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On Mar 26, 2006, at 8:45 PM, William Scott wrote:
Hi folks:
We have an Raxis IV that is driven by a PC on which a windows-based
piece of software, called CrystalClear(TM), resides.
The fact that this requires me to maintain a windows 2000
installation is annoying.
[...]
Dr. Scott,
I'm speculating about your problem, but it seems to me that the
updating of the operating systems which run on commodity PCs is
incongruous with the expected useful lifetime of hardware like a
Raxis, or a HPLC, and the software that drive them. The main reason
to update an OS on these machines is to comply with (campus) minimum
security requirements and prevent opportunistic attackers from
repurposing our equipment.
I might image the PC's functional drive (functional for data
collection) in case I needed to replace the machine, then take it off
of the network altogether. I'd install a tape drive or DVD burner --
whatever works with your data processing workstations -- and forget
about updating the OS ever again.
Wine would be better though. I hear that it improves with age.
best wishes,
Devin
ps I'm sure you've heard this one before: "Never underestimate the
bandwidth of a station wagon full of quarter-inch tapes" http://
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A678576
pps I want to thank you for coming to San Diego and giving a good
talk at UCSD Chem/Biochem in January (or was it February?). I was
glad to chat with you briefly after your talk.
