Inherited Custom Built PC - Help

stopfordian

stopfordian

stopfordian

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Joined
2 Oct 2022
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9
Location
UK
Hi,

Firstly, apologies if I've posted this in the wrong forum. I wasn't sure where it should go!

Ok, so I've inherited a custom built PC which was used for high-end CAD work and I want to convert it to a gaming PC. It has no operating system, no wifi and no DVD drive so I've no idea how to go about it if someone could possibly help with some advice?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi, thanks for replying.

  • Gigabyte GA-B250M-D3H Motherboard
  • Intel Core i7 - 7700k 4.2GHz CPU
  • 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 RAM
  • 500GB Samsung EVO 850 SSD
  • NVIDIA Quadro P2000 5GB GDDR5 Graphics Card
  • Cooler Master 700W PSU
 
Next what is your budget for a graphics card? The Quadro could be sold for about £200, so that's a good chunk towards a new card. Also what resolution monitor will you be using?
 
13oots2 said:
Next what is your budget for a graphics card? The Quadro could be sold for about £200, so that's a good chunk towards a new card. Also what resolution monitor will you be using?
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I'll be honest, I've not got that far yet regarding monitors. Initially, I just wanted to get it connected up.
 
What sort of gaming are you hoping to do on the system?

The CPU is around 5 years old and while not the fastest it should be ok for 1080p gaming in most games, although you might need to turn down the settings in newer stuff imo.
The GPU is going to perform at roughly a 1050/1060 3gb sort of level which is going to be showing it's age now in terms of graphics (I've got a 1060 6gb for reference).

You should be able to install installing windows via a usb stick (not sure if you have a license or not, is there a sticker with a code anywhere?) but this might mean a quick trip into the bios for boot order etc.
 
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Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and make a copy of Windows 10 to a USB memory sick, you will need an 8Gb stick. You will need to change the boot device in BIOS, normally delete or F2 will get you into BIOS, and boot from the memory stick. That should get you up and running for now if everything is working.
 
lsg1r said:
What sort of gaming are you hoping to do on the system?

The CPU is around 5 years old and while not the fastest it should be ok for 1080p gaming in most games, although you might need to turn down the settings in newer stuff imo.
The GPU is going to perform at roughly a 1050/1060 3gb sort of level which is going to be showing it's age now in terms of graphics (I've got a 1060 6gb for reference).

You should be able to install installing windows via a usb stick (not sure if you have a license or not, is there a sticker with a code anywhere?) but this might mean a quick trip into the bios for boot order etc.
Click to expand...
The gaming will be my boy so I've no idea what type of gaming it'll be exactly. I'll be using the PC for live financial trading so I want to connect to two monitors for that. It's that that I initially want to get it set up for. The gaming will come later on. I don't have a license or anything as yet, I'm right at the beginning. I just wanted to know what the first steps are that I need to take in order to get it connected to the internet and with an operating system and then go from there. Appreciate the replies.
 
You can install Windows 10 without a licence key, just click on I don't have a key or similar, Windows will run just fine. You won't be able to change some Windows settings such as wallpaper and have a small nag text in the lower right of the desktop, you will be able to run software just fine until you get a key. If you use a wired connection there should be a LAN socket on the rear of the case, if not you will need a PCIe wireless network card.
 
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you can buy a license for not a lot. google. The gpu is more than enough for running 2 screens for trading. it can support up to 4 5k screens. We use NVS510's to run 2*43" 4k screens in our office
 
Craig_d1 said:
you can buy a license for not a lot. google. The gpu is more than enough for running 2 screens for trading. it can support up to 4 5k screens. We use NVS510's to run 2*43" 4k screens in our office
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Apologies, I'm an absolute novice with this stuff. What does buying a license get you exactly? A full copy of Windows and the license to use the whole thing properly?
 
A licence will enable all the features of Windows 10 and have no nagging text, technically you could run Windows indefinitely without a licence, but that tends to be frowned upon. Do a search on Google for Windows 10 licence and you will find plenty of offerings. Do you have a functioning computer at the moment to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool? The install is fairly easy, just follow the on-screen prompts. Probably the most daunting thing is getting into BIOS and changing the boot order, once you have rebooted you only have one drive to install to, so that part is pretty straight forward.
 
13oots2 said:
A licence will enable all the features of Windows 10 and have no nagging text, technically you could run Windows indefinitely without a licence, but that tends to be frowned upon. Do a search on Google for Windows 10 licence and you will find plenty of offerings. Do you have a functioning computer at the moment to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool? The install is fairly easy, just follow the on-screen prompts. Probably the most daunting thing is getting into BIOS and changing the boot order, once you have rebooted you only have one drive to install to, so that part is pretty straight forward.
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Yes, I'm currently using a laptop. I'm assuming there may be a YouTube video on the BIOS?
 
stopfordian said:
Yes, I'm currently using a laptop. I'm assuming there may be a YouTube video on the BIOS?
Click to expand...

It's fairly straight forward, keep hitting the delete key until the BIOS screen comes up, then switch to advanced and find boot and change the boot order to your USB stick. Once you have changed it, hit F10 to save your changes and Windows installer should then run on the reboot.
 
Hi, hope someone can help. I just thought I'd continue in the original thread I started.
I've got a copy of Windows 10 on a USB stick and I have a licence key also. I plugged in the USB, turned on the machine and went into the BIOS. I changed the boot order so that the USB was the first choice. The USB shows as 'Generic Storage Device 9451'. The first time I booted it from the boot menu it seemed to be working, Windows was 'preparing.....' and it got to about 85% and stopped with an error:

'The Installation was cancelled' 'Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code 0x8007025D'

Since then the USB will not boot from the boot menu. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.
 
Make sure it is plugged into a USB2 socket. On the back of the motherboard, there is 2 black USB sockets at the top of the I/O panel.

It could have been you using USB3 and the install was looking for a driver.

If that does not work, you may have to create the W10 USB again using a program called RUFUS. https://rufus.ie/en/
 
No, I still get the same message 'An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system'.

This machine isn't connected to wifi yet by the way.

Thanks.
 
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