I have thought this through but................
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I have thought this through but................
I am going to replace ATX case, motherboard, CPU, memory (to DDR), So far so good.
But.........I have two HDD's C: = FAT32 and E: = NTFS. Both have lived together quite happily thus far. The OS is XP Pro.
My BUT is: when I attach my devices to the new motherboard (a MSI KT400 - a little bit good!) will everything work OK as before or am I going to encounter a grievous grub?
The opinions I have received is that all will be well but.................see what I mean?
My fear is that I will have to re-install XP Pro and lose my C: drive data. In iteslf no problem since I have sufficient room on the other HDD to do a full system back-up.
This brings up another point. When I installed a new DVD/CDROM it 'took over' my D: drive which was then changed to E: - this is something I have not been able to change. Even using XP's tips tricks and tweaks.
I would take a bet that I have not thought of everything and I would, therefore, be grateful for the PPRuNe Computer Guru's to give me their best advice.
PPP
But.........I have two HDD's C: = FAT32 and E: = NTFS. Both have lived together quite happily thus far. The OS is XP Pro.
My BUT is: when I attach my devices to the new motherboard (a MSI KT400 - a little bit good!) will everything work OK as before or am I going to encounter a grievous grub?
The opinions I have received is that all will be well but.................see what I mean?
My fear is that I will have to re-install XP Pro and lose my C: drive data. In iteslf no problem since I have sufficient room on the other HDD to do a full system back-up.
This brings up another point. When I installed a new DVD/CDROM it 'took over' my D: drive which was then changed to E: - this is something I have not been able to change. Even using XP's tips tricks and tweaks.
I would take a bet that I have not thought of everything and I would, therefore, be grateful for the PPRuNe Computer Guru's to give me their best advice.
PPP
Plastic PPRuNer
Problem is the mobo drivers won't be the same. With Win98 you could remove ALL devices when in safe mode, change the mobo and let Windows rediscover and reinstall (with a little help) the devices all over again. Occasionally you end up with a stable system without the annoyance of reinstalling.
AFAIK you HAVE to reinstall and reactivate XP if you change the mobo. Boot from the XP CD and reinstall/repair. You shouldn't loose any data but I'd back up datafiles anyway. Twice if it's important. Don't forget the stuff in %WINDOWS%\Application Data if you're using things like Mailwasher that store their data there and all your Outlook bits and pieces (like Junk Senders.txt) including digital IDs if you have any. Make a note of installation keys for any software you have downloaded & will need to reinstall. Reinstall AV software/firewall last of all, after it's up and running.
Google for "reinstall XP" - there's pages on it.
Sometimes a reinstall is a good idea - just redone 98SE in one of the boxes and it flies, since all the accumulated garbage of years is gone. Don't seem to have lost anything either.
Be interesting to hear what the others say. Good luck!
AFAIK you HAVE to reinstall and reactivate XP if you change the mobo. Boot from the XP CD and reinstall/repair. You shouldn't loose any data but I'd back up datafiles anyway. Twice if it's important. Don't forget the stuff in %WINDOWS%\Application Data if you're using things like Mailwasher that store their data there and all your Outlook bits and pieces (like Junk Senders.txt) including digital IDs if you have any. Make a note of installation keys for any software you have downloaded & will need to reinstall. Reinstall AV software/firewall last of all, after it's up and running.
Google for "reinstall XP" - there's pages on it.
Sometimes a reinstall is a good idea - just redone 98SE in one of the boxes and it flies, since all the accumulated garbage of years is gone. Don't seem to have lost anything either.
Be interesting to hear what the others say. Good luck!
The Oracle
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PPRuNe Pop,
Mac the Knife nailed the important part. Backup the OLE or other programs that deposit their data in the Windows Directory before you start the move. (If there is any other data that you cannot live without, back it up, and you should have been backing it up anyway all along.)
The trick to the WinXP Re-install:
1) Download all the drivers for your mobo/sound/vid/etc. and store them in a directory, like c:\drivers or any other name you want.
2) Get the latest BIOS and make a bootable Floppy with the BIOS and Flash Utility on it. (This is the best time to Flash)
3) Flash your BIOS, Load Setup Defaults, and go place your BIOS Settings back in.
