My home computer is acting up. I built it myself, it was my first and it was a frustrating/4-weeks later satisfying process.
Background: For the last year of two, after turning it off it would often click with all the lights on the front of the case, speakers and keyboard flashing at the same time as the clicking. Sometimes it would sound as if it were 'winding down', sometimes not. The only way to stop it would be to hit the power switch on the back of the case.
The other day I'd used the machine for about an hour, turned it off (always using the normal Windows shutdown method) then turned off the switch in the back. About 10 minutes later I turned it back on, it sounded like it had turned on but the monitor was black with the tri-colored box with a statement (NO SIGNAL). I didn't notice if the HD light was on or off.
Two days ago it started up and ran "normally"
I've talked to 3 people and had 3 suggestions, HD, Power Supply and Mother Board
I want to add a second HD, I'm a rank amateur inside PC's, this being my first and only build. It has a Maxtor D740X Ultra ATA133 and an MSI KT3 MS-6380 motherboard. I want to do it as painlessly and inexpensively as possible.
I found only one Ultra ATA HD at
Once I install the new HD, what's the easiest way to get programs and data to it?
Thanks and sorry for the OT