If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix avideo driver oh-oh)

[Guest Bob]

'Allo ME World

 

I'm still trying to recover from a snafu while replacing my Nv GeForce

4 Mx440 with their FX5200.

 

I'm about halfway there - if I'm lucky.

 

If you winME veterans would scan my plan and vette it against your

experience, then I would very much appreciate it. Feel free to tell me

I don't understand but, while you're at it, please point the way to

the light switch....

 

I got the FX5200 running on a backup drive. Seemed so easy when I had

the right stuff at the right time. Problem now is cleaning up the

original system drive. I got the Nv driver series off their web. If I

a driver cd/floppy came with the fx5200, I lost it. Or maybe that's

why it was such a bargain when I bought it?

 

I thought the following seven step program would do:

1. From sweet running system drive: use DeviceManager to identify the

driver file names associated with the fx5200 device. Save names in a

skeleton batch file.

2. Use a focussed Search to find the full paths with those file names.

Add them to the skeleton batch file.

3. Finish up the command file to extract each of these files from a

SystemRestore .cab file.

4. Write the batch file and RestorePoint .cab file to a CD.

5. Shutdown system, swap problematic drive in, sweet running drive

out.

6. Boot on winME Emergency Boot Diskette. Run the batch file.

7. Have the winME Install CD / Nvidia driver series CD handy then boot

to normal mode.

 

Especially for Mike Maltby - can System Restore .cab files be used

this way?

[Guest Mike M]

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix a video driver oh-oh)

 

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix a video driver oh-oh)

 

> can System Restore .cab files be used this way?

 

Why are you trying to extract the files you want from an SR cab file from

a working system when, since that system is working, the files should be

readily available in a sub-directory of C:\Windows? There's also more to

installing a driver than copying files, it's infinitely better to use an

inf (or cat) file to install drivers. Further I don't understand why you

are trying to extract the files you want from the SR cabs in DOS mode (6.

Boot on winME Emergency Boot Diskette. Run the batch file.) since it is so

very much easier to do this when windows is running, that is from the GUI,

when you can see what you are doing and correct any errors as you go.

 

Points to note:

1) SR FS????,cab files contained archived files plus the all important

file CHANGE.LOG (see 3)

2) SR RG?????.cab files, each contains a copy of the registry when a

checkpoint was created.

3) Whilst the files stored in RG*.cab files retain their familiar names

this is not the case for files archived in FS*.cab files where virtually

all filenames have been changed to the format A000????.CPY. You will need

the associated CHANGE.LOG file to determine the original file name and its

original location for each A*.CPY file.

 

Personally understand why you are trying the approach you suggest rather

than booting to Safe Mode, removing the existing video driver and then

installing the correct driver but you obviously have your reasons.

 

Best of luck.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Bob <SierraBrother@gmail.com> wrote:

> 'Allo ME World

>

> I'm still trying to recover from a snafu while replacing my Nv GeForce

> 4 Mx440 with their FX5200.

>

> I'm about halfway there - if I'm lucky.

>

> If you winME veterans would scan my plan and vette it against your

> experience, then I would very much appreciate it. Feel free to tell me

> I don't understand but, while you're at it, please point the way to

> the light switch....

>

> I got the FX5200 running on a backup drive. Seemed so easy when I had

> the right stuff at the right time. Problem now is cleaning up the

> original system drive. I got the Nv driver series off their web. If I

> a driver cd/floppy came with the fx5200, I lost it. Or maybe that's

> why it was such a bargain when I bought it?

>

> I thought the following seven step program would do:

> 1. From sweet running system drive: use DeviceManager to identify the

> driver file names associated with the fx5200 device. Save names in a

> skeleton batch file.

> 2. Use a focussed Search to find the full paths with those file names.

> Add them to the skeleton batch file.

> 3. Finish up the command file to extract each of these files from a

> SystemRestore .cab file.

> 4. Write the batch file and RestorePoint .cab file to a CD.

> 5. Shutdown system, swap problematic drive in, sweet running drive

> out.

> 6. Boot on winME Emergency Boot Diskette. Run the batch file.

> 7. Have the winME Install CD / Nvidia driver series CD handy then boot

> to normal mode.

>

> Especially for Mike Maltby - can System Restore .cab files be used

> this way?

[Guest Bob]

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fixa video driver oh-oh)

 

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fixa video driver oh-oh)

 

On Mar 20, 4:26 pm, "Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote:

> > can System Restore .cab files be used this way?

>

> Why are you trying to extract the files you want from an SR cab file from

> a working system when, since that system is working, the files should be

> readily available in a sub-directory of C:\Windows?  There's also more to

> installing a driver than copying files, it's infinitely better to use an

> inf (or cat) file to install drivers.  Further I don't understand why you

> are trying to extract the files you want from the SR cabs in DOS mode (6.

> Boot on winME Emergency Boot Diskette. Run the batch file.) since it is so

> very much easier to do this when windows is running, that is from the GUI,

> when you can see what you are doing and correct any errors as you go.

>

> Points to note:

> 1) SR FS????,cab files contained archived files plus the all important

> file CHANGE.LOG (see 3)

> 2) SR RG?????.cab files, each contains a copy of the registry when a

> checkpoint was created.

> 3) Whilst the files stored in RG*.cab files retain their familiar names

> this is not the case for files archived in FS*.cab files where virtually

> all filenames have been changed to the format A000????.CPY.  You will need

> the associated CHANGE.LOG file to determine the original file name and its

> original location for each A*.CPY file.

>

> Personally understand why you are trying the approach you suggest rather

> than booting to Safe Mode, removing the existing video driver and then

> installing the correct driver but you obviously have your reasons.

