making a removable SSD drive nonremovable

I should also comment that use of Linux on the internal flash drive is
probably the worst idea of all, in my opinion. Linux sets up a 1 GB 'swap'
partition. Constant writting to the swap partition would likely degrade
the internal SSD faster than any Windows setup, in which the pagfile can
be placed anywhere.

I need to be careful not to offer a faulty opinion. While Linux may use a
fixed partition for swap, Windows may write to pagefile more often than
Linux. I'd be happy to hear the opinion of a hardware expert experienced
with both Linux and Windows.

Maybe Microsoft will write an OS adapted for SSD? Note that Acer markets
its Windows XP Aspire One's with a 160 GB spinning disk.

If I decide that Windows XP does not belong on SSD I think I'll install
Ubuntu. Linpus Linux is disappointing.

I should also comment that use of Linux on the internal flash drive is
probably the worst idea of all, in my opinion. Linux sets up a 1 GB 'swap'
partition. Constant writting to the swap partition would likely degrade
the internal SSD faster than any Windows setup, in which the pagfile can
be placed anywhere.

I need to be careful not to offer a faulty opinion. While Linux may use a
fixed partition for swap, Windows may write to pagefile more often than
Linux. I'd be happy to hear the opinion of a hardware expert experienced
with both Linux and Windows.

Maybe Microsoft will write an OS adapted for SSD? Note that Acer markets
its Windows XP Aspire One's with a 160 GB spinning disk.

If I decide that Windows XP does not belong on SSD I think I'll install
Ubuntu. Linpus Linux is disappointing.

"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote

I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB 'system'
SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the "storage
expansion" slot.


Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available drive.
Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very significant
performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite life
and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that life fairly
quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the contoller chip
detects an error it prevents access to the entire memory. Either the
memory becomes read only, or more usually, the memory disappears from
windows entirely. I could send you several memory cards and USB sticks
that have failed.

The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.


Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more usual.

"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote

I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB 'system'
SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the "storage
expansion" slot.


Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available drive.
Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very significant
performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite life
and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that life fairly
quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the contoller chip
detects an error it prevents access to the entire memory. Either the
memory becomes read only, or more usually, the memory disappears from
windows entirely. I could send you several memory cards and USB sticks
that have failed.

The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.


Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more usual.

M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB 'system'
SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the "storage
expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available drive.
Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very significant
performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite life
and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that life fairly
quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the contoller chip
detects an error it prevents access to the entire memory. Either the
memory becomes read only, or more usually, the memory disappears from
windows entirely. I could send you several memory cards and USB sticks
that have failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.


Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more usual.


SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.

Uwe

M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB 'system'
SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the "storage
expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available drive.
Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very significant
performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite life
and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that life fairly
quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the contoller chip
detects an error it prevents access to the entire memory. Either the
memory becomes read only, or more usually, the memory disappears from
windows entirely. I could send you several memory cards and USB sticks
that have failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.


Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more usual.


SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.

Uwe

Mike Vandemann wrote:

I should also comment that use of Linux on the internal flash drive is
probably the worst idea of all, in my opinion. Linux sets up a 1 GB 'swap'
partition. Constant writting to the swap partition would likely degrade
the internal SSD faster than any Windows setup, in which the pagfile can
be placed anywhere.


I need to be careful not to offer a faulty opinion. While Linux may use a
fixed partition for swap, Windows may write to pagefile more often than
Linux. I'd be happy to hear the opinion of a hardware expert experienced
with both Linux and Windows.

Maybe Microsoft will write an OS adapted for SSD? Note that Acer markets
its Windows XP Aspire One's with a 160 GB spinning disk.

You are a couple operating systems behind as far as SSD support in
Windows. Perhaps review Windows 7?

Mike Vandemann wrote:

I should also comment that use of Linux on the internal flash drive is
probably the worst idea of all, in my opinion. Linux sets up a 1 GB 'swap'
partition. Constant writting to the swap partition would likely degrade
the internal SSD faster than any Windows setup, in which the pagfile can
be placed anywhere.


I need to be careful not to offer a faulty opinion. While Linux may use a
fixed partition for swap, Windows may write to pagefile more often than
Linux. I'd be happy to hear the opinion of a hardware expert experienced
with both Linux and Windows.

Maybe Microsoft will write an OS adapted for SSD? Note that Acer markets
its Windows XP Aspire One's with a 160 GB spinning disk.

You are a couple operating systems behind as far as SSD support in
Windows. Perhaps review Windows 7?

"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB 'system'
SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the "storage
expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available drive.
Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very
significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite
life and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that life
fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the contoller
chip detects an error it prevents access to the entire memory. Either
the memory becomes read only, or more usually, the memory disappears
from windows entirely. I could send you several memory cards and USB
sticks that have failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.


Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.


SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.


Why?

M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB 'system'
SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the "storage
expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available drive.
Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very
significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite
life and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that life
fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the contoller
chip detects an error it prevents access to the entire memory. Either
the memory becomes read only, or more usually, the memory disappears
from windows entirely. I could send you several memory cards and USB
sticks that have failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.

Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.

SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.


Why?

Beacause

- Battery backed RAM is by far more expensive than pure flash and
NetBooks are made as cheap a possible
- The Acer Aspire One mentioned by to OP is documentended to have
a flash SSD (as all NetBooks I've seen so far are)
- Battery backed RAM SSDs are made for servers with USVs because
thay are not made to hold data for month or years without
power
- Any computer whoose system drive's data is just gone after
some weeks without power is complete nonsense


Uwe

"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB
'system' SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the
"storage expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available
drive. Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very
significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite
life and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that
life fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the
contoller chip detects an error it prevents access to the entire
memory. Either the memory becomes read only, or more usually, the
memory disappears from windows entirely. I could send you several
memory cards and USB sticks that have failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.

Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.

SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.


Why?

Beacause

- Battery backed RAM is by far more expensive than pure flash and
NetBooks are made as cheap a possible.

Looking at the differences in price between RAM chips and FLASH chips, the
difference isn't that great these days. RAM is certainly faster than FLASH,
especially when writing.

- The Acer Aspire One mentioned by to OP is documentended to have
a flash SSD (as all NetBooks I've seen so far are)
- Battery backed RAM SSDs are made for servers with USVs because
thay are not made to hold data for month or years without
power

Battery backed RAM is used in many portable products that don't remotely
qualify as servers.

- Any computer whoose system drive's data is just gone after
some weeks without power is complete nonsense


Battery backed RAM can retain data for many years from just a coin battery
without external power being applied. Last year, I had to replace a battery
for the first time on a RAM card that is 12 years old. It's a bit bigger
than a coin battery, but then the RAM card is bit bigger than what we are
talking about.

M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB
'system' SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the
"storage expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very bad
idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available
drive. Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a very
significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited write/rewrite
life and using it as intensively as you are, you will use up that
life fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but generally, once the
contoller chip detects an error it prevents access to the entire
memory. Either the memory becomes read only, or more usually, the
memory disappears from windows entirely. I could send you several
memory cards and USB sticks that have failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.

Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.
SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.

Why?
Beacause

- Battery backed RAM is by far more expensive than pure flash and
NetBooks are made as cheap a possible.

Looking at the differences in price between RAM chips and FLASH chips, the
difference isn't that great these days. RAM is certainly faster than FLASH,
especially when writing.

- The Acer Aspire One mentioned by to OP is documentended to have
a flash SSD (as all NetBooks I've seen so far are)
- Battery backed RAM SSDs are made for servers with USVs because
thay are not made to hold data for month or years without
power

Battery backed RAM is used in many portable products that don't remotely
qualify as servers.

- Any computer whoose system drive's data is just gone after
some weeks without power is complete nonsense


Battery backed RAM can retain data for many years from just a coin battery
without external power being applied. Last year, I had to replace a battery
for the first time on a RAM card that is 12 years old. It's a bit bigger
than a coin battery, but then the RAM card is bit bigger than what we are
talking about.

I think you are talking about SRAM cards. SRAM is static, it
needs no refresh. To hold the data it needs some nano Amperes
only, so a battery can hold the data for some years.

But SRAM is by far to expensive to build an 8 GB drive
for an $400 NetBook.


Uwe

"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB
'system' SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the
"storage expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very
bad idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available
drive. Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a
very significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited
write/rewrite life and using it as intensively as you are, you will
use up that life fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but
generally, once the contoller chip detects an error it prevents
access to the entire memory. Either the memory becomes read only,
or more usually, the memory disappears from windows entirely. I
could send you several memory cards and USB sticks that have
failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.

Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.
SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.

Why?
Beacause

- Battery backed RAM is by far more expensive than pure flash and
NetBooks are made as cheap a possible.

Looking at the differences in price between RAM chips and FLASH chips,
the difference isn't that great these days. RAM is certainly faster than
FLASH, especially when writing.

- The Acer Aspire One mentioned by to OP is documentended to have
a flash SSD (as all NetBooks I've seen so far are)
- Battery backed RAM SSDs are made for servers with USVs because
thay are not made to hold data for month or years without
power

Battery backed RAM is used in many portable products that don't remotely
qualify as servers.

