Installing Windows

I'm not going to spend too much time explaining how to install windows as its pretty much self explanatory. You will simply need to boot up the computer with the Windows boot disk inserted into the floppy drive or the windows CD into the CD drive if you boot from CD.

Remember that when you load the windows boot disk from a floppy disk a RAM drive is also added so all your drives except for drive C are moved down a letter. Once you have the CD drive at the command prompt type setup and wait for the computer to run a few checks before continuing the windows setup.

At this point windows will explain everything to you so there is no need to go in depth. The only thing I would recommend is that if this is your first install, use the typical setup option because you can add and remove items later on.

While setup is adding files to your computer it is a good idea to get all the drivers for your devices to hand. windows will install a few drivers for you but its still better to have the drivers from the manufacturer as you know they have been thoroughly tested. Drivers you may require are

• Sound card
• Graphics card
• Modem / Router
• Motherboard
• Mouse and keyboard (if have extra features)
• Network card
• Monitor

Items such as your Hard Disks and CD drives will be assigned drivers by Windows and probably need not be touched. If your monitor is displayed as unknown monitor its best to try plug and play driver by selecting it from standard monitor drivers after the installation of windows.

When windows is ready to reboot the computer it will inform you, after a few more settings it will start asking you for some of the disks, simply install all the drivers needed and shut down the computer. We will now alter just a couple of BIOS settings and then your PC is ready for your own customisation.  

Next - BIOS settings