 Computer build for a newbie - Hope you can help |
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 Jul 2 2009, 05:58 AM
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#16
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-June 09 Member No.: 342,934  |
Your link did help, showing me VCC is +, so I can take it from there by the missing pin configuration Thanks for your other efforts - dont know where you could download the MB, I tried to find that link,but could not Thanks M |
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Jul 2 2009, 02:09 PM
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#17
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 Forum Regular Group: HJT Junior Classmen Posts: 155 Joined: 25-August 08 Member No.: 233,250 |
if he's still got windows installed n the old hdd, he doesn't neccessarilly need to reinstall the OS, a fixmbr/fixboot will correct any problems with the windows installation attaching itself to the old hardware, this can be run from the recovery console, which you can download and burn to a disk for free...
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Jul 2 2009, 05:56 PM
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#18
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 Forum Addict Group: BC Advisor Posts: 2,150 Joined: 24-June 06 From: Pace University - New York City Campus Member No.: 73,266 |
The recovery console is on the Windows disc. The fixmbr and fixboot commands will not work in many cases, I've tried it with Vista and I still wasn't able to boot. A clean install is really the most effective and least problematic solution.
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Jul 2 2009, 07:08 PM
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#19
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Forum Regular Group: HJT Junior Classmen Posts: 155 Joined: 25-August 08 Member No.: 233,250 |
you're right, the recovery console is on the windows disk, ONLY XP (so you simply can't use it with Vista), but you can download it and burn it to your own disk from here: http://vlaurie.com/computers2/downloads/re..._console_cd.zip
Vista does not offer the recovery console option as vista only offers the recovery GUI now (on Vista disks, but also available for download from here: http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vist...disc-download/). Instead of fixboot or fixmbr, you run the "Startup repair - This automatically fixes problems that are preventing Windows from starting" this does the same thing as fixboot/fixmbr for Vista, and it DOES work, I've done it many times on many different machines. One HDD of mine has been run in three separate computers without reformatting as the primary boot drive... simple really, just a pain in the butt. and I don't know how many times I've done the same thing with system drives running xp... |
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Jul 2 2009, 09:24 PM
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#20
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Forum Addict Group: BC Advisor Posts: 2,150 Joined: 24-June 06 From: Pace University - New York City Campus Member No.: 73,266 |
With Vista, you can get to the command prompt to run the fixmbr and fixboot commands, sometimes the startup repair does not work and you need to go back to the command prompt. Reinstalling the OS, assuming a backup had been performed, is easier as it removes all the old garbage and brings the system to as clean of state as possible.
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Jul 3 2009, 06:46 PM
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#21
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Member Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-June 09 Member No.: 342,934 |
I was planning on questioning that when I got to that point with my build. I will be digesting what you guys wrote, but if it matters any, the OS from my old hard drives is XP IF I cant use the OS from the drive, will I have to remove to add another? Thanks |
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Jul 3 2009, 07:03 PM
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#22
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Forum Regular Group: HJT Junior Classmen Posts: 155 Joined: 25-August 08 Member No.: 233,250 |
if for some reason you can't get the old HDD to boot in the new system, yes, you will have to reformat and reinstall windows from scratch.
try to recovery console with fixboot/fixmbr tho, i'm sure it'll work fine for you even if it doesn't, you'll only have lost about 15 minutes worth of time anyways. if it does, you will have saved about 1-2 hours This post has been edited by case.bolt: Jul 3 2009, 07:04 PM |
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Jul 7 2009, 08:27 PM
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#23
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Member Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-June 09 Member No.: 342,934 |
Just got everything hooked up, with some plugs remaining, one being the case firewire - no place I found on the motherboard for that - little surprising... also case wire "HD AUDIO" ( audio sound for the hard drive?) & case wire AC'97 The board has a plug "ATX12V" which provides power to the CPU. However the CPU I have does not have a plug to go into that socket But what stopped me from completely finishing the hardware was that the cd/dvd drives ( I have 2 from my old computer which are still very good) have IDE cable pins in the back. The MB has only one IDE plug which is being used for the HD. Am I able to get an IDE to SATA plug converter, or do I have to buy a new cd/dvd drive? Thanks again! Matt |
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Jul 8 2009, 11:31 AM
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#24
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Forum Addict Group: BC Advisor Posts: 14,286 Joined: 3-September 05 From: Killeen, TX Member No.: 33,068 |
<<But what stopped me from completely finishing the hardware was that the cd/dvd drives ( I have 2 from my old computer which are still very good) have IDE cable pins in the back. The MB has only one IDE plug which is being used for the HD.>>
If this is a recent motherboard, you can run both 1 hard drive and 1 optical drive from the same cable, with no ill consequences. This became possible when board manufacturers started doing away with IDE slots on boards. This system that I'm on works fine with my boot drive and 1 optical on the same cable. You could also just add a controller card, if you intend to continue to use IDE-connecting devices. I prefer these over the converters, but that's a personal bias, based on my perception of reliability  .Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16816115009 Louis |
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Jul 8 2009, 07:12 PM
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#25
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Member Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-June 09 Member No.: 342,934 |
Thanks for your response!