3) In your BIOS, turn off Virus Check, Turn On APIC, Set the CD-ROM to Boot before your Main Drive. If you have a second Drive, I disconnect it till after the install so I can have its drive letter after my Optical Drive.
4) Boot up with the WinXP CD in the drive.
5) Tell XP to do a new install, tell it to use the current partition, tell it to keep the file system intact, and tell it to install in the Windows Directory (It will give you a warning that you will be deleting everything in the Windows Directory)
6) When the install finishes, install the Mobo Drivers, then the Vid Drivers, then the Audio Drivers, in that order. Any other drivers you can do after that.
7) Setup your internet connection, and install any programs you want use of again, you can usually install the programs on top of themselves and they will pick up your old Data and settings. (OLE and a few others will not allow you to do that.)
That should do it. You will have a fresh install and all your data that was not in your Windows Directory will be intact.
Take Care,
Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.
Custom Computers of Naples, Inc.
Mac the Knife nailed the important part. Backup the OLE or other programs that deposit their data in the Windows Directory before you start the move. (If there is any other data that you cannot live without, back it up, and you should have been backing it up anyway all along.)
The trick to the WinXP Re-install:
1) Download all the drivers for your mobo/sound/vid/etc. and store them in a directory, like c:\drivers or any other name you want.
2) Get the latest BIOS and make a bootable Floppy with the BIOS and Flash Utility on it. (This is the best time to Flash)
3) Flash your BIOS, Load Setup Defaults, and go place your BIOS Settings back in.
3) In your BIOS, turn off Virus Check, Turn On APIC, Set the CD-ROM to Boot before your Main Drive. If you have a second Drive, I disconnect it till after the install so I can have its drive letter after my Optical Drive.
4) Boot up with the WinXP CD in the drive.
5) Tell XP to do a new install, tell it to use the current partition, tell it to keep the file system intact, and tell it to install in the Windows Directory (It will give you a warning that you will be deleting everything in the Windows Directory)
6) When the install finishes, install the Mobo Drivers, then the Vid Drivers, then the Audio Drivers, in that order. Any other drivers you can do after that.
7) Setup your internet connection, and install any programs you want use of again, you can usually install the programs on top of themselves and they will pick up your old Data and settings. (OLE and a few others will not allow you to do that.)
That should do it. You will have a fresh install and all your data that was not in your Windows Directory will be intact.
Take Care,
Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.
Custom Computers of Naples, Inc.
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With both Win2K and XP you can force Mass storage drive letters to be what you want by going:
Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management and right clicking on various menu options.
Once, when I had nothing to lose, I booted from the Emergency Recovery Disk and renamed the "DAT" files. so that when I next started Windows from the HD everything was reinstalled from scratch. This didn't clean out the Windows Folder but it did make for a spotless registry. And it did get rid of the virus that was hiding in one of the DAT files (can't remember which). I recall that this was an ME machine.
Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management and right clicking on various menu options.
Once, when I had nothing to lose, I booted from the Emergency Recovery Disk and renamed the "DAT" files. so that when I next started Windows from the HD everything was reinstalled from scratch. This didn't clean out the Windows Folder but it did make for a spotless registry. And it did get rid of the virus that was hiding in one of the DAT files (can't remember which). I recall that this was an ME machine.
Cool Mod
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Thanks guys very useful info there indeed. I now realise that my "but" is quite important.....ugh! However, I am going through with it after the bash is out of the way.
Mack
What if? I use a new mobo of the same breed i.e. ABIT that I have now - instead of MSI?
I will be doing a "full system backup" - I have more than enough space on my second HDD for that. Could that be used? Should I format C:? Should I just reinstall as "a best option?" Thanks for your help.
Richard
I will be using on board sound/vid rather than my Platinum 5.1.
I have asked Mack, now may I have your view on same breed of mobo and possible implications.
If I have to reinstall can I:
1) Take individual applications and replace them in C: without a problem do you think?
2) The internet connection is broadband USB 2.0 with software - I am not anticipating any problems - do you?
