Assembly checklist

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Work through every step as well as you can, and then ask a neighbor or your build instructor if you still have questions. Try and learn the reason for each of the steps: this knowledge will come in handy later when, inevitably, things aren't going as smoothly.

Use your resources! There are lots available to you - your neighbor, the Build assistants and instructors and, of course, the internet. You can access tips and troubleshooting ideas on our wiki (http://wiki.freegeek.org) under Build tips. Some of the information contained therein is in the blue Build binder. If you run into something really weird, Google may be your best bet.

Your Build instructor will check the shelves to figure out what type of boxes we need built. Check the white board to find out what type of box to build, then work your way down this checklist.

Supplies like cards, rails, hard drives, etc. can be found on the metal racks in the center of the build workshop. An assortment of common DDR and DDR2 memory is kept in a box on the west end of the metal racks.

BEFORE YOU POWER ON

Check what needs to be built on the white board

  • Head to the warehouse and scope out a system you would like to build.
  • Be sure to pay attention to the Green Light label. It will give you a lot of important information, like the type of video, if it did not POST, if the processor is Dual Core, etc. Make sure that the box you are about to Build is appropriate for its spec.
  • If everything looks good, Grab the system from the warehouse, take it back to your build station, and figure out how to pop it open.

Check capacitors

  • Visually inspect motherboard capacitors for bulges/leaks. If you find one, check with your instructor.

Make sure that covers are available for open bays

  • Some cases require specific (proprietary) parts, which, unfortunately, we have to recycle...
  • You can add a CD-ROM if no cover plate is available.

Is there Microsoft Branding (Certificates of Authenticity)? Are there Asset tags? (identifying the last owner)

  • If there are, remove them. DO NOT remove FG-PDX, "uncovered electronic device" or Green Light stickers.

Clean and vacuum out box

Test battery

  • Set voltmeter to DCV=20, place one wand on battery and one wand on metal part of case. Battery's good if volt reading 3.0 or greater.

Install RAM

  • For DDR, try speed 266 (PC2100) first. If that doesn't work, try higher numbers. Sometimes the BIOS will tell you the needed speed.
  • For DDR2, try speed 400 (PC3200) first. If that doesn't work, try higher numbers. Sometimes the BIOS will tell you the needed speed.
    • NOTE: If the slots look like DDR but don't fit, they are probably DDR2.
    • NOTE: For both DDR and DDR2, sometimes they should be paired for higher performance (i.e., 2 sticks of RAM used in specific slots). Make sure you try all combinations of slots if you are having trouble getting the system to recognize the RAM.

Install video card if needed

  • You do not need to install an AGP video card if there is onboard video.
  • PCI-e cards are only available for FG-PDX and High-Ends. Ask an instructor if you need one.

Initial power on

  • See if expected memory value is displayed during POST or in BIOS.

Power down

Remove floppy drive if possible

  • Remove the floppy drive if you can find a matching face plate to cover it. If there are no covers available, you can leave the drive in and unplugged. Make sure the floppy drive (the A drive) is disabled in BIOS and removed from the boot sequence if possible.

Install network card (NIC)

  • Only if there's no onboard NIC (ethernet).

Install hard drive

  • Get the appropriately sized (according to spec sheet) hard drive from the supply shelf. Also check to see if you need an IDE or SATA hard drive and if you have the appropriate cables. Install hard drive and attach it to the power supply and motherboard.
  • You will need to ask an instructor for a SATA hard drive and/or hard drives higher than 80 GB.

Install sound card if needed

  • If there's onboard sound, no need to install card.

Install CD/CDRW/DVD/DVD-RW Drive(s)

  • Be sure to first remove any untested CDRW/DVDRW/combo drives from your system and put them on the appropriate shelf in advanced testing. You do not need to remove plain CD-R or DVD-R drives. Check the spec sheet to see what kind of drive(s) to install. Jumper it/them appropriately. Plug in power supply and the appropriate IDE/SATA cable.

Cover open slots and bays

  • Make sure you have coverings for all spaces that will not be filled with a card or drive. Look at similar cases for examples of what case pieces may look like. Be sure that these are screwed in tight and test them by pushing on each with your finger. If a slot cover falls out while a computer is on it can short out the motherboard.

BOOT AND ENTER BIOS

Attach monitor, keyboard, mouse, network, sound and power cords

Enter BIOS setup

  • Turn on the computer. The keystroke to enter setup should be displayed at bootup. If not, you have to guess. Del, Esc, F1, F2 and F10 are typical.

Check date and time Check date and time in BIOS and change to the correct time if needed.

Restore BIOS defaults

  • You might need to search around to find the BIOS values that need checking. While you search, enjoy the pleasure of learning about BIOS configuration!

Detect hard drive

  • Search BIOS to see if it is recognizing the hard drive.

Set boot order

  • It should be: 1st-CD-ROM; 2nd-Hard drive. Disable other boot devices such as floppy drive or network boot from the boot sequence.

Make sure USB ports are enabled.

Save and exit BIOS

  • The system should reboot to the Ubuntu operating system.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TESTING

Login to the system

  • username will be Default User
  • password = freegeek

Check your chipset!

  • From a terminal run “lspci” and look for the number “82845.” Check with an instructor if you have this number or if you're unsure.

Run "basiccheck"

  • From a terminal, type "basiccheck" Read through each of the tests and verify that they pass.

Learn to install a program through the Graphical User Interface (GUI - the mouse)

  • The first place to look for software to add is in the Ubuntu Software Center (Applications>Ubuntu Software Center). This gives you access to the Ubuntu supported applications plus many others. Search for "k3b" and install it. K3b is a CD/DVD authoring program.

Learn to install a program through command line

  • Open up a terminal and type "sudo apt-get install gimp" and press "Enter." This will install the photo editing program called Gimp.

Play an audio CD

  • Do you hear what you expect? Is it loud enough to be heard easily? Repeat for each CD-ROM drive. Repeat for additional sound ports.

Read data CD

  • If your file browser sees files on the drive, the CD-ROM can read files. Repeat for each CD-ROM drive.

Read DVD

  • If your file browser sees the file, the DVD-ROM can read files. If you are prompted to search for suitable plugins or codecs, please do not do this! The test still passes. Repeat for each DVD-ROM drive.

Remove all CDs and DVDs from the drive(s)

Test USB ports

  • Plug in a USB mouse, see that the cursor moves and can interact with things. Repeat with all USB ports, including front ports, if any.

Test for booting from live CD

  • Place Ubuntu live CD in drive and restart the computer. The system should boot from the live CD. Allow it to boot to the first Ubuntu installation screen. If it got to an installation screen, it works. Eject the disc and hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart.

Run "printme" from terminal

  • From a terminal, type "printme". A form will appear in the Firefox browser. Check the white board for what should be recorded in the notes section, as well as anything that is special or unusual about the system, including how to get into BIOS (F2, etc).

Check in with Build Instructor

  • The Build Instructor will check the print me and edit it to sign it off.

Print the printme

  • Read the printme data and then click "Print. "Choose "Print to File" from the list of printers. Select "Desktop" as the folder to save it in. Name the file "Build Printme.ps" and click print.

Shut down system and place on proper shelf

  • Use software controls for the shutdown (either "sudo halt" or the System menu at the top). Place the system on the QC shelf in the Build room.

Clean up work area if it is your last build of the day

  • Please put all tools away, throw out any garbage or sticker remains, put screws in the appropriate bins, wrap cords around your keyboard and mouse and generally straighten up.
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