Hello. This is (hopefully) a simple querie and a stupid question. I am about to update my PC by changing the motherboard and processer. At the same time I want to upgrade from Windows Vista 32bit to Windows 7 64bit. I am currently running a raid configeration with a 140gb hard drive with Windows installed and a 750gb hard drive which holds all my games, music & movie downloads. If I were to install Windows 7 over my exsisting copy of Windows and then refitted both my hard drives onto my new system, would the new Windows recognise all my old files within the same raid configeration?. Basically I'd like to know whether I'd need to reinstall my old files again or whether they'd all remain safe on my new system. Thanks.
What sort of RAID and what sort of RAID controller? If you're using the onboard controller of your motherboard the short answer is no, it won't work and you will need to back them up elsewhere (which I recommend anyway!). What motherboard/processor are you going from and to?
it consolidates it all into a folder called windows.old.. you can access all your old files from there and still have a clean install of windows 7 pretty cool really.. even going from xp to 7 you don't have to backup the stuff on the guys drives- run the install disc in the old version of windows and install it clean
I'm going from a E6850 Core 2 Duo on an Intel D975XBX2. I have'nt actually decided what I'm going to buy yet, but it will certainly be a Core i5/i7, so I will need a new mobo. I am currently using the onbard motherboard controller. To be honest I have some (though not much) experience of putting a PC together but don't really know much on a technical level. There are only a few files which I would be desperate to keep, so if I were to place them on a storage device (such as a USB stick) could I then install the new version of Windows and then transport those files from the USB stick?. If that is the case then that is probably the easiest route for me to take as then I could lose a lot of the files that are cluttering up my heaving hard drive in one move. Thanks for the advice & help.
PhoenixTank is right, if you don't want or need to save many files it's far better to back them up somewhere safe and then just start over. It's better - especially if you'll be changing your motherboard and processor, which would invalidate a Windows 7 OEM installation - to wipe your HDDs completely, attach them to the new hardware (possibly taking the opportunity to format them in AHCI for a small speed boost) and then do a clean installation of W7. Unlike the data-juggling antics of the upgrade, this is less convenient but a lot cleaner, clearer and tidier. I wouldn't bother re-RAIDing the HDDs when you get the new mobo, anyway - I can't see the point of a two-unequal-size-disk RAID. What sort of RAID are you running, out of interest?
To be honest I could'nt say exactly. When I installed the 2nd HDD I refered to my mobo's manual and it instructed be to do a 'RAID using Marvell Storage Technology'. It was as simple as installing the HDD and then using the system BIOS to configure it to RAID. On the main subject, I think I'll take all your advice and use a USB stick to transfer the few files that I need and then run a clean install of Windows 7. Now, seeing as you people have been so helpful in this matter, may I ask for some advice as to where to spend my hard earned money on upgrades?. I'm looking to spend around £500 (or a little more if required) on a new Core i5/i7 (preferably i7) processor and compatible mobo. I'm then looking for some decent RAM (4 or 6 gig at about £75 - £100). And then which copy of Windows 7 you'd recommend for someone who uses their PC for gaming and Blu-Ray's. Thanks a lot.