TCS
FAT 32 came from loading XP Pro onto C: drive. It is 40gb.
NTFS came from buying a 80gb HDD E: in the US and my brother loading many applications onto it for me. I didn't know at the time he had NTFS so I was lumbered when I got home. However, there are many who say that I should change FAT 32 on C: to NTFS. Your view on that would be appreciated?
fobotcso
The problem about changing the E: drive back to D: drive came when I tried as you suggest. It just will not have it.
I note your last sentence - good that. I always get nervous about registry being too over burdened.
But I have noted above that I should disconnect my DVD/CDROM and re-boot. Then they will change back - if I have got that right. I can then re-connect and the DVD will become E: which is what I want.
My concern now seems to be about transferring data and applications back to C: from the full system backup I propose.
________________________________________________
I am so glad PPRuNe is blessed with gurus!!! Thanks guys.
Mack
What if? I use a new mobo of the same breed i.e. ABIT that I have now - instead of MSI?
I will be doing a "full system backup" - I have more than enough space on my second HDD for that. Could that be used? Should I format C:? Should I just reinstall as "a best option?" Thanks for your help.
Richard
I will be using on board sound/vid rather than my Platinum 5.1.
I have asked Mack, now may I have your view on same breed of mobo and possible implications.
If I have to reinstall can I:
1) Take individual applications and replace them in C: without a problem do you think?
2) The internet connection is broadband USB 2.0 with software - I am not anticipating any problems - do you?
TCS
FAT 32 came from loading XP Pro onto C: drive. It is 40gb.
NTFS came from buying a 80gb HDD E: in the US and my brother loading many applications onto it for me. I didn't know at the time he had NTFS so I was lumbered when I got home. However, there are many who say that I should change FAT 32 on C: to NTFS. Your view on that would be appreciated?
fobotcso
The problem about changing the E: drive back to D: drive came when I tried as you suggest. It just will not have it.
I note your last sentence - good that. I always get nervous about registry being too over burdened.
But I have noted above that I should disconnect my DVD/CDROM and re-boot. Then they will change back - if I have got that right. I can then re-connect and the DVD will become E: which is what I want.
My concern now seems to be about transferring data and applications back to C: from the full system backup I propose.
________________________________________________
I am so glad PPRuNe is blessed with gurus!!! Thanks guys.
The Oracle
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PPRuNe Pop,
I do not know if I would fall under guru, but I will do my best.
With WinXP (NT Kernal) it does not like changing motherboards. There are too many recourses for it to setup. In the end an new install of XP is your best bet. The Brand of motherboard means nothing to WinXP, only the Motherboard Chipset. You have a better chance of keeping WinXP working going from an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (nForce2) to an MSI K7N2 Delta-ILSR (nForce2) than from an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (nForce2) to an ASUS A7V8X (KT400).
Since you have two drives, I would make the fastest drive you have, your main drive. Windows is primarily Disk Access. You want your fastest drive to handle this job. I would put your Main Drive as Primary Master, Leave Primary Slave empty, your Second Drive as Secondary Master, your Optical Drive as Secondary Slave.
NTFS is a better file system than FAT32. (I know there is a lot of debate on this topic.) It offers the most robust file system and the security is much better than FAT32. (You can convert your FAT32 to NTFS without losing your data, but I would back up your data before you do it, just in case it does not work.)
As for the two questions you asked of me:
1) Some programs do not install anything in the windows directory or in your registry, you can just access them and they will work. Other programs need the windows registry and/or they install dlls or other files in your windows directory and they will need to be re-installed. When you do the installation of that program, just make sure you point it to the same location the original program was at and it will install on top of itself and work. The last one is programs like Outlook and Outlook Express, they need to have their data base either backed up (through its own utility) or exported (again though its own utility). Then you just restore or import.
2) You need to have the drivers for your motherboard (since the USB 2.0 Ports will need to be working) and/or WinXP SP1 (Since it adds USB 2.0 support to WinXP) for your comp to be able to access your modem. The software from the Modem should have everything it needs to setup your modem again (My guess is it uses PPPoE). You should make sure you have your username/password and any additional settings for your modem beforehand.
