First Boot computer (step by step build a computer)

STEP 19:
First Boot

The goal of the first boot, is to test out all of our hardware and make sure that there are no problems before we get ready to install the operating system.

Now that everything is connected, go ahead and press the power button to start the machine up. Check and make sure that things are operating like on our previous quick power on test, mainly that the fans are working and we have video.

If the computer has been built correctly to this point, you should see a posting of the memory available and then a message stating that a first boot device or OS needs to be installed. Since we have nothing on the new hard drive, this is normal, and shows that the computer is properly seeing the hard drive.

Next we need to go into the BIOS and configure the DVD drive to be bootable for installation of Windows.