switching components?

[jdbanks]

I have an older Gateway computer, with Pentium II 266 mhz, and a complete system to it and all. Problem is it's slow and has alot of problems, like the mouse port doesn't work and such. But I also have another computer without all the extra components that's an AMD 500mhz processor and such, it runs fine but it doesn't have a sound card or modem or video card and stuff. I was wondering if I could transfer those things from the Gateway to this other computer? How would I go about finding out if they would work ok and what the drivers were and all? I have a limited amount of knowledge about these things so the simpliest terms would be appreciated. I've done modem exchanges and such before, I am hopefull this will be along the same lines. Can anyone offer advice? Or tell me what info I can give you to help answer my question? Thanks for any help.

-j.banks-

[hiredgoonz]

Without knowing any details, I'll guess and say you'd probably be OK...the best thing to do would be to find out what the cards are and find out if there are drivers available for the OS you will be using...

Use device manager to find out as much as you can about the cards. Right click on My Computer, go to Properties and the device manager. It should give you a name. From there, finding drivers shouldn't be too much trouble, see tha manufacturer's website or check the drivers link in my sig...

One quick question though, are the video and sound separate cards or built-in? Something to check if you haven't already...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;rid;kbinfo)

Drivers (http://www.driverguide.com)

Google (http://www.google.com)

[jdbanks]

Thanks for the reply. It's the same Operating System on both computers, Win98, so the drivers should be the same as far as I understand. So I can find the drivers for the components and save them to a disk and just load them up when I transfer the cards you think?

Tell me what details to get you to help answer the question and I'll do it. Like I said, both computers work fairly well, ones fast and powerful enough for what I need, where as the other one has the extra hardware that my more powerful one needs. So combining the two would give me a nice computer that meets all my needs. That's my hope anyway. Thanks for any help or advice you can give, it is really appreciated.

-j.banks-

[Rick]

Check the system you are going to get the parts from ( Gateway?)
Decide what parts are to be moved to the new system ( Faster one)

Then Visit the gateway web site and download the drivers needed for each of the components that are designed for your operating system ..

Have these new drivers ready on the system that is being upgraded.
For example make a folder in c:\ called update. Then create sub folders for each new component
c:\update\modem c:\update\vid and so on.
Extract the drives into these folders.


Then Bootup in Safe Mode
Then use the add remove programs to remove all the old software and drivers for the components that being replaced
Also go into device manger and remove these old components as well from that list.
It is also a good Idea to change the display adapter to Standard VGA
This will help avoid any compatibility issues when you remove the old video card and install the replacement .

Then shut the system down. ( NOT reboot)
Remove the old hardware and install the new .
Boot the system up and as the OS asks for drivers for the new hardware
Use the browse / select location option and point it to the update folder and its corresponding sub folder.

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 03-24-2002).]