD and ghosted the C: drive to DVD-R.
Popped in my WinXP Pro CD (SP2 slipstreamed), reformatted C: and installed XP Pro.
All went well. A quick inspection of Device Manager listed 6 ? devices so the driver hunt began.
The supplied driver CDROM sorted out the Ethernet, but nothing else - got on with other stuff.
Connected up external Firewire drive with all my installation stuff.
Installed PartitionMagic and reduced the OS partition to 32GB, leaving 160GB for User data.
Left the second drive at 200GB.
Installed Norton IS, Webroot Spysweeper, TweakUI & WinZip.
Plugged into the router and hey-presto straight on to the internet.
After multiple runs of WindowsUpdate and Norton Live update I went off to the FIC site and downloaded the audio drivers and to the ATI site for the graphics drivers.
A quick revisit of Device Manager and all is in order.
All I gotta do now is transfer all the user data from the old PC and reinstall all the apps.

Delivery Notice

2005-05-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Received an SMS text message from Tiny saying that my PC has been dispatched.
I ordered from The Computer Store in Belfast and arranged for delivery to the store, so I gave them a call to advise them of the delivery message.

A Plan of Attack

2005-05-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have created a project plan in MS Project...

Install Norton Ghost
Ghost original drive
Remove internal modem
Install PartitionMagic
Re-Partition Drive (32GB OS, 256GB Storage, 144GB User Data)
Backup original XP folder to D:
Install WinXP Pro
Install Nero
Copy Installation Data (Disk images, installation folders, etc. to D:)
Install Power Toys
Change location of Shared Documents to E:\Documents and Settings
Install AntiVirus
Install Spysweeper
Configure Network (Netgear DG834GT ADSL Router)
Norton Live-Update
Run Windows Update
Install additional USB Card
Install MS Office
Install Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse
Create User Accounts on E:\Documents and Settings
Install Adaptec ATA Raid Controller and 2 x 120GB drives (for digital video editing)
Transfer user data from old PC (firewire link?)

Concerns:
Will I be able to get all the drivers I need?
Can I Ghost to a firewire drive?

Order Confirmation

2005-05-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Received an SMS text message confirming my order.

An Order Has Been Placed

2005-04-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

Against all my better judgment (and advise I've previously given to others), I have placed an order for a Tiny computer. http://pcs.tiny.com/computers/base_unit/14741/61320/Tiny_PCI_Express_630_Plus

Processor - Intel® Pentium 4 630 LGA 775 HT
Memory - 1024MB DDR PC3200
Hard Disk - 400GB (2x 200GB) 7200 RPM Serial ATA
Graphics - 256MB ATi X700 Pro PCI Express Graphics
Optical drive - Double Layer 16x Multiformat (+/-) DVD-Rewiter Drive

I may live to regret this, however at £699 there is nothing I can find to match the specification.
I consider myself to be reasonably competent at the IT stuff having built and configured many PCs over the years.
It is my intention to reformat the Tiny PC and reinstall with Windows XP Pro SP2.