>

> Best of luck.

> --

> Mike Maltby

> mike.mal...@gmail.com

>

>

>

> Bob <SierraBrot...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > 'Allo ME World

>

> > I'm still trying to recover from a snafu while replacing my Nv GeForce

> > 4 Mx440 with their FX5200.

>

> > I'm about halfway there - if I'm lucky.

>

> > If you winME veterans would scan my plan and vette it against your

> > experience, then I would very much appreciate it. Feel free to tell me

> > I don't understand but, while you're at it, please point the way to

> > the light switch....

>

> > I got the FX5200 running on a backup drive. Seemed so easy when I had

> > the right stuff at the right time. Problem now is cleaning up the

> > original system drive. I got the Nv driver series off their web. If I

> > a driver cd/floppy came with the fx5200, I lost it. Or maybe that's

> > why it was such a bargain when I bought it?

>

> > I thought the following seven step program would do:

> > 1. From sweet running system drive: use DeviceManager to identify the

> > driver file names associated with the fx5200 device. Save names in a

> > skeleton batch file.

> > 2. Use a focussed Search to find the full paths with those file names.

> > Add them to the skeleton batch file.

> > 3. Finish up the command file to extract each of these files from a

> > SystemRestore .cab file.

> > 4. Write the batch file and RestorePoint .cab file to a CD.

> > 5. Shutdown system, swap problematic drive in, sweet running drive

> > out.

> > 6. Boot on winME Emergency Boot Diskette. Run the batch file.

> > 7. Have the winME Install CD / Nvidia driver series CD handy then boot

> > to normal mode.

>

> > Especially for Mike Maltby - can System Restore .cab files be used

> > this way?- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

Hi Mike M

 

Thank you very much Mike,

 

Just figured (hoped?) that the backup harddrive had all the correct

files needed and the original drive had the correct registry. The

restore points had been wiped about Christmas. However restore points

from the backup drive would have the right files. I might be wrong

but that it was worth a try.

 

Per your note, I tried and successfully located NVAGP.inf, + the NV

53.04 series drivers which makes it moot.

 

Even so, the System Restore mechanism is more generally useful than

many give it credit for. After looking at the KB brief entry, its

plain it was meant to run in the lowest common denominator

environment. Io my way of thinking, could "easily" be extended to

defeat one obvious Achilles heel - the erratic trashing of "old"

restore points. At least ,an option to archive them by buning archives

to / restoring from CD would be useful.

 

Thanks again.

Bob in Oceanside

[Guest Mike M]

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix a video driver oh-oh)

 

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix a video driver oh-oh)

 

> At least ,an option to archive them by buning archives

> to / restoring from CD would be useful.

 

Something which, IMHO, is both ridiculous and unnecessary. System Restore

in NOT a substitute for making proper backups. To attempt to restore a

running system to a checkpoint created more than a couple of weeks ago is,

again IMO, pointless as there is the potential for so much to be lost for

little or no gain. That you propose this suggests to me that you may have

failed to grasp the purpose of system restore or how it works. Naturally

you are, like all of us here, entitled to your own opinion.

 

What I don't understand is "why" you were doing this. If you wanted a

specific driver for your video card why didn't you simply obtain a copy?

Older drivers are for the most part still available even if not openly

visible on manufacturers' web sites.

--

Mike Maltby

mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

 

Bob <SierraBrother@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thank you very much Mike,

>

> Just figured (hoped?) that the backup harddrive had all the correct

> files needed and the original drive had the correct registry. The

> restore points had been wiped about Christmas. However restore points

> from the backup drive would have the right files. I might be wrong

> but that it was worth a try.

>

> Per your note, I tried and successfully located NVAGP.inf, + the NV

> 53.04 series drivers which makes it moot.

>

> Even so, the System Restore mechanism is more generally useful than

> many give it credit for. After looking at the KB brief entry, its

> plain it was meant to run in the lowest common denominator

> environment. Io my way of thinking, could "easily" be extended to

> defeat one obvious Achilles heel - the erratic trashing of "old"

> restore points. At least ,an option to archive them by buning archives

> to / restoring from CD would be useful.

>

> Thanks again.

> Bob in Oceanside

[Guest Godfrey Wilkes]

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix a video driver oh-oh)

 

Re: If at first you don't succeed, rip a SystemRestore file? (to fix a video driver oh-oh)

 

 

"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message

news:%235UsFpcjIHA.1272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> At least ,an option to archive them by buning archives

>> to / restoring from CD would be useful.

>

> Something which, IMHO, is both ridiculous and unnecessary. System Restore

> in NOT a substitute for making proper backups. To attempt to restore a

> running system to a checkpoint created more than a couple of weeks ago is,

> again IMO, pointless as there is the potential for so much to be lost for

> little or no gain. That you propose this suggests to me that you may have

> failed to grasp the purpose of system restore or how it works. Naturally

> you are, like all of us here, entitled to your own opinion.

>

> What I don't understand is "why" you were doing this. If you wanted a

> specific driver for your video card why didn't you simply obtain a copy?

> Older drivers are for the most part still available even if not openly

> visible on manufacturers' web sites.

> --

> Mike Maltby

> mike.maltby@gmail.com

>

 

Quite so Mike. All the OP had to do was download the most recent ME drivers

from Nvidia for his 5200 (ForceWare Release 80 Version: 81.98), uninstall

the old drivers, replace the old card with the new one and install the new

drivers from the executable. Job done.

All this business about messing with SR files is beyond me when the correct

procedure is so straight forward.

 

GW.