Oh, I really need help now!

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Thu Oct 05, 2000 11:28 pm

Okay guys, I really need help installing some new toys I got for my new computer. I really hope somebody can help me. Alot of you may know that I'm a dummy, but in case you didn't... I'm sure Brent can attest to it, and yes I am female.

Okay, I have a compaq 7585 and I want to install a wd hard drive, a sound blaster pci512 sound card, a zipcd cdrw, and a 64mb stick of sdram memory (pny). So my questions are:

Can I install all of this all at once or will I send my computer into shock? LOL! Are there any steps I need to take before I install any of this stuff? What should or shouldn't I do?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will have my sidekick w/ me to assist in my operation so I'll have help if I need it.

Thanks guys!

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Thu Oct 05, 2000 11:32 pm

I'd say intall your RAM, hd, and cd's first. Let all those load good and install drivers if needed. Once they all work, then you can put in you expansion cards (your sound card)

just ground yourselft before you play inside your computer!!

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Thu Oct 05, 2000 11:56 pm

I definitely ground myself before playing lol!

Man, I sure do hate to have to open it, close it, reconnect everything and then open it again. But if I have to, then I'll do it.

Oh yeah, another question... will my computer recognize or acknowledge everything I installed when I restart it?

Thanks for the help ssjDoh!

Battleship · Post by **Battleship** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 12:19 am

When he says ground yourself he means touch the metal chasis of the case before touching the expansion cards or any of the internal components of the PC. This will release any static electricity you have charged up. So you dont need to put the case on and off. Just leave it open till you're done putting all the stuf in. My case is never on my PC.

So, You could possibly throw everything in at once and it could work but....
The best way to do things is one at a time. This makes it easier to troubleshoot things if it doesnt boot afterwards. So this is the way I would do it in this order:

- memory
- cdrw
- hard drive
- sound card

After you install each thing make sure the PC boots and do whatever you have to do to get that item totally working (drivers...)

Good luck and post if u have any probs.

------------------
A:\ >format c:
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with format (Y/N)?y

Excalibur · Post by **Excalibur** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 12:19 am

Just make sure on the drives that you set them to cable select...cause that is what compaq uses....and if you do this and there is not enough connections on the cable (some compaqs only give you one ide cable with 3 connections..one for board and 2 drives) then with the other one you will have to change to master slave because unless you get a compaq ide cable....cable select will not work...

have fun.....

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 12:35 am

Originally posted by Battleship:
When he says ground yourself he means touch the metal chasis of the case before touching the expansion cards or any of the internal components of the PC.

LOL, that's what I meant, sorry if it came off as something else.

So shoot, this isn't gonna be a 1 day thing 'cause I just don't have the patience to add 1 thing, reconnect, disconnect, add another, etc., etc. So I'll do it 1 per day (or add the memory which is probably the easiest, and then right after, add the cdrw). Tomorrow I can add the hard drive, and then the sound card the next day.

Well I sure do appreciate the help, thanks alot guys!

LoachDuke · Post by **LoachDuke** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 9:16 am

What are you afraid of?

Just throw it all in there and put a fresh install of you operating system on there. Geez, its not that hard, as long as your components are all working.

Now, if you do get problems just ask again and save yourself the time.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 9:46 am

you don't have to disconnect, reconnect

just put the mem in then turn the system on and see if it works, if windows gots it then turn the pc off and throw something else in...

But if your adding the hard drive as a Primary Master and replacing your current one then it's best to just throw everything in at once toss th new hard drive in, format and reinstall windows, this way it will redetect all the hardware

but if your putting the hdd in as a slave then follow the order of compents that battleship said....

there is no need for disconnecting and reconnecting, in fact it's Better to leave the AC Cord plugged in because it grounds the PC to the Wall socket which is grounded to the ground, just be sure to touch the chasis of your case first, or somehow attach yourself to it

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 10:01 am

Okay, here's the problem. I don't have the disk for windows98se, I only have the recovery disk it came with. Also, I'm adding the hard drive (I guess) as a slave ??. I don't want to replace my current ones. Compaq comes with a c: and d

system_save), so I guess the new one would be f:? Do I have to name the drive myself or will windows automatically assign it a drive letter? This is sounding more and more complicated. I was just about to do it the way Battleship said to, which sounds easy, but now I'm having second thoughts.

