All right, so how do you move IRQ's around?

[RAB]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S.
Well, I just spent the better par of this holiday trying to fix the same mouse stalling problem ax McRhea has. This is the second time and I'll have to say its still not clear if:
1) I have it fixed and
2) What I did to fix it.

Now, I don't have a Promise card, but my symptoms were identical. Every minute or so, the mouse pointer would just freeze. After about five seconds, the pointer would start working again just like nothing had happened. Before I claim victory, I think I better give it the night and see what happens. I'll try to piece together what I did and see if it might help McRhea. I just hope the problem doesn't return like it did for McRhea.

I previously had the same problem and had it fixed for a couple of weeks. But then one night the computer told me that 6 driver files were mysteriously missing. It was downhill form there. The next day, after replacing the files, the computer said that all my folders needed to be renamed DIR0001, etc. Well, rather than fight it I just reformated and started clean. But the original mouse freezing came back.

More tomorrow.

RAB

P.S. Jorden, I had to pull the modem several times before I got it fixed, so don't get excited. Putting it back was the easy part.

[RAB]

It ain't pretty, but its working:

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Communications Port (COM2)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 Vortex AU8830 Sound Blaster Pro Emulation
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 (free)
10 Vortex AU8830 PCI Audio
10 Creative PCI Modem Enumerator
10 Vortex AU8830 Multifunction PCI Platform
10 VIA Tech PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
10 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 Linksys LNE100TX Fast Ethernet Adapter
11 Matrox Millennium G400 DualHead - English
11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
12 Cordless7 (PS/2)
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary Bus Master IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller (Ultra DMA)
15 Secondary Bus Master IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller (Ultra DMA)

RAB


[This message has been edited by RAB (edited 26 November 1999).]

[Jorden]

RAB, your mouse.

Is it IR or does it use radio-waves?
If IR, do you have any strong light nearby, or a TV or something else remote controlled, or is something block the direct line of sight to the receiver on the PC?

If radio-waves, some radiostations interfere on the same frequency as the mouse-receiver It might be your fave Straus only station

And btw, what is your NIC doing on the same IRQ as your G400?? Ah well, that's peanuts. If it works, it works

About the modem: I know that reseating the modem is the easiest thing
Is it flash-upgradable??

Jorden.

[Bixler]

What do we make of this?? What we have always made of this Swapping boards around can sometimes confuse windows, and little trash files get left behind in nooks and crannies where they don't belong.

One last thing... When I reported that the problem was fixed waaaaaay back at the beginning of this thread, it really was fixed. It didn't hang even after I rebooted.The whole comp was fine until I moved the modem. So what do you guys make of this?

As I recall, McRhea, Waaaay back there you also moved the Promise card around. You may have "moved everything back" but you have also made the Windows 98 gods angry. This thread has been the penance you must pay for your misdeeds.

Good information to have. I'm going to do some checking in the registry and post to Jorden what I find there. I'm not fully comfortable with registry hacking, but there may be a tweak or two necessary in there to clean out some trash caused by uninstall/reinstalls of drivers etc. as you were swapping boards around.

DON'T GO IN THERE until you get instructions back. It may not be necessary (Pray God!!.) If we have to get into any heavyduty registry hacking, this may overtake TMT on TSB.

Earlier during some diagnostics I was putting you through, I asked you to:

1. go to Add/Remove programs in the Control Panel

2. Find the Promise Technology Inc. Ultra 66 Controller and remove it through the Add/Remove programs tool.

3. Then reboot and reinstall the new Promise Drivers off of your new floppy.

--- Did you ever do that? Or did you simply delete it in the device manager???? Again, I'll let Jorden know what I find through this procedure and you'll get instructions from him.

Jorden, when you sign on and read this, I'll let you know if Add/Remove is leaving anything behind when the card is uninstalled.

(Or maybe a APM issue in the BIOS or Win98 with the HDD?? We all know that's buggy)

McRhea, We are very, very close, and that was useful information.

Now Please go patch it up with the your Honey, and get your hands on that IDE cable.

I think we'll keep this thread open and have a few folks from the Video Editing Forum teach some digital Photography when we're done. Hehehehe It's the least you can do.


[This message has been edited by Bixler (edited 26 November 1999).]

