help please

[kappa]

MY PC died this week. It was self build three years ago so I thought I'd replace the motherboard and processsor, get a bit of an upgrade and carry on for only a few hundred. But seems standards have changed and it's coming down to about all that's useful is the monitor and case. Even the power-supply standards have changed! It's hard to accept that for one faulty component I'm basically going to have to bin the lot and pretty much start again.

Anyway I have two topics of conversation. One is how do I get at my data? I have a SATA disk with NTFS, some files of which I protected by user to stop them being read by just anyone. If I find someone kind enough to open their box and plug my disk in. Will I be able to boot up from my disk and just get at the files I need and transfer them to a removable USB. Or because the PC is different will it just fail. Yes I know I should have been a bit hotter on my backups. Long term stuff is safe, but files I use every day I've lost at the moment and don't want to go back and do all that work again.

Second question is the pro's and con's of self build or off the shelf for the replacement PC. When I did this before it was such a hassle. It's easy to fit the bits, but if something doesn't work a faulty component looks excatly the same as a working one. So the motherboard went in and out about 5 times before finally getting it replaced. No wonder it or the processor is blown 3 years down the line. But off the shelf insists you buy Windows which I don't need as I already have a licence thank you very much, and I've got a working keyboard, mouse and monitor.

[mjc]

A couple of things...

One, what type of Windows did you have...retail or OEM?

If it is retail, then yes you are covered and can use it again...OEM, well, not so clear cut. You may need a new license.

As to what is usable...SATA disks are fine. 3 yr old optical drives, while not the 'hottest' things around are still decent performers.

What kind of RAM? Your current stuff may get you by for a while...if it is DDR2.

3 years is quite a long time in the computer world. It isn't that hard to swallow that almost everything changed in that amount of time. It's happened before and sometimes, seems to be picking up the pace a little.

Now, as to recovering your data...if you have a retail install, don't do anything until after your replacement machine is done. Then you can put the drive in and do a 'repair' install...or you can, I like this method best, put the drive into an external enclosure and hook that up to any machine and copy everything you want/need.

As to build it or buy it...I'd say build it, but if you look around there are quite a few custom build shops where you can get exactly what you want, already put together. If you have some items, then you can often leave them out of the build and save a bit of money.

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

You will be able to use that drive in your new computer or as an external if you prefer, assuming that isn't the component that failed... As long as you format the new drive in NTFS, you can access that one... If you wish to back it up, wipe it and use it as your primary drive, you can back it up if your friend has an NTFS install or using various utilities that allow back-up, such as creating a Ghost image...

The main reason to build yourself is that you have control over the components and tend to get better quality for the same price... The main reason to buy pre-built is convenience... Which way to go is ultimately a personal choice...

[Paul Komski]

As long as the Hard Drive didn't fail itself then you have numerous options - some already alluded to.

To just carry on using it in a new system just boot to a Windows installation CD and, as mjc suggested, do a repair installation (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm).

If you are in a hurry to get at your recent files you can attach the drive internally or externally to another system running any operating system that can read NTFS or that has NTFS drivers added to it.

As long as you format the new drive in NTFS, you can access that one... If you wish to back it up, wipe it and use it as your primary drive, you can back it up if your friend has an NTFS install

The new hosting OS doesnt have to be on NTFS. What matters is the actual Operating System. It can be an NT-based version of Windows such as Win2K or WinXP or Linux, for example a Live Knoppix CD. It is thus the OS that matters and not the format of the partition that the operating system is itself using. Thus WinXP on FAT on another system will still be able to access your NTFS partition - it doesn't have to be NTFS as well.

You will almost certainly have to take ownership of the files (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421) if you go this route of accessing it from another Windows installation.

The problem of having had a user password is not of any real significance but if you have encrypted files there will be a real problem if you don't have a backup of the encryption key.

PS: Unless you intend to have a high end system there's a lot to be said for getting an OEM or bare-bones bundle. Prices have come down so much that it is hard for DIY builders to compete any more. A complete "off the shelf" system (http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&kc=N4X20001&l=en&m_30=114063&oc=D122004&rbc=D122004&s=bsd) with XP or Vista, with 1gig of RAM a 250gig SATA HDD, a SATA DVDRW and a 17" flat panel for under €400 shipped and with tax paid. Not a system to brag about but a decent office machine none-the less.