Im getting a new base pc soon, and it comes with a sata 2 hd, i was wondering if i could use my sata drive from my old pc on that motherboard with the sata 2 drive (so theyre both running)

the sata hd contains data from my other pc (which id like to keep and use 'games and game saves etc) would that work or would i have to wipe the drive, or would it just not work anyway as ones sata and ones sata2?

thanxSATA will run on SATA2 connections...
HOWEVER since you are installing it on new hardware chances are it will not boot properly so you have 2 choices:
1) Hook it up on SATA2 or higher mboard connector and retrieve your important data...
Or
2)Repair Install of XPso I could just install the old sata drive into the new pc alongside the sata2 drive and run the WINDOWS cd drom boot then repair?

Yes.
But those instructions need to be followed to the letter...read them first and then print out a copy for reference before starting.I forgot to mention, im on vista premium

To hook my sata drive to the new motherboard holding the sata2 drive, how would i do that to retrieve data. The machine comes with vista premimum installed... the machine im getting is : http://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/system/mega_sales_II/d do you have a link that explains how i copy data from the old drive?

Im a noob at this as you can tell, and i really appreciate your patients and help.No problem...
But define what data exactly you need from the other drive...programs cannot be copied and expect to run...they need to be re-installed.
There is a beast in Windows called Files and Settings Transfer Wizard but i have yet to have it work successfully on any machine i've tried...

Let us KNOW.basically game saves.....and 'things' ive dl'd but can only reinstall from the files on my hd :-" (just data files and pictures etc) so if u know of a link that explains how to transfere raw data id really appreciate it

and thats about 100 gig of files........... ive ordered that pc.. it comes with a blank formated hd...no o/s... i have the windows cd that shipped with my DELL pc, so i was thinking just to load visat ONTO the machine with that cd, seeing as the dell pc is now dust, and i paid for that o/s........i have the keys etc, so i dont think it would be a problem (or would the install check if its a dell pc)

Thanx again for ur replies

one more thing i forgot to mention.. the new pc ships with PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory, i have two 1 gig modules of pc2 5300 ddr2 ram, would that be compatible with the new motherboard?The Dell CD is tied to the machine it shipped with...i'm afraid you are going to need a Windows CD.

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one more thing i forgot to mention.. the new pc ships with PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory, i have two 1 gig modules of pc2 5300 ddr2 ram, would that be compatible with the new motherboard?