Vista - Building an new system from scratch

I'm finally about to build my new computer from scratch & I could use some help/advice so I do things right.

The system has a nice new P6N MB, 2 SATA dvd writers (one which is Blu Ray) and a brand new 1T Seagate SATA drive which is unformated, 8 Gigs of memory and I plan to install Vista 64 SP1 Retail Ultimate.

I've installed all the new HW and have everything wired up right. Just want to make sure I have things figured out since its been ages since I've done something like this. I've already built and burned a seperate DVD that has all the latest MB drivers as well as well as my drivers for the HD DVR and Vid card. I also made a boot floppy on my old XP system just in case my MB's bios is old and needs updated. Supposedly to deal with with more than 4 gigs of memory it needs to be at least version 1.3 but am hoping that wont be an issue.

Step 1:
Apply power and as soon as system starts hit "delete" repeatedly to get into the bios config. Check the Bios version, if it it needs to be updated then exit bios and reboot with the floppy in the drive/flash the newer bios and reboot then re-enter the bios config. Make the meory adjustments my memory provider recommended and then go to the drive section of the bios and set things so the MB see's the 3 drives.

Step 2:
Do I actually need to change the boot order to say Boot from DVD first or leave it at default which is, I believe, Floppy/HD/ CD-DVD?

(Not sure if I need to do this one or not since the HD isn't formated yet.)

Step 3:
Insert Vista Premium 64 SP1 DVD in one drive and the DVD with all my drivers in the other in case Vista needs them for the install


Step 4:
Save the changes I made in the bios and reboot.

At this point if I understand things correctly the system will reboot and first try to boot to the HD which isn't formated and when it fails to find a formated drive then it will check the DVD drives and away I go, hopefully to a successful install of everything off the MS DVD.

From this point on simply follow the Clean installl instructions ie:

Step 5:
Let the Vista Disk format the HD to say 3 NTFS partitions, 1st partition I'll call "main" which will house things like OS and main Apps like Office and such to say 300 gig, and then 2 partitions that I will call "Work" (which is where I will locate the share folder for my roommate on our home network as well as all my school work folders and such) and "Play" which will hold all my game folders and play around type stuff like Vid editing SW and DVD file) I plan to make each 350 gig in size.

Step 6:
Go thru the rest of the clean install and then allow system to reboot when Vista install says it needs to restart.

Step 7:
At this point the system should reboot and this time access & boot from the the HD since its formated and the OS has been installed on it and finalize the install.


Does this sound like what I need to do or am I missing something important I need to do?

I would appreciate any advice others can offer so this process goes as smooth a possible

That sounds great. You dont need the cd with your drivers on it until after the install, it worked for me. Everything looks fine. Should work great.

~Lordbob

Well I did some modifications on whats going into my new build see if you think this will be a good box or can you think of something I've forgotten:

• CoolerMaster Stacker Case ST1-01

• Ultra X3 1000w Modular PSU

• Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition Processor

• Cooler Master V8 CPU Heat sink and fan

• GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P 1366 X58 MB

• 12 gigs of CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

• 2 x WD10EADS SATA 1T Green Drives ( the new 3 platter drives)

• 1 x Seagate 7200.11 SATA 1T Drive

• 1 CD/DVD Burner with Lightscribe SATA

• 1 BluRay Burnewr SATA

• Sapphire 4870x2 2 gig vid card

• Hauppauge 1800 DVR TV card PCI-e 1

nice rig bratboy1..... thanks for sharing....




SK

Thx, I figured since it will probably be the last computer I ever own I might as well make it something that will keep me happy

Good motive.

~Lordbob

I used to say this all the time...

My last build was phased out after only 15 months.

you can trust that ultra X3 they are great psu's

LOL, I know what you mean but being 46, disabled and living with AIDs thats a long time. Plus I figure I'll set the system up a regular setting for a while the after its been broken in for a while and seems slow THEN I'll go into OC mode and maybe feel all fresh and new again hehe

Well I have an Enermax Infinity 650w but suspect with the new hw I might be pushing it a little to hard.