OEM XP and new motherboard

[mwp]

I've just realized I might be in for a bit of trouble with an upgrading project, and I wanted to see if anyone could provide any guidance.

I'm trying to squeeze another year or two out of an aging Dell 4400 with a 2.0g p4 and 768mb of ddr1 266 ram in the most economical possible fashion. The computer has a new 450-watt power supply, and a good enough agp graphics card, neither of which I much want to spend the money to replace. Unfortunately, the motherboard is extremely limited in processor upgradeability, has a 400mhz fsb and doesn't support ddr2.

I've purchased a new motherboard which has agp support, an e6300 1.86g core2duo processor and a gig of ddr2 533 ram with the intention of using the existing video card, hard drives etc. and get a decent upgrade that should last me a couple of years for about $300.

The problem is that I have an OEM installation from Dell, and I worry that I'm going to run into conflicts and errors if I try to drop this board and attempt to maintain my current OS installation.

First off, what problems am I going to run into, and what, if any workarounds might there be for me?

Secondly, if I'm going to run into significant issues, could I buy an OEM version of xp and install it over the dell version to maintain my data and settings, thus precluding the installation from freaking out when a new motherboard is installed?

And which would be a better route? That or just going ahead and building a whole new system?

I know a new build would be cleaner and probably easier, but I'm trying to be as frugal as possible. I'm trying to get to the point where I've got a computer reasonably capable of playing reasonably current shooter/rpg and mmo games for up to two more years without sinking the $800-1,000 I figure I'd need to accomplish that task buying a new machine retail.

If I can use the existing power supply, sound and video cards and hard drives, and if I've already got the motherboard, processor and memory, then I guess I could get away with building a new system for just a couple hundred more bucks, with purchase of a cheepo atx case and an oem copy of xp, correct?

Thanks in advance for the guidance.

[Variable]

Just replacing the mobo will probably fail for a Dell OEM. It sounds to me like a nightmare scenario. I can see all sorts of issues you may have. I would look around the Dell forums and maybe post about it. There may be a way to do it. I know they used to use non standard motherboard sizes. Check to see if it will even fit. The old trick was to uninstall your motherboard drivers and then install the new board and let Windows install default drivers then upgrade the drivers from your mobo manufacturer. It may work, but you will never be able to use the Dell reinstall drive. If it works, it is what it is.

ClassicSoftware does the hardware thing and he really loves Dell machines. Perhaps he or someone else, can chime in on what problems you will have.

Sounds to me like a long night of frustration ending with big glass of bourbon. Followed the next day, by a trip to the local computer supply shop.

[Erik]

A good rule of thumb is whenever installing a new motherboard install Windows again. There is just to much that changes when a motherboard is installed again for it to work right (if at all) without a fresh install.

If you MUST do it without a new install your best chance is to buy an OEM XP CD and do a repair install. Even then you might have some lingering problems.

[jlreich]

I've purchased a new motherboard which has agp support, an e6300 1.86g core2duo processor and a gig of ddr2 533 ram.
AGP and Core2/DDR2? Did you verify that board supports a Core2? I'm not saying it isn't possible, just unlikely.

Another thing is the Dell power supply will most likely have a 20pin main power connector, it's likely the new mobo will have a 24pin main connector. No big deal as long as you know this before hand and pick up an adapter if necessary.

If I can use the existing power supply, sound and video cards and hard drives, and if I've already got the motherboard, processor and memory, then I guess I could get away with building a new system for just a couple hundred more bucks, with purchase of a cheepo atx case and an oem copy of xp, correct?
That's your best bet in my opinion. That way you can keep your current computer and data as a backup, and take you time backing up your data and transfering it to the new machine.

If you have an actual XP install disk and not a restore disk, you can install it on the new mobo, but it will violate the EULA because a new motherboard counts as a new machine. Take note though, that if the original mobo were to fail and no longer function they would allow you to install it on the new mobo. But since it is still working and you are replacing it because you want to, then that doesn't count. In that case it's best to pick up a new copy.

[mwp]

I'm not into nightmares. I am into cheap, however.

If I were to keep the stuff I had and look towards building a new machine using parts scavenged from the old machine ... what would I be into costwise?

I assume I could reuse the video card, sound card, hard drives, cd/dvd drives and the monitor.

I know I'd need a new case. I'd need a new copy of Windows.

