Loading Win XP Pro

[vagabond]

Not a new subject I know.

When I want to clean install XP ie. w/out upgrading from an old OS how do I do this? Do I have to set my BIOS to boot from CD-ROM from the get go and how am I suppose to get the
installer to boot from the DOS prompt. My understanding is XP can boot from a DOS prompt. I've never done it this way before. Should I run fdisk first?

Thanks for the help!


<b><font color=blue>veni,vidi, and ended up in THGC<font color=blue></b>

 

[psykoikonov]

Just plop that XP disk in and boot from CD. Make sure to read ALL options on the way in. The first prompt you'll have to hit esc to format/partition drives. It is very simple if done properly. If not you'll be doing it again. All you have to do is follow instructions.

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=421&s=205efc501496823a64ba7fbd37152ff2" target="_new">Psyko's Rig</A>

 

[vagabond]

Thanks psykoikonov,

That was a fast answer! This should work even if I don't have an OS in the hard disk?


<b><font color=blue>veni,vidi, and ended up in THGC<font color=blue></b>

 

[vagabond]

How do you like the SiS 745 chipset? I've got the same on the ECS K7S5A and I haven't had problems with it like some others have had. This board doesn't even have a version number so it must've been one of the first ones to come out on the market. I did flash the BIOS 'cause I read somewhere that if I want to upgrade to Athlon XP that my BIOS will not recognize the processor. It was a clean flash no problems. I read the instructions to a T.

THX,
<font color=blue><b>VAGABOND</b></font color=blue>

<b><font color=blue>veni,vidi, and ended up in THGC<font color=blue></b>

 

[jlanka]

yes because you're booting off the CD, it has nothing to do with the hard disk.

<i>It's always the one thing you never suspected.</i>

 

[vagabond]

thx JLANKA for the reassurance.



<b><font color=blue>veni,vidi, and ended up in THGC<font color=blue></b>

 

[psykoikonov]

Well at first my sys always crashed after a while of playing MOHAA (sometimes few minutes, sometimes few hours). I updtaed to bios 1.004 and that fixed it (I think the problem was a voltage regulation issue), can't say for sure it was that as I updated all my drivers as well. I flashed to 1005 and am using SiS hdd miniport driver 2.03 and it works REALLY well. Now it's rock solid playing all the latest games, playing tunes in musicmatch and firewall(ZAPro) and antivirus(PCCillin ver.10). Unfortunately it lacks a south bridge, which I think is a serious hinderance. My bios(A7S333) has no voltage adjust, can't lock the PCI buses, and is VERY picky on type of RAM and timings. Didn't realize when I bought it doesn't have what it tkes to OC properly. In short I'm getting rid of it and RAM for an Epox 8RDA+ and Corsair XMS3500 256MB X 2. Which has alot of potential. I bought this board to entry level OC, for cheap $. I did alright for my first try but am ready to go faster. This chipset is really good if ya don't want to OC much or at all.


<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=421&s=205efc501496823a64ba7fbd37152ff2" target="_new">Psyko's Rig</A>

 

[vagabond]

Actually the Southbridge is incorporated in the Northbridge.

http://www6.tomshardware.com/mainboard/20010611/sis-01.html



<b><font color=blue>veni,vidi, and ended up in THGC<font color=blue></b>

 

[psykoikonov]

The "southbridges"

MuTIOLR Delivering 1.2GB/s Bandwidth
- Dedicated High-Speed Data Paths Connecting North-Bridge and Each South-Bridge Masters Including IDE, USB, Audio, and Modem Controllers
- Concurrent External PCI Devices and Embedded Devices Transactions.

So ya it has a "southbridge" ... 4 of them.

<A HREF="http://www.sis.com/products/chipsets/oa/socketa/745.htm" target="_new">link</A>

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=421&s=205efc501496823a64ba7fbd37152ff2" target="_new">Psyko's Rig</A>

 

[vagabond]

Not bad, huh?

I'm happy with it!

<b><font color=blue>veni,vidi, and ended up in THGC<font color=blue></b>