Im new to building computers and im just learning how but i have a question. I have an older computer with a 20gb HDD and i want to buy a new one with about 120-160gb. my question is can i take out the 20gb one and put in the new one with the system still working? or am i going to have to buy new cds to restore the computer?

Hi OverKill,

Welcome to the PCHF.

When you buy a new hard drive, it is completely blank...there is nothing on there.
So you will need to reinstall Windows and all your software again if you take out your older hard drive.

You could possibly have that as a second hard drive in the new system. But first you will need to check what type of hard drive it is (SATA, IDE etc) and check the available ports on the motherboard you are going to buy.

And you could get/borrow a copy of Norton Ghost to copy EVERYTHING from the old HDD to the new one, and then it will be fine.