What else would I need? I'm adept and installing components and the like, and pretty good mucking around the software side of things, but I've never tackled anything like building a pc from scratch. doable for a relative novice? what kind of time investment?

[mwp]

AGP and Core2/DDR2? Did you verify that board supports a Core2? I'm not saying it isn't possible, just unlikely.

Yes. That's what drew my attention. It's a core2duo board with a 1066 fsb and agp support, bundled with the actual processor for 170.

[jlreich]

What else would I need? I'm adept and installing components and the like, and pretty good mucking around the software side of things, but I've never tackled anything like building a pc from scratch. doable for a relative novice? what kind of time investment?
If you are familiar with installing components it shouldn't be a problem for you. It sounds like the only thing that will really be new to you is installing the mobo, but it really isn't hard. If you have never installed a CPU before it can be nerve racking the first time, although it is very easy.

When you start putting the system together start with the bare bones. Meaning mobo, CPU/HSF, video card if you have one, monitor, KB, and one stick of ram. Nothing else. The try to boot the machine, if it boots go into the BIOS and make sure everything is properly detected. If all is well, add in components one at a time and boot in between each one. This will help with any troubleshooting if something goes wrong.

Time? For a novice I would say anywhere between 1-2 hours to complete the hardware part. After that it's all about installing the OS.

Make sure you download the chipset drivers from the chipset manufacturers website (nVidia, Intel, ATI etc), and the video drivers (nVidia or ATI). Put them on a USB or CD. Don't use the ones that come on the cd-rom as they are usually outdated.

Install them both before installing anything else. Then install anti virus and firewall, then get windows updates.

what would I be into costwise?
You can get an OEM version of windows from Newegg for about $90-XP home, $105-XP MCE, $140-XP Pro.

The case is all about what you want. You can spend anywhere from $30 to well over $200 if you wanted.

I am worried a little about you power supply though, could you look on the side of the power supply and post the specs? All the stuff like +12v 18A etc. If you do need a new power supply it's going to throw a wrinkle in your budget. :(

[mwp]

I don't have the power supply easily accessible to me, but it's just a couple months old. Also, I checked Fry's and they've got what appears to be a perfectly fine case with a 430 watt supply included for $50 out the door. I'm not worried about the danged thing being stylish, just functional.

[jlreich]

Actually if the Dell PSU has enough amps I would trust it more than one that is bundled with a cheap case. The only bundled PSU I trust at all is Antec. If you think about it makes sense. I good quality PSU for a modern system will usually cost around $70 and up depending on your needs. How good do you think one is that is thrown in a $50 case?

But don't worry just yet. If you can get some specs on both PSU's that would be great. If you can give me a link to the case at Fry's.

[SufferWell1396]

Wait, arent Dell PSU's built so that they work with a Dell system ONLY? and they wont work with an outside board? because Dell is cheap like that

[mwp]

The power supply is new, it's not Dell. It's antec. It's a 450 watt unit that sold for about $60-70 at Best Buy or Fry's, can't remember where I bought that.

[jlreich]

It's an Antec. Well that's great! :D I would still like to see the specs on it, or just a model# will do. But I think you are good to go in the PSU department. Chance are even if you get a case with a PSU in it, I would swap it out for the Antec. And keep the one that comes with the case as a spare. It's always good to have a Spare PSU around for testing and backup.

SufferWell1396, not anymore. There was a time that was an issue, but they are now standard. The fact that he has an Antec in there now shows that.

[mjc]

Dell was the first to do 'proprietary' ....they did power supplies from almost day one, and other parts all along. And they were the last to abandon it. But they finally did.

They were also the one of, if not the, last to split the BIOS setup program and keep it on the hard drive. The last model that did that was made in 2001-2. They had select models with 'standard' power supplies by then and have moved all models to them, now.

[mwp]

OK, I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and just build a new system instead of trying to install over the existing one. I'm worried the motherboard won't fit in the dell case, and that the xp istallation will result in a freakout, so I'm just going to buy a cheap case and move everything over.

Now here's a question for you ... I accidentally plopped the motherboard, still in its box, never opened, on the floor of my garage while cleaning out my trunk (I thought it was something else, lol). What are the odds I did something bad to it?

[jlreich]

The mobo is more than likely OK. There are no moving parts and they are usually packed pretty good inside the box. No guarantees though. :p

Even more reason to do a bare bones boot. Better to make sure it OK before you start attaching everything to it and then find out it's damaged.