[Computer Build Problems] -
Computer Build Problems
Discuss Computer Build Problems
Posted by: thebrettman
Hi
A couple of my mates are putting together a new pc and have ran into difficulties. We would be very grateful for some assistance. As relative novices the solution may be obvious but here goes anyway. These are the parts
LiteOn SOHW-1673S-02C 16x16x DVD+/-RW Internal Drive with 4x Dual Layer - Beige
[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007QS2O8/ref=br_cecns_1/202-1226116-8190255[/url]
Crucial 1GB DDR PC3200 CAS3 (CT12864Z40B) (MY-030-CR)
[url]http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Crucial_Value.html[/url]
HD is a 200gb Western Digital Caviar special edition
Sata- I don't have the link but it is also from overclockers website
Gigabyte K8NSC-939 nForce3 250GB (Socket 939) Motherboard (MB-036-GI)
[url]http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Gigabyte_Socket_939.html[/url]
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3000BPBOX) (CP-117-AM)
[url]http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Socket_939_cpus.html[/url]
Graphics are Leadtek Geforce 6800gt
case
[url]http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=47691&doy=17m8[/url]
I hope i have not left anything out....
The Problem
The machine is assembled and all components are detected in the bios according to what I have been told. Next they try to install windows XP but this is where we come unstuck because for some perplexing reason it will not install in fact it doesn't appear that the drive wants to read the disk. The windows disks do work in another machine
My thoughts are that
1. problem with dvd drive
2. problem with sata hard drive
3. things might not be plugged in correctly or something
4. some kind of compatability issue between parts
please appreciate that we are relative novices here. thanks if you can help
Posted by: Lonewolf5460
I dont think you would look over something like this but the boot order?You said every thing is seen in the bios so the connections are fine.ok do you have mare than one cd drive maybe it is the jumper settings.
hope that helps.
Posted by: thebrettman
All advice welcome so thank you matt2m.
I don't think that the boot order was overlooked but as so often with these things I will assume that the mistake is a basic one. That will be top of the checklist when I get the chance tomorrow to look at the machine for myself although I do assume that they did that yes
I have been informed by my mate speaking on msn who's pc we are building that they managed to get the western digital hard drive recognised but there was simply no luck in booting it. Perhaps we are a bit inexperienced using an sata hdd.
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
Yea and also if they have a 6800GT witha a 400watt psu stock from that case it will not cut it too, you need a better one tell themm to get a 450watt but from aa beter company.
EDIT* had to take everythign off as you jsut posted ok well there should have been a floppy disk for that data hdd right well this is how you install it. BUt first does the windows cd boot as all or no? Ifit does do it when it says install put that floppy in for the sata hdd so it see it and installs the software thats maybe y windows is not installing on the hdd and given you problems. OR when the computer boots change it to floppy first and in stall the sata hdd software.
Posted by: thebrettman
Cheers dark sniper- we will look at what you suggest
As for the power supply at least if 400w works the setup for a while we can upgrade later. Maybe 550w?
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
ytea a 550watt would be your best bet but from a good company. Casue i think the 6800GT sucks like 350 watts from the psu or more thats y i said get a new one as it mit also be that psu is to weak for that system. and try the sata software as that mit jsut be your problem ;)
Posted by: thebrettman
Forgive my ignorance but I have only had ide hard drives in the past. So with Sata apart from installing the software is there anything else at all different about the setup from the setup of an ide drive. I realise they plug in a different part of the motherboard but apart from that are there any other important factors to consider?
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
no its jsut taht sata driver you must install in order for it to work. I dont have a sata hdd, so i jsut know thats what you have to do casue i builded a friends computer that had sata hdd in them.
Posted by: thebrettman
This is interesting as my mate has just told me that nothing came with the hard drive but the drive itself- although it was apparently recognised in the bios as being connected perhaps we have not installed it properly. I appreciate the advice. So I am just speculating here but perhaps we need to download and install something for it to work or perhaps they should have supplied a disk with the HDD
As you say you built a mates computer with sata hard drive can i just clarify...
when do you put in the hard drive install disk. Is that before you put in your windows disks. Ie you install the HDD first by putting in the driver disk then you proceed with your install of windows? correct? If so I have a feeling that we just plugged in the HDD and then went straight to installing windows
EDIT I just looked at where you edited the post above for install help- much appreciated man
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
eya your right about the install part. DID he buy that hdd OEM casue that how it sounds and if so then thats y he dosnt have th driver he is going to have to look it up and download it on another computer and put it to a floppy which hat website should tell him or her how to do it.
