Ok so I am new to building my own PC. Actually I havent even attempted it yet. Bearing that in mind I have the following question. Once I recieve all my components and installed them properly THEN WHAT??? How do you install the new OS??? Do I have to mess around with all the BIOS setting before I even get started??? yea so.... what do you do once the hardware is properly in place????????

When you get to BIOS select your DVD/CD player as the first boot device. Insert your Windows CD in the DVD/CD player and close the tray. Save and Exit BIOS. Upon restart when you see 'select any key to boot from CD' you then select any key and proceed to load the OS. After Windows is finished loading, load the MB drivers and system drivers from the MB CD. Next, your new system will need a video card driver and all the online updates from Microsoft update. Load all the other software you will be using last.

Ok so you stated Next, your new system will need a video card driver and all the online updates from Microsoft update. Load all the other
software you will be using last.

^^^will I be able to access the internet in order to get these video card drivers and updates from Microsoft update???

yes...when you load your MB drivers there are the ethernet drivers there to let you get internet access.

^^^Great!!! It sounds alot easier than I thought it would be 8)

You may also want to throw some virus software on there before you connect to the internet.

wow.

if you've never even installed windows you should just stop now before you enter a world of hurt and BSOD's

if you dont know what a BSOD is, then really really stop.

Valis

and a firewall. this guy is a trojan magnite

what the guy described is a best case scenario. that's if nothing NOTHING goes wrong. that's if you've made sure everything will actually work with everything else, have put it all together correctly, and haven't fried anything while messing with it.

i doubt it's going to go that easy, things never do.

you'll be here after you get your stuff together asking a bunch of questions some of which will have you returning parts...

Like the above said,

When everything is put together and IF it all works first go then:

1. Head straight to bios and set your cd/dvd as 1st boot device

2. Put in your OS (which you never stated was windows but others assumed)
If it is windows XP, then make sure it has SP2(new cd's do) because it has a built in firewall which is enough for most people

3. Install and Setup OS

4. Install all mb drivers, graphics, sound etc

5. If your using Ethernet (and you've installed the drivers for it) then your internet will work automatically. Run Windows/Microsoft Update and get all the updates(including most of the ones which aren't 'critical')

6. Get an Anti-virus software (If your looking for a free one, i recommend AVG Free Edition from Grisoft)

7. At this stage hopefully everything is running stable, you have a fully updated OS as well as 'secure' so you should be good to go.

IF you come across any problems don't forget to post on the forums for plenty of abuse. . . i mean help

you stated you'll be here after you get your stuff together asking a bunch of questions some of which will have you returning parts...
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Wow you guys are COLD.... Why would I be returning parts etc etc??? If everything is compatable why would this even be an issue??? I mean WTF you guys are always saying dont buy a Dell or some other pre assembled PC ....but then you all give me shit when I ask how to assemble my own.....

Oh cool down, he is stating worse case, many people have zero problems, of course we never hear back from them. If you ran your list my the group and it "passed" and you take your time, chances are it will go smoothly.

look out boys (and girls?)see this post

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/har [...] 35826.html

Yes there is some bad people in the world.

Just because all the parts are compatible doesn't mean that something might actually be broke. I know it is slim that it could happen but he is just telling you the things that don't go right.

I do agree with you, everyone is saying don't buy prebuilt esp Dell but when you go for advice or help you get a lot of sh*t.

Like every forum, you need to take some of the comments with a 'pinch of salt' as they say. Some you will agree with, some you will ignore and some you will get offended by. It's a forum, you have to expect these things.

here are some links for beginners

BIOs flashing
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview [...] 605&page=5

building
http://www.mysuperpc.com/

building

http://www.pcmech.com/howto/category/1/

Tweaking XP
http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks1.htm

how much power do i need
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

where do i get parts??
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/index.html
http://www.xoxide.com/index.html
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp

also Goggle is your friend
here are a few links only took a few mins to find

^^^Thanks to everyone who is not acting like a wise A_S_S