Power up sequence

[irobot10]

hi.. i am about to finish my first build and running a final checklist. Please help me with the sequence of powering up.

1) Will the system automatically go into BIOS after starting?

2) When / how do I load the OS (Vista 64-bit)?

3) How do I assign OS HDD & Storage HDD? (I have 2 HDDs)

4) When / how do I start loading various software that came with components? I have CDs from - A)Motherboard, B)Graphics Card, C)Monitor, D)Keyboard, E)Mouse, F)Modem, G)Floppy drive, and finally H)antivirus....hope I am not missing any!..

Please help...

 

[imported_LoKe]

1. No, it shouldn't. It should boot up normally and look for a bootable device (in this case, the CD/DVD drive).
2. You must put the Vista CD in the drive after you turn the computer on.
3. It'll start up the installer and you'll get to choose which hard drive to install the operating system on. Eventually it'll finish and boot up normally.
4. You shouldn't even have to install most of those applications/drivers/etc. However, you could simply pop in the CD's one at a time (no particular order, but perhaps motherboard -> graphics card -> input devices -> antivirus, the rest shouldn't be required).

 

[LightningRider]

Basically what LoKe said.

You will have to go into your BIOS manually. (Usually DELETE or F1 depending on the motherboard). Also if you wonder why your computer won't boot from the DVD when you insert it, make sure your boot priority has the Hard drive to boot AFTER the DVD-ROM.

You will have the option also to create partitions and format them in the Windows Vista installation screens. Just click advanced drive options I believe it is when you get to the screen (should be easy to spot) and fix it up how you like.

Every other driver you can install after the Windows setup is complete and you are taken to your desktop. I would install motherboard chipset drivers first, followed by graphics and then sound, though it doesn't really matter. After that you can install whatever extra drivers you want.

Also if you plan on setting up RAID or using AHCI then you WILL need to install a driver DURING the Windows installation. The option for that is on the same screen as the partition options.

 

[irobot10]

Thank you LoKe and LightningRider both...

I was reading more about OS installation etc, and ... one more question - While installing Vista on HDD#1, it will format it alright. Then after everything is done, will I have to format HDD#2 separately? There is not going to be any OS or Applications on HDD#2. I suppose it will need formatting in order to be usable as a storage HD.

Thanks for your help!

 

[kevinf2090]

yeah after you install the os you probably need for format hdd #2. but that can be easily done by right clicking that drive in windows and format

 

[corkyg]

Disagree about BIOS in the boot sequence. That is the first thing done. You may be thinking of the CMOS screens - but the system checks the BIOS immediately. That controls all of the boot sequences - that's where it gets its marching orders.

Once that is done, POST is done, and any added controllers jump in - such as RAID or SCSI. Then, you hear a beep and the OS starts to load. Etc.,
etc.

If you don't buy that, try booting with no BIOS chip.

BIOS

So the answer to question 1] is an emphatic YES.

 

[Navid]

Obviously, the computer uses the BIOS every time it boots.

But, if the question the original poster is asking is if the PC is going to automatically enter the BIOS control mode so that the user can change the settings, the answer is "No".

It will enter the BIOS programming mode only if the user makes it by pressing the appropriate key during post.

 

[LightningRider]

Yeah dude, everyone knows that when you say "go into the BIOS" they assume go into the CMOS, even if they don't know what CMOS is. They know what you are talking about.