Building the Perfect PC

Final Words

This system went together like a dream. It took us less than an hour to build, or four days, depending on how you look at it. Counting only actual construction time, it took about 45 minutes from start to finish. Counting the time to shoot images, re-shoot images, re-re-shoot images, tear down for re-shoots and re-re-shoots, re-build and re-re-build after the re-shoots and re-re-shoots, and so on, it took four days. We think a first-time system builder should be able to assemble this system in an evening with luck, and certainly over a weekend.

Installing software

Software installation went smoothly with only two problems, one minor and one major. The minor problem was our own fault. As we installed Windows, we got to the screen that displays the license agreement and prompts you to press F8 to accept it. We pressed F8 and nothing happened.

We pressed F8 again and then again. Nothing. Finally, we noticed a key labeled “F-Lock” at the top left of the Logitech Elite keyboard. Aha! By default, the Elite shifts function keys to provide custom functions. Pressing that key lit the F-Lock LED and enabled the function keys to operate normally. Duh. Reading the manual might have helped.

The major problem resulted from the temporary insanity that sometimes afflicts us when it’s time to install the OS on a new system. Ordinarily, we’d have installed Windows 2000 Pro without a second thought. We dislike Windows XP for many reasons, but particularly for its forced product activation ...