What steps should I follow once I have assembled this PC?
What steps should I follow once I have assembled this PC?
Someone I know assisted me in assembling my new PC, but I’m unsure about the next steps. After updating the BIOS and installing Windows 11, I’ve only found a few tutorials that don’t explain things clearly, so I’m posting this thread for guidance. What should I do now? Are there any drivers to install? Do I need to adjust settings in the BIOS? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
It is recommended to set up the OS in offline mode and, while disconnected from the internet, install all necessary drivers using the latest versions through an elevated command, such as right-clicking the installer and selecting Run as Administrator.
To obtain drivers, download them beforehand from a donor platform and store them on a pen drive.
Clearing your CMOS after updating or flashing your motherboard's BIOS with the newest version is advisable.
Drivers for your motherboard (LAN, Audio, chipset, MEI) can be found on the manufacturer's support site, which is also where you obtained the BIOS files for flashing or updates.
For GPU drivers, visit AMD's support page:
https://www.amd.com/en/support/download....0-gre.html
This resource is tailored for your specific GPU model.
Avoid letting the OS install drivers it believes are suitable for your platform, as this can lead to problems or performance issues.
Just to confirm, I plan to reinstall Windows 11 in offline mode and install the drivers afterward. After completing everything, I will clear the CMOS. I intend to download all the drivers from the provided links: 'System & Chipset Drivers', 'On-Board VGA Drivers', 'LAN Drivers', 'On-Board Audio Drivers', 'On-Board PIDE/SATA Drivers' from the specified site, along with the GPU driver you linked. Is that correct?
OP - you're paranoid
, so I want to chime in here to keep you from over thinking. General rule of thumb - if it's working, don't break it.
First, you have a good motherboard that will make you happy a long time. In all fairness to Microsoft, they have radically improved their driver support and source pool. Now, I am not a fan of Microsoft, I'm just speaking from 25 years of consulting. It used to be that their drivers were hit/miss and mostly
horrible
. The fact of the matter is that many of the various pieces of hardware you will use with your new build all use the same chipsets. It really isn't an issue anymore with one exception.
Graphics cards - yes, get those drivers from the maker.
Another note: it is possible to brick your system updating your BIOS. For me, and I have 45 years in the industry, I need a critical reason to do this. In fact, with all of the laptops I've bought, and systems I have built, I have updated the BIOS one time.
The only issue I have with your build is Windows 11. That OS is the
worst
I have ever seen. As near as I can tell, it's Windows 10 with advertising hooks. These updates Microsoft pushes out typically have nothing to do with security. The updates almost always change your default settings, turn back on backups to the cloud, attempt to sign you up for services, download copilot, and on and on and on. I told you I wasn't a Microsoft fan-boy. I still get angry with their automatic forced reboots.
1| Update BIOS to the newest release, after that reset the CMOS.
2| Download the most recent drivers for a laptop or donor computer onto a USB drive; chipset;
links: https://www.amd.com/en/support/downloads.../b650.html
wifi and LAN;
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B650...ort#driver
onboard audio;
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B650...ort#driver
GPU;
https://www.amd.com/en/support/download....0-gre.html
3| Create a bootable USB installer with Windows Media Creation Tools;
link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software.../windows11
4| Set up the OS in offline installation mode;
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GuFH9KdHC0
without internet access to the computer.
5| After successful OS installation, apply all drivers via elevated command prompt.
6| Upon completing driver installation, connect to the network and proceed.