Question for those who've built their own computer

[basschair]

Wow...I just got back to my computer this afternoon, and saw all of these replies. Everything has been helpful, and thank you all. I think what I may do is go to the complete replacement computer, learn how to do the full build, install, comfiguration, etc. That way, I may make the move over to WinXP on new drives, and then transfer over the recording software...assuming that PT 5.3.1 successfully loads 5.1.1 files? Again, thanks guys!

[DanyL]

Try MAX BLAST plus from Maxtor(Even if your drive is not). It's free from Maxtor website
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/dow...st_plus_ii.htm

You can make an exact clone of your hard drive.

[DanyL]

Sorry wrong answer... my fault.
You need one of your drive to be a Maxtor.
I did this op with an old Fujitsu drive and it works, but I have 2 other Maxtor drives inside.

[NetCline]

I agree with it is best to start fresh. You can load a new drive with the OS and then hook up the old drive as a slave and copy or use important files as needed.

Jeff

[Steve Moore]

Many copy protection schemes try and "ID" your computer by making a "fingerprint" of the setup/configuration. The idea is that if you then try to switch to a different computer it will recognize this and not authorize.

I hate copy protection, expecially this kind. It can fail even from a modest upgrade to the existing system.

As a result, depending on what software you are using w/ what specific protection your method may or may not work. In fact, you might end up worse off than before w/ something that you could never get authorized easily again.

These statements are general. I have little experience w/ most of the plugins in use here on the DUC w/ PTLE. However, I have read that some of them use this method.

I would think the dongles would be relatively safe though since they are designed to move from one machine to another in the first place, right?