Build Your Own Computer

[Lewis]

For those who wish to build there own computers. Here is some great sites, to tell you just how, and what is needed to do it. I have been wanting to do it for a long time, and it is not that hard at all. Even though my dream machine, is a Falcon Northwest, which I am going to get one, I still want to build one.

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

http://www.mysuperpc.com/

http://www.basichardware.com/building_your_own.html

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/build.htm

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_To_Build_A_Computer

Building a computer by instructional DVD.
http://spidertools.com/build.php

 

[Logan]

Good resources Lewis. I built my own computer not really knowing what to do. It is a great learning experience and now I have just built my second.

 

[Lewis]

Logan I do mostly all my own work in repairing my computers, I have installed every componet in a computer countless times over, I just never had to put a motherboard in, which would be no problem. And if i did the newer mother boards come with manuals anyway, hooking up the IDE cables it's knowing wher the little wires go, some motherboards have have where your wires should go on it like the sound wire from your CD ROM, and then some don't. So all you need is a manual, I'll get to it soon.

 

[Logan]

Without the motherboard manual, I would have been lost. But ABIT made it so easy I would definitly do it again.

 

[stovebolts]

Building pc's aint what it used to be.

BTW, not sure if it was in your original post, but your power supply is a major consideration. Not all power supplies are created equal.

Also, if your case has external usb ports, you need to be careful that you put the pins in the motherboard correctly or it'll fry your board. Sometimes, what is written on the case pins, and what is in the book are two different nomeclatures.

Lastly, if your using AMD, be carefull when you put on the heat sink. The dies are right on top of the processor and if the heat sink isn't pressed on the cpu level, it'll crack the die and your cpu is toast.

Happy building!! Raid 0 rocks!

 

[tim-from-pa]

We have 4 computers in our house. One stand-alone and 3 online. I build two of those, my own computer here and my kid's computer. I would not have it any other way because you can load the software you want and when something goes wrong, it's not so intimidating because you know what went into it. Being in the electronics field, I also took online A+ cert.

That being said, I put XP pro on my two kids' computers, but I will NOT BUDGE from Windows 98SE on my own computer. I love the ability to use the command prompt mode in that OS part of 98SE that is lost in XP pro. IN addition, I had some performance problems with XP (e.g. music streaming on my Rhapsody) that windows 98SE handles without a glitch. For what I use computers for, 98SE is superior in performance (although I am getting to be an old f*%t and I don't do the high-intensity graphics stuff--- just Internet, email, forums and music/video streaming)

The only thing I like about XP is the ability to boot up in safe mode with network support, and the fact there are more drivers with that OS. Above and beyond that, I don't see the advantage until this old 98SE OS no longer is compatible with the newer software

 

[Lewis]

I use both XP and 98, I just got so use to 98 that I can't let it go. And a few years ago I was taking the A+ online too, then I bailed out because of money problems, and I just never went back. But I still do all my own work on my rigs.

 

[KnarfKS]

I love the ability to use the command prompt mode in that OS part of 98SE that is lost in XP pro.

How is the command prompt lost?

go to run and type the word command.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I love the ability to use the command prompt mode in that OS part of 98SE that is lost in XP pro.

How is the command prompt lost?

go to run and type the word command.

Not the same thing. Even in Windows 98SE that's a virtual command prompt. It's only a true command prompt if you boot up that way and then and only then can you play with system files.

Try deleting a DLL file that a virus or spyware dropped on you (and that's extremely common) that attaches itself to say, your browser. Until you delete it, you get lots of pop-ups or other annoying behavior. In 98SE I can go boot up in the command prompt and delete it--- no problem--- in seconds. In XP, whether you run the command prompt or boot up in safe mode, you get the famous "ACCESS DENIED" error to that file with gobbly-gook messages bedhind it. TRUE TRANSLATION: "I'm an infallable and patronizing operating system that thinks you're too stupid of a peon to know what you're doing--- good thing Bill Gates took that ability away."

Oh yes, I can boot up with the OS disk (or 4 lenghty windows 2000 disks) and then get command, but it's far more timely and less powerful. In 98SE, I can go to any folder and rename all my txt files to jpegs like this:

rename *.txt *.jpg

In the XP command prompt, has to do it oooooooooone by ooooooone ZZZZZZZZZ (falls asleep spending all night)

Of course the XP OS has the semblance of a command prompt hoping to pull the wool over the eyes of many people until they really become eduacated as to how to use it, and then they get as mad as I am over it.

 

[stovebolts]

What you say is true Tim from PA, but you need to know that there is a major difference between Windows 9x and the NT family. Mainly, the difference is that when you boot your 9x machine in 'windowz', it's a shell that's running on dos where as the NT family (NT, 2000 and XP) does not run on dos, but rather it's kernal.
As a result, the HAL is a buffer that reduces blue screens, re-boots, dll errors that cause crashes and in the rare cases that you speak of, you can simply apply or re-apply the latest service pack and wha la, problem is fixed.
If you still having problems, may I suggest ERD if you really need to rename a dll?

 

[tim-from-pa]

What you say is true Tim from PA, but you need to know that there is a major difference between Windows 9x and the NT family. Mainly, the difference is that when you boot your 9x machine in 'windowz', it's a shell that's running on dos where as the NT family (NT, 2000 and XP) does not run on dos, but rather it's kernal.
As a result, the HAL is a buffer that reduces blue screens, re-boots, dll errors that cause crashes and in the rare cases that you speak of, you can simply apply or re-apply the latest service pack and wha la, problem is fixed.
If you still having problems, may I suggest ERD if you really need to rename a dll?

