Advice on putting it together

  • Thread starter Thread starter BP
  • Start date Start date
B

BP

I'm getting ready to assemble a new box and I'm thinking of the best way to
actually go about it. I'd like to hear from the veterans regarding how you
assemble your boxes.
I'm thinking that you want to install (connect) the minimal amount of
components on that first power up to minimize the search for the culprit if
things go wrong. I'm thinking that I will install the processor & fan, video
card, hard drive, monitor, and keyboard for the initial power up, and if I'm
able to get to the bios setup screen, then add one component at a time,
rebooting after each. After all components are installed successfully I will
then customize the bios, format and partition the HDD, and install the OS.
Is this overkill? How do the vets do it?
 
BP said:
I'm getting ready to assemble a new box and I'm thinking of the best way to
actually go about it. I'd like to hear from the veterans regarding how you
assemble your boxes.
I'm thinking that you want to install (connect) the minimal amount of
components on that first power up to minimize the search for the culprit if
things go wrong. I'm thinking that I will install the processor & fan, video
card, hard drive, monitor, and keyboard for the initial power up, and if I'm
able to get to the bios setup screen, then add one component at a time,
rebooting after each. After all components are installed successfully I will
then customize the bios, format and partition the HDD, and install the OS.
Is this overkill? How do the vets do it?
Click to expand...

Motherboard, CPU (with HSF and fan), memory, graphics, monitor, keyboard and
mouse should be enough to boot it up to POST.

Some motherboards will complian if no mouse is present.

No drives are need to POST, not even a floppy.

If it POSTs OK with these components then add more and test as you go.

I have had a box that stopped powering up after installing a PCI card
because it was tight to get in and caused the motherboard to flex slightly.
this caused a bad connection on the AGP card. It looked like the PCI card
was at fault at first, but a quick 'wiggle' reseat of the graphics card
cured that fault.

Good luck and have fun

Adam S
 
Thanks for the heads up on the mouse!
Ya think some memory would help? ;-)

:
: : > I'm getting ready to assemble a new box and I'm thinking of the best way
: to
: > actually go about it. I'd like to hear from the veterans regarding how
you
: > assemble your boxes.
: > I'm thinking that you want to install (connect) the minimal amount of
: > components on that first power up to minimize the search for the culprit
: if
: > things go wrong. I'm thinking that I will install the processor & fan,
: video
: > card, hard drive, monitor, and keyboard for the initial power up, and if
: I'm
: > able to get to the bios setup screen, then add one component at a time,
: > rebooting after each. After all components are installed successfully I
: will
: > then customize the bios, format and partition the HDD, and install the
OS.
: > Is this overkill? How do the vets do it?
: >
: >
:
: Motherboard, CPU (with HSF and fan), memory, graphics, monitor, keyboard
and
: mouse should be enough to boot it up to POST.
:
: Some motherboards will complian if no mouse is present.
:
: No drives are need to POST, not even a floppy.
:
: If it POSTs OK with these components then add more and test as you go.
:
: I have had a box that stopped powering up after installing a PCI card
: because it was tight to get in and caused the motherboard to flex
slightly.
: this caused a bad connection on the AGP card. It looked like the PCI card
: was at fault at first, but a quick 'wiggle' reseat of the graphics card
: cured that fault.
:
: Good luck and have fun
:
: Adam S
:
:
 
BP said:
I'm getting ready to assemble a new box and I'm thinking of the best way to
actually go about it. I'd like to hear from the veterans regarding how you
assemble your boxes.
I'm thinking that you want to install (connect) the minimal amount of
components on that first power up to minimize the search for the culprit if
things go wrong. I'm thinking that I will install the processor & fan, video
card, hard drive, monitor, and keyboard for the initial power up, and if I'm
able to get to the bios setup screen, then add one component at a time,
rebooting after each. After all components are installed successfully I will
then customize the bios, format and partition the HDD, and install the OS.
Is this overkill? How do the vets do it?
Click to expand...
Hi, BP; come on and express that confidence! My very first box, I shot
for the moon--dunno if mine was confidence or ignorance!. Must admit I let
it sit a while before I got nerve enough to actually attempt booting. But
it was right from the get-go.
I've tried a couple of 'partials' that were ok; however, it's so much
neater to install everything as I go--such as scheduling sequences to allow
for room to work. Must admit I do use twist'ems to secure SOME wires until
I've booted and tweaked. Then I switch tie-straps for the twist'ems to
neaten things up and finalize.
Assuming you'll use Win XP, it's nice to sit back & watch it detect new
hardware and install new hardware. It's loaded with drivers which makes
that so nice. And if a device fails to install automatically, you
immediately know it needs attention so you can come back there after it's
done the "rest of the story" for you..
HTH & good luck. sdlomi
 
BP said:
I'm getting ready to assemble a new box and I'm thinking of the best way to
actually go about it. I'd like to hear from the veterans regarding how you
assemble your boxes.
I'm thinking that you want to install (connect) the minimal amount of
components on that first power up to minimize the search for the culprit if
things go wrong. I'm thinking that I will install the processor & fan, video
card, hard drive, monitor, and keyboard for the initial power up, and if I'm
able to get to the bios setup screen, then add one component at a time,
rebooting after each. After all components are installed successfully I will
then customize the bios, format and partition the HDD, and install the OS.
Is this overkill? How do the vets do it?
Click to expand...

Might want to check out

http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34558

after it's all put together, assuming XP.
 
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