First custom PC build (Q's)

[MadSupra354]

This is my first custom PC and I have a few questions.
I removed the Thermal Compound on the CPU with alcohol wipes, is that what I'm supposed to do? Just making sure. Two more questions: I have a Seagate drive, with all my data on it which I want to move to the WD Caviar Black and basically dedicate the Seagate HDD for Fraps content. How do I do that?
Last question is, on the WD HDD wrapper, it says 'Go here *website* to find out installation of advanced format drives' I went there and it asks me to download the WDAlign Tool. It asks me some questions first, like this one I don't understand, "Are you using a cloning utility" idk what this is xP
Sorry for being IT illiteracy, this is the first rig I've ever built. I hope you'll understand
*Edit* Goto the last post to find out what my current problems are

 

[ignatzatsonic]

This is my first custom PC and I have a few questions.
I removed the Thermal Compound on the CPU with alcohol wipes, is that what I'm supposed to do? Just making sure. Two more questions: I have a Seagate drive, with all my data on it which I want to move to the WD Caviar Black and basically dedicate the Seagate HDD for Fraps content. How do I do that?
Last question is, on the WD HDD wrapper, it says 'Go here *website* to find out installation of advanced format drives' I went there and it asks me to download the WDAlign Tool. It asks me some questions first, like this one I don't understand, "Are you using a cloning utility" idk what this is xP
Sorry for being IT illiteracy, this is the first rig I've ever built. I hope you'll understand

You should completely clean (take your time) the old thermal compound and reapply new compound. Go to Arcticsilver.com and look up your processor for specific technique. DON"T use a big glob of it.

If you just want to copy data from drive A to drive B, use the mouse. Leave the old drive disconnected when you reinstall Windows. After Windows is installed, reconnect the old drive and use the mouse to copy your files from old drive to new drive.

You shouldn't need any special tools from WD site.

You could use the free WD imaging tool to copy your old drive to the new drive, but if you are doing a clean install, you would not use imaging.

Anything called "alignment" refers to SSD drives and it looks like you do not have one. You have a standard WD "Caviar Black"--a good drive that does not need the alignment tool.

If you bought a retail hard drive rather than an OEM, it probably comes with software designed to transfer from drive A to drive B. But you don't have to use this software.

 

[MadSupra354]

This is my first custom PC and I have a few questions.
I removed the Thermal Compound on the CPU with alcohol wipes, is that what I'm supposed to do? Just making sure. Two more questions: I have a Seagate drive, with all my data on it which I want to move to the WD Caviar Black and basically dedicate the Seagate HDD for Fraps content. How do I do that?
Last question is, on the WD HDD wrapper, it says 'Go here *website* to find out installation of advanced format drives' I went there and it asks me to download the WDAlign Tool. It asks me some questions first, like this one I don't understand, "Are you using a cloning utility" idk what this is xP
Sorry for being IT illiteracy, this is the first rig I've ever built. I hope you'll understand

You should completely clean (take your time) the old thermal compound and reapply new compound. Go to Arcticsilver.com and look up your processor for specific technique. DON"T use a big glob of it.

If you just want to copy data from drive A to drive B, use the mouse. Leave the old drive disconnected when you reinstall Windows. After Windows is installed, reconnect the old drive and use the mouse to copy your files from old drive to new drive.

You shouldn't need any special tools from WD site.

You could use the free WD imaging tool to copy your old drive to the new drive, but if you are doing a clean install, you would not use imaging.

Anything called "alignment" refers to SSD drives and it looks like you do not have one. You have a standard WD "Caviar Black"--a good drive that does not need the alignment tool.

If you bought a retail hard drive rather than an OEM, it probably comes with software designed to transfer from drive A to drive B. But you don't have to use this software.

I know it sounds stupid, but I don't have a copy of Windows 7. I just got Windows 7 with my Packard Bell (I'm taking some components from that and putting it in the new build) Also, my PSU (non moduler) has 2 6 pin +2 pin connectors, will it matter if I leave them and just plug the 2 6 pin into my GPU?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Slow down. Breathe deep and slow down.

Put horses before carts.

Answer these questions:

Do you have ANY type of an install disc, from Packard Bell or otherwise?

What is your present idea about how you will get Windows 7 onto the new disc, assuming that is your intent?

Do you intend to change motherboards?

What "new" components will you be using, other than the new hard drive?

 

[MadSupra354]

Slow down. Breathe deep and slow down.

Put horses before carts.

Answer these questions:

Do you have ANY type of an install disc, from Packard Bell or otherwise?

What is your present idea about how you will get Windows 7 onto the new disc, assuming that is your intent?

Do you intend to change motherboards?

What "new" components will you be using, other than the new hard drive?

I don't have any install disc from Packard Bell, I was hoping I could just move all my files including Windows 7 onto the WD drive. The new components are the case, motherboard, cpu cooler, gpu and psu.

 

[DocBrown]

If your original win7 is Packard Bell OEM it will be tied to the original Packard Bell motherboard

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Slow down. Breathe deep and slow down.

Put horses before carts.

