upgrade hard drive

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

WD drives are rife wth issues. They are the least reliable drive company I have seen personally.

Any details? I've always used and loved them...NEVER an issue for me.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

WD drives are rife wth issues. They are the least reliable drive company I have seen personally.

Very true. We have three year old Dells that are crappy out with WD on a weekly basis.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

WD drives are rife wth issues.

I have heard the same. I like Seagate and Fujitsu. However, I've never had any problems with any HDDs I've ever had, but then I've never had a WD, so...

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

I have heard the same. I like Seagate and Fujitsu. However, I've never had any problems with any HDDs I've ever had, but then I've never had a WD, so...

I just had a laptop Fujitu crap out on me...2nd one too.

I switched brands needless to say.

[724Skinsfan]

Allow me to piggy-back onto this thread with my own "tech-help" issue.

I need to replace my current Windows XP with a new {cough:legit:cough} copy of Windows XP. My question is will I be able to simply select "upgrade to Windows XP from earlier operating system"? or do I have to reformat the hard drive thus backing up a lot crap onto cd?

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Allow me to piggy-back onto this thread with my own "tech-help" issue.

I need to replace my current Windows XP with a new {cough:legit:cough} copy of Windows XP. My question is will I be able to simply select "upgrade to Windows XP from earlier operating system"? or do I have to reformat the hard drive thus backing up a lot crap onto cd?

Assuming you aren't going from Home to Professional (or vice versa), I think you can just change your validation code.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Allow me to piggy-back onto this thread with my own "tech-help" issue.

I need to replace my current Windows XP with a new {cough:legit:cough} copy of Windows XP. My question is will I be able to simply select "upgrade to Windows XP from earlier operating system"? or do I have to reformat the hard drive thus backing up a lot crap onto cd?

Is it a full copy or upgrade?

You SHOULD be able to just do a reinstall of Windows, saving your personal files without formatting.

I'd need to know if it was an upgrade or full version to give you a thorough answer.

[BrudLee]

Matty -
You may want to just get a USB hard drive and add it for storage.

I'm getting (today, if FedEx.com is telling the truth) a 500 GB USB drive, and it's costing me less than $160. To say I got a good deal would be understating things.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm fairly familiar with the inside of a computer, I've upgraded my own video and audio cards before, put in additional ram, etc.

You'll be fine then. HDs are easy, a few screws and your data (probably a ribbon-style) and your power plug. You probably don't even have to disconnect them from the motherboard, just do the swap.

JUST REMEMBER TO GROUND YOURSELF on the case.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Are you going from Home to Pro or are you just wanting to change the serial number to a "legit" copy?

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Are you going from Home to Pro or are you just wanting to change the serial number to a "legit" copy?

Pro to Pro, ill-legit to legit.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Pro to Pro, ill-legit to legit.

Genuine Microsoft Software

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Genuine Microsoft Software

I researched this initially but then my cousin-in-law (if there is such a thing) works for Microsoft and gave me a copy obtained through his employee purchase program. Would you still go with your suggestion?

But then Matty's post got me thinking about getting a new HD (I have a 20GB 7200RPM Seagate) and installing the new XP onto that one and then booting up with that drive. Eventually I'll move all of my files to the new hard drive.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

I researched this initially but then my cousin-in-law (if there is such a thing) works for Microsoft and gave me a copy obtained through his employee purchase program. Would you still go with your suggestion?

But then Matty's post got me thinking about getting a new HD (I have a 20GB 7200RPM Seagate) and installing the new XP onto that one and then booting up with that drive. Eventually I'll move all of my files to the new hard drive.

If you have room in the case, you can keep the 20GB for system for program files (including Windows) and use a bigger one as a slave for files. Then you won't have to reinstall and you can just drag and drop files over, plus you'll have an extra 20GB for free.

All you need it this cable:

Newegg.com - Link Depot IDE Round Cable - Retail

and possibly a $2 power cable splitter, but chances are that you have a spare power cable in the case already. You just have to set the jumper on the new drive to "slave".

If you don't have room, you could always remove your floppy if you don't use it. You could always pick up an external laptop floppy (USB or serial port) for next to nothing from eBay in case you ever need it. Windows installs on the CD-ROM drive now anyways and some computers don't even come with floppys anymore, but I always put on in when building. They're like $7 now.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Or you can just edit the system file and tell Microsoft to suck it.