The HD and cd/dvd drives are too far apart in the case ( case seems like it has specific slots for them(?) for the connectors on the cable to reach both. I looked at your link, it is what I want I guess but for that one it seems people were having some trouble with it esp it could not see optical drives according to one. I know that was an example I am looking at this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16816124001 Guess I'm getting into a catch 22 here....To set up bios on the new motherboard I need disc drive. I cant run the disc drive unless I have a card adapter, which has its own disc for its drivers, and need a functioning computer for that...? Little confusing to me. .................  I may be stuck in getting a cd/dvd sata drive... but then again I am in the same catch-22. I am confused!  ????????? This post has been edited by mrmatt2: Jul 8 2009, 07:15 PM |
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Jul 8 2009, 08:21 PM
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#26
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Forum Addict Group: BC Advisor Posts: 14,286 Joined: 3-September 05 From: Killeen, TX Member No.: 33,068 |
What's confusing?
I've already told you that you can attach 1 optical to the same cable. There's nothing that says that you have to have two optical drives installed initially...when installing other devices. Attach 1 optical drive, install controller drivers, then either move both optical drives to new controller or just add one to new controller. Louis |
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Jul 9 2009, 11:56 AM
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#27
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Forum Regular Group: HJT Junior Classmen Posts: 155 Joined: 25-August 08 Member No.: 233,250 |
why do you need an optical drive to setup the bios on the new motherboard? that doesn't make any sense... mobos come with a bios already... there is normally 0 setup required to get you up and running. you should only need an optical drive if you want to update the bios, but that would be something you want to do after you have everything all put together and up and running...
be creative man, if the cable won't stretch to both the HD and CD/DvD drive mounts, the take on of em out if you have to and just sit it down. computer parts will continue to run whether they're mounted in they're slots or not... just be careful not to jostle them while running. as to some other points... QUOTE Just got everything hooked up, with some plugs remaining, one being the case firewire - no place I found on the motherboard for that - little surprising... also case wire "HD AUDIO" ( audio sound for the hard drive?) & case wire AC'97 Firewire pinouts should be in your mobo manual. read it. HD Audio means Hi-Def Audio.... Hard Drives have no sound.... why would they need it...? informaiton about AC'97 can be found here QUOTE The board has a plug "ATX12V" which provides power to the CPU. However the CPU I have does not have a plug to go into that socket I have no idea what you are talking about here.... CPU's (Central Processing Units) don't have plugs... they simply fit into the CPU socket on the mobo... I think you're talking about the 4-pin auxillary power for the CPU. Nothing ever plugs into the CPU... this is merely a 4-pin cable form the PSU that plugs into the board, most of the time very near to the CPU. It does provide auxillary power to the CPU, but it does not plug into the CPU itself... nothing does. |
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Jul 10 2009, 04:53 PM
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#28
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Member Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-June 09 Member No.: 342,934 |
I reread the manual, and there is a bios as you said, though the way the manual is written it was unclear to me. I am a newbie...... The manual does not say anything about once everything is connected, it can be started up. As for the disc supplied it says " The support software CD_ROM that is included in the motherboard package contains all the drivers and utility programs to properly run the bundled products" I thought that was to include implanting bios. Updating bios is apparently only done through downloads from the MB website. Yes, I can temporarily stuff a hard drive by an optical drive to fit the reach of the cables. Manual says if there are 2 IDE devices on the cable, one MUST be configured as master, the other slave. I did not know ( if it applies) that a burner has a Master/slave option. There are no firewire pinouts anywhere in the manual, nor seen on the MB. I will inquire directly to the manufacturer. For the "CPU plug" it was a little surprising to see one.; According to the manual it says: " Connecting 8-pin power cable: The ATX12V power connector is used to provide power to the CPU. When installing the 8 pin power cable, the latches of power cable and ATC12V match perfectly" I felt this did not apply, it was just surprising/curiosity to me & thought I would mention it. Again, I am a newbie, I am sure to be asking questions that will make your eyes roll, and make you slap your forehead. I have no idea if I miss something that I should not because to me it doesn't seem to make sense or vice versa.., if for example, something did not work, one could be asking me "well, that sounds like you never plugged in the 8-pin cable to your MB CPU!!! - didn't your manual tell you to do that?! - you gotta follow directions!" So I ask or mention these things. You confirmed for me the cpu is not plugged in into this plug by any wire. So once I do the cable, I turn the machine on, hope the Windows XP is picked up from my old hard drive, then install the drivers for the MB via the disc the manufacturer enclosed. Thanks so much |
