SD LEET User manual
SD Living Room PC User Manual – Revision 2.2
Welcome
Dear Customer:
Thank you for purchasing a hand-assembled, custom-made living room PC
from STEIGER DYNAMICS.
It is our pleasure to welcome you to our exclusive community of customers.
We hope you will have years of you joy and high-performance computing
with your new system.
Each one of our living room PCs is designed and assembled in the United
States and supported in-house by the very engineer who created it.
Your system was manufactured to your specifications with your needs in
mind, and we are confident that you are going to love it as much as we did
manufacturing it.
We know you are extremely excited to get started right away, but it is
very important that you read the following “Quick-Start-Guide” to
assure a hassle-free setup and an ideal user experience.
Please pay special attention to the items that are marked with this icon:
Kind regards,
Martin Gossner
CEO
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SD Living Room PC User Manual – Revision 2.2
Table of Content
3
I. Quick-Start-Guide 4
Step 1 – Unpacking & Hardware Check 4
Step 2 – Intro to System Buttons & Connectors 5
Step 3 – System Placement Considerations 6
Step 4 – Connecting the System 7
Step 5 – Connecting the Peripherals 9
Step 6 – Ready to Roll 9
IV. Manufacturing Log 17
1. BIOS, Drivers, and Windows Software & Settings 13
2. Software & Apps 14
3. Backup & Restore 15
4. Hardware 16
Phase 1 – Preparation 17
Phase 2 – Initial Software Installation 17
Phase 3 – Final Hardware Assembly & Software Installation 17
Phase 4 – Final Tests 18
Phase 5 – Finishing 18
III. Best Practices 13
II. DIY Builder Guide 10
1. Hardware Assembly 10
2. Software Setup 12
SD Living Room PC User Manual – Revision 2.2
I. Quick-Start-Guide (1/6)
Please call us (1-855-915-9000)or email us (support@steigerdynamics.com), if anything is damaged or missing.
Please keep all original packaging material incl. interior Instapak foam for potential warranty shipment!
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C. Check accessories
§Power cable
§HDMI Cable (standard withLEET)
§Wifi Antennas (Standard with LEET)
§Black STEIGER DYNAMICS Box with spare parts
§Black STEIGER DYNAMICS Binder with disks
A. Unpack your system
Step 1 – Unpacking & Hardware Check
4. Reattach lid
5. Reattach lid screws
3. Remove foam and check connections
§Check cable connections
§Check that PCI cards are in place
1. Remove lid screws
§The 2 thumb screws on rear side of chassis
are easily unfastened by hand
2. Remove Lid
§Lift up back of lid by approx. 1 inch
§Pull lid back and out of bracket
D. Check peripherals
§Other peripherals you have ordered
Peripherals might be drop shipped and arrive
separately from your system.
B. Optional: Inspect system for external internal damage/flaws
HDD cables
GPU cables
GPU
Other
PCI-E
1. Unpack outer box
§Cut outer box
open on top and
unfold cover
§Flip outer box up
side down
§Lift off outer box
(inner box will be
up side down)
2. Unpack inner box
§Cut inner box
open on bottom
and unfold cover
§Flip box up side up
§Lift off inner box
to reveal system
SSD cables
(NOTE: Your configuration may vary!)
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I. Quick-Start-Guide (2/6)
5
Step 2 – System Buttons & Connectors (Photos: LEET HTPC)
Blu-ray drive slot
Optical drive button
(push to open/close)
Front screen
Front panel connectors
(push door to access)
HD
Audio
out Mic
in 2x USB
3.0
SDHC
card
reader
Power
button
A. Front view
B. Rear view
IR
receiver
Power
supply
switch
Power
cable
plug
USB 2.0 (black)
USB 3.0 (blue)
USB 3.1 (turquoise)
Onboard audio incl.
optical S/PDIF
digitalin/out
Lid screws
Engineer Signature Badge
Primarydedicated DVI
FYI: DVI and HDMI are 100% lossless
compatible without signal conversion.
