Set BIOS to "non-Plug and Play" for clean XP install?

[Jisha]

In preparing for a clean-install of XP Pro SP-2, was surprised to learn that
the BIOS should be set to "non- Plug & Play OS".
--- recommendation was read in "Microsoft Windows XP -Inside/Out" (Microsoft
Press)http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/7109.asp

Is this REALLY correct? The author _does_ state that it is
counterintuitive, and that this setting was intended for use with earlier
windows versions.

Does this also apply to Win2000?
I might want to multi-boot with w2k, since I've been using it forever... old
habits die hard )

If the BIOS P&P setting should be different for w2k, how critical is the
setting for XP? ...or 2k?
Can - or should - the setting be changed after the installation(s) is
complete?
If there is a conflict, which OS would function better with the improper
setting?
Resetting the BIOS every time I boot to different OS would be very
inconvenient!

Out of curiosity, while I don't foresee multi-booting with any windows
version earlier than w2k... lots of people do.
How does this setting affect the installation and performance where "P&P OS"
should be on for one version... but off for other version?
I've NEVER seen this question come up in any discussions relating to
multi-booting various combinations of windows.

Hmm... maybe "counterintuitive" should be declared a 4-letter-word in this
context! Ha Ha!

Thanks in advance.

Christopher

 

[R. McCarty]

If the Motherboard is ACPI ( Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface ) compliant, the PNP OS option isn't used. The OS (XP)
communicates with the ACPI BIOS to configure devices. The OS
PNP is really only viable on older Motherboards that use APM or
with earlier Windows versions.

 

[Jisha]

Hmm... I just double-checked the BIOS, and the motherboard supports ACPI...
but buried deep under "advanced >> Boot Options" is the P&P OS option.
However, setting P&P to "NO" permits the OS to configure only non-boot
related P&P devices, which is the core issue.

So... thanks... I believe I've found my answer for this particular MB.

Christopher

 

[David Candy]

Microsoft tried to make the NT line as smart as 9x but couldn't. So it leaves it up to the BIOS.
What the BIOS does if you choose Non PnP is not configure all devices (only ones needed to boot), leaving it up to the OS to do the rest