nvatabus.sys is missing or corrupt repair Instructions 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 Picture)
  2. Select “Restore my computer to an earlier time”.  Click Next (See Picture)
  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 Picture)
  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

  2. Browse to the Start Menu and select “Search”
  3. Do a search on \windows for *.nvu (See Picture)
  4. Delete the “nvide.nvu” file (See Picture)
  5. Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs
  6. Remove the option “NVIDIA nForce Drivers” (See Picture)

NOTE: You must select the option with the exact text above

  1. Reboot.
  2. When the system restarts, hit “Cancel” when all devices are detected
  3. Re-install the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
  4. Click “Yes to all” when asked to overwriting old files
  5. Reboot when install is complete
  6. Upon system restart, right mouse click on My Computer and select Properties
  7. Select the “Hardware” tab
  8. Click on the “Device Manager” button
  9. Expand the section  labeled “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers” 
  10. 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 Picture)
  11. Right mouse click and select “Update Driver”  (See Picture)
  12. Select “Install from a list of specific location (Advanced)”
  13. Select “Don’t search, I will choose the driver to install”
  14. Select the driver “Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller”
  15. Reboot.
  16. After reboot allow device detection. 
  17. Reboot again.
  18. 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.

  1. Reboot.
  2. When the system restarts, hit “Cancel” when all devices are detected
  3. Re-install the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
  4. Reboot.
  5. After reboot allow any additional devices to be detected (if applicable)  
  6. Reboot.
  7. 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.
  2. Boot system to Windows XP installation CD.
  3. At the Setup screen, press ”R”.
  4. This will bring up the repair console.

Which Windows installation would you like to log onto
<To cancel, press ENTER>?

Hit “1” and <ENTER> or the number that represent your Windows XP installation.

Type the Administrator password:

Type password and hit <ENTER>

Insert the floppy disk with the "nvatabus.sys” file into the floppy drive. At the command prompt, type “copy a:\nvatabus.sys c:\windows\system32\drivers” and hit <ENTER>. Once file has been copied, type “EXIT” and hit <ENTER>. This will reboot your system. Remove floppy from system.

  1. When the system restarts, hit “Cancel” when all devices are detected
  2. Re-install the nForce 2.03 driver kit.
  3. Click “Yes to all” when asked to overwriting old files
  4. Reboot when install is complete
  5. Upon system restart, right mouse click on My Computer and select Properties
  6. Select the “Hardware” tab
  7. Click on the “Device Manager” button
  8. Expand the section  labeled “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers” 
  9. 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 Picture)
  10. Right mouse click and select “Update Driver”  (See Picture )
  11. Select “Install from a list of specific location (Advanced)”
  12. Select “Don’t search, I will choose the driver to install”
  13. Select the driver “Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller”
  14. Reboot.
  15. After reboot allow device detection. 
  16. Reboot again.
  17. Everything should now be working correctly.