JakeC wrote
Rod Speed wrote
JakeC wrote

I would like to upgrade my PC to a Intel Core 2. However, I've found
so far that I may have problems with hard drives that I'm using.
Right now I have two 200GB IDE HD, one CD-RW and one DVD-RW. If the motherboards for Core 2 only
have one IDE/PATA connector and a SATA connector, then what options do I have to keep my two
HDs, CD and DVD drives in the new PC?

Get a motherboard with more than one IDE port.

Would you suggest nVidia chipset?

I havent checked that myself recently.

With the latest intel chipsets, the IDE ports are provided by others
so the number of IDE ports isnt determined by the chipset anymore.

Get an IDE card for the new PC, they dont cost much.
Get IDE/SATA converters for the two hard drives.
Put the hard drives in external housings that connect using USB2.
Stop using the CD-RW and just use the DVD-RW and put the DVD-RW in
an external housing.

I have never used SATA HD, and I would prefer not to re-install the OS and other programs.

You can clone the boot drive to a SATA HD.

How do I do that?

Just use a decent cloner. I like True Image myself.

You can use it for backups after you have used it for cloning.

You just install it, create what it calls the 'rescue' CD.
Boot that, and the clone option stands out like dogs balls on the initial screen.