The next step was cutting a hole in the back for all the motheboard connectors. I decided to use the back port cover that came with it and just cut a big square hole. This was done with a hacksaw blade and a drill. Again I didnt make it pretty but I window edged it to save myself some face.

I finally bolted down the motherboard and power supply making sure each had ample insulation (well, a layer of cardboard under each one). I wired the whole thing together and it looked something like this.

Yep I know, not very pretty, I didnt think it would work to be perfectly honest. In fact as I was about to press the power button I could picture a sound like New Mexico turning off, followed by a sharp KA then a large BOOM. But to my amazement it didnt do that. It turned on, the power LED lit up, it showed me my post screen. I could not believe it, really I couldnt, I started crying because I thought I had been drugged again - but after counselling etc I finally accepted it for what it was. A working PC.

My next task was to put some kind of operating system on. I chose XP because I have been having quite good results from it on my main system (There you go Microsoft, I plugged you, now wheres the kiss from Bill Gates you promised??). Since there was no room for a cd drive inside the box I had to install it with the case open. And yes it is being installed on a tele. I found it quite amazing that the TV out worked immediately after turning it on. I expected to have to at least set something in the BIOS, but no there it was plain and incredibly blurred in front of me.

XP installed without a glitch. It picked up the sound card and network card on its own. It needed the video drivers installing though.

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