TIPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE THE NEW COMPUTER OR BAREBONES KIT

GETTING STARTED

When you receive your new Barebones PC kit or Complete Computer, it will require either further assembly and/or installation of operating system and software. Before you begin to complete the assembly of your computer, READ YOUR MOTHERBOARD MANUAL AND KEEP IT HANDY TO REFER TO DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR KIT.

Open the shipping carton and inspect the case for shipping damage, report any damage to Fed Ex immediately. We will not be responsible for shipping damage. A broken or loose CPU fan is evidence of shipping damage.

IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE BUILDING AND/OR UPGRADING COMPUTERS, SEEK HELP FROM A QUALIFIED COMPUTER TECH. Before working on any computer, turn system off, disconnect power, ground yourself. Static electricity can destroy components. THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY GROUND YOURSELF IS TO USE A STATIC STRAP, TOUCHING YOU, AND CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER CASE. GO OUT TO THE LOCAL COMPUTER STORE AND PURCHASE ONE.

You must turn off the power and disconnect the electric cord before disconnecting or connecting and cards, components, or other hardware, to or from, the motherboard. There is always some residual current on the motherboard when the power cord is connected. IF YOU CONNECT OR DISCONNECT SOMETHING ON THE MOTHERBOARD WITH CURRENT PRESENT, IT BURNS THE MOTHERBOARD OUT AND THE SYSTEM WILL FAIL TO BOOT UP.

We have set the motherboard jumpers and configured your motherboard for the right CPU speed. Do not change these settings, unless you are an experienced computer technician. REMOVE BOTH OF THE CASE COVERS. INSTALL YOUR HARD DRIVE AND CD ROM DRIVE, MAKING SURE THE JUMPERS ON THOSE DRIVES ARE SET PROPERLY TO SLAVE OR MASTER. THE MOTHERBOARD MANUAL SHOWS YOU WERE THE #1 IDE HARD DRIVE RIBBON IS CONNECTED TO THE MOTHERBOARD. THE IDE CABLES/RIBBONS HAVE A THIN RED STRIPE ON ONE SIDE, THE RED STRIPE GOES TOWARD THE POWER CONNECTOR ON THE HARD DRIVE AND THE SAME ON THE CD ROM DRIVE. THE POWER CONNECTOR PLUGS HAVE UNIQUE SHAPES. EXAMINE BOTH THE IDE RIBBONS AND THE POWER CABLES TO PREVENT CONNECTION OF THEM IMPROPERLY OR BACKWARDS. Refer to your motherboard manual, pages 11 to 15. DO NOT CHANGE ANY JUMPER SETTINGS OR CPU SPEED SETTINGS.

Install at least one memory module (see the motherboard manual for the correct types), the computer will not boot without the memory installed. Refer to your motherboard manual, page 11.

Completion of your computer and installation of your motherboard drivers may vary from the following instructions, so we provide tips on various methods:

1.      You always must begin the operating installation on a clean, freshly partitioned and formatted hard drive, if you fail to follow that instruction you will not be able to properly install your motherboard drivers and your computer will fail to operate properly.

2.      Install memory and hard drive if not already installed. Plug your computer into the power outlet. Turn computer on and install the operating system.

3.      When the installation of the operating system, and upon the first complete boot-up of your computer, install the motherboard drivers. If you fail to follow this instruction you will have problems attempting to complete the installation of the motherboard drivers. DO NOT TURN YOUR COMPUTER OFF.

4.      Place the motherboard drivers CD into your CD ROM drive, and the CD will auto-run. Install the driers in order as they appear on the installation dialog screen. However, install the IDE drivers or VIA-4-In-One drivers, the computer will automatically reboot. If the CD setup screen does not appear automatically, open the CD ROM Drive and then shut it with the CD Disk still in place.

5.      Install the Video drivers if applicable and listed on the setup screen. The computer will reboot and/or ask you to put your operating system disk into the CD ROM then click next.

6.      Place the motherboard driver CD Disk into the CD ROM drive and install the Audio Drivers and the computer will reboot and/or ask you to put your operating system disk into the CD ROM then click next.

7.      Place the motherboard driver CD Disk into the CD ROM drive and install the USB Drivers and the computer will reboot and/or ask you to put your operating system disk into the CD ROM then click next.

8.      DO NOT INSTALL THE LAN/NETWORK DRIVERS AND MODEM DRIVERS AT THIS TIME; YOU WILL DO THOSE AT A LATER TIME.

9.      Install your other drivers for your peripherals devices (Video card, CD DVD, CDRW CD Burner, etc).

10. You will now install your LAN and ARM (Modem) drivers from the “Device Manager” screen.

11. For you LAN driver, on your desktop, double click “My Computer,” double click “Control Panel,” double click “System” icon, left click “Device Manager,” tab, go to “Ports and Communications Devices,” left click PCI “Network/LAN Communications” device, right click it and choose “Properties, click “Driver” tab, click “Update Driver,” click next, accept default choice, “Search for a better driver,” click next, click to check CD and “Specific Location,” browse CD or type D or E for the CD Rom that your motherboard driver disk is located, type D:\LAN\ and hit next and next again, the computer will do a search for the correct driver and/or ask you for your operating system disk.

