Upgrade failure

[Thumper3]

Just upgraded system with ASUS p4p800 mobo , BIOS 81092, with Intel P4 3.0GHz CPU and 2x512 OCZ RAM. On system startup get following msg:
“While initializing device CONFIGMG: Windows protection error. You must reboot your computer.” I currently have win 98SE OS installed. (I have Win XP retail waiting in a box. I had left old OS installed as I wanted to create a dual-boot system when the hardware upgrade was complete, so I could run numerous older programs that won’t run under XP)
Thought I had found the answer at:
P4S533 memory puzzle
However, changing the vcache = did not help (originally 98304 to 65536) —neither did physically removing one RAM, or combinations thereof.
Can only start system in SAFE mode. Can find no conflicts, but in SAFE mode neither the DVD or CD writer are enabled, so I cannot install XP or try repairs to 98SE. These drives are recognized in the BIOS and show as installed in the device mgr, however do not appear in Windows explorer and do not work. Also new modem not recognized so I can’t get that system online. Have reviewed physical installation of upgrade and jumper settings but can find no errors. There is a newer ‘date’ BIOS version 81016 available, but it is a lower sequence number than the installed 81092 BIOS.
Questions are: 1) Any suggested fixes? and 2) How can I preserve a copy of the current BIOS for reinstallation if found necessary after flashing to the newer dated BIOS?.
Other system components: ATI 9000 all-in-wonder AGP graphics card, Creative SB Audigy 2 Platinum PCI sound card, Diamond Supramax V92 PCI Voicemodem, and PCI cards for extra 4USB2 slots and for extra 4 firewire slots. Note: All external USB devices are unplugged from system.
Thanks for any help. Will logbackon in 3 hrs (not on home system)E

[PCBruiser]

If the optical drives are recognized in the bios then you can either attempt a repair of 98 or install XP, since all they require is that the bios recognize that the opticals are there and have a bootable CDRom. So far as 98 is concerned, I would try disconnecting the power to the opticals, boot into 98, close down, restore power to the opticals and reboot. Maybe that will force 98 to resdetect them. If that doesn't work, try removing the IDE channels via Device Manager, and then reboot forcing 98 to redetect the IDE channels and hopefully the opticals installed on them.

[Dread]

i ran into a similar problem when i upgraded my hardware
the system did not see either my cd-rom (master) nor my cd-rw (slave) on ide2
i'm running 98se as well. I also just bought xp pro but have not had time to load it yet
no matter what i tried (swapping cables, jumper settings etc), my system did not recognize either my cd-rom or my cd-rw
as far as windows was concerned, there was no ide2
like you pointed out, they were there in bios but not in windows
what finally worked for me was disconnecting the power and ide cable from the slave (cd-rw) on ide2
once windows recognized the master (cd-rom), i added in the slave and it worked fine
i reinstalled 98se (which i planned to do anyway)
been running fine since
good luck! hope it helps!

[Endaar]

From your post, it sounds as if you did not reinstall 98 after the upgrade. If that's the case, you really need to do a fresh install. Yes, it is theoretically possible to 'upgrade' the motherboard and not reinstall the OS, but you're asking for problems in doing so.

Meanwhile, unless you know for sure that you have software you must use that won't run under XP, you may be pleasantly surprised by what does and doesn't work.

Endaar

[LightSpeed]

If you have the win98 Cab files on the HD, you can try booting to safe mode and removing EVERYTHING in device mangler, then boot into win98 and have it redetect all your hardware. While this will work alot of the time, it is not really a good choice, but a quick temp fix. Nothing beats a clean install

[Thumper3]

I tried disconnecting the optical drives and rebooting and also deleted the property settings in device manager. NO Joy. The problem must be prior to the bootup getting to detecting or loading new hardware . Still get same error msg and safe mode does not allow display or access fo the optical drives. For now keeping RAM at one 512 unit. I do have cab files on the HD for WIN98se but do not know if they are complete for a reinstall. I had removed the windows installation setup files.
For now I am going to recheck all the hardware installations and verify mobo jumpersettings again.
Could anyone tell me how I can preserve the current BIOS 81092 (build 12/12/2003) so I can try 'updating" to the 81016 version (dated 2/6/2004)? Possibly the BIOS chanage will correct the problem. But I want the option to reinstall the current version if the update causes any more problems. Thanks for the suggestions.

[LightSpeed]

If you have all of the CAB files, that is all you need. Just remember to remove EVERYTHING in device mangler from safe mode first. You will not be reinstalling using this method, rather just having windows redetect all your hardware (this could take a few reboots but works 90% of the time).
In my experience, when upgrading the 'easy way' like this, I always remove 'Plug & Play BIOS' or 'ACPI PnP BIOS' while in windows prior to removing existing hardware, as this will remove all the devices in device mangler (this won't do the same thing if you try it in safe mode)
You should not have to change any of the jumpers on the board.
Like Endaar suggested, this method IS possible, but with some possible nasty side effects.

