Trying to help out a friend.

Hi all, a friend of my daughter's computer crashed with a power outage. I told her that I would try to help her out and look at it for her.
It ended up being a bad motherboard.

I switched out the board and it now works, but I can't update the video drivers, because I can't get it online.

She had dial-up and I have cable internet.

Her Emachine is pretty much getting tired and being the guy that I am, I'm going to put together a newer, faster system for her.

Can I transfer operating system and files to a new computer without risk of losing anything?
She is running XP, with SP3.
TIA!

 

I would backup the data anyway but you should be able to put the drive into another computer and do a repair installation to get it working. You will need a COA that works with the disk you do the repair installation from. You could also do a clean install to a new or different HD which would be better and install her old drive as a slave. Then none of the data will have been disturbed.

As far as not being able to get it online now, your cable internet only needs a network controller and ethernet cable to connect to your router, assuming you have a router. Alternately you could connect her computer to your home phone line if you have one and use her dialup connection.

 

to shnerdly
The ethernet could be done PROVIDED her machine has an ethernet connector.
Have seen some older ones with dialup only capabilities.
Although you could probably plug one in for this purpose.

 

Thanks hrlow2

I guess I should have spelled that out. I just made an assumption that because he is going to build her a new computer and has cable internet that he would know that.

I need to think more about the others that are going to read the thread.

 

OK. My response was on the assumption of repairing the old one.:-o
(Must be the hillbilly in me.)

 

Hi all and thanks for the responses. I'm going to try to download motherboard drivers and see if I can save her machine.
If not, then I will probably build her something and do a fresh install of XP.

I will however, need to try to save her personal files if at all possible.

 

Sorry, I forgot to add this.
The motherboard I'm using is from a Gateway. Where can I find the drivers that I need?

This number is on the board: 4000792

 

You could go to Gateway with the model number of the computer.

 

Only have the motherboard. I know it came from a Gateway, but no idea what model.

 

@bigfurrykid
The number you posted from the board brought me to an Intel motherboad, Intel D484GRG to be exact. Specs here. Drivers here, be sure to pick the proper OS before trying to download and install anything.

If you're providing a hard drive with the new build you're giving your friend, you should be able to hook her old one up either as a slave or external drive, and copy all her stuff over that way.

 

Thanks Mimsy. I put the Gateway MB into her comp and I'm trying to get the ethernet, video and any other drivers, to see if I can save her system 1st.
If that fails, I will go with the option of building another system and then transferring files.

 

Oh, in that case you should be able to hook the hard drive back up, and then just call Microsoft and tell them you had to replace the motherboard and you need to reactivate Windows.

Suggestion: Skip past all the automated BS and talk to a person. It's one of their people in India/somewhere, but it works way better than the auto-system. I went through six failed automated attempts, and got it reactivated on my new motherboard with a real person on the first try.

 

Here's where I'm at right now. I did put her hard drive into another computer. Her Emachine had not only a bad motherboard, but the power supply went kablooey.
She has 2 small kids and the inside and outside of her Emachine looks like a dumpster outside a butcher shop.
I did a system recovery and did back-up all files.
I can find the files under my computer, local disc C, my back-up, but don't know how to put them back into place.

Any ideas?