Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
sound cards, network cards, and more. Of these, the motherboard chipset drivers are the most critical
and should be installed first. A disc containing these drivers should have been included with your
motherboard; insert this disc and follow the prompts to install the chipset drivers. Then install other
drivers, such as video, sound, and network.
After the important drivers are installed, you should install any service packs that weren't already
integrated into the OS install disc and finally any OS updates. For that last step, you'll probably need
to connect the network cable and go online. If your computer uses a wireless connection, use the OS's
wireless connection manager to connect to the wireless network, providing the SSID and encryption
key as prompted. As long as you've installed the latest service pack, the built-in firewall is turned on
by default. After the OS updates, you can install your favorite applications and put the system in
service.
Troubleshooting New Installations
When the OS installation is complete, you should restart the system and it should boot from the drive
where the OS was installed. If any problems exist, here are some basic items to check:
• If the system won't power up, check the power cord. If the cord is plugged into a power strip,
make sure the strip is switched on. Usually, a power switch can be found on the front of the
case, but some power supplies have a switch on the back as well. If the power supply has a
115/230V switch, make sure it is set properly for the power in your country (115V for the
United States).
• Check to see whether the power switch is connected properly inside the case. There is a cable
connection from the switch to the motherboard; check both ends to ensure that they are
connected properly.
• Check the main power connector from the supply to the board. Make sure the connectors are
seated fully, and ensure that they are plugged in with the correct orientation.
• If the system appears to be running but you don't see anything on the display, check the monitor
to ensure that it is plugged in, turned on, and properly and securely connected to the video card.
On displays with two or more signal sources, use the on-screen display (OSD) menu to choose
the correct signal source (such as VGA or DVI, VGA or HDMI, and so on).
• Check the video card to ensure it is fully seated in the motherboard slot. Remove and reseat the
video card, and try a different slot if possible.
• If the system beeps more than once, the BIOS may be reporting a fatal error of some type. See
the BIOS Error code listings in
Chapter 20
for more information on what these codes mean.
Also, consult your motherboard documentation; look in the BIOS section for a table of error
codes. Note that continuous beeps might indicate a stuck key on the keyboard.
• If a drive LED stays on continuously, the data cable is probably installed backward or is offset
by some pins. Check that the stripe on the cable is properly oriented toward pin 1 on both the
drive and board connector ends. Also, check the drive jumpers for proper master/slave
relationships (applies to PATA drives only).
When you are sure that the system is up and running successfully, power it off and attach the chassis
cover securely to the case. Now your new system should be ready for use.
