Old HD and Ram into new PC? 4

[ColdDay]

Hello,

I have a hard drive that I am wanting to put into a PC. It is an IBM, 30GB, it has a printed date of Sept 2000 and it has the Win2K Pro OS.

I have the following 4 memory sticks that I would like to put to use if possible. The info is what I read on the labels. Other than the MB info, I have no idea what the info means.
1)DDR-400 512mb
2)Corsair, PC 100, CM6548128-BX, 983812, PC-100-322-6120
3)MT8LSDT864AG-10CB4, PC100-322-620, 9907AAEN6.006
4)256MB DDR 400Mhz-CL3

I am using DSL.

Below are three systems that I looked at on Overstock.com.

Can I simply pull their HD and install mine and will the PC still work if I do?

Will any of my RAM above work?

Will I need to download any drivers?

I am wanting this to be as simple as possible. I want to switch HD's, install more Ram, turn it on and start working.

Thanks.

Dell Optiplex GX260 Tower XP Pro Computer
PC features processor speed of 2.26GHz
Dell XP Pro Computer contains 512MB of installed memory
Operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition
Memory slots (Total): Two
Maximum memory supported: 1.0GB
Capacity: 40GB
Optical drive type: CD-ROM
Capacity: 1.44MB
PCI slots (Total): Two
AGP slots (Total): One
Expansion slots: Five
Serial communication ports: Two
Parallel ports: One
USB ports: Six
Audio description: Integrated audio
Graphics description: AGP video card
Video interface: VGA (15-Pin D-Sub)
Communications description: Integrated Ethernet for LAN or Broadband internet access (no modem)
Interface type: RJ-45 - Ethernet connector
Data transfer rate: 10Mbps/100Mbps
Power: 250-watt
Scrolling capability: Vertical

Dell Optiplex GX280 2.8GHz 40GB Computer (Refurbished)
Desktop computer comes with Intel Pentium 4 - 2.8GHz processor
Home computer features 512MB of RAM and a 40 GB hard drive
Computer has a CD ROM Drive and integrated 10/100 LAN
Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional pre-installed
Network Devices: RJ-45 Integrated 10/100 LAN
Modem: Not included
Audio: Integrated sound with microphone and headphone jack
Video: Integrated video with VGA port
USB ports: 6
Serial port: 1
Parallel port: 1

HP DC7100 3.0Ghz 1G 40GB DVD XP Desktop Computer (Refurbished)
Processor: Pentium 4 - 3.0GHz processor
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Hard Drive: 40GB
Optical Drive: DVD Rom
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 Pre-installed
Network Devices: RJ-45 Integrated 10/100 LAN
Modem: Not included
Audio: Integrated Sound with microphone and Headphone Jack
Video: Integrated Video with VGA Port
USB Port: 8
Serial Port: 1
Parallel port: 1

 

[xit]

It won't be simple, the hard drive will not just boot up on these machines. The memory may or may not work, just depends.

Don't know what the selling price is for these units but right now there are some great deals on desktops and laptops with all the new technology bells and whistles, you might consider directing your money towards these.

just my opinion

xit

 

[vacunita]

I'll have to agree with Xit. There's really no point in trying to re-us such old tech. Particularly the 30GB HD.

The HD is most likely IDE type. Today's machine use SATA interfaces for their HD's so it won;t work. In addition since the Win2k was installed in different hardware, trying to boot onto it, will likely cause major issues with Windows, if it boots at all.

For the ram, you could conceivably get the DDR sticks to work. The PC-100's on the other hand I doubt, since they'll have different interfaces to today's RAM which is DDR2 or DDR3.


I would personally if you want to preserve anything that's on the 30GB drive, install it as a slave, and boot through the newer factory drive, which would have a pre-installed O.S. on it. Your new O.S. should read the 30GB drive, and let you see any files in it.

In this scenario, you could simply attach the 30GB drive and boot, and start working.


----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[BadBigBen]

The RAM:

1 and 4 will work together and in all the listed systems...

2&3 are REALLY ancient and none of the systems listed will use them... so toss...

but as mentioned, the HDD will most likely not work in the new system, unless you do a Repair Install (aka Inplace Upgrade Install)...

and it probably be more prudent to bite the bullet and just upgrade to a more modern system....



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[ColdDay]

Great feedback!

So if I install the Win2K drive as a slave, I would be able to use the programs that are on it just like it was the main HD?

Would there be much tweaking involved?

There is some SQL2005 and Excel work on it that I really want to get to.

Thanks.

 

[xit]

No, you will not be able to use the programs as such. If you install Excel on your new drive you may be able to transfer your excel docs. from your old drive to the new drive and be able to then use them. Not sure about SQL

xit

 

[vacunita]

You may be able to use most installed apps directly. As back in win 2000 they weren't as touchy about registry entries,and other files installed in the Windows dir.

Office however, your better served by using the one installed in the main system.

To be sure what can run, just open up the program files directory from the old 30gb drive and start opening executable files inside the specific programs folder. You might be surprised of how many you'll actually be able to run.

