New PC recommendations please.

Everyday chat. No political or religious discussions.

Moderators: VelvetGeorge, BUG

Post Reply
User avatar
NY Chief
Wiki Editor
Posts: 6589
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:02 pm
Location: SoCal

New PC recommendations please.

Post by NY Chief » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:02 pm

The power supply on my machine blew. I opened it up and found a cap literally blown right off the board. Both leads phyiscally zapped and serious burn marks on the board. I replaced the power supply but now it powers up as soon as I plug in the power cord. The "on" switch is totally inoperative and it won't boot up. 3 separate techs say "mother board". I can't get a direct replacement (mfg'r out of biz) and even if I did or got a generic replacement I'd need a new copy of the OS and wipe out the hard drive on format. Can't do that (too much good porn to be lost!!!)

So, what do you guys suggest in a new machine? Might as well gear it up for some recording software while I'm at it!!

Can I simply remove the hard drive from the bad machine and install in the new machine as a second HD and access the data on it?

Thanks, guys!
NY Chief 5-0, transplanted in SoCal

"Book 'em, Dan-o!"

NitroLiq
Senior Member
Posts: 1566
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:58 am
Location: NYC

Re: New PC recommendations please.

Post by NitroLiq » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:15 pm

NY Chief wrote:Can I simply remove the hard drive from the bad machine and install in the new machine as a second HD and access the data on it?
Should be able to as long as it's the 2nd drive. I did just that when I rebuilt my current box when the old mobo started flipping out. As far as new computers go, I usually source the parts and build it myself but you can't really go wrong with the bigger names (Dell, Gateway, Sony, IBM, etc.) as long as they have the hardware features you need and are upgradeable. The first thing I would do if I went that route though is re-format their drive to get rid of all the proprietary crap they put on it....just make sure you have the o/s cd before doing this....and go with XP Pro not the Home version.

User avatar
johniss0001
Senior Member
Posts: 1404
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:03 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7
Location: Hove England
Contact:

Post by johniss0001 » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:21 pm

building your own pc is great chief it is the only way to go about it if you are on a tight budget and you can get the spec you desire, I would put the hard disk into some1s machine and back up all the files best bet matey.
John Ross

Respect the FATHER OF LOUD Jim Marshall

Necrovore
Senior Member
Posts: 2120
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:19 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7

Post by Necrovore » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:33 pm

+1 on the build your own pc clone. I just ordered my wife a barebones system(comes with everything except hard drives and peripheral cards) that has an AMD cpu, 1/2 gig RAM, Asus mobo, case, and fans for $241 shipped. I also picked her up a 120 gig hard drive, and NEC dvd burner in the same purchase. Everything after shipping set me back $392. Once I get everything I also get a $20 rebate paid in greenbacks so the whole system ended up costing me $372.

Bought it from globalcomputers.com You can also look at pricewatch.com to get really good deals on stuff.

User avatar
NY Chief
Wiki Editor
Posts: 6589
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:02 pm
Location: SoCal

Post by NY Chief » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:24 pm

Thanks, guys. Hey does George do a MetroPC kit yet? :D

New machines are dirt cheap lately so I may just go for a new commercically available and put the blown away for a rainy day project.

I haven' been paying attention on DVD burners. I put one in my machine a while back that was a 4X single layer. Am I seeing 16X double layer the state of the art nowadays?
NY Chief 5-0, transplanted in SoCal

"Book 'em, Dan-o!"

User avatar
johniss0001
Senior Member
Posts: 1404
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 5:03 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7
Location: Hove England
Contact:

Post by johniss0001 » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:50 pm

yep, chief the best dual layer burner on the market imo is the Pioneer 16x it is what i have and i swear by pioneer great hifi stuff well the older stuff is and that is what i use, and this pionner burner is great best around make sure you get a pioneer slightly dearer than the rest but the rest are cheap shite compared to this 1
John Ross

Respect the FATHER OF LOUD Jim Marshall

User avatar
Bad Kitty
Senior Member
Posts: 820
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:49 pm
Location: St. Helens, OR

Post by Bad Kitty » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:21 pm

It's been my experience that if a power supply goes it tends to take other things with it. Motherboards are usually the first to go, followed closely by the hard drive and/or CPU. Hope your "vital information" is still there :).
Never settle for an amp thats smaller then you are.

User avatar
NY Chief
Wiki Editor
Posts: 6589
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:02 pm
Location: SoCal

Post by NY Chief » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:55 pm

Bad Kitty wrote:It's been my experience that if a power supply goes it tends to take other things with it. Motherboards are usually the first to go, followed closely by the hard drive and/or CPU. Hope your "vital information" is still there :).
Me TOOO!!!!!
NY Chief 5-0, transplanted in SoCal

"Book 'em, Dan-o!"

Necrovore
Senior Member
Posts: 2120
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:19 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7

Post by Necrovore » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:00 pm

Cheif do you have a second computer? If so and they are suing the same type of drives you should be able to install the one in the broekn computer into the working one and see if your stuff is still on it. If it is, great get it copied somehow.

User avatar
Bad Kitty
Senior Member
Posts: 820
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:49 pm
Location: St. Helens, OR

Post by Bad Kitty » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:22 pm

When you get your system back up try this:
Have a small HD for your OS and system files and a large one for the data files. Use a disk clone/recovery program (I use Norton Ghost) to back up your system HD. It will usually fit on a couple of DVD's. That way there if your OS gets corrupted all you have to do is boot from the DVD and in 15 or 20 minutes your back like nothing happened.
Never settle for an amp thats smaller then you are.

User avatar
Flames1950
Senior Member
Posts: 9294
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:04 am
Location: Waukee, Iowa

Post by Flames1950 » Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:52 pm

I just run an older computer as a file server/print server, with a couple of mirrored 120GB drives storing my family pics and other important stuff........ :wink:
Image

Post Reply