ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Regards
Kiran
Born in NL; I ride ML
Good news, please monitor for a while and let us know.
So, you had to upgrade the firmware and no other preparations - right
Thanks a lot
wantoniak:Good news, please monitor for a while and let us know. So, you had to upgrade the firmware and no other preparations - right Thanks a lot
Right, no other preparations or attempts have been successful and I reverted to the simple solution. I also found the cloning device very useful, as they permit access to the drives when connected via USB. My guess is that all similar cloning devices are coming from the same factory in China and will do the job.
best, Robert
I am still thinking of improving the Windows XP behaviour for the SSD. Has there been anybody who modified the Registry without crashing the system?
I am thinking of the following registry changes (copied from a blog on SSD running on Windows XP). At this stage I do not even know whether the system maintenance menu offers administrator rights:
QUOTE
Disabling background disk defragmentation
Key Name:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction\ Name: Enable Type: REG_SZ Value: N
Disable Background auto-layout:
Key Name: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OptimalLayout Value Name: EnableAutoLayout Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0
Disable update of filesystem’s “last access timestamps”
Key Name: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem Name: NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1
Disable Prefetch
Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters Name: EnablePrefetcher Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0
UNQUOTE
Hi,
I am answering to my own, above question:
I attached a mouse and keyboard to the BM5 (using a USB splitter as there is only one free USB slot). Entering the maintenance settings menu "arrow" password key combination RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT GO, entering the Windows XP system menu.
Regedit changes may be made just as with any other Windows XP computer, but on the embedded version there seems to be a simplified registry. I was able to cancel the disk defragmentation and the prefetch setting without any problem (the other parameters listed above were not present).
Subsequently ran the Disk clean up routine and returned to the BM5 Menu.
BM5 is getting SSD friendlier by the day!
Robert
Thank you. This link leads to a comprehensive summary. Unfortunately, it will not add to much value to the SSD upgrade of our BM5 as many of the tipps are only applicable for a fresh set-up on a full fledged Windows XP PC.
The issue with the BM5 is, that it is runnng on Windows XP Embedded version with limited functionality. It appears as if the drive serial number is stored in the BIOS. Moreover, B&O does not provide copies of the original OS or BM5 program that would allow a fresh installation. As such, the offline "clone" seems to be the only process that ensures that all data from the old HDD are properly copied on the SSD.
My strategy has been to test what improvements may be done on the SSD after cloning. For instance, the partition alignment seems to be a fairly important issue which improves write speeds on the SSD but is not required on the HDD. So far, the Windows XP on BM5 crashes when the partition alignment is modified.
Having said this, I believe that we have come quite far: By using the "simple" cloning process and some amendments, SSD seems now to be a feasible option, extending the live of the BM5. Some system improvements are possible to the point where the system is reliable and stable (but not more).
Keep on trying other ways to tackle the partition issue (just having tried one utility so far). GPARTED (which is described in your link) seems to be worth a try.
Btw, a subject we have not been discussing here is the missing TRIM function on Windows XP (allowing overwrite of unused SSD sectors). However, newer SSD have a automatic function on the firmware called "Garbage Collection", running in the background when the system is idle. Crucial sells their SSD with special focus on thin clients or systems that do not have the trim function, this might be one of the reasons that the Crucial SSD's seem to be more stable in the BM5 than other products.
There are no hidden screws, but the case sits quite tight. When you turn it around, you may pull the cover off by connecting a cable to the back (e.g. a display cable).
Btw, the HDD is also screwed very tightly, I used a plier to loosen the two left hand screws..
Good luck, Robert
Hi
Remove only bottom screws and slide the cover to the front. It is tight but will go off.
CooperS:... you may pull the cover off by connecting a cable to the back (e.g. a display cable)...
CooperS:Btw, the HDD is also screwed very tightly, I used a plier to loosen the two left hand screws.. Good luck, Robert
I did not change the size, my HDD was already 1 TB.
This is my interpretation of the partition purpose:
SYSTEM: contains Windows XP embedded (no need to change size)
BM-System: contains the BM5 programs (no need to change size)
DATA: this is where the music is stored. My partition is much larger than yours: 923.7 GB, I would give it a try to change the size.
Both problems you described ocurred to me as well - this is where you realise that the embedded version is not a fully fledged Windows XP!
"Unable to write" - always ocurred after I attempted to align the partitions - try first to boot the BM5 with the unmodified offline clone copy of the HDD / SSD (this was my "simple solution" at the end... I did not have to alter the size of partitions but this might be the reason for this error.
"mouse does not work" - I had the same problem. Initially, I attached a monitor to the second display port, subsequently the mouse did not work. Try the following: use a USB 2.0 splitter, connect mouse and keyboard but not a monitor. Then proceed to the Windows XP screen - it worked for me.
CooperS: "Unable to write" - always ocurred after I attempted to align the partitions
CooperS:try first to boot the BM5 with the unmodified offline clone copy of the HDD ...
"BM or BM Recovery" - the working and default system to boot is BM, I never used BM Recovery which seems to be a rescue option.