Dedicated HDMI
Dedicated DisplayPort
Secondary dedicated DVI
Onboard HDMI and DisplayPort
(use only if you have no dedicated graphics card)
Gigabit Ethernet
(NOTE: Your configuration may vary!)
E. LED Light switch (optional, LEET only)
LED light switch
(Behind left
front foot on
bottom left
(LEET only))
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Antenna connectors
C. Power button light indicators
§No light: System is off
§Constant blue light: System is turned on
§Blinking blue light: System is in sleep mode
D. Power button functionality
§When off or in sleep mode: Press button to turn on.
§When on: Press button to put system to sleep
§When on: Press button for 4 seconds for hard system
shut down (same as if you unplug system while on)
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High performance systems like the STEIGER DYNAMICS HTPCs require proper system placement toassure safe
operating temperatures and solid system stability even under hours of heavy load. Please follow the
instructions below.
A. Optimize airflow
§Ensure good air circulation and do not place into
fully closed cabinets.
§If you place your system in an AV-Rack or
under/in a desk, ensure 2” (5 cm) air intake and
exhaust clearance for the fans and ventilation
holes on bottom, rear, and left side, and top.
§Do not put system on carpet or soft surfaces
since they block air intakes on the bottom.
B. Keep away from water, heat, and dust
§Setup in dry area and avoid exposure to
water/rain and excessive humidity.
§Do not use system as a drink holder or coaster.
§Avoid hot/warm areas like proximity to heaters.
§Dust decreases system cooling performance,
hence avoid dusty areas.
C. Keep accessible
Keep system accessible to do any of the following:
§Gently clean system exterior and interior from
dust
§Turn on light switch
§Open/close optical drive
§Access front panel connectors
§Access connectors on the back
D. Place IR receiver (opt.) in direct line of sight
§Place system in a way soyou can easily see the
front screen for system monitoringparameters
and entertainment information (LEET only)
§The IRreceiver onthe front leftneeds tobe in
line of sight touse the IR remote control.
E. Other considerations
§Never push objects into the PC. This could cause
short circuits, liquiddrain, shock and/or fire.
§Keep juniors’hands away.
§Keep system away from strong magnetic fields.
§The system weighs up to 70 pounds. To avoid
injury, it should only be moved by a person with
a respective fitness level.
Step 3 – System Placement Considerations
Keep
clean Keep
dry Keep
cool
No
Kids No
magnets
Rear
air intakes
Rear
air outtakes
Left air
outtakes
Bottom air
intakes
Airflow of custom built liquid cooling configuration
NOTE: Your airflow may differ depending on specific
system configuration and products – especially pre-
sealed liquid cooling configurationsfeature a different
airflow.
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D. Connection chart with Audio/Video-Receiver (AVR)
§Connect your HTPC to AVR/AmplifierwithHDMI cable orDVI-HDMI cable.
§Plug cable into HDMI or DVI port of your graphics card as explained on page 5 (Step 2B).
§Connect AVR to TV with HDMI cable.
§Connect AVR to speakers with speaker cables.
A. Ensure sufficient power
§Depending on system configuration, your SD HTPC may draw up to 1600 Watts under full load. Hence,
please make sure, your power outlet is ready for this amount of power draw when you have a
configuration with multiple graphics cards.
B. Connect to surge protector (optional )
§Protect your investment by connecting the system’s power cableto a surge protector and/or UPS
(Uninterruptable Power Supply)
§This surge protector should be directly connected tothe power outlet in the wall.
C. Avoid cable traps
§Route the power cable and all other cables in a way that they won’t be walked on or tripped over.
E. Connection chart without Audio/Video-Receiver (AVR)
§Connect HTPC to TV with HDMI cable or DVI-HDMI cable.
§Plug cable into HDMI or DVI port of your graphics card as explained on page 5 (Step 2B).
§Connect HTPC to speaker with optical S/PDIF or analog audio cables
HDMI HDMI
Speaker Cables (Stereo/Surround)
HDMI
Optical S/PDIF or Analog Audio Jacks (Stereo/5.1 Surround)
Step 4 – Connecting the System
F. Important AVR and TV settings
§Activate “HDMI pass-through” in your AVR settings
§Activate “Game Mode” or “PC Mode” in your TV settings. If your TV does not have these settings, you
need todeactivate any picture processing options inyour advanced TV settings (please see TV manual).
