As it turns out, installing Windows 95 on the AL440LX can be somewhat of an art. This is a series of steps that I have found to work the best. It resolves most of the issues people have, like the infamous PCI to PCI bridge. Everything here is designed around using Windows 95 OSR2.

Note: I haven't updated this page in quite some time. I've gone through and fixed most of the broken links, but haven't personally done a Windows 95 install with this motherboard since the release of Windows 98. Your personal experience with the AL440LX will probably be a lot better if you upgrade to Windows 98. Windows 95 will work just fine with this motherboard, but it will take a lot more tweaking to get everything working right.
 

• Prepare your yourself


Whether you are building a new system, upgrading an old one, or just reinstalling Windows 95, make sure you have all of the necessary files before you start the process. There is nothing worse than getting halfway though the process and then realizing that you forgot to download a file or don't have the current drivers for your hardware.
 
 

• Take care of Windows 95


You have some options here. My suggestion is to install to a clean hard drive:
 

1. Create a boot disk. Format the disk and make sure to copy the system files to the floppy. You will also need to copy the following files:
 
From C:\WINDOWS\
 
HIMEM.SYS
From C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\
 
FORMAT.COM
MSCDEX.EXE
Mouse drivers
CD-ROM drivers
Setup your config.sys file and autoexec.bat file on the floppy to load your CD-ROM and mouse drivers. Do a test boot from the floppy to make sure that everything works right. My files look like this:
 
CONFIG.SYS
 
device=himem.sys
device=nec_ide.sys /d:MSCD001 /v          (my CD-ROM driver)
AUTOEXEC.BAT
 
mscdex /d:MSCD001 /m:10
mouse
2. Reboot your system from the floppy. Double check that you can access your CD-ROM and that all of your important data has been removed from your hard drive. Format your hard drive, making sure to copy the system files.
 
format c: /s
 

If you don't want to reformat your hard drive, exit Windows 95 and restart the computer into MS-DOS mode. Once you're in DOS, delete the Win95 directory. This won't be as "clean" as the method described above, but it will work. You're likely to retain some garbage files from all the programs you've installed and later uninstalled. Funny how uninstall doesn't get rid of everything.
 
 

• Copy the Windows 95 installation files to your hard drive

Windows 95 has a peculiar habit of forgetting to load the drivers for your CD-ROM drive after the reboot during the installation process. And of course, the setup program then asks you to insert your Windows 95 CD so that setup can continue to copy file. Does anyone else see a paradox here?

The best workaround for this is to create a temporary directory on your hard drive, and copy all of the files from the \WIN95 directory on your Windows 95 CD to your temporary directory.
 
 

• Update the BIOS on your motherboard


 Make sure you using the most up to date BIOS for the motherboard (or the one that works best for you). You can obtain the BIOS and update utility from Intel's site, or you can check out my BIOS page. I'm currently using BIOS 9, which has some quirks. BIOS 5 seems to be the most trouble free so far.
 
 

• Install Windows 95


Run the setup program from the temporary directory on your hard drive. Setup Windows 95 with the options you want, with one exception: if you're planning on using an AGP video card, make sure to use the Standard Display Adapter (VGA) driver.

If you're using BIOS 6 or higher, you may also want to experiment with the Advanced Power Management setting during the install. I've found on some configurations, changing the APM setting from Advanced Power Management to Intel SL APM makes all the difference. Experiment if you have problems that are power related, such as hangs on shutdown.
 
 

• Install the Intel 82371XB INF Update (Also known as SETUPEX.EXE or PIIX4 Update)


Next install Intel's update for the 82371AB PIIX 4 controller that is on the AL440LX. This file is on the CD which came with the motherboard, but I suggest obtaining the latest version of it from the Intel site.

For additional information on why Windows 95 has a hard time dealing with the PIIX 4 controller, check out this site.

Note: The readme file for the PIIX4 Update says to install the USB supplement for Windows 95 before installing the PIIX4 Update. The reason the process I use is different is because the AGP Drivers patch that is installed as step 3 makes the necessary changes to your registry.
 

• Install the Universal Serial Bus patch (Also known as USBSUPP.EXE)


If you have a Windows 95 OSR2.1 CD (usually labeled Windows 95 & Plus! with USB support) you can install the USB update directly from the CD. Run the file \OTHER\USB\USBSUPP.EXE. This file can also be obtained from Microsoft, but I don't have the patience to go searching their web site for it. It can also be obtained from Micron PC's server at   ftp://ftp.micronpc.com/Support/Desktop/Miscellaneous/95/95b_usb.exe .

Even if you don't plan on using USB devices in the immediate future, I suggest installing this patch. It clears up some other Windows 95 issues with this motherboard, and your computer will be ready for when you do start using USB devices.
 
