UPGRADE QUESTION!

[2336]

Okay folks, here's the situation. I'm getting ready to do an upgrade on a friend's computer. He's running a decrepit old AT MoBo with a Pentium 120, 1.2GB HDD that's just about full and 48MB of SIMMs. The upgrade will conisist of an FIC Va-503+ MoBo with a K6-2 400Mhz, adding an additional HDD(4.3GB) and switching to 128MB PC100. I have no experience with AT MoBos and was wondering if there might be some weird stuff to anticipate. Does anyone see any problems with this procedure - yank the old MoBo, mount the new one, mount the additional HDD, remount the PCI/ISA cards back close to their old locations. Power-up system and check BIOS, load VIA 4in1 drivers, restart and go. Since I'm not changing the OS, and the old 1.2GB HDD will still be the "C" drive (just a lot of junk will be moved to the 4.3GB HDD). I'd like to upgrade him to Win98 but he doesn't have the driver disks for all of his add-ons and I have Murphy's luck. He's running Win95b, if I copy all of his current drivers and settings, load Win98 then re-load those drivers should that work? I'm real hesitant because he just recently got cable (Roadrunner) and I don't know Jack%&# about setting those up. Any suggestion, advice, or comments would be appreciated! TIA!

 

[Dan]

A few thoughts:

1. The 503+ is a great mobo but it can be a little tricky to set up because the jumper settings can be confusing. I've worked with a few of them though so PM me or e-mail me if you get in a jam.

2. I'd like to see the new 4.3GB drive ultimately as the master. It involves a few extra steps but here's what I recommend. Copy everything from his old drive to the new one with Ghost and then install the new drive as a standalone. Set the old drive aside for the time being. If Murphey's Law hits you big time you'll still have all your friend's data on the old drive.

3. After everything is running smooth on the new drive upgrade 95B to 98SE. That won't effect the Roadrunner settings or drivers.

4. When you're satisfied with the upgrade and the new system's performance, rejumper the standalone HDD to be a primary master and install the old 1.2GB HDD as a primary slave. Reformat the slave to wipe it clean.

Good luck!

 

[jmorrell]

You shouldn't have any major problems, but I suggest NOT connecting the second hard drive until after everything else has been installed. This is just in case there are any problems you can rule out the second hard drive as the cause. Install the new motherboard and all the original cards. Windows should detect the new motherboard and load most of the motherboard drivers it needs. Then install the 4 in 1 drivers. Make sure you install the VIA busmastering driver (part of the 4 in 1) as Windows 95 may not have native busmastering support. After rebooting, Windows may find some additional hardware related to the motherboard and install it. All the previously installed drivers for his other hardware should be intact and work just fine. Then, after everything is working, install the second hard drive.

I don't suggest copying his old drivers and loading Windows 98. You're bound to miss something that only a driver install program can do (i.e. registry entries). If you can get updated drivers for all his hardware from the net (www.windrivers.com is a good source), then a Windows 98 install may be in order.

 

[2336]

Dan, you've got PM! thanks bro!

 

[SemperFi]

I would suggest a clean install of 98. When 98 came out I did a upgrade and did a clean install shortly there after. Clean install was much less problematic.

As far as road runner goes you need tcp/ip protocol installed. Select obtain ip and dns automaticlly. I am using Road Runner when they first hooked me up they put on their software for logging onto their network. They have since upgraded and I don't need it. I have uninstalled it.

I have called rr tech support during the local upgrade, and they seem very knowledgeable and helpful. If you have any problems