[Endaar]

A fresh install of 98, including all updates and drivers, shouldn't take you more than a couple of hours if you have a high speed connection. It WILL take you longer than that to get the system working without a fresh install, and the end results will not be as good.

Endaar

[LightSpeed]

umm it only takes 4-5 reboots to have all the hardware re-detected, which doesn't take more than 10 mins, vs 2 hours
For the record I have upgraded several PCs this way and very few had problems, but the ones that did were already in need of a fresh install anyways.
If you really know what you are doing in windows, either method is possible without bad side effects, just comes down to how much time you want to spend on the issue. I know I would much rather spend 10 mins than 2 hours if I can, but any time I get a new mobo I do a fresh install on my own pc.

[Endaar]

umm it only takes 4-5 reboots to have all the hardware re-detected, which doesn't take more than 10 mins

Right, it only takes a few minutes. If it works.

Therein lies the catch...you can mess around with the system and try to get the 'upgrade' method to work, and you may, after an indefinate period of time, end up with a working system. Or you can bite the bullet, format, reinstall, and a few hours later have a clean, pristine system and not have to wonder if there are any vestiges of your previous hardware floating around.

Our original poster is clearly past the ten minute mark. He could have been halfway done with a reinstall by now.

Lightspeed, I'm not trying to argue with you. I do totally understand where you're coming from. If you are trying to save time, then yeah, I can see trying the upgrade method. But once it doesn't work, it's not worth the effort to try and make it work. That's all I'm trying to say.

Endaar

[LightSpeed]

No arguements here..it has been more than 10 mins
Agreed nothing beats a clean install

[Thumper3]

Apologies for not replying sooner. But I could not get back into the abxzone site until today (document contains no data error msg)
I would have done a reinstall except that neither of the optical drives, USB ports, Firewire ports or the modem are recognized. And, I was afraid that if I deleted all the hardware property connections in device manager I could loose the harddrives and floppy-- the only hardware connections that presently work. I can only boot to safe mode--and that will not allow "new" hardware installations if I delete the present set.
I reviewed all the installations again, checked jumper settings and verified BIOS set to support the existing system. No changes made. Still doesn't work.
Tried booting from floppy with basic DOS system files and OAK drivers for CD (worked well with prior mobo and CPU). No good. Boot worked to DOS command prompt if I booted "without CD support". But then would not recognize the optical drives (Invalid drive msg). When I tried booting "with CD support" (Win 98se install CD in optical drive) I got the original error msg about configmg and windows protection error.
My next step will be to flash update to the most recent date BIOS (I found a backup copy of the current BIOS, in case I have to revert). I can do this thru floppy drive.
If that does not work, then unless someone comes up with a new idea. I expect that I will remove all the PCI cards, disconnect all but one optical drive, disconnect the two current hard drives with programs and data, and connect one spare formated harddrive. Then try a clean install of win98, IFthe optical drive is recognized. I will post later if anything works. Thanks for the input.

[Endaar]

Forget operating systems for a moment. For any of this to work, your PC needs to recongize the drives during POST. When the system first boots, it should detect the attached IDE drives. Is it doing that?

If it's not, then your problem is either a hardware or BIOS configuration error. Flashing the BIOS isn't likely to make a difference, as there's no reason the BIOS currently on the board shouldn't recognize attached drives.

Are the proper IDE channels enabled in the BIOS?

Endaar

[Thumper3]

The Bios IDE configuration is set for Compatible (for all windows versions prior to 2000) and ports are set to parallel only. Both optical drives show up in the BIOS, properly identified. Secondary IDE Master TDK CD writer and secondary slave Mat****a DVD. The drive units are jumper configured to Master/Slave--matching the BIOS identifications, and the correct ribbon cable outlet connection is attached to each optical drive. However neither drive shows up in Windows explorer. The bootup ends in either of two alternating ways 1) with msg "While initializing device CONFIGMG:, Windows Protection error. You need to restart the computer" or windows opens in safe mode. The floppy drive and two harddrives showup, but no USB devices or optical deive or modem. And the system cannot detect "new" hardware while in safe mode.
BIOS flash update was successful, but no change to the boot problem.

[Endaar]

You say that you would have done a reinstall except that none of the optical drives are recognized. If they're recognized in the BIOS, boot off of your Windows CD, format the HD, do a fresh install, install the motherboard/video card/sound card/etc drivers, and you'll be all set.

Endaar