VIA 4in1 Install/Uninstall Windows 98SE

[claygarrett0]

I have an older model PC with the VIA Apollo Pro chipset. I would like to update the chipset drivers with the 4in1 package version 4.43 on Windows 98SE. I understand the procedure of executing the installation package is pretty straight forward.

Concerns are for installing the new drivers in place of the Microsoft drivers installed by default with Windows 98SE. If problems occur, how does one revert back to the original drivers that were installed by Windows 98SE? I know in Windows XP the Device Manager can be used to revert back to the previously installed driver, but concerned for Windows 98SE.

I did find a posting on the Arena Forum that described the following:
Run the installer for the version on your machine again.
Choose normal install mode.
Choose "uninstall" for each driver at the prompt by putting a tick in the radio button.
Click "uninstall".
Reboot.
You are back to the "native" Windows built drivers.

Please confirm that should I choose to Uninstall that the drivers will revert back to the "native Windows built drivers" in Windows 98SE.

[Mr. Chris]

Quote: "Please confirm that should I choose to Uninstall that the drivers will revert back to the "native Windows built drivers" in Windows 98SE." Yes, it will work that way. Unfortunately, you don't have system restore with 98SE, otherwise you could use that. Chris.

[claygarrett0]

That resolves my concern for uninstalling in Windows 98SE. I've searched the Web for references on 4in1 Uninstall reverting back to the default drivers, but never found it.

The VIA Chipset drivers in Device Manager are listed as Microsoft 4-23-1999. Since there has never been an update the assumption is they are the installed default of Windows 98SE.

It's my understanding from numerous posts on the subject that to verify the 4in1 install, Registry entries for the 4in1 will appear for each device configured. There are no Registry entries currently, so that confirms the 4in1 has never been installed.

What started this investigation was the IRQ Steering for PCI Bus in System Devices under Device Manager was not enabled. I understand that the IRQ Steering will be enabled if the Miniport driver is installed from the 4in1 package. I am not sure if this is the case, but anticipate that IRQ Steering will get enabled by the IRQ Routing Miniport Driver.

I trust that this is the case.

Thank You.

[Mr. Chris]

You might want to try the 4.35's, second down on this page: VIA Arena - Display Drivers
98SE needs the miniport driver, which the Hyperions don't have. You are correct in presuming the miniport driver enables IRQ steering. Chris.

[claygarrett0]

I have both the 4.35 and 4.43 downloaded.

Is it safe to assume that the 4.35 is the base 4in1 package to enable IRQ Steering with the Miniport Driver?

Once IRQ Steering is enabled, then the system should be stable to install/config PCI device drivers. In this case, I have a 4-Port USB PCI card to install. The USB chipset is VIA VT6212L. I have the device driver for it.

Is it advisable to install v4.43 as an upgrade once the v4.35 is completely installed and verified stable?

I am not sure what additional benefit v4.43 will provide. Are there any enhancements in v4.43 versus 4.35?

Thank You, Again.

[claygarrett0]

Here is my motherboard chipset specification for completeness in the posting:

CPU type and speed - Intel Celeron Tualatin 1.4 GHz Slot 1
Motherboard make and model - Compaq Presario 5716

VIA Chipset
VIA Apollo Pro
- VT82C693 - North Bridge
- VT82C686A - South Bridge
- VT82C686 - PCI to ISA Bridge
- VT82C69x - CPU to PCI Bridge
- VT5898 - CPU to AGP Controller
- VT82C598 - MVP PCI-PCI/AGP Bridge
- VT82C586 - IDE Controller Ultra DMA 33

Video card or integrated graphics solution - nVidia GeForce FX5200 AGP
RAM, amount and speed - SDRAM, 768 MB, 100MHz
Operating system and service packs - Windows 98SE
video card driver version (installed) - GeForce v 66.94 Windows 98SE
VIA 4in1 Hyperion driver version (installed)" - Default Windows SE VIA Drivers

I trust this provides you additional information should there be any other items of interest. Also, it may assist others who read the posting.

Thank You.

[Mr. Chris]

You may well have issues using that USB card, because it has a VIA chipset. A card with an NEC chipset would do better.

