Help with new computer

[Abc1230]

First of all, thank you very much to everyone who helped me in my other thread. I fell that I'm much more knowledgeable now because of it and I probably wouldn't be where I am now without you guys :thumbsup:

 

I actually ended up getting something completely different than what I intended due to my uncle's recommendation (He's an electrical engineer, so I think he made a good choice.) I wound up getting these two things:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1147246&SRCCODE=WEBLET03SHIP&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03SHIP-_-03ship

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6371304&SRCCODE=WEBLET03SHIP&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03SHIP-_-03ship

 

The first one is a completely pre-assembled computer and the second is a 60 GB SSD. I have two main questions now.

 

1. I can't install the SSD. I'm pretty sure I just need to plug two cables in, but I don't have them in the computer. What are they and where can I get them? I'm pretty sure it's a SATA II cable or something, but I really don't know. I figured this out.

 

2. How do I get everything from my current laptop and put it on my desktop? You guys suggested this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392032

before. From what I understand, I can use my laptop HDD in the USB port thing. Will I be able to copy everything over to the desktop? What I want to do is pretty much have exactly what I have on my laptop now on my desktop. I mean absolutely everything. Will I keep my cookies and stuff if I do that? If so, that's exactly what I want and you can disregard this question.

 

I'm probably leaving some stuff out. Please let me know what that is and I'll post in this thread as quickly as possible.

[JeRambo]

For #2 there's several things you can do ..

 

Burn files to a CD then transfer to new PC.

Enable file sharing on both computers and connect them using a crossover network cable.

Put it all on a USB drive and transfer to the laptop.

The 'best' would be to install the old hard drive in your new system .. but yeah ..lol.

 

Your new computer has an eSATA port i'm not sure if that works with SATA II? I'm not really an expert lol :P

 

Best to do some google searches or ask that uncle of yours. :D

 

EDIT: Would this work as a connection?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6631930&CatId=3770

[Sbrideau]

From the experience I had with Lenovo (as in: half the people that rented lenovo laptops from college needed to have the motherboard changed) I would stay the hell away from that brand.

[Gandorf61]

You'll need to reinstall programs, reset preferences and all that on your desktop. For copying your files over, if they aren't too big and you have a fairly big usb you could use that, otherwise perhaps a crossover ethernet cable. (Not too sure about this since I've never had to connect this way)

 

From the experience I had with Lenovo (as in: half the people that rented lenovo laptops from college needed to have the motherboard changed) I would stay the hell away from that brand.

 

I have a lenovo laptop right now and it's the best laptop I've ever owned. Might just depend on the model though. *shrug*

[Corvus]

As long as both computers are using the same operating system and you put the files in the right place most things should copy over properly with the exception of a few specific files that are inaccessable (you should be able to copy everything besides Low files[you don't need to copy them so don't worry] if you enable viewing hidden files and disable the protection of system files) though if you are not selective about it you will be spending a horribly long time transfering files due to the sheer number of them (copy and delete times are not just defined by total size, as the overhead really adds up copying extremely small files.) and you will be forced to reinstall software as just copying the executables over tends to make them not work anymore due to the old registery values not being transfered.

As for how to actually go about transfering files, I would suggest using an external hard drive or file sharing across your home network as these are generally the easiest methods and they don't require you to dismantle and re assemble your laptop which you can probably still use to some degree. (or if you are willing to spend a really long time doing an easy to set up method of transfering, you could always use dropbox to move the files between the 2 computers you will just end up eating up your bandwidth limit if you have one and it will take a fairly long time)

[Guy]

Prebuilts are pretty much invariably more expensive. This is especially true for large-name brands such as Lenovo, less so for smaller brands but the point definitely still stands. Even the combo your linked on the other thread (here) is better in some regards (dedicated graphics card, apart from anything else). You wanted it for gaming, and I can tell you that you're not going to be doing a lot of gaming on Intel HD2000 graphics, let alone CAD. You could even build the prebuilt with the same specs and get a good motherboard + power supply out of it for the same or less.

 

To transfer data, unscrew and unplug the hard drive from your laptop and plug it into your desktop using SATA cables + power cables. That thing you linked will give you access to the drive in a different way, but with the same effect (apart from lower transfer rates) than attaching it through SATA).

[Corvus]

Prebuilts are pretty much invariably more expensive. This is especially true for large-name brands such as Lenovo, less so for smaller brands but the point definitely still stands. Even the combo your linked on the other thread (here) is better in some regards (dedicated graphics card, apart from anything else). You wanted it for gaming, and I can tell you that you're not going to be doing a lot of gaming on Intel HD2000 graphics, let alone CAD. You could even build the prebuilt with the same specs and get a good motherboard + power supply out of it for the same or less.

 

To transfer data, unscrew and unplug the hard drive from your laptop and plug it into your desktop using SATA cables + power cables. That thing you linked will give you access to the drive in a different way, but with the same effect (apart from lower transfer rates) than attaching it through SATA).

 

Well, the thing is that the Computer may not support transfering data like that, as the case only supports 2 Hard drives from what I can tell of the Documentation (Which is not very helpful) which is a problem when trying to connect 3 total hard drives (The SSD for the OS, the destination HD, and the Laptop HD) not to mention the motherboard only supporting a total of 4 SATA connections which would already be connected to the 4 SATA components installed (2 hard drives, the optical drive, and a 5.5" drive bay (the bay may support the third drive, but I cant say for certain as 5.5" bays are generally used for optical drives not HDs.)

[Abc1230]

I've read everything you guys said and I was actually able to figure out how to transfer the stuff over the network or whatever. I kind of regret blindly following the suggestion, but it's too late to feel bad about it. I already have it and so far it's working okay. Hopefully everything will be done transferring by tomorrow morning (It's going really slowly), so then I should almost be good to go. How do I get my OS on the SSD? Will there be room for other stuff? What's the first thing I should upgrade?

[Guy]

To get the OS onto the SSD you need to reinstall it, although I guess you could image it over. The absolute first thing you should do is get a dedicated graphics card.

[Abc1230]

To get the OS onto the SSD you need to reinstall it, although I guess you could image it over.

How do I do that?

 

What does a graphics card actually do? How will a dedicated graphics card enhance my performance?

[Askthedude]

Don't image the OS onto the SSD, as imaging programs don't take into account partition alignments and you won't experience the full speed of the SSD. Reinstall.

 

A dedicaded graphics card will do what it says, it's dedicated to producing the graphics you see on screen. Integrated chips like the HD2000 you have are fine for watching HD streams or playing old games like CS 1.6 but will struggle for anything else gaming related. Meaning

I'll mostly be using it for gaming and CAD

is pretty much a no go for you unless you add in a GPU.

[Abc1230]

How do I reinstall Windows 7? It came with a CD that I think I'm supposed to use. Whenever I look up what to do, it says there should be a "boot from CD" option when I restart my computer, but that doesn't show up.

[JPMC Mate]

Go into BIOS, change boot settings to CD first, then it should work.

[Abc1230]

Go into BIOS, change boot settings to CD first, then it should work.

I was able to do that, but my monitor shifts everything to the left a good half inch by default. I don't know how to change it, so I don't know what the computer is asking me to do because the instructions are cut off. It's really frustrating.