A lot of motherboard drivers aren't being installed..

[XA04]

I've just installed Windows XP Pro (32 bit), after fitting a SATA HDD.

However, for some extremly strange reason, a lot of the motherboard drivers aren't being found. eg. the ethernet adaptor and such.

The bios settings haven't been changed (apart from sorting SATA out).


I tried downloading the drivers off the website but they still don't work


Mobo is a MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum.


Any help is appreicated ,
Thanks,
Adrian

[XA04]

Just for added detail..

I tried installing an eval copy of Windows XP 64 bit and everything was working dandy.. all drivers etc worked.


On my previous install of Windows XP ( on other harddrive), all these drivers were detected by Windows automatically.

SP2 is slipstreamed into the disc too.

[Curly]

unpack the drivers and do a manual update of the drivers in device manager, see if that works.

Curly

[XA04]

Indeed, it thinks they are the wrong ones..

[XA04]

OK, after spending all afternoon (1pm onwards) today, and most of yesterday.. I've sorted it out.

I just updated the motherboard bios - the drivers still weren't detected by windows but I could update them using the drivers from MSI's website at least.


There is one problem though.. sometimes when I restart the computer.. it gets to the post screen, and where it should be scanning for IDE drives.. it just keeps restarting itself... and the only way to get past it is to turn off the computer for 5 seconds and turn it back on... any ideas on what could be causing this?


Thanks

[Agent]

Sounds like its cold booting - whats your PSU ?

[da_ging]

OK, after spending all afternoon (1pm onwards) today, and most of yesterday.. I've sorted it out.

I just updated the motherboard bios - the drivers still weren't detected by windows but I could update them using the drivers from MSI's website at least.


There is one problem though.. sometimes when I restart the computer.. it gets to the post screen, and where it should be scanning for IDE drives.. it just keeps restarting itself... and the only way to get past it is to turn off the computer for 5 seconds and turn it back on... any ideas on what could be causing this?
Thanks

i had a similar problem with my neo 2 in that it would sometimes restart at the drive scanning bit but mine would only restart the once and then be fine so im not sure why yours gets stuck in a loop (doubt it's psu as i used a 550w enermax with mine) , have you disabled the sata ports that you are not using in the bios and checked all the other options including the hidden ones for wrong settings?

also what sata port is the drive connected to as ports 1 and 2 are not locked and so fudge up if you overclock and have a drive connected to them, you should be connected to ports 3 and 4 the ones closest to the cpu

[XA04]

I haven't had chance to post yet... but I remember when I posted a thread about overclocking my processor somebody saying that ports 1 & 2 were locked or something... so last night I set it to the default clock and I *think* it's been ok now (it kept freezing up during windows too... it's been left on overnight transfering files so it looks like it's ok now).

PSU is a Tagen 480w EasyCon.


Later today I'll have another fiddle with it.. see if I can get the sata on the other ports.

I thought there was only two sata connections on my motherboard . Although in the BIOS it certainly makes it look like there is more... I don't have time to look now but I will tonight.


Cheers

Edit: Just had a quick look in the mobo manual and yes you are right there is 4.

Will I be able to switch it straight over from SATA1 to SATA3? Will it just sort of "plug and play"?

Cheers

[Max Tractor]

3+4(near rear) are locked, swap over should auto detect, if not bios/manual detect/boot order. Also turn off everything in bios not being used, bios ver?

[XA04]

I updated the BIOS to 1.C I believe. (Have the details on my laptop)

I have it connected to SATA1 right now... so if I want to overclock does it need to be on SATA3 or SATA4? but not SATA2?

[da_ging]

yep just stick it on sata 3 and disable 1&2 in the bios and check the boot order is correct and you should be fine

[XA04]

Awsh-hum.

Cheers, will check it out tonight / tomorrow morning.

[Max Tractor]

There is a load of modded bios for the neo 2, also there are hidden settings in the original bios.

Here some tweaks/tips from my neo 2 save folder

BIOS Settings
Hidden options
- Pressing SHIFT+F2 then ALT+F3 unlocks hidden options in Cell menu, and 1 in advanced chipset options.
this is on most bioses, including beta's

Cell Menu
- High Performance Mode: Disabled
- Aggressive timing: Disabled (if memory able to handle, turn this Enabled)
- Dynamic Overclocking: Disabled
- Spread Spectrum: Disabled
- HT Frequency: 3x if FSB higher than 250 / 4x if FSB lower than 250
- Cool'n'Quiet: Disabled
- Adjust AGP Frequency: 66 (if using BIOS 1.2 or newer. Otherwise, use 67)