Modding questions

[NarkotikBuzz]

Pretty soon i am going to be building my new rig, and was planning on using the case from my previous Dell. I will be modding it of course, and i am wondering if the plug wires from the front inputs, like the power button, etc. are the same as on other cases so i can just plug it into my new board, or does Dell use some unique plug that only works with dell boards. The case is about 4-5 years old, and hinges when you open it so it makes an "L" shape while it is open. It is a cool case and has alot of potential for modding, i just need to know if the front panel wires will work or not. If not i need some ideas, or a how to guide on putting in a new front panel with the power button, hard drive lights, etc. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I will post some pics of the case so i can get some feedback, and maybe some ideas on how i should mod it.

[Favu]

I can't claim to know too much about the wires, but I would assume that they are standard. However you might have to mod a new back plate and you may also have to mod the motherboard standoffs, as I believe these are proprietary on dell cases.

[cadaveca]

The wires will work for the switches, electrically, however if there is a custom connector on teh mobo side, that may need to be cut-off so as to be able to wire the board correctly. you need to figure out which wires are which to confirm, as Dell have been known to use propriatary conenctors in teh past.

[NarkotikBuzz]

Well, it turns out that i wont be able to use the old Dell case after all.....it is for mini-atx boards.......so i will either get a new case, or just recycle my current case for my new build. I will be re-using some of my current hardware anyway. I plan on re-using my optical drives, and my hard drives. Just a quick question.....when i do the new build, if i use my current hard drives, and dont reformat them, and then i set it up to boot from the one with windows on it, can i do that and get it to work? Or will i have to erase all my data and start over form scratch. That will suck, because everytime i reinstall windows i have to call MS, and then they ask me why i am reinstalling again, and i hate having to call them.

[Samuknow]

It all depends on what your changing. A mobo change may cause a problem.

[MONKEYMAN]

Unless it is the same chipset I have found even uninstalling the previous drivers does not work.

Windows reinstall for sure, and technically if you are using an OEM copy then a new license as well.

[booman]

Yeah, how does that work with Windows?
When you authorize Windows over the internet does Microsoft keep a record of your hardware so if you try to install the same Windows on another machine Microsoft will know that its allready installed on the first?
I would suggest a complete reformat and re-install. But I have been told that you can re-install up to 3 times before you have to call Microsoft.
And legally they have to let you install your Operating System as long as its not on multiple computers.
Good Luck.
Make sure to take a lot of pictures along the way.
Oh, and take a picture of the origional case so we can see where you started. I made the mistake of not doing that a few times.