XP -> Win98

Ok so I've concluded XP is useless without APIC support. All my hardware keeps disappearing like ghosts every time I reboot with Standard mode on. And the Interrupt Placeholder is still at 90% 24/7. I guess this APIC/ACPI-whatever support is hardwired into the system or something?

So now I need to install Win98 from XP somehow. Can I just carve out a few gigs for win98 and format the new partition from NTFS to FAT32? Anyone done this before or have any good ideas for doing this without messing everything up? Ideally I'd like to format my main drive completely but I have 100gigs of stuff I don't want to lose.

 

If I understand you correctly, you want the ability to dynamically resize partitions. Partition Magic is generally accepted as the industry standard for doing that sort of thing. It will enable you to shrink your NTFS partition without losing data, partition the remaining space, format as FAT32 and install 98 on it.

 

Laugh it up Aussie boy!


Acually I wouldn't ever recommend installing either 98 or XP over each other on either type of file system. Too much leftover stuff wasting space. And as you said, you can run XP (or 2k) on FAT, but that's kinda defeating one of the main strong points of the OS, IMO.

NTFS to FAT conversion is certainly doable, you just lose all your data in the process. I took KO's post to mean (and I could be wrong) that he had one NTFS partition on one HDD in the machine, so if he wants to dual-boot XP (on NTFS) and 98 (which doesn't do NTFS) on the same drive, they have to be on their own partitions.

 

Yeah, I have XP installed on one 120gb HD but like I said, it won't work properly without APIC support. Thought I'd take some free space to make a new partition, convert it to from NTFS to FAT32 and install win98 on it. Dualboot so I can run XP/98. Only problem is my CD drive just completely vanished and can't be detected no more. There's supposed to be a secondary IDE channel showing in Device Manager, right? I guess that's why the Cd-rom won't appear anymore. The APIC problem has completely screwed the detection process up.

 

Yes, there should be. So there's no secondary IDE on the BIOS info screen as the machine boots up? In that case I'd connect the CD as a slave on the primary IDE so that you can use it.

Very true. I don't use a non NT based OS personally. Don't like 'em.

 

Well, I'd like to backup and format the whole thing but I have 100gb of stuff I don't want to lose. That's quite alot of cdr's to backup to when you're broke. Is there any other partitioning software other than PM8 or Acronis that would do the job?

 

Yeah, but no free ones that I know of. You can check here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads8.html

 

Just a small comment. Lack of APIC support isn't your problem with XP.

Lack of hardware compatibility is....

XP doesn't require APIC or ACPI to be a good, useful OS.



Keep in mind when you install 98, XP wil no longer be bootable.

 

Oops, forgot about that. I'm not in the habit of setting up dual-boot machines. XP needs to be installed (or reinstalled) last, no? As described here, I would think: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559

 

You know I think you're right, this is a bad case of hardware conflict. I think my computer might also be possessed. "Generic Host Process for Win32 services" just spiked at 100% and locked the computer and about 10 reboots later I'm back in business. Unplugging the CD-RW helped resolve the "Interrupts Placeholder" spike but now other processes are starting to spike too. What a hoot this is.

 

Ok motherboard, ide-controller or anything else could be bad and it will haunt you forever but since you are having conflicts, irq/resources something! then just remember that you are not suppoesed to run with ACPI/APIC off. Almost no one does that, also ppl with simular hardware. None of your hardware should be anti-ACPI or APIC.

You said in other thread there is no way you will upgrade bios, also not if it fix problems? But you will go against how Asrock tell you to set up mobo? Changing APIC/ACPI are major changes. Very few who have those options ever make use of them or will want to. So upgrading bios is really piece of cake compared to what you are doing now. Why not try latest official bios, reinstall XP and see what happens? May be all you need is a re-flash, bios might be dizzy, corrupted bios happens. Think you need to do this before you throw motherboard or soundcard away.

Ive not checked Asrock bios-history, may be it seems irelevant to flash but you cant allways assume they write down all changes/fixes. Biggest screwups they probably keep to themself. Often users find out real differences. There is a reason mobo-makers try to make flashing easy, 1-click/auto events. Can be very important and cut down on RMA, support work. Guess Asrock dont have such shiny windows based tools as brother Asus (Asrock is connected with Asus Ive heard, budget-Asus), Abit, MSI etc. but old Dos way still works

After you have done that you can definitely say it IS no good and Ive done all Im suppoesed to. Get me a new one. If you have old bios there will be some doubt right?

 

I checked the assrock homepage and there are 2 bios updates available for my mobo that resolve the following issues:

2.20

1. SiS 180 SATA card can be selected from boot menu.
2. Create a BIOS setup option to enable or disable USB 2.0 controller.
3. RTC alarm power on function should work correctly after shutting down from XP.


1.90

1. Support K7S8X R 3.0 hardware reversion.

I think these might help. I've been having massive problems with USB detection even with APIC so I guess this may resolve it. Maybe the mobo shipped with some bugs? The first update is 3 days after what my bios is dated. I'll try it once I'm sober enough not to mess it up.

 

Hehe, you do that. Look on the brigth side it cant get any worse - you should use XP not win98 when you have both.

www.ocworkbench.com click forums, then Asrock. They have a XP install guide for your model. Just says to upgrade drivers etc. Should be very important for soundchip which he had big problems with using drivers from cd. C-Media something, update on their site.

After you flash after the book, remember to clear cmos if readme.txt tell you to, then set up bios before installing XP. Disable all onboard stuff you dont use - like soundchip and what else there is. No need to make it harder for XP. After a bios-flash it might return to default by itself or "recommend" you to. Just go thorugh all bios options and see what it says. May be load some "optimized" defaults/preset first, then edit yourself. Just dont accept defaults after a cmos or bios flash.

 

Oh cheers for the link, that forum looks like it's full of useful information pertainining to my current dilemma. I might want to buy some new floppy disks too, just to be safe. The newest ones I have are from my last batch I bough back in 98 or summit. Warranty doesn't cover bios flash fukkups does it, heh. I'll just have to lie and say it died by itself if I mess up and can't boot up no more. But I guess it's pretty hard to mess up if I follow the instructions precisely. Better leave it to monday when the computer store is open.

 

Yep it can go wrong. Power failure doesnt go well with bios-flashing but how unlucky can you be? Flash away. You know flash must be prepared so you do it by the book.

Just in case you could try seach for "flash" on that forum. Some chipset/bios have had corruption/dead bios problem after a flash - especially if you dont reset values before flashing, kill oc-settings that is. There could be a SiS/Asrock trick or tip you should know.

I use Abits Window based Flashmenu and have no worries, no more than if I flashed from DOS. I do keep a floppy ready tho. Bios can autoflash if I press ALT-F1 or something at bootup, sometimes last chance if even pulling out cmos jumper/battery dont help.

Anyway Ive often read that those cheap Asrock mobos are either superb (at least after tweaking/beta-flashing etc) or complete crap that will never work. I just looked it up on local webshop, cost 75% of a new game - should still work of course but quality control is probably not Asrock strongest sales argument

 

Eh, I paid 110$ for the mobo in september when it was brand spanking new. I'm definitely going to buy a new mobo/processor combo from Sweden in the summer when I go. Their shite is soooo much cheaper. I'd better start taking my own advice and start reading reviews before I plunge cash into the hand of the local dealer. Everything is pure gold if you ask him.