Operating System

10 Operating System

The last piece to complete your computer build is installing the Operating System (OS). Before we start getting more in-depth into installing the OS you will need to have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and blank flash drive. For the OS, we recommend Windows 10 since there are lots of ways to download it for free, or you can have a paid version of Windows, either one will work just fine.

Let’s install the OS!

First, you will want to use another computer like a laptop or a friend’s computer, and download the Windows 10 OS to a blank flash drive that has at least 8GB of free space.

Next, you will plug in the keyboard, mouse, and monitor to your computer. Then plug in the USB flash drive with the OS on it into your newly built computer. The first thing that you will see on your monitor is a screen that tells you to press a key to open the BIOS. This is where the computer will show you all the parts that are connected and installed. Here is where you check to make sure that your computer is recognizing all of the parts we installed so far.

Next, you will want to look around the BIOS page and locate the boot page, this could have other names such as boot order or boot priority. Once you have found this page you will want to change the boot order to your flash drive. This will put the flash drive first and the second thing should be the drive you want to install the OS on, which in our case is the SSD that we installed earlier.

Finally, restart your computer to now boot from the USB, then the OS installation screen will show up. From here just follow the instructions to finish the installation.

56 // How to Build a Computer

Thank you for joining me on this journey of computer building! Also, Congratulations on making it all the way to the end of your first computer build! Now that you have built a computer you can start customizing and personalizing it. Later on, you can upgrade parts that you might have originally wanted, but couldn’t afford in your budget at the time. Great job on building your first computer!

Operating System // 57

Bibliography

Betts, Andy, and Andy Betts (223 Articles Published) . Integrated vs. Dedicated Graphics Card: 7 Things You Need to Know. 13 Dec. 2019, www.makeuseof.com/tag/can-shared-graphics-finally-compete-with-a-dedicated-graphicscard/#:~:text=Integrated%20graphics%20refers%20to%20a,same%20die%20as%20the%20CPU.&text=If%20 your%20computer%20has%204GB,processors%20have%20an%20integrated%20GPU.

Christensson, Per. “SSD.” SSD (Solid State Drive) Definition, 13 Jan. 2011, techterms.com/definition/ssd#:~:text=Stands%20 for%20%22Solid%20State%20Drive,permanent%20state%20even%20without%20power.&text=Instead%20of%20 storing%20data%20on,store%20data%20using%20flash%20memory.

Ducpham, Thomas. “ RAM Explained - A Guide to Understanding Computer Memory.” Central Valley Computer Parts, 8 June 2018, centralvalleycomputerparts.com/articles/-ram-explained/.

Falk, Richard. “A Brief Explanation on CPU Coolers.” TechSpot, TechSpot, 17 Aug. 2016, www.techspot.com/news/65997brief-explanation-cpu-coolers.html.

“How to Build a Gaming PC.” Intel, www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/resources/how-to-build-a-gaming-pc.html.

“How to Install a Motherboard: Helpful Beginner’s Guide (& Photos).” How To Build Gaming Computers, 16 Sept. 2019, www. build-gaming-computers.com/how-to-install-motherboard.html.

“How to Install an SSD in Your Desktop.” How to Install an SSD in Your Desktop PC, www.crucial.com/articles/about-ssd/ how-to-install-solid-state-drive.

58 // How to Build a Computer

Jones, Ryan. “What Is a CPU? A Beginner’s Guide to Processors.” Trusted Reviews, 25 Mar. 2021, www.trustedreviews.com/ news/what-is-a-cpu-2950255.

Phillips, Gavin, and Gavin Phillips (809 Articles Published) . “A Quick and Dirty Guide to RAM: What You Need to Know.” MUO, 2 Apr. 2021, www.makeuseof.com/tag/quick-dirty-guide-ram-need-know/.

Pinkerton, Nick. “Basics of Cable Management - Beginner’s How-To Guide.” Guides, 7 Aug. 2012, 11:19am, www.gamersnexus. net/guides/892-basics-of-cable-management.

“Storage Device.” Techopedia, www.techopedia.com/definition/1119/storage-device#:~:text=A%20storage%20device%20 is%20any,computer%2C%20server%20or%20computing%20device.

Wallossek, Igor. “How To: Properly Plan And Pick Parts For An Air-Cooled PC, Part 1.” Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Hardware, 8 Nov. 2011, www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cooling-airflow-heatsink,3053-4.html.

“What Is a CPU: Understanding the Basics - The Plug.” HelloTech, 4 Jan. 2020, www.hellotech.com/blog/what-is-cpu-coreswhat-cpu-do-i-have.

Wilson, Bill. The Difference: Gold vs Bronze Rated Power Supplies. 10 Sept. 2019, appuals.com/gold-vs-bronze-psu/.

Bibliography // 59

How to Build a Computer

Have you ever wanted to build your own computer? Are you interested in learning how the different parts work? Do you just simply want to replace parts in your current computer but do not know how? In How to Build a Computer you will follow along on your very own journey to build a computer! You will also learn the important parts that go into a computer and how they function. So, if you want to follow along and build your own computer, but do not know how, this book is for you!