Build sheet

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This has a little more detail than the build sheet checklist.

Before turning it on

Check for blown capacitors

Inspect the capacitors on the motherboard for swelling. Reject systems with blown or swelling capacitors (if 1G or better these can be sent to Ted in the AV Clubhouse.

Test battery

Set voltmeter to DCV=20 and touch one contact to the battery and another to the outside of the case (ground). The battery is good if volt reading is greater than or equal to 3.0. If it's lower, replace the battery with a good one.

Install RAM

Install RAM to match the specifications of system you are building. Make sure the DIMMs you choose have the right front side bus.

Install video card

Record the Gizmo ID and note the driver (from test results) or chip info on other side of build sheet

Attach keyboard and monitor

Grab temporary keyboard and mouse from the equipment stacks. Do not plug in mouse until you have at least one successful POST for the system. No need to record ID.

Initial Power On

During boot, it will display the processor and memory information. See if the memory value matches what you installed; if not, you'll want to troubleshoot this discrepancy.

Record Processor type and speed

See if processor speed displayed matches expected values. Turn off computer when this step is completed. We just wanted to make sure the processor, RAM and video card are all working and the machine can POST before adding anything else.

Adding the rest of the components

In general, adding one or two components at a time and then attempting to POST again is better than plugging everything in, turning it on, finding out that nothing works, and not knowing what component it was.

Install floppy drive

If it's not already there. Record Gizmo ID.

Install network card (NIC)

If it's not already there. Record Gizmo ID.

Install hard drive

Use IDE 1, which may be labelled on the motherboard as IDE 1, Pirmary IDE, PRI, IDE0. Make sure the jumper on the drive is set to master. (Leave unjumpered if it's a Western Digital.) Plug the other end of the IDE cable and the power connector into the drive. Record the Gizmo ID and hard drive size on the build sheet.

Install CD drive

Put this on IDE 2, the other IDE controller. Set the jumper to master and plug in the drive. Record the Gizmo ID and CD ROM speed on the build sheet.

Install Modem

If the spec for your system calls for it. Use an ISA modem unless you have NO ISA slots. Check with the build teacher if you need a PCI modem. Record Gizmo ID, serial port and modem speed on build sheet (this information should all be on the label). GrantBoxen do not need modems.

Install sound card

Record Gizmo ID on build sheet.

Cover open slots & bays

The hard part! Make sure you have coverings for all spaces that will not be filled with a card or drive.

BIOS configuration

You'll probably want to put the cloner floppy disk in the drive before turning on the computer, so you know you have it when you need it. Plug in the network cable, as it will be needed for cloning.

Enter BIOS setup

The key-stroke to enter setup will vary from system to system and should be displayed at bootup; you need quick eyes. When you know it, write it down! You'll need it later.

Restore BIOS defaults

This may or may not be an option in the BIOS on your computer; you'll have to explore. An alternative way to do this is to remove the battery from the computer and leave it out for a while with the computer unplugged.

Auto detect hard drive

The method for this will vary from one BIOS to the next. Generally you would look for a list of IDE drives (your hard drive and CD ROM may already be detected at primary master and secondary master) where you have the option to select Auto.

Set boot order

Set drive A (floppy, removeable device) to boot first, then (if applicable) CD ROM, then hard drive.

Disable virus check

If present! This will take some BIOS exploration.

Make sure parallel port is set to 0x378

Aka IRQ7. Also set the mode to EPP or Bi-Directional.

Configure serial ports

Enable the first port and note which one it is (usually ttyS0; check the chart that shows correspondences). Disable the other so it won't conflict with the modem.

Save and exit BIOS

The keystrokes for this will be documented, usually at the bottom of the BIOS screen.

Cloning

Image new system with cloner floppy

select "install NEW freekbox" from menu.

It is extremely common for cloner floppies to fail, often at the 'Stage 1' step. If the system refuses to boot, try another cloner disk. Try to find one that someone just used successfully if you're having lots of trouble. --Jeff 17:34, 6 Aug 2005 (PDT)

Find and record card drivers

Run lspci and/or lsmod to determine what type of sound card and network card you've put in. Record these on the front of the build sheet.

This is a new step, previously done on installing the hardware, but we no longer test these two, and so the type of card is no longer recorded on the gizmo sticker. Should we even be doing this? Do we care on the build sheet what type of card is in there? Jeff 17:30, 6 Aug 2005 (PDT)

Reboot system and configure the software

Most scripts run automatically (alsaconf, etc.)

Run basiccheck

log in as guest, (password:freegeek) open a terminal , type "basiccheck" and hit enter.

Test modem

1. Click on Dialup->Configure->Modems->geekmodem ->modem-> Query Modem tests OK?
2. Modem detected? Make sure modem device set to /dev/modem

Test CD drive - data and sound

Use CD Player to test sound, then test-read a data CD.

Check out case with build instructor

They'll make sure the case is put together right, has parts that correspond with spec. The instructor will give you credit for building the system at this point.

Clean up

Put everything that you used to build the system back in its proper place