Need assistance?
Need assistance?
Hello, I assembled a new PC and only possess one hard drive. The manual suggests using two (B450 AORUS Elite) SATA devices, but I have one but also another from a different brand, year, and type. It came from a pre-built Dell Intel PC, so can I use that one? I want to check if it would work. It should run Windows Vista, and ideally just need an update. I’m short on funds and need this quickly for distance learning. My current laptop is a budget school district model. Would it start Vista and require minimal changes? Thanks!
Absolutely, that's completely unnecessary. A single drive is sufficient.
You don't have to connect two drives, I'm unsure why the motherboard suggests this—possibly they mean using a boot and storage drive? It's not strictly required. However, Ryzen isn't compatible with Windows Vista; you'd need to upgrade from Vista to Windows 10 on the original machine first, then install it on the new one. After upgrading Vista to 10, just connect it and ensure legacy is turned on. I strongly suggest a clean Windows 10 installation followed by transferring your files over, rather than using the old setup. If the old drive still functions, reinstall the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, follow the steps, and it should work with Ryzen as long as legacy remains enabled in BIOS. But since the system is still running Vista, it may attempt to boot but won't enter Windows properly.
No, Ryzen does not support Vista; the system won’t boot. You’ll have to reconnect the Vista drive to the original computer or a compatible machine and upgrade it to Windows 10 before installing it in the new setup. Keep in mind to mention the people you’re contacting if you want them to respond.
Vista should start up smoothly, give it a try. If you have a PS2 mouse and/or keyboard, you can install the missing drivers. Keep in mind these two drives might be set up in RAID on your old computer, which could affect the process. It's not always straightforward to confirm.