Danny Bassette

Join Date 02/2003

ANC

A New Computer

       As mentioned in an earlier blog, my computer died (or to be more technical the operation system hard drive went bad). Well it looks like I've gotten around that problem.
       I got a new computer for my birthday (or at least that was the excuse, even if my birthday is still a few weeks away, although I suspect I could have used any excuse on my parents but that's a completly different story, someone remind me to write that once my computer is happy). Is a pentium 4, 2.8 ghz, 512mb ram, 80gb hard drive. As I'm typing this the hard drive is formating so I can install windows.
       Getting it ready to use was actually a bit of a challenge (and it's not all ready now even). The system came without hard or cd drives. No shipping mistake or anything, this was the way it was ordered. It was cheaper to get a hard drive from the store and reuse a cd from another computer, so that's what was done. Just means I had to open it up and fiddle with things right off the bat.
       The insides of computers have changed some since I was last in them, although the basics are still the same. The case opened up nice, which is always a plus. The inside was nicely laid out too, and instead of screwing in the drives there are these sliding things that lock it in. Same idea for the pci slots in back, instead of screws there is a plastic latch. And the covers that get popped out for new drives have places for screws so you could reattach them. Nothing radical, but some nice little touches all the same.
       Then starts the problems. I'm planning to have four hard drives and one cd writer in this machine, so I know I needed an ata controller. I got that in and was plugging things in when I realized there wasn't enough power plugs for the drives. I can power three devices, so I left two of the hard drives off. Long term I need to find a way to power them, but I figured it would be fine for now, since I want to install windows tonight.
       Next problem shows up when I boot the computer: the lines for the power, reset, and on light are swapped around. Power won't turn on the computer, but reset will. I'm assuming power will reset the computer, but I'm not going to try that right now

It starts into the bootup and can't find the cd drive. Turns out the ata controller isn't working properly. So turn it off, swap the cables around, then reboot and try again. Also fixed the on light wires, I think I know how to fix the power/reset switch but that's a low priority (and might be left just for fun

). This time it works and I can install windows.
       Windows installs fine now, but once it's up and running it claims it can't find the usb, video, raid, pci, and ethernet controller. Ignore that I'm reading this off the screen (video) while using the mouse (usb). So the system is clearly confused.
       Once I get things straightened out I'm sure it will be a fine computer, just going to take a bit to get it there. Most of the problems seem to be a simple case of finding the right driver (I'm sure they are on one of the cd's that is lying around). Although power for the hard drives could be tricky... For now the computer can sit there nekid (I had to take off the panels to get inside it and figure I'll have to go back in tomorrow so for now it's still nekid), and hopefully it will be all happy in a day or two.
       Assuming anyone cares (and even if you don't), I'll update again once things are working better (or have exploded in a giant fireball of death and destruction, er, which I guess means I won't update then).

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but once it's up and running it claims it can't find the usb, video, raid, pci, and ethernet controller. Ignore that I'm reading this off the screen (video) while using the mouse (usb). So the system is clearly confused.
Once I get things straightened out I'm sure it will be a fine computer, just going to take a bit to get it there. Most of the problems seem to be a simple case of finding the right driver (I'm sure they are on one of the cd's that is lying around). Although power for the hard drives could be tricky... For now the computer can sit there nekid (I had to take off the panels to get inside it and figure I'll have to go back in tomorrow so for now it's still nekid), and hopefully it will be all happy in a day or two.

And they wonder why people buy Macs....

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First of all..
""I can power three devices, so I left two of the hard drives off. Long term I need to find a way to power them, but I figured it would be fine for now, since I want to install windows tonight.""

They make splitters you can buy to power up more than one device from a single lead.

Next..

""Windows installs fine now, but once it's up and running it claims it can't find the usb, video, raid, pci, and ethernet controller. Ignore that I'm reading this off the screen (video) while using the mouse (usb). So the system is clearly confused.""

These drivers are on the CD that should have come with your mother board.. *Tip..Install your chipset drivers first!.. then begin the installation of everything else.

Windows comes with a basic set of drivers so you can use the stuff temorarily until you get the correct drivers installed, dont keep using the PC with these temorary drivers..::laughs:: Install all the correct software for the hardware you have!

Good Luck,
Zero.

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Gene Nash: Because they have that nice handle for throwing? I've never owned a mac, but when I was in high school a friend of mine owned a few of them. And he would constantly have them in parts for one reason or another.
Double Zero: I figured they would make something like that for power, probably be able to find them at the store where the computer came from. Found drivers for everything but the speakers on one cd, but it's late enough now I'll worry about that tomorrow. Is good advice you have

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Snowman

Join Date 03/2001

+343

And they wonder why people buy Macs....

It actually still beats me why some people do that

and now back to the regular scheduled thread

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At least you know how to mess around with computer hardware. I am silly about being afraid of touching a computer's insides.