§Failure to configurethese settings willresult inhigh lags (e.g. slow mouse responsiveness)
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NOTE: When turning on your HTPC for the first time, it is recommended to connect the bare minimum
peripherals, suchas keyboard, mouse, and TV/monitor before connectingother devices like gamepads, Wi-Fi
receivers, scanners, printers, headsets, external hard drives, etc. After initialsetup, shut down your system and
then connect your remaining devices.
A. Mouse and keyboard
§Connect mouse and keyboard (or their respective wireless receivers if you have wireless devices) to the
black USB 2.0 ports onthe back ofthe system. Some ofthe motherboard I/O-shields have dedicated
mouse and keyboard USB connectors marked with a mouse and keyboard symbol. In this case, please
make sure that you use these connectors.
§If you have a wireless mouse and keyboard:
§Use the supplied USB extension cables and place the receivers some feet away from the system, since
the chassis may distort or weaken the wireless signalif the receiver is placed inthe USB portdirectly.
§For optimum performance, place the receivers in direct sight without any obstructions between the
receiver and your wireless mouse and keyboard.
B. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas
§Please connect the supplied antennas to their respective connectors on the back of the system
§If wired antennas, place them away from the system, since the aluminum chassis may distort or weaken
the wireless signal.
§Place the antennas away from other wireless receivers (e.g. wireless keyboard and mouse receivers) since
their wireless signals may interfere witheach other and result inwireless lags, hangs, and/or disconnects.
§Keep the receivers clear of obstructions to assure proper wireless performance
NOTE: We recommend to use a wired Ethernet Internet connection rather than a Wi-Fi connection. Wired
connections are simply more reliable, faster, and have lowerlatency for lag free high-end gaming.
Step 5 – Connecting the Peripherals
Devices we offer and recommend:
§Logitech K800 Wireless Illuminated Keyboard
§Logitech G700(S) Wireless Gaming Mouse
§Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard
§Logitech K830 Keyboard/Touchpad
Devices we had issues with and do not recommend:
§Razer Naga Wireless Mouse
§Razer Mamba Wireless Mouse
§Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Wireless Mouse
§Logitech MX5500 Wireless Mouse and Keyboard
§Logitech MX Performance Mouse
§Logitech K750 Wireless Keyboard
§Logitech K820 Keyboard/Touchpad
C. Wireless recommendations
§We have tested and continuously test variousleading wireless miceand keyboards in themarket, and can
at this point only recommend and vouch for a few specific devices. Many devices we tested had issues
withlong wireless distances (up to 15 feet), lags, disconnects, hangs, battery life, interferences , etc.
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A. Firing up your STEIGER DYNAMICS HTPC
1. Switchthe Power Supply switch atthe rear of the system to “I”(on).
2. Press the round Power Button in the front of the system.
3. Your first boot may take a bit longer as usual and the system may turn on and off several times before it
boots into Windows. This is normal. Should you run into any problems or error messages, please refer to
the first page of the quick start guide, the next section of this manual, “Best Practices”, and/or contact
us for help.
B. Windows key
§We usually pre-activate your Windows license during installation, so you do not have to activate your
Windows license when you boot up the system for the first time.
§If Windows ever asks you for your Windows key, you can find it on the sticker at the rear of the system.
C. Microsoft user account
§When we install and configure your HTPC we do so with a local account, without any password.
§We recommend that you change your account type from a local account to a Microsoft account. This will
allow you to experience the full integration of Windows cloud services incl. Microsoft OneDrive, Outlook,
Store Apps. To doso, please follow the steps below:
1. Navigate to “Control Panel” >>> “User Accounts” .
2. Click on “Make changes to my account in PC settings”.
3. Click on “Switch to a Microsoft account” and follow the instructions.
D. Your binder
Your binder (which you have open right now) is a great place to keep important system software and
documentation – we have started you off by including:
§Manual: Follow the “Quick-Start-Guide”, find out about “Best Practices”, and check out your individual
“Manufacturing Log” (LEET).
