Computer Assembly - How To Assemble A PC
Post Assembly Needs
There's a few more things you need and should do to complete the assembly process.
Windows Update
There are many updates already available for Windows XP, including Service Pack 1, so you should use the facility built into Windows XP for retrieving and installing them. To retrieve them, bring up your internet connection and then click on Start -> All Programs -> Windows Update. The web-site will take you through the update process. Some updates will require that the computer be restarted before they will take effect. Some updates need to be installed separately from other updates. You should repeatedly invoke the Windows Update until the web-site reports there are no critical updates that you need, so this can take a number of re-visits at first. When there are only non-critical updates left, you can look them over and decide if you want them, too. Eventually Windows XP will ask if you would like to have critical updates automatically made. I'd suggest you do. You can configure the automatic updates such that you will be prompted before anything is downloaded.
After making these kinds of changes, I suggest you rerun the DirectX Diagnostics and the MadOnion 3DMark2001SE benchmarks to ensure that all is well.
Firewall
If the computer you build is connected to the internet then you should seriously consider firewall protection. Firewall protection ensures there is no unauthorized access to your computer over your internet connection. Believe me, there are plenty of attempts being made! And that's not all. You may be surprised and even shocked to know that the applications you've installed yourself on your computer are themselves sending unauthorized communications out into the network!
The Firewall software I use and recommend is ZoneAlarm. You can download ZoneAlarm free from here. For more information about it, see the My Super PC Firewall page.
QuickTime
Download and install QuickTime. This is used by many software packages to provide animated clips and movie sequences, so it's a good idea to have it. It's free.
CD Burn, CD Burning Software
If your computer includes a CD-RW drive then you'll want to install the CD burning software that came with it so you can burn CDs. If you're using the Lite-On 40x/12x/48x CD-RW then you can use the
Nero Software CD Install instructions included in the CDRLabs review of the drive. If you have a different CD-RW then chances are you can still find your CD-RW drive listed on their CD-ROM and CD-RW Reviews page as a CD-RW drive they've reviewed, because they've reviewed just about all of them. Go the review for your drive and it should include a page for installing the software that comes with the drive.
My Super PC Graduate
If you've made it this far, assembling all the way, then chances are you're a My Super PC Graduate. Check it out!
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© 2001-2011, Rob Williams, all rights reserved.
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