4 in 1 drivers: Do I need to install them?

frank quon · § #1 03-23-2005, 08:53 PM

I'm going to be setting my Soltek 939 soon (finally!) and was wondering if I need to use the Via 4 in 1 drivers. The reason why I'm asking is that I recently set up a new pc for my inlaws using a via KT600 mobo. I installed XP home sp2. After the OS install, the only thing missing was an audio driver and the video drivers. The MS ide drivers were compatible and there was also a LAN driver installed. I installed the audio and video drivers and things seem to be running fine. In the "old days", I recall having to install the 4 in 1 drivers, video, audio, etc. I've been using Nvidia chipsets exclusively lately and am out of touch with VIA world.

Thanks in advance for your help.

LydiAtSoltek · § #2 03-23-2005, 09:58 PM

Hi "frank quon",
I strong recommand you install the drivers (including VIA 4-in-1) in Soltek support CD even the Win XP SP2 is installed because these drivers come from the original manufacturers and they should drive the devices well.

Thanks and regards,

Rodian_Power · § #3 03-24-2005, 09:42 AM

If you intend to do any gaming or other system stressing programs, always install the manufacturers drivers. Windows boxed drivers may be good for a computer sitting in an office doing spreadsheets, but you will probably run into issues otherwise.

Belspur · § #4 03-24-2005, 06:51 PM

Hello All,

The only driver that installs is the Via Inf file. You can also install the Via IDE performance driver.

frank quon · § #5 03-24-2005, 10:59 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I would like to avoid nuking the drive and starting from scratch. In an up and running PC (my in-laws), can I just pop in the manufacturer's CD and install the 4 in 1 drivers over the XP ones? Do I just install all the default drivers that are pre-selected for me?

@Belspur: Do you mean that the only Via driver I need to install is the inf one and, optionally, the performance driver?

Thanks again

LydiAtSoltek · § #6 03-24-2005, 11:04 PM

Hi "frank quon",
You can just install all the default drivers that are pre-selected from the support CD.

Thanks and regards,

frank quon · § #7 03-25-2005, 12:53 AM

lydia,

thanks for your assistance. Just to make sure I'm clear on this, is it OK to just install the support cd drivers OVER the existing OS installation? I don't have to redo my OS from the beginning?

thanks again for the best motherboard tech support I've ever seen.

LydiAtSoltek · § #8 03-25-2005, 01:12 AM

Hi "frank quon".
If the O/S is not a fresh installaion on the Soltek 939 M/B, I would like to suggest you re-format the HDD and perform a clean installation on the new M/B.

Thanks and regards,

Belspur · § #9 03-25-2005, 12:49 PM

Hello frank quon,

When you install the Via 4 - 1 drivers 4.55 on the only driver that comes up in the INF File. The IDE and AGP do not show up. The enhanched IDE is a seperate driver. It changes the standard microsoft driver to a VIA Ultra ATA controller for the IDE ports.

Lydia, I dont know if you saw my hard drive question with the 2 raptors. When I use the the standard Microsoft driver performance is kinda slow. I installed the Via Raid Drivers and the machine is fast. I do not know if you could advise on my previous problems.

Thanks,

Hope this helps,

LydiAtSoltek · § #10 03-27-2005, 11:44 PM

Sorry, Belspur.
Could you inform me what M/B you have now? And what are the details of your problem?

Thanks and regards,

Belspur · § #11 03-28-2005, 01:20 PM

Hello LydiAtSoltek,

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=383406

Thanks,

LydiAtSoltek · § #12 03-29-2005, 01:44 AM

Thanks, Belspur.
I have passed this question on to VIA FAE engineer.
I will let you know when I get the reply from him.

Best regards,

LydiAtSoltek · § #13 03-29-2005, 03:14 AM

Hi Belspur,
According to VIA FAE engineer, since the "VIA RAID driver' improves the mathematical calculation of processing the SATA HDD data, the SATA performance will be enhanced after installtion of this driver.

Thanks and regards,