[RAB]

Jorden,
The mouse is a Logitech radio wave mouse and it was hanging on both channel selections. Plus, the first time I had the problem, I had a regular corded Logitech mouse then. I think the mouse is fine and it works great. Not having a cord is wonderful and it is just as responsive as a regular mouse. Since it works so well, I think I'll get the matching wireless keyboard for Christmas. (If only Logitech made a wireless joystick. )

Everyone,
After several reboots, power downs and a short try at Draken, the mouse hanging is still gone.

Earlier, I got new drivers for the modem, and NIC and installed them. I reloaded the VIA 4in1 drivers, PCI and USB patches. Nothing seemed to work. I did notice that the order in which I installed the cards did affect the IRQ assignments.

But I think the thing that finally fixed things was deleting the NIC in Program Manager one last time and reinstalling the new drivers when Windows redetected it on reboot.

I spent most of the day trying to get the modem and sound card on different IRQ's, but in the end I don't think this was necessary. What is strange is that the IRQ list above is the same as I had several times during the day, but I still had problems then. Several times during the day I had the modem and sound on IRQ 9, the NIC on 10 and the G400 on 11, only to find them all back on IRQ 10 and 11 after reboot.

After all this, I think it is still a necessary condition that fussy cards be on the highest IRQ's (your Promise and G400, my NIC and G400). But I'm not sure that it is a sufficient condition. I think you are right in trying the newest drivers for the Promise and you still need to get the sound off IRQ 11 and your Promise on 10 or 11.

Follow Bixler's advice and get your drives running on the standard IDE cables. That way we can see if the Promise card is the problem item. If it hangs without the Promise in the system, then the problem is elsewhere. If it doesn't hang, we know that the Promise is at least part of the problem. When you do put the Promise back in, make sure its the last item in and reload the latest drivers.

Keep trying. It can be fixed.

RAB

[HollyBerri]

Not to give you guys more work to do, but...

Am I the only one who thinks it's significant that ACPI/Power Management fixes McRhea's problems, rather than causing them as it usually does???

I mean, how many times have we advised people (myself included) to not even use it, because[list=1][*]the system won't wake up;[*]the system hangs when halfway woken up;[/list=a]

I have <u>never</u> heard of a system problem going away after the PC has been in sleep mode and awakened.

It seems significant to me... and gives you lot something to do while McRhea makes up with his girl...

Maybe we should send her this page, where he says it's all his fault??? No... he talks about 'getting some' as well, that'll probably offend her... would email from all of us in support of blaming you help, McRhea?? As you know, I'm all for it being <u>"his fault"</u>

---------------
Holly

[Jorden]

Hi RAB... Little question for you: Did you rearrange those IRQs in WIndows, or did you rummage around in the BIOS, setting said IRQs to said cards (in PCI PnP Setup, or something alike)?

If the first, Windows takes over on the reboot and sets the cards to what it thinks is best (ignorant program, build by ignorant people )
If the latter, and the PnP OS is disabled, Windows shouldn't move the IRQs or they must be taken by other cards...

Tim: That's alot of emailing to do

McRhea: kiss up and come back to us

Jorden.

[Jorden]

Thanks Holly,

But in my system I have PM on, not ACPI though... If only I could lay my hands on a Promise... for some testing...

Yet, PM comes on after so many minutes, and it lets your HDD/videocard and IRQs go to sleep... So what if it is an IRQ with a hickup??
One that isn't used after Windows has woken up??

On a reboot the PC wakes all the IRQs... and then the system hangs again... Think about that ... jikes...

Jord.

[Bixler]

Jord:

My Power Management is set to "always on" in the control panel, and is disabled in the BIOS as well...

[Jorden]

Tim: You don't have any problems
Maybe you should try to enable it everywhere, in BIOS and in Windows... See what it does to your system?

McRhea: What version drivers are you using for the Promise Ultra66??
You should try the advice Tim (Bixler) has given you, by deleting the Promise card and reinstalling the newest drivers from a floppy...

Jord.

[Bixler]

Jord:
I've put my box through its paces with ACPI enabled in the BIOS, and under desktop configuration in Win98 control panel all timings set to minimums so it would kick in.

No real problems that I can detect. Of course, my box is a SS7 on a VIA chipset with a completely different BIOS. (and a different ACPI driver to boot)

FYI my ACPI driver when enabled in the bios sits on IRQ10. Wonder whether his uses an IRQ???
But I think you've got the bug on the run Jord. Just make sure he's using the right driver...before you start.

Stay tuned RAB--some system info may be necessary if it turns out to be ACPI related.

