Ok, I'm a 24 year old female trying to learn about putting together computers. I just attempted my 2nd build, and it's been a nightmare. This is the computer I built:
1.ASPIRE X-QPACK-AL/420 Black/Silver Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail
2.ABIT VA-20 Socket A (Socket 462) VIA KM400A Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
3.Western Digital Caviar SE WD2000JB 200GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
4.PNY Personal Cinema GeForce FX 5700 Geforce FX5700 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
5.AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton 400MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3000DKV4E - OEM
6.GeIL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model GL1GB3200DC - Retail
7.NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM
8.Thermaltake VOLCANO 10+ 60mm 2 Ball Bearing Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail
9.Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 - OEM
----So there it is...and first I ordered the wrong HD, but I was finally able to get everything working. Then after 2 days, my computer started shutting down by itself saying that it has a HW or SW problem. It also doesn't put out any sound and media says it might not have a sound device installed. This may seem dumb, but I was under the impression that the video card had one already. Also, I remember when my buddy and I put together the first computer, we had to install drivers. I don't exactly remember how to do that, but could that be a problem? I'm sure all my ?'s sound amateur, but that's exactly what I am...so please help me. *Thanks*

That motherboard has built-in sound. You need to take the CD's that came with each piece of hardware and pop them in a drive. They should auto-start and have you on your way to installing the needed drivers. After installing Windows, having the drivers is the next step before the computer will be truly functional. If the hardware came without drivers, you may have to do a Google search to find what you need. Many manufacturers have drivers for their hardware both old and new. Post back with any more problems.

BTW - Welcome to PR!

Candace is such a cute name =D

Your random shutting down is probably due to your CPU heatsink not being seated correctly.

Welcome to PR, and finding drivers is REAL easy * if you dont have the CD's* seeing as you know what parts you have and most all drivers you just D/L and click on them and they have an install wizard thingy that will walk you through.

Just be lucky that you have internet.
You defintly came to the right place to learn about computers.
Just keep your ear against the door, and you will learn tons of things.
If your a gamer, hang out with people like me.

Welcome to Pimprig.

Out of your league? I should say not! In need of some help? Perhaps...

Like J-Dogg said, you HAVE to have drivers for anything hardware related to work properly. From a fresh blank HDD, the first thing to go on it is the Windows OS(or linux, etc, etc). After that, pop in your motherboard drivers and anything else asking for drivers at that point. Next start installing your hardware, one components at a time and install the necessary drivers for each. I use this technique and it works flawlessly for me.

If that doesn't fix anything and things still go freaky on you, you may have heat and/or power related issues. Make sure nothing is getting too hot, check to see if your voltages are stable(if you can), and make sure every component is getting it's fair share of juice.

Welcome to PimpRig. It's always great to have another Pimp... errm Pimpette around.

Cheers,
Jobi

Quote: Originally Posted by j-dogg Candace is such a cute name =D

Stop hitting on girls J-Dogg. She prolly lives 2000 miles away from you.

Nah She lives right in CT right down the street from me. We used to hang and all

just kidding..

Welcome to PR

Quote: Originally Posted by Cpt.Planet Stop hitting on girls J-Dogg. She prolly lives 2000 miles away from you.

Not as bad as FSB trying to make friends

Quote: Originally Posted by fatsobob If your a gamer, hang out with people like me.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex BLOOGA LOOGA LOOGA LOO! AEPENOAPE!

Man Dex, where'd that come from...jeez...

Stop hitting on FSB .

Hew now who said I was hitting on her. Candace really is a cute name. I went to school with a girl who had that name. If I ever actually find a woman and proliferate and we have little J-Puppies, if one was to be a girl I thought about naming her either Azure or Candace.

Now that wasn't hitting on women. Hitting on women is:

"Dammn bitch you stupid fly!! Lemme pull up to dat bumpah n' smack dat monkey!!"

or

"Hey baby drop in my lowrider n' let's rotate deez tires!!"

Quote: Originally Posted by j-dogg Hew now who said I was hitting on her. Candace really is a cute name. I went to school with a girl who had that name. If I ever actually find a woman and proliferate and we have little J-Puppies, if one was to be a girl I thought about naming her either Azure or Candace. Now that wasn't hitting on women. Hitting on women is: "Dammn bitch you stupid fly!! Lemme pull up to dat bumpah n' smack dat monkey!!" or "Hey baby drop in my lowrider n' let's rotate deez tires!!"

WOW and i thought " Hi , whats your sign" was a bad line LMAO

Quote: Originally Posted by j-dogg "Dammn bitch you stupid fly!! Lemme pull up to dat bumpah n' smack dat monkey!!" or "Hey baby drop in my lowrider n' let's rotate deez tires!!"

You and your damn "Learn Ebonics" tapes..

Quote: Originally Posted by HigHTecHReDNecK WOW and i thought " Hi , whats your sign" was a bad line LMAO

Hey, that's still better than

"Hi, My name's 'Milk', I'll do your body good"

I had a success with that one actually. Don't ask lol.

Quote: Originally Posted by Albedo You and your damn "Learn Ebonics" tapes..

Haha,

"Hey, those are nice shoes" =

"Drop dem Nikes off yo ass, befo' I blast yous mothaf*cka!!!"

>You dont have it, Thanks anyway

> Fck you!

Now in a hood near you...

Lol, i love the obviously white cracka who narrates the tapes.

lol well all that will either make or break her for PR.

Welcome aboard CandaceBaca, just so ya know once you've done it once and you're confident about how you did it its plain sailing from there (well almost!)

Lots of friendly people here with different backgrounds and lots of info between us.

Follow the advise here and you can't go far wrong.

Here are the drivers for your system. LINKY

I would suggest doing the chipset first and foremost. After that, it wont really matter.

Also if you need any help. feel free to PM me anytime. or you can catch me on MSN, XFire, or GoogleTalk.

Quote: Originally Posted by WrathOfSocrus That motherboard has built-in sound. You need to take the CD's that came with each piece of hardware and pop them in a drive. They should auto-start and have you on your way to installing the needed drivers. After installing Windows, having the drivers is the next step before the computer will be truly functional. If the hardware came without drivers, you may have to do a Google search to find what you need. Many manufacturers have drivers for their hardware both old and new. Post back with any more problems. BTW - Welcome to PR!

Ok, thank you. But the problem is the computer is shutting off almost immediately. I can't even get to BIOS.