Chapter 7Assembling Your Own Computer System  7.1Assembling the Hardware 7.1Assembling the Hardware 7.1Assembling the Hardware  7.2Installing the Operating System 7.2Installing the Operating System 7.2Installing the Operating System  7.3Compatibility Issues in Hardware 7.3Compatibility Issues in Hardware 7.3Compatibility Issues in Hardware

7.1Assembling the Hardware Choose the right combination of hardware e.g. Home use and web surfing LAN card or modem is needed no need to install sophisticated hardware Cost considerations never go for CPU with the highest speed choose a hard disk with appropriate capacity consider reputation and warranty

7.1Assembling the Hardware Precautions in computer assembling Discharge oneself before handling hardware Hold the main board and expansion cards by edges Return the main board and peripherals to anti-static bags Disconnect the power before working on the system

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 1: Installing the Power Supply Open the computer case Fix the power supply Set the voltage supply at V

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 2: Configuring the Main Board jumper CPU System Bus Frequency CPU Clock Ratio CPU Core Voltage Setting up jumpers

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 3: Inserting CPU into the main board The socket, heat sink and fan support base are mounted onto the main board Heat sink and fan: prevent overheating

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 3: Inserting CPU into the main board

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 4: Inserting the RAM Check the position of RAM module Insert the module vertically into the DIMM slot and push it in

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 5: Mounting the main board into the computer case

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 6: Main board signal connections Connecting pins on the main board Case signal connectors Completed connectors

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 7: Connecting the Power Supply to the Main Board Power supply connectors

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing the expansion cards Install the video adapter first AGP card goes into the AGP slot Position the expansion card horizontally over the slot Secure the card to the case with a screw Install other cards

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing IDE devices IDE drives: hard disk, CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs Set the jumpers on the drives before mounting Two IDE channels on the main board Each channel can attach to two devices Jumpers on IDE device

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing IDE devices 1. Mounting the device into the device bay with screw 2. Align the red strip on the ribbon cable

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing IDE devices 3. Insert the connector into the IDE port 4. Insert the power supply connector

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing IDE devices Master device: alone device on IDE cable Slave device: second device on the same cable Ultra ATA 66/100 IDE cable black: for Master drive grey: for Slave drive blue: for connecting to IDE port onboard

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing IDE devices Installing CD-ROM drive Install the drive into an available bay Insert the power cord into the drive Connect the drive to the main board via the ribbon wire Connect the sound cable from the drive to the main board connector

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 8: Installing IDE devices Installing CD-ROM drive Connect the sound cable to CD-ROM drive Connect the sound cable to main board

7.1Assembling the Hardware Procedure 9: System check Connect the power cable Switch on the computer Check the message on screen Set up BIOS and install OS if the system works fine

7.1Assembling the Hardware Fine tuning the computer installation The drives are connected to the power supply properly. A fan is attached to the CPU with the power plug connected to the main board. Ribbon cables of floppy disk and IDE drives are attached correctly. All connections are tight. CPU core voltage is set correctly. Cards are inserted fully in slots. No wires protrude into any fans.

7.2Installing the Operating System Clean install All the content of the hard drive are erased and everything is installed from scratch Format the hard drive and install the OS Back up the data before clean installing an existing PC Upgrade A new OS is installed directly over the previous version Old files are left which affect the system

7.2Installing the Operating System Materials needed Hardware documentation Driver disks of hardware User’s menu of new OS Start-up procedures for installing an OS Start from floppy disk e.g. Windows 98 Start from CD-ROM e.g. Windows XP

7.2Installing the Operating System Start from floppy disk (Windows 98) Prepare a boot disk Check the boot-up sequence Ensure the partition of the hard disk where OS is installed is active Insert the boot disk into the floppy disk Turn on the power supply Insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM into the drive and type “D:\setup.exe” Follow the on-screen prompts

7.2Installing the Operating System Start from CD-ROM (Windows XP) Check the BIOS boot sequence Insert Windows XP CD-ROM into the drive Boot the system Start installation process Remove the Windows XP CD-ROM Reboot the computer

7.2Installing the Operating System Installing applications Start Have serial number? Have disk space? Register Now? Submit form Finish installation Restart needed? Run Enter Serial # Yes Find Serial # No Run install file Yes Free up space No Fill out form Yes No Restart Yes

7.3Compatibility Issues in Hardware Compatibility problem among main board, video adapter and expansion cards Solutions Place each expansion card in different slots Take turns at replacing every expansion card in a certain order Use step-by-step approach to analyze the installation of device driver.

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