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Install Drivers and OS

May 31, 1999
By David Risley

Most operating systems come on CD, which requires you to have your CD-ROM working in order to install the operating system. This is usually a pretty easy thing to do. Your CD-ROM comes with an install disk that, if properly programmed, will install your CD-ROM drivers very quickly. Unfortunately, many manufacturers make lame installation disks, requiring you do do some of the work manually. For this reason, it is recommended that you have a copy of EDIT.COM on your hard drive or system disk in case you have to manually edit the CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT.

Some installation programs are very particular as to what they expect. Some will stop unless MSCDEX.EXE is not already installed on the Drive C Some go so far as to expect this file in C:DOS, and it might not tell you this. You can just put the file in a directory called C:DOS and try again. Other installations cannot properly configure CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT. Some will halt if these files aren't already present on the hard drive. If you run into problems, keep this in mind.

Make sure EDIT.COM is on your hard drive. It may be found on your system disk, your installation disk, or you may need to get it from another system. Copy this file to the new computer's C Drive.
Install the CD-ROM Installation disk in Drive A.
To be safe, you might want to create a AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS if they are not already there. You can do this by typing EDIT CONFIG.SYS then saving it empty. This will create the file, although it will be empty. Do the same for AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Run the Install program. Usually you type either a:install or a:setup. It will copy necessary files, and modify your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. When this is done, reboot.
Check the system files. You can edit them or type type config.sys. The line will look something like DEVICE=C:CDPROVIDE-CDD.SYS /D:MSCD001. In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, it may look like C:WINDOWSCOMMANDMSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /V. The parameter after /D should be the same in both files. These lines will vary depending on your CD-ROM and files locations.
If you want to change the drive letter of the CD drive, add /L:F at the end of the line referencing the CD-ROM in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Change "F" to the drive letter you wish the CD-ROM to be.
Test your work. Reboot. The CD-ROM should activate. Then stick a CD in the drive and try to read it by switching to the appropriate drive just as you would to read a floppy diskette.

Install The Operating System

Simply pop the Operating System Install CD of your choice in your newly installed CD-ROM Drive, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Once setup is complete, your new computer will be ready for use!

This concludes the tutorial. We hope you have fun with your new computer!

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	1	Introduction
	2	Purchase/Collect Components
	3	Remove System Case
	4	Prepare Case
	5	Install Floppy Drive
	6	Configure Hard Drive & CD-ROM
	7	Install Hard Drive
	8	Install CD-ROM
	9	Configure the Motherboard
	10	Install the CPU
	11	Install Heat Sink
	12	Install Cache Module
	13	Install Memory
	14	Install Motherboard
	15	Install I/O Port Connectors
	16	Connect the Motherboard to the Case
	17	Connect Floppy to Motherboard
	18	Connect Hard Drive
	19	Connect CD-ROM
	20	Install Video Card
	21	Post-Assembly
	22	Initial Boot-Up
	23	Configure the BIOS
	24	Test Your System
	25	Install Additional Hardware
	26	Prepare the Hard Drive
•	27	Install Drivers and OS