optimized nForce chipset driverpacks for XP (32/64bit)

[Lev]

I just created an account to post and say THANK YOU Fernando. I've been playing with the Windows 7 beta, and fighting it's lack of support for the nForce2. I'm looking forward to trying your driver remix.

Thus far I've had a real hard time getting the Nvidia IDE drivers to work in Win7, so far trying the last 5.10 official ones for XP in Win7 just cause the computer to reboot at bootup. The MS IDE drivers it load by default really holding back any hope that I'll be able to run Win7 on my nForce2. Otherwise everything else seems to load fine. I hope your drivers will fix it. If not, then I'm sure they'll be useful when I reinstall back to XP.

Thank you again!!

PS I'll post back my results later today.

[Lev]

Huh same problem.. maybe I'm just doing something wrong. I keep thinking I need to update the IDE drivers in Windows 7 because anytime there's hard drive activity, the cpu usage always goes to 100%, its just killing performance. So I figure this was the IDE drivers needing to be updated. Is there something else I'm missing?

[Fernando 1]

@ Lev:

Welcome at nForcersHQ Forum!

You certainly know, that the driverpacks you find within this thread are designed for being used with Windows XP and not with Win7.
Further questions:
Do you have a PATA or SATA hdd?
Which nForce Ethernet driver are you using with Win7?

[Lev]

@ Lev:

Welcome at nForcersHQ Forum!

You certainly know, that the driverpacks you find within this thread are designed for being used with Windows XP and not with Win7.
Further questions:
Do you have a PATA or SATA hdd?
Which nForce Ethernet driver are you using with Win7?

Hi Fernando,

Thanks for the response. I knew they were for XP but I was going off your comment about running the setup.exe in 'XP compatibility mode' and praying for the best.

Here's my setup:
A7N8X V2.0, XP-M 2.4Ghz (200Mhz x 12), 2GB RAM, Nvidia 7900GS - No SATA on the motherboard, using a PATA Seagate 500GB.

I'm able to install Win7 Beta (takes forever!), and install all the drivers to load fine, except the Nvidia IDE Driver for the PATA. I keep thinking I need this because any IO activity to the hard drive is so cpu intensive. All I can think of is that the MS Driver for the PCI IDE is not optimized at all for performance. If it wasn't for this, I expect it would run GREAT.

I'm wondering if I'll have any different result with Vista, considering this Win7 is still in beta. I've seen screenshots (of device manager) elsewhere of people who've successfully loaded the PATA driver in Vista.

Curious to try this with the Win7 RC coming Friday to see if any different result. I'm doubtful though.

That's where I'm at, if you can point me in a better direction that would be awesome. Many thanks

[Lev]

I'm going to test my theory if the IDE drivers are the culprit. I found a PCI sata card (Sil3114) that is supported with Vista drivers. I popped it into my nForce2 and and am installing Win7 again on a sata drive using the vista drivers. Hopefully this will give me an idea if the onboard nvidia IDE was the cause of my poor performance.

[Lev]

Nope I was wrong, performance just the same with the sata add-in card. Must be the Win7 beta, because I just tried Vista on my Nforce2 and it runs great! And your remix works great. Thanks!

[Fernando 1]

@ Lev:

Thanks for your interesting reports. Please give us a feedback, when you have tried to get Win7 RC1 (Buid 7100) installed.
The most interesting point for me is your report, that you obviously got the XP nForce PATA driver installed even while running Vista.

Here are some additional questions:
1. Which version of my XP LEGACY Remix Packs did you use?
2. Did you just run the installer or did you install the PATA driver manualy from within the Device Manager?
3. Which nForce drivers were missing after having completed the Vista resp. Win7 installation and how did you get these missing nForce drivers installed?
4. Which Ethernet driver version are you running?

Regards
Fernando

[Lev]

@ Lev:

Thanks for your interesting reports. Please give us a feedback, when you have tried to get Win7 RC1 (Buid 7100) installed.
The most interesting point for me is your report, that you obviously got the XP nForce PATA driver installed even while running Vista.

Here are some additional questions:
1. Which version of my XP LEGACY Remix Packs did you use?
2. Did you just run the installer or did you install the PATA driver manualy from within the Device Manager?
3. Which nForce drivers were missing after having completed the Vista resp. Win7 installation and how did you get these missing nForce drivers installed?
4. Which Ethernet driver version are you running?

Regards
Fernando

Hi Fernando,

I have NOT got the PATA Driver working in Vista, sorry if my previous post was misleading. I only saw a screenshot at another website of someone showing they had got it installed. If this is of value to you let me know and I can try to find it again and point you to it.

I have not tried the Nvidia PATA driver yet. With the driver that came with Vista already works very well. I can still give it a try though if you'd like me to test it and report my findings.

to answer yours questions:

1. 5.5a Legacy 32-bit
2. Didn't install in Vista. In Win7beta I used the Installer and after rebooting the system would get stuck in a reboot cycle. I'd have to use system restore to undo it.
3. Missing Drivers in Vista and Win7beta were the same, SMbus and Audio. I have the Nvidia NIC disabled, so not sure if that's missing too. Also the Nvidia memory controller drivers were missing, it just had the PCI ones, and after installing them it increased the WEI benchmark by 0.1, however that's such a small difference, I can't be sure it wasn't just a coincidence.
4. I used a separate Intel NIC, but since this is important for your tests, I'll enable my Nvidia NIC when I install Win7RC.

So where I'm at now is with Vista SP1 installed, and it runs VERY WELL. I didn't install the Nvidia IDE drivers because the problems I experienced in the Win7 beta didn't happen in Vista, so I'm thinking there is something in the beta that's bad? Don't know for sure, that's why I'm so curious to try the RC.

[Fernando 1]

[I have NOT got the PATA Driver working in Vista, sorry if my previous post was misleading. I only saw a screenshot at another website of someone showing they had got it installed. If this is of value to you let me know and I can try to find it again and point you to it.

I have not tried the Nvidia PATA driver yet. With the driver that came with Vista already works very well. I can still give it a try though if you'd like me to test it and report my findings.

Thanks for clearing this point up.
If you run the installer of my actual LEGACY Remix pack v5.5a, you won't get the nForce PATA driver installed. Reason: The SATA_IDE driver folder doesn't suppport PATA devices.
If you want to get the nForce PATA driver v6.99 installed, you have to do it manually from within the Device Manager using the LEGACY driver folder. You have to replace the Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controllers by the NVIDIA nForce Parallel ATA Controllers. Since the LEGACY drivers are unsigned, you have to force the installation by using the "Have Disk" option.
Alternatively you may try to run the installer of this older LEGACY Remix driverpack version, which possibly is able to install the nForce PATA directly. If you are asked, if you want the IDE s/w (=PATA) driver installed, you have to hit the "Yes" button.

If you should try it, please report here about your results.

Regards
Fernando

[perplext]

hi, i just did a fresh install of windows XP Pro with your drivers.

before i did so i ran an external HD by eSATA cable to an eSATA > SATA bracket that then plugged into my mainboard SATA port.
the drive would show up as a removable drive when i plugged it in and i could use the option to safely remove it in the systray.

since i installed your drivers it will not plug and play. it will not show up unless it is already plugged in when windows boots and it does not have the option to safely remove in the systray. it shows up as a regular drive.

it does show up as a removable drive if i use a USB cable.

i have checked my nForce Serial ATA Controllers and they are all using the 9.99.0.9 version.

my system is an EVGA 780i with the latest bios (P08).
i'm not sure what SATA drivers i was using before the fresh install of windows.

any ideas?