rebuild order to install drivers questions.

[Snake2715]

Ok,

The last time I built a computer (2002) it was nothing but problems. I want it to be different this time around.

I have an Abit NF7-S and am going to run windows 98.

I am thinking that I should install just the board and Nvidea Graphics card (MX440 64mb 8XAGP for now) no drivers use Windows generics.

Then setup bios correctly.

Then reformat and install Windows 98.

Now this is where I have an idea but want to run it by some of you.

I am thinking of then shutting down and installing the modem. Then its drivers.

Then getting the latest Abit drivers (if indeed they are newer than the version my board came with as I need to check tonight)

At this point should I flash my BIOS or should I see how it performs?

Secondly I am then thinking about using the very latest drives for my video card and downloading them along with all the other drivers for each device I have.

Or is it better to use the provided drivers and tehn upgrade if needed?

Thanks

[ktkendall]

Especially if your going to stay with windows 98, then what you want to do is;
1.- If there are no known problems with your motherboard / BIOS version then don't worry about flashing BIOS

2- Yes just get windows installed with bare essentials first, Vid card, harddrive and cdrom, processor, with heatsink fan, memory, mouse and keyboard, in fact with win98, last time I even went in the BIOS and disabled usb, onboard sound and everything not essential to load windows.

3- Next step after windows is up and running stable with standard vga driver is to load your motherboard drivers, usually on the disk that came with the motherboard. (At this point though you may want to get your drivers online to be sure to get the latest versions, so you could go ahead and do the modem so you can get online and download the latest drivers). Then you want to get graphics drivers and than start adding other devices 1 at a time like sound card and such. Then you can go for windows updates, which you may also want to do earlier in the process also to get all those critical security updates before you do much online.
Yes this can be a bit more tedious way but in the long run it usualy goes better this way and in some cases saves you a whole day of frustration.
Although I would really suggest getting a copy of winxp and not have to concern your self with all this.. It just loads and you basically don't have to do anything other than activate, and do windows updates..

EDIT: My view on your drivers question is to just go get the latest version and just do the drivers for a particular device once. Just one more source of potential problems to load what you have on disk. then try to update..

[glc]

I would strongly advise you to upgrade - the Nforce chipsets and Win98 don't play too nice together.