Updating Via drivers?

[Rilla927]

Hi folks,

I'm new to the forum and I'm really beside myself as what/how to go about this situation.

First off, I ran a scan at Drivers HeadQuarters to see what needed updated. I have 5 Via drivers it shows that needs updated as well as Marvell Yukon but I have no clue the exact ones I would need, or should I leave well enough alone? I took a screen capture of the scrolling window about all the info from Drivers HeadQuarters with embedded links available. It's a MHTML 606KB. I do have Everest Ultimate Edition where I ran a Hardware Report that is in HTML, but I'm looking as I type this at the bottom of window and it says "HTML code is not permitted". If anyone can tell me how I can post the two files that would be great.

Is there type of preparation that needs to be done in order to update these drivers? The reason I checked the drivers is because I need to Slipstream XP Pro SP2 with all the goodies and I wanted to update necessary drivers first if needed so I have something to rely on. Thanks to the manufacturer I have been battling for a little over two years now I still do not have a restorable image of a clean OS with no software on it. They gave me four different images that didn't work.

This system has been shipped 12 times and it has to go back again because they sent it back with the door broke. Never once could they/ we get the OS installed from scratch because of the Raid/ WinXP Promise FastTrack. For some reason it seemed like windows wouldn't release the old windows driver, but then I don't think none of those Techs new what they were doing in the first place. Everyone was trying something different each time on the phone. It's like they were all guessing.

I know after this nightmare with this computer I will never own one in the future with this technology again, unless it's a lot more user friendly.

If anyone can help I would appreciate it. Thank you!

Rilla927

[SaphireX]

Hi Rilla927

The only drivers that you can slipstream if you are going to be installing windows to a SATA drive such as using the program NLite or it's spinoffs would be the drivers for either the VIA SATA/RAID Controller or Promise-378 (378-RAID or 378-ATA {SATA-IDE MODE}.

Installing the Hyperion Pro should be done the normal way after your OS is installed....

Saphire

[Mr. Chris]

Rilla927 , I am not sure how sites like Driver HQ determine " out of date " drivers, but several of the VIA chipset and even Microsoft AGP drivers are several years old but still work fine.

To add to SaphireX's suggestions, I have used Auto Streamer to make my slipstreamed XP Pro with SP2 cd, it worked very well. I'm not sure how to add the SATA / RAID drivers but it can't be too hard. And as was said, you always install the VIA Hyperion Pro's after the XP install. Any needed/ newer drivers will be updated automatically. Post back if you need more info.

BTW, I do subscribe to that old saying, " if it ain't broke " but I do try the new VIA drivers so that I can report back to VIA any " bugs " that are found. Chris.

[Rilla927]

Originally posted by: SaphireX
Hi Rilla927

The only drivers that you can slipstream if you are going to be installing windows to a SATA drive such as using the program NLite or it's spinoffs would be the drivers for either the VIA SATA/RAID Controller or Promise-378 (378-RAID or 378-ATA {SATA-IDE MODE}.

Okay, thanks! I assumed you could do any/all Via drivers.

Installing the Hyperion Pro should be done the normal way after your OS is installed....

Yes, I remember the F6 thing even though it never worked for me.

Do you mean, in order to even update the drivers, I would have to do a new install of windows?

Thanks very much for your reply Saphire.

Rilla927

[Rilla927]

Originally posted by: Mr. Chris
Rilla927 , I am not sure how sites like Driver HQ determine " out of date " drivers, but several of the VIA chipset and even Microsoft AGP drivers are several years old but still work fine.

To add to SaphireX's suggestions, I have used Auto Streamer to make my slipstreamed XP Pro with SP2 cd, it worked very well. I'm not sure how to add the SATA / RAID drivers but it can't be too hard. And as was said, you always install the VIA Hyperion Pro's after the XP install. Any needed/ newer drivers will be updated automatically. Post back if you need more info.

BTW, I do subscribe to that old saying, " if it ain't broke " but I do try the new VIA drivers so that I can report back to VIA any " bugs " that are found. Chris.

Hi Chris,

the Via drivers that need updated are all the that are assigned to Microsoft and they are from 2001, so they're five years old already.

Now, I'm trying to also look ahead as far as XP not being supported anymore because I refuse to go with Vista. So the less dependent I am on Microsoft the better.

Auto Streamer..... where do you get it from?

When you say, "any needed/newer drivers will be updated automatically", I'm assuming you mean good ole Microsoft.

I would say "you have a lot of guts" trying out the Via drivers. I mean I'm glad people like you do so they can report back. I would be too scared to try it. I know my luck is not good when it comes to that.

Well, if that's the case where you can't actually update the Hyperion Pro drivers from with in windows with out reinstalling the OS then I could just leave that one a lone and update the rest of them and then do the slipstream. Then sometime later try to do it myself (ugh) or pay someone to do it.

I don't know if it is really hard to do or the Techs I had on the phone made it worse than what it really is.

I came across some info about slipstreaming Via/Raid stuff. I mean step by step instructions that I have never seen anywhere before. Can I post a link to it to see what you and Saphire think of this?

