Old & New together

[Victson]

Well hi everybody
I got meself a new mobo, CPU and Vmem. I just wanted to know if there was a place that could take me throught the processes of builfing a computer. I think i know what i'm doing but i don't want to destroy anything.
Also i'm using a HD that was already used for docs but did'nt have the operating system on it & for this renewal of my comp I bought a new windows home OEM, just for u to know.
I'm sure this was already asked, so if someone had the same dilemma as me or close enough, could you redirect me there.
Thanks alot.
Victson

[PrntRhd]

Charles has a sister site for learning to do builds:
http://www.pcguide.com/byop/index.htm

[Victson]

k thanks man

[Victson]

Well the thread was very useful, but i have one question:
I have a CD for drivers for my mobo and i don't understand when to use it after the installation of the windows system of before? (at least i think it's a CD with the drivers 'cus its written "Intel Express, Installer Driver CD3)
Thanks fer the help

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Those drivers are for your operating system to use to be able to run what is on the motherboard such as sound.

So, install the os first. XP Home I think you said. Then install the mobo drivers from the Intel disk.

Please tell us what mobo, RAM and processor you are assembling. Just in case one is not compatible with any of the other components.

And it's not 'Vmem'. You must have meant system ram such as DDR and SDRAM.

[Victson]

Thanks, I sais Vmem short fer virtual memory, so yeah DDR2 in this case.
My components are: An intel D945Psn mobo with an Intel 4 processor 530J, the virtual memory is kingston I think, 2x DDR2 512Mo. I think there compatible 'cus here both Intel & i read that most Virtual memory was universaly compatible (a part physically of course)

[Victson]

ARG, i'm having a problem plugging something in: the front side audio cables, were do they go? there are the cables fer the sound and the mic but i can't understand with the manuel given were to plug them, do you know where i can find something that describes it more thouroughly? thanks

[saphalline]

I sais Vmem short fer virtual memory, so yeah DDR2 in this case.That's not virtual memory, it's just memory. Virtual means it exists in another form, but in this case the DDR2 is the actual RAM. There's nothing virtual about it. The term "virtual memory" means a portion of the hard drive that is used as overflow RAM - but since it exists on the hard drive and is not actual RAM, it's called virtual memory.

the front side audio cables, were do they go?You mean the audio connectors on your case? They connect to the audio headers on your mobo. Check your mobo manual for where these cables go.

[Victson]

That's not virtual memory, it's just memory. Virtual means it exists in another form, but in this case the DDR2 is the actual RAM. There's nothing virtual about it. The term "virtual memory" means a portion of the hard drive that is used as overflow RAM - but since it exists on the hard drive and is not actual RAM, it's called virtual memory..

UUUUUUUuuuh thanks did'nt know that

And fer the audio cables i lokked on my manual but it's not precise enough: for the audio in total there are 5 plugs:Ground, L-Out/L-ret(on the same wire) & R-out/R-ret but on the manuel it's only written:
_____Port1L  | O Ground
_____Port1R O | O Presence#
_____Port2R O | O Sense1_Ret
Sense_Send O | _ Key(no pin)
_____Port2L O | O Sense2_Ret

[saphalline]

Oh boy... it's one of those individual pin problems, isn't it? Great...

Ok, can you make some ASCII pics of the audio wires inside your case? We'll have to do this one wire at a time.

[Victson]

oh wait i just looked and think i found just what i was lookin fer on the Intel site

[Victson]

actually it just does not describe what i was looking for

[Paleo Pete]

Virtual Memory (http://www.pcwebopedia.com/TERM/V/virtual_memory.html)

Nothing wrong with saphalline's description, this just gives more detail.

I wish the manufacturers would quit making things difficult and standardize a lot of things like front panel audio connectors, USB headers...

[Victson]

well i found somethin on there site again but does''nt help me much:
here (http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://support.intel.com/design/motherbd/sn/pix/sn_jump.gif&imgrefurl=http://support.intel.com/design/motherbd/sn/sn_confg.htm&h=358&w=439&sz=10&tbnid=3-hvo7QbUREJ:&tbnh=100&tbnw=123&hl=fr&start=16&prev=/images%3Fq%3DIntel%2BD945PSN%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Df r%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN)
(no comprendo mucho en el mundo de los computadores)

[rond36]

What you found was the CMOS clear jumper settings.

The pin out for the front audio header is on pages 39 & 40 of your product guide If your case has the cable for hi def audio use the first diagram if it has AC-97 audio cable use the second diagram.
http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/9201/pinout2fe.jpg

Here is the Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility Installation Sequence (http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/cs-009271.htm).

[Victson]

Wow, thanks alot man

[Victson]

If anyone can quickly help me, i have a problem: when the computer sytarts, there is written:
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting Intel Boot Agent.
i don't really understand why, i kepp on checking the cables

[rond36]

Does the system BIOS detect the floppy drive, hard drive, and CD drives correctly?

Bios can't find an operating system to boot up.

Do you have Windows installed to the hard disk drive?

Do you have a bootable floppy or CD-ROM in any drive that is in the Boot Device priority setting in BIOS?

Default Boot Device priority setting:
Removable Dev. (floppy),
Hard Drive,
ATAPI CD-ROM,
Intel UNDI PXE 2.0. This setting will attempt to boot off a remote agent using the onboard NIC.

By seeing this message it means the PC cannot find a boot partition on the floppy disk, hard drive or the CD ROM to load the operating system.

Install an operating system or put in a bootable device into the floppy or CDROM.

If you do not plan to boot to a remote boot host, you may disable the Intel UNDI PXE 2.0 option from the BIOS setup utility boot order.

[Victson]

Well i think i found what the problem was: i have an IDE harddrive and SATA plugs on the mobo, but i used an old PCI plug that permitted to use HDD's higher then 200go on my old computer, so it has IDE connectors, but since it's orignial use was for that and not for adapting an IDE HDD to a SATA mobo i think it woould'nt work, so i think i'm gonna buy a new harddrive.

[Victson]

I thought of just buying an adapter

[Victson]

At last! The windows CD was recognised but now it sais no harddrive was detected, but then when i go in the BIOS menu it is recognised

[Victson]

I was wondering if i had to format my old HDD, 'cus i used it on another computer then i did'nt format it befur putting it into this new one

[hockey man]

Most people suggest re-installing windows when you get a new MOBO. It looks like you have access to another PC. If so, copy anything valuable from the HD to the other pc. Then put the HD back in your pc, select to boot from the CDROM and re-install Windows.

[Victson]

That's what i tried, but after the first menu that windows gives, this one (http://www.pcguide.com/byop/byop_BootingtheWindowsXPCDInitialSetupScreen.htm), after I press Enter, it sais:
Setup did not find any hard disc drives installed on your computer

Make sure any hard disc drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disc-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.

Setup cannot continue.To quit setup press F3

But i still don't understand why it sais that, when i go in the setup menu, or even on the first screen of the startup of the computer it sais that the HDD I installed was connected, the only reason i can think of is that that HDD is not empty so i have to format it , I did'nt do that before 'cus i was told that windows automatically formats the drives when it's installed, but since iut can't get to that stage well i'll just do it apart.
Thanks anyway fer the help, & any more would be very welcome

[Sylvander]

Try installing using Windows installation files copied to a [FAT32] partition other than C: on the HDD [using the EBCD] as explained at the bottom of the page on the second link below this text.

How to make a “Smart Boot Manager” floppy:
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41498
This makes it really easy to choose the drive from which to boot and also has the advantage of showing which drives have been detected.

How to make an EBCD bootable CD
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
Includes lots of useful programs.

[Victson]

oki thank u