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Thread: Correct order for doing things

  1. #1
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    • stroberaver's system
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    Correct order for doing things

    For when my parts arrive for my new Core2Duo build, I'm wondering what the best order to install everything is - as I've always built AMD rigs in the past.

    My current setup process, on an Athlon and nForce2 mobo, would usually go something like this:

    - Hook up the one hard drive I want to boot from (simplifies disk management during the install!)
    - install WinXP SP2
    - install nForce motherboard drivers (provides internet access via LAN port) from nVidia
    - get all the Windows updates
    - install any other device drivers, including graphics card
    - install DirectX
    - reconnect all drives and sort out drive letters, swap files, etc
    - install & configure Mozilla & Thunderbird
    - connect and map my NAS box
    - install anti virus and firewalls
    - install MS Office, then get updates
    - everything else

    Is it recommended to follow the same process for an Intel setup (Abit IP35 Pro, Core2Duo, 8800GT)? Would it make any difference if I installed drivers for everything before collecting the Windows updates?

    Is it the same deal for Intel chipsets as it is with nVidia nForce - in that the drivers supplied on cd with the mobo are unique to that board but may be out of date, and you're better off grabbing the latest universal drivers from nVidia? I want to make a cd with all the latest drivers that I need before I start to cannibalise this computer to build the new one.

    Thanks for the help.

  2. #2
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    Re: Correct order for doing things

    CPU chipsets - it makes no difference. Personally I get it all working first with drivers etc, then put the kettle on and leave it chuntering while it downloads a few hundred megabytes of updates.
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  3. #3
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    • stroberaver's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Intel E8400
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800
      • Storage:
      • 1.6 TB combined between PC and NAS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GeForce 8800GT 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Tagan T480-U01
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VP-171S
      • Internet:
      • Cable broadband 10meg

    Re: Correct order for doing things

    Thanks. Since it makes no difference, doing it your way sounds far preferable.

    I'm a bit n00b though when it comes to Intel chipsets. Do Intel provide universal drivers for the P35 chipset, in the same way that nVidia provide universal drivers for nForce chipsets? I had a look at Intel's download centre but couldn't see anything obviously labelled as such - so I don't know whether to stick with chipset/mobo drivers from Abit or get them from Intel.

    (I also remember recently seeing a similar topic about someone needing help collecting the latest drivers for everything they need before a Windows install, and someone replied with a handy list & links of all the essential stuff, but I can't for the life of me find it again! )
    Last edited by stroberaver; 03-02-2008 at 12:35 PM.

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    Re: Correct order for doing things

    You normally get any specific drivers with the mobo - however the OS will usually contain a minimal subset to get the system up and running, at which point you can load the specific ones - particularly true for graphics cards. Otherwise there are options during the install process to load specific drivers if they are needed. (A classic case was with windows XP a couple of years ago, when specific drivers for SATA drives had to loaded during installation to allow the Windows installers to write to the SATA disks)
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  5. #5
    Senior Member
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    • stroberaver's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Intel E8400
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800
      • Storage:
      • 1.6 TB combined between PC and NAS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GeForce 8800GT 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Tagan T480-U01
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VP-171S
      • Internet:
      • Cable broadband 10meg

    Re: Correct order for doing things

    Cheers - yes I know of the need to have SATA/RAID drivers on a floppy when installing WinXP.

    I've been going through Abit's list of driver downloads for the IP35 Pro and trying to compare them to the offerings from each individual manufacturer (i.e. Intel, JMicron, etc). It's a real pain because Intel seem to have renamed everything for no real reason, but I think I'm getting there.

    I'm finding Intel's instructions, readmes and release notes to be quite unhelpful. They have a 5MB download for the Matrix Storage Manager, the readme for which spends more time about how to create the drivers on a floppy using the other, much smaller download. It talks about finding out whether your system is in RAID or AHCI mode, including step-by-step instructions for complete beginners, but fails to ever describe what each mode means or how it affects functionality. Argh.

    (EDIT) Ahh, it's all beginnnig to make much more sense now. I think I've got all the latest files I need. As usual, those offered on the mobo manufacturer's website are out of date. Wonder how out of date the cd that comes with the mobo will be.
    Last edited by stroberaver; 03-02-2008 at 03:50 PM.

  6. #6
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    Re: Correct order for doing things

    Intergrate SP2 and others bits with nLite.

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