I never thought about leaving the case off LOL! I told y'all I'm a big dummy! Thanks for the tip.

*Edit* I put the memory in already and it now says that I have 127.0 mb, is that right? I had 64 before, and I added 64 more, so shouldn't it say 128? This was not easy AT ALL, does anybody have a compaq? It's full of wires and strap looking things! I barely had enough room to put the stick in, so I really have no idea how I'm gonna put the cdrw and the other things.

I've looked around the case, and I don't see any other screws to take off that don't end up leaving something hanging. If anybody has a compaq and has opened it, please help!! I really need this cdr installed asap.

The e-machine I had before had all the room I needed. This thing looks like the terminator stuffed with wires!

[This message has been edited by Lisando (edited 10-06-2000).]

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 1:21 pm

See the Problem with Name brands like Compaq and Hewlitt Packard and them is that its not easy most of times installing new Hardware. Name Brands make there computers so that it fits for them.. Thats why they Jam pack it so you cant work on it, And don't bother calling Comapaq up because there just going to say something like "you cant install this on a compaq" But you can. but its much easier installing stuff on a costom computer. Hardware wise of course.. well good luck.

-Andrew

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 3:19 pm

For your HD's, make sure you set your jumpers right! If they are on the SAME IDE controller, one has to be master, the other slave (my old campaq did not use cable select)

If you can, put the 2 HD on the primary controller, and your CD and (whatever you have left) on the secondary.

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 3:36 pm

Aaagghhh!! I connected the ide cable and the power connecter to the same one that my other hard drive is connected to. I inserted the diskette the hd came w/ and it said there was no wd hard drive connected. When I exited, it said there was no OS detected, or something like that. I took it out and rebooted, thankfully everything came back up.

Can someone please tell me how to do this? The ide cable I have with my cd-rom is the one I used to connect the cdrw, I guess it's the slave drive. So I figured I'd put the new hard drive as the slave drive and connected it to the ide cable that the main hard drive is on. What am I doing wrong, how do I know if my system has a 9-pin connector, or a 10-pin connector. I guess I forgot to put the jumper shunt, is that why it didn't detect the hard drive?

This'll teach me to make a start-up disk before attempting anymore operations!

BTW, I want the c: drive to be the master drive and the new one to be the slave. Please help

[This message has been edited by Lisando (edited 10-06-2000).]

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 3:44 pm

Start-up disk:
click on Start>Settings>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs

click on the "Startup disk" Tab
Click "create disk" and put floppy into drive.

Are you sure you set the jumpers correctly?? The dirve that connected at the end and the IDE cable has to be MASTER. The one in the middle will be set to SLAVE.

I'm trying to think of other thing right now, so if I get any more ideas I'll post again! GL!!

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 4:04 pm

Originally posted by ssjDoh:
Are you sure you set the jumpers correctly?? The dirve that connected at the end and the IDE cable has to be MASTER. The one in the middle will be set to SLAVE.

Here's another stupid question for ya: How do I set the jumpers correctly?!?! LOL, yes I'm that dumb! Here's how I had it before. The IDE cable coming from the "wall" went into the main hard drive. From the main hard drive came the other connection where I connected the new hard drive.

I just assumed it would make it the slave drive, since it worked that way with the cd-rom and the cdrw.

Can someone explain this to me as if I were a 5yr old? I really need to know what position to place the jumper shunt (9-pin or 10-pin). I have no idea what I'm doing anymore, I think my brain fried!

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 4:13 pm

hehe ok

On the drives, there should be a little chart above the jumpers showing you where to put the jumper caps. Look for the master setting. Use that setting on your primiary (c:\) drive.

On to the next drive. Look at their chart/picture. Look for Slave. Copy that configuration and put it on thise drive.

If you don't have any charts tell us the brand name and model # of the drives. We'll (or me) will look up the info for you

The things I do for a lady....ummm..did I say that out loud???

j/k

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 4:29 pm

Now where would I find this info? In other words, where would these charts and model #'s be? I'm so dam* embarrassed! Unfortunately the whole world (well almost) gets to see my stupidity.

