Lockups - Duplicate Devices in Device Manager

[Timmers]

I'm showing like 6 duplicate hard drives and controllers in Device Manager in Safe Mode (Win98). Wonder if this can be cause of mysterious lockups and loss of system resources, and if I delete all will Windows reinstall automatically. Running an Abit KT7A with a Duron 600@834.

 

[rimshaker]

Cleaning up after duplicate entries in safe mode really helps if you're having problems. I ran into this a while back. Otherwise, if you're definitely NOT having problems, leave it alone. If you have to delete devices, start with the bottom and work your way up. Don't delete ALL of them!! Leave the 1st one in place.

 

[Timmers]

The drives can be deleted without problem. It's the controllers are a problem, however. You can't delete from the bottom up because you get message they're part of a "mulit-function device" and you're required to delete the parent first. I counted: three primary IDE controllers, three secondary and two VIA. UGH! Would you delete the primary (first one) and then the rest?