I'ce completed my first build but what do I do now???

[mssurrey]

I have assembled all the hardware and got everything working (first time !!!). This is what i have:
MSI P6N SLI Platinum, Intel E6700, Enzotech Ultra cooler, Mushkin XP2 6400 (2x1GB), EVGA 8800 GTS 320MB, Antec 900 case, Corsair 620w psu, 2 x 320 gb Seagate ES HD (SATA), 1x Sony/NEC DVD burner (SATA), 1 x LiteOn DVD ROM (IDE).

The P6N sli Platinum board seems to be great - no problems booting up straight away. All lights and fans are on, and the BIOS screen comes up immediately. I had great fun assembling (and would do it again !!!).

However, the build was the easy part! What do I do now???

These are my questions:

1. Do I first flash the BIOS with an updated version (the current version is 1.0 - I believe that there's a v1.2 )? If so how do I do this ???
2. Or do I instal my OS first (XP pro with SP2) ?
3. I have 2 x SATA hard drives which are not recognised in the BIOS at all (I believe that i need SATA drivers for these - but where do I get these from and how and when do i load these?
4. I also have 1 x SATA DVD burner - this is showing as an ATAPI IDE drive in the BIOS ??? Why is this? Do I need drivers for this as well? Again, where do I get these from and how and when do I load these?
5. I want to set up my disks in a RAID 1 (backup) array? How do I do this?
6. Where do I get a system disk from???

I'm sorry for all the questions but any help would be much appreciated. Thanks...

Newbi

[SpydaMan]

Yeah I'd like to know that too. I am working on my first build, but after everything is hooked up, I have no clue what to do next.

[flanzig1]

1: Before doing a BIOS update, check on the MSI website to see what the latest version does. If the update looks to not affect your system, skip it.
5: Check your motherboard manual for the procedure for setting up a RAID. For the RAID, you may need to have the HDs plugged into specfic SATA jacks.
3: Same goes for the SATA drives, consult the motherboard manual for the proper settings in the BIOS.
4: I believe that is how the BIOS sees SATA optical drives.
6: system disc= HD with Windows installed.
Once you have the HDs set up and detected in the BIOS the way you want, set the DVD to first boot device,load the XP disc into the DVD,save changes in the BIOS and reboot. The Windows install should start.

[Alaron]

To build on flanzig's steps: After installing Windows, check out this guide titled "How to Process Just After Installing Windows": http://www.pcmech.com/show/os/1058/

[mssurrey]

Thanks Alaron - that's v.helpful

Flanzig,
I'm still confused.
If I have to instal the SATA drivers FIRST before installing the OS, how do I do this when I don't have a working computer

I assume I have to use another computer and then download drivers onto a floppy. But I don't have a floppy drive on my dell. I've installed a FDD on my new build but I don't have access to the Net Doh!!!
After this, do I instal the drivers first BEFORE trying to install XP, or during the install or after the OS has been installed ?

I have found two types of SATA drivers on MSI's site:
nVidia C55+MCP51 SATA RAID Driver (For floppy driver) and
Silicon Image 3531 Serial-ATA RAID Drivers
Which do I use?

Are SATA RAID drivers the same as SATA drivers ???

Oh boy, this is gonna be fun - not.

[chuck4456]

should be available on the driver installation disc that was supplied with your motherboard. Forget about BIOS Updates for now. Don't even think about those.
1- set your HARD DISK BOOT PRIORITY in your ADVANCED BIOS FEATURES to:
First Boot Device - CDROM
Second Boot Device - Hard Drive
Third Boot Device - Floppy
ESC>SAVE & EXIT
Install WINDOWS.
If (by any chance) there is a floppy disc included with your board, install that when WINDOWS asks you if have any 3rd Party Software, during the procedure.
Once you have WINDOWS up and rolling, use the CD that came with your board. It will AUTORUN and list the features. Usually that will include most of the necessary drivers for your motherboard. Install.
That has always worked for me. I can't see how it would be any different with an MSI motherboard.
Good luck. Call us if you need us.
Don't forget to install of your video card drivers as well.

[XenaWP]

Make sure also you have your hard drive mode set properly before installing WinXP. My BIOS offered IDE, RAID, or AHCI. The SATA drive defaulted to IDE, and once I installed XP, I was hosed because the SATA drive ran in IDE mode at UDMA5 speeds. Could not change the mode once XP was installed. Had to reformat and reinstall.

See if your motherboard install guide has a recommendation. My Intel BX2 recommend using RAID mode even if you did not plan a RAID array.