Please check my previous post regarding partition alignment on Windows XP, there is also plenty of other posts on this subject (unrelated to BM5). It improves write speed by aligning the partitions to the optimal SSD format. Please note that all my attempts to align partitions failed, creating the errors you describe.
My BM5 now runs very well with an unaligned SSD, so maybe the issue is overrated...
With the optimizing SSD related tasks, there is no need to access DATA and BM-System.
gerard:I just have resized the cloned HDD, but the BS5 does not boot to 100%. Starting is stoped with an error : Unable to write to E:\BM-Share\ ... As I had to gain access to the 1TB on a Windows Pc I've tested several things including rightsmanagement. I will restart from scratch and keep you informed. BTW how did you connect a mouse to the BM5, mine did not respond.
Starting is stoped with an error :
Unable to write to E:\BM-Share\ ...
As I had to gain access to the 1TB on a Windows Pc I've tested several things including rightsmanagement.
I will restart from scratch and keep you informed.
BTW how did you connect a mouse to the BM5, mine did not respond.
In my experience this error always occurs when any changes are made to the partition table, for example, when enlarging the data partition after cloning to a disk larger than the original, so is not specific to cloning onto an SSD - the changes to the partition table cause XP to become confused as to which partition is which, so the BM-SHARE partition does not get mounted.
You can choose BM Recovery at boot and run through the recovery process which seems to fix this issue, and the system should then boot fine afterwards (you'll need to let it do the software updates afterwards too).
Martin.
riverstyx:... You can choose BM Recovery at boot and run through the recovery process which seems to fix this issue ...
Hi to all,
as a short update - my BM5 is now running daily for nearly a month on the Crucial MX300 SSD - flawless and faultless!
Thank you Robert
This is good news. Could you please confirm if this is the drive you are using "SSD Crucial MX300 1024 GB CT1050MX300SSD1"
Wojtek
Yes, it seems there is only one 1TB Crucial MX300, please note that the capacity is 1050 GB. This is the link to where I ordered it: https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product/crucial-mx300-1050gb-25-ssd-5896363
Just a final remark on the Beomaster 5 Architecture, relevant to SSD performance. I was toying with the idea to switch from IDE Disk Standard (default) to the newer AHCI on my Beomaster 5. By visiting the Win XP Device Manager, I meanwhile found out that my Beomaster 5 runs on a single core Chipset VIA C7-D 2000Mhz - definitely not Intel and no comparison to modern multiple core Chipsets. Entering the BIOS menu (by pressing DEL as soon as the B&O Logo shows up during reboot), the BIOS reveals that there is no parameter to switch from IDE to AHCI. So IDE shall be the standard for the remaining lifetime of the system. There seems to be no major performance or reliability issue with running an SSD on IDE, but again that might be the reason that some SSD brands work well on BM5 and others do not.
I will put my attempts to improve the BM5 system performance to rest and count on a long life of the SSD-equipped BM5..,
Hi Gerard,
thanks for asking - it runs absolutely flawlessly on a daily basis, no problems or faults at all.
Dear Gerard,
How did you clone the Crucilal MX500?
And does it still works fine and fast? No issues?
Maybe I was just lucky but my Beomaster 5 works perfectly well on a daily basis using a cloned 1TB Crucial MX300 for more than three years now, no booting- or compatibility issues whatsoever. I have no experience with the MX500 vs the MX300 but it may well be that there is a HW compatibility issue keeping in mind the very outdated hard- and software (Windows XP embedded..) so I would stick to the MX300 as the system is not equipped to benefit from a more recent SSD hardware. I have not increased the size of the disk (my Beomaster 5 was running on a 1TB HDD) and this seems to be a common source of problems described in this forum.
CooperS:Maybe I was just lucky but my Beomaster 5 works perfectly well on a daily basis using a cloned 1TB Crucial MX300 for more than three years now, no booting- or compatibility issues whatsoever. I have not increased the size of the disk (my Beomaster 5 was running on a 1TB HDD)
MX300 1Tb works for sure, I have it for 3-4 years and never had one single problem (like what I experienced with Samsung or other drives ). The issue maybe with cloning - I have used EASEUS free cloning software, it has few options, as far as cloning method is concerned, I do not remember exactly what option/method I used, but it worked on two system with MX300 500GB and 1Tb drives.
Hi! I have a 500gb Beomaster 5 and I want to do the SSD upgrade. I have read all the pages in this thread and there is two SSDs that is being mentioned as the right ones. MX300 and MX500. But they doesn't seem to be able to buy today. What other 500gb SSD will work for me?
Thanks!
according to another entry in this blog, the Sandisk 3D Ultra 500 uses the same controller as the Crucial MX300 but I have not tried. This product still seems to be available. Please let us know whether this is successful. best, Robert
Hello, i will get a SunDisk ultra 3d 1TB tomorrow and i will clone it with the B&O software tool. I understand it so that i have to replace the original HDD with the SSD and then boot up with the b&o tool and then clone the entire HDD, is that the right way ??
Thanks for any tips