Help!? Installing XP step-by-step

[CovertFirewall]

This is my first build and I am pretty sure that I can put everything together correctly in the physical aspect. But when I am done with that, what do I do??? I have the Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM Operating System. Please give me instructions on how to do BIOS and all that stuff to get my computer running!!

P.S. Any secret tips on putting together the copmuter would be helpful, too

I don't know if the my new build components will make a difference in the XP process, but I will give them to you anyway (below)


CD/DVD combo-- LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail

Case-- APEVIA X-CRUISER-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

HDD-- Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600YS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

GPU-- EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

PSU-- OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply - Retail

RAM-- Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Motherboard-- EVGA 122-CK-NF66-T1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i Ultra ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU-- Intel Dual-Core E2140 Allendale 1.6GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E2140 - Retail

[Yellowhello]

Here's a good guide: HardwareLogic - Installing Windows XP

Good luck man!

[RA1D]

HardwareLogic - System Building Part II: Putting It All Together

your mother board manual should also have instructions on putting everything together. have fun and let us know how it goes!

[fstroupe]

The "Putting It All Together" is excellent and you really need to look at it.

Be aware that some motherboard manuals aren't that good at telling you exactly what you need to know. (trying to think of stuff that can be confusing) You will have three connections from your PSU to your mobo....the long 20-pin connector, a 4-pin connector that will probably have an arrow on it...it connects in the same mobo connector as the 20-pin (thats why its called 20+4), and another square 4-pin connector that will be at the top-rear of the board. Your video card doesn't have a separate power connector, so you won't be using any of the six-pin PCI-E power connectors.

The connections from your case to your mobo can sometimes be confusing...the polarity supposedly does matter on some of them.

Just take your time. Look at each part and determine what kind of connector goes where before you start. If your SATA drives have both SATA and Molex power connectors, only use one or the other. (I use Hitachi drives which always have both)

I like to install the motherboard last to keep from banging it around while installing other stuff.

Pay special attention if you are using Arctic Silver or some other thermal compound rather than what is already on the CPU Cooler. (many of them come with it already installed) I may be the only person I know that actually does, but I follow the AS5 instructions to the letter. I still occasionally get less than satisfactory results and have to redo it. Once you get your cooler mounted, try to rotate it back and forth several times. Depending on the mount, you probably won't get it to move but a tiny bit, but something is better than nothing. You just want to try to make sure that there aren't any "bubbles" or voids in it. AS5 Instructions for dual core Intel CPU

One last hint, reseat everything at least once, especially RAM and PCI cards. Seat it, pull it back out, and seat it again. I usually do RAM and video cards two or three times, to ensure good connection.

When I was trying to decide whether or not to do my first build, I asked a geek I've known for years if he thought that I could do it. He just laughed and said that afterward I would laugh at the fact that I asked him that question. I still do.