what order do I need to do these in?

[7zark7]

So, I'm just about finished putting everything in the case and I want to make sure I'm going about this process correctly (first build with a SATA drive and win XP...). This is the system:

Athlon 64 3200+
Asus K8N-E Deluxe
PNY GeForce 6800 GT
1024 MB Corsair value select RAM (2x512)
Seagate 200 GB SATA HDD
NEC 3500-A DVD +-RW
ThermalTake Tsunami Dream
Ultra X Connect PSU
3.5" FDD

If I am reading things correctly I will need to do the following:
1. Make a floppy with the SATA drivers
2. Turn on system and adjust BIOS to boot from the CD/DVD drive
3. Reboot with windows CD in drive
4. At F6 prompt insert floppy with SATA drivers & install them
5. Install WIN XP
6. Install Direct X from Asus CD
7. Install chipset drivers from Asus CD
8. Install other drivers (video, Audio, USB drivers from Asus CD, etc)
9. Install NVidia Utilities (what exactly are the utilities?)

Is there anything I'm missing or doing out of order?

Other specific questions:
I'm not planning on setting up a RAID array and in fact I'm not even planning to use the SI SATA controller. I doubt I'll ever have more than 2 SATA drives in this system and they'll both be connected to the NVidia controller. So, do I still need the SATA driver floppy or might WIN XP detect the SATA drive on its own?

I'm planning to use the LAN port to connect directly with a cable modem. Do I need to install the NVidia chipset drivers for this to work or not? I'm not sure I plan to use the built in firewall so do I need to install the NVidia utilities or not? (I really hate having a bunch of stuff installed that I'm not going to use...)

Is there any program I can download to test the memory frequency and AGP frequency of the mobo while it's running? I'd like to make sure that what I've set in the BIOS is what I'm actually getting but it seems that MBM doesn't support the K8N-E Deluxe. Will Prime95 do this?

Anyway, thanks for answering my earlier questions about which components to buy and for all the good discussions here which have already answered many of my questions.

Chris

 

[Ka0t1x]

If the drive is on the Nvidia controller, I think you'll be fine without the drivers on a floppy drive. As for drivers, you should install your video drivers last, for Nvidia Utilities, I think there's an Asus Probe application that will display temps, and other things like that.


If it doesn't find any drive for your Windows install you have to use the floppy to install the 3rd party drivers.

 

[7zark7]

Originally posted by: Ka0t1x
If the drive is on the Nvidia controller, I think you'll be fine without the drivers on a floppy drive. As for drivers, you should install your video drivers last, for Nvidia Utilities, I think there's an Asus Probe application that will display temps, and other things like that.


If it doesn't find any drive for your Windows install you have to use the floppy to install the 3rd party drivers.

Thanks, just curious - why video drivers last? I wouldn't think the video, audio, USB drivers, etc. would be related so I wouldn't think the order would matter...

Chris

 

[mechBgon]

As far as the Windows setup and drivers, etc, I posted a suggested plan in this thread, it's about post 26 or so. I focused somewhat on the security aspect, since a WinXP SP1 install is an easy target for worms if it doesn't have firewall protection. Service Pack 2 for WinXP does include DirectX 9.0C and enables the Windows Firewall, so it would be worth downloading that in advance and burning it to CD if you don't have it already.

 

[JSSheridan]

Edit: Just do what mechBgon said, that's all you need to do.

That list looks about right to me. The NVidia utility allows you to overclock, change memory timings, and see information on your system. You'd normally do these things in BIOS. If you're going to install the SATA drivers while you're installing the OS, I don't think you'll need them again. Put the drivers on your HDD so you can point Windows to them just in case. Yes, you do need the chipset drivers for the LAN device. Everest, found at lavalys.com is popular to monitor your system, but NVidia's utility has the info you mentioned. I believe that everything just pulls the information out of bios. Good luck. Peace.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: 7zark7

Originally posted by: Ka0t1x
If the drive is on the Nvidia controller, I think you'll be fine without the drivers on a floppy drive. As for drivers, you should install your video drivers last, for Nvidia Utilities, I think there's an Asus Probe application that will display temps, and other things like that.


If it doesn't find any drive for your Windows install you have to use the floppy to install the 3rd party drivers.