The only time I ever opened up a computer was to put in ram sticks.

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Cordelia

Join Date 07/2002

Congratulations on the new computer! And a happy early birthday I suppose as well! . I hope this means you'll be around more.

I htink you should take your new computer and consider writing some short stories or a book. I always enjoy your writings and it might be therapeutic.

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Snowman: To each their own...
Ravenblack: I won't say I'm an expert, but I know what I'm doing well enough. Although I did have the motherboard chart open to make sure I was putting the wires where they were supposed to go. I started inside computers by adding ram too, perhaps you'll be building your own system next

Cordelia: I should be around more, although you never can tell. As for writing a book, probably not, but short stories... I should actually write a story about my first stories (at least the first stories I can remember writing), but that would be another blog (I think I'll go write that now while waiting for files to copy).
And an update on the computer setup: All the drivers seem to be setup and working properly (although I can't test the ata controller until I get more power). Windows updates are all done, firewall/virus scanner installed and I'm even writting this from the new computer. Still have to install whatever software I end up using (looking at openoffice) but that will end up being an install as needed situation. Managed to get the old hard drive working long enough to copy the important files off (bookmarks and such), but it doesn't look like I'll get it running again. Shame, but I don't think there is any ireplacable data on it, just annoying.

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The only time I ever opened up a computer was to put in ram sticks.

How are those? I usually put in some bread sticks (they warm up nicely), but variety would be nice.

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Bichur:

Danny: I always wanted to, even thought about taking a short 1-2 day course. I just keep putting off actually getting down and doing it. Maybe someday, eh?

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Hey Danny, thanks for the compliment, I dont know alot of stuff, but putting PC's together is something I have done more than a few times..::laughs:: Glad I could help..

I wanted to offer maybe one more suggestion, just in case you havent done it..Concerning your BIOS, have you set it up yet?..If not it's really a piece of cake to perform the standard settings in most BIOS these days, you dont have to be a rocket scientist to do it..

Depending on what BIOS manufacturer you have, it may be a little different in the way you access it, the usual is hitting the *DEL* key at the first splash screen during boot-up.. Once there, look on first menu and see if there is an "Optimized Defaults" setting..if so, scroll to it by using the page-up and page down keys on your keyboard, once you select it, hit the enter key, that should bring up a prompt asking you if you want to set it..type Y and hit enter again..hit the F10 key to save changes and exit.

I Hope this helps..Good Luck
Zero.

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Double Zero: Is F2 for the system I have. Was into the bios already, and I'll be in there again before the hard drives are all set. But that waits for power splitters...

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Cool beans, just wanted to make sure. Sounds like your going to have a sweet little system up and going at 100% pretty soon..I bet you cant wait!.

Take care,
Zero.

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Got the power straightened out for the hard drives and everything is working on my computer now, just an update for anyone that might care.

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Awesome!.. I'll bet your glad thats over..LoL

Zero.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

Another case of someone buying a Pentium...

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Phoon

Join Date 10/2001

+382

Another case of someone buying a Pentium

Not true Kona.. I have seen similar issues with an AMD Processor system on a motherboard with Raid. The fix is buried REAL deep in the manual but requires that you run a utility from the CD to create a floppy which runs another utility to give windows the proper drivers for the RAID controller.

And they wonder why people buy Macs
People buy Macs when they dont want windows. This person wants Windows. Great answer!

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Thanks for the link over here Danny. I was away for a week, so I missed this post, but I am glad to see someone told you about the Power Splitters. Cheap!

I would offer one more bit of advice. Buy another fan for the case. With 4 hard drives, it is sure to heat up, and you can never have too much air flow. All in all, tho, it sounds like you are building a dream machine! You can get the DVD and Hardware decoder as money allows. And dont forget the Mega sound card and nVidia Video adapter!

Have fun with it.

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Thank you Phoon for the clarification but I fear your opening up a can of worms, some people just will not "broaden their horizons" and I dont mean any particular individual, there are many.

But hey, "to each his own" right?

::sighs::
Zero.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+86

Never have heard of a problem like this while using a Nvidia Nforce based system...

Thank you Phoon for the clarification but I fear your opening up a can of worms, some people just will not "broaden their horizons" and I dont mean any particular individual, there are many.

I have used Intel before thank you...

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Double Zero: Yep, I am glad to have all my disk space back

Dr. Guy: The case already has three fans, one positioned just for the hard drives, so I don't think I'll need a fourth, but good idea all the same. Don't need a fancy sound card either, so long as it's better then the system speaker thingy I'm happy

I do care more about graphics, although the motherboards built in accelerator seems to be working well enough for my needs. For now I'm happy with what I have, perhaps someday I'll get more things to stick into it, but not today.

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