First build soon, have some pre-questions

L

Laudanum

New Member
I was going to try and move some components from a prebuilt HP to new case but scrapped that bad idea. So, going to attempt first build from scratch. This is not a gaming machine. Will be used for mainly DVD ripping, burning and encoding DVD files for network media player hooked to TV.
Im staying with the onboard graphics. It will be an ASUS MB and AMD CPU (6 core 1090T) and AMD chipset. The bare drive is a 1TB WD Caviar Blue 7200 for Windows 7. I will have a new, retail version of Windows 7.

The actual assembly and wiring isnt an issue. But first boot and installing 7 on bare drive I have questions about. So for starters:

1. After everything is installed in case and ready to go, what do I do on first boot? Do I just power up without the Windows 7 in the DVD drive? Does it just boot to bios first to make sure it works? Basically, Im not sure what I do on first boot so need some help there.

2. This goes with question 1 I think ... Should I be updating the bios first thing before installing operating system? If so, what is the modern way or best/easiest/safest way to do that with an ASUS MB?

3. When it does finally come time to install the OS, will Windows 7 give me drive partition options? Will it set up a recovery drive by itself or as an option? If so, is that a good option still?

I should add that I have two additional drives that I use for my DVD files and encodes. These have already been formatted in Windows 7 on another machine and have video files on them. I assume that I should just leave these out of the picture at first until I get the new system up and running. Then hook them up and let windows pick them up? They are not currently configured as Raid drives, just as additional drives. I will deal with Raid later.

I wanted to ask the above questions so I had some idea about what I needed to do before hand. Im sure I am missing something and Im sure I will have many more questions when I actually get this thing built.
I feel guilty for not being able to help others here. I dont know enough to do so. I feel like Im taking without giving back. But I really do appreciate the help I have had with a couple questions recently and I would appreciate all the help I can get with this project as well. It's a gamers world I think and Im not a gamer but y'all seem to know more than anyone else :good:

Thanks in advance.
 
1. I usually go into the BIOS to make sure all connected hardware is being seen by the motherboard (Hard Drives, CD/DVD Drives, Network Card(s), etc.), before booting into the W7 DVD and installing the OS.

2. Never update the BIOS unless you're having problems with your motherboard. Just because a BIOS update is available, it doesn't mean you need it. That said, ASUS usually has an EXE that you can run from the Windows environment that will update the BIOS for you.

3. I'm not familiar with setting up Recover partitions, so I can't help you there :( W7 will help you to a degree with formatting, but segregating your System Files into a small partition, but otherwise it will simply ask you how many megabytes you want per partition.
 
Infinity_Plus said:
1. I usually go into the BIOS to make sure all connected hardware is being seen by the motherboard (Hard Drives, CD/DVD Drives, Network Card(s), etc.), before booting into the W7 DVD and installing the OS.

2. Never update the BIOS unless you're having problems with your motherboard. Just because a BIOS update is available, it doesn't mean you need it. That said, ASUS usually has an EXE that you can run from the Windows environment that will update the BIOS for you.

3. I'm not familiar with setting up Recover partitions, so I can't help you there :( W7 will help you to a degree with formatting, but segregating your System Files into a small partition, but otherwise it will simply ask you how many megabytes you want per partition.
Click to expand...

Thanks for quick reply. I have a few more specific questions as followup if you dont mine.

Ok, then as long as everything works and the MB see's everything, and I have no OS installation issues, then Ill leave Bios as is.

...The first time I power up (before 7 is installed), will it automatically boot to the bios or do I need to press the apporpriate F key?

Will I need to change the DVD drive order to first in the boot order within bios or will the system boot directly to windows 7 in the DVD drive without me making any changes in bios?

Will windows 7 automatically set up the smaller partition for the system files or will it ask me if I want the partition? Are there different installation options that 7 will ask me for when installing like a custom OR recommended option?

Thanks
 
You should be able to simply stick in the disc. IF it doesn't work, go into the BIOS and change the boot device to the optical drive. reboot the computer, and an option telling you to hit a button (it will tell you which one) to boot from the drive. Do that, and your good to go.

Good luck!
 
31!m!n80r said:
You should be able to simply stick in the disc. IF it doesn't work, go into the BIOS and change the boot device to the optical drive. reboot the computer, and an option telling you to hit a button (it will tell you which one) to boot from the drive. Do that, and your good to go.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

If all goes that easy, it would be great. Thanks!
 
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