Putting my build together---little help plz.

[ruinz]

I'm putting my new build together--cpu, motherboard--- ect. ect....but using my existing hard drive. Should I format the drive prior to installing everything or put it all together and then put the windows cd in and let it do it then?
Also when should I put my motherboard cd in the manual says as soon as I boot up but I tend to think they mean after you have installed windows. Or does it need the motherboard cd for something right away....This is my first build.....

 

[SethJPC]

For the hard drive it really depends, if you have a lot of stuff on there that you still need then it is possible to create a partition for windows to install, keeping all your stuff.
Yes the motherboard CD goes in after you have booted up, install the drivers from it when you get to your desktop.

 

[prit87]

I'm putting my new build together--cpu, motherboard--- ect. ect....but using my existing hard drive. Should I format the drive prior to installing everything or put it all together and then put the windows cd in and let it do it then?
Also when should I put my motherboard cd in the manual says as soon as I boot up but I tend to think they mean after you have installed windows. Or does it need the motherboard cd for something right away....This is my first build.....

you can reformat the hdd and reinstall windows for a fresh start but if u already have a hdd with windows installed in it you don't have do much just install the hdd delete the old motherboard software's restart pc and after boot up insert the new mobo cd and install it..simple.... hope it helps...

 

[vagrancyx]

I'm putting my new build together--cpu, motherboard--- ect. ect....but using my existing hard drive. Should I format the drive prior to installing everything or put it all together and then put the windows cd in and let it do it then?
Also when should I put my motherboard cd in the manual says as soon as I boot up but I tend to think they mean after you have installed windows. Or does it need the motherboard cd for something right away....This is my first build.....

you can reformat the hdd and reinstall windows for a fresh start but if u already have a hdd with windows installed in it you don't have do much just install the hdd delete the old motherboard software's restart pc and after boot up insert the new mobo cd and install it..simple.... hope it helps...

Delete the motherboard software? Everything is based on the chipset of the motherboard itself, just removing the ''software'' isn't going to change anything. Just backup what you need saved and do a fresh format. The Windows activation is also tied to the motherboard so if your hdd was pulled from an OEM machine you might run into some issues reusing the CD-key.

i.e.
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1947717/urgent-build-hard-drive-windows-crashes.html

 

[ruinz]

Ok Im going to format either way but I don't know which to do at the beginning, should my first boot up be with the motherboard cd in or windows cd, my thought is the windows cd so it can format and remove any old driver from my old motherboard.

 

[SethJPC]

Ok Im going to format either way but I don't know which to do at the beginning, should my first boot up be with the motherboard cd in or windows cd, my thought is the windows cd so it can format and remove any old driver from my old motherbaord.

Yup, boot with the windows CD.

 

[vagrancyx]

Windows CD... your motherboard CD is not going to install drivers until after you have Windows installed.

watching neweggs how to build a computer series is a good watch for beginners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls

and part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxaVBsXEiok

 

[ruinz]

Thx guys.