How to save win2k installation when changing mobos?

[Booty]

Had an ECS K7S5A...stopped booting. RMA'd it for an Epox 8KHA+. Since I couldn't get into Win2k w/ the ECS, I couldn't go and remove all the drivers from the ECS before putting in the new board (which I've read on here is a way to not have to totally reformat/reinstall...removing all hardware from Device Manager that is). So I went ahead and installed the Epox, which worked flawlessly with the same exact configuration the ECS was choking on, and I'm getting a stop error (0x0000007B I believe) from Win2k, which is related to an inaccessible boot device. I'm assuming this is because it's looking for the SiS controllers, not the VIA ones...my question is how can I switch drivers so that I can at least get into windows and delete all the current drivers and start over? This is actually a computer for my aunt and I'd rather not have to reinstall all her software if possible since it took about 7 hours to do the first time around, not to mention that she's customized everything since then...

Suggestions on how to get this thing up and going again without a reformat/reinstall would be great...I've run a chkdsk, etc...everything's fine on the system as far as I can tell.

 

[Booty]

bump...please give me some input...gotta have this wrapped up by Saturday, preferably by tommorow night though....

 

[Blain]

I've always read & done > New MB = fresh format & install.

Sorry

 

[Alex]

thats what i would do but if ya have important stuff, cant backup or just dont wanna go thru the hassle id try this:

get via's latest 4in1 drivers for your mobo... like goto their webpage and get everyingle driver and bios applicable and install them all (assuming ya can boot in the first place to do this).

if that doesnt work then looks like a format to me

 

[gsaldivar]

bite the bullet and reinstall now...

...or do it your way and reinstall later.

either way, 90%+ chance you will need to reinstall.

 

[obenton]

I've done it a few times with no problems, and always with HD on standard IDE33 controller. You can always later install the drivers, if you should absolutely need them, at the beginning of a repair install.

 

[OpalFrost98GT]

Install win2k on a different hard drive ..you should then be able to access the data on the old drive.
Can you boot into Safe MOde at all? If so go in and delete the IDE controllers in device manager.

 

[Jiggz]

I've had exactly the same problem before and the thing that fix it without re-installing is to repair the installation. Boot using the W2K CD and then continue on like you're installing. When the option shows up that there is a previous w2k installed it'll give you the option of either repairing it or deleting it. Choose repair. That'll fix you're problem. Make sure the bios on the new mobo is set at default setting to start with. My mob is an ECS K7S5A and I found the problem of not being able to boot to stem from the bios. When the modem option in the bios is set to disable for some reasons W2K cannot see the boot sector or even the HDD!

 

[Booty]

ok, some clarification -

I can't boot into anything...normal, safe mode, etc...every option under the boot menu (F8) gives me the same error. Also, this motherboard has no additional IDE controllers...no onboard RAID, etc. So I'm just booting off the primary IDE controller.

I have tried doing a repair installation, but to no avail. Part of the problem might be (not sure on this) that I have win2k SP1 here, and I think the copy she had installed was SP2.

I figured I'd probably have to format and reinstall...just really, really didn't want to. If anyone else has some last minute suggestions on what I could do that'd be great...

Thanks for your opinions guys (and girls?)

 

[Booty]

Oh, also, I've been trying to load additional drivers when I boot from the 2k cd...using F6...but for one it's only letting me add the drivers from a floppy, so I don't know which files from the VIA 4in1's to copy to the floppy, or if there's even enough room to do it like that.

Is there anyway for me to boot to a command prompt and get rid of the ECS/SiS drivers? I mean, when you first install 2k you don't have the VIA's installed...so there's gotta be some driver that allows the system to function inbetween then and having the 4in1's installed...how can I get the system to use that driver?

 

[jm0ris0n]

There is a way to not reformat!!!

This isn't a complete "everythings there" deal, but it helps. Backup your documents and settings folder under your c: drive. This stores all your user settings, ie everything, outlook prefs...start bar, EVERYTHING. Then reinstall 2k to same directory as before. NOTE: THIS WILL DELETE ALL W2K DIR FILES but it'll reinstall them with the ones on the install disk. This gives you 99.99% fresh install. You'll then start crapping cause it looks like everything is exactly the same as a fresh install. Reinstall your graphic apps now (corel...whatever) then your office suites then UPGRADE everything to how it was patched before. If you had sp2 w/ ie 6 update then grab sp2 and ie 6 update. Do this for all your office apps as well. Now after this is done and all devices are correctly configured and loaded (ie you installed the drivers, everything is great) create a different admin login (call it patrick, simon, whatever you want, but make sure you give it admin privileges). Now log into windows on that login name and make sure you can view all files and replace each dir in the documents and settings folder with the one you backed up previously (note: the names might be changed slightly, but just go with it). Voialla!!! all dirs will still remain intact, but remember you have a fresh registry no so some programs might need a reinstall. All outlook and mail files are there, all desktop configuration is the same, everything!!!


Enjoy,

JIM!

 

[Booty]

thanks for tryin' to help jim...I've got that under control though. The main reason to do this is to *not* have to reinstall any software because, quite frankly, there's alot of it. However, if I have to do it I will. I was really hoping there'd be some way to ditch the drivers previously installed so that it just used some generic default ones, then I could install the VIA crap and be on my way...is this possible?

 

[OpalFrost98GT]

Maybe the recovery console can help you disable that driver....read about it here Recovery Console

 

[Booty]

i'm trying the recovery console, but it doesn't seem to be working...I can't locate the problem. There's 'ATAPI', which says it's the standard IDE controller, but I get the same error whether I enable or disable it. I don't see an SIS specific IDE driver...just AGP and NIC ones. Argh!

This really doesn't seem like it should be that hard to do...and if even if it is hard, it shouldn't be impossible...

 

[Booty]

Yet another question...when I hit F6 to install a 3rd party driver when I boot from the 2k disk, and I try to make a floppy with the VIA busmaster drivers on it, I get an error saying I'm missing oemsetup.txt, which obviously isn't there...why is this file necessary? Is it possible to make one?

I actually really shouldn't even bother though...how would you be expected to set up a VIA-based board in 2k without it working without doing all of this? Surely they don't expect you to go through this just to boot from the onboard controllers.

I have a feeling people are just ignoring this thread hoping I'll give up and reformat...I don't blame 'em. I just always think of that as a last resort...it's interesting to work on things like this to see how the OS works (or doesn't work). If anyone has any suggestions, please, PLEASE post 'em...I'm going to just format and reinstall in 3 hours if I don't have it figured out by then

 

[Ark]

You need sysprep.exe utility from W2K CD: look in for Deployment Tools CAB in Support folder. Older CDs had v1.0, you may have to download v 1.1 from MS.
I am not sure if you can run it from DOS prompt, can you boot in Safe Mode?
This will rescan all hardware during next boot.
WinXP has much better v2.0, but I am not sure if it work with W2K.
Look here

 

[jm0ris0n]

I'll pay-pal you $2 USD if you can get it to work w/o reinstalling the os .

 

[gsaldivar]

LOL - that's cold jm0ris0n