Build Computer without HDD?

[Kloud77]

I've got all my parts ready to build my own computer. I've decided to bring it to my local computer shop and let them build it.

My question is, can I not give them the hard drive? I'm re-using my hard drive from my old computer so I have some pictures, documents or whatever that I don't want them to see. So can the guy set up everything without the hard drive? I think I can just plug in the hard drive by myself. Can the guy go into the BIOS and stuff to set up the other parts?

[Astra.Xtreme]

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. You might be able to overwrite the existing Windows install and preserve your pictures and whatnot, but I'm not sure if it can be done.

It's always best to backup your files and do a fresh install, but maybe somebody else can say otherwise.

[Kloud77]

  On 26/09/2010 at 23:40, Astra.Xtreme said:

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. You might be able to overwrite the existing Windows install and preserve your pictures and whatnot, but I'm not sure if it can be done.

It's always best to backup your files and do a fresh install, but maybe somebody else can say otherwise.

I don't need to install Windows again. My hard drive already has Windows XP.

[Spartan Erik]

The guy can make all the connections and put it together, but he won't be able to do any of the post-building setup involved (i.e. putting a clean OS install) since there is no hard drive.

Honestly, building a computer is not that difficult.. it's a good learning experience! I highly recommend you learn this, it's a pretty basic and widely useful skill

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

Depending on the OS you MIGHT be able to get away with a repair install over the previous.

Recommend backing up the stuff first.

[acnpt]

Should be fine.

Obviously you'd have to install drivers, and perhaps re-activate windows yourself then.

[jbonello]

My old laptop died and I just ordered a new laptop. Just switched hard drives and had no problems whatsoever :) The old laptop had an nVidia Graphics Card while this one uses ATi and still gave me no problems. The laptops run different bios brands as well. Just make sure you uninstall the old drivers.

Running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit :)

[Pam14160]

First; why not do it yourself. It really isn't all that hard to do. It is basically putting the pieces in the right place. It is like putting together a puzzle.

Second; as long as the HDD is formatted in the format you want to use (example: NFTS) then it shouldn't be a problem. Basically all you do is install the OS without formatting the HDD. However, it would be smarter to transfer all your files (you want to save) onto a backup drive (USB) before installing the OS just in case something goes wrong.

Also, I would not trust any computer store with information that is none of their business, so backup and erase the drive.

[Kloud77]

So I have to reinstall Windows just because I'm transferring the internal hard drive from one computer to another?? Like there's nothing wrong with the hard drive, it has Windows running on it already, don't I just plug in the hard drive and boot it up?

I've thought about building it myself.. but the parts are just too expensive for me to experiment.. and I'm not sure how to put the CPU onto the motherboard.. It's probably really easy but I just can't risk it..

[notuptome2004]

well an issue i see is you have windows XP on the HDD already but it was made to work with your current computer and welll you cant plug that HDD in the new system without some problems that may accrue hte biggest would be a BSD blu screen of death Windows XP never did good at swaping big hardware like MBs with newer chip sets. now if it was windows 7 that be fine windows 7 seems to not mind at all i would just back up your files and lety them install your HDD and OS and if you have the money go for windows 7 it be best on your new system

[Japlabot]

Yes he can build the hardware, and you can install the Operating System/software yourself.

Be aware however that you can not simply plug in the old hard drive into a new computer and expect it to work right away, because the Operating System is configured for your old motherboard, it will not recognise the new motherboard, and it will fail to boot (it will give you a Blue Screen of Death instead).

To resolve this issue, the Operating System will need to be re-installed. You can do a repair installation of Windows, A repair installation will retain all your programs, settings, and data, however a repair installation is frowned upon for a new computer, it is considered best practice (and more reliable) to do a fresh installation of Windows. You should also have a Full Backup as as precaution because repair installations are not always successful. You will also need to reinstall the lastest Services Packs and Updates for Windows.

With re-using the hard drive from your old computer, you are also running the risk that you might miss some files that you need to backup and won't realise until after it's too late (you have already formatted the drive), so I also strongly recommend that you buy a new hard drive instead of re-using the old one. Hard Drives are not expensive, and you can plug the old one into the new computer side-by-side with the new hard drive if you want to and be able to use both drives.

If you decide to do a fresh installation, which I highly recommend, this involves formatting the hard drive, which will wipe if all of your data if you re-use the old hard drive for the new computer.

