Karaoke Forums

How reliable are PC systems?

I have been reading every topic on PC systems in your forum I can find. I decided to call up a shop I used to get equipment from that also books DJ/KJs to ask what they would suggest in PC systems. In short their reply was they had gone back to CDs and CDGs because of the hastle with PC systems shutting down.

Question How reliable are the PC systems? What problems have others had in the past and how do your resolve or minimize the potential problems.

THANKS

a friend of mine has been running his for two years and never had a glitch... the problem is when you have too much crap on the pc... after you build it never connect it to the net!! Install all your software offline!

This is now one of the times where KnightShow and I don't agree
I've been running now with MTU's Hoster for a long long time, without any glitches from the PC, never connect it to the net is a bit of a overkill, (Sorry Knight) but there are some golden rules to start and stay running.

Start with a clean freshly formatted drive
Load your OS
Load your hosting software
Load only what you need after that, MSExcel/Access
Before connecting to the net (try to minimize that action) only surf safe sites! I connect to MTU for my Hoster upgrades.

Allstar, I couldn't disagree more.

With all the rampant virii and trojans, the last thing you need are popups, glitches, or something that targets audio files.

Be safe, and keep that specific pc off the net!

It may be overkill, but it'll last!

That is a valid point Knight, but you should have the latest virus protection as well, including on machines you don't host with.


True, if possible!

I have to throw my vote in with knight on this one. I have two laptops one I use for hosting and one I use for home. I don't like to install any antivirus programs on my system, because that's one more thing to slow it down. I always have my hosting software running, along with DJ software both running off of seperate outs into different channels so I can switch back and forth with just the throw of a fader. Any other software running, including antivirus, can throw out unwanted glitches. Also make sure you are running XP or 2000 Pro. Any other OS will certainly crash no matter what you are doing. Good luck with it.

PC hardware can be made very reliable. Most fails within 90 days so I recommend burn-in of compenents for 48-96 hours or more. Once the products are burned in, I'd install the operating system OFFLINE. Install all current service packs OFFLINE. Install Anti-virus software OFFLINE. Update anti-virus software OFFLINE. Install hosting software, music, other necessary software. Note the word NECESSARY.

I would make it a point to update the operating system and antivirus on a regular basis (once a week is a good idea) from behind a firewall by itself (turn off your other pc's). Do NOT use this pc to surf the net or do anything other than apply updates to the operating system, anti-virus, and hosting software.

BTW, before you put it online I'd make an image of the hardrive - just in case.

For actual hosting you can turn off the anti-virus software to keep the pc speed up.

Make sure the power settings are set so it won't hibernate/standby/turn on the screen saver/blank the monitor/turn off hard drives while you're on AC power (especially if you're using a laptop). If you're playing a long song and not moving the mouse having the screen saver come on in the middle of a song could be bad for the show.

Ok, am I paranoid? Yes. But in a world where it takes less than 15 seconds for the first attack to happen against a pc attached directly to the internet - it's worth it. Of course perhaps I'm just overly paranoid from doing computer security work for the last 5 years.

My favorite computer security quote:
"The only secure computer is one that's unplugged, locked in a safe, and buried 20 feet under the ground in a secret location... and i'm not even too sure about that one." -- Dennis Huges, FBI

I have ran my GIG pc for about 1 year now and yes I get on the net with it.

But when I get my new box going I will not. Why, cause there is much less chace that I will get a virus, be hacked etc.... It is really not a good Idea to get on the net with your GIG computer.

Some viruses change files, who know one of the files could be my hoster file or whatever then what That is why it is not a good idea.

there is no reason to have any other program on your pc other than what you need for the hosting.

The os. (microsoft 2000 pro or XP)
the program to run a hoster, if applicable. (Sax, MTU or PCKJ)
program to run your search engine, if it's not on the hoster. (microsoft office, or microsoft explorer, etc.)
whatever program for playing mp3s
whatever program for playing the karaoke files, if it's not the hoster.

THAT's IT! there is nothing else to use for hosting a show... anything else running can slow down a pc's performance. You literally don't need all the bells and whistles there for a pc to run the karaoke. Keep it simple!

I have two DJ PCs (both with legit music...I don't even file share between my own DJ PCs). One is a Via Epia M with an integrated C3 processor. It is very low power, and thus very low heat. On that one I only run my hosting software, my os, and freecell...mostly because it isn't speedy enough to run any fancy bells and whistles. I do connect it to the net to install updates and buy music. The other machine is an Athlon 2500+ on an MSI K7n2GM-L motherboard. Since it does have the power to play music and do other things, I have a lot of extras installed like a webcam that feeds to the in house TVs, a wireless nic so I can go online during gigs or receives song requests via IM, a database of singers information, windows power toys to auto rotate ads in between singers, etc. Both have been wonderously problem-free.

That being said, in general I have to agree with knightshow UNLESS you are a computer wiz. I do all my own PC work, I write a good chunk of the software I use, and I know how to optimize a machines performance. If you read sentences like "Via Epia M with an integrated C3 processor" and get glassy eyed, then don't connect your PC to the net because it will only take one virus to ruin your day, week, or even month. Paying someone like me $80-$100 per hour (or more like $160-$200 if you want service after 5 pm) to fix your PC after a mishap will eat up a month's worth of profit real quick.

I suspect your local dealers don't sell PC equipment, but they do sell karaoke machines. Are you sure that didn't have anything to do with their recommendation?

_________________
By Request DJ & Karaoke Company - Yesterday's Traditions...Tomorrow's Technologies

Just out of curiousity When I first boot up I have about 18 processes running

System idle process
System
SMSS.exe
CRSS.exe
WINLOGON.exe
MouseAp.exe
SERVICES.exe
LsASS.exe
svchost.exe
WINMGMT.exe
explorer.exe
delltray.exe
Magickey.exe
OSD.exe


When ready I have these processes added for total of 22
Sonarpdr.exe
sploolsv.exe
ati2evv.exe
Sax & Dottys

Applications running
Winamp5.03
Ziphost
Sonar3
Winamp5.03
I run S& D for hoster second Winamp for fill music and Sonar 3 for recording. All at the same time and I have done 8 hour shows with no problems. For comparison what is everybody running as far as number of processes?

I might have highjacked this thread...Sorry.... Disregard these 2 posts and I will start a new thread on this subject..