graphics card dead help needed please

my graphics card died today in my home pc i believe. 2 problems it is a winfast px7600gs i think by nvidia? what is the cheapest possible replacement for it? i only go on the net so the equal to it is fine.
Also if i decide i need to buy another pc/lappy how do i go about getting all my stored info off the hd in that machine? what is the easiest way to do it please?
As far as im aware its just a normal hd.

thanks

 

Why don't you just buy another 7600gs?

As for the HD, just pop it into the new computer. You will still be able to access your files, but because (i think) your OS will be OEM, you will not be able to use windows on it.

Burrell

 

i didnt think it would still be available to buy?
Sorry excuse my lack of knowledge but what is OEM? its windows xp at the moment.
i doubt very much i will use that hd again as its old and small but i need the info off it. i have works laptop how can i get the info (just files) off it onto that?

cheers

 

You need an AGP card, right?

 

OEM is Original Equipment Manufacture, basicly if your PC is bought (ie not custom) then your OS (XP) is tied to your MB, CPU and HDD, if you change all of these things you will not be able to activate windows.

You could buy a USB to SATA converter and use that to transfer data to laptop, then to your new HDD.

 

Maybe I'm getting a bit off-topic but I'd like to ask this question re: 0EM OS. You mentioned 3 components (MB, CPU and HDD). If two of them, let's say MB, CPU, are changed, can Windows still be activated?

 

Well... this is a highly debated about subject, but yes you can.

People say it's not "right" to basicly build a new pc using the same license, but pfff who cares, it still works.

Burrell

 

Thanks, that's good to know since I anticipate buying Win 7 and would like to keep the cost down by getting OEM. Even if I was restricted from ever replacing the MB and CPU in this computer, a Pentium IV currently running Win 7 RC (expires soon), I'd probably go ahead and buy it since the computer runs Win 7 quite adequately for my normal usage.

One more question, if you don't mind. What about a change in type of RAM, which would be most likely necessary if MB and CPU were upgraded? Would that be another factor affecting Windows activation, or are MB, CPU and HDD the only components involved here?

 

No, ram is not tied to the license, so yes you could change the MB, CPU and ram with same OS license.

 

Officially OEM products are tied to the motherboard serial number. Even changing to the same make and model of motherboard should trigger a reactiviation from Windows.

However, all copies of windows are given a certain number of "free" activations every year to account for hardware changes. If these are exceeded windows will request you to telephone a "customer support representative" which is actually (at least in the UK) a machine that will ask you how many computers that copy of windows is installed on. You answer one, as that is the truth, and it provides an activation code.

 

Thanks for that additional info. I'm glad there is some flexibility for making hardware upgrades.

 

Iv'e always been told, and told others that it is tied to the CPU, MB and HDD...

 

Changes of mobo or CPU will trigger a reactivation but the mobo is the component it is all tied to.