I know about that major difference. That's what I don't like about it and was explaining in the earlier post. I was merely explaining my frustration in deleting a DLL file (the renaming was an example of usage of the command prompt). A lot of this spyware and virus stuff drops these DLL files that then gets used by legit programs and XP thinks you are trying to delete a critical file. Even in safe mode I cannot delete such a file. I don't know how many forums I've visited regarding people's frustration to do a simple task once available in Windows 98, and like you, I've heard lots of advice only to have the frantic person come back and say it did not work.

One of the best pieces of advice I heard is to pop in windows 2000 disks--- takes awhile but one gets better command capability. The windows 98 as you know just needed one disk and also had that ability to boot up with the command prompt.

The only other way out, but it may play weird games with XP, is to format upon installation with the FAT file system instead of NTFS, then a windows 98 disk ought to work, or am I missing something here?

 

[stovebolts]

No, I think your spot on and I do know that some spyware can constitute a rebuild...

I came from Dos / Win 3.1, moved to Win 95 (it was a love hate relationship) and then to 98. I despised 98 because it took so much away from you when it came to loading or manipulating drivers. Perhaps I was on a learning curve??
From there, I jumped right to NT for the stability. Sure, USB wasn't supported back then, but heck, who needed it> Anyway, 2000 came out and I was hooked. (ME was a joke) XP was the greatest thing since sliced bread! Ha!

I know some people that love 98 and that's ok. From my point of view, if your happy with 98, then rock on! Personally, I think that XP is heads and shoulders above 98 in stability, functionality and ease of use for the standard end user.

I do understand your frustrations with the HAL as sometimes it can really hinder the ease of some of the tasks your speaking about in 98. I suppose I'm fortunate with my NT background because I have many tools at my disposal (and no, I'd never run Fat32 on an NT, 2000 or XP machine but you could boot with a 9x boot disk if you were running Fat32 keeping in mind that it's NTFS that secures the volume.)ERD Commander is my favorite tool for going in to do a few of the things your talking about and it's much quicker and robust than the 2000 or XP recovery console (wich sucks imho).

 

[Guest]

Not the same thing. Even in Windows 98SE that's a virtual command prompt. It's only a true command prompt if you boot up that way and then and only then can you play with system files.

This is inaccurate, I believe, although it's been a long time since I used 98 regularly.

Try deleting a DLL file that a virus or spyware dropped on you (and that's extremely common) that attaches itself to say, your browser. Until you delete it, you get lots of pop-ups or other annoying behavior. In 98SE I can go boot up in the command prompt and delete it--- no problem--- in seconds. In XP, whether you run the command prompt or boot up in safe mode, you get the famous "ACCESS DENIED" error to that file with gobbly-gook messages bedhind it. TRUE TRANSLATION: "I'm an infallable and patronizing operating system that thinks you're too stupid of a peon to know what you're doing--- good thing Bill Gates took that ability away."

No, it means that the file is either in use, which is quite likely, or that you do not have proper priveledges to modify system files. Granting yourself Admin priveledges on your own machine isn't exactly difficult.

Of course the XP OS has the semblance of a command prompt hoping to pull the wool over the eyes of many people until they really become eduacated as to how to use it, and then they get as mad as I am over it.

No, not really. There are some very powerful tools availible from the command line, if you know what you're doing. Take a look around MSDN sometime.

 

[Vic C.]

Simple solution to the NT, 2000, XP problem;

a minimum of two partitions. One partition (5 or 10 GB) formatted FAT 32 for the OS and another partition for the applications, data, etc. fomatted NTFS. Serves two purposes, 1, you can boot up with a DOS or 98/ME startup disk and have complete access to your OS files and 2, if you ever have to wipe out your OS by reformatting the drive, everything in the NTFS partition will still be there, since you are only formatting the FAT32 partition. :-D

 

[tim-from-pa]

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/docu ... tcmds.mspx[/url]

Although I do not know all of them by heart, an old-timer like me had enough experience manipulating files the old-fashioned way, both at work and at home.

 

[cuiq]

Have been building my own 'puters since 2001, and I don't plan on looking back.

All the computers in my house are built by me (Toshiba Laptop excluded of course). All run linux except one (winxp) which is used for Sonar 5 (music production).

I don't think I'll ever buy pre-built again, unless of course it's really cheap which they are certainly becoming now. However I still prefer mobo w/o built in video/sound.



Peace V

 

[tim-from-pa]

CUIQ:

While several of us were bandying about windows 98 v.s. XP, I see you are actually the smartest one here. I wish I had the guts to go over to Linux. Maybe one day I will. I think the Microsoft Monopoly has been going on too long--- plus the Linux is a thrifty OS--- free!

 

[smigen]

CUIQ:
I wish I had the guts to go over to Linux. Maybe one day I will.

You do and you will. I can tell......your a curious one.

Keep working on him CUIQ. The spark of interest is there.

Go to a used computer store and spend $20.00 on something in the PII 350/450 range with a 4G HD and dive in.

Nothing to fear

 

[stovebolts]

Well Tim, you could turn to the light as Smigen would say :wink: LOL

Hey Vic, Other than stability, the main user benifit for NTFS is it's ability to enforce permissions... Can I ask you why you would load the OS on a non secure partition and then use NTFS for your data? Wouldn't that be kinda like locking your glove box, but leaving your windows down in Compton? :wink:

 

[smigen]

Hey.......SB!

• It's been so long that I forget if I'm supposed to be looking for something for your daughters laptop?[/*:m:3ab99]
• How's your job stability looking?[/*:m:3ab99]

Good to see U