Need replacement computer compatible with a HP Pavilion m7300e hard drive

[tenntex]

My Pavilion HP m7300e computer has a failed motherboard.  I want to find a compatible computer that will allow me to use my hard drive from the m7300e as the C: drive.  The m7300e is the Windows Media Center system, and the computer used the AMD 64x2 chipset.  Is there a source that will suggest options for this?

[TheOldMan]

That is fairly old for computer equipment.  There is a good chance on a replacement motherboard: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-COMPAQ-AMBERINEM-GL6E-ASUS-A8AE-LE-S-939-MOTHERBOARD-/220744977699?pt=Mot...

If the thought of an EBay purchase is not out of the question.

[tenntex]

Thank you for pointing me to this auction.  If the board looks like it will work, I will buy it.  The repair center that told me my board was bad, also suggested replacing the processor.  Would you recommend going with a newer version AMD, or try to find an exact replacement?

[TheOldMan]

That is up to you and the chances that the CPU is still good.  That is old equipment.  If the chance of a defective CPU is rather high, maybe replacing the CPU and motherboard together would be a better idea.  With the CPU being a Socket 939, there are scarce and more expensive that say a Athlon X2

Here are some choices: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-A8M2N-LA-Motherboard-HP-NodusM3-GL8E-Socket-AM2-PC-/330694670757?pt=Mot...

or http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-A8M2N-LA-HP-NODUSM3-GL8E-5188-5622-GeForce-6150-/270624592161?pt=Mother...

and a CPU   http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-Athlon-64-X2-4800-Energy-Efficient-2-5-GHz-Dual-Core-ADO4800IAA5DO-/2209...

Just a thought, I take no resposiblity for you actions.  You would end up with a dual core CPU.  I myself bought a motherboard and CPU from EBay to play with and ended up with a computer.

[tenntex]

 I really appreciate your helpful responses.  I have ordered the motherboard from the eBay source you sent.  I will also buy a new (or maybe used) CPU as a safety precaution.  I have found several listings for the AMD 64x2 939 base chip.  You get 4 gold stars from me for your help.  Thanks.

[satnamcat]

Reads like you have knowlege of how to access the hard drive for the m7300e desktop PC. I'd appreciate you taking a moment to talk me through to its location and how to remove it (I've the same unit).  Or, if you have photographs, that would be even better. Thank you!

[tenntex]

Replacing the physical hard drive was fairly easy.  Remove the left side of the case.  Remove the front cover panel.  Undo the screws holding the media drive in place and pull it out of the case.  The hard drive is attached to the media drive case.  There are cables that need to be removed also. (HP has very clear instructions in their owner manuals for doing this, on their website.)

The simplicity stops at this point.  I have been fighting compatibility problems for months in doing a hard drive swap.  Microsoft Windows license was lost, as well as Microsoft Office.  I am operating in a cobbled fashion now, but could not be operating at all if I had not had access to our IT guy and Microsoft developers tools.  If I had it to do over again, I would not try to move my hard drive from Computer A to Computer B with the expectation that when I did it I would have a running system based on the moved hard drive.  Sorry, but them's the cold, harsh facts.

I have since bought two more newer HP Media Center PC's, installed Windows 7 Ultimate, new Windows Office, and transferred old programs from old drives via Laplink PCMover.  I installed Virtual PC and Windows XP on each of the machines.  This turns out to not be a satisfactory solution to continue using some XP applications with Windows 7.  At this point, I have concluded that "you can't get there from here". 

Sorry for the lengthy reply, but if you are trying to do a drive swap, be prepared for a lot of disappointment.

[satnamcat]

Thank you for your prompt reponse. To be clear, are you saying that were I to install a new hard drive and transfer a backup file from the former to said drive, there may be technical issues?

[tenntex]

If you are only talking about moving/copying files, not the OS or installed programs, then I do not believe there will be a problem.  In my case, what I was trying to do was take a working hard drive out of a computer in which the motherboard failed, and use the working hard drive in another, newer computer box.  The goal was for the salvaged working drive to be the primary (boot) drive, and I would have all of my programs and data intact.  The reality was Windows OS did not recognize the replacement computer box, and would not let me start Windows.  Windows OS (license key) appears to want to see the same hardware when it starts that it was in when originally installed.  I had to replace the Windows license key in order to use the Windows OS on the saved hard drive in a newer box.  You cannot get this from Microsoft for XP anymore.  Also, changing the Windows OS license key caused numerous other problems with programs that had been installed on the drive.  In my childlike faith, I believed I owned the OS and installed programs (all legitimate) on the salvaged working drive.  Microsoft evidently does not see it that way.  Please let me know if this answered your question. 

[wb2001]

satnamcat,

You jumped into this post, but your topic line is different.

Do you actually have a working m7300e, but the hard drive failed?

You said "were I to install a new hard drive".

An XP OS for your m7300e can be purchased here:

http://www.computersurgeons.com/SearchProducts.aspx?sbt=m7300e&bkm=Results#Results