Hey, I'm new/Computer Building Help

[HardcoreThor87]

Hey everyone! It looks like I might be here alot.. So hey. :P

Anyway.. I'm gonna be building a computer(for me), and I just got all the parts for Christmas. Now.. I think I have them all. I have..

The Case w/power supply, and 6 fans.
Video Card.
Sound Card,
Motherboard.
CPU.
RAM(512MB, PC3200).
Windows XP.
Hardrive(200GB).
Modem.
Card Reader
Floppy Drive.
DVD/CD Burner.
DVD/CD-ROM.
Better CPU Fan/Heatsink.
And also, a adapter for the HD, since it's SATA, and the power supply didn't have a hookup for it.

Do I need anything else?

Also.. I'm pretty sure I know how to do everything, and I'll be using this http://www.pcmech.com/byopc Will that help any? Annnnddd... one last thing, if I run into any problems.. can I ask you guys here? >_> Thanks a million! Oh, and let me know if you want to know anymore about the stuff I got. I'm off to bed now.. I'll check this in the morning. Later :D

-Thor

[Confused]

What mobo do you have. If it has SATA connectors you won't need the adapter.

Does your version of XP include SP1. If not you may want to look into slipstreaming SP1 http://www.windows-help.net/Windows...sp2-bootcd.html since XP as originally shipped has a HD limitation of 137G. SP1 took care of that.

You may also need to copy the SATA drivers from the mobo CD to a floppy prior to installing XP.

Ask all the questions you want. People here are very helpful.

Welcome to the forum and I might suggest you read over the forum rules.
Chas

[HardcoreThor87]

I have an ABIT IC7-G MAxII mobo, and yeah I think it has those connectors.

I got XP Pro, and it came with SP2. Should I still do that?

How would I copy the SATA drivers from the mobo CD to a floppy?

[Confused]

I have an ABIT IC7-G MAxII mobo, and yeah I think it has those connectors.

You should be good to go.

[/QUOTE]I got XP Pro, and it came with SP2. Should I still do that?[/QUOTE]

Is it included or is SP2 on a seperate CD?

If included you are good to go.

If on a seperate CD you need to Slipstream if you want a partition larger than 137G If you plan on partitioning drive into segments smaller than 137G then just pop in the XP CD and boot up. Let XP partition the drive and format for you. After finished you can add SP2.

[/QUOTE]How would I copy the SATA drivers from the mobo CD to a floppy?[/QUOTE]

That board has a Intel chipset and I believe it has native SATA support and therefore will not need the drivers on a floppy.

If you do need them on a floppy open your mobo CD using Explorer and there will be a folder with drivers. Copy the SATA drivers to a floppy.
Chas

[HardcoreThor87]

Yup, SP2 is included on the disc. Thanks.

Okay, got'cha on that.

The mobo came with a floppy disk in it named "SATA Driver Disk" is that what you were talking about? If not, what is it?

-Thor

[HardcoreThor87]

Also.. How do you make a system disk?.. I think I need one, right?

[surewhynot]

Also.. How do you make a system disk?.. I think I need one, right?
Welcome to PC Mech. On windows XP you use your windows cd as the boot disk. Just set your bios to boot from cd drive, insert disk and have fun.

[HardcoreThor87]

Awesome, Thanks. :)

[Confused]

The mobo came with a floppy disk in it named "SATA Driver Disk" is that what you were talking about? If not, what is it?

-Thor
Yes that's it. Set your BIOS to boot from CD and boot up with your XP CD. Have the SATA Driver floppy in the drive and when the install prompts you for 3rd party drivers hit F6.
Chas

[HardcoreThor87]

Last night I ended up getting it all installed. I have a few things I need help on now.

Okay, first, I have a Audigy 2 ZS Gamer soundcard, and my speakers won't work with it. They're small speakers that came with my old HP com, but those are the only ones I have for now.. any help? The only thing that comes close to that in the instructions are for 2.1.. Can normal little speakers even work with that?

Second, the HD and Power LED on the case won't light up.. I know I have them hooked up right on the mobo, I checked like 3 times. Is there any way to fix this, or am I screwed?

Third, this is big kinda.. when I turned it on this morning, it wouldn't boot into windows XP unless I put the CD back in. It saved everything I did, and installed last night, though. What is up with it doing that?

Thanks..

[glc]

1. You need AC powered speakers.
2. Reverse their polarity - turn the connectors around.
3. Is the bios antivirus enabled? If so, this will cause installation problems because it prevents writing to the boot sector.