Good Luck,
Richard
I do not know if I would fall under guru, but I will do my best.
With WinXP (NT Kernal) it does not like changing motherboards. There are too many recourses for it to setup. In the end an new install of XP is your best bet. The Brand of motherboard means nothing to WinXP, only the Motherboard Chipset. You have a better chance of keeping WinXP working going from an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (nForce2) to an MSI K7N2 Delta-ILSR (nForce2) than from an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (nForce2) to an ASUS A7V8X (KT400).
Since you have two drives, I would make the fastest drive you have, your main drive. Windows is primarily Disk Access. You want your fastest drive to handle this job. I would put your Main Drive as Primary Master, Leave Primary Slave empty, your Second Drive as Secondary Master, your Optical Drive as Secondary Slave.
NTFS is a better file system than FAT32. (I know there is a lot of debate on this topic.) It offers the most robust file system and the security is much better than FAT32. (You can convert your FAT32 to NTFS without losing your data, but I would back up your data before you do it, just in case it does not work.)
As for the two questions you asked of me:
1) Some programs do not install anything in the windows directory or in your registry, you can just access them and they will work. Other programs need the windows registry and/or they install dlls or other files in your windows directory and they will need to be re-installed. When you do the installation of that program, just make sure you point it to the same location the original program was at and it will install on top of itself and work. The last one is programs like Outlook and Outlook Express, they need to have their data base either backed up (through its own utility) or exported (again though its own utility). Then you just restore or import.
2) You need to have the drivers for your motherboard (since the USB 2.0 Ports will need to be working) and/or WinXP SP1 (Since it adds USB 2.0 support to WinXP) for your comp to be able to access your modem. The software from the Modem should have everything it needs to setup your modem again (My guess is it uses PPPoE). You should make sure you have your username/password and any additional settings for your modem beforehand.
Good Luck,
Richard
Plastic PPRuNer
I think Richard has answered your question to me more eloquently that I could have.
Provided the NTFS disk doesn't have the OS or and installed program files on it then you can plug it in and XP will read it quite happily without any additional fiddling (make sure it's jumpered right).
Modern mobos can accomodate drives of different speeds on the the same IDE channel quite happily. Old mobos slowed down to the speed of the slowest drive. Theoretically you may be best with only one drive on the boot IDE channel, but if speed is that important you'd use SCSI anyway.
<snip>
...long off-the-subject discussion deleted
<snip>
Better still, install a good Linux distro.......
"Bother," said Pooh as he struggled with /etc/sendmail.cf, "it never does quite what I want. I wish Christopher Robin was here."
Provided the NTFS disk doesn't have the OS or and installed program files on it then you can plug it in and XP will read it quite happily without any additional fiddling (make sure it's jumpered right).
Modern mobos can accomodate drives of different speeds on the the same IDE channel quite happily. Old mobos slowed down to the speed of the slowest drive. Theoretically you may be best with only one drive on the boot IDE channel, but if speed is that important you'd use SCSI anyway.
<snip>
...long off-the-subject discussion deleted
<snip>
Better still, install a good Linux distro.......
"Bother," said Pooh as he struggled with /etc/sendmail.cf, "it never does quite what I want. I wish Christopher Robin was here."
The Oracle
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Mac the Knife,
At the chance of getting another speech about overkill from Rob (a.k.a. PPRuNe Towers), when it comes to Disk Access Speed and breaking though the Disk Access Bottleneck, I really like a pair of Western Digital 10,000rpm SATA Raptor Drives Striped (16k Stripe) on a SATA RAID.
Anandtech had a great review on the Drive:
Western Digital's Raptor - Part I: The World's Fastest Desktop Drive
I did some benchmarking with a pair of those drives on a SATA Raid with the 16k Stripe and here is the Disk Access Benchmark Results:
I did try some installs of WinXP Pro and with those drives on the RAID, WinXP Pro installed from start to finish in 8 minutes. That is just blazing fast. For a low end server or for Video or Audio editing, that is amazing performance. For the average person that just surfs the web, it does nothing for them. (Had to add that for Rob.