Answer these questions:

Do you have ANY type of an install disc, from Packard Bell or otherwise?

What is your present idea about how you will get Windows 7 onto the new disc, assuming that is your intent?

Do you intend to change motherboards?

What "new" components will you be using, other than the new hard drive?

I don't have any install disc from Packard Bell, I was hoping I could just move all my files including Windows 7 onto the WD drive. The new components are the case, motherboard, cpu cooler, gpu and psu.

You are changing motherboards. You will not have luck activating your Windows license even if you were to get it installed. You have an OEM Windows license that applies only to the Packard Bell motherboard.

Aside from that, you could not simply move Windows and installed programs from disc A to disc B. You would have to reinstall Windows and programs.

Your best move:

If you have not already bought your new stuff, be grateful. Do more planning and ask more questions before taking such a plunge.

If you have bought your new stuff, you must buy a retail Windows disc.

 

[MadSupra354]

Slow down. Breathe deep and slow down.

Put horses before carts.

Answer these questions:

Do you have ANY type of an install disc, from Packard Bell or otherwise?

What is your present idea about how you will get Windows 7 onto the new disc, assuming that is your intent?

Do you intend to change motherboards?

What "new" components will you be using, other than the new hard drive?

I don't have any install disc from Packard Bell, I was hoping I could just move all my files including Windows 7 onto the WD drive. The new components are the case, motherboard, cpu cooler, gpu and psu.

You are changing motherboards. You will not have luck activating your Windows license even if you were to get it installed. You have an OEM Windows license that applies only to the Packard Bell motherboard.

Aside from that, you could not simply move Windows and installed programs from disc A to disc B. You would have to reinstall Windows and programs.

Your best move:

If you have not already bought your new stuff, be grateful. Do more planning and ask more questions before taking such a plunge.

If you have bought your new stuff, you must buy a retail Windows disc.

So, what will I do once I get Windows 7? Will all my data be lost?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

No, if you do it right.

Yes, if you plunge in blindly and do it wrong.

There are many tutorials on this site about how to do it right.

You need to plan and organize first. Read.

 

[MadSupra354]

No, if you do it right.

Yes, if you plunge in blindly and do it wrong.

There are many tutorials on this site about how to do it right.

You need to plan and organize first. Read.

Could I please get a link to one of the tutorials?

 

[DocBrown]

Windows Easy Transfer

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Regarding Easy Transfer:

It usually works.

Sometimes it doesn't.

Plan accordingly--i.e., back up your personal data separately, to another hard drive, DVDs, USB drive, or whatever you may have.

 

[MadSupra354]

OK, thanks, but see when I'm installing Windows 7, do I click 'Upgrade' or 'Custom'?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Nearly everyone here will tell you to choose custom.

 

[roy69]

This is what I would advise.
Get a USB HD, a 2 TB one is qutie cheap. I use one for backup reasons only.
It sounds like apart from the sound and memory you are building a new computer.
You will need to get a new windows disk to install onto this computer.
Back up all your DATA, ie Pictures, filems music onto the newly bought USB drive then do a fresh install of windows.

 

[MadSupra354]

This is what I would advise.
Get a USB HD, a 2 TB one is qutie cheap. I use one for backup reasons only.
It sounds like apart from the sound and memory you are building a new computer.
You will need to get a new windows disk to install onto this computer.
Back up all your DATA, ie Pictures, filems music onto the newly bought USB drive then do a fresh install of windows.

I've backed up most of my things.

 

[MadSupra354]

Wait, if I select 'Custom' that will wipe the drive, can't I select which my main drive is, so it doesn't wipe the one with my data? I mean that's the hole point of this conversation...
Also, my monitor (currently) is VGA, but my motherboard has an integrated ATI Radoen Hd 4290 that's supports VGA, but my 6950 only supports DVI, HDMI and Mini-Display. Unfortunetly XFX (The brand of the 6950) didn't include the adapter, so untill I can access one of those, how am I supposed to tell the system which card to use?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What do you mean by "main drive". I thought you only had 1 drive. That's the "main drive".

Yes, it will wipe your drive. That's what a custom install does. That's why you back stuff up first!

But you need the retail Windows disc. Did you buy one?

 

[MadSupra354]

What do you mean by "main drive". I thought you only had 1 drive. That's the "main drive".

Yes, it will wipe your drive. That's what a custom install does. That's why you back stuff up first!

But you need the retail Windows disc. Did you buy one?

No, I have 2 hard drives. 1 NEW WD Caviar Black 1TB and the OLD Seagate 320GB that has my stuffs. Like I said, I want to move my data from 1 disc to the other. And I don't have a copy of the OS yet, but I will get one soon.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Install the new components, including the new empty drive.

Disconnect completely the old drive, so nothing can be written to it.

Install Windows on the new drive.

After the PC is operating well, maybe the next day, reconnect your old drive and transfer your stuff to the new drive.

Then disconnect your old drive and remove it. Or better yet, reformat it and use it for a backup drive.

You don't lose your data during the install because the drive with the data isn't even connected.

Be sure your memory (RAM) will work on the new motherboard. You may need new RAM.