Make sure if you have any legacy IDE HDDs attached, you detach them before doing any of this installation stuff. WinXP install tries to make IDE drives the boot drive and will re-letter them to C:.

Chuck's advice is spot on too.

IMHO the whole SATA drive situation is flocked up when it comes to Win XP and drivers. It should not be this messy. Why would a SATA drive default to IDE?

[mssurrey]

I'm thinking exactly the same about SATA - what an archaic way to load drivers for SATA !!!

Ok.. I think I get this now... Here's my understanding of what to do next (please correct me if i'm wrong! )

1. Check to make sure HDD are set to SATA in the BIOS
2. Rearrange BOOT order in BIOS (save)
3. Disconnect any IDE HDD's (as mine are both SATA drives - this does not apply?)
4. Install XP using CDrom disc. Sometime during the install, it will ask for SATA drivers which I should have on floppy (but don't! - nothing with motherboard. Have to download from MSI's site )
5. Install drivers from disc that came with Motherboard
6. Install Graphics card drivers.

My main question is that should not the HDDs be set up FIRST (as SATA drives) BEFORE installing XP (as Flanzig said)? If so, then we're back to square 1 as they cannote be set up as far as I can see without installing the SATA drivers for them during the XP installation

[minsonngo]

It is good practice to only have the HDD you want the OS installed on hooked up the the system intially. The other HDDs can be installed after the OS installation is completed.

Most newer motherboard don't need the SATA drives loaded based on my experience with them. All you need to do is change the boot order the the BIOS setup to the CD as the first boot device, pop in the OS cd, reboot to the CD, and proceed with the installation of the OS.

[mssurrey]

minsonngo,

I was under the impression that it's Xp that requires the drivers to be installed and not the motherboard?
In any case, MSI shows SATA drivers listed for the P6N sli Platinum on its download page so I guess drivers are required for this board...

[minsonngo]

You could always download the drives and load them onto a floppy just to be on the safe side.

But... it wouldn't hurt to try to install the OS without the loading the manufacturer's SATA drivers just to see if it will work anyways.

I did not have to load any SATA drivers with most of the builds I put together recently.

[mssurrey]

I did not have to load any SATA drivers with most of the builds I put together recently.

Hmm. interesting... what happens if the OS loads and then I find that drivers are needed - do I have to re-install XP?

[minsonngo]

Well... if the OS installed successfully on the SATA HDD without the drivers... then your ok.

Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[XenaWP]

Win XP installed correctly my first time around, but the SATA drive ran in IDE mode at UDMA5 speeds and could not be changed. Really, this whole situation is pretty well documented on forums and I found a load of info. at Intel's site (they made my motherboard).

Some motherboards require that those drivers be loaded during XP installation. You aren't exactly prompted to load "SATA" drivers, the actual message is: "Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver". You only have maybe 5-10 seconds to hit F6.

I would definitely have those floppies on hand and have a FDD attached "just in case." I understand that many motherboards don't require this step ... but if you have one that does, you'll save yourself the world of fun that WinXP installation represents by not having to reinstall it should the drive not run as a SATA drive because its drivers weren't loaded.

Originally Posted by mssurrey "My main question is that should not the HDDs be set up FIRST (as SATA drives) BEFORE installing XP (as Flanzig said)? If so, then we're back to square 1 as they cannote be set up as far as I can see without installing the SATA drivers for them during the XP installation"

Right. You "set it up first" by booting into BIOS/CMOS at first power-up. Select the mode for the drive -- RAID or ACHI or SATA, whatever your BIOS calls it. Check other settings as needed. Then exit BIOS and boot from the WinXP install CD. Very early it will put that message I mentioned above ... the message appears at the bottom of the screen, then goes away after a few seconds. From there you can insert the floppy, let the drivers load, then WinXP will load/install. Don't take the floppy out until XP install says to.

Good luck !!

And true, if it gets messed up, you can always reinstall again. That's a load of fun.

[mssurrey]

Ah...Ok. Now I understand. Thanks XenaWP.

In fact, thanks to all of you who've helped me along. This forum is great

[Hazaro]

Now you can overclock your CPU and GTS

[mssurrey]

Now you can overclock your CPU and GTS

Hahaha ...

[UncleS]

If you have a mix of SATA and PATA you may need to make a change in BIOS. I just finished my 1st build. I only installed the SATA drive initially. After getting XP completely installed and updated I started adding all the remaining components and their drivers individually. The last thing I did was install and format a 80G IDE HD. On the next reboot I got a boot from CD prompt. I had to go back into BIOS and change the order of the 2 HDs. Apparently the BIOS looks for PATA drives before SATA drives during the POST.