Though there's still a chance some won't run.

your excel files should open on whichever Office suite is factory installed in the Pc without any issues.

SQL2005 may pose an issue, but you may be able to easily migrate the DB files over to a newer DB installation.





----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[BadBigBen]

The main consensus is for you to transfer all the working apps, from the OLD drive to the NEW drive...

also transfer the SQL2005 DB over to the new drive and import it into the new SQL app, e.g. SQL2008 Express (Free)...

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Express

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...45c8-9fd3-118edd8e6fff&displaylang=en&pf=true

see:

Any reason to have SQL Server 2005 and 2008 installed on same machine?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...erver-2005-and-2008-installed-on-same-machine

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[kjv1611]

ColdDay,

As others already stated, no reason to use any of the old hardware. Of course, you can get newer systems than yours that are still really old that would work. The main problem is you don't know how long they will still work. Being they're already old, you'd be on borrowed time.

If you can spare the money, you can spend anywhere from $300 to $1000+ and get a new system with new hardware running Windows 7, which is a FAR cry better than anything prior. You will have to get used to it though. So, dealing with change will be the only hard part.

Your Excel files should just open and work, unless perhaps you have some custom VBA code in them. Some older VBA code doesn't work as well with '07 and '10 versions of Office. I have seen a very small handful or issues myself. Generally speaking, though, no issues.

SQL Server 2005 databases - that will depend as well. Are these just basic databases you set up yourself for your own purposes? Do they have a lot of custom code in them? The custom code seems to be the sticking point with any upgrades of Office/SQL apps that I've come across. At my job, I've currently got the client for SQL '05 and '08 installed, b/c most our SQL Servers are still '05, and are slowly being converted to '08... and one is a "test" system for now, on '08.

As for the hardware, it's really worthless, other than the data on it. The comparison between the stuff that old and the current stuff is not even worth discussing, but here are some numbers to show the differences possible and likely:

Your drive is probably either a 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM drive, and I'd guess that it won't get above 30MB/sec transfer rate. Access time is probably higher as well.

Newer SATA drives have a much faster connection SATA2 = 300MB/sec max, SATA1 = 150MB/sec max, SATA3 = 600MB/sec max. IDE was 100MB/sec max or 133mb/sec MAX, depending on the drive, cable, and IDE controller.

The newer drives are readily hitting at or over 100MB/sec throughput. The access times on some are very small im comparison to the old stuff. Also, there are newer technologies going into the very design and usage of them, so they find stuff quicker, even if the numbers were the same - or maybe they couldn't be the same, I don't know.

Besides that, if you don't need a lot of storage space on your drive, then going with an SSD would be worth while, now. It'll cost a little more, but not much... well, based on the drive itself. Systems with SSDs may still be more expensive than you would want to spend, I don't know.

SSDs practically do not have an access time, and their throughput rates are incredible as well - some over 200MB/sec.

Also, the ram... current RAM standard is DDR3 Dual Channel.

The processors - Anything build prior to the Core 2 Duo CPUs, I wouldn't even bother with - unless you're wanting to just tinker for tinkering sake. The newer CPUs are amazing. And if you can afford to get a new system, and can get one with a Core i5 or Core i7, even the better. The Core i5 is cheaper than i7 and makes for a really nice quick system for practically anything.

As for accessing old programs, you won't be able to just up and run them - they'd have to be reinstalled on the new system. Frankly, I'd go with Office 2k7 if you're buying a new one, or if you don't have any complex formulas in Excel or custom VBA code, then you could go with OpenOffice.org for free. It works well. It doesn't have Outlook, though, so you'd have to do without that or use something else. Office 2000 may still install, though, on Win7, I don't know - you could try. If it won't by default, then it should in "Windows XP Mode" if you get Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate.

As for getting used to the change, it's a REALLY big change from Windows 2000 or XP for sure. One thing that can make dealing with that easier is installing Classic Shell. Just follow the instructions, it's very to the point.

Also, if this is just stuff you're doing at home, you might want to consider a laptop. It used to be the case that you paid a big difference for a laptop vs desktop, and there was a big performance difference. That's no longer the case unless you're doing some really heavy stuff such as rendering hd video or 3d graphics or maybe some types of CAD work, I don't know. But most everything you won't see much if any difference.

On laptops, here's one I picked out for someone a couple months ago:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba...late/1272996.p?id=1218246222297&skuId=1272996

It's really nice. The screen size is smaller than some, but that makes it a little more portable as well. It's still not a small screen for sitting in your lap. The thing also has GREAT speakers. It sounded better than many desktop speakers. Though I suppose that technology is also moving steadily along.

Take a look at this list at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olstemp...id&list=y&iht=n&st=processingtime:>1900-01-01

If you wanted to go that route, you could find a local one, and see them first hand.

'Course if you want to custom build a machine, you could always talk about that here as well.

 

[ColdDay]

Great feedback. I need to do some reading and thinking!

Thanks!

 

[goombawaho]

Sell that old stuff on C.L. - somebody will take it for a (low) price.