building my new system, best install methods and order?

[cpush]

Hey guys, I ordered all my hardware and will be putting together my system. This is what I picked up

Chaintech VNF4Ultra (Nforce 4 Ultra)
AMD Athlon64 3200+ Venice Core
connect3D Radeon X800XL pci-e
1 gig (2x512) PC3200 Corsair VS
Hitachi t7K250 160 gig SATAII HDD
OCZ Modstream 450

Now, I have WindowsXP (professional student copy) which I got through my University. I have read and decided I need to slipstream servicepack2 into WINXP, which I think I shouldn't have too much a problem with. I will be using a Single sata drive, with no raid. Will installing or booting to this drive be difficult? What about the whole F6 and floppy drivers? For some reason I remember my particular disk had issues booting from the CD drive. Can't remember though

It's been a while since I've installed XP but last time I remember hitting some Fx button and it allowed me to change the type of computer, I believe Standard PC is what I would select, this helps with irq issues?

Finally, once the OS is installed is this the proper order of installation files?
1) Windows XP OS w/ sp2
2) Windows Updates including newest DirectX
3) Motherboard chipset drivers
4) Videocard drivers
5) anything else
6) missing anything?

Also any issues regarding fresh and best installation techniques would be greatly appreciated, I've been out of this for awhile so I will probably overlook some things. Thanks!

 

[leigh6]

Maybe I am missing something but won't you have to install the chipset drivers 2nd in order to access Windows Update through the internet?

 

[nweaver]

not if he installs them as part of setup (and he will have to).

If you are slipstreaming SP2 into your CD, add your SATA drivers, there are lots of good guides on the web, and it makes thing sooo much nicer.

 

[cpush]

nweaver, you know of any good links to explain how to do this? The only ones I can find are of a standard slip stream. Any that are nforce4 / sata specific? thanks for the reply

 

[BigPete]

Nforce4 chipsets support native SATA. You should not need any drivers to install windows to a SATA disk drive as long as the drive is connected to the proper SATA port.