I'm thinking maybe I should just hold off on the hard drive and go for the sound card, unless that's harder!

I really, really do appreciate all the help!

Lisa

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 4:31 pm

LOL. All this info is on the hard dirve itself (well it should be...unless it was scratched off....hehe)

Edit: I'll draw a picture

Top view of HD
|--------------------|
|j.......model.......|
|u.......##..........|
|m...................|
|p......Maybe some...|
|e....info on heads,.|
|r....cylinders, etc.|
---------------------|

Ignore the dots, it's the only way to make it look like this.

Damn, this hard to do!

Installing PCI cards is very simple. just plug it in, turn computer on, load drivers, reboot, then listen to your mp3!!

[This message has been edited by ssjDoh (edited 10-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by ssjDoh (edited 10-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by ssjDoh (edited 10-06-2000).]

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 4:40 pm

Ahh my drawing sucks!!!

the end should be all straight down!

Tokelat · Post by **Tokelat** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 4:54 pm

Lisando
You said you have a WD drive. If it's a Caviar, here is how to id the pins

Power Plug (facing your left hand)
* * * *

Jumpers

1 3 5 7 9
* * * * *

* * * * *
2 4 6 8 10

40-pin Cable Connector

No jumbper for single drive (as shown)
Jumper on 3 & 4 for Slave
Jumper on 5 & 6 for Master
Also, if you look at the printed circuit board side, you will see the following stamped below each pair of pins.
CS
SLAVE
MASTER

------------------
"and now back to the Lord of the Rings"

[This message has been edited by Tokelat (edited 10-06-2000).]

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 5:18 pm

Okay, this is what I have:

9 7 5 3 1
* * * * *
* * - - *
10 8 6 4 2

Does that make sense?

Anyway, is that where I put the jumper shunt? Actually, I think I'm giving up on this. Sorry to waste your time, I know y'all tried.

But I really do want the sound card installed. Do I just take the old one out and replace it w/ the new one?

ssjDoh · Post by **ssjDoh** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 6:16 pm

Umm, did you see a little chart?? model ##??

Sound card
well, first uninstall old drivers. (either from add/remove proggies, if not there, go to device manager, and remove it from there)
Then fo the steps I showed above^

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Fri Oct 06, 2000 6:33 pm

Yep, saw the chart but gave up. I'll just let somebody else install it for me.

Sound card is in and sounds great!

Thanks alot, I really don't know what I'd do without all the advice! Probably burn the thing up.

I am forever grateful

Until next time...

Lisa

(hey, 3 out of 4 ain't bad!!)

Lisando · Post by **Lisando** » Sat Oct 07, 2000 12:58 am

Bwahahahahaha!! I'm obviously talking to myself here, but that was too easy! Well the cdrw was anyway! It was pretty much like plug-n-play. The computer had everything set up for me already, and when I rebooted, it automatically detected it. Now for the hard drive...

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Sat Oct 07, 2000 3:17 am

Hey Lisando, I do this every day for a living, even to the point of walking 75 year old lady into installing a motheboard in her system over the phone. If you want to call me you can(you pay the phone bill of course) I will help you out with installing your hardware. You can write me at Sidk8@hotmail.com from there I will let you know when I can help you. As most of the people here trying to give you advice are great and they know there stuff, its how you to tell you how to do it is what make the difference. What you are doing is very easy, keep doing what you are doing.
I do have to say that one of the guys here told you to leave the system plugged in while working on it. In the old days that was really the thing to do, but with the newer systems the board stays hot(powered up) all the time, hot swpping of parts is not recommended. I do work for a major computer manufacture as tech support rep. don't stress it.

Tokelat · Post by **Tokelat** » Sat Oct 07, 2000 11:07 am

Place the jumper over pins 3 & 4 to make your new drive the slave. Hook up the power and data cable the fire up the machine. When the machine recognizes the drive, you must run FDISK and FORMAT to make the drive usable. You must run these commands from the DOS prompt.

------------------
"and now back to the Lord of the Rings"