Newbies First Build Questions.

[revolution2049]

hey all, as you can see im new, and of course i have lots of questions. lets get to it.

Relevant Computer Specifications:

P4 3.0Ghz Processor (HT Tech.)
Asus P4P800 Deluxe MB


basically all i have so far is a case, Motherboard, Processor and a semi-new salvaged 52X standard CD-Rom. (along with some blue lightrs and blue fans) i dont have any memory yet, im gonna buy that today....no Hard Drive either. here are the questions.

1. is it nevessary to have memory instaled in order to get the system to boot up? i recently took the video card and hard drive out of my other computer and installed it onto my new build....cause bqasically i wa anxious to see soe results.

after installing the HD and video card i started her up and......nothing. now lers move to #2cause theyre both basically the same qyestion.

2. i mounted a CD-RW and a standard CD-R to the case (making the RW master and the other slave) hooked them up using the CD-Rom cables that came with my MB and started the computer up.....once again nothing happened, the roms dont even respond when i press the eject button. its only until i unplug the cable in the back that the roms respond and will open and close.

to clarify:

1. will a computer boot up at all if there is no memory installed
and
2. why wont my cd-roms respond when i hoo them up to my motherboard?

thanks in advance for any assistance. its greatly appreciated.

[revolution2049]

and another thing: the old salvaged hard drivw will not respond either, unless it is in no way plugged into the motherboard. what could be the problem and how do i go around fixing it?

[ECA]

1.yes, but only to Bios.
2. What is there to START to. With out ram, it cant load from the HD.
3. taking the HD from another system, DONT. IF an OS was on the HD it will corrupt, as it tries to figure out what you did. THEn it wont work in the other system, be glad it DIDNT boot.
4. Make sure ALL cables are connected PROPERLY, they are NOT reverseable.

[revolution2049]

thanks ECA. i didnt know about that HD.

about #4: all cables ARE installed properly. still, the drives will not respond unless they are disconnected from the motherboard.

could the jumpers be the problem at all?

[ECA]

Tricks #1..
CDROMS::
Its a funny trick that most never understand. 2 channels, and 2 drives on each channel. Funny part is, speed will only equal slowest drive on the 1 channel.

As for intiating. Bring up Bios, and It should ID them, and thats ALL. what they do NOW is Int, then shut down, as Bios dont see them, and THERE IS NO OS, or RAM to load OS.. When they boot, they see NO ram and shut down, to wait... CANt boot without ram.

[revolution2049]

hmm....i see, i see.....gonna have to buy some ram and a hard drive next.....thanks again ECA. ill post some mre if i need any more help.

[ECA]

Good luck.

[revolution2049]

well, it looks like nothing works. i bought that hard drive, installed the memory (512mb DDR3200 to start with) and nothing.

while going through the manual i read that there is a built in function on the motherboard that will verbally tell you what is wrong.

CPU failed boot test. over and over. so apparently its the processor. it might be defective, unfortunately i seem to have misplaced the reciept so......$270 down the drain. im gonna take it to CompUSA to see if maybe its just something ive forgotten to do. im hoping thats what the problem is...like maybe i didnt plug something in right....

ill keep you guys informed....thanks for all the help, ill be back to give you the news.

[ECA]

How did you PAY for the CPU, and when??
Credit card and check is generally enough proof.
As major stores are now kwwping logs of all transactions in there registers.

[revolution2049]

not to worry, i found the reciept in my car, must have thrown it down into the side holdy-thing.

ive gone back and replaced it with a brand spankin' new CPU. havent installed it yet, im gona bring in a friend of my uncles who builds computers for a living...hes gonna install it and make sure everything is running nice and smoothly.

keep you posted.