Upgrade Installation Problems - help!

[ellert]

I just purchased a new mobo/cpu/memory bundle and a new video card (see specs below). I installed the video card on my old system just to make sure it worked okay and to configure it. When I installed the new mobo combo with the video card, Windows 98 (on my hard drive I brought over from my old system) successfully recognized the new hardware and installed everything properly.

I thought I was happily up and running until I went to install my modem PCI card. When I turned the computer on to have the system auto-detect the new hardware, I noticed that my Windowns display (desktop) had reverted back to poor color and resolution. Going to the System Properties under the Control Panel, I noticed that there was almost NOTHING listed! All of my drivers for the new hardware (video, AGP, RAID, etc.) were gone from the System Properties. I even tried to bring up the video card properties screen and the system did nothing...like it wasn't even there.

To keep it short, I can't reload my video drivers, for some reason, and it won't detect my modem (or any PCI card for that matter). Also, none of my previous drivers for the new mobo will load into the system. Is this a Win98 problem or what? I am so frustrated, I nearly through my computer out the window! I'm trying to avoid doing a total Windows reload and having to install ALL of my programs again! Please help! Thanks in advance!

If this helps, here was my old system:
Gigabyte GA-5AA ALi Aladdin V
AMD K6-3D 350MHz
64 MB PC100
Creative Labs 16MB Blaster Banshee (AGP)
Sound Blaster 16-bit AWE64 (ISA)
Altec Lansing ACS 45.2
44x CDROM
56.6 Kbps Rockwell (ISA)

------------------
Current set-up:
Abit KR7A-RAID
AMD Athlon 1133MHz (266)
256 MB PC2100
Gainward GeForce Ti500/XP Golden Sample
Sound - TBD
Altec Lansing ACS 45.2
44x CDROM
Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56K (v.92)

[blt]

No way to avoid it. You need to do a clean install of Windows. The problem is your hard drive has all the drivers and such for your old system. Best remedy is to reformat and reinstall everything.

[This message has been edited by blt (edited January 21, 2002).]

[ellert]

Thanks for the reply blt, but why did my system (w/ new mobo, et al.) load perfectly fine before I tried to install the modem? I was able to load all drivers and utilities for the video card and mobo.

------------------
Current set-up:
Abit KR7A-RAID
AMD Athlon 1133MHz (266)
256 MB PC2100
Gainward GeForce Ti500/XP Golden Sample
Sound - TBD
Altec Lansing ACS 45.2
44x CDROM
Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56K (v.92)

[mefisto3]

You will never know with windows. But my guess is, that finally some things got corrupted and there is no other way but to reinstall.

You should always reinstall OS when u build a new system. If u keep adding drivers, changing hardware etc, something eventually gets screwed up. Just make sure u back up ur data on regular basis. Or get another HD for ur data only.

[Spineshank]

I cant believe you even tried that. Its like suicide almost

------------------
Black Hydraulic Case
ECS K7S5A
Amd Athlon 1.4Ghz
256mb PC2100 DDR
30 Gig 7200 RPM Western Digital
Elsa Gladiac Geforce 2 GTS
SoundBlaster Live Value!
Zoom 56k V.92
Hitatchi 12x DVD ROM
Yamaha 8x4x24x CDRW
Altec Lansing ACS-54
Logitech Optical Wheelman Mouse
19" MAG 986FS
Windows XP Pro

[blt]

Originally posted by ellert:
Thanks for the reply blt, but why did my system (w/ new mobo, et al.) load perfectly fine before I tried to install the modem? I was able to load all drivers and utilities for the video card and mobo.

You were just lucky

Switching mainboards without reinstalling the OS usually results in tons errors if the system will even POST. Only time it might work is if the boards are near 100% identical, assuming you don't swap other components as well.

[gkline]

NEVER install a new motherboard with an OS system setup for another motherboard. That is an accident waiting to happen. Relax, reinstall the old system, back up all the data files you will need, assemble all of the programs you will need to install, format the HD then reassemble the new system. Good luck!

[DOCDAVID]

Originally posted by ellert:
I just purchased a new mobo/cpu/memory bundle and a new video card (see specs below). I installed the video card on my old system just to make sure it worked okay and to configure it. When I installed the new mobo combo with the video card, Windows 98 (on my hard drive I brought over from my old system) successfully recognized the new hardware and installed everything properly.

I thought I was happily up and running until I went to install my modem PCI card. When I turned the computer on to have the system auto-detect the new hardware, I noticed that my Windowns display (desktop) had reverted back to poor color and resolution. Going to the System Properties under the Control Panel, I noticed that there was almost NOTHING listed! All of my drivers for the new hardware (video, AGP, RAID, etc.) were gone from the System Properties. I even tried to bring up the video card properties screen and the system did nothing...like it wasn't even there.

To keep it short, I can't reload my video drivers, for some reason, and it won't detect my modem (or any PCI card for that matter). Also, none of my previous drivers for the new mobo will load into the system. Is this a Win98 problem or what? I am so frustrated, I nearly through my computer out the window! I'm trying to avoid doing a total Windows reload and having to install ALL of my programs again! Please help! Thanks in advance!

If this helps, here was my old system:
Gigabyte GA-5AA ALi Aladdin V
AMD K6-3D 350MHz
64 MB PC100
Creative Labs 16MB Blaster Banshee (AGP)
Sound Blaster 16-bit AWE64 (ISA)
Altec Lansing ACS 45.2
44x CDROM
56.6 Kbps Rockwell (ISA)

What happens if you remove the modem PCI card?


------------------
FIC AZ11EA
T'bird 1.0 @ 1.0
384 MB Crucial PC133
IBM 40Gb 60GXP 7200RPM
GeForce2 MX-200
Ensoniq AudioPCI
52X CD_ROM
Kingston EtherRxKNE111TX
Win2000
-------------------------
Why is the ocean so close to the shore?

[ellert]

Thanks for the help...er...awakening. I swallowed my pride (that is kicked myself in the a$$) and went ahead with the OS reload. Everything loaded fine and worked great. When I got to installing the modem card again, I put it in the last PCI slot (slot #6), but it still wouldn't auto-detect. So, I moved the card up one slot to PCI5 and it worked fine. I guess there's some sort of sharing issues with PCI6, but I couldn't find it in the mobo manual. Oh well. Everything's working fine now. I just hope my new sound card installs without a hitch.

------------------
Current set-up:
Abit KR7A-RAID
AMD Athlon 1133MHz (266)
256 MB PC2100
Gainward GeForce Ti500/XP Golden Sample
Sound - TBD
Altec Lansing ACS 45.2
44x CDROM
Creative Labs Modem Blaster 56K (v.92)

[blt]

Glad it's working

If neccessary, you should be able to manually assign IRQ's in the BIOS. Should be a section called "PCI Configuration" or something similar. Check the board manual for instructions.

If you get a SBLive card, you may have to reassign some IRQ's. The SB16 Emulation will take IRQ5 and doesn't like sharing. You can disable the SB16 Emulation if not running DOS games or apps.