Getting a new HD.

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Joined
30 Mar 2009
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384
Hi,

Well, I'm replacing my HD, as im not quite happy with the one I have. But, I'm still a bit of a PC noob (Only got into them properly a couple of months ago). I tried reformatting for the first time on a different PC and it all went well, but then i found i couldnt access the internet because i didnt have the network drivers.

I recently bought a Titan Extreme 4850 CF from OcUK. Looking to replace the HD inside it, but obviously this is a new HD, so basically reformatting..kinda..well, there's no drivers. I have a few questions.

1. Which disk will contain my network drivers?
2. Which order should I install all my drivers in?
3. If I've still got warranty, can i send off for another driver disk?
4. I have vista OEM..can i reinstall on this new HD?
5. Will my wireless keyboard and mouse work without drivers?
6. What HD is good for about 650-500 gb? I've head good things about WD.
 
I would go with the WD 640GB Blue. I have 2 and recommend them as they are very quiet and very fast.

Your wireless keyb and mouse shouldn't need drives to work, however if you want to install their drivers you can download them from the manufactures website (they might give you additonal features that windows base drivers dont).

Your Vista OEM product license is tied to the motherboard you activated it with, so if your still using the same motherboard then you wont have any problems.

You cant send off for another driver disk I dont think. However you dont need it. Look at your motherboard and look for the brand and model number (mine is brand: ASUS, model no: P5K-E WIFI), its usually in white in big letters on the motherboard. Go to the manufactures website and download the appropriate drivers for your motherboard. There will usually be updated drivers on there that will fix known issues of previous drivers.

I always install drivers in this order:

Motherboard chipset drivers (in my case, Intel's chipset driver)
Graphics card (Nvidia driver in my case)
Network card
Sound card
Anything else
Windows updates

Lastly, you should have been supplied with the motherboard driver disk with your pre-build, that will contain all the drivers you need on it, but they will be out dated and I would recommend downloading the latest ones.

P.S I answered your questions in reverse order lol.
 
Hehe, thanks, need a little bit more help.

My mobo is a DFI LANParty. I just checked for relevant drivers for my mobo, but could not find network card drivers. I was also wondering what LAN drivers do.
 
If you havn't formatted yet, you can simply clone the old drive onto the new drive, and avoid reinstalling anything.

Something like this should do the job http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hdclonefree.html
Many retail hard drives actually come with a utility like this on the cd when you buy them too.

May i ask what's the issue is with your current Hard Drive? If it's speed and not size, I'm afraid that another mechanical hard disk isn't going to help much - You'll need a Solid State Drive (SSD). The Intel, OCZ Vertex or Samsung drives are good, avoid the other brands atm.
You can keep your existing drive in the system for any mass file storage.
 
It's more the noise.

I'm looking for a balance between peformance and noise, which is what fobose has given me. I'm kinda wary of SSD's..i dunno why.
 
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