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Congratulations!
You now have a working computer. Before you can use it,
though, you have to install an operating system.
The two main contenders are Windows and Linux. While Linux
has some advantages over Windows, the majority of software
on the market today is designed to be used under Windows. It
is advisable to install the latest version of Windows
(Windows XP), and if you have a special need for Linux or
just want to see what it has to offer, it can be installed
as a second operating system later.
Windows XP
Installing Windows XP is straightforward -- insert the CD
and let it run. You will be presented with the option of
formatting your drive with the FAT32 or NTFS file systems.
NTFS is the better choice -- it allows you to use larger
hard drives and has extra security features.
You also have the opportunity to partition your hard drive.
Partitioning a hard drive divides it up into smaller
sections that the operating system sees as individual
drives. For example, if you divide an 80 GB hard drive into
two partitions, the first partition will show up as drive
'C' and the second partition will be drive 'D.' Unless you
have a particular reason to partition your hard drive, you
are advised to skip this step.
SATA Drives
After making the selections for partitioning and formatting
the hard drive, the operating system will install itself
with very little input. The only special consideration is if
you are using a SATA hard drive. You will need to provide
the drivers that allow Windows XP to recognize the drive.
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Building
your own Computer:
»Build
Your Own Computer
Computer Components:
»Components Overview
»Motherboards Part I
»Motherboards Part II
»CPU's
»Memory
»Hard Drives Part I
»Hard Drives Part II
»Accessories Part I
»Accessories Part II
»Video Cards
»Sound Cards
»CD-DVD Drives
Step by
Step Guide:
»Choosing the Right
Parts
»Motherboard
Installation
»Connecting the CPU
»Attaching MB
Connectors
»Installing the Drives
»Installing Expansion cards
»Operating system Setup
Other Computer Building Resources:
»Helpful Links |
At the beginning of the
installation process, you will see a blue screen with the
words "Press F6 to install any third party SCSI or RAID
drivers." Press the F6 key and wait until you see the screen
that reads "Setup could not determine the type of one or
more mass storage devices installed in your system, or you
have chosen to manually specify an adapter." Press the 'S'
key and insert the floppy disk that came with your SATA
drive. From the list of drivers that appears on your screen,
select the one for Windows XP.
After this step, you may be prompted one or two more times
to provide information about your location and the primary
languages you will be using on the computer. This
information is just to get the operating system up and
running -- it can be changed at a later time.
Security
With the operating system installed and running properly,
your first priority should be security. Windows XP comes
with a firewall that can protect your computer against
hackers from the Internet. Make sure the firewall is
activated before using the Internet. The firewall settings
are found by clicking the 'Start' button and then navigating
to 'Settings' 'Control Panel' and then 'Security.'
Before installing any other software, get the latest updates
from the Windows Update Center on the Internet. Click on the
'Start' button and 'Windows Update' at the top of the menu.
You can download the latest security features and updated
drivers for your hardware devices.
Windows XP comes with basic software that allows you to do
many common tasks like surfing the Internet and word
processing. You may also wish to install more specialized
software according to your computing needs. You can find a
huge selection of software packages on the Internet – both
commercial and free-of-charge.♦
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