So my Alienware just imploded

[Scrax]

Long time reader first time poster :P

My Alienware just died, which is sort of a mixed blessing because I have been putting off upgrading for a long time. I Kind of hoped it would wait to die for another 3 to 4 months tho.

It first started with one fan in the video card dying mid last semester. Then the second fan died over the summer. Everything was still running great so I wasn't too worried tho. Then over the past few weeks basic programs would crash. Aim, media players, web browsers, it couldn't even shut off by itself. Games became out of the question but I could still get basic use out of it. I figured I could probably wait a few more months. Then pzzzzt there goes the power supply. So basically I have to trek to the computer lab now to do my homework with a dead alienware in my room.

My parents needed an excuse to buy me something big for christmas so they are offering to buy all the parts I need for a new computer. I want to keep it around the 2000 range tho so it won't cost them too much.

This will be my first build, I have basic computer knowledge but still pretty much a newb. I plan to combine fozziks and rabbits recommendations on what I prefer best, and I suppose I will be doing a Intel build.

I only have a few questions off the top of my head that I hope someone will help me with.
First, considering that the power supply died do I need to worry if it shorted out some of the other parts? I have a new X-Fi in there and I hope to use it in the new build. Also, being as awesome as I am, I didn't consider backing up any of my information so would it be possible to use my same hard drives in the new build and magically my information will still be there? :confused:

Besides the sound card and hard drives I plan to keep my monitor and speakers/mouse/keyboard so I dont have to worry about those. I want to get rid of the alienware case because as cool as it looks, it is a heavy SOB. Is the antec 900 fairly light-weight?
All the other hardware bits and pieces will be brand new. I'm researching parts now, but I am extremely nervous in some of these new parts that fozzik and rabbit recommend. If it doesn't work out right I dont really know how to fix it.....

Anyways, thanks for reading my long first post. I have to evac the lab soon but I will be researching when I can and will probably post some more questions later. Thanks!

[rabb1t]

First, considering that the power supply died do I need to worry if it shorted out some of the other parts?

Oh yeah. It's connected to everything, either directly or indirectly through various parts. It's possible it took everything else with it. :(

I have a new X-Fi in there and I hope to use it in the new build.

You can try, if it wasn't popped it should work. If it was, I don't think it could damage anything (as it isn't a big power using part). Not sure though.

Also, being as awesome as I am, I didn't consider backing up any of my information so would it be possible to use my same hard drives in the new build and magically my information will still be there? :confused:

It may be fine, but here is the thing - your computer won't recognize the hard drive. If you change northbridge chipsets, which you most likely will, then the hard drive won't talk to the rest of the PC.

There may be ways around this... but I don't recommend them. Um... maybe someone else can answer this, but wouldn't it be possible to plug it into an already turned on PC and pull the info off of it and then unattach it? I know peeps have said you can't have 2 HDs which are boot drives and then boot up, but I'd think you could maybe hook it up to one already turned on and treat it like any other removable device.

[Stiller] CD backup once a month. Do it. Do it.

Is the antec 900 fairly light-weight?

Yes and no. It is lighter than a tower sized steel one, certainly lighter than it looks, but it is substantially heavier than something like the featherweight Lanboy. The weight is managable, but I wouldn't want to move it more than once every now and then. It certainly is not a 'hey I want to carry this around a couple times a month' kind of thing. For that you want a Lanboy. (I'd offer to sell ya my old one, but shipping would be like $15 :p )

If it doesn't work out right I dont really know how to fix it.....

Thus the problem with a full build as your starting point, you have all of the possible trouble spots happening at once. It can be very overwhelming and very frustrating.

I have to evac the lab soon but I will be researching when I can and will probably post some more questions later. Thanks!

About that lab, could they help you troubleshoot if something went wrong with the build?

[dmodert66]

There may be ways around this... but I don't recommend them. Um... maybe someone else can answer this, but wouldn't it be possible to plug it into an already turned on PC and pull the info off of it and then unattach it? I know peeps have said you can't have 2 HDs which are boot drives and then boot up, but I'd think you could maybe hook it up to one already turned on and treat it like any other removable device.

DO NOT DO WHAT IS BOLDED ABOVE! IDE hard drives are NOT hot swappable. IF YOU DO THIS, YOU CAN RUIN COMPONENTS... Hot swap means you can plug and unplug while the computer is running. An example of a hot swap item would be a USB Device. You can however connect your old hard drive AFTER you've installed windows on a new hard drive, and then just access the old hard drive as a slave. Keep in mind, you will only be able to access your data. The programs on the old drive will have registry entries that will not exist on the new OS, thus it will crash or not start at all. It doesn't matter if it is a boot drive. As long as you have installed windows already, it will always boot to C: (wich is the new drive). The only way it would try to boot from the old drive would be if you changed the boot device order.

Everything else was spot on of course :)

[rabb1t]

You can however connect your old hard drive AFTER you've installed windows on a new hard drive, and then just access the old hard drive as a slave.

I think that's what I said. And yeah, I meant via Sata.

I suppose an Alienware could have an IDE drive, didn't consider that. :p

Keep in mind, you will only be able to access your data.

That's all he'd want / need. You don't need to pull games over, you have the disks for them. :p

As long as you have installed windows already, it will always boot to C: (wich is the new drive). The only way it would try to boot from the old drive would be if you changed the boot device order.

When I was asking this before peeps said you did not want to boot with 2 bootable drives plugged in, which is why I said you could try it with one already on.

