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How to Build Your Own PC - Save A Buck And Learn A Lot

Replacing the Side of the Case and Bezel 1 Setting the BIOS to Check the CD Drive When Booting

Now that the hardware of the computer is together and running, we need to install an operating system. An operating system will allow your PC to run other software, such as games, word processors, spreadsheets, and graphics software. Think of the operating system as the interface between your software and the computer hardware. Actually, there is one more level of interface called the BIOS or the basic input output system. The operating system communicates with the BIOS. The BIOS communicates with the hardware. However, for practical purposes, you can consider your operating system as connecting your hardware and software together.

The most popular operating system is Microsoft Windows, and its most current version is Windows XP. We’ll install Windows XP Home Edition, which is slightly less expensive than Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Professional does allow dual-processor support, if you anticipate using two processors on your mainboard.

Be sure to purchase Windows XP, in either flavor, as OEM software from the place where you purchase your mainboard and other components (unless you plan to install only Linux). OEM software is less expensive than retail boxed software, and it’s not an upgrade, so you won’t need a previous version of Windows installed on your system to install OEM software.

Other software, such as MS Office, can also be purchased as OEM software.

Replacing the Side of the Case and Bezel 1 Setting the BIOS to Check the CD Drive When Booting