Old hard drive/cooling question

[GLENNYBOY1]

Hi Guys,

Finally took the plunge and ordered some goodies to build my first rig (gulp).

Should be arriving today,heres the list:


XFX 7900GT 550M XT 256MB....possibly go sli down the line
GIGABYTE GA-K8N NF4 SLI PRO
ATHLON 64 3700+ SAN DIEGO +HEAT SINK FAN
ENERMAX NOISETAKER 600W PSU

Im going to use some ram (1.5gb) and a crummy ide hard drive from my old set up in the new one for the time being (until i can scrape some more money together)

My newb question is do I just attatch the hard drive to the new set up and then boot from my win xp disc to install a fresh copy of windows over the old system installation.

If so what happens when it comes to activating my copy of xp with microsoft as its now on a totally different comp.

One last question ( I'll have plenty more in the coming week im sure! Stay tuned :) )....any tips on cooling this new set up, again im using my old case until i can afford a new one,its not a brand name and has no cooling features inside so could i still use this set up with stock cooling or do i run the risk of turning it into toast!

Apologies if the answers to my questions are obvious but im totally new to all this....be gentle now peeps

[Verzili]

Re: Old hard drive/cooling question

if youre old disk has windows on it already,and you plan on putting that in youre new set-up,

then i recomend a full format and a fresh install of windows,this will help the new set up run best it can.(remember to back up anything you want to keep i.e burn to disk ect.

as long as you dont overclock you should be ok,youre new set up should run cooler(64chip) but if you want to cool it then leave the side case of and keep a window open.

may i recomend (for heat purposes) geting some artic silver compound for you heatsink,instead of using the thermal paste that comes with most heatsinks.this will help you keep things cool in the cpu department.

hope this helps.

p.s i take it you using xp home ,donsn't matter you get 30 days to activate but just incase this doesnt work over the net there a free number to ring and you are given a code,when i used xphome i just said i got a new hd.

but you should be ok.

[GLENNYBOY1]

Re: Old hard drive/cooling question

if youre old disk has windows on it already,and you plan on putting that in youre new set-up,

then i recomend a full format and a fresh install of windows,this will help the new set up run best it can.(remember to back up anything you want to keep i.e burn to disk ect.

as long as you dont overclock you should be ok,youre new set up should run cooler(64chip) but if you want to cool it then leave the side case of and keep a window open.

may i recomend (for heat purposes) geting some artic silver compound for you heatsink,instead of using the thermal paste that comes with most heatsinks.this will help you keep things cool in the cpu department.

hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply blade.

Good to hear it wont all go up in smoke.I already ordered some Antec thermal paste with the cpu...i wish i knew about arctic silver beforehand.Is it still worth putting it on or does arctic silver make a major difference?

Any ideas about the win xp activation question.

[Verzili]

Re: Old hard drive/cooling question

Thanks for the reply blade.

Good to hear it wont all go up in smoke.I already ordered some Antec thermal paste with the cpu...i wish i knew about arctic silver beforehand.Is it still worth putting it on or does arctic silver make a major difference?

Any ideas about the win xp activation question.

artic sliver makes a big differnce when i comes to kepping cpu cool.
it takes a while to set but then the temps go down,i highly recomend you get it.

xp activation is a pain but a doddle.

if it doesnt not activate over the net (when you have installed you isp ect)
dont worry there is a option to call them ,

just select you country and a free number is displayed,you will also have a code (u need to write it down)if you phone is near pc then its easyer.

lets say it doesnt activate over the net,and you ring the number 1st you are talking to a bot.sometimes it works others it doesnt.but if the bots says invalid ect you will be put through to a real person they take the activation code from you and give you a code to put in youre pc and bingo its activated windows.(note if you change 3 things in youre cpu you will have to reactivate within 3 days.

hope this helps.

p.s if the real person ask why you had to reinstall just say your'e mobo burnt out and you had to buy a new one ,or some other reason.:)

[GLENNYBOY1]

Re: Old hard drive/cooling question

Thanks again blade,

The components have just this minute arrived...no more bf2 on 800x600 hopefully..wahey.

Help was really appreciated matey.