[ted7295]

So I've installed all of the components ( P4 2.8, 120GB, 1GB ram, DVD, DVD burner, Floppy, video card to be installed after OS ( XP ) installed, same with sound card ) made sure all the wires are connected to the right places ( about a dozen times already ) and now I have to push the power button to get it running and I AM FREAKING OUT.

I have never done this before and I DO NOT want to screw it up. It was easy putting it all together. But now I have to believe that the BIOS will detect all the hardware and the HD will get formatted and partitioned and the OS will install ..... and did I say i am FREAKING OUT?!!!!!!!!!

The manual for the SOYO Dragon motherboard is great. Makes it sound real easy. Pretty much let the BIOS set defaults and away you go...reboot and install your OS after formatting the HD. I need some reassurance or a resource or maybe just a pair of "nads".

Anyone want to point me in the right direction. Thanks, Ted

 

[Boo_Compaq]

Haha...yes the first time building a system and installing on a blank slate can be scary

I just did that january....but just remember...there is nothing you can do at this point to screw up your computer beyond repair....unless you take a flamethrower to it....

Just take some time to go through your bios...look at all the settings...make sure the cd drives are existant, same with HDD, floppy drive etc. Just relax and take some time to get used to it.

Then when you are ready, pop the windows cd in, restart the comp, and off ya go.

If you do screw something up in the bios and the computer wont start, dont freak out. Just Turn off the computer, open up the case, find your CMOS jumper & pins (keep the power to the computer connected...this is how u clear the cmos), then move the connection from pins 1 & 2 to 2 & 3 for about 15 seconds...maybe even 30 seconds..then put it back and turn the computer back on.

Other than that, just have fun with it. If you screw up the windows install, corrupt some stuff here and there, just reinstall windows...no big deal

 

[ted7295]

Ok Boo, this weekend I will suck it up and fire it up. My only real worry is loading the software for the drivers and as you said if it goes bad I can start from scratch. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll be transferring the old vhs home movies to DVD in no time. God help me.

Thanks, Ted

 

[Fuzzy Gnome]

I had an issue installing drivers for my Soyo Dragon. I share my solution so you don't get frustrated if you have the same problem.
Problem: Soyo KT400 Dragon Lite, Windows 98SE, and nVidia GeForce video card: onboard LAN doesn't work.
Solution: Install in a specific order.
1. Format hard drive
2. Install all other chipset drivers per the manual
3. Install LAN driver per the manual
4. Update Internet Explorer over the Internet so you can use Windows Update
5. Install video drivers
6. Install monitor
7. Run Windows Update

 

[Old Rich]

As Boo said . . not much can go wrong at this stage. I guess you have onboard Video ? If not, the pc will not boot without a Video card.

When I start one for the first time, I leave the side off so I can verify that the fans are working . . especially the cpu fan. If anything is not installed right, you should get a series of "Beep Codes" that you can interprete using the motherboard guide.

Once you verify the fans are working, watch the boot sequence as it goes thru the initial BIOS boot. With a blank hard drive, once it completes POST you will get a message "No Boot Disk Found . . insert proper media" ( Or something similar) That's normal.

You can turn it off at this point, turn it back on and enter BIOS (Setup) . . usually by tapping DEL key during POST. That will let you set the boot sequence, if it is a new MB it will likely already be set to boot from CD-ROM. IF not change the first boot to CD-ROM, put in your windows XP CD and restart. XP will guide you thru partitioning, formating and installing the O/S.

Have fun . . hope this helps . . wrs

 

[ted7295]

Thanks to all for the info. I will post the good news about the "Start UP"
( think positive, right ). What a great resource this is ! Had to make a donation. Sure do miss the Ads

Ted

 

[Boo_Compaq]

Good to hear. Hope everything goes well, and if somethin is screwy, just post up and I'll be glad to help

Home built computer > all

 

[Old Rich]

Just curious . .

 

[ted7295]

I appreciate the interest. I really should have posted long ago, to once again thank everyone for their help and support.
Things went off without a hitch. I had been checking out other sections on this site and saw a suggestion that came in very handy. The idea was to go to the website for every piece of hardware you were putting in your machine. Download the latest drivers for each piece of hardware. Burn the drivers onto a CD and use the drivers on the CD if the ones that came with the hardware came up lame. Glad I did it. The only device that gave me a problem was the DVD burner. XP did not like the driver that came with the burner. The one I downloaded worked like a champ.
The downside to all of this is people I know now think I am some sort of computer genius. They want me to build them a computer or they want me to transfer their home movies to DVD. So, does anyone know what a fair price would be to put someones computer together? How much do you charge per hour to transfer VHS to DVD? Might as well have fun and make a couple of bucks doing it.
Again, thanks to all for the help and encouragement. I am sure I will be back for help soon.

 

[napoliandynamite]

I think you'll find that building it was the easy part, all of the trouble comes once you install the os..

Download critical Xp updates, and run a firewall..

Not sure how much to charge for video transfer, and to build the computer, it depends on what you put into it, you can build a low end basic box for $300 or so, but it wont be anything amazing..Good for grandma.. Depends on components..

 

[slawless]

It is very nerve racking when the PC is finished and you have to push the button to see if it will fire up.

Just cringe and do it.

On the other end it is a real thrill when it does work. I have built only 2, both started first shot.

Good luck with yours.

Steve L

 

[Dr Dave]

I have built many computers over the years and its gotten quite simple,
thanks to XP Pro. The next time you build one [and you will build more].
Tie your old computer and your new computer together using a Radio Shack RS-232C Cable. [Its a nine pin cable] and use your File and Settings Wizard to transfer your Files and Settings to your New Computer. Your XP Install CD also contains a File and Settings Wizard.