Posted by: thebrettman
Bingo- that sounds about right
I'm 90% sure when we ordered we saw it said OEM but thought nothing or it.
I think we may have solved this one. I will post later to see if we got around the problem. cheers for the sound advice buddy
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
no problem hope it all works out for you.
Posted by: Ch3rryBlaster
goodluck
Posted by: thebrettman
We fixed the problem. It turned out to be a dud dvd rom drive. Very unusual. No disk drivers were required for the sata drive.
Perhaps they are necessary if you are adding a drive to an already existing system which already has ide HD drives. Thanks for the efforts to help advise me
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
Well thata good.
Posted by: Xiahou
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Dark_Sniper* [/i]
[B]Yea and also if they have a 6800GT witha a 400watt psu stock from that case it will not cut it too, you need a better one tell themm to get a 450watt but from aa beter company.
EDIT* had to take everythign off as you jsut posted ok well there should have been a floppy disk for that data hdd right well this is how you install it. BUt first does the windows cd boot as all or no? Ifit does do it when it says install put that floppy in for the sata hdd so it see it and installs the software thats maybe y windows is not installing on the hdd and given you problems. OR when the computer boots change it to floppy first and in stall the sata hdd software. [/B][/QUOTE]
I have the 380W tagan and it works fine, well, few, very few restarts when closing high apps like CSS.
Posted by: Xiahou
btw its ATX 2.0 i havnt read it all just suggesting to make sure its atx 2.0
Posted by: Flanker
I don't know how you got your HDD recognized without installing the drivers though.
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
same here as far as teh psu thats what the vga card recommends you to have to performe ats its peak. it will run on most jsut not far as it can.
Posted by: thebrettman
Hey Flanker
Well the situation was as follows....
My two mates were doing the build. The guy we built for was inexperienced with pcs while the other guy present is pretty handy. I was not there when they assembled the machine as I was at work. When I heard they had problems I decided to post on here. I was told by the inexperienced guy on msn that they were having problems booting disks and was informed that it may be a hard drive problem. That was misinformation though as when I spoke to the other guy doing the build he said that he thought it was the dvd drive that did not work and he was proved right.
Now I went down the following day to see the assembled pc, put in my dvd drive and booted up the system. It all worked, windows installed, no drivers required. My mate who was doing the build later explained to me that sata HDDs do not need drivers. What he said was- windows uses the drivers, but if windows will not boot then what use are drivers. In other words drivers need windows and windows was not installed.
With that said I fail to see how drivers are required at all. The poster dark sniper said he built a machine with sata hdd and used drivers... I don't doubt that was the case but I too am no closer to seeing why or how you might need a driver to install sata drives. Perhaps drivers are required to install a second drive, i don't know
So in short the dvd drive was the problem and we booted up windows, no drivers necessary.
I am just relaying what my friend told me here but saying as you asked I tried my best to explain his logic
Posted by: thebrettman
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Dark_Sniper* [/i]
[B]same here as far as teh psu thats what the vga card recommends you to have to performe ats its peak. it will run on most jsut not far as it can. [/B][/QUOTE]
Lol- looks like we are all confused here.
Well the psu advice will be remembered dark sniper as I know my friend wants to get the best out of his setup. But he can play half life 2 and warcraft for now so he is very happy for the time being
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
yea there good its great that the psu is working and not givin you problems. As far as the drivers some mobo want you to install them some dont.
Posted by: thebrettman
Kool- it was actually a mercury 400w psu so not quite unbranded but I am not sure of that brand aside from the fact that my mercury ge force 4 ti 4600 graphics card is 3 years old and still plays half life 2 and far cry to my satisfaction.
Anyway I take your point about sata needing drivers for certain mother boards. Can someone clarify however does windows have to be installed if a driver is to operate?
I mean if a driver has to be installed to make an sata hdd work, then you cannot install windows before installing a driver.
Perhaps I misunderstand what a driver is? I hope i make the point clearly
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
Driver- device driver is a group of files that enable one or more hardware device to communicate with the computers Operating System. Does taht help you more?
Posted by: thebrettman
I think I understand a bit more.
So basicly if I have an sata and I want to install windows, sometimes a driver my be needed to make the hdd function. So I would install that driver first, then throw in the windows boot disk and get windows installed. Right?
You realise I am just curious here as I really like to understand pcs better :-)
Posted by: Dark_Sniper*
np problem yes some you need to install the driver before and some after windows is installed. My friends computer needed to be installed before so in order to do that i had to act like i was installing windows but stick in the driver floppy and install it then it went into the windows installing and boom windows was born on another pc lol. or you stick in the floppy and boot from it then install windows.