It's not a RAID, you're just using the RAID controller to control the HDDs, I think. The way to test this is to remove the non-system HDD and boot the computer - can you still boot into Windows? If there's no data striping between the disks (i.e., they are not dependent upon each other) then you should be able to. I wouldn't bother if you're not bothered about the files, though, so don't worry. In your new installation don't bother with any of that - connect them to the normal SATA ports and disable the Marvell Controller altogether for a faster boot. We'll need to know a bit more about your system's other specifications before making recommendations that we're certain of. It would be a shame to specify your gaming computer an i7 930 if you're running a 9800GT, for example, or if your PSU is a horrible no-name 300W ex-Dell component. Could you list the make and model of GPU, PSU, case, and CPU cooler, please? In general, for Intel Core i5; CPU: Intel Core i5 750 £152 CPU Cooler: Gelid Tranquillo £26 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 £88 Memory: 4GB (2x2GB Dual Channel) 1600Mhz CL8 DDR3 RAM £130 (Total: £396) For Intel Core i7 (Lynnfield): CPU: Intel Core i7 860 £240 CPU Cooler: Titan Fenrir £29 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 £88 Memory: 4GB (2x2GB Dual Channel) 1600Mhz CL8 DDR3 RAM £130 (Total: £487) For Intel Core i7 (Bloomfield): CPU: Intel Core i7 930 £231 CPU Cooler: Akasa Nero S £36 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R £153 Memory: 6GB (3x2GB Triple Channel) 1600Mhz CL8 DDR3 RAM £145 (Total: £565) To be absolutely honest, the greatest gain your gaming will see would be from the cheapest i5 750 and spending the rest on upgrades to whatever your GPU is. The different versions of Windows 7 will have no impact on your gaming, except to say that you should buy the x64 version of the OS so as to be able to address all your memory. If you only want it for this computer and won't bother selling it on, I'd suggest Windows x64 Home Premium OEM. Hope that helps!
It certainly helped, thanks a lot. My current setup is: Intel E6850 Core 2 Duo CPU Intel D975XBX2 mobo Nvidia GTX 280 GPU Antec 850 PSU Antec 1200 Twelve Hundred Full Tower Case I'm using the stock fan which came with the processor and the 6 fans which feature on the case. My thinking was that most of the parts are fine but if I could add a beefier CPU and some better RAM it would give the whole computer a real boost. The last option you've given me seems reasonable and probably somewhere around my best option. After this upgrade I don't plan to upgrade for another 2-3 years. So my question would be: do you think it would be wise to put most of my budget towards the CPU instead of buying a more future-proof mobo? (when I bought my current mobo, I bought it with the idea of upgrading it to a Quad-Core CPU, but I ended up waiting on the i7 model so I feel I could have bought a more basic mobo at the time). Thanks again.
The rest of your kit is certainly up to the task, so I think the i7 930 decision is a smart one (and it's nice to see someone else with a 280, though kind of horrifying to see someone using Intel's supplied HSF). Regarding the motherboard, I always plan for upgrades but I find increasingly that people don't actually change components (other than GPUs) very often - more commonly, they switch out huge chunks of the system every 3-5 years or so, much as you're planning. With that in mind, in theory at least your motherboard should be as future-proof as possible on the basis of trying to anticipate future trends over the next few years - but in any case, this decision is made very easy by the ultra-low price of the recommended motherboard. The previous recommendation was Asus' P6T Deluxe (which I've got) retailing for around £210; the cheapest decent motherboard at the time was about £160. The UD3R is only just over £150 and integrates USB3 and SATA6, so actually you're getting a lot of motherboard for not very much money. I'm not even sure that Gigabyte make a cheaper, less-featured version of this motherboard for you to buy. There isn't much to be saved on the mobo, then. If you want to save money consider instead opting for the i7 920 instead of the 930; this very slightly older CPU is just a multiplier-change away from the 930 and might be considerably cheaper.
On that note, a quick question from me. I'm about to upgrade a mate's CPU and mobo and will do a clean install of XP (an old unused one he has). The HDD has been backed up to an external drive. Is it better to a) re-format the HDD before doing the new install; or b) not bother re-formatting the HDD and let the installation process do it (if indeed it does)? Or doesn't it actually make any difference? Thanks
PureSilver, you've been a great help and I thank you. I think I'll probably go for the i7 930 as it is well within my budget and hopefully it will serve me well for the next 3 years or so (much like my beloved E6850). You make some good points in regards to the mobo. To be honest this is only my second build & I always thought that I'd over-spent on the mobo the first time around, but I think £150 is'nt too bad if it lasts for 3 years anyway (but hopefully I can upgrade it in 3 years and maybe get another 2 out of it). Once again I thank you for all your advice & help and I'm now going to get to the exciting part of searching for the best priced parts. ____________________________________________________________________ Wormy, I'll bow to other peoples better judgement, but when I last did a clean install of Windows Vista I re-formatted the drive beforehand and had no trouble. Whether I really needed to, I could'nt tell you.