Yes, once you see the 4.35's are stable, you can upgrade to the 4.43's, but then again, I like to say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" Chris.

[tcsenter]

98SE brings the VIA IRQ routing driver in-box. Sometimes it needs to be reinstalled after a significant configuration change. I would recommend 4-in-1 v4.43 (or v4.48), not the older 4.3x.

You can also re-install just the IRQ routing driver using the stand-alone package:

VIA IRQ Miniport Driver v1.3a

[claygarrett0]

Mr. Chris,

Thank you again for your reply. I do appreciate that one can upgrade to the VIA 4in1 v4.43 after installing v4.35; after the system is stable. The IRQ Routing Miniport driver is the same version in both 4in1 packages, so it appears there are no changes in 4.43 from 4.35 for the IRQ Routing Miniport driver.

“You may well have issues using that USB card, because it has a VIA chipset. A card with an NEC chipset would do better.”

I have assumed that the VIA VT6212L 4-Port USB PCI card would not have any issues interfacing with VIA motherboard chipsets; especially the Apollo Pro. The motherboard includes 2 VIA VT3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller for USB 1.1. It works fine and without any issues.

I had previously installed a 4-Port USB 2.0 PCI card with ALi chips and had all kinds of trouble configuring. However, after it started working, I assumed IRQ Steering was intact. It was only after connecting a Wireless G Adapter that I started getting intermittent crashes. I tolerated the crashes for sometime; recovering each time.

I finally uninstalled the Wireless G Adapter and the ALi PCI card and the crashing stopped completely. That’s when I noticed the IRQ Steering was disabled.

I’ve heard the same for NEC USB PCI cards as well. Besides, checking USBMan - The Webs #1 USB and USB 2.0 Help and Information Site has opened issues to be aware of both for ALi and VIA.

So, the question of being able to revert back to Windows 98SE in-box chipset drivers is answered should one want to uninstalled the VIA 4in1 to do so.

Tcsenter,
“98SE brings the VIA IRQ routing driver in-box. Sometimes it needs to be reinstalled after a significant configuration change.”

That is what Microsoft says; that VIA is supported in the Windows 98SE install. This is also confirmed by HP Compaq. I suspect that the “significant configuration change” was the installing of the ALi 4-Port USB 2.0 PCI card; and all the trouble I have had since.

Question: If Windows 98SE VIA IRQ routing driver is “in-box”, how can one just re-install the driver from the Windows 98SE CD or the CAB file where the driver exists?

I would think a Windows 98SE reinstall is not necessary for simply reinstalling a known driver. Besides, what is the in-box driver? Device Manager shows:
pci.vxd BASE6.CAB 65,895 4-23-1999 version 4.10.2223
pcimp.pci BASE5.CAB 16,208 4-23-1999 version 4.10.2223

How does one just reinstall these drivers from the Windows 98SE CD or CAB file?

“You can also re-install just the IRQ routing driver using the stand-alone package: VIA IRQ Miniport Driver v1.3a “

On VIA Tips and Tricks, USBman points out that the v1.3a is Win98 First Edition only, not Win98 Second Edition.

Win98 First Edition
VIA IRQ Routing Driver for Windows 98 First Edition Only. Try this before installing the Service Pack virq13aw.exe

Thank you for the link to the Asus FTP. I found a lot of good stuff.

I will hold on install virq13aw for now and work on finding out how to install the “in-box” driver if that is feasible. Can you provide some insight into installing from the Windows 98SE CD or CABs to restore IRQ Steering?

If this doesn't work, then it's the 4in1 v4.43 install; and hope for the best. I have to look into the AGP issues next for the nVidia GeForce FX5200.

Thank You.

[tcsenter]

Originally Posted by claygarrett0

On VIA Tips and Tricks, USBman points out that the v1.3a is Win98 First Edition only, not Win98 Second Edition.

It means, it is not required to install the IRQ miniport driver for 98SE because it already has it. It doesn't mean it cannot be installed or is not compatible with 98SE. It is fully compatible with 98SE and a better solution than attempting to enumerate the in-box PCI IRQ miniports.