Hey everyone,
I always come here when I need to know something about tubas, so I thought I'd give it a try for computers. I have just installed a 160 gig hard drive and a CD R-W into a bare bones system with the motherboard installed. It turns on and seems to work mechanically OK. Now, I am wondering how to install drivers/operating systems/etc. Should the monitor be working? It turns on (seems to be mechanically working) but is completely black. Is this normal? Does anyone know where there is a similar, but of course not as good, computer forum?
Tabor
computers
Forum rules
Be kind. No government, state, or local politics allowed. Admin has final decision for any/all removed posts.
Be kind. No government, state, or local politics allowed. Admin has final decision for any/all removed posts.
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chevy68chv
- bugler
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:35 pm
Whenever I've started a computer from scratch there was always something displayed on the monitor. I can't tell you exactly what, its been a while since I've done it 
Installing Windows (or whatever operating system you choose) is fairly simple, pretty much put in the disc and follow the instructions. Often Windows will guide you through the driver setup afterwards.
Installing Windows (or whatever operating system you choose) is fairly simple, pretty much put in the disc and follow the instructions. Often Windows will guide you through the driver setup afterwards.-
WoodSheddin
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:44 pm
- Location: On the bike
- Contact:
If the monitor is plugged into the video card and shows nothing when the machine is booted up then something is not right. You usually get something, even if it is an error on the screen from the motherboards BIOS.
Triple check all the jumpers and connections on the new motherboard.
Also be double sure that the video card, if not built onto the motherboard, works properly in a known good computer. Do the same for the monitor.
The key is to isolate the problem. You sound like you are not entirelly sure if the monitor or the video card are working properly. Know that first then move on to the motherboard.
Once you can get to the screen showing the BIOS starting up then you can go into the BIOS settings, choose to boot off the CDROM first, save that setting, pop in the windows XP cd, and reboot. From there Windblows will guide you through the rest of the process.
Triple check all the jumpers and connections on the new motherboard.
Also be double sure that the video card, if not built onto the motherboard, works properly in a known good computer. Do the same for the monitor.
The key is to isolate the problem. You sound like you are not entirelly sure if the monitor or the video card are working properly. Know that first then move on to the motherboard.
Once you can get to the screen showing the BIOS starting up then you can go into the BIOS settings, choose to boot off the CDROM first, save that setting, pop in the windows XP cd, and reboot. From there Windblows will guide you through the rest of the process.
sean chisham
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Joe Baker
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1162
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 8:37 am
- Location: Knoxville, TN
Bordering on the ridiculous here, but when you say "bare-bones"... Be sure your system HAS all of the following:
If the monitor is bad, take a look at the connector and be sure all the pins are straight. If the computer itself is the problem, and everything's installed right, then some component must be bad. That's where it's going to be just about impossible to advise you over the internet.
If unplugging the drives fixes everything, you could have one of the ribbon connectors upside down, or you might have a conflict over which device is the master and which is the slave. Write back if unplugging the drives makes the error go away, but you can't fix the problem.
I apologize if I've misread your message, but it sounds like you're a novice at assembling computers. Building your own computer without the relevant knowledge can be very difficult -- and coaching a novice through the process by text messages can be even harder. I'm sure everyone here will do our best to get you through it, but if you've got somone locally who knows their stuff, you might be taking them cookies, washing their car....
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Joe Baker, who is far more knowledgeable about computers than about tubas.
- CPU
Memory
Video Card
Video Memory(if separate video mem is required)
If the monitor is bad, take a look at the connector and be sure all the pins are straight. If the computer itself is the problem, and everything's installed right, then some component must be bad. That's where it's going to be just about impossible to advise you over the internet.
If unplugging the drives fixes everything, you could have one of the ribbon connectors upside down, or you might have a conflict over which device is the master and which is the slave. Write back if unplugging the drives makes the error go away, but you can't fix the problem.
I apologize if I've misread your message, but it sounds like you're a novice at assembling computers. Building your own computer without the relevant knowledge can be very difficult -- and coaching a novice through the process by text messages can be even harder. I'm sure everyone here will do our best to get you through it, but if you've got somone locally who knows their stuff, you might be taking them cookies, washing their car....
_____________________________
Joe Baker, who is far more knowledgeable about computers than about tubas.
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Bove
- pro musician
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:20 pm
- Location: New York, NY
this site has some useful info and checklists: http://www.mysuperpc.com/