 

•  Install the AGP drivers patch


This is probably one of the best kept secrets out there. This patch contains the elusive VGARTD.VXD driver that allows AGP memory allocation. This patch also installs some drivers to fix some of the common hardware "conflicts" that will show up in the device manager. The best patch that I've been able to find also comes from Micron PC, and is available at ftp://ftp.micronpc.com/Support/Desktop/Video/Other/AGPINST.EXE

I suggest installing this patch even if you are currently using a PCI video card. During the installation, Windows will redetect your USB and PIIX 4 controller. If Windows asks for the location of the drivers for these devices, point to the C:\WINDOWS\INF folder. Windows will also check you Windows CD for the files UHCD.SYS and USBD.SYS. These files are not located on the CD, but can be found in your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM folder.
 
 

• Install your video card drivers

Next, install the drivers and software for your video card. You can use the ones provided with your video card as a starting point, but I suggest checking the manufacturer's web site for the latest drivers, especially if you're using an AGP video card.

ATI Technologies Inc.             http://www.atitech.ca/
Diamond Multimedia               http://www.diamondmm.com
Matrox Graphics                     http://www.matrox.com/mgaweb/home.htm
STB Systems Inc.                   http://www.stb.com
 

Special Note for the Matrox Millennium II 8MB AGP card:
If you're using BIOS 7, I suggest you follow this advice. The first time you install MGA Powerdesk, it will let you in to make some alterations. Resist the temptation change the color depth and resolution and instead go to the advanced settings. Here you need to turn off all the fancy extras, then reboot. Once you're done with this install faq, go ahead and experiment with the extra settings. The Matrox card can contribute to the BIOS 7 shutdown problems. If you have any questions about this, let me know! (Thanks to David Ashton-Cleary!)
 
 

• Install the drivers for the onboard Yamaha audio

Install the Yamaha audio drivers if your AL440LX is equipped with the optional onboard audio. These drivers are located on the AL440LX CD that came with your motherboard. You can also obtain the latest drivers from Intel's site at http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/al440lx/.

If your motherboard is equipped with the on board audio, but you plan on using a separate audio card, I suggest disabling the onboard audio from the BIOS setup.
 
 

• Install Intel's Bus Master IDE drivers (Optional)


 I have found better performance results using the Bus Master drivers that are installed as part of OSR2 and the PIIX4 INF Update. However, if you decide that you prefer to install Intel's Bus Master IDE drivers, now is the time to do it.

These drivers are available from Intel at http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/drivers/busmastr/. There has been some debate as to usefulness of these drivers. They are designed to improve hard disk read/write performance during multitasking operations. The drivers work well with BIOS 5, but create conflicts with BIOS 6 and higher.

If you want to use the BMIDE drivers with BIOS 7 or higher and have shutdown problems, there is an alternative. The problem with BIOS 7+ and the BMIDE drivers seems to affect the secondary IDE channel only. If you install the BMIDE drivers, then change the secondary IDE driver to the standard driver, things seems to work alright. To do this, open then device manager, select the secondary IDE channel, then select properties. Under the Drivers tab, click on Update Driver. Windows will ask you if it should check for an updated driver. Tell it no and select one from the list. Click on Show All Hardware, then Standard Hard Disk Drivers. From this list, select the Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller. I'm currently using this configuration, so if you have any problems let me know and I'll do what I can to help.

If you still want to use a Bus Master driver for your secondary IDE channel, try using the Standard Bus Mastering IDE Hard Disk Controller driver.

For more information on the nature of Bus Mastering, check out this site.

If you simply can't get the Intel drivers to work on your system, use the Microsoft Bus Master drivers that are included with Windows 95. Once you've changed the drivers in the Device Manger, open the properties window for each of your hard drives and make sure the DMA box is checked.

• Install your remaining hardware drivers and software


You're done setting up the motherboard. Now it's time to finish installing your remaining hardware drivers, such as:

Sound Card
Modem
Printer
Mouse
Zip/Tape drive

The detection algorithm in Windows 95 for detecting new hardware isn't the best in the world, so install the rest of your devices one at a time. Once you have all of the drivers installed and the device is fully operational, move on and install the next one. The install will go much more smoothly this way.

If you have Microsoft Plus!, install it once your hardware is properly configured. I also suggest installing the Dial-Up Networking 1.3 upgrade available from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/.
 

This is what I have found to be the best way to install Windows 95 on an AL440LX motherboard. If you're still having problems, or want a second opinion, I suggest checking out the sites of some manufacturers which use the AL440LX in their computers. Some companies which use the AL440LX are:

AST Research               AST Bravo MS 6300                               http://www.ast.com
Dell                               Dell Dimension XPS D300                       http://www.dell.com
Gateway                        Gateway G6-300XL                                http://www.gateway.com
Micron PC                     Micron Millennia XKU 300                      http://www.micronpc.com
NEC                              NEC Direction SPL 300                          http://www.nec.com
 

Comments? Questions? Write me email and I'll see what I can do!

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