Installing MOBO and processor

[MikeHelvey]

I have a gigabite and athlon based system that has been driving me nuts. I've reinstalled Win 98 and drivers repeatedly, even taken it to a local shop where they did the same without any visable progress. I've tested the hard drive and memory. Now I've decided to replace the mainboard and processor.

I am putting a Thunderbird 800 and KT7. Now I've seen advice for how to install a new system, but can't remember the recomended order (such as installing the OS and video dirver, then adding cds, then sound card. . . one piece at a time instead of just loading it all at once).

I am trying to get the stabelest system possible (I know, give up and go to win 2000!).

Here's what I have:

• Floppy & Hard Drive (Maxtor)
  Plextor CDRW
  IO Magic CD
  Sound Blaster Live (PCI)
  Modem Blaster K56 Flex (ISA)
  ATI All-In-Wonder Pro (PCI)
  3 Comm wireless netwark card (PCI)
  Sidewinder Pro (USB)
  HP Deskjet printer (USB)
  No-name scanner (Parellel port)

Any suggestions?

 

[StickHead]

What I do is after the fresh OS install I install the video card first, then my network card as I usually have drivers and stuff on my server. Then the rest of my hardware(sound, modem, other i/o cards in no order). I always install all of the hardware before any software. Then I install all my games and what not. Then I install DirectX over the top of every thing so I don't have 12 different versions on at once. Another tip is to install your OS with just your video card and NO other cards on the motherboard. No connected USB devices or any thing else. Install this after your OS is loaded. Hope this helps.

PS: I have had a good amount of success with this method.

 

[reitz]

I pretty much agree with StickHead.

When I do a fresh install, I take everything out but the video card. I install everything in this order:

OS
Video Card (but leave directX till the end)
IE5.01 (in my experience, it seems to get along with everything better if I put it in first)
Sound card
Network card
Modem
All other apps
DirectX
Anti-virus
USB devices

I really don't know how necessary that is, but on three different machines, it has seemed to make a real difference in stability.