§Original Windows Disc: For a any scenarios that require to boot from the Windows DVD, like Automatic
Repair or restoring a restore point from boot.
§Other software: Software that may have been providedby the manufacturers of your system’s
components.
Step 6 – Ready to Roll
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II. DIY Builder Guide (1/3)
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A. Remove slider from chassis
1. Unscrew 2 screws on the inside that attach
the slider’s left fan mount to the chassis
2. Unscrew 4 thumb screws on the back side
that attach the slider tothe chassis
3. Carefully slide out the slider from the
chassis’ backside
1. Hardware Assembly (LEET Chassis only)
C. Detach front panel cables
Disconnect and remove the following cables
from the chassis’ interior:
1. USB 2.0 card reader
2. HD audio
3. USB 2.0 front display extension cable
4. Power switch/power LED 4-pin from
power button
5. 2-pin motherboard power switch from
Infrared module
6. 4-pin USB from Infrared module
Please follow this section if you purchased the LEET chassis by itself, i.e. not a fully pre-assembled system. It
is important that you follow this guide step by step since the integration of high-end components may not
be as straight forward as withstandard full tower desktop chassis.
B. Remove drive-cage from chassis
1. Unscrew 3 thumb screws that hold the drive-
cage in place
2. Unscrew 2 screws that attach the drive-cage
to the chassis’ front wall
3. Carefully lift the drive-cage out of the chassis
D. Install HDDs
1. Unscrew 4 thumb screws that fix HDDs
2. Attach rubber screws to HDDs
3. Slide HDDs with rubber screws into the bays
4. Reattach 4 thumb screws
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II. DIY Builder Guide (2/3)
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1. Hardware Assembly (continued, LEET Chassis only)
F. Assemble components on slider
1. Insert I/O plate and mount motherboard
2. Connect front panel cables tomotherboard
(Card Reader, Display, HD Audio, Power SW,
Power LED, IR USB)
3. Connect USB 3.0 extension to motherboard
(optional – use only if your USB 3.0 connector is
located onthe side next to the USB 2.0)
4. Mount CPU
5. Mount side fans and connect fan cables
6. Mount RAM modules
7. Attach SATA cables
8. Mount graphics card(s) and other PCI(-E) cards
9. Mount CPU cooler
E. Install PSU & route power cables through chassis
1. Attach all power cables to PSU before installation
2. Place PSU intochassis withthe air intake facing the
chassis’ interior and screw to chassis
3. Route SATA power cable(s) to HDD(s)
4. Route 24 pinATX cable for motherboard power
5. Route SATA power cable(s) for SSD(s) &Blu-ray
6. Route 4 Pin Molex for LED lights strip power
7. Route 12Pin PCI-E cables for graphics card(s)
G. Reinsert slider into chassis
1. Carefully slide the sliderinto the chassis and pay
close attention to cable placement
2. Reattach the 2 screws onthe insidethat attach
the slider’s left fan mount to the chassis
3. Reattach the 4 thumb screws on the back side
that fix the slider to the chassis
H. Connect following cables step by step
1. USB 2.0 cable to SD card reader – make sure that
the red wire is onthe rightside! (rear view)
2. HD Audio cable to internal front panel connector
3. 4 Pin Power switch/LED cable to power button
4. 2 Pin Power Switch cable from power button to IR
module (optional)
5. 2 Pin Power switch cable from motherboard to IR
(optional)
6. Display USB 2.0 extension cable to display
7. USB 3.0 cable to motherboard connector
8. 24 Pin ATX PSU cable to 24 Pin ATX adapter
9. 3 pin HDD fan cable to motherboard
10. CPU power cable(s) to motherboard
11. PCI-E power cable(s) to graphics cards
12. SATA data cable(s) to HDD(s)
I. Mount drive-cage to chassis
1. Remove factory front bezel from optical drive:
§Connect power cable to drive and open drive
§Disconnect power cable from drive
§Remove bezel and push drive back in
2. Mount optical drive to drive-cage
§Attach Blu-ray drive with 4 screws
§Assure the very front of the Blu-ray driveis
perfectly flush with the front drive-cage mount
3. Mount SSD(s) to SSD cage
§Align SSD cage withBlu-ray drive for ideal SATA
cable placement
§Attach each SSD with4screws
4. Mount drive-cage to chassis
