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Build Your Own PC

Prepare Case



May 31, 1999
By David Risley

I presume, now, you have the system case. Before you can use it for a new system, you must prepare it for use. Go through the following checklist to make sure it is prepared.
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    • Clean Case If the case is new, this should be no big deal. But, if the case has been used before, it could probably stand a cleaning. Clean out the inside with a rag and compressed air. Make sure the fan in the power supply is free of furry dust.
    • Inspect the Power Supply Make sure it tightly attached to the case, make sure it is free of dust, and make sure it set to the voltage area of your area- 110V for the US and 220V for outside countries.
    • Inspect Power Switch Make sure the power switch is securely tightened and correctly connected to the power supply.
    • Install Feet These are little tabs inserted into holes at the bottom of the case. The case sits on these tabs when on your desk. If the case has been used before, this may not need to be done.
    • Install Case Fan Sometimes, you may want to install a separate fan that screws onto a rack next to the vent on the front of the case. This helps increase circulation of air through the system. Make sure the fan is set to blow into the case, not out.
    • Configure the LED The LED on the case operates completely separate from the actual speed of the system, so you can set that now. It is done with jumpers on the back of the LED. You will need the little manual that came with the case to do this correctly.
    • Install Slot Guards It's really up to you if you want to do this now. You might want to wait until you have all expansion cards in place.
    • Remove Drive Face Plates This can be done later, but the protective face plates will need to be removed from the front of the case before drives can be installed.
    Previous: « Remove System Case Next: Install Floppy Drive »

    Skip To Page
    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


     
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      Topic By Replies Updated
    		Toolless 8
    Today 06:51 PM
    		detailer 7
    1-31-2012 10:05 PM
    		marei 6
    2-6-2012 08:25 AM
    		YankeeMan 1
    2-1-2012 11:39 AM
     


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