Will I lose ANY data whatsoever if I move all the components of my PC into a new case?

Question

I'm currently using a Cooler Master Praetorian (older version) as my case. It is extremely noisy because it uses 3 80 mm fans... I want to get a new case that will make less noise. If I unplug all my components from the motherboard/PSU, will there be any data loss ?

Okay, WOW! Thank you everyone for your help and your very long and detailed answers. MUCH appreciated.

Answer 1

No, you won't lose data. All of your personal data is on the hard drive(s), and nowhere else. Just make sure you don't damage the hard drive or put it next to anything with a strong magnetic field (such as a subwoofer), and you should be fine.

None of the other components contain any of your data, but I would still recommend being very careful with them. If the computer is more than a year old or so, damaging something like the motherboard could be very costly, because you *might* not be able to find a motherboard that will be compatible with your CPU/RAM/video card/etc and you could end up replacing those items too.

But as far as keeping your data safe, all you really need to worry about is the hard drive.

Besides dropping it or accidentally demagnetizing it, you could (theoretically) damage it by plugging it in wrong (although this is very unlikely, I suppose with some hard drives it might be possible) or by an accidental discharge of static electricity. This is called Electrostatic Discharge, or ESD for short. Most electronics are ESD sensitive to some degree, although most of the consumer-grade parts you're likely to find in a typical PC are fairly well protected against ESD these days, with special coatings, metal enclosures, etc. However, it is still theoretically possible to damage a hard drive by not taking precautions against ESD. However, you don't really need to take all the same precautions as someone in an electronics lab would. That would be overkill. Just make sure you ground yourself to something first, such as large metal table, or a metal filing cabinet, or maybe a metal window frame. Just find something big and metal and touch your finger on it. Only then should you pick up the hard drive. And don't wear clothes that generate lots of static, like a big wool sweater, or wearing just socks while walking on carpet. An ESD wriststrap connected to a good ground never hurts, but like I said for handling a hard drive (or for that matter most typical PC components), that's probably overkill.

Anyway, this is a rather long-winded answer, but the bottom line is just be careful while handling the hard drive and you won't lose any data.

Answer 2

No, your data will be safe, moving the board to a different case will not reduce the noise that much. Before you begin Make sure the mounts for the board line up with the new case...

You could try to get a better fan. or wrap your or with styrophome..

Answer 3

no, data will be fine if componants are disconnected. do it all the time, i currently run 6 hard drives in my computer, no not partitions hard drives.
but the case would not be noisey it would be the fans.
spend a bit extra and buy some nice new ball bearing fans they will be super quiet and last a long time.

Answer 4

No loss as long as you don't blow anything with static electricity, and you use all of the same components. Different components have different driver files.

Answer 5

Everything should be cool if you don't mess up your hard drive. Before you open the tower and touch anything inside, touch any grounded metal to release any static electricity.

Answer 6

You shouldnt. Just make sure you put all the connectors exactly where they came from (hard drives, disk drives) etc, put all cards back in the exact slots! Make sure you have it unplugged and use a static strap grounded to the case.

Answer 7

So long as you are careful with your hard drive, I don't see any reason why you'd lose data.

Just be careful of electrostatic discharge!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_discharge



Good luck!

Answer 8

no you won't be able to likely you may bypass your computer not straightforward disk or SSD and use with it some adapter (SSD because that's), yet with the exception of that no different computer ingredient may be utilized in computer

Answer 9

Your data is stored on your hard drives!

You will not lose anything!

Computer Help Page

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ http://oss.netfarm.it/winpe/
http://www.paraglidernc.com/ http://www.bootcd.us/

VISTA Upgrade or Requirements

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

http://www.diskgenius.com/

http://www.pcbeginner.com/tools/pcdoctor.htm

http://www.pcguide.com/byop/index.htm

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/ntfs-boot-iso.html

http://www.disk-image.net/products.htm

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

http://www.errornuker.com/info/01.php?hop=product1

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads2.html

http://www.ntcompatible.com/Acronis_True_Image_9.0_Build_2337_s61449.html

http://www.theosfiles.com/

http://www.data-recovery-reviews.com/windows-startup-disasterrecovery.htm?gclid=CMSl0b7X2YcCFSJxYAodKy6Lpw

http://www.winternals.com/

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,25181-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/Windows-XP-PowerPacker.shtml

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,674406,00.asp

http://windows.about.com/od/tipsarchive/l/bltip632.htm
Visit our Helpdesk for PC Bug Doctor
http://www.maximumsoftwaresupport.com
PC Beginner software
http://www.pchell.com/support/limitedconnectivity.shtml
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
http://www.bootdisk.com/utility.htm
Chapter 1: Purchasing Components
Chapter 2: Component Overview
Chapter 3: Installing the CPU, Heatsink, and RAM On The Mainboard
Chapter 4: Installing The Mainboard In The Case
Chapter 5: Installing Drives
Chapter 6: Connecting Components
Chapter 7: Installing AGP and PCI Cards
Chapter 8: Testing the System and Completing Assembly
Chapter 9: Installing Windows XP
Chapter 10: Configuring Windows XP
Chapter 11: Installing A Dual Boot Operating System (Linux And Windows XP)
Chapter 12: Home Video -- “So, You Want to Be the Next Steven Spielberg?”
Chapter 13: What’s Next?

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4007.html
http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/
http://www.free-pc-checkup.com/
http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/?ref=Googlebspeed
http://pcperformancetools.com/recovermyfiles.htm
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/...
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-100459...
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/...
http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/...
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using...
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/co...

BUILD YOU OWN COMPUTER:
www.directron.com
www.newegg.com

A Good PC Cleaner

http://www.pc-error-cleaner.com/?gclid=COzW8YTD0ogCFRL1YgodAD0pbg

NTFS Boot Disk:

http://www.ntfs.com/boot_disk_includes.htm

To place Active@ KillDisk Pro onto a floppy disk type the following at the command prompt:
COPY G:\KILLDISK.EXE A:
COPY G:\DOS4GW.EXE A:
The above assumes that the G:\ drive is the bootable CD-ROM drive and the A:\ drive is the floppy disk drive.
DOS4GW.EXE is a required file for Active@ KillDisk, Active@ UNERASER and Active@ Disk Image.

http://www.download.com/BartPE-Bootable-Live-Windows-CD-DVD/3000-2094_4-10611130.html

Answer 10

no youwon't loose it until and unless you you change the previuos factory