Yikes! Did I blow it?

[showhost]

Hi all...

It appears I broke a fundamental ?rule? when I installed a new hard drive and OS (98SE) on my Dell Dimension 4100 by not installing the Chipset Software Installation Utility (INF Utility) and updating the 815E chipset drivers before installing my other hardware and drivers and software programs. I am now considering starting over from scratch and reinstalling OS (any need to reformat and partition, too?)

Question: If I do this, do I need to remove/disconnect all hardware first (CD-ROM, sound card, modem, printer, NIC card) so that the OS doesn?t recognize them and start installing generic drivers before I can update the chipset drivers? And when/how in the procedure do I install OS updates from Microsoft if I can?t have my NIC card installed before updating chipsets.

Also, since I switched from WinME to Win98SE (don?t ask!), will I find all the drivers I need for the new OS on the Dell Resource CD (since that CD came with an WinME system) or should I get the various drivers individually from Dell, Intel, and other manufacturer?s websites?

I guess my new procedure would be this(?) :

Disconnect/remove all hardware

Reinstall OS

Install INF Utility

Install Intel Application Accelerator (or ATA Storage Driver??)

Install NIC card and get online

Download and install Win 98 updates

Install Rage Graphics Card (and current driver)

Install CD-ROM (and driver)

Install printer, modem, sound card (and their drivers)

Install various software programs and associated files (My Documents, etc)



Is this a correct approach or am I off base here?

Thanks for any input...

showhost

 

[dawks]

Sounds like a little bit of over kill, but it should work fine that way.

Why not just install the Intel Chipset drivers now? It shouldnt really hurt anything.

 

[bendixG15]

My notes have this..............

Intel web site recommended for their P3 mobo as of March 2005....

Rules for a proper clean install
1- Install Operating System (Windows XXX)
2- Install OS service Paks, if any
3- Install Intel chipset INF utility program "infinst_enu.exe"
1.5 mb, version 6.3.0.1007 dated 12/16/2004
4- Install Microsoft DirectX video files
5- Install Intel Application Accelerator file is "iaa11enu_exe"
for all OS, v 1.1.2053 dated 10/9/2001 1912 kb
6- Install other Drivers

 

[Fern]

I think I'd just try to install the chipset drivers and see how it worked b4 re-doing everything.

 

[imported_Phil]

Just install the drivers. There's no reason to reformat, or to follow an elaborate reinstallation plan.
I've always installed my stuff in the order that it comes into my head. Always worked fine for me.

 

[scottman]

The "fundemental rule" that you broke is installing a 7+ year old OS...