Building a PC

[DagGz]

Just wondering something. I have decided to build myself a PC and knocking all the bits together is easy.....but once i have done that what do i need to do. ive been told that it isnt hard build a PC but im just baffeled on how you can install something to a hard drive that is not recognised yet because no drivers have been installed. how do i initially get the driver info installed onto the computer......once i have done this am i right in thinking that i can just install my OS and install the rest of my software????

your help will be apreciated

thanx :)

[Caeser]

you will first have to partition your hard drive.

[DagGz]

hmm ooookkkkkk. well i just wanna know what i got to do that doesnt help much........i partitian my HD then wot. and how with a comp that isnt functioal yet. i just wanna step by step if possible that would be great. ;)

[maxximilian]

Hi DagGz,

When the thing is built and you are ready to install windows, you will use a boot floppy that has just enough programming on it to get the CD-ROM and hard drive going after being handed off by the motherboard BIOS. The boot floppy also has the utilities needed to format the hard disk and get it ready for the windows install.

So essentially you have the limited BIOS giving you enough of interaction to get to the point where you can use the floppy drive and the boot disk. Then the boot disk gives you enough utilities to get things done until you get windows installed. Then of course after windows is in....you go to town with all your other stuff like the motherboard drivers (disc) and other periphery stuff. It's really a matter of each step handing you off the next one until you got everything in. :)

For details on how this is all done, click the "Tutorials" link below in my signature. There are bunches of tutorials there including how to format a hard drive and install windows.

[ 04 November 2001: Message edited by: maxximilian ]

[DagGz]

Thanx a lot man....when ive done it ill let u no how i got on. will be a while yet tho as there are still a few things i need to get b4 i can start. :)

[DagGz]

1 more thing....and forgive me for sounding totally stupid. but the boot disk that i use.....that has drivers on right......but are they specific to my make/brand of components or just any for the booting process. i tried to download the boot disk thing from your homepage but it wouldnt open and said it was an invalid archive.

[ironside]

use the one off this page the link does workbootdisk (http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/downloads.shtml)
good luck and do keep us informed.

[DagGz]

the link is fine i mean when ive downloaded it and tried to open it with winzip it says

"cannot open file: it does not appear to be a valid archive.
if you downloaded this file please try downloading the file again."

[maxximilian]

You can make your own start-up disk with the system you are using now. Have a blank floppy disk ready and got to:

Start>
Settings>
Control Panel>
Add/Remove Programs>
Startup disk tab>

Hit the "Create disk" button and follow the instructions. When completed you will have a disc to use with your new system (when built). This is assuming you are putting the same OS on the new machine.

This disk will have "generic" stuff on it that doesn't need to be hardware specific.

[MishY]

DagGz,

Were you using a download manager (Download Accelerator or Getright etc.) when you downloaded the bootdisk ? and did you download the bootdisk simply entitled "Windows Bootdisk" ?

The error you're getting from winzip (Im assuming you're using winzip) would suggest that when you downloaded the file the download didn't complete fully.

btw the download just worked fine for me :)

I suggest you either follow the steps Maxx has suggested or try download the "Ultimate Bootdisk" from the CTH downloads page.

MishY

[DagGz]

i was using DAP. i closed the browser intergration and its downloaded ok now. thx. do i just uzip these files to a floppy?? and when ive done that how does the floppy drive read the disk without drivers??? lol

[tweakthis]

Hi there, good luck on your first build. It's a sweet feeling when you get the tiger mastered. :)

You may not need a boot disk if your can set the CD-ROM to be your first boot device in the CMOS. Otherwise, check the CTH home page, I believe there's a boot disk there. Have fun.