Changing motherboard and processor

[Himesh]

I am wanting to change my motherboard + processor and keep all of my data. I will have a new HDD and install XP onto that (don't want to switch to Vista just yet :P ). Would it be possible to add my current HDD as a slave and access the data on that or is there a better way of keeping the data?

Also another quick question, does this motherboard http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+AM2+%28AMD%29/+Asrock+AM2NF3-VSTA+Socket+AM2?productId=24271 support normal DDR RAM or will I have to buy DDR 2 RAM? (It's AGP because I want to keep my current graphics card).

Thanks in advance.

[mac124]

yes you will be able to access the data on the old drive if its installed as a slave drive, pictures, saved documents etc etc but you may or maynot be able to run any applications that are installed on there.

[Himesh]

ok thx, thats all i need from the hard drive anyway.
will normal DDR RAM work in the ASRock AM2NF3-VSTA motherboard or will i have to buy some DDR2 ram?

[Hosser]

It's an AM2 socketed board and therefore requires DDR2, I'm afraid.

[Himesh]

ok thanks for ur help :)

[cabbages]

If your just buying a new HHD becuase of storage, you might want to user the old hard drive as the master and the new one as slave. The old one can act as a application hard-drive and nothing else. This is good as you can easily replace the Master HDD while not affecting any personal data on your slave, i.e. windows settings etc so that when you come to replace it you just have to install windows on the new Master and it'll just be like nothing has changed.

[Himesh]

yea but i thought that you had to install XP again when you change mobo and processor dont you? so ill lose my docs and everything wen i install it.

[Aaron]

Im pretty sure that it just requires reactivating, and not a complete reinstall? I could be wrong tho?

[mac124]

You don't have to but it could be a bigger pain if you don't, drivers will need uninstalling / reinstalling. That best case too, worst case it wont even boot, BSOD time after time etc.

[Himesh]

k
i think i'll just use new HDD as master and current HDD as slave. ill just have to install apps again but shouldn't take that long.

just out of curiosity, what would happen if i just changed the mobo and processor and booted from current HDD?

[mac124]

[quote:a0c4e329bd=\"mac124\"]drivers will need uninstalling / reinstalling. That best case too, worst case it wont even boot, BSOD time after time etc.[/quote:a0c4e329bd]

Pretty much that ^^^

[Himesh]

lol ok thx

[Belso]

Depends on the chipset of the old and new board dude.

Although its highly recommend you do a fresh install, the way around it. Is before you make changes, remove the drivers from your current install and make sure you uninstall the IDE/Sata Controllers and it should work fine 8)

Then run a repair installation of Windows XP.

But not really worth the trouble

[Himesh]

k. i think i need to install XP again anyway. got too much crap on it lol

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[Himesh]

can't agree more

[cabbages]

if you try my method it'll be alot easier as you get to keep all your configuration and peronsal files, soo all you have to do is re-install windows and your apps.

[Himesh]

all i need is my docs, music, vids, pics. not that bothered about apps as i can back the install file up aswell onto new HDD and jus install it on ther.
its about time i did a fresh install of windows anyway so im not bother much if it's easier.

[Himesh]

is there anything *special* that i need to know before i change my mobo and processor and add a heatsink on?

[Anonymous]

Make sure that the cpu is clean of any grease, unless its new, and just be careful, but slightly forceful when putting the heatsink on, i do it when its mounted in the case, but that can be a bit tight for the fingers and attaching it.

[Mattbot2]

yeh when in the case, it is a bit fiddly,

[Himesh]

ok :wink:

wot if the mobo has the 20pin ATX power connected and the small 4pin 12V one? would i have to connect a power cable in both of them?

[mac124]

Yes you do need the seperate 4pin connector plugged in too.

General rule of thumb if there is a power connector on the motherboard, plug something in it. Im not saying that to make you look/feel silly, some motherboards have \"optional\" power connectors, some Abit mobos spring to mind, they are supposed to improve stability if used though.

[Himesh]

just used my brain and thought \"why not look at the manual on the net!\" and yea i do need to use both power slots.

[Himesh]

have installed the new mobo and cpu but i have a problem installing XP!

when i boot from the disk, it says to insert bootable media (or something meaning the same!). It does the same when i do it with another machine but when i insert the disc when windows is running it seems to work fine - it's just when i boot from the disc. I need to boot from disc as i cant access windows on my pc which i put new mobo and cpu in. any thoughts?

[mac124]

You might need to reset the bios (or go into the bios and set CD drive as the first bootable option) OR its not seeing the cd drive for some reason. Does it appear on the POST screen? Or if its not up there long enough again go into the bios and see if its listed. Might be worth checking if its set to master or slave, if its the only device on the cable set it to master, assuming its ide.

[Himesh]

managed to fix it.. turned out that wen my m8 burned the disc he 4got to make it bootable lol
i can already notice a huge difference in the performance with the E4300 c2d! Next i'm gonna have a go at oc'ing it :D

can ne1 recommend any overclocking tools/software to monitor temps etc...?

[mac124]

99% of the time i always overclock from the bios.

As for temperature monitoring i always use core temp

http://www.thecoolest.zerobrains.com/CoreTemp/

[Himesh]

ok. thx