Thanks very much.

Rilla927

[Mr. Chris]

O.K. Yes, some of the " current " drivers for VIA chipset's are that old. They still work fine.

I am currently evaluating Vista 32 bit pre-RC1 and it stinks so far, so I agree with you about staying with XP for a while to come. I don't think that MS plans to drop support for XP any time soon. There is actually a ( rumored ) SP3 to be released.

You can get AutoStreamer HERE at MajorGeeks.com
one of my favorite sites for all kinds of free tools and programs galore! Looking at some instructions for AutoStreamer, it seems like you can only integrate SP2 into XP. Not the RAID drivers.

When I say " any needed drivers will be automatically installed " I did mean from the VIA Hyperion Pro's that you can download from VIA Arena.com, not M$. Just download the new version, unzip the download and run the Installer. It will update what is needed. So, yes, you can update while running XP, no uninstalls are needed.

Note here: I always set a " System Restore Point " just in case there is a " bug " with new drivers, ANY new drivers, be they audio, chipset, video card, etc. That way I have a reference point to go back to.

The RAID/SATA drivers can be confusing to install, that floppy that came with your mainboard is not any use for the F6 prompt. What you have to do is go to the VIA Arena site and get the latest SATA drivers. Download and unzip the file. Now find a filder in the RAID driver file that says " DRVDISK ". Copy the CONTENTS ONLY of that folder to a blank, formatted floppy disk. Use THAT floppy when XP ask's for the " Third party drivers " at that F6 prompt. I'ts not too difficult.

Hope this all helps some! I'll be back, the cats are telling me it's time to shut off this PC and pay some attention to them for a while! LOL! Chris.

[Rilla927]

Originally posted by: Mr. Chris
O.K. Yes, some of the " current " drivers for VIA chipset's are that old. They still work fine.

I don't know what the life cycle is for these drivers. I don't want to find out one day all of a sudden the computer won't function due to old drivers, because I ran into exactly that the very first day it was hooked up. Some of the drivers were too old and the system couldn't function properly. It also didn't help that the manufacturer only had part of SP1 on the computer and shipped it way.

I am currently evaluating Vista 32 bit pre-RC1 and it stinks so far, so I agree with you about staying with XP for a while to come. I don't think that MS plans to drop support for XP any time soon. There is actually a ( rumored ) SP3 to be released.

Well, I just don't like what Vista represents period, so I will never own it. I don't like the idea of not having a choice of what security software I want to use on my own computer after I've paid for it.

You're right, it may not be anytime soon that XP will stop being supported, but eventually MS will want everyone to use Vista, therefore by cutting the support for XP (their line of thinking) it will force people to Vista.

You can get AutoStreamer HERE at MajorGeeks.com
one of my favorite sites for all kinds of free tools and programs galore! Looking at some instructions for AutoStreamer, it seems like you can only integrate SP2 into XP. Not the RAID drivers.

Okay, thanks good to know.

When I say " any needed drivers will be automatically installed " I did mean from the VIA Hyperion Pro's that you can download from VIA Arena.com, not M$. Just download the new version, unzip the download and run the Installer. It will update what is needed. So, yes, you can update while running XP, no uninstalls are needed.

Oh, that's great! I was unclear on that. Thanks for clarifying. Will it install over the old driver? Is there anything else I should know to do before this procedure? I do have back up copies of drivers on the external also.

Note here: I always set a " System Restore Point " just in case there is a " bug " with new drivers, ANY new drivers, be they audio, chipset, video card, etc. That way I have a reference point to go back to.

Good point.

The RAID/SATA drivers can be confusing to install, that floppy that came with your mainboard is not any use for the F6 prompt. What you have to do is go to the VIA Arena site and get the latest SATA drivers. Download and unzip the file. Now find a filder in the RAID driver file that says " DRVDISK ". Copy the CONTENTS ONLY of that folder to a blank, formatted floppy disk. Use THAT floppy when XP ask's for the " Third party drivers " at that F6 prompt. I'ts not too difficult.

Oh! The techs never had me do it exactly like this. That's why it obviously could never work. When you use this procedure, do you have to change anything in the Bios?

Hope this all helps some! I'll be back, the cats are telling me it's time to shut off this PC and pay some attention to them for a while! LOL! Chris.

Yes, it has helped enormously! Yes, I love my cats.

Check this out and see what you think. I think it could be helpful to others with Raid/Sata drivers that want to slipstream their OS



Thank you very much for the help you have given.

Rilla927

[Rilla927]

Oops, sorry! Here is link click here

[Mr. Chris]

Wow, that link looks a lot more complicates that AutoStreamer! As far as SATA/ RAID drivers, XP install will stop and ask you for the drivers anyways. As long as you have a floppy drive ( some folks don't these days! ) just have that floppy ready as I instructed and it should install fine. Post back with how it's going. Chris.

[Rilla927]

Hi Chris,

before I update these drivers I'm going to install BootIt NG, so I will be able to get into windows no matter what happens. I will check back in after I do this and let you know how it goes.

Thanks for your help.

Rilla927