12. For you ARM/Modem driver, on your desktop, double click “My Computer,” double click “Control Panel,” double click “System” icon, left click “Device Manager,” tab, go to “Ports and Communications Devices,” left click PCI “Communications” device, right click it and choose “Properties, click “Driver” tab, click “Update Driver,” click next, accept default choice, “Search for a better driver,” click next, click to check CD and “Specific Location,” browse CD and click Drivers, click ARM, click WIN98, click next and next again, the computer will do a search for the correct driver and/or ask you for the operating system disk.

THE FOLLOWING TIPS MAY ALSO APPLY:

OPERATING SYSTEM INSTALLATION:

STARTING WITH A FRESHLY PARTITIONED AND FORMATTED HARD DRIVE. The installation of motherboard drivers is much more simple if you start with a fresh , new operating system installation.

Put your boot disk in the floppy drive. Turn the computer on. Put your operating system disk in CD ROM drive. For Windows, at the prompt, hit the "Shift Key" and "F5" key at the same time, this will take you to the "A" prompt. Type "FDISK" (without the quotation marks). You will then see a screen asking what you want to do, choose option 3, "delete primary DOS partition." You will be asked to confirm your selection. When the process is complete, hit the escape key, you be back at the first screen. Select option 1, create a primary DOS partition, you will again be asked to confirm your selection. The computer will then check the hard drives integrity. When the process is complete, hit the escape key and then shut-down the computer.

Turn the computer back on by pushing the power switch for a short second. When the computer finishes booting up and loading the boot disk files, you will be at the windows installation screen. Select option 1, install with CD ROM support. When asked, hit the enter key to continue the installation process. You will then be given 2 choices, "Format" the hard drive, or exit setup. Select Format. When the hard drive format is complete the computer will automatically go to an installation screen, where you hit enter to continue and install the Windows operating system. When the operating system installation is complete, take out the Windows setup CD disk and put in the motherboard drivers CD disk. DO NOT TURN THE COMPUTER OFF!

INSTALLING MOTHERBOARD DRIVERS

You must install the motherboard drivers that are on the CD ROM disk that is enclosed with the motherboard manual. If you fail to install the motherboard drivers, the computer and the motherboard will fail to work properly. When you put the motherboard drivers CD ROM disk in the CD drive, it will auto-run to a setup screen, click the setup button and follow the instruction from your motherboard manual and the default instructions on the screen. Install the device drivers, sound drivers, LAN drivers, and Fax Modem drivers. This should all happen automatically when you click next, with the exception of the modem drivers, you might have to explore the CD dick to find the right address/directory for the modem driver files. Refer to your motherboard manual, pages 31 to 35.

CARE OF YOUR SYSTEM:

Never attempt to remove the cooling fan from the CPU. Running the system without a CPU cooler fan will burn up the CPU. Evidence of running the system without a cooler fan (burned CPU processor) voids any and all warranties. Never attempt to remove the motherboard from the chassis. Evidence of loosening and/or removing the motherboard from the chassis voids all warranties.

SUMMARIZING THE COMPLETION OF THE ASSEMBLY:

All cables, power cables, and sockets have a unique shape. Examine each before attempting to make a connection. IDE and floppy cables also have positions, the device plugged to the end is the master device, the device plugged to the inner plug is the slave device. You must set jumpers on hard drives and CD ROM drives when installing, set them to master or slave, depending on their position.

Make sure each card and/or memory module is seated all the way in its socket or slot, push them gently but firmly into their socket until they are fully and evenly seated all the way, bottomed out in their socket. THE COMPLETION OF YOUR BAREBONES PC KIT MAY REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF A VIDEO CARD, IF NOT PURCHASED WITH THE KIT. THE FINISHED/COMPLETE COMPUTER WILL NOT BOOT WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF A VIDEO CARD AND MEMORY. INTEGRATED MOTHERBOARDS HAVE THE VIDEO ON-BOARD. Ribbon cables are included, one for hard drive and one for the installed floppy drive.

The ATX case contains a 300-Watt power supply.

All kits are tested by temporarily adding all of the components necessary to make the system complete, then installing Win 98. After operating the system for a period of time, the components not included in the purchase are removed, the system is packed, and shipped. We do pack or e-mail instructions when requested. No other instructions except motherboard manual included unless requested. SOME ISSUES AND/OR PROBLEMS CAN ONLY BE HANDLED BY THE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT OR SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER.

Tech support is available, but not 24-hours a day, not 7-days a week. You can imagine how expensive long distance is. Tech support is available by e-mail only.

Barebones PC and Computer Kits