rac43

My first post and I have searched this forum and can't find my answer. I really want to upgrade my system.
Currently have:
Athlon XP 1.6mz
Chaintech 7VJL Apogee MB
1024mb DDR sdram
Gforce FX5900 XT (128meg)
75 Gig H drive

I do alot of graphics work and my sytem has slowly but surly started to slow down. CPU shows 98-99% usage most of the time.
Here is my question. I must keep my HD info. Years of data. Should I get another MD and CPU or possible get another computer and jet my data on HD transfered to new system? In a quandry and advise would be appreciated.
Thanks

Nightrain

what os are you using? and are you asking for a new computer build or u looking for a way to fix what you have. if ur looking for a new comp then whats ur budget. if ur running windows you can simply use the old hard drive in the new computer and call microsoft when you get the prompt that you need to redo windows and theyl give you a key. then wammo u got a new computer and can use ur old hard drive...(or u can get a new faster hard drive and a new os and ur comp will most likely be faster and just use the existing hdd as a slave and be able to access all ur info from there)...i do suggest making a backup of ur important information because the drive is probably getting to the point where its gonna give within a year or two or so.

ya so need a little more info on what your plans are and how you want to go about things...

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rac43

Thanks Nightrain,
I use XP Pro 2 and really like the idea about getting a new computer and using my existing HD as a slave. Now, if slave has XPPro loaded as op system and new Computer has it's own OP sys on new drive, will my old XP on slave HD conflict with new system??? The AMD AM2 DualCore 3800 looks killer for my use.

Garyj881

No, but what i would do is put xp on a new drive, transfer all your data from old drive onto new then format the old drive then return all your data to a nicel reformatted clean virus and bug free drive using it as a backup.

Gary

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rac43

Ok, can get a good deal on a HP 1357. Comes with a AMD Ath64- 2, 4200 dual core, 250gig HD, Win XP Media and 1 gig 3200 ram. Question I have is if I puit my existing HD in as a slave and transfer all data to primary, will my programs still all work? Norton Sytem works, Norton Firewall, on and on. I think it is a hell of a good idea doing what Gary suggest above but do you folks think all my programs will still work after copying to a new hard drive?