Brian Frank

Okay, Ive got a cheap Celeron-based system that Im setting up to be a sever with games. Okay so far (loading Win2k right now), but here's what Im working on: I have another multiboot sitting right beside it with Win2k/ME/XP as the OSs and I was thinking of dropping another ISA NIC into it and then running a 5' CAT5 cable over to the Celeron system. The big ol' question I got is that when Im running a LAN party here, will the Mulitboot pc be impared at all. 2.) If Im on a different OS besides 2k, and have not gotten ME or XP to network properly, will the OS's that fail to work the networking still let traffic pass through regardless of whether they work properly? I am planning to get a hub here sometime when I get some more $$$, but I basically need a quick fix to make this work for the time being. Im thinking Im right, but Ive screwed up before.

Rats! The hardware works okay, I got a 10/100 Linksys NIC and a PC-PC 10' CAT5e cable, now the Celeron system cant get on the network under the domain. What do I do now? It also cant get online either so Im guessing its something between the two PCs.

Thats got the AMD 750 Northbridge and a Via Southbridge, if Im not mistaken, so go look on FICs website for drivers for the motherboard, since it uses a hybrid chipset.

Win2k can be made to not have everything share the same IRQ. In device manager, change the ACPI compliant PC to Standard PC. I wouldnt just because I had to reformat, since my mouse and keyboard werent recognized when it booted back up. Then you can change the settings in BIOS, as long as PnP is off. The AZ11 is a sorry mobo, but Im prettty sure you dont want to replace it if you dont have to. I also have the A7V, but I cant change IRQs regardless. I also dont have an SB Live! or any Creative sound card.

Did some one tell you that or did the Whistler setup tell you that? If some one told you that, they're lying or stupid. Just like Win2k, you can install XP on any partition you choose.

Have you tried running the repair option off the Win2k CD?

NAV 2000 will work as long as you get it updated.

Yours wouldnt spin any faster than 5400rpm in all likely hood. You may be able to just take it out and look at the sticker on the top with all the info to find the rpm. If you still have the box (yeah right) it'll say what the specs (rpm included) are.

I dont use D3D in HL because when I exit out to the menu, I cant see anything. So I use Open GL. What drivers are you using for the MX? I personally have had good luck with the 10.80 Detonator drivers ('Beta'). Try looking at http://www.m3dzone.com I cant speak for everyone, but whenever Ive gone to or from a 3dfx card, even if its been uninstalled and all registry entries having to do with 3dfx, the performance is crappy, and things just get worse. The only fix is a fresh install, regardless of removing registry entries or not. Im not saying go do a reformat, but this is what Ive run into.

I dont see where you're coming up with the NIC being a problem. Have you tried putting it in a different PCI slot? It sounds more like something with the Promise ATA100 controller than something else. Have you considered that you could have a virus? Especially if you dont have one or dont keep it updated.

Yeah, Im gonna get a hub ASAP, but I just want this as a quick fix. 1 pc ( the celeron) has one NIC and I am gonna link it to my multi boot after I drop a 2nd NIC into it. BTW, HL wont be too heavy traffic for it in this thing? Probably will only happen one time before I get the hub set up.

I was having some probs with my BE6 (latest bios and everything) and it seems that 4x CD-ROM I had in there was fouling things up. You may want to try a different DVD or CD-ROM drive if possible.

I dont know about SCSI, never using one before, but since its transfer rates are so low, SCSI isnt worth that investment. USB is good enough, and parallel port will work, but USB is faster. So USB is the best choice and it should go just fine. My Zip100 USB works great!

There should be something in BIOS about USB keyboard function that has to be enabled. If not, just use the PS2 ports. Having the latest BIOS might help too.

Here's the link: http://www.amd.com/products/cpg/athlon-duron/amd_win2k_patch.html

Money is what MS cant get enough of. I dont think they would be satisfied with world domination . Plus, Im gonna have my little anti-XP rant right here: Why does MS seem to take out more and more of the good stuff. The control panel seems kinda anemic, networking blows,blah,blah... Heres a big fat whiny complaint: Why is MS in such a rush to put out another OS, and then start to push it on corporations that dont need or want a new OS. A new OS every year is not a necessity. Windows2000 is a 'mature' OS, and MS is really trying to improve something they cant. The only selling point I can see is the eye candy. XP is just a s3xy version of 2k with somethings removed. End rant. MS seems to be targeting the buisness area more that they have competition (Linux), but MS head honcho's Gates and Ballmer seem to have to badmouth Linux or any other OS that poses a threat to them, and make that OS sound evil(that would be you, Mr. Ballmer). MS needs to take a break...so do I.

Well, here at home with our little DSL and network we use NetBUEI instead of Printer and File Sharing PLUS a Firewall...makes it harder for the malicous types to get at us. I guess Im one of the few that still uses it. I put NetBUEI in XP, but dammed if I can get the stupid box to network regardless of what I try, and no, Im not gonna change the whole network for a BETA OS. Plus its on my multiboot machine, so I can still use Win2k to get my stuff.

Mandrake 8 good for games now? If not, Im looking into SuSe seriously, because Id like to get a head start on moving away from MS OS's if they start trying to tell me when I have to upgrade my system. Plus, I like the Mandrake install. MS has plans for computer world domination!.

Here's a link on ZDNet: http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2760413,00.html I hope MS doesnt try to pull this bullshit, I dont think I have to upgrade if I dont want to, especially since Win2k runs just fine. I hope this news isnt true, or we're in trouble.

Got the latest BIOS?

Did you install Win2k when you had all of this? I know Win2k puts drives in the order they are put in, so that could be screwing you up. The drives on the HPT366 controller will be detected as a SCSI device, I cant really explain why, but any extra controllers besides the ones with the chipset on the motherboard are considered SCSI wheter they are or not. There is the chance that the HPT366 has gone bad, but Im not totally sure that's it. Im thinking its the drivers. My dad has that motherboard and has never had a problem with it. I picked one up in a used bin and it works fine. Another thing: got the latest BIOS for the BE6? The latest BIOS file is the BE6_TH, FYI

Have you tried setting the pc back to the original speed? It very well could be SP2, but just for the heck of it, try the original speed just to make sure.

Do you have drivers for it? Im not talking about the ones that are in the OS when you install it, but ones that youve downloaded. This doesnt have anything to do with your soundcard. I got the MS Sidewinder Precision 2, and it works great. Only trouble is, I dont play flight sims, except for Descent 3, so Im pretty horrible at it. Definitely check to see if MS has drivers for Win2k for the joystick.

Have you tried running the repair option off the Win2k CD?

Of course its gonna be expensive. Reasons: 1st generation system, new product, will be targeted at workstations to start with, to name the ones that come to mind. The Tyan Thunder K7 has SCSI onboard, so that gives a hint whos being targeted, and it aint the desktop market.