Thus, in theory, with Sata drives, (with the system shut down) you could have the existing system drive in there as it is, then plug the power in to the extra drive you want to get info from, plug the sata cable into the motherboard side, then turn on the system, and after it's done doing all it's boot things, pop in the sata cable into the drive you need the info from.

[dmodert66]

Yep...Your 100% correct. Sata drives are hotswap. It's just when people mention old systems, I would rather error on the side of safety (Ie, they may not know the dif between sata/ide). The other, perhaps more elegant way would be to buy a $30 USB Hard Drive enclosure, and just connect it when you need it :)

[rabb1t]

If it's got boot info on it I wouldn't recommend keeping it that way (hooked up to a system as not the boot drive). Besides, if you go temp, get the data off it, find out it looks ok/undamaged, he could pop that into the new system and just reformat it and use it again.

[Fozzik]

Windows can sometimes do some really funky stuff when it detects to active OS partitions. It's probably a good idea to boot up the new computer with the old drive slaved in, transfer all the data you want to keep, and then reformat the old drive and just use it for storage or take it out.

I've actually seen situations where Windows just arbitrarily decided to reassign the virtual memory to the second drive, making the master drive unbootable without the second drive installed. :(

[Scrax]

Thus, in theory, with Sata drives, (with the system shut down) you could have the existing system drive in there as it is, then plug the power in to the extra drive you want to get info from, plug the sata cable into the motherboard side, then turn on the system, and after it's done doing all it's boot things, pop in the sata cable into the drive you need the info from.

Hmm okay. I think they are sata but I will have to go back and check. So if I buy my new system with a new hard drive I can install windows on it, then do what you listed above, and theoretically I will be able to access my data? (considering nothing was damaged in the process) Sounds interesting lol. I don't mind ending up paying for new hard drives, there are just some key things I want to try and save off the old ones. Besides I might have some nifty coasters in the end. It would be fine if I was trying all of this with my own money. It's just that I'm playing with someone elses money that makes me nervous.

Question: How do you know which hard drive is master/slave. Is it just the order you plug them into the motherboard or do you have to designate them directly?

P.S. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the 2000 recommendation was updated yesterday. It looks incredible. But is there a big difference between the 8800GTS and the 8800GTX to justify the price? Thanks!

Edit: I would ask the lab people for some advice/tech help however they are pretty much either A: clueless college kids just supervising the lab or B: nerd snobs....if I chose the wrong manufacturer they would probably set me on fire ;)

[Fozzik]

Question: How do you know which hard drive is master/slave. Is it just the order you plug them into the motherboard or do you have to designate them directly?


On parallel ATA hard drives, there is a jumper on the back of the drive near where the data cable plugs in. The jumper can be moved to designate master, slave, or cable select. In cable select mode, the drive on the end of the cable should be automatically set as master, and the one on the middle of the cable should be set as slave. Setting them specifically to master/slave is safer though.

For SATA drives, only a single drive can be plugged into each cable, so they no longer have jumpers. Usually the first SATA port will be master, second will be slave, an on and on (I believe).


P.S. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the 2000 recommendation was updated yesterday. It looks incredible. But is there a big difference between the 8800GTS and the 8800GTX to justify the price? Thanks!


The performance difference between the two is very significant, and the GTX has 768MB of RAM, compared to the 640MB on the GTS. The GTS is certainly no slouch, and is still a powerhouse compared to any other video card on the market...but the GTX is by far the king of the hill right now. Either one would work great in the system, just depends on how much money you want to spend, what resolution you are running at, and how much performance you feel you'll need.

[dmodert66]

For SATA drives, only a single drive can be plugged into each cable, so they no longer have jumpers. Usually the first SATA port will be master, second will be slave, an on and on (I believe).


Actually, with Sata drives the Master and Slave designations are completely gone. There is only "boot devices" left.

On the 8800GTS vs GTX thing, I thought about just getting a GTS, but then looked at the price difference. When buying a card for $500, and you can get one with a considerable performance increase for only $160 more, I say go for more :D

[rabb1t]

You have to be careful of the size and double PCIe x16 power connection requirement though. Not everyone can meet those.

[Scrax]

Well I think I have all the bits and pieces I want. Will be ordering this weekend and hopefully it will all arrive by next weekend. Hopefully I won't destroy anything :eek: . And it will all fit....and it wont be too noisy...or too hot....or be DOA.....or every other possible worst case scenario that I can think of. lol

Since this is practically a fresh start on a computer what kind of programs should I download? Besides the standard media players/web browsers. Over the years I had downloaded alot of crap on my old computer, so I want to try and keep it as clean as possible. I suppose I have to download direct x and new anti-virus software too. Also, what kind of programs can I download to test my hardware to make sure it is all running as it should be? Thanks some more. You guys are a great help.

As a side note, anyone know of a good router to buy? Might as well get it with everything else. Preferably wireless if possible. I plan to use it for roommates laptop and the xbox360 etc.

[rabb1t]

What I do before a build/rebuild is download/copy the following:

- Current burn of personal stuff (which I backup 1x a month)
- - Do not forget personally settings, such as "favorites" folder or any special fonts.
- - Download of 3dMark05 and 3dMark06 and appropriate patches for testing.

- Download current drivers for all bits - GPU drivers, Motherboard chipset drivers, Sound card drivers, DirectX, etc.

- Be sure I have all the disks I want of the stuff I'm going to install. (I pretty much keep these in one place anyways, but I pile them up with the games I'm currently playing.)

I can't think of anything else I would need. Other peeps may want to copy over MP3s and other things.