Member Panel

I currently have a Dell Dimension 4600 (I know how bad it is but that is all I could afford). I now want to look at upgrading alot of parts. Because the Dells are riddled with all sorts of proprietary hardware I am salvaging as much as I can and i'm moving into another case with a very similar motherboard. Most of the hardware will be moved over, infact the motherboard and the power supply unit is the only hardware that will change. I intend to use the processor from the dell too. I know all the hardware will be fine but I want to move over the harddrive too. What should be done to both the OS (Windows XP SP2) as well as the hardware to prepare it for the move to the new computer. I assume the main problem will be the OS playing up with drivers etc. Can anyone help?

PS. Mods & Admin I don't know if this is in the right forum. Please feel free to move it.

First of all, I would make a backup of any critical files. The irreplaceable stuff... like photos/music /anything personal.
If you have programs on there you can't live without -- back those up too (if you don't have them on CD)
Save all important emails-- if any.

I'm not sure that there will be any problem ...I've only done something like this once (also converting a Dell)-- but if you take these precautions, it won't be a disaster if there is.
One of the first things Windows Setup says when you first load the installation CD is "inspecting your computer's configuration".
One question I would raise BEFORE you even start is...

Do you have a FULL RETAIL VERSION of your Operating System on disc or does Dell give you so-called "RESTORE DISCS" these days?? The reason I ask is --if you make this swap-- and there are issues that can only be fixed with a Retail Version CD-- you could be stuck buying a copy of your OS. DELL'S VERSION is meant for a DELL computer (which this will no longer be). A lot of these softwares are also restricted to the "PROPRIETARY MANUFACTURER"-- in other words Dell's copy of WindowsXP is actually licensed to Dell-- not to you -- you buy the "rights to use it" when you buy their PC. As soon as you change things like this-- that becomes null and void. Take it from someone who DOES know about this aspect --cost me $199.00 to buy a full version of XP Home that I OWN OUTRIGHT.

Do you have a FULL RETAIL VERSION of your Operating System on disc or does Dell give you so-called "RESTORE DISCS" these days?? The reason I ask is --if you make this swap-- and there are issues that can only be fixed with a Retail Version CD-- you could be stuck buying a copy of your OS. DELL'S VERSION is meant for a DELL computer (which this will no longer be). A lot of these softwares are also restricted to the "PROPRIETARY MANUFACTURER"-- in other words Dell's copy of WindowsXP is actually licensed to Dell-- not to you -- you buy the "rights to use it" when you buy their PC. As soon as you change things like this-- that becomes null and void. Take it from someone who DOES know about this aspect --cost me $199.00 to buy a full version of XP Home that I OWN OUTRIGHT.[/quote]

if you change the motherboard that is a dell mother board the dell recovery disks will not work because it will not reconise the pc as a dell pc anymore i have tried it before and it won't work

I do actually have an old OEM version of Windows XP SP1 that was bought from a computer shop that went out of business. This probably is a stupid suggestion but would it work if i used that disc for repairs?

Or would it be best to install this OEM version of Windows over the dell one?

hey twistie i noticed that i didn't welcome you yet.. so welcome to the forum

i would just buy another windows xp cd and i would also do like ih8bills said backup any important stuff and just use the same hard drive and reformat it

Sorry I just edited that last post while you were posting...

And just my luck I have lost the key for OEM windows version

you should probably install a fresh copy of windows with the oem cd you have and if you have the product key for it aswell