ECS K7S5A - Win ME

[ian.cropper]

Has anyone managed to load Windows ME using this board. Every time I try it stalls half way through

[gtr]

What's your cpu. Read my posting on this board to get info. I couldn't get win2k to install until i set the bios to 100/133 or 100/100 setting. My chip is 1.4ghz 266fsb but it runs fine at 100/133 setting which i'm getting a slower speed 1050mhz. Try that if your chip is the same as mind.

Hope this helps.

[ian.cropper]

Athlon 1Ghz. Using 133 memory not DDR. MBoard set at 100/133.

[RobRich]

Set these BIOS options, then try loading a freah install again:

ACPI: Disable
Power Management: Disable
PnP OS: Disable

I use the above settings for both Me and 2k. BTW, I've loaded WinME multiple times to my K7S5A with both DDR and SD-RAM with no probs to note.

Robert Richmond

[ian.cropper]

Rob.
Sorry but have you an answer to my earlier point? I want to put a complete working ME system on this MBoard. I've done this type of thing before by simply plugging in a working fully loaded drive. Windows would then sort out the new board specific drivers etc required.
Thanks again

[RobRich]

That is something you definitely do not want to try, unless you are transfering the drive from a system featuring a similar SIS735 chipset m/b. Trying to transfer Win9x/Me across chipsets generally leads to more problems than can be resolved, thus forcing you into a re-install situation anyway.

Robert Richmond

[Rocketmech]

IAN.CROPPER>

Seems I remember at tip for putting your old HD w/WINDOWS into a new system without reformatting is to first delete the registry key H_KEY LOCAL MACHINE/ENUM. Hmmm.... a little Google finds these: http://www.overclockers.com/tips173/index02.asp , http://www.stanford.edu/~filipi/Reinstallation_(Enum).txt
I'm sure you can find more.

[ian.cropper]

Rob
Can these options be enabled once you've loaded ME.
Also I tried to start up a Norton Ghost disk cloned from elsewhere without success. Any suggestions?

[RobRich]

Possibly, but try re-enalbing one at a time after install.

However, unless you have a specific need for these options, then I recommend to leave them disabled. None of these options will affect perforamance.

Robert Richmond

[ian.cropper]

Rob
Thanks. One last point, which version of the BIOS are you on.

[RobRich]

I am currently using a media release BIOS, though a newer BIOS is available from this link:
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum5/HTML/007370.html

Good Luck,
Robert Richmond

[ian.cropper]

Great! Many thanks. I'll post a note as to how I go on.

[ian.cropper]

Rob
Loaded a clean winME setup as you suggested - it went a dream.

I couldn't then resist doing the Registry hack suggested by Rocketmec - thanks. I deleted the "Enum" folder under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on the disk (copy) I wanted to install, originally from a Gigabyte 7ZX board. Me loaded all the drivers correctly and the system booted up fine. The only problem I seem to have is that I can't get the on-board sound working at all. It's enabled in the BIOS and Device manager says it's there, but I can't locate the device under "Multimedia and Sounds".

I know you'll say "I told you so", but can you help?

[This message has been edited by ian.cropper (edited 08-28-2001).]

[Andy #2]

Rob:
So, to clarify, you are using this board without PnP?

I can't install 2000 without doing the "F7" disable ACPI hack at the startup of win2k setup (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q256/8/41.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=acpi%20stop&rnk=3&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WIN2000)

So, you can't use any PnP features of the motherboard? Could you please elaborate on this? I just bought the board and I'm actually getting in contact with the MFR, thinking it's a defect. I'd much rather keep it, as it's a pain in the **** to RMA anything :-).

I appreciate your response. I know I'm new here, but I hope you can help me out regardless.

[RobRich]

Welcome to SysOpt Andy! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

I generally test the above options for my reviews, but I commonly disable all power management and PnP features when transistioning a board into one of my personal systems. Windows will operate perfectly fine without these options enabled, plus stability appears increased, especially in WinMe and 2k.

Robert Richmond

[Andy #2]

Allrighty then.

When I get home, I'm going to disable all that junk, and reinstall 2k (again disabling the ACPI HAL install). Considering I'm using the onboard lan, and only have to worry about my Geforce2 and SB Live for resources, life without PnP should be just fine :-). I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks for the speedy reply.

[Andy #2]

Loaded 2000, sans PnP, ACPI and APM. Things are pretty damned stable. I'm going to run some stress tests tonight to be sure. I have a slight problem with 3dmark2001 (I get something like an 1800) -- which is strange, because Q3 performance is phenomonal.

If anyone is interested, I'm running:

ECS K7S5A
TBird 1.4 Ghz (running @ 1.4.... for now ...)
2 x 256 MB PC2100 DDR (Crucial)
Visiontek Geforce 2 GTS (running slightly OC/d, but nothing special)
SB Live
Onboard ethernet in use
IBM Deskstar 20 GB ATA/66 (didn't want to get a new drive TOO :-) )
DVD/ROM / CD-RW

[RobRich]

Glad to hear the above tweaks worked. I disable these options on all of my personal boards, and I have noted a clear increase in stability within Windows enviroments.

The slow video perforamnce in 3DMark is likely because of the AGP driver. Download the latest SIS735 AGP driver here:

http://www.sis.com/support/driver/utility.htm

Also be sure to install the AMD AGP patch for Win2K:

http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/athlon-duron/amd_win2k_patch.html

Good Luck,
Robert Richmond

[RalphArch]

going back to the original poster's questions - I installed 2 separate winme partitions from 2 different motherboards onto my k7s5a

one was a pcchips 805lr w an ati rage 128 agp video; the other was a dfi with a k62 also with an agp rage 128; both with via 4 in one installed.

both installs went flawlessly (dual boot w bootmagic) - without deleting any drivers or programs ahead of time; although maybe the fact I was using an older pci video card helped (before I install the Radeon le I ordered. It did require quite a few restarts to find all the new hardware.

I don't recommend this - I was just lazy and its easier to just copy a partition with partition magic and planned to do it over again if I ran into problems; with deletion of drivers the second time (didn't have to).

[Stu Wright]

Rob et al,

I'm interested in your evaluation of the Mobo.

I'm also interested in whether the board will run at 266 FSB speed or must be slowed down to 100/133?

Stu

[RalphArch]

mine ran 133/133 with ddr (266) and a 1 gig 133 Althon right from the first boot

[ian.cropper]

Try installing the updated BIOS from the site Rob gave me, it gives a lot more variations on speed etc.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum5/HTML/007370.html