Information I need to know before building my PC

FelixMcFly

Commendable
Apr 29, 2016
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So I just ordered all the parts I'll need for a new computer and it's going to be my first time building a PC. I believe Im capable of understanding how to put everything together physically, but is there anything I should look out for as soon as I'm finished such as temperatures or something. How would I be able to check that? I'm also planning on taking my 1tb HDD from my old computer and planning to use that along with a new 500gb ssd I just bought. Should I wipe the HDD before using it. What do you guys think?
 
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No. when you boot from the ssd, the windows folders on the HDD are just another set of folders on the now D drive which you can safely delete.
You will also find on the hdd a hidden recovery partition of perhaps 400mb which you can also remove.

Remember though to not have the HDD or any other drive connected while you are installing windows on the ssd.
you can check the temps in the system BIOS. it is not recommended to use a windows install from another computer so a clean install is best and depending on the OS you may need to purchase another copy of windows if you haven't done so already.

also, did you make sure all your parts are compatible before ordering them?
 
Yea everything should be compatible. I checked on pcpartpicker. Should I buy a brand new HDD or use my old one? Will it slow down my PC since it's kinda old. Maybe if I dust it off it shud be fine. What do you think?
 


it depends on how old it is and the specs. if the HDD is only 5200RPM then it will run slow. it would be best to pick up a small 250GB- 500GB SSD drive for your OS and programs and use your old HDD for everything else
 
Wipe all the drives and reinstall windows on your SSD using BIOS, if you have important data on your drives, upload them to a cloud (Mega, Mediafire, Google Drive, ETC) Though do not use copy of windows from another system to another, you will have ALOT of conflicts (I know this from experience)
 


no it would be best to do a clean install of the OS on the SSD. there would be so many changes from moving it over to a new computer that your OS will either not boot or be very unstable. same goes for programs they will have to be all reinstalled too

 


It will boot but performance will be horrible, BSOD will appear alot due to driver conflicts, clean install on system when its changing motherboards, and/or CPUs is recommended to do a clean install. Not too sure on the CPU part as I have had instances were it worked completely fine but it may vary
 
If windows 10 is registered to your account, you should have no problems transferring your license.

As a check, list all of your parts.
If you have already ordered, there is not much that can be done if there are better options.

I assume that you are starting anew and not hoping to keep any installed apps.

Install only your new ssd and install windows on that.
Leave your old HDD disconnected during the process.
You can reattach it later and do what you will with it.
Your files will still be accessible, but apps will need to be reinstalled.

If you hope to retain your current environment, that is another different and more difficult thing.

MY build process:

Before anything, while waiting for your parts to be delivered, download
and read, cover to cover your case and motherboard manual.
Buy a #2 magnetic tip philips screwdriver.
I find it handy to buy a power switch like this for testing.
https://www.ebay.com/p/4in1-PC-Power-Reset-Switch-HDD-Motherboar-LED-Cable-Light-Wire-Kit-for-Computer/631889283?iid=142232821294&chn=ps

1. I assemble the critical parts outside of the case.
That lets me test them for functionality easily.
A wood table or cardboard is fine.
2. Plug in only the necessary parts at first. Ram, cpu, cooler, psu.
Do not force anything. Parts fit only one way.
Attach a monitor to the integrated motherboard adapter if you have one, otherwise to the graphics card.
3. If your motherboard does not have a PWR button, momentarily touch the two pwr front panel pins with a flat blade screwdriver.
4. Repeatedly hit F2 or DEL, and that should get you into the bios display.
5. Boot from a cd or usb stick with memtest86 on it. memtest will exercise your ram and cpu functionality.
6. Install windows.
7. Install the motherboard cd drivers. Particularly the lan drivers so you can access the internet.
Do not select the easy install option, or you will get a bunch of utilities and trialware that you don't want. Drivers only.
7. Connect to the internet and install an antivirus program. Microsoft security essentials is free, easy, and unobtrusive.
8. Install your graphics card and driver if you tested with integrated graphics.
You will need to remove the graphics card later to install your motherboard in the case.
Make a note of how the graphics card latches into the pcie slot.
The mechanism will be hidden under the card and may be difficult to work if you have not previously checked how.
9. Update windows to currency.
10. Only now do I take apart what I need to and install it in the case.
11. Now is the time to reinstall your graphics card.
 


You can download the current version of windows 10 directly from Microsoft.
It should go to a USB stick from which you boot to do the install.

Memtest also gets loaded to a usb stick which is easiest.
I think you can also download it to a cd or (even a.... floppy!)

I have a handful of small 2gb sticks around for various uses.
In time you might want one for a bios update.
 


No. when you boot from the ssd, the windows folders on the HDD are just another set of folders on the now D drive which you can safely delete.
You will also find on the hdd a hidden recovery partition of perhaps 400mb which you can also remove.

Remember though to not have the HDD or any other drive connected while you are installing windows on the ssd.
 
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