§Carefully place the fully assembled drive-cage
back into the chassis
§Attach drive cage with 2 screws to front wall
§Attach 3 thumb screws
5. Attach aluminum front bezel to Blu-ray drive
6. Connect SATA data and power cables to drives
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II. DIY Builder Guide (3/3)
2. Software Setup (LEET)
NOTE: Please download the latest LEET Monitor front display software version here:
www.steigerdynamics.com/support-downloads.aspx
A. LEET Monitor (recommended)
To utilize the LEET’s built-in 7” front screen best, we recommend to install our LEET Monitor app. It
constantly monitorsand displays system status info onthe LEET’s front screen. Please install the app as
follows:
1. When you first boot up your system after Windows is installed, you should automatically see the
DisplayLink driver Installer prompt pop up. DisplayLink is the USB graphics chipset connecting the front
display to your system.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions andfinish the driver installation
3. You should now see the extended Windows desktop on your frontdisplay
4. Downloadthe latest LEET Monitor front display software version here:
www.steigerdynamics.com/support-downloads.aspx
5. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions
6. When the installation is finished, the front screen software should be seen inthe front display.
NOTE: For more information on how to use and configure your LEET Monitor app please refer to
“III. Best Practices – 2. Software & Apps – A. LEET Monitor” in this document
NOTE: WindowsUpdate will automatically update the DisplayLink driver software periodically. When this
happens, LEET Monitor will be deactivated and the Windows desktop will come back to the front screen. To
fix this, simply uninstall LEET Monitor (you willkeep all your settings) from Control Panel/Programs and
Features, and reinstall the latest version from our website.
C. SD Theme Pack (optional)
To installthe STEIGER DYNAMICS Dark Windows Theme Pack, please follow these steps:
1. Download the theme pack here: www.steigerdynamics.com/support-downloads.aspx
2. Double-click the downloaded file
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III. Best Practices (1/4)
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A. Boot up errors and BIOS settings
§If you receive the boot upmessage “Overclocking failed!” (after the system didn’tshutdown properly)
1. Press F1 to enter BIOS interface
2. Then press F10 to “save and exit”
3. The overclock settings should be restored, and your system should bootregularly now
§Please do notupdate your BIOS unless explicitly directed by us. Depending onyour configuration,your
BIOS is a custom version provided by ASUS exclusively to STEIGER DYNAMICS which allows for a refined
fan control to minimize noise. Moreover, there are many BIOS settings that we fine tune for optimal
system performance and stability. We do not want you to lose those, especially if you have a custom
overclocked and/or RAID system. Please note that a BIOS update will notimprove performance.
§If you nevertheless see the need to update your BIOS or if you experience any problem, please do not
hesitate to contact us before you proceed.
§If you lost your initial BIOS settings, in most cases you can restore them as follows:
1. Turn on your system and immediately keep the “Delete” key pressed until the BIOS interface loads
2. Enter “Advanced Mode” and navigate to “Tool”>>> “ASUS O.C. Profile” >>> “Load from Profile”
3. Type “1”, press “Enter”, and confirm with “Yes”
4. Press F10 to “save and exit”
5. The overclock settings should be restored, and your system should bootregularly now
B. Driver updates
§All important system drivers will be updated automatically through Windows Update. Please do not
attempt to update chipsetand SATA controller drivers onyour own unless explicitly directed by us. We
have installed and thoroughly tested all drivers to ensure optimal performance and stability.
§Graphics card drivers can be updated when prompted by GeForce experience.
C. Windows Defender & Firewall
§Your system comes preinstalled with Windows including Windows Defender and Windows Firewall.
§We highly recommend to keep both solutions always active and up-to-date.
