Cable works when I plug it in to the two other machines in the room.  It's software related. Now I can't run IE6 to download the pre-installation software from Microsoft.  I swear to god I'm going to learn everything there is to know about Linux.  

I have a small booklet that came with the disks that's a setup guide.  I have a license for the OS.  However, I regret getting this version.  I didn't want to pay an extra $20 for XP Pro and they didn't have XP Home - and I wanted to play really badly.

I have yet to download the stupid pre-install kit.  I can't find Internet Explorer.  LOL!

And yes, this is the first machine I have put together myself.  Others have always had some guru doing the setup - only they have kids and real jobs now and no time for this - except for one, and I can't even do what he suggested because I can't find IE on my crappy laptop.

And yes, I will know this machine intimately.  It is practice for the next rig which I keep dreaming about how to fit in ever decreasing case size dimensions.  Found a flexible PCI-E extender so the video card does not have to sit perpendicular to the mobo - meaning I can make an even thinner case for the next machine.

Yeah, if Cantrip can do it, anybody can.  I'll post pics later of the 19 inch LCD that fits into the laptop case without the base attached.  Gaming rig #2 has to be at least 9 inches on one side - longest side of mobo .  It has to beat least as tall as the power supply ($20 - 600W from computergeeks.com) which is 5.5 or 6 inches.  An 8800 GT card is 9 by 5.5 inches.  A 8600 GT card is 4 by 7 inches. So it sits at least 4 maybe 5 inches from the base of the mobo, unless I use a flexible PCIe extender.   

The smallest width can be 7.6 or so inches - the shorter dimension of the mobo, which is what I want, but that means I have to use an 8600 GT card instead of the 8800.  So that's how wide it can be at its minimum.  The length can be the longest length of the mobo, plus another 6 inches for the power supply.  That's 15 or 14.5, by 7.6 by 5.5 or 6 on the inside - can't be any smaller than that.  The HD and DVD drive will fit next to the power supply - since that will be empty space anyway.

But first I need to get new rig #1 going because I now have no machine to play TF2 - can't put the 8800 GT in the desktop because that would mean a new power supply.  And I took out the 8600 out of it to return it to Fry's.  -Rig#1 is having Media Center OS problems.

Holy effing god.  DO NOT EVER BUY AN OEM VERSION OF WINDOWS XP MEDIA CENTER!

I have been working on this all day.  I had to register as an official builder of machines with Microfuck's OEM website just to be able to download the required pre-installation kit.  I'm certified now bitches.

However, it requires one patch after another.  I go to download one, and it says you have to download another to install it.  When you go to that prerequisite, it tells you you need another download before you install the download.   It keeps going like that. 

Yo, I just may spend another $150 and get Window's XP Pro, OEM, and if they won't sell it to me, I'll get the $200 full version.  -Well, no I won't, but I sure as hell am tempted.  Fuck!

Here's a pic:



Back to it . . .

LOL.  There never was an overheating problem.  Turns out operating temperature for the CPU is 55-65 degrees C.  The sensor reading was at 86 to 104 degrees F.  I think I get to the the lower end of the above at 131 degrees F, so no problem.  And I have MOAR FANS coming, just because of the OCD.

So, it's 2:00 a.m. and I still can't connect to the internets - useless to play TF2.  The preinstallation process for Windows MCE is described at great length in like fifty pages in Powerpoint and involves a ton of technical stuff.  I called the guys at Fry's and told them I have spent I think two solid days now trying to get the damn thing to work.  They said they'll let my buy XP Home OEM, which is on sale, but I could not return the Media Center version because I opened it.  Home does not have the same gigantic warning stickers about preinstallation kits.  You have to do the following:

1. Download PC Diagnostic Utility tool to determine the status of the machine to receive WMC.
2. Download pre-install kit.
3. Preinstall MCE.
4. Preinstall .Net Framework 1.1 update.
5. Preinstall .Net Framework 1.1 service pack update.
6. install MCE Rollup 2 Executable.

Hard to do without the internets on the machine and crappy laptop/memory stick transfer.

So fuck it. $89 bucks to solve the problem tomorrow.  I even tried to use the HD from work, but I didn't have the stupid admin password and it was asking me to register or activate the OS.  I won't use the Media Center Edition, at least not with this mobo.  Or I'll sell it, cheap - perfectly good (legal) copy with activation key on a funny pink sticker. 

Anyway, I learned a lot in the past two days - namely stay away from Windows MCE.

All connections are plugged in correctly. 

And I was able to load and get the operating system going. I'm past that problem.  The problem now is there are two giant stickers on the package that say do the pre install first, or you won't load the thing properly, which seems to be the case.  The problem is manifesting itself on the one critical component needed  to play TF2 - the LAN won't connect to the router.

The OS is fine, except no SP2 is loaded and it doesn't like my attempts to do so.  Updated all the drivers and Bios - went throughall this with ASUS tech support.

Going to Fry's now to get XP Home and, less elegantly, to get a cheapie PCI LAN card in case this doesn't work, and take it back later if it does.  But at least I will have an OS that doesn't come with built-in gremlins.  I see a Lunix resource book on my Xmas wish list.

Have slept about an hour, had a gallon of coffee (not tired at all) and my task bar says I have 21 Firefox and 10 Internet Explorer window panes open from all the looking.  Man, what an edumacation I'm getting.   -All this to be to good use on Rig #2 as soon as the other mobo comes.

Removed the partitions.  It's finished reformatting and Windows XP Home should start loading any moment now.

So, since I have some time to kill.  I finally discovered what the hell the OEM Preinstallation Kit is for.  If you're a retail builder of computers, you can complete a full install, including all software, like MS Office and others in like five minutes, instead of several hours.  For some reason you need it for XP Media Center, but not for XP Home.  And XP Home does not have the giant sticker that says you need to do the OPK install or the machine will not work properly and you can go fuck yourself because there's no tech support for OEM software.

So, not needed for XP Home.

. . . Watching Back to the Future (1985) on HBO while I wait.  What a good movie.  It's a Spielberg movie and they just don't make them like that anymore.

Woo hoo! Grats!