Return of the UnJedi - Back To 2.03 Unified Drivers For WinXP/2000

NVIDIA have updated the Unified Drivers download pages for Windows XP and Windows 2000 (2.41 is still available for Win 9X/ME). The 2.03 sets have returned along with zipped Recovery Instructions (667kb) detailing how to remove the 2.41 / 2.42 versions.

Updated May 23, 2003: If you have previously downloaded the 2.41 or 2.42 nForce kits and have experienced any problems please follow these instructions on how to re-install previous drivers.

I’ve included the recovery instructions below (click Read more). If you need the images or NvAtaBus.sys file, download the Recovery instructions.zip from NVIDIA.

Case 1
If you installed nForce 2.03 driver kits and then installed 2.41 & the NVIDIA SW IDE without uninstalling 2.03 and want to go back to 2.03 driver kit, please follow these steps

Option 1: Auto Roll Back Using Windows System Restore

1. Browse to the Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore (See option1.1.bmp)
2. Select “Restore my computer to an earlier time”. Click Next (See option1.2.bmp)
3. Pick a highlighted date on the calendar that is some date before the 2.41 driver package was installed.
4. Click “Next”
5. When you are sure that you have the right selection, click “Next” again. (See otpion1.5.bmp)
6. Windows will roll back to an earlier date and then reboot.
7. When Windows returns your system should be running with the 2.03 drivers again.

Option 2: Manual Roll Back

1. Download the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
2. Browse to the Start Menu and select “Search”
3. Do a search on windows for *.nvu (See option2.3.bmp)
4. Delete the “nvide.nvu” file (Option2.3.bmp)
5. Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs
6. Remove the option “NVIDIA nForce Drivers” (See option2.6.bmp)
   
   NOTE: You must select the option with the exact text above
   
   
7. Reboot.
8. When the system restarts, hit “Cancel” when all devices are detected
9. Re-install the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
10. Click “Yes to all” when asked to overwriting old files
11. Reboot when install is complete
12. Upon system restart, right mouse click on My Computer and select Properties
13. Select the “Hardware” tab
14. Click on the “Device Manager” button
15. Expand the section labeled “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers”
16. Left mouse click on the option labeled “NVIDIA NForce(TM) MCP2 IDE Controller” or “NVIDIA® nForce(TM) IDE Controller” (your system will only have one of theabove options) (See option2.16.bmp)
17. Right mouse click and select “Update Driver” (See option2.17.bmp)
18. Select “Install from a list of specific location (Advanced)”
19. Select “Don’t search, I will choose the driver to install”
20. Select the driver “Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller”
21. Reboot.
22. After reboot allow device detection.
23. Reboot again.
24. Everything should now be working correctly.

Case 2:
If you installed nForce 2.03 driver kits and then installed 2.42 & without uninstalling 2.03 and want to go back to 2.03 driver kit, please follow these steps

Manual Roll Back

1. Browse to the Start Menu and select “Control Panel”
2. Select “Add/Remove Programs”
3. Remove the option labeled “NVIDIA nForce Drivers”
   
   NOTE: You must select the option with the exact text above.
   
   
4. Reboot.
5. When the system restarts, hit “Cancel” when all devices are detected
6. Re-install the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
7. Reboot.
8. After reboot allow any additional devices to be detected (if applicable)
9. Reboot.
10. Everything should now be working correctly.

Case 3
Your system is unbootable because you tried to use Add/Remove programs on the nForce 2.42 driver kit

Recovering Windows

1. Copy the “nvatabus.sys” file to a floppy disk. This file is included in the zip file that include these instructions.
2. Boot system to Windows XP installation CD.
3. At the Setup screen, press ”R”.
4. This will bring up the repair console.
   
   
   1. Which Windows installation would you like to log onto
      [To cancel, press ENTER]?
      
      
   2. Hit “1” and [ENTER] or the number that represent your Windows XP installation.
      
      
   3. Type the Administrator password:
      
      
   4. Type password and hit [ENTER]
      
      
   5. Insert the floppy disk with the “nvatabus.sys” file into the floppy drive. At the command prompt, type “copy a: vatabus.sys c:windowssystem32drivers” and hit [ENTER]. Once file has been copied, type “EXIT” and hit [ENTER]. This will reboot your system. Remove floppy from system.
      
      
5. When the system restarts, hit “Cancel” when all devices are detected
6. Re-install the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
7. Click “Yes to all” when asked to overwriting old files
8. Reboot when install is complete
9. Upon system restart, right mouse click on My Computer and select Properties
10. Select the “Hardware” tab
11. Click on the “Device Manager” button
12. Expand the section labeled “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers”
13. Left mouse click on the option labeled “NVIDIA NForce(TM) MCP2 IDE Controller” or “NVIDIA® nForce(TM) IDE Controller” (your system will only have one of the above options) (See option2.16.bmp)
14. Right mouse click and select “Update Driver” (See option2.17.bmp)
15. Select “Install from a list of specific location (Advanced)”
16. Select “Don’t search, I will choose the driver to install”
17. Select the driver “Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller”
18. Reboot.
19. After reboot allow device detection.
20. Reboot again.
21. Everything should now be working correctly.