Lend a hand II

[Billyman]

Ok, the beast is here. Ordered Monday afternoon, arrives Wednesday afternoon. Now that’s service.

Anywho…

I’ll be taking the HD out of this one, installing in new, burning copies of files and programs that I want to keep to transfer to the new HD.

Or. Can I…

Transfer HD and just select the files and programs that I want to be transferred without the unnecessary burns? (There’s shit on this drive I care not keep)

Once done (how ever I do it) I’ll be reformatting this drive and reinstalling it back into the old computer then reinstalling some programs and files. I don’t know the command for reformatting. I’m also lost it the transfer department (I can’t find the transfer button on the keyboard).

Do I switch anything to slave or what have you before doing the transferring of info?

I think you understand what I intend to do. Now I’m just asking for your help in getting the “know how” before I cause myself a bunch of headache.

[D_I]

Slave the old drive in to take files. Programs will not run until installed again on the new drive so unless you have the installable version on your old drive to copy you will need the original CD to re-install on your new drive.

The old drive will have a jumper on it that you will need to set to the slave position. There should be a diagram on the drive showing you where to set the jumper. Plug the drive into the same IDE cable as the primary master (new HD) if you can.

As far as formatting your old drive. You will need a full version of which ever OS you want. A lot of of pre-packaged PCs come with a re-install disk only. If you do have a full version you will need to set your BIOS to boot from the CDROM. Just tell us if you have a full version before we mess with that.

Thats a quick over-view, I'm sure others will have more suggestions. I have my own preferences on how I do things.

[Billyman]

Originally posted by D_I
Plug the drive into the same IDE cable as the primary master (new HD) if you can.

So unplug the new HD and use that connector on the old? Or just use the secondary drive connector?

Originally posted by D_I
As far as formatting your old drive. You will need a full version of which ever OS you want. A lot of of pre-packaged PCs come with a re-install disk only. If you do have a full version you will need to set your BIOS to boot from the CDROM. Just tell us if you have a full version before we mess with that.

This old thing came with Win ME. It now runs on XP Pro. But I have no disk (don't ask). The new comes with XP Home. So I take it that the XP Pro will not overwrite the Home without a disk and once formatted, the old will have to go back to ME because that's all I have as far as reinstall.

EA owes me one XP Pro CD. :p

[D_I]

Use the secondary connector on the same cable.

You need a clean install of any OS. ME I wont even comment on. Pre-packeged machines rarely come with a real version. XP Home I highly doubt you can use on two seperate machines. Dont you have to register that one on-line? Assuming you dont have an OEM version that you cant install again.

[Billyman]

Hmm, from what you're saying. I'll be forced to use the ME reinstall disk on this machine in order to have an OS initially (or barrow Mom's full/unregistered version of XP Home) and the new would be stuck with Home until I get a hold of a full install of Pro.

*thinking, thinking*

Aha! I need to call my brother!

Files will transfer with ease...no?

Programs that were like downloaded from the net (not Kazaa or pirated) actual legit programs will transfer also with ease...no?

Or do I have to download them again?

[D_I]

Do not fuck with your new drive as far as the OS is involved.

Legit programs like, lets say, WinAmp as long as you saved the initial setup.exe can be transfered and reinstalled, then the MP3s can be copied into whatever folder you want them in and associated with WinAmp again.

[Billyman]

Originally posted by D_I
Do not fuck with your new drive as far as the OS is involved.

But I like my Pro. Why can't I fuck with Home. But I wanna I tell ya, I just wanna, gotta even. :wtc:

Seriously though, what's the harm in updating the OS in the new drive?

[D_I]

Well, you can try. I have minimal experience with any version of XP. You bought an OEM version of Home is my guess. Trying to update to Pro may void your warranty. Check that first. Dell, right?

[D_I]

Last PC I bought pre-fab, I voided the warranty in the store. Didnt care, it was a $500 quick fix. I have free components now and build them on a daily basis. My machine is still obsolete. Dont want to come home and work on the fucker after I've worked on the fuckers all day kind of thing.

Why the Hell am I helping you when I can be fucking up my own machine? Check your warrranty.

[Billyman]

I've been down that road before. You just tell em the shit is all fucked up and they give some /run code to reset and restore everything as it came from the factory. I had to do it to this comp once. The code was something like /run zztop. I can get around the warrany part.

Anywayz, you've given me enough information to get both comps up and going like I'd like them to be. I can fuck with the OS's later.

You don’t know how much I appreciate it.

Thanks man.

[D_I]

You'll appreciate it until something goes wrong. I work with business warranties and have a lot more play as a dealer than you as a consumer.

I also have my own way of building systems. Mine are not home PCs.

[D_I]

Good luck and use your old system to experiment with if its not essential. Dead systems and playing can teach a boatload.

[Billyman]

Nah, I’ll still appreciate it. I’ll just have more questions. ;)

I called Dell today to inquire about warranty voids. They say “no”; upgrading my OS will not void the warranty. The gentleman said that if something should go wrong with the operating system to call tech and we could get it straightened out over the phone. (kinda like what I had to do with that zztop thing I told you about).

Thanks again, undoubtedly, I’ll be back with more questions.

[Billyman]

I've her up and running. The file transfer thing isn't working out as I planned. No biggie. It'll take a week or so to get it all worked out.

However.....

WHOLLY CAT SHIT FATMAN!

I've got to change some proxies in my dial-up because I'm connecting at a lesser rate than before. But, it's twice as fast. How odd. I'm diggin' it.