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Question

building computer need help?

Dec 6, 2011 1:08PM PST

Hi i just built my first computer im having some problems. wanted to try and see if anyone could help,specs are
<div>motherboard - msi 870A-g54
video card sapphire radeon hd 6770
ram 4gb crucial ram
cd drive, old cd drive from 2004ish dell desktop
hard drive - took apart an external seagate 320gb hard drive, the mini hard drive size not the regular and using that.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
This was never going to work. Why?
Dec 19, 2011 3:35AM PST

Windows 7 comes on DVD and you used "old cd drive from 2004ish dell desktop".

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Answer
After you replace that CD drive ...
Dec 19, 2011 4:13AM PST

with a DVD drive that can read the installation DVD you will need to boot the PC and go into the BIOS to set the DVD drive as the FIRST boot device and put the installation DVD into the drive.

Next you SAVE the change to the CMOS and reboot.

Now you may or may not get a message telling you to press any key to boot from CD or DVD - press a key

Now the system will start booting from the installation disk and you will be able to install the OS onto the hard drive - just follow the prompts.

DVD burners are CHEAP and plentiful but make sure that you get one with an interface your computer supports. Most are SATA but if yours is an older system you may need an IDE interface. Here is a link to a good source for the drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=5&name=CD-DVD-Burners&Order=PRICE

Here is a direct link to an IDE model (with free shipping even):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827100057

Now, you said "my friend gave me his 64bit windows install disk" - If that was the 64 bit disk that came with a 32 bit disk and he used the 32 bit disk then he has already used the installation key which can only be used on a single computer. If this is the case, it will install on a second computer but will not activate without purchasing a new key.