I have a perfectly running system on a relatively slow platform with sufficient but not "plenty" of memory. It is an Asus mainboard with a 250MHz cpu and 256MB memory (386). It is configured for the onboard graphics adapter but I never could get it to work.

I have acquired a substantially faster platform 1Ghz cpu with 1.5GB memory and a TNT Exterminator GA.

Now for my question. Can I just boot up the same system and have it recognize all the new hardware? If not what is the best way to migrate (sufficiently sized spare HD will be a problem). TIA.

Are you still running Mandrake 9.2? If yes, it is probably worth the update at this time. I still have a 9.2 MDk system, on a triple boot system. It works, but there is a lot of new stuff available on a newer version. I keep it around because I have an older flat bed scanner that I only got to work on 9.2.

I'm not sure I understand what the new hardware is. You said CPU, Are you just upgrading the CPU chip and not the system board? If you are keeping the same system board, where is the clocking for the CPU? I'm guessing the system board through jumpers or switches. Does the clocking support the highest speed of the new CPU?

New memory, if it plugs into the system board, just add it. Linux will start to use it. This should not be a problem.

The TNT video card will probably require a different driver from what ever you are using now. If you are using MDK 9.2 I would suggest you do some research and find out what driver supports the card, and see if you have it. If you do, then you can reconfigure the video through MCC.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply. I am running 10.1. As for the hardware, it is a radical change. Entirely new platform. I'm going from a MMX overclocked 265MHz cpu on an Asus (33MHz I think) board to a K7T Turbo mainboard with a 1.2Ghz Athalon cpu.

I'm not really worried about the GA at this point as I figured I'd have to reconfig since my SIS chipset was not really supported on Mandrake anyway. Plus I don't really need graphics since this is a server.

The real question is whether or not I can boot the same hard drive and have everything properly updated to run on the new hardware. I expect I will need to do some reconfig for thinks like the GA, as you mentioned, or the soundcard, etc.

My real fear, given the lack of HD space, is if I boot up the drive on the new platform will it work or will it destroy the OS? I need to know what my potential down time will be. I obviously can always restore it from backup but I want to know, in advance, if I need to go straight to a fresh install and then migrate or is it essentially plug and play at this point?

I see no reason the OS would be destroyed. Worst case, you could have a boot failure. To back out, move the drives back to the original system. It sounds like you do have a backup, that would always be my first recommendation.

Yes, sound and your graphics card, and possibly the network card are the things that may fail to work without some effort. Other than that, just be careful with connectors, and be careful to ground yourself before you handle any components. ESD can zap things. Advice form an old hardware guy.

Thanks. That is what I was looking for. It is at least worth a try. I didn't want to even bother attempting it if someone said no way, no how.