Hand-me-downs

[dylmurhaha]

I messed up my computer, and could probably fix it for around 100$, but I took it as a sign to just buy a new computer. I was wondering if I can take parts from my old computer and put them in the new one. I would be buying a new motherboard, CPU, GPU, and disk drive. But could I just use my old sound card, case, psu, and hard drive?

 

[Baez]

Sound card, case and hard drive are fine. I wouldn't recommend using your old PSU though. Around 2 years and older and they start to significantly lose their power output and reliability.

 

[dylmurhaha]

so if i can use my old hard drive, do i have everything i had on the last computer... like, do I have to reinstall windows? I don't have a copy of the OS, it came with my old computer, so that would be awesome

 

[Redmo0n]

If your changing motherboards you will have to reinstall.

 

[carnageX]

If your changing motherboards you will have to reinstall.

Or if he's using XP, a repair install will work too.

 

[dylmurhaha]

I am using XP, what is a repair install? I really don't want to buy the OS if I don't have to

 

[carnageX]

You'll need a full XP OS install disc. When you boot off of it, you pick to install Windows, and it'll scan for existing XP installs, then you can choose to perform a repair install.

http://www.techist.com/forums/f9/how-install-xp-without-xp-cd-156805/
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install