windows 2000 will install full blown IRQ sharing if your BIOS is dated newer than 01/01/2000 automatically and by default. The only way to change your IRQ is to remove ACPI. The only way to remove ACPI will take an afternoon. First, have your windows 2000 CD and all the information about your peripheral card that you can gather. The more info you get, the less experimenting you will have to do.

Here is the process:

1. Insert your windows 2000 CD into your CD drive and reboot.
2. Make certain that your BIOS is set to boot to the CD. (Read the manual for this info)
3. When windows 2000 first turns the screen blue and writes in the status area, "Press F6 if you have....". Press F5 now! **Yeah thats odd, but thats the way it is.**
4. you will be presented a screen that contains a list of PC configurations - choose Standard PC.
5. Continue through the installation, doing a repair install. DO NOT ABORT THIS INSTALLATION! your system will not boot if you don't.
6. Reinstall your service pack level.
7. Right click on my computer and select Properties, choose Hardware, then choose the Device Manager. Click the plus sign next to Computer and right click on Standard PC - click Properties.
8. Click on IRQ Steering. You will see three boxes checked. FROM THE BOTTOM UP, uncheck these boxes.
9. You will be prompted to reboot. Do so...

PCI devices today are loaded with IRQ presets. Manufacturers have agreed to use certain IRQs for their devices. For instance sound card traditionally used IRQ 5. Unfortunately, Sound Blaster decided to break this habit, my current SB uses IRQ 12.

The most extreme manner of sorting out IRQ issues is this:

Remove all peripheral cards except for the video card. Boot windows 2000, open Device Manager and set this card to use the desired IRQ. Shut down and readd your cards one by one, rebooting between each and setting the IRQ for each - or just accept where windows 2000 slots them.