\nDue to issues from time to time, I have created this entry to satisfy the solution.\n<\/p>\n
\n12\/16\/2011\n<\/p>\n
\nAround 2 weeks ago - Western Digital 500GB HDD died - (still able to revive from time to time in freezer).\n<\/p>\n
\nReplaced with Seagate 500GB HDD.\n<\/p>\n
\nSuspected Video Card driver from NVIDIA had something to do with it, so after reinstalling the Vista Ultimate 32 bit, I installed the graphic driver(quite old) directly from the motherboard site<\/a>(MCP6P M2+).\n<\/p>\n \nEverything ran well.\n<\/p>\n \nHowever, when I get to using 3D acceletration features, such as Stellarium 0.11.1 or most other star atlas programs, it's incredibly slow. I figure that old driver from the motherboard site lacks the juice and I had to update the driver from the NVIDIA site<\/a>, which is a bundled file download that supports more than one models.\n<\/p>\n \nInstallation went smoothly. And video acceleration for 3D feature softwares works. Except for one called Microsoft Worldwide Telescope (same as before the driver update).\n<\/p>\n \nI took a look at the Nvidia control panel. Seems fine. But everytime I close the control panel window, there's a error pop-up: NVIDIA Control Panel Application, 3.0.731.0 has stopped working, Application Name nvcplui.exe was the problem application listed. Should I worry about this? Was this related to what caused my HDD crash in its 'previous' life? I don't know. But since everything still works well, I will be satisfied for now.\n<\/p>\n \nBut just in case, I have looked up this issue: (it's tempting to do the DEP configuration because after I closed the error pop-up, the tray informed me that the crash was prevented by 'Data Execution Prevention' and I could click into it to read or change some settings - I was tempted to allow exception to NVIDIA program and see if this error would pop up again). But I don't want to change anything on the DEP settings right now because everything seems to work just fine, I don't see the HDD red light flashing like crazy or as solid loading light after the driver update (if the HDD light had kept on solid or flashing busily, I would worry because it would look like the late WD HDD's issue). However, if I am forced to deal with this, I could try installing a beta version by complete uninstall->CCleaner->Driver Sweeper->reboot to detect new driver->install beta with CLEAN install checked under customized<\/a> or the not so successful roll back driver version.\n<\/p>\n \nSo I uninstalled Worldwide Telescope. It looks like Google Sky could do just about the same thing. Or the Webclient of Microsoft Worldwide Telescope at their site works just fine as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Due to issues from time to time, I have created this entry to satisfy the solution. 12\/16\/2011 Around 2 weeks ago - Western Digital 500GB HDD died - (still able to revive from time to time in freezer). Replaced with … Continue reading