Whether you re-use the old hard drive or not, to avoid losing your data, you will need to run a full backup of all your data and settings (Don't forget your Favourites and Email store if you are using a mail client), to an external hard drive (or other backup media) before you take it out of the old computer. You should be keeping regular backups anyway so you should already have an external backup drive. After you format the hard drive and install the new Operating System, you can then restore the files from your backup.

I'm also going to point out that if you have already purchased all the components for the new computer, it is not much of a step further to build it yourself, and giving the parts over to a computer shop would take the satisfaction away from building it yourself. It is really not hard to build it yourself (It's like Lego) and there are no shortage of Neowin members willing to help if you are unsure about anything. The BIOS is a complex configuration tool but usually it is already configured (except the date and time) to boot a new computer as is.

[Kloud77]

  On 26/09/2010 at 23:57, notuptome2004 said:

well an issue i see is you have windows XP on the HDD already but it was made to work with your current computer and welll you cant plug that HDD in the new system without some problems that may accrue hte biggest would be a BSD blu screen of death Windows XP never did good at swaping big hardware like MBs with newer chip sets. now if it was windows 7 that be fine windows 7 seems to not mind at all i would just back up your files and lety them install your HDD and OS and if you have the money go for windows 7 it be best on your new system

Ohhhh, so it's not as simple as plugging the old hard drive into the new computer...

But anyways how about this... I let them install everything beside the Hard Drive.. I come home and backup hard drive and Install Windows 7 myself..

But what I really want to know is that.. Without the Hard Drive... will the guy be able to get into the BIOS or whatever to test the other parts.. like CPU, Motherboard, Ram, and other stuff. I want to know that all the other parts are working before I bring it home.

[Xoligy]

  On 26/09/2010 at 23:55, Kloud77 said:

So I have to reinstall Windows just because I'm transferring the internal hard drive from one computer to another?? Like there's nothing wrong with the hard drive, it has Windows running on it already, don't I just plug in the hard drive and boot it up?

I've thought about building it myself.. but the parts are just too expensive for me to experiment.. and I'm not sure how to put the CPU onto the motherboard.. It's probably really easy but I just can't risk it..

If you never try then how will you ever learn? Take your time, look at youtube videos and learn this way your cutting out the middle man and wasting more money.

As for the documents and the OS personally i say back up the documents you want to save and do a clean install but then thats how i do most installs and alwasy tell my friends this if its a whole computer transfer. Besides ive just installed a new motherboard in my computer and got a nice black screen on trial boot saying "x system file i missing run windows repair to fix" and thats just from a motherboard swap of cause i could of fixed it but why waste time fixing a drive that will run faster with a clean install and is less clogged up with rubbish?

[Kloud77]

  On 27/09/2010 at 00:01, Quick Reply said:

With re-using the hard drive from your old computer, you are also running the risk that you might miss some files that you need to backup and won't realise until after it's too late (you have already formatted the drive), so I also strongly recommend that you buy a new hard drive instead of re-using the old one. Hard Drives are not expensive, and you can plug the old one into the new computer side-by-side with the new hard drive if you want to and be able to use both drives.

Whether you re-use the old hard drive or not, to avoid losing your data, you will need to run a full backup of all your data and settings (Don't forget your Favourites and Email store if you are using a mail client), to an external hard drive (or other backup media) before you take it out of the old computer. You should be keeping regular backups anyway so you should already have an external backup drive. After you format the hard drive and install the new Operating System, you can then restore the files from your backup.

I'm also going to point out that if you have already purchased all the components for the new computer, it is not much of a step further to build it yourself, and giving the parts over to a computer shop would take the satisfaction away from building it yourself. It is really not hard to build it yourself (It's like Lego) and there are no shortage of Neowin members willing to help if you are unsure about anything. The BIOS is a complex configuration tool but usually it is already configured (except the date and time) to boot a new computer as is.

Yea I agree buying a new Hard Drive would be best. But I'm planning to invest in an SSD in the future. So buying a normal Hard Drive now would be a waste for me.

What's the best way to backup an entire hard drive? Like.. programs and stuff. It's 320GB, how long will that take? I'm guessing hours... sigh...

Yea I know you guys will help me if I decide to build it myself.. but I'm just scared I'll mess up.. so I'll just give the guy $25 to build it..

[Xoligy]

  On 27/09/2010 at 00:01, Kloud77 said:

Ohhhh, so it's not as simple as plugging the old hard drive into the new computer...

