new build startup?

[Guest rvflyer]

Hello. I am in need of some very simple help. I just did a major rebuild of my computer. I am using my old DVD and CDRom, and also the 200GB HD. I have a new mobo, CPU, RAM, power supply, case, and video card. I also added a second 80GB HD. This unit will be strictly for Flight Sim. My question, can I boot up as is, even though my HD has been in use prior? Or do I take care of the mobo and BIOS settings first. In advance, thank you for the help. This is my first build, and am trying NOT to screw it up.Regards,Bill

[Mace 1,902]

I'm assuming your old 200gb hd has a bootable operating system on it (Windows of some sort)Best case scenario, it will work just fine, although of course you will have to install new video drivers, etc.Worst case, Windows will want you to reactivate the operating system, which is simple enough.Just make sure in the BIOS you set up the 200gig drive as your boot drive (C:) and make the 80 gig secondary. You ought to have two SATA channels on the motherboard so it should be a simple matter to plug the 200 gigger into one SATA port and the 80 gig into the other SATA port.RhettFS box: E8500 (@ 3.80 ghz), AC Freezer 7 Pro, ASUS P5E3 Premium, BFG 8800GTX 756 (nVidia 169 WHQL), 4gb DDR3 1600 Patriot Cas7 7-7-7-20 (2T), PC Power 750, WD 150gb 10000rpm Raptor, Seagate 500gb, Silverstone TJ09 case, Vista Ultimate 64ASX Client: AMD 3700+ (@ 2.6 ghz), 7800GT

[Guest D17S]

Unless the mobo/cpu combo is Extremely close to your old setup, you will most likely have to reinstall the op system. Try it first, but if it won't boot, don't spend too much time on it. It likely needs a HD format/reinstall. If you have old data you want to save on the 200, setup your 80 as the boot drive and install the op system to it. Then move your stuff over from the 200. If you still want to use the 200 as the boot drive, then set the 200 up as the boot drive and install the op system to it. Transfer the data back over from the 80, then *finally* format the 80 as a data drive. Good luck.

[Guest UlfB]

I might add that you could use an external USB disk to backup data from your 200GB disk before upgrading the hardware. The external disk makes a cutover much more safe and may be used for backups of important data after the cutover.Ulf B