help with mobo installation please!

Associate
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
oh dear. the time has come for me to upgrade to a pci-e mobo, and so i've ordered a new graphics card (x1800xt), mobo (a8n-e) and psu (enermax liberty 500W). unfortunately i have failed to remember all the steps i took the last time i changed my mobo- i seem to remember having to re-install windows (xp professional), but all else escapes my tiny, goldfish mind. please, for the love of all that is beautiful and glorious in the world, provide me with the necessary instructions to set everything up (or a link!). by the way, xp is installed on my pert little raptor.

thank you. won't this weekend be fun!
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
Hey drandy,

What is it you specifically need help with? Is it the hardware side of things or just the software? If its the software, i have recently upgraded to the mobo in my sig (Asrock 939) and had to do a full reinstall of windows to get everything working properly. Let me know what you need help with and i'll do my best.
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
that's awesome. i think that the hardware side will be ok- the manual on my current a8v provided enough guidance for it's own installation into my pc, but it'd really help if you could do me a step-by-step guide for the software side of things. this is probably going to be specific to my set-up, but any help you can give will be gratefully recieved!
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
Ok, not a problem, I'll write a quick guide for setting the bios and re-installing windows for you and which order to reinstall all your motherboard drivers, graphics etc. I suggest that you back up any vital data you have that you want to keep as well. Will post back in a bit with the guide, if you think of anything else you need to know in the meantime just ask as i'll keep an eye on the thread.
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
By the way do you have a SATA hard drive or just IDE? If you have a SATA drive which your installing windows onto you will probably need to make a SATA driver disk so that the setup process can recognise it.
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
good work! thanks for the help- this means that i can get properly excited about the delivery tomorrow, and bug the hell out of the delivery guy at work... two things to look forward to! ;)
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
Are you installing on your raptor drive? And also is it partitioned or do you have it as a single 74GB drive? And if it isnt, do you want it partitioned? And do you have any other hard drives present in your PC?
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
i'm installing on my raptor, it's not partitioned, and i have no other hdds. i think that i want to partition the hdd and have windows on one partition and everything else on the other. so that answers the sata question...

is the sata driver disc on the mobo driver cd?
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
Hey drandy. The SATA driver should be on your mobo CD. You need probably need to make a SATA driver floppy disk. The method of doing this depends on your motherboard. Refer to its manual before you take apart your system. Just trying to finish the guide for. Should be done today now I know how you want your hard drive setup.
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
hey drandy, do you have all your data backed up and ready to go? Also do you have access to another machine that has internet, incase you get stuck during the install?
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
i'm at work at the moment, and will be tomorrow as well, so i'm planning on doing the upgrade on saturday afternoon. the data's getting backed up tonight, provided i don't have to stay in work until 11pm again! is it possible for you to post the guide so i can familiarise myself with the procedure before i get down and dirty? there is no second pc unfortunately- i'm going to ask my housemate if i can use his computer during the operation, but he might not be forthcoming... hence the need for a printed guide, although having your support from the forum will be ideal if i can get it!

thanks a lot for the help!
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
sure thing mate, i'll put the finishing touches to it, its almost complete, just making sure it all reads ok and makes sense and will post it before you get down and dirty.
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
outstanding- maybe i should try to get home early doors today, because doesn't the delivery warranty voids after 24 hours? the box looked a bit mashed and there was no cushioning inside... it'd be a shame if one of the components had been damaged, and i don't get a replacement just because i had to wait until the weekend before checking out my hardware!
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
I think it depends on who you bought it from. Some its 24hrs, some its within about 3 days, as long as you inform them as soon as possible i dont think it would be a problem, especially if youve been working shifts or something.
 
Soldato
Joined
2 Nov 2002
Posts
3,534
Location
Dorset
The SATA driver should be on your mobo CD. You need probably need to make a SATA driver floppy disk.

You won't for a single sata drive set up on that board.

The manual is pants at helping you with this, but it will work with drivers from the XP CD.
If your XP CD is an old one, I would consider slipstreaming SP2 into it like this or use
nLITE.
 
Associate
Joined
11 Dec 2005
Posts
146
Location
Solihull
Ok Drandy here goes, have a read and let me know if there is anything that i have overlooked, or anything that I need to explain a bit better:

First things first:

Set the BIOS up.

To do this on boot up press either the delete key or F2 (Probably tells you in your motherboard manual or will say on POST screen as it boots.).

1) Once in the BIOS get the system time and date set correctly.
2) whilst your there check its picking up your CPU and memory correctly.
3) If they are ok head over to the BOOT options section (It is usually its own section within the BIOS) again your motherboard manual will probably be able to help.
4) In the Boot options, set your CD/DVD drive to first boot device, then the hard drive and then the floppy drive.
5) Once all of this is done put your Windows CD in your chosen boot device drive.
6) save and exit the BIOS.
7) Your system will then reboot and go through the POST screen detecting your hardware as it goes.
8) Then depending on your system it will either say

BOOT from CD ROM:
Press any key to boot from CD......

or it will just come up saying

Press any key to boot from CD.....

At this point press spacebar or enter (or any key you like infact).

