In part one of our Build a silent Media Center feature we looked at the components you'll need to bolt together a top-notch system.

This month, we'll guide you through the actual physical process of putting together a powerful and silent PC; we'll explain how to install the software and how get the system working. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below (skip to the bottom of the page to print it out) and refer to the accompanying walkthrough pictures on the right.

Everybody ready? Then we'll begin.

Installing the hardware

Installing the Media Center Edition software

We've chosen to install Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, or MCE for short, as we believe it's the most powerful and easy to use front-end for a media PC.

Microsoft doesn't sell an official retail version, but the bare 'OEM' discs (designed for PC manufacturers) are on sale from many sources including eBuyer for £76.27 - see www.ebuyer.co.uk. While you're shopping there remember to buy the Microsoft Media Center remote control for £21.73 if you haven't already got one.

Like other OEM products, you won't get any instructions with these MCE discs, just a pair of CDs in a sleeve. These actually include a full version of Windows XP which is installed with the MCE software itself - there's no way of separating the two, so you're looking at a fresh installation of Windows which will wipe your system clean. And while the complete installation unsurprisingly resembles one for standard Windows XP, there's a few key differences to be aware of, along with a couple of tweaks to ensure it works smoothly. Here's what you need to do.

Adjusting the BIOS settings