The Great Reformat ... now what?

[oosyxxx]

I recently tried Windows XP and wasn't satisfied so I reverted to Windows 98.
Issue 1: I need to download a buttload of drivers. This begs the question, "What do I get, and where do I get them?" Here are my specs: 900 mhz T-Bird Athlon, 384 megs of Crucial PC 133 RAM and a GeForce 2 Elsa Gladiac GTS. I already installed the most up-to-date Detonator drivers and I'm downloading the most up-to-date Elsa drivers right now. Note: I already downloaded them with Download Accelerator and got an extraction error so I'm redownloading them with DAP uninstalled (anyone know why I get these extraction errors with Windows 98?) I remember Ictus guiding me to some "4 in 1" or "3 in 1" motherboard drivers. I think they were ATI, but I'm not sure. How do I find out what kind of motherboard I have (I don't know because I'm a dumbass ... and my friend built it for me) and where do I get these drivers?
Issue 2: I need to tweak my bios. My friend who reformatted didn't tweak anything. What do I need to change to get my computer to take advantage of my RAM and graphics card? Another note: I redownloaded the ELSA drivers and I got this message when I doubleclicked the .exe: WinZip Self-Extractor header corrupt. Possible cause: bad disk or file transfer error. Could this be from using Winrar? Time to download Winzip and see if this is the cause.
Issue 3: Fixing the refresh rate. When I right-click on the desktop or anywhere else, the right-click menu comes up slowly. Before, it came up lickety split. Has this to do with the refresh rate or something else? Perhaps I need to "lock" it with a program. I set it to 120 but it didn't do a thing. Should I use Powerstrip? From my experience, it doesn't seem to do anything. That's all for now. I'd immensely appreciate any help I can get. Thank y'all.

 

[oosyxxx]

Bump. I read that a thorough scan disk can fix the extraction error. I will try that now.

 

[Rukee]

here`s were you go for the Elsa drivers.... I just updated mine yesterday.
I have the Gladiac Ultra 64mb.


http://www2.elsa.de/internet/ElsaFileArea.nsf/files-us?OpenView&Start=1&Count=1000&Expand=4.1#4.1


to take advantage of memeory you want to right click my computer...properties.....performance.......
virtual memory....set the min and the max to the same #. this # will be 2 1\2 times memory installed on the MB. Then click file system and tell it to be a network server.
DO THE VIRTUAL MEMORY THING ONLY AFTER A DEFRAG!!!

 

[Rukee]

The best way I found to do a complete scandisk is to restart to DOS and do it there. Then you can see the whole HD while it`s doing it. And it auto fixxes.

 

[oosyxxx]

Thank you for helping, Rukee. I already dl'd the Elsa drivers, but I can't extract the .exe (see previous posts). I'm doing a thorough ScanDisk right now. What does tweaking the virtual memory do? I'm more concerned about maxing out the refresh rate to the point of having instant loading when right clicking, opening IE, etc.

 

[oosyxxx]

Snuck a post in on me. How do I do this from within DOS? I know nothing about DOS, except that I know nothing about DOS. I'm scanning right now but if this doesn't work, I'll try your method. Btw, how do I turn off screensavers? I forgot. I never want my monitor to turn off unless the computer is turned off or I physically turn the monitor off.

 

[Rukee]

Set the refreash rate to auto....I don`t think that`s your problem.
Virtual memory is just telling the computer to use a certain amout of the hard drive for memory as well as the onboard memory. That`s why you need to do a defrag firt.....so the space isn`t spread all over....but it can allow it the space you told it in one spot.
Did you load drivers for the MB??
You should load the MB drivers first before you even do the video card!!!
I think you should have like 3 or 4 diffrent MB drivers. If you know what kind of MB you have go to there web page and get the drivers.

 

[Zlal]

Is XP really worth getting? It's had a lot of bad press

 

[oosyxxx]

I can't wait until OO7Mike tests XP. I wish he were here to help me. Rukee, do you know how I find out what kind of mobo I have? Does ATI sound right?

 

[oosyxxx]

The thorough scan disk didn't work. I still have the same error.

 

[Rukee]

It`s gotta say somewere on the MB what kind it is or a model #.
If you can find a # run it in the search bar at www.pricewatch.com and if you find a listing click on the brand name in the left collum then click the webpage link in the upper left corner. find the drivers at their website.
Both of my puters shows a screen on start up that gives the brand name of the MB. Before the windows screen. If you haven`t loaded MB drivers.....nothing will work right!

 

[digital-warrior]

To turn off screen savers in 98 just right click your desktop anywhere and select "active desktop" then customize my desktop.

To control your monitor settings, go to my computer- control panel- power settings. Set it to "never" turn off monitor.

 

[oosyxxx]

Thank you.

 

[digital-warrior]

Another good way to get drivers is http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/

Thats where I get most of mine...

You can also d/l a program called ZDnet updates that will scan your computer, and give you a list of drivers that you may need.

Sometimes, it will list a few drivers that you dont need, so make sur you read what the driver is for, before d/l'ing and installing it.

 

[oosyxxx]

Thank you again, DigitalW. Unfortunately, I scanned the site you posted and could not find that program. Could you send it to me, or perhaps track it down? I have no sound card drivers so I can't listen to anything right now lol. It would be of great help to me, and there is a bit of a reward in it for you. Mail me at oosyxxx@yahoo.com

 

[Akuma]

you are oh so very fucked

 

[Akuma]

open your pc case and tell us the makes of the parts you're using

 

[lucifix]

KICK IT! KICK THE GODDAMN THING!!!!!!!!!

 

[digital-warrior]

http://updates.cnet.com/updates/up/setup/setup.html?tag=st.cu.up_fd.txt.up_nu

I think this link will take you to the setup page.

It will d/l the program and take you back to their website, select software updates, then it scans your comp.


You dont hafta sign up for any of the newsletters, It's all spam mail.

 

[Rukee]

Last I talk to 006 last night...he haddent loaded any MB drivers.....it won`t work for crap till you get the MB drivers loaded. That should be the first thing to load after windows!!!
Pplz....if your gunna reformatt....have all the drivers you need on CD BEFORE you reformatt!!
Motherboard drivers....
Video drivers....
sound card drivers.....
modem drivers.....
netcard drivers....


put them all on one CD!!!!