9) Now a blue screen will appear with Microsoft Windows XP at the top, then a whole load of stuff will appear one after another on the bottom (Setup is loading files).At this point you need to load a third party or RAID driver by pressing F6 (This will allow setup to see your SATA hard drive if setup doesnt automatically detect it). CAUTION: the press F6 option is very early after this screen has loaded, watch for it at the bottom of the screen. After you have pressed F6, it will continue to load files. Yout then need to press S to load the drivers, then insert your driver disk and press Enter. Not sure where the setup goes from here as I dont have SATA, just have some faith and it'll be ok. (MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BIT????? PLEASE)

10) After it has loaded a whole load of files and drivers it will welcome you to the setup, your options will now be:
i) TO set up Windows P now, press ENTER.
ii)To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
iii) To quit setup without installing Windows P, press F3.

at this point press ENTER to proceed with the install.

11) Next is the END-USER LICENCE AGREEMENT. F8 agrees to it, page down key scrolls down so you can read it if you want to.

12) Ok, now the tricky bit. If this is being installed on your Raptor that already has windows on it then setup will want to know if you wish to repair that windows install or install a fresh copy. To install a fresh copy press ESC.

13) Setup will now list all the hard drives and any partitions on those drives (See Picture).



If you want a fresh install on your raptor, press D to delete any information on the drive, some more screens will, follow, I think you need to press enter on the next one and then L on the one after. Cant confirm that as I would wipe my disk :).

14) Once you have got a clean space for the install, just select the partition or unpartitioned space (however it is labelled) and press C to create a partition, you then have the choice of entering how big you want it to be. Once created you will return to the same screen, with the newly created partition and some unallocated space. To create another partition for Apps & Games just select the unallocated space and press c again to create another partition (This second partition will need to be formatted within windows!). To install windows, select the partition you want it installed onto then press enter.

15) Format the hard drive or partition, usually you only get a choice of NTFS(quick) or just format NTFS. If your hard drive has been previously formatted NTFS there is no harm in using the quick option. If your raptor was formatted FAT32 or you are using a new Hard Drive, please make sure you do a full format (NOT THE QUICK FORMAT OPTION). Windows setup will then format the drive, then copy the neccessary files, it will then reboot and install windows. Just follow the promts as it goes through setup. IF YOU HAVNT CHANGED YOUR BOOT ORDER REMEMBER NOT TO PRESS A KEY WHEN IT TRIES TO BOOT OFF THE CD.

16) Once windows is installed and your faced with the familiar rolling green hill, its time to get those drivers installed. You can now take the Windows XP CD out of the drive and change your BOOt order in the BIOS to boot from your hard drive as a first boot device (this will save on boot time if that bothers you). (See number 24 for formatting the non windows partition)

17) First up are your motherboard drivers. On the CD that came with your motherboard. Install all of the drivers from the CD, making sure to reboot when prompted.

18) Now install the graphics card drivers, again rebooting if prompted.
19) Now any sound card drivers you have, followed by any other remaining PCI cards you may have in your pc, e.g. wireless network adapter.
20) Depending on which version of XP you have installed you may need to install some service packs.
21) Once you have all the service packs and drivers installed that you can think of, double check by going to Start->"Right-Click" My COmputer->Properties. This will open up system properties, select the hardware tab, then click device manager. Anything that still need installing will be in a section called other devices and will have a warning triangle next to them. A common one is that a USB controller need to be installed. If you have got service pack 2 installed, just right click on it and select reinstall driver, then get it to install the driver automatically (It should search the drivers built into windows).

22) once all that is done its time for windows updates, Open intenet explorer then go to Tools->Windows updates and get everything you need from here.

23) once thats done, your finished, just reinstall all your software and your away. You may want to check things like updated graphics card drivers as the ones on driver CDs are probably out of date.

24) To format your other partition, go to Start->"Right-Click" My computer then select Manage. In the tree on the left hand side select Disk management (Under Storage header). This will display a bunch of info about your drives, "right-click" on the unformatted partition and select format (See pic for example). This will then set off formatting the partition. Be patient as it may take a while to do this depending on the size of the partition. Now go get a cup of tea/coffee/Pint/Spirits, whichever is your preffered tipple and sit and relax whilst it does that.

Format:


Hope this helped

Any other problems with this then please let me know.

Good Luck. Give me some feedback on how you get on, hope the guide jogs your memory a bit!!
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
@ thermg- i get all my kit from OcUK, and i have just been "voluntarily" putting in the graft at work. sometimes it's just got to be done! i'll see if i can get everything done that i need to for an early return to home today.

@split- so the a8n-e is ok with recognising raptors then? i've got xp with sp2 bundled with it, so there's no need to slipstream. er... i think? *shuffles feet noobishly*
 
Soldato
Joined
2 Nov 2002
Posts
3,534
Location
Dorset
@split- so the a8n-e is ok with recognising raptors then? i've got xp with sp2 bundled with it, so there's no need to slipstream. er... i think? *shuffles feet noobishly*

It will just install like a an old IDE disc.

No hitting F6 or anything.
If you was doing RAID, then you would need a floppy.

ASUS have fitted various sata controllers over the last few years.
Silicon Image: requires additional even for single drive.
VIA: requires additional even for single drive.
Promise: requires additional even for single drive.

Then you have onboard Nvidia (Nforce4) that only requires additional drivers from a floppy if doing RAID.
 
Associate
OP
Joined
18 Jan 2005
Posts
148
Location
liverpool
thanks thermg! that looks like it's going to do the job nicely- so how big a partition do you think i should split off for XP sp2? i guess i'll need a bit of room for updates... also, since i'm formatting the hd, i won't really need to uninstall the existing drivers?

again, thanks for all of the help- i'm much happier about the prospect of this operation now! i've got a tiny bit of fancy absinthe left from before xmas, and i think that i'll celebrate with it once i'm done (touch wood).
 
Back
Top Bottom