§We activate Windows Updates withthe option “Install updates automatically”.
§We recommend using a good Third-Party Anti-Virus solution
D. Scaling – Increase text and items on your screen
§Depending on the distance, size, and resolution of your TV you may wantto change the size of items.
§To change the size of items onyour screen please follow the steps below:
1.Navigate to“Control Panel” >>> “Display” >>> Change size of items >>> Let me chose scaling levels
2.Set your preferred option – for Full HDTVs we recommend 125-150%. For 4K TVs we recommend 200-
250%. This is dependent on the size of your TV and distance to it. Please try and see what works best.
NOTE: Some apps and games are not optimized for larger scaling and hence may appear blurry or not work
fully. This is normal and a minordownside ofscaling; however, the number of apps that do not support
scaling properly is decreasing. If you experience issues, please deactivate scaling (set to 100%).
E. Sleep Mode & Power Options
The “Sleep Mode” is a great feature that allows you to save money and power but still have your system
ready tospring to lifealmost instantly. We pre-configureevery system withthe followingsettings:
§Turn off the display: “Never” – werecommend “Never”, otherwise sound output viaHDMI will alsostop
as soon as display turns off. Instead, we recommend to change the display offsetting in your TV settings.
§Put the computer to sleep: “Never”– to change this, navigate to “Control Panel” >>> “Power Options”.
RECOMMENDATION: Put your system to sleep rather than shutting it completely down.
1. BIOS, Drivers, and Windows Software & Settings
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III. Best Practices (2/4)
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A. LEET Monitor App (LEET only)
§The LEET™ comes with a system monitoring app - the “LEET Monitor” - which constantly monitors and
displays system status information on the LEET’s front screen.
§Start app: The LEET Monitor app starts automatically with Windows. If forwhatever reason, the app
should not start, or if you closed the app and want to re-launch it, you can start the app from the desktop
shortcut.
§Screens: The LEET Monitor features different screens featuring various informationand functionality.
1. “Clock”: Analog or digital mode as well as colors can be changed in settings.
2. “Logo”: Display the SD logo.Tochange the logo, navigate toC:\Program Files (x86)\LEETMonitor\img ,
backup the original logo.pngfile, and replace it withyour custom 800x480pixel .png file.
3. “System”: See how long your system is up and running and other details like your IP address.
4. “Components 1”:Display details of your LEET’s hardware components.
5. “Components 2”:Display details of your LEET’s hardware components.
6. “Performance”: Monitor system load and temperatures.
7. “Drives”: Display all system partitions/drives and their respective full and remaining capacities.
§Settings: Rightclick on the SD iconinthe bottom rightof your taskbar to open the settings menu.
– Date/Time Modes: Set your preferred date/time mode
– Temperature Unit: Set to Celsius or Fahrenheit
– Auto Mode Screens: Select which screens you like to enable for Auto Mode rotation
– Auto Mode Speed: Set how long each screen should stay in seconds when in Auto Mode rotation
– Change Page Hotkey…: Set your preferred hotkey to skip to next screen
– Auto Mode: If selected, the LEET Monitor rotates through the screens that you activated in“Auto
Mode Screen”
– Static Modes: If you selected “Logo”, “System”, “Components 1”, “Components 2”, “Performance”, or
“Drives”, the LEET Monitor simply displays one static screen without rotation.
B. Logitech Harmony
To controlyour STEIGER DYNAMICS HTPC witha Logitech Harmony(or other) universal remote control
please add the followingprofile inyour remote control software:
Manufacturer: Microsoft >> Model: Windows Media Center
2. Software & Apps
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III. Best Practices (3/4)
3. Backup & Restore
A. Backup your files
§Store your movies/videos, music, office documents and other personal files on the “Storage” partition (D:)
§Depending on your specific HTPC configuration, the “Storage” partition can either be one single HDD, or
two (mirror), three (parity), or four (mirror or parity) HDDs configured as a Windows storage space.
§While mirror and parity configurations are protecting your “Storage” partition against a single HDD failure,
we still recommend to backup your “Storage” partition to external hard drives from time to time.
