I got the "Enermax Ostrog GT Blue (3 5.25, 8 3.5) 3 Fans, Audio/USB 3.0."

Good choice - excellent cooling in that one. Plus it took $10 off the cost...

I haven't received the new PC yet but in the meantime I was wondering how I can transfer anything from the old PC to the new PC and also what to do with the old one.

Robert

You can move things like documents and photos by copying them to a flash drive and then from the flash drive to the new computer. If you have actual programs you want to keep, you will need to reinstall them on the new computer.

Personally, it this is an old computer, I'd keep it for the old games you can't play on a new system!

I'm sure I don't need to say this, but since I DID have a friend call me once about it when setting up a new computer... make sure you plug your monitor into your new video card, not the motherboard video card!

I vote for keeping the old one around also.

I don't remember if they give you instructions to open up your case when you receive the computer, but do so, because they pack stuff inside to keep it from moving around.

I'm thinking more along the lines of donating the old PC to a local church - they have a fund raising at least once a year to raise money by selling - for a very good price - old PCs. The only problem I'm having is reaching a friend of mine who belongs to the church to arrange that - hopefully that will happen.

Actually the old PC probably needs a new power supply because whenever we have a power outage and the PC was on I am unable to power it up by hitting the power button. The only way I can get it to power up is to use a hair dryer to blow into the fan area of the power supply and then it powers up automatically. I did use a method I saw on Youtube to check out the supply and it passed that test. I guess it's possible there is a bad connection??

So I'll be sure to mention that to my friend - if he thinks it's worth it, if not I may have to scrap it.

I still have an HP laptop - which is much newer than the old desktop so I can run old games/programs from there.

Robert

That doesn't sound like a power supply problem, but it may be the switch or a connection. Hard to know. Are you able to power it back on with the switch after you shut it down normally?

If you give it away or scrap it, be sure there is nothing personal on that hard drive. If there is an option to reset it back to factory defaults, that would be a good idea.

What operating system do you have on that laptop?

Does it power back on after being shut off normally (Start button --> Shut down) ?
Or is it showing problems there too.
It 'could' be the power supply is starting to go, though I've never heard of blowing a hair dryer into a power supply to help start it up.

You should probably get a UPS so you have a few minutes to turn off the computer normally when there is a power outage. Otherwise suddenly losing power when it's on could corrupt Windows files -- especially recent versions of Windows that always seem to start doing something in the background when you're not using the computer.

Yes, the PC turns back on with the power button after a normal power off. The problem happens only if power is lost because of a power outage. I realize the "hair dryer" solution is a little unusual but I figure whatever works to get a PC working I'll do. I saw this idea on Youtube - where else - right?

My Laptop has Windows 10 on it.

The UPS idea is probably a good one.

There is one thing I just realized with eCollege and that is they immediately charge your credit card the day you place your order - which was 05/04 - I would have thought they'd at least wait until the unit is assembled and ready to ship but maybe that's just me. I'm hoping to hear from them shortly; as of today I haven't heard anything. I do realize it's only been about 3 business days....just impatient I guess.

Robert

Their website says they ship in 5 to 7 business days.

If you want to play older games, Windows 10 might not play them if they have any kind of DRM on the disks.

1, My PC is to be delivered today - 05/13 - I just ran a clean installation of Windows 10 on my old PC, is that enough or do I have to run some other program(s) to wipe the hard drive?

2. I just received the PC. Right now I'm a little confused - but I haven't looked at everything yet. But it looks like I have to install some components, is that normal? If it is I will be a little disappointed considering what I paid for it. I can't check it out until tomorrow so maybe I should wait until then to come to any conclusions.

Thanks,

Robert

A clean install of Windows 10 should do it.

What makes you think you have to install components? What components are you talking about? You should just be able to plug in your power cord, monitor (to the video card, not the motherboard), your mouse, your keyboard, your Ethernet or however you connect to the internet and any other peripherals you might have and be good to go. Assuming you have a printer, you will need to install the printer drivers.

Not sure what you mean here...

I powered on the system this morning and, so far, everything seems to be running ok.

Here is what I received with the PC:

20 - what looks like plastic guides.
CPU installation tool.
SLI HB Bridge (whatever that is)
Some kind of jumper block.
Four fasteners.
Jumper cable.
MSI Graphic Card User Guide.
ASUS User Guide.
Prime Z270-A Series DVD
Driver and Utility DVD for MSI nVidia.
Windows 10 DVD (Windows 10 is already installed.)

According to my order form Windows 10 should be "DVD + COA" the Windows 10 DVD I received states "not a COA" - not sure, if anything, what that means.

As far as the other DVDs I wonder if I should run them or just keep for backup.

So, you were right, there was no assembly required. I guess the hardware I received is for any future changes or if there is a problem.

I was a little surprised as to how big the unit was.

My monitor has an HDMI connection so, as far as I can see, can only be plugged into one place on the PC. Is that what you meant by video card versus mother board?

I loaded Syberia 3 and it's working fine. I wish I could figure out how to use a controller instead of the keyboard.

Thanks for your help.

Robert

What you are looking at is all the parts that were left over from the assembly. You get a lot of parts you don't use when you purchase a motherboard and a case. They just sent you all the leftover parts! I have a big box with leftover parts from computers I've built over the years.

All those discs are drivers for the motherboard, the video card or other components. It's the same as if you purchased these components yourself. eCollegePC has already installed the drivers and they are just for you to keep. in case you ever need them.

Not sure about the Windows 10 DVD, but I suspect somewhere on there is a Windows 10 key. The last builders version of Windows 10 I installed a few weeks ago had a sticker on the little cardboard sleeve. It was a "scratch off" covering which I was able to peel off and stick on the side of the case, so the key wouldn't be lost.

You have two places to plug in an HDMI connection to your monitor. The motherboard connections are all in a group most likely higher up on the back. That will have all the USB connections, sound card, ethernet etc. Your video card will be in a horizontal position lower down. It will have all the connections you need for the monitor including an HDMI connection there.

OK, Robert, it's been a week or so now... I'm dying to know how you are getting on with your new computer!!

Draclvr,

Sorry, I've been playing Syberia 3 and hadn't checked back to the forum.

As far as the PC is concerned everything is fine. You were right about the HDMI connection
I had it in the wrong place and someone named Pete at eCollege helped straighten me out. I will say, they do respond fast to any questions - at least during business hours.

This PC has to be the quietest tower I'v ever had and I've been buying them since 1993;
when I retired.

My plan is to start playing more adventure games and break away from the Big Fish type games
now that I have a PC that handle just about anything new out there.

As far as Syberia 3 I have to say I was disappointed just like many others. It was tough to
navigate - even with a controller - and I really didn't like the ending.

In any event the PC is humming.........thanks for the reference.

Now I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my old HP PC. My friend who used to take
old PCs and donate them to a church for flea market type sales said the church stopped taking
PCs so I'll have to think of something else.

Robert

Glad you like the new PC rmelone!

That's good to hear! The customer service at eCollegePC is one of the reasons I recommend them.

Sometimes the only thing to do with an old PC is take out the hard drive and destroy it and take it in to an electronic recycling place.

You can always just put the old PC away in a closet. As long as it still works, it may be useful to have it around as a backup in case the new one gets a virus or something and has to go to computer hospital.

If you really don't want it in the house, you can try craigslist and see if there's someone in your area who will come pick it up.