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Do I need a new OS?

Forum Homebuilt Systems : General Homebuilt - Do I need a new OS?

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Dominant Giraffe   09-02-2008 at 07:49:52 PM

Hey, I want to build an entirely new computer (based off of http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/15381), but I was wondering if I will need a new copy of Windows. I have access to a machine that will ghost my current hard drive to the new one (essentially a carbon copier), but will Windows decide that I need to buy another copy?

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ohiou_grad_06   09-02-2008 at 08:13:12 PM
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If you bought a retail copy of windows, you are probably ok. Typically just tell them that you upgraded and that it's only on one machine. But try to install, of course uninstall it from your other pc, and then tell it to activate, if not, call them and just tell them the situation, they'll probably work with you no problem. If they don't, then Vista is getting better.

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aevm   09-02-2008 at 08:23:04 PM
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Ghosting doesn't sound good IMO because the hardware will be different and there are things like boot.ini or drivers that will be wrong. You'll have fewer headaches with a clean install.

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rodney_ws   09-02-2008 at 08:29:41 PM
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Let me add something to what Yoda just said... you'll have A LOT fewer headaches with a clean install. Deploying an image of a system is great... assuming you're deploying it to a similar system... nothing but headaches otherwise.


Message edited by rodney_ws on 09-02-2008 at 08:35:14 PM
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kryten42   09-02-2008 at 09:47:21 PM
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All good advice so far. I'd like to add something different.
If what you're looking for is to save all the customization you've done to your desktop (and we all know what a pain that is to rebuild) then there are some products that can save all your cookies, My Documents, wallpaper, e-mail information, bookmarks, etc

Two that come to mind are BR7 and Desktop DNA. I'm not saying those two are necessarily the best, but I've used them both, and they will get the job done.

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Strangestranger   09-02-2008 at 09:48:25 PM
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what version are you using just now?

------------------------------ I'm a git, deal with it.

Antec 1200,PC Power & Cooling 750,Gigabyte DS4-x48,Intel Q9550@3.4 W/Xigmatek S1283,8GB OCZ DDR2 800,ATI 4870X2,X-FI>CA 640C amp>Tannoy R300/Senn 595's
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Sailer   09-02-2008 at 10:34:11 PM
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I've used Ghost in the past and found it good for backing up files onto another hard drive, but the one time I tried to back up a whole disc so that I would have a spare in case the original drive failed, the ghost copy would not function. As aevm wrote, the boot files, .ini files, and drivers, etc were wrong, so the thing just sat there. Since then I've just done clean installs and avoided the hassle.

------------------------------ Evil lurks in the databanks as it lurked in the streets of yesteryear. But it was never the streets that were evil.

Over 50. Seen it, done it, can't remember it, but I miss it.
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Dominant Giraffe   09-04-2008 at 08:11:15 PM
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Thanks for the help so far, here's a few more pieces of info:

1) I made the mistake of buying a Dell (E510), so the OS came pre-installed.

2) I ghosted the drive to another one a couple months ago without incident, but they were the same storage capacity (160GB) and they might have even been the same brand (WD Barracuda).

3) I would prefer to just buy a new copy of Windows if needed and be done with it, but my family has files on here (music, pictures, documents, etc.) that they want to save. I'm planning on buying a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX motherboard (I'd link to it but the URL is about 500 characters long), does anyone know if it can support 2 drives at once (both drives are SATA)? If it can, would I be able to move the files I wanted from the old one to the new one without getting into some kind of black hole of OS conflicts (since my old copy of Windows would still be on the old drive)?

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aevm   09-04-2008 at 08:37:25 PM
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GA-EP45-DS3L can support 6 SATA hard disks at the same time, no worries.

 

It might be easier to use a USB thumb drive to save those files. I got myself an 8 GB drive for $20 yesterday :)


Message edited by aevm on 09-04-2008 at 08:37:36 PM
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