Upgrading my Hardware/Software for MWLL need some guidance

[=DR.DEATH=]

Hey all, I haven't been able to play MWLL for a while because i have learned that MWLL's unstability on my PC has nothing to do with the mod, it has to do with the fact that my OS is "Win Vista 32 bit home premium edition" and my video card is the 8800 512MB Geforce from Nvidia.

This setup was awesome for me three years ago but i guess PC hardware/software gets outdated pretty fast.

I think it may finally be within my budget to upgrade my GPU(video card) and my OS.

Last time, i had geek squad build my custom PC from scratch but i really want to learn to do this stuff myself for the simple fact that doing this stuff myself will save me loads of money in the long run.

Here's my questions:

1. Is it true that when i purchase a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, that i can put the CD in my PC while it's running Vista and go through prompts and install it just as if i was installing a PC game?

2. When i do this will i have to back up files on my computer such as saved Word Proccesor Documents?

3. I purchased Microsoft Word for my PC three years ago and i lost the install CD while moving from Indiana to Georgia. Will i have to purchase/install Word all over again when i upgrade my OS?

4. When my Uncle was still alive, he once showed me a place online after i paid like 300bucks for Vista that i could have actually purchased it for like 100 bucks instead. Does anybody know if i can do this for Win 7 Ultimate 64bit?

5. When i purchase my new video card, how exactly do i go about installing it? My current theory is this(please correct me if i'm wrong):
     a. Turn of my PC, unplug everything from the tower
     b. Remove current video card from motherboard
     c. Put in new video card into Motherboard
     d. Reboot the PC
     Note: if this is how you correctly do it, what will happen when i reboot my PC?
6. What should i do first? Upgrade my OS, then upgrade my video card, or vise versa?

I am planning on constructing a new PC from scratch some time next year but i want my current 3 year old PC to reach it's potential software/hardware wise before i replace it entirely. And since i want to learn to build a new PC myself instead of paying somebody else to do it i'm considering upgrading my GPU/OS practice.

Thx for any help any ya'all can offer.

[Mitchpate]

First and foremost, you cannot upgrade a 32bit OS to a 64bit OS.  If you want to upgrade a 32bit version of Vista you'll have to go to a 32bit version of Windows7.

That said, if you do an upgrade install:

1.  Upgrading to Windows7 is pretty smooth.  I'm not sure if it's THAT smooth but it's pretty close.

2.  All your existing files will remain in the same location.  The installer will move them to your new profile.

3.  All your existing software will remain installed.  I recommend you use Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder to rip and backup your CD keys.  Since you don't know your CD keys it'll make installing them again in the future actually possible.

4.  The $200-400 range is for full retail.  He was referring to purchasing an OEM version, which is significantly cheaper.  Search for it at www.newegg.com or similar retailers.

5.  This process is mostly correct.  Before removing the existing card you need to uninstall the nvidia/ATI software using add/remove programs and uninstall the drivers in device manager.  Then shutdown and swap the card and power back on.  Before buying a newer card, make sure that your power supply has the right connectors for it.  Your 8800 will likely use a 6pin power, most high-end newer cards use either 2x6pin or 1x6pin+1x8pin.  You may need to upgrade your power supply before getting a new card.

6.  Upgrade to Windows7 first.

[=KoS= Eldragon]

You can get Win 7 Home Edition x64 OEM for $100 off sites like newegg.com. However an OEM copy cannot be transferred to a new motherboard without calling Microsoft and begging for mercy. So that "all new PC" you desire some time in the near future would need another copy of windows.

You may be better off sticking with Vista 32 now, and get an OEM Windows 7 for your new scratch built PC.

[=DR.DEATH=]

You can get Win 7 Home Edition x64 OEM for $100 off sites like newegg.com. However an OEM copy cannot be transferred to a new motherboard without calling Microsoft and begging for mercy. So that "all new PC" you desire some time in the near future would need another copy of windows.

You may be better off sticking with Vista 32 now, and get an OEM Windows 7 for your new scratch built PC.

Wow thx for telling me about the 'not able to transfer to new motherboard' issue. I could of ripped myself off there. I guess i'll just be upgrading my video card for now and put the rest of my money towards my next PC building project. Thx for the info everybody.

[Nate]

Just an FYI about the video card, if your computer is using the tech from the 8800GT era your new video card will probably be a bit bottlenecked from the CPU and not give you quite as much of a performance jump as you might hope. However, this'll get fixed within a year when you do your total system upgrade, which should combined with releasing that bottleneck and upgrading the processing power of the whole system simultaneously will give you a huge boost in performance. So in the end it'll be fine, just don't get all confused if upgrading just the video card doesn't make the system run smooth like butter quite yet.

