New system built..now what??

[WhiteHawk]

Completed my first computer system build project, double checkes all wires and connects.  Aside from some scary 'little screws drops on the motherboard ' and some minor screw ups, i feel perty confifdent I didnt short circuit anything.
  All components are in and I am ready to fire it it up and get into the bios.  Any thing I should know about before i do this??
  The book just says how to do it, it doesnt say when.
For example, how is my vid card gonna  run without the driver?  As wellas the cd rom?  Also, anybody know anything about a 'Secure IDE' card?  I got one in the Motherboard box, and it says how to install it, but it doesnt say if I need it to run my puter.  The motherboard manual makes no mention of it.
  Thnx and I appreciate any input

Also, mushkin RAM comes with a metal jacket!?!?!?  Tried to take it off but it seems that it is spose to be on there.  it fits in the slots so i left it alone.  Is that correct??

[Defiance]

Yo,
Jackets on ram = spread coolers

F8 or whatever man says to enter Bios, When in there find Boot-Up options, Make CD boot 1st (when u exit n save it can boot n install from a say windose disc) HD 2nd

Install etc n get updated blahh blahh blahh

Then readup on bios settings off a decent site and change accordingly

If you don't get a boot screen on powerup, Look for cmos jumper/switch n move over (power off btw) or failing that remove n replace battery with power off

As she boots keep pressing Enter Bios Key eg F8  and then nosey around settings

Reading thru man u should see defaults etc so do them then once readup online about better settings go into bios n set em to suit

[mrblack]

Originally posted by WhiteHawk
Completed my first computer system build project, double checkes all wires and connects.  Aside from some scary 'little screws drops on the motherboard ' and some minor screw ups, i feel perty confifdent I didnt short circuit anything.
  All components are in and I am ready to fire it it up and get into the bios.  Any thing I should know about before i do this??
  The book just says how to do it, it doesnt say when.
For example, how is my vid card gonna  run without the driver?  As wellas the cd rom?  Also, anybody know anything about a 'Secure IDE' card?  I got one in the Motherboard box, and it says how to install it, but it doesnt say if I need it to run my puter.  The motherboard manual makes no mention of it.
  Thnx and I appreciate any input

Also, mushkin RAM comes with a metal jacket!?!?!?  Tried to take it off but it seems that it is spose to be on there.  it fits in the slots so i left it alone.  Is that correct??

Leave the metal jakets on!! they are heat sinks and removing them will VOID you're warranty.
The secure IDE I never fooled with it on my MAX3.
As far as the video card .
XP will auto detect VGA so you can load the operating system.
When all that crap is done then you can load all your drivers you got with you're motherboard and video card.
Once everything is loaded then you need to go to Abits web site and download the latest BOIS.
There is also a neat little utility that lets you flash BIOS in windows.
other wise you have to do it with a floppy from DOS.
Let me know if you need any other help.

[mrblack]

The delete key gets you into BIOS.
start tapping it when you reboot.

[mrblack]

Dude if you want give me your e mail and I will send you my phone# and we can run thru this tonight on the phone.
It really aint that hard but i know a little scarry at first.
Just remember if for some reasone the dern thang wont boot.
Unplug everything and reset you're cmos Jumper.
Look in manuel for location 1 " left of IDE controller1.

[Skuzzy]

Load the motherboard drivers/INF files immediately after the OS is installed.  Do not install any other drivers until the motherbaord drivers are installed.

And don't worry.  If the hardware comes up, you can always start software installation over.

[WhiteHawk]

cc..thnx a lot guys..I put the power to it and she fired right up.  No subtle wisp of smoke with a hint of burnt stench.  Everything ok, until i tried to load windows xp.  Seemed to be going fine until, error screen popped up.
  My HD was detected ok in the bios as was all my other Hardware.  No real clue as to why the shutdown, it just said error detected, windows is shutting down:confused:
  I haev all the fail safe defaults enabled in the bios and the hardware connects are pretty much idiot proof.
  Ahh well, im tired.  Will try again tomorrow.

Appreciate all the help.

[BB Gun]

WinXP?

WinXP is often finicky about RAM placement.  Try it in a different slot.  If that doesn't work, then try "underclocking" the system (failsafe defaults) and then try again.

BB

[mrblack]

You need to put you ram sticks in slots 1 and 3.
And you will need to reset you're cmos.
Then you should be good to go.

But when you are booting up go ahead and go into you're bios again and make double shure thats you have everything ok.
Check Cpu boot strap set to 800

Under advanced chipset controls check you ram settings.
You will need to set the very first setting to manuel
Do not change any of the other values under that one.
Then on the bottom .

You will find you're GAT settings.
Leave them at auto but for the last 2.
Change them to disable.

Another thing Mushkin loves higher voltages.
So on you're first page in BIOS go down to bottom where you see
VDIMM voltage or something like that.
And change it to 2.8 or 2.9

This will give more stability to you're ram.
Under AGP setting make sure it is set to FIXED
66/33 i think.

And last but not least cheak to make sure the ram stick is seated all the way in slot
  Maybe you should do that first:aok

[mrblack]

One more thing.
You might want to test you're ram.
you can do this by taking one stick out and putting the other in slot one.

With just the one stick in slot one try and boot.
If it wooks ok .
Then reverse the process with the other stick if with either stick it fails to boot you mighjt have a bad stick.

Now if you bought you're ram straight from Mushkin you can return the bad stick within 2 weeks for a refund or exchange.

just a thought.

let me know if i can help you in any way.

[WhiteHawk]

rgr that  guys..mrblack thanx a bunch.  I am gonna try again tody although its gonna be busy.  The first time I got the error it said
drive_irq_not_less_than_or_eq ual.  But that no longer comes up, just the errormessage.  Ok, 5 hrs of sleep and here we go again.

.. Ok mrblack,made the changes and windows is now formating my HD:D .  Will post later in the day, hopefully everything is:aok

thnx a bunch to all.

[minus]

what PSU u  have ?
 i got ride of those problem be not using Onboard sound card and  upgrading to 550 W Antec True power

[WhiteHawk]

Windows installed successfully.   No trubble:D .
Motherboard drivers all OK installed.

going to the bloom25 sticky for a while

[Roscoroo]

looks like your getting it under control ...

My only sugestion here is run it at default/standard clocking for the first few days or a week befor you start turning it up (overclocking) this give you time to get your basic operating software installed and tested , and its easier to fix if something does go wrong . (this is creating a known baseline for the machine)  along with watching the tempature's ect...

after this run in period . Then start cranking it up . (one adjustment at a time works best)

[214thCavalier]

I would also say currently do not select a ram voltage greater than 2.8 as 2.9 and 3.0 are giving widely varying voltages and causing instability for a lot of users.
3.2 seems to be ok buts its waaay over spec and you may fry your ram.