But anyways how about this... I let them install everything beside the Hard Drive.. I come home and backup hard drive and Install Windows 7 myself..

But what I really want to know is that.. Without the Hard Drive... will the guy be able to get into the BIOS or whatever to test the other parts.. like CPU, Motherboard, Ram, and other stuff. I want to know that all the other parts are working before I bring it home.

Yes he can get to the bios but thats about it.

[Max Veteran]

  On 27/09/2010 at 00:01, Kloud77 said:

Ohhhh, so it's not as simple as plugging the old hard drive into the new computer...

But anyways how about this... I let them install everything beside the Hard Drive.. I come home and backup hard drive and Install Windows 7 myself..

But what I really want to know is that.. Without the Hard Drive... will the guy be able to get into the BIOS or whatever to test the other parts.. like CPU, Motherboard, Ram, and other stuff. I want to know that all the other parts are working before I bring it home.

1. No, not as simple as that.

2. Yes, you can do that.

3. Yes, he can. But theres no real need to adjust any BIOS settings. Once its all pieced together (should take around 20-30 minutes tops) it should all work straight away. Personally, if you can install Windows and drivers you should be able to screw together a few bits.

[DigitalE]

But it's just so satisfying when you can say, "I built this myself!"

[Japlabot]

  On 27/09/2010 at 00:10, Kloud77 said:

Yea I know you guys will help me if I decide to build it myself.. but I'm just scared I'll mess up.. so I'll just give the guy $25 to build it..

There is nothing that you can do that can damage the parts unless you do something REALLY stupid like force pins into holes that it doesn't fit, saw off connectors to make it fit into a different socket, etc.

The hardest part is to put the Heatsink onto the Processor. A thin layer of thermal compound or a thermal pad is required to transfer the maximum amount of heat from the CPU into the Heatsink. It is not that hard to do if you follow the instructions, but if you don't do it, or put the entire tube of thermal compound in (or some other absurd amount - not a thin layer) then this will cause the CPU to overheat. Modern CPUs have built in protections to prevent permanent damage if an overheat occurs.

And it costs more than $25. It's $25 plus your dignity :p

[Kloud77]

wait... so how do I backup my hard drive if I can't plug it into a new computer?? you guys are saying it won't work if I just connect it into my new computer.. so how do I back it up?

[tsupersonic]

Use your current computer or another computer...You are talking about backing it up to another drive, right?

[Japlabot]

  On 27/09/2010 at 00:41, Kloud77 said:

wait... so how do I backup my hard drive if I can't plug it into a new computer?? you guys are saying it won't work if I just connect it into my new computer.. so how do I back it up?

External Backup Drives, they plug in using the USB Port on the outside of your computer.

[Frylock86]

Yeah, yo can't just throw an old Hard Drive into a new machine. You'll need to re-install the OS, and considering you're using XP, you'll want to take a look at maybe upgrading to Windows 7 or something else more modern as well.

With your current installation, the OS is configured to run on your current hardware as it is now, if you build a new machine and try to boot using the old install, it could cause problems. It is always best to re-install the OS with each new build.

To back up your data, you can use anything from a USB stick, or a USB potable hard drive. Or you can do as I do, and buy a secondary internal hard drive dedicated solely for backup purposes. And, if you have not already, it is a good idea to get into a schedule of regularly backing up your data.

Hope this helps.

[Kloud77]

k guys, my current computer is broken, it doesn't run at all. So where do I connect my old hard drive and the external drive so that I can transfer the files? Plus didn't you guys say that I can't just plug my old hard drive onto a new computer? So basically how do I get my old hard drive working again so that I can transfer the files?

[Phixion]

Seriously? You can't see what's wrong about plugging in a HDD with XP already installed?

I'm willing to bet that your old system had completely different hardware in... in any case I'd 100% do a fresh install.

[ozgeek]

  On 27/09/2010 at 00:41, Kloud77 said:

wait... so how do I backup my hard drive if I can't plug it into a new computer?? you guys are saying it won't work if I just connect it into my new computer.. so how do I back it up?

Easiest way is to get another new hard drive and install Windows on that then, install your old hard drive as secondary. It should show up as another hard drive in Windows. Just transfer your stuff from there to your new hard drive or have your old hard drive as a storage for your stuff that will remain untouched if you ever need to resisntall Windows. Later on invest on an external hard drive (preferly over 1TB) as a backup device for that old hard drive. They are so cheap, that I'm on welfare income and got TWO as well as another TWO inside my case.