Hmm...
I know of ~6 ways to install 3dfx Drivers in total :
1)
Normal installation via 3dfx Tools integrated setup.
Easiest way, but requires that any previous 3dfx Tools is uninstalled prior to installing the new one.
2)
Manual Installation via Device Manager.
This should work 100% of all times, for as long as the Driver Files are intact, and none missing.
This will not install 3dfx Tools, but this can be downloaded and installed separately from the Archive if needed.
3)
Same as above (either Setup routine or Device Manager), but this time while in Windows SAFE MODE...
Just in case something is screwed up while in normal mode, where the to-be-updated Driver is active...
This solves quite a few Problems sometimes...
4)
ALL of above, but this time the 3dfx Driver is completely removed while in Windows SAFE MODE, and initially being replaced by "Standard VGA" generic Windows Driver (vga.drv) .
After booting normal now with the "Standard VGA" Driver (again, either Safe or Normal Mode), the Driver setup can be tried again to work, which it normally should.
That's actually more or less the recommended variant from the 3dfx Drivers' ReadMe Files in most cases.
Usually, this really isn't necessary, but again, it might help...
5)
Semi-Automatic via the Core Driver setup.
This will more or less silently install the Driver set, without any Messages.
There's not only the setup.exe (3dfx Tools Combo Installer) in the Main Directory where the Driver is unpacked, there's actually another setup.exe (Driver Installer only) existing in the \Driver Subdirectory...
After hitting this one (this will just copy Files to their Locations) and a Manual Reboot afterwards (you won't be prompted), the new Driver should be active and running.
6)
Full Manual Mode...
Since mostly all Driver files always have the same name, they can be manually copied into the Windows\System Directory while either under MS-DOS or Windows Safe Mode.
After a Reboot into normal mode, the new Driver Files should be active and running as well, although no entries from the new Driver's .inf File will be present.
(All the Items meant for the Advanced Options will be missing)
But for as long as there's a default set of Advanced Options available from the previously installed Driver & 3dfx Tools, that should not be a big loss.
These will remain, and at least all of the common Advanced Features work literally with any Driver.
Greetings
FalconFly