A Workaround for SOME AMD's W/DVD (in Hardware) and ZORAN

[Bixler]

If you have a similar setup to my Profile below, I may have a workaround to the ZORAN DVD interface running Matrox's DVD Hardware Daughter Card for the G 200's

It is a 15 step process, so to save space here, just e-mail me, and I'll cover with you what it took to get my setup running.

This isn't a fix--just a workaround, but I'm playin' movies!

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AMD K6II 333
on SOYO SY5EMA
128 K 8ns PC100 SDRAM
Marvel G-200 TV
w/DVD HW Card
Promise Ultra 66 PCI/IDE
Win 98--running 98 Lite
(A GREAT program)

[Bixler]

I've gotten several queries, so maybe this is worth posting--I hope it helps while we await final word on whether we've all been hosed!

I'm Playin Movies!!

Before this workaround, my system would completely Bomb out when the Zoran Software prompted that it was loading after hitting the "Play" button while trying to play a movie.

For you experts out there--bear with me, I'm going into too much detail for you, but I needed this the first time around. I would like to hear from anyone who notices any change with this.

For the experts: Create a new hardware profile, delete everything except what you absolutely need, and use it to play DVD movies.

For every one else--here's the step by step that works on a system like mine--See my profile below.

What I worked out seems to be unique to SS7 MB's running the VIA chip set, and
involves removing any conflicting devices (SCSI or IDE devices using busmastering).

Before beginning, uninstall the DVD Software and do a full uninstall of all Matrox drivers. They've got a tech note on how to do this on their website. Do the work below utilizing the Basic, Generic Display drivers after uninstalling everything Matrox, and checking the registry through regedit as they describe in their tech note to make sure you are starting with a "Matrox Free Registry."

Here goes.

1.In Control Panel/System/Hardware Profiles, copy your original configuration, then rename it 'DVD Player Configuration.'

2. Reboot: IF you have successfully set up a second hardware profile, when booting up, you will be prompted to select one of the two hardware profiles that you now have.

3. Select DVD Player Configuration. When fully booted, go to Control Panel/ system/ device manager, and delete any of the following:

1. Any SCSI cards or devices
2. Any extra CD-ROM devices or other drives (you want your DVD drive to end
up being either D: or E NOTE: "Disable in this Hardware Profile" won't work--remove the device from your system. Its OK.

4. You should now be prompted on whether to delete in all profiles or just the current profile--select 'Current Profile only'. This leaves your original configuration just as it was.

5. Reboot, again selecting DVD Rom Configuration when prompted.

6. Make sure that your DVD Drive is ALONE on its IDE Channel as a master/no slave present, and that DMA is disabled or unchecked. (let me know if this matters--MGA tech said it does--mine already was)

8. Uninstall any proprietary Busmaster Drivers, and revert to the original
OEM Win 98 Busmaster Driver.

9. Reboot, select DVD Player configuration again, and check to see that you have only one CD (your DVD Drive) assigned as Drive D: or E: Check your hard disk controller and verify that you are running on the Standard Dual PCI hard Disk controller. Make sure that No SCSI devices are present, and that no IRQ sharing is going on with your Display Device, and your DVD Drive is NOT using
DMA.

9. At this point, you may want to reboot again, just to be sure, into your DVD
Player Configuration, and begin installation of your Matrox Drivers in the standard sequence as if you had just installed your card.

10. After completing the installation, just to be safe, go into the DVD Player
Configuration and Manually assign the drive letter for your DVD Drive. (unselect Auto)

11. If you installed clean, you should be able to get the DVD Software running
at this point in your DVD player configuration. If not, try deleting other
unneccessary devices that may utilize UDMA in the same fashion. You can play around in this DVD Player Configuration without fear of screwing up what you already have, although any Driver updates will stick in both profiles.

The whole concept is to strip any potentially conflicting devices out of your hardware configuration--IF all goes as it did with me, you simply do a warm reboot when you want to play DVD movies, select DVD Configuration, and reboot again back to your normal setup when you are finished.

Since getting this working, I have updated to the latest recommended drivers.

I am running the following Matrox Drivers/Bios.

VGA Bios: 2.6 (an update)
Display Driver: 4.11.01.4330
VDD: 4.11.01.4330
Power Desk: 4.33.045
Direct Draw/D3D: 4.11.01.4330

You might also want to flash your MB BIOS if any updates are available-a lot of OEM's have been fighting Busmastering conflicts.

In my Bios, I have Disabled VGA Pipeline Cache, Video Shadowing, and AGP 2X, and
Video Frame Buffering.

This AIN'T no real solution, but it's working for me while I try to wait out the
Matrox/Zoran battle over whether they are going to abandon support on this card.--I hope they don't, but it aint looking good according to the tech at Matrox who held my hand through this massive workaround.

I haven't tested to see if the Newer VIA Busmaster driver works in this setup--but I can tell you that DMA on your DVD Drive WILL screw things up. Anybody with the courage and strength to F-- with the VIA busmaster drivers let me know if it matters--I'm stable, happy, and will patiently wait for my final hosing from ZORAN before giving up.


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AMD K6II 333
on SOYO SY5EMA
128 K 8ns PC100 SDRAM
Marvel G-200 TV
w/DVD HW Card
Promise Ultra 66 PCI/IDE
Win 98--running 98 Lite
(A GREAT program)