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Getting a new Hard Drive *Update* Further help requested
Farout Foolio
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
disclaimer: Sorry for not putting this in the computer megathread, I can't seem to find it. 
Anyway, I have a tiny little 80GB hard drive, I've been looking for a new one, but the first problem
with any computer part problem is OMGOPTIONS and I have no idea what I should get.
I'm not too MOBO literate but I know I have at least 2 regular HD spots, don't know if I have any SATA.
When you get a new HD, what's involved in setting it up/accessing it? I just wan to use it as storage space.
Is there a way to write what's on my drive now onto a new one and just use that as my main drive?
Sorry for being so clueless.
Anyway, I have a tiny little 80GB hard drive, I've been looking for a new one, but the first problem
with any computer part problem is OMGOPTIONS and I have no idea what I should get.
I'm not too MOBO literate but I know I have at least 2 regular HD spots, don't know if I have any SATA.
When you get a new HD, what's involved in setting it up/accessing it? I just wan to use it as storage space.
Is there a way to write what's on my drive now onto a new one and just use that as my main drive?
Sorry for being so clueless.
Farout Foolio on
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Posts
Hard drives are getting cheaper and cheaper. If you look around for a while it's not uncommon to find 1TB drives on sale for around $100, for example this Samsung. As for which manufacturer is better, failure rates are all pretty much comparable across the board. Just don't ever buy recertified drives.
SATA connector and port. Note that the port sometimes looks slightly different - some mobos have a plastic ring around the port, some don't have that thing at the side that sticks up, etc.
If you go the SATA route, you may need a SATA power cable (as opposed to a Molex power cable). Some manufacturers still make SATA drives that will take molex connectors, but they are being phased out in favor of the newer SATA power connectors. Molex and SATA power connectors are slightly different (SATA power cables provide an additional voltage, and have support for hotplugging). Fortunately, hard drive manufacturers are aware that older power supplies don't have SATA power connectors, so they tend to make their drives to allow users to use Molex to SATA power adaptors. This may change at some point in the future, once they feel the majority of computer users won't need an adapter any more.
IDE drives are becoming less prevalent, and I've noticed they're slightly more expensive. IDE drives will use Molex power connectors.
If you have SATA ports, I can safely recommend the 640GB Western Digital Caviar Black. (The black is their high-performance line, and it comes with a 5-year warranty). I can't hear it seeking, though I do have a loud PC, so I can't tell how loud it is when it's idle. It has very good seek times, though sequential data throughput is a bit lower than some other drives. You'll probably get a lot of other recommendations from others (some people have preferences when it comes to manufacturers, as well), this is just what I ended up with.
One more thing: depending on your motherboard, and the SATA controller on it, you may need to install a driver in order for windows to see the drive, as Windows doesn't include SATA controller drivers by default (I think - Vista might include some common ones?). If you're going to use it as a data drive, this is easy - just grab your motherboard's SATA drivers from their site, install them, and you're golden -- windows update might pick it up too. If you want to use a SATA drive as your OS drive, you'll need to create a driver disk for when you install windows. You should be able to find a program for creating this disk at your motherboard's drivers page. You use this disk when installing XP by hitting F6 near the beginning of the install (it'll prompt you) to indicate you have some drivers you want to use. Dunno how Vista's installer deals with it.
Well, I needed a new case very very badly, but it was a dell, so new case=new mobo.
Aaand, it seems in my transport to the computer store I did something to my graphics card, because it wouldn't boot when we got there, and it turns out it was the card.
Well, *whatever* I wanted a new card anyway, merry christmas to me, a shiny new 9800 gtx (30$ off because the guy felt bad for me.
So aaaanyway, I now have a new Mobo/Drive/Graphics card/Fan/Power Supply etc
The only thing still the same is my Hard drive.
Now the comp is acting very, very tempermental, and I can't even see the new drive.
Going into setup during startup causes the computer to freeze. ;-;
I called the tech support man, and he said that the proper course of action is to format and reinstall windows, they will backup my current drive for me and put my stuff back on it when it's done. (this would be done gratis.)
P.S. Both drives are SATA, I have like, eight SATA ports now.
I'm pretty sure it's not sabotage, but do you guys know if this is the proper course of action?
PPS: I am certain that I have properly installed all the drivers for all of my new equipment: both by using the discs that came with them
and by checking on the manufacturer's websites.
water spirals the wrong way out the sink
Dell's motherboards (and cases) don't always use the ATX standard placement for things like screw holes and card slots.
GT: Tanky the Tank
Black: 1377 6749 7425
One, I cannot see my new drive because they didn't install it, the bastards.
*opens case* well, that explains alot.
Two, I was under the impression I had a 550w power supply, it's actually 450. Whenever my graphics card is taxed, my 'puter dies.
Which brings me to another question. They're going to format and install the drive, but I'm not sure how I actually go about putting the stuff from my old drive to my new one.
I just want to have this stuff...on that drive.
What's the easiest way?
Put both drives in the computer and just copy/paste over everything you need?
GT: Tanky the Tank
Black: 1377 6749 7425
getting it to boot to your new HDD is actually the easy part. tell him you want him to install windows on the new hard drive and to leave the other one alone (personally I'd have a part of it partitioned off for just windows in case anything gets messed up again) then head to bios (usually F2 sometimes F1 or others check splash screen when it first comes on) and change it to boot from that hard drive (or just hit F10 instead of going to bios and it'll take you to the boot menu) once it's up and all the drivers are loaded you can copy everything over. the only problems you'll have with this will be from programs that are tied to the registry (most games) but personal files you won't have a problem transferring. once that's done format the old drive and it'll be good as new.
second:get a new power supply and the people at the computer store sound like idiots to me. any tech worth his dollar should be able to tell that your comp is gonna be overloaded well before they give it back to you. as far as the video card going out it's not unheard of that a swap of motherboards makes it unable to boot but it's usually resolved by using the on board to format and that would have been the first thing i tried since you needed a format anyways.
i haven't looked up your vid card but i'm assuming it's new enough to have extra power connections on the inside so make sure the power supply you get has an extra 4 pin
i can not stress this enough
Is this bad, because I will be taking all of the old crap with me when I do?
Correct, Ghost isn't what you want.
You'll have fewer problems if you've got a fresh Windows install and fresh installs of all the programs you use. Only copy over your data.
Any tips to help me transfer as much stuff over as possible without having to re-download it?
Specifically, my firefox bookmarks and my steam files. Not looking forward to re-downloading all that.
Bookmarks -> Organize Bookmarks -> Import and Backup
Steam:
In Steam, right click on your game and click Backup Game Files. You may also be install Steam on the new drive (to get any registry entries it needs), then just copy everything from the Steam folder on the old drive over the Steam installation on the new one.