)
PPRuNe Pop, my apology for highjacking your thread.
Richard
At the chance of getting another speech about overkill from Rob (a.k.a. PPRuNe Towers), when it comes to Disk Access Speed and breaking though the Disk Access Bottleneck, I really like a pair of Western Digital 10,000rpm SATA Raptor Drives Striped (16k Stripe) on a SATA RAID.
Anandtech had a great review on the Drive:
Western Digital's Raptor - Part I: The World's Fastest Desktop Drive
I did some benchmarking with a pair of those drives on a SATA Raid with the 16k Stripe and here is the Disk Access Benchmark Results:
I did try some installs of WinXP Pro and with those drives on the RAID, WinXP Pro installed from start to finish in 8 minutes. That is just blazing fast. For a low end server or for Video or Audio editing, that is amazing performance. For the average person that just surfs the web, it does nothing for them. (Had to add that for Rob.
) PPRuNe Pop, my apology for highjacking your thread.
Richard
Plastic PPRuNer
Very nice bit of kit. Fast and sexy but (like all things fast and sexy) a bit pricey (cheaper than SCSI tho').
RAID 0 worries me a bit - if one drive goes Tango Uniform ya got problems. I keep a stack of rotating backups at different sites, but all the same... RAID 1/0 would be nice tho' - but you're still vulnerable to single point loss.
Maybe we should continue off forum or start a different thread since we're getting away from PPRuNe Pop's question.
RAID 0 worries me a bit - if one drive goes Tango Uniform ya got problems. I keep a stack of rotating backups at different sites, but all the same... RAID 1/0 would be nice tho' - but you're still vulnerable to single point loss.
Maybe we should continue off forum or start a different thread since we're getting away from PPRuNe Pop's question.
Cool Mod
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Don't mind me guys! I am just grateful I have what appears to be the answer.
I think I have all the info, and more, to get it right. (Wish we had a smiley for biting nails!!)
Thanks again.
p.s. I'll be back if I have a problem - and can get back
I think I have all the info, and more, to get it right. (Wish we had a smiley for biting nails!!)
Thanks again.
p.s. I'll be back if I have a problem - and can get back
The Oracle
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PPRuNe Pop,
Anything you need. Just let us know. We will be here.
Mac the Knife,
The cost on the W.D Raptors is $140.00 U.S. Delivered.
Western Digital Raptor 36GB SATA WD360GD 10,000 RPM 8MB Hard Drive
It is a little higher than standard IDE Drives, but still not too far out there. I do keep an extra drive in my comp, that I copy my data I cannot live without on it, just in case, and periodically I burn it to disk. You can never be too careful.
As for RAID 0, I used to think like that too. If you only have one drive in your comp and it fails, how much of your data do you lose? Nine times out of 10, all of it. With two drives on RAID 0 you do have twice the chance to lose a drive (Just like with a Twin Engine Aircraft) and if one does fail all your data is lost. But when you look at the benefits of what you gain, it is well worth it in both price and chance of data loss.
I have seen things like Power Supplies blow and take out everything plugged in to it including Hard Drives, so even backing up to a spare hard drive really is not enough. But that is another long story.
Take Care,
Richard
Anything you need. Just let us know. We will be here.
Mac the Knife,
The cost on the W.D Raptors is $140.00 U.S. Delivered.
Western Digital Raptor 36GB SATA WD360GD 10,000 RPM 8MB Hard Drive
It is a little higher than standard IDE Drives, but still not too far out there. I do keep an extra drive in my comp, that I copy my data I cannot live without on it, just in case, and periodically I burn it to disk. You can never be too careful.
As for RAID 0, I used to think like that too. If you only have one drive in your comp and it fails, how much of your data do you lose? Nine times out of 10, all of it. With two drives on RAID 0 you do have twice the chance to lose a drive (Just like with a Twin Engine Aircraft) and if one does fail all your data is lost. But when you look at the benefits of what you gain, it is well worth it in both price and chance of data loss.
I have seen things like Power Supplies blow and take out everything plugged in to it including Hard Drives, so even backing up to a spare hard drive really is not enough. But that is another long story.
Take Care,
Richard
