GreenMonkey- is it just that easy?

[Haggis]

First and foremost I am not using your form to answer what I have, but at this point I think you know I am not the smartest tool in the shed when it comes to computer building, but yet I think I still have a clue.

Here is what I think I have... I think I have everything I need, except I want a better 1)Motherboard, 2)CPU.

My questions are:
1.Will my standard stock piece of junk HP pavilion tower work or should I buy a new tower? - no big deal I will buy one. This is not a big issue for me.
2. When I buy a new CPU and motherboard and hook up all my parts (including my HD) is the operating system going to be there? This is my weak point. I dont get where the OS is located and what happens when you install new components.

I am like so close to buying all this stuff, but I am scared! Any help or refernce to where I can get answers would be appreciated.
Thanks
Your Navy Pilot, Hand Model, Friend, and Death Distributor...... Haggis

 

[niko{RD}]

1. yes it will work, but if u want to upgrade you can
2. yes everything is going to be on your hd still, as long as you dont get a new hd then you wont have to.

also what do u have so far and what kind of mobo and cpu u looking at?

 

[Apples [S|R]]

@ #1. Your tower should be fine unless you get something so large that it doesn't fit in it. Which probably will not happen. Unless of course you hate the way it looks and want a pretty computer.

@ #2. Your OS is installed onto your hard drive. It will still be there as long as you keep the same drive.

Otherwise, current setup and proposed changes? Just to make sure you don't have major choke points.

 

[Rogue Sniper]

@ 2 - Since your OS is on your HDD then you will probably have no problem upgrading or moving it, however Win XP will freak out if you have a major system change (found this out putting it in another comp) such as replacing your mobo, cpu, graphx card, ram, etc. all at once, however one or two even three changed components itll be fine .

 

[Sir.Nades.Alot[S|R]]

Windows will need the drivers for the new stuff, and as Rogue Sniper said, "have a freak out" probably. What i would do is get a cheap 250 gig drive(sata) or 500 gig, should be around 100 bucks tops. Then, snap that in, and install windows to that drive, then add your old drive, you can drag the contents you want to save off, while having a spanking new windows install. Then, when you are doing getting what you want off the old hard drive, onto the new one, you can format the old one and use it as well.

 

[BulletWhole]

1 your problem here is the back plate. even if it looks close you may not be able to use it. The hp cases are proprietary for their mb. You pretty much have to get the exact mb that you took out. Get a new case with power supply. The stock one in the hp is the min needed to run their machine. You may need more connectors for a 24 pin power connector or beefier power supply to run your video card.

2 Vista supposedly won't work with a new mb unless it is what the oem put there. xp shouldn't be an issue, just have the latest drivers either downloaded for your mb or have the disk. The easiest way to do this is to follow a guide written in PCGamer. It outlines how to remove all the mb devices and then replace the mb thus allowing xp to auto detect your stuff.