PC died - Transfer data

[Beef_Vegan]

I'm pretty good with PCs but trying to think about easiest less intrusive way to transfer data. I was using a used Optiplex 5080 as my surveillance PC. It froze up and died about 2 weeks ago when I was at desk. I restarted and it and then it didn't recognize my boot drive where BI is installed on restart. I entered BIOS and it was there, removed it and connected to another PC via a USB reader and it had data. When I put it back in, not even power LED on button... Swapped and removed RAM sticks, cleared CMOS, ran the various power cycling options using the button for Dells... ok so maybe PSU. Bought another, still nothing. I jumped the pins on both PSU's and fan turns on. Guessing at this point it's a motherboard.

I'm thinking about just dropping this and buying a replacement PC and just dropping the boot drive into that one. This one is an OEM versions of Win11 pro. I'm assuming i'll run into typical Windows issues but should it technically boot up and basically start BI right back where it was as long as drives mapped right? Any issues that may arise with BI? Anything to consider before doing that?

Basically, trying to do this with as little work as possible but if not then I'll just start over and transfer BI license as needed.

 

[sdkid]

I'm pretty good with PCs but trying to think about easiest less intrusive way to transfer data. I was using a used Optiplex 5080 as my surveillance PC. It froze up and died about 2 weeks ago when I was at desk. I restarted and it and then it didn't recognize my boot drive where BI is installed on restart. I entered BIOS and it was there, removed it and connected to another PC via a USB reader and it had data. When I put it back in, not even power LED on button... Swapped and removed RAM sticks, cleared CMOS, ran the various power cycling options using the button for Dells... ok so maybe PSU. Bought another, still nothing. I jumped the pins on both PSU's and fan turns on. Guessing at this point it's a motherboard.

I'm thinking about just dropping this and buying a replacement PC and just dropping the boot drive into that one. This one is an OEM versions of Win11 pro. I'm assuming i'll run into typical Windows issues but should it technically boot up and basically start BI right back where it was as long as drives mapped right? Any issues that may arise with BI? Anything to consider before doing that?

Basically, trying to do this with as little work as possible but if not then I'll just start over and transfer BI license as needed.

Sounds like you're right-- the motherboard is done, but Windows is tied to the hardware it is installed on. You can't just plop that drive into a new computer and have it work. You MIGHT be able to run it temporarily (with windows squawking warnings the whole time) until you DEACTIVATE BI on that old system drive (a step you must do). After deactivation of BI, you will be able to re-activate that subscription on a new install in a new machine. You ALSO could deactivate BI on the dead computer via BlueIris support, allowing you to do that fresh install on a new machine. I am not sure what that process might entail with BI Support.

You didn't mention it, but I assume you also have a separate data drive (that is Best practice) that you had BI set to record camera video. If it were me, I would just format that drive again and start over. If you had specific clips you wanted, kiss them goodbye. I export lots of clips of interest to me-- and they are on other computers. Since you're looking at a fresh start, you could also get a larger new data drive-- it would be a good time for that kind of upgrade. Others here will likely have more bits of advice for you in that situation, and there are some serious experts here in the forum.

Good luck--- post an update when you can.

 

[Beef_Vegan]

Thanks. Yes have a 10tb hdd surveillance drive where everything stores. I'm not too worried about the data on it. Only thing I really care about is how I'm going to move forward without wasting too much money. I don't mind spending but hate wasting. Also, it would be sort of cool to keep BI settings and such but no biggy if not.

Do you know if I were to plop the drive into new machine, would Windows just give me the option to upgrade license? I'm more or less just trying to save myself the hassle of reconnecting everything over again. Like maybe if I boot on same drive, i can upgrade Windows to retail, address drivers, and just mess with BI license and just go forth. Still spit balling, maybe easier to run the drive as a secondary drive and just pull from it if needed. I'm going to test on another PSU just in case before calling it on the off chance the one I bought was bad then just return the one I bought. I might just upgrade machine completely if i determine motherboard is dead instead of replacement since it's like $75-100 for the board and then still likely need to mess with licensing stuff.

 

[sdkid]

I went through this last fall, replacing a 4th gen i-5 machine for BI that I used for 9 years. It actually was GOOD to reconnect all cameras to the new system, and review every setting as I went along. I know things are more consistent in the new build. It also went FASTER than I expected. Don't pay MSFT for a license that is already tied to the new machine-- that will cost $120 minimum.

My expenses were only for the upgrades I chose to put in the new machine. I question replacing the motherboard on yours. For not much more than the price of that motherboard and a Windows license, you can buy a solid and capable used business class computer off e-Bay. I bought an HP Z2 Workstation for under $150 with an 8th gen processor-- remember how efficient BI is. Since Windows was installed on it originally, the activation code is embedded in the bios and Windows will find that hardware signature to activate a brand new OS install. NO fees there. You won't have fees for BI either---just a bit of hassle deactivating that BI license on the old dead machine and putting in your SN in the new BI install.