[Perigren]

Make sure your mother board has the appropriate slot for the gpu you are installing.

[ratbuddy]

Geek Squad? Yikes.

OP, how much do you actually have to spend?

[Mitchpate]

However an OEM copy cannot be transferred to a new motherboard without calling Microsoft and begging for mercy. So that "all new PC" you desire some time in the near future would need another copy of windows.

This is incorrect.  OEM copies have multiple activations as well.  When the activation wizard detects that the hardware profile has changed drastically it instructs you to do a phone activation.  Retail also does this IIRC.  This is typically automated and out of 400+ calls to them I've never had them refuse an activation, even on copies I knew were pirated.  It usually only asks "how many PCs is this software installed on" the answer is "one" and that's typically all she wrote.  More of a hassle than the instant online activation but it only takes like 5 minutes and isn't that big a deal.

Legally, you're right, that's not how OEM licensing is supposed to work.  But it does.

[Freeborn_Toad]

However an OEM copy cannot be transferred to a new motherboard without calling Microsoft and begging for mercy.

You don't really need to beg for mercy. Just tell them it will only be installed on one system when asked, and if they as why, tell them you replaced your motherboard.

I reactivate OEM copies on a bi weekly basis and if what I'm doing isn't strictly EULA kosher, none of the phone techs seem to give a shit.

I have one OEM copy of windows XP that's been activated on at least thirty different systems (usually one at a time).


A typical phone activation:

Woman speaking English in a heavy Indian accent: Hello, my name is Banu. What MS Product can I help you activate today?

Me: Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.

Miss Banu: May I have the first six digits of your activation code?

Me: 123456 (or whatever)

Miss Banu: And why will you be reactivating?

Me: Just installed a new motherboard.

Miss Banu: And how many computers wi..

Me: Just this one.

Miss Banu: Ok. I will now read the digits for box A....

*6,000 years and more digits than Pi later*

Miss Banu: Now click next and you should be activated.

Me: Ok, it worked. Than...

Banu (interupting in haste): Thank you for calling Microsoft! Goodbye! *click*

[=KoS= Eldragon]

I know that Microsoft will usually just transfer the OEM license to a new machine. But since the OP is new to this, I think its a reasonable precaution.

You are relying on Microsoft techs. Most of the time they transfer it. Only once I did have an MS tech tell me no. Guy was probably having a bad day. My motherboard died, I replaced it, tech insisted I buy a new copy of Windows.

Further, when you build the new machine and transfer the OEM license over, what happens to the old machine? It is still functional. Invalidating the OS means you need to strip it for parts or put some other OS on it. May as well leave it running and have a second fully functional PC.

[Mitchpate]

He's buying an OEM version of Windows from Newegg.  Don't make this any more complicated than it needs to be.

For all intents and purposes: OEM=Retail without official support.  Microsoft has treated it that way for over a decade now and it's not likely to change anytime soon.

When talking to MS be clear, precise, assertive, and in general give off the vibe that you've done this before and know what you're doing.  They'll pick up on that.

[The_Beast]

I got Windows 7 Enterprise 64x free 

Why is it necessary to buy OS for home use, i cant understand?

[Spooky]

I got Windows 7 Enterprise 64x free 

Why is it necessary to buy OS for home use, i cant understand?

Windows 7 Enterprise is not "free". We are not talking about warez here. Windows 7 Enterprise is sold through volume licensing to companies which have a Software Assurance contract with Microsoft. The home user version of Windows 7 Enterprise is Windows 7 Ultimate.

[The_Beast]

I got Windows 7 Enterprise 64x free 

Why is it necessary to buy OS for home use, i cant understand?

Windows 7 Enterprise is not "free". We are not talking about warez here. Windows 7 Enterprise is sold through volume licensing to companies which have a Software Assurance contract with Microsoft. The home user version of Windows 7 Enterprise is Windows 7 Ultimate.

Its free for me, was payed by my organisation 

[Gouty]

Its free for me, was payed by my organisation 

Good for you, Not a constructive post though.

However if you are employed, you can ask your IT department if they have any upgrade keys going spare.  Depends on what sort of company you work for/how relaxed it is.  You can normally get upgrade keys for a lot less than the full ones, especially if you are a student.

I can vouch for the magicjellybean software.  Its good stuff.

So, in order to get 64 bit, do a fresh install of 64bit Vista using your old Vista Key (recovered using magicjellybean) and then upgrade it.