§We also recommend using cloud sync services like Microsoft OneDrive or Dropbox for important data.
B. Create a restore point
§“System” partition (C:) contains your Windows and program/game installation files.
§Depending on your specific HTPC configuration, the “System” partition can be either one single SSD, or
two SSDs in RAID0 (speed mode), RAID1 (mirror mode), or no-RAID.
§You should in any case, create system restore points from time to time, to be able to fall back to a system
status that is functional, in case of any operating system or software/app problems.
§You can create a system restore point for your “System” partition (C:) as follows:
1. Navigate to “Control Panel” >>> “System” >>> click “ System Protection”. A window should pop now.
2. Click on “Create…” >>> Type in a name for your restore point >>> click “Create”
It should only take afew seconds to create your restore point.
C. Restore your system from a restore point within Windows
§You can restore your “System” partition (C:) to a previous (functional) system state as follows:
1. Navigate to “Control Panel” >>> “System” >>> “System Protection”. A windowwill pop up now.
2. Click on “System Restore…” and then “Next >”. This should display several restore points.
3. Check the box “Show morerestore points”to display even older restore pointsincl. the ones we
created in the manufacturing process ofyour HTPC.
4. To restore the original system state, please select “SD Final”and click“Next >”.
5. Click “Finish”to confirm system restore. The restore can take upto 30 minutes. After the restore your
system should bootup intothe restored functionalsystem stage.
D. Restore, repair, or reload image from boot
§Should your system not boot into Windows anymore or should you not be able to restore a functioning
system state as explained above, try to do the following:
1. Place original Window DVD into your Blu-ray drive.
2. Turn off your system.
3. Turn on your system and immediately keep the “F8” key pressed until the BIOS boot menu loads.
4. Select your Blu-ray drive and press “Enter”.
5. Your system will now boot from the Windows 8 DVD.
6. Click “Next” >>> “Repair your Computer” >>> “Troubleshoot” >>> “Advanced Options”
7. A) If youlike to restore a previous system state, click “System Restore” and follow the instructions.
B) If A) does notsolve your problem, click “Automatic Repair” and followthe instructions.
C) If neither A) nor B) resolve your problem, click on“System Image Recovery“. It willask you to “insert
the final backup DVD”. Insert the “SD System Image” Blu-ray from your folder and click “Retry”. This
willcompletely erase and clean install your System partition (C:). NOTE: All data on C: will belost.
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III. Best Practices (4/4)
B. Custom liquid cooling maintenance
§Standard, pre-sealed CPU liquid cooling solutions are maintenance free!
§If you have a handcrafted custom liquidcoolingsolution, please check and maintain your liquid levels every
12 months. Should your system require a refill, we recommend to bring your system to a certified PC
technician who can help you with this. If you feel confident to do this yourself, please do so according to
the followinginstructions:
1. Turn off and unplug the system
2. Make sure the system stands on an even surface and iseasily accessible
3. Unfasten lid screws and remove chassis lid
4. Place a towel around the fill port (on top of left dual radiator)
to avoid any liquid spilling on components
5. Open reservoir fill port plug with an Allen Key No. 4
6. Slowly top up the reservoir with distilled water using a wash bottle (see Amazon.com)
7. Reattach the fill port plug withthe Allen Key (hand tight + 1/8 of a turn)
Note: Never open the fill portand maintain your liquidloop while the system is turned on!
C. Temperatures
§Maximum temperatures for CPU and GPU are at approx. 100 degrees Celsius; however, your HTPC will
rarely reach temps >80degrees even under full load.
§That being said, today’s processors have automatic shut down mechanisms in case of too high
temperatures to avoid component damages.
4. Hardware
A. Airflow and dust
It is crucial for a your high-performance SD HTPC that its cooling performance is optimal at
any point in time. Therefore, we recommend the following:
§Keep the area around your system as dust free as possible and from time to time inspect
your system’s air in-and outtakes, and fans to make sure they are clear of dust.
§Every six months, turn off andunplug the system, remove the chassis lidand gently blow
out any accumulated dust witha can of compressed air.
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