[surewhynot]

Third, this is big kinda.. when I turned it on this morning, it wouldn't boot into windows XP unless I put the CD back in. It saved everything I did, and installed last night, though. What is up with it doing that?

Thanks..
OK you might have to go into the bios and set the harddrive as first boot now

[HardcoreThor87]

1. You need AC powered speakers.
2. Reverse their polarity - turn the connectors around.
3. Is the bios antivirus enabled? If so, this will cause installation problems because it prevents writing to the boot sector.

Thanks, 1 and 2 worked, I couldn't find the antivirus.. where is that at? I looked EVERYWHERE in the BIOS.


OK you might have to go into the bios and set the harddrive as first boot now

I did this shortly after I tried looking for the antivirus in the BIOS. It worked.. for a bit, then I turned it off to double check, and it did it again. I went to the BIOS to make sure it saved the HD as the first boot, and it did, so left and it worked as soon as I exited. So I don't know what's going on with it..>_>'

[Confused]

I did this shortly after I tried looking for the antivirus in the BIOS. It worked.. for a bit, then I turned it off to double check, and it did it again. I went to the BIOS to make sure it saved the HD as the first boot, and it did, so left and it worked as soon as I exited. So I don't know what's going on with it..>_>'

Not sure what you are saying there. But your system will try to boot in the BIOS order. So your HD has to be in the boot order prior to the CD.

I have mine set to boot floppy drive first, then the HD with any others disabled. That way if I want to boot up dith a Ghost floppy I don't have to go into BIOS first. I just put the floppy in and do a restart.
Chas

[HardcoreThor87]

Okay, Thanks.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to confuse anyone. I just ramble sometimes. :p

I guess I'm good to go on this, I'll try this and it should work. Thanks everyone, SO MUCH, for everything. :D

[kid652]

I would also suggest protecting your investment by upgrading the PSU, mainly because the ones that come in the case are not very good, im getting a new tower that comes with a new PSU, and even the guys at memory express said that they all replace their PSUs when they get new towers. This is just a suggestion, but one i would highly recomend.

[Marke522]

He's right, seriously, you need to replace the power supply first chance you get. Don't think about it, just consider it something that should be done. I didn't replace mine, and it burnt out after only 3 weeks, fortunately I didn't lose anything when it went. Got a new one a month later or so and everything else was fine. Took me awhile to figure out what was wrong, all the symptoms kept pointing to the motherboard. I just happend to have 2 computers here so I could take them both apart and test everything one at a time, but it did take some time.

Save yourself the trouble and replace it now.

[glc]

Before you categorically state that he needs to replace the power supply, it would be prudent to find out what brand and wattage the power supply that came with the case is. Not all cases come with crap power supplies, in fact the majority are okay.

[HardcoreThor87]

The case I got is an Aspire X-Alien Turbo Case, and the power supply it came with is 420 watts, and has a Pentium 4 sticker on it. I will think about that, though.

Also, my computer still does that thing at bootup.. it's weird, but different now. It says "System Disk Boot failure" And than it says to put in the system boot disc. But if I hit ctrl + alt + del and restart, it comes back to that screen and works perfectly fine. No messages, nothing. I'm actually on the computer right now, typing this. So what do you guys think? Should I just leave it like this and activate windows?

[glc]

In that case, yes, Aspire power supplies are suspect.

Check your bios settings for a "hard disk delay" setting - add a few seconds.

[HardcoreThor87]

Really? What kind of power supply do you think I should get?

Okay, I'll try that, thanks.

[Cricket]

Really? What kind of power supply do you think I should get?Anything from the "good list" in this thread (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=98650).

:) Cricket

[HardcoreThor87]

Check your bios settings for a "hard disk delay" setting - add a few seconds.
I checked that, it was at 0, I changed it to 3. Still does it. =/




Anything from the "good list" in this thread.


Okay, Thanks. :)

[HardcoreThor87]

Anyone have any more ideas of what that could be..? I'm stumped..

[Confused]

What is your boot order in BIOS?

Check your mobo CD and see if there are any SATA drivers. I don't think any need to be loaded since XP is up but it won't hurt to load them.
Chas

[HardcoreThor87]

My boot order is my HD, then my floppy, then the rest are disabled. Should I switch that, and have the floppy first?

Yeah, the SATA drivers were on a floppy that came with the mobo, I installed those when I installed windows XP.

[HardcoreThor87]

I fixed it, Thanks everyone!

I don't know how really.. first I found something for SATA Hds on my mobo CD, installed those, than restarted and went into my bios.. I dont know if this changed anything, but I enabled my com to say "Intel Inside" when it starts up. lol Anyway.. Thanks alot guys! for all your help :)

-Thor