Thanks, just curious - why video drivers last? I wouldn't think the video, audio, USB drivers, etc. would be related so I wouldn't think the order would matter...

Chris

Because the mobo drivers include the drivers for the AGP port that the video card plugs into. You want AGP 0X mode...? Didn't think so

 

[7zark7]

Heh, I never would have looked in that thread... I've been debating about the SP2 thing for a while and I'm not sure I'm willing to chance it just yet. I do have Norton Internet Security and I'm definitely not connecting the network cable until that's up and running on the new rig....

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: 7zark7
Heh, I never would have looked in that thread... I've been debating about the SP2 thing for a while and I'm not sure I'm willing to chance it just yet. I do have Norton Internet Security and I'm definitely not connecting the network cable until that's up and running on the new rig....

If you're not going to do Service Pack 2 just yet, then instead of that phase of my plan, install DirectX 9.0C and this Update Rollup 1 to fix the critical worm-holes in advance, then use the not-Express-Install option at Windows Update and you'll see how to get security updates without installing SP2. My own experience with SP2 on my K8N-E Deluxe was just fine, although I don't have a huge spread of software.

 

[7zark7]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Because the mobo drivers include the drivers for the AGP port that the video card plugs into. You want AGP 0X mode...? Didn't think so

Right..., well I did have the chipset drivers as step 7 and other drivers as step8... The Asus manual implies that there are additional USB drivers, audio drivers and such on the CD that are separate from the chipset drivers. Maybe I'm just reading the manual wrong... Anyway thanks for the help.

Chris

 

[mechBgon]

Oh, and you can download an updated Norton Intelligent Updater from here to bring your antivirus definitions up-to-date, although there will be other stuff to update once you're online (engine and such).

 

[thorin]

Why would you install DirectX from the Asus CD? Why wouldn't you get the latest version from Microsoft?

Also before 9 if the utilities are downloads (after if they aren't) do all Windows Updates and Update your Virus Definitions.

Thorin

 

[otispunkmeyer]

yes the nvidia chipset on tnat board can take sata straight off the bat......if u want to use the sata raid ( the connectors at the bottom right of the baord) then u need a floppy

the nvidia sata ports (the 2 above the agp) work straight away.... i know coz i have that board ans 2 satas plugged in, an they work mighty fine

 

[Kazrath]

Dollar late/Day short possibily

...However I just put together a similar system.

The SATA controller is also the RAID controller and will require you to load drivers to see the drive to load windows.

Don't bother using the ASUS CD to install drivers. There are newer drivers as of like 2 weeks ago on their website for that MOBO. (Unless you want the OEM software included)

The next step will be to immediatly get all your Service Packs/Windows updates. (This includes DirectX 9C which I do not think is on the windows update website and has to be downloaded manually)

Install an AV - Get its updates.

If you use software firewall install it.

Get the latest Nvidia drivers.


Get the driver updates for all yer periphreals.

Then yer set

 

[biostud]

Whatever you do don't surf on the net untill all defenses are up. I did it when I installed winXP at my parents computer. In 30 mins the computer was infested with 7 worms.

 

[7zark7]

Thanks for all the help so far.... A component was delayed in shipping so I've still got a little time before I fire this thing up.

Originally posted by: thorin
Why would you install DirectX from the Asus CD? Why wouldn't you get the latest version from Microsoft?

Also before 9 if the utilities are downloads (after if they aren't) do all Windows Updates and Update your Virus Definitions.

Thorin

Thorin, I'm jsut going by what the Asus manual says. I figured I'd update to 9.0c later, but I've got it downloaded so I guess I could do it first...

Originally posted by: Kazrath
The SATA controller is also the RAID controller and will require you to load drivers to see the drive to load windows.

Don't bother using the ASUS CD to install drivers. There are newer drivers as of like 2 weeks ago on their website for that MOBO. (Unless you want the OEM software included)

The next step will be to immediatly get all your Service Packs/Windows updates. (This includes DirectX 9C which I do not think is on the windows update website and has to be downloaded manually)

I'm not planning to use a RAID array or the SI SATA controller - other replies lead me to believe that I can get away without the floppy, but I'll have the floppy handy just in case. Thanks for the heads up on the updated drivers. I'll get them first.