- Any computer whoose system drive's data is just gone after
some weeks without power is complete nonsense


Battery backed RAM can retain data for many years from just a coin
battery without external power being applied. Last year, I had to
replace a battery for the first time on a RAM card that is 12 years old.
It's a bit bigger than a coin battery, but then the RAM card is bit
bigger than what we are talking about.

I think you are talking about SRAM cards. SRAM is static, it
needs no refresh. To hold the data it needs some nano Amperes
only, so a battery can hold the data for some years.

But SRAM is by far to expensive to build an 8 GB drive
for an $400 NetBook.


No, I was talking about DRAM. Modern DRAM is also able to operate with tiny
currents.

M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB
'system' SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the
"storage expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very
bad idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available
drive. Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a
very significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited
write/rewrite life and using it as intensively as you are, you will
use up that life fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but
generally, once the contoller chip detects an error it prevents
access to the entire memory. Either the memory becomes read only,
or more usually, the memory disappears from windows entirely. I
could send you several memory cards and USB sticks that have
failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.

Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.
SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.

Why?
Beacause

- Battery backed RAM is by far more expensive than pure flash and
NetBooks are made as cheap a possible.
Looking at the differences in price between RAM chips and FLASH chips,
the difference isn't that great these days. RAM is certainly faster than
FLASH, especially when writing.

- The Acer Aspire One mentioned by to OP is documentended to have
a flash SSD (as all NetBooks I've seen so far are)
- Battery backed RAM SSDs are made for servers with USVs because
thay are not made to hold data for month or years without
power
Battery backed RAM is used in many portable products that don't remotely
qualify as servers.

- Any computer whoose system drive's data is just gone after
some weeks without power is complete nonsense

Battery backed RAM can retain data for many years from just a coin
battery without external power being applied. Last year, I had to
replace a battery for the first time on a RAM card that is 12 years old.
It's a bit bigger than a coin battery, but then the RAM card is bit
bigger than what we are talking about.
I think you are talking about SRAM cards. SRAM is static, it
needs no refresh. To hold the data it needs some nano Amperes
only, so a battery can hold the data for some years.

But SRAM is by far to expensive to build an 8 GB drive
for an $400 NetBook.


No, I was talking about DRAM. Modern DRAM is also able to operate with tiny
currents.

Can you provide a link to such an incedible
product?

DRAM needs permanent refresh, you need a damn big
battery to make 8 GB of DRAM hold data for years.

M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Uwe Sieber" wrote in message
...
M.I.5¾ wrote:
"Mike Vandeman" wrote
I have an Acer Aspire One, with 500 MB ram, an internal 8 GB
'system' SSD, to which I've installed an 16 GB SDHC card in the
"storage expansion" slot.

Using a FLASH based memory card in the way you suggest is a very
bad idea.

First the windows paging file should be on the fastest available
drive. Putting in a FLASH based memory will make Windows take a
very significant performance hit.

Second, the FLASH memory technology has a very limited
write/rewrite life and using it as intensively as you are, you will
use up that life fairly quickly. Failure modes vary, but
generally, once the contoller chip detects an error it prevents
access to the entire memory. Either the memory becomes read only,
or more usually, the memory disappears from windows entirely. I
could send you several memory cards and USB sticks that have
failed.
The internal drive is flash too, so it seems to
be a good idea to stress a cheap SD card instead
the expensive internal flash drive.

Are you certain that it's not battery backed RAM? This is far more
usual.
SSD with battery backed RAM in a NetBook? I don't think so.

Why?
Beacause

- Battery backed RAM is by far more expensive than pure flash and
NetBooks are made as cheap a possible.
Looking at the differences in price between RAM chips and FLASH chips,
the difference isn't that great these days. RAM is certainly faster than
FLASH, especially when writing.

- The Acer Aspire One mentioned by to OP is documentended to have
a flash SSD (as all NetBooks I've seen so far are)
- Battery backed RAM SSDs are made for servers with USVs because
thay are not made to hold data for month or years without
power
Battery backed RAM is used in many portable products that don't remotely
qualify as servers.

- Any computer whoose system drive's data is just gone after
some weeks without power is complete nonsense

Battery backed RAM can retain data for many years from just a coin
battery without external power being applied. Last year, I had to
replace a battery for the first time on a RAM card that is 12 years old.
It's a bit bigger than a coin battery, but then the RAM card is bit
bigger than what we are talking about.
I think you are talking about SRAM cards. SRAM is static, it
needs no refresh. To hold the data it needs some nano Amperes
only, so a battery can hold the data for some years.

But SRAM is by far to expensive to build an 8 GB drive
for an $400 NetBook.


No, I was talking about DRAM. Modern DRAM is also able to operate with tiny
currents.

Can you provide a link to such an incedible
product?

DRAM needs permanent refresh, you need a damn big
battery to make 8 GB of DRAM hold data for years.