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Jul 10 2009, 06:03 PM
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#29
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Forum Regular Group: HJT Junior Classmen Posts: 155 Joined: 25-August 08 Member No.: 233,250 |
QUOTE Again, I am a newbie, I am sure to be asking questions that will make your eyes roll, and make you slap your forehead. I have no idea if I miss something that I should not because to me it doesn't seem to make sense or vice versa.., if for example, something did not work, one could be asking me "well, that sounds like you never plugged in the 8-pin cable to your MB CPU!!! - didn't your manual tell you to do that?! - you gotta follow directions!" first, let me apologize, i did not intend to make you feel this way at all, i am truly sorry if i have. it's strange that your mobo does not have any pinouts for firewire, although some boards (definitely older ones) simply don't have it. i didn't see anywhere in previous posts, but did you give us the name/model of the mobo you ended up getting? The BIOS normally comes pre-installed on all mobos. one of the reasons for this is because the BIOS is the basic programming that makes all the devices able to communicate in the first place. essentially, without a bios, your mobo would be a dead hunk of silicon with some pretty hunks of mettal attached to it  BIOS updates are sometimes released that will fix bugs or provide patches for better/added functionality, but every mobo should come with a bios pre-installed. if you want to take the time, you can read more about it here The cd-rom(s) included with your mobo is most likely to enable certain mobo-manufacturer-specific software, or to install certain drivers that may be needed for certain hardware (such as your on-board NIC/LAN port). The drivers you should definitely install as soon as you get up and running, but the extra software is really optional. Some of this may be system monitoring software (to help you keep an eye on temps, fan speeds, etc.) or just software packages that they bundle with the mobo (such as cd burning software, i think my last mobo came with Nero7 or Roxio or something like that). a lot of the system monitoring software you probably won't really use as it's most useful if you're trying to overclock or something, but some people like to keep an eye on these things regardless. as far as the power issues, the new atx12v connections are not quite as standardized as we would all like yet. i normally follow the rule of thumb: if you can plug something into your mobo, there should be a reason why you haven't. if not, you've forgotten something. all IDE devices need to be configured as master/slave if running on the same cable as another. There should be a small diagram/picture on the optical drive near the jumpers to tell you how to set it as master or slave. If not, you may be able to find the info online by searching the model of optical drive and looking for a manual or something. you may also try to manufacturer's website. QUOTE So once I do the cable, I turn the machine on, hope the Windows XP is picked up from my old hard drive, then install the drivers for the MB via the disc the manufacturer enclosed. i can nearly guarantee that windows will not boot the first time you hook things up. it will probably come back with a error saying ntldr is missing or something along those lines. you *may* be able ot fix that by booting to your windows cd, then going into the recovery console and running fixboot/fixmbr for more info about that, along with instructions an how to run those commands, see here |
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Jul 12 2009, 08:33 AM
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#30
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Member Group: Members Posts: 28 Joined: 17-June 09 Member No.: 342,934 |
First of all, I want to say thanks for all your help case, I really do appreciate it.
The MB I have is this ECS A790GXM-AD3 The only windows cd I have is for a Dell computer. Seems like the windows os on that disc is specific to dell computers only.. "Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer" From what you said it seems I must have a windows cd If so, then I guess I have an option with downloading Windows 7 RC suggested by DJBPace07 on the very first reply post of this thread. At this time, I am trying to save $$ I will reading and digesting the link you posted. With computers to be able to do so much with recognition of drivers, software etc, just a little surprising that the MB will not be able to pull up windows from my HD. Oh well, again, I will be reading what you suggested - but it seems like I will have to buy or download a Windows CD OS like this Windows XP old version My other computers are using xp home addition 2002 which is fine.. thanks again!!!!!!! Matt This post has been edited by mrmatt2: Jul 12 2009, 02:35 PM |
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