Hey, McRhea!!! Listen up!
Go into Windows/system/IOsubsys and rename PU66vsd.vxd to PU66vsd.pti just to be safe.

[This message has been edited by Bixler (edited 26 November 1999).]

[RAB]

My IRQ's are all assigned by Windows. My Epox board has IRQ assignments in bios, but I didn't use it.

My Power Management is set to Alway On in Control Panel. I haven't made any changes to the defaults in bios yet.

I even got PD 5.30 to work just fine on my SS7 Epox. I was ready to blame the PD until I got everything working, so that's not the problem.

RAB


[This message has been edited by RAB (edited 27 November 1999).]

[McRhea]

Hey guys, I'm REALLY sorry! A couple things have happened in the last few days...
The first is, I had a fight with my girlfriend on Thanksgiving Day... It was totally my fault, but man, did I blow it...
I'm still patching stuff up....

Speaking of patching... Since it was Thanksgiving... my friends' brother had to go to his girlfriends' parent's house... And he took the IDE cable with him. DOH! He gets back tomorrow... so I’ll get it then.

BUT!!!! Tomorrow is Saturday (for me) and my parents are out of town again... HEhehehehehehehehehehe..... I think you know what's coming next! But I’m not going to get none if I don't patch stuff up... ya know what I’m saying? So I’ll post stuff after I get done with my "business."

One thing related to the comp... A couple of days ago, I left the thing on and when out for a couple hours. When I got back the comp was on sleep mode, but "woke up" when I moved the mouse. Anyway, the hanging was gone! The programs that usually make the thing start to hang (System Information, Games, Control Panel, etc), didn't do a thing. Meaning, I could open all those things and the system didn't even hiccup.
Now here's the weird part, When I restarted the computer, it started to hang. It's really odd.

Let’s stop and think about this:

It's not heat that's causing the hanging, because it was on for at least 2 hours and didn't hang, and then when I rebooted, it hanged.

I don't *THINK* it's the Promise Ultra... because why didn't it hang the system? Maybe the Ultra Card was on 'standby mode' ?
I have no idea.

One last thing... When I reported that the problem was fixed waaaaaay back at the beginning of this thread, it really was fixed. It didn't hang even after I rebooted. The whole comp was fine until I moved the modem. So what do you guys make of this?

Hey Rab, try restarting your comp and running strenuous tasks on your comp... My comp is fine until I run any of the programs that make the comp start to search the HD.

[McRhea]

Dang!!!!!! It's COLD in South Korea!!
That means... my girlfriend is going to be cold... which means.... Hmmmm....

All righty, back to business.
Tim, I can't really remember if I did remove the Drivers from the Add/Remove Programs...
I'm going to do it right now. And yes I do have that floppy with the correct drivers on it. I'm going to answer Jordan’s question here too... The driver version is:

6-25-99
Version 1.43 (build 0518)

Ummm.... a couple more things. If the system is just ON (it doesn't have to go into sleep mode) for a couple hours, then it doesn't hang... After I posted yesterday, I was on the internet for about 1 more hour, and then went to go watch the Tonight Show (With Jay Leno? It's an American show). What's weird is, the system didn't go into sleep mode... it was still "awake" and when I touched the mouse, it didn't need to "wake up." I decided to try out the programs that make it hang, and sure enough, nothing happened...
Even in the Monitor settings for the G400, where it usually hangs, it didn't hang at all. The screen loaded up in 3 seconds, and when I clicked on Adjust Screen or whatever, that also loaded up in 5 seconds. Usually it takes anywhere from 2-5 minutes to load up.
So there's a bit of new info...

Also, Tim and Jordan, When I reported that the problem was fixed WAAAAAY back then... I only moved the modem first. NOT the Promise... After I moved the modem, the hanging came back... that's why I thought that maybe the Promise had to be lower then the modem, so the modem was one PCI slot above the Promise... but that didn't do a thing... of course. And now I’m paying penance for it.

And lastly, Holly, Yes it was my fault... I've already told her that. I try to apologize as fast as I can... If I don't, it makes things worse. And she doesn't mind that I talk about "getting some" (actually... it's more like "getting ALOT!" but that's besides the point. ), we always joke about sex and stuff... Koreans are really reserved about sex, but I’m from Kalifornication! (<---- That's a song from the Red Hot Chili Peppers...), of course, I don't go cheat on her. I would NEVER think of doing that... wait a second... a pretty girl just walked by my window, I'll be right back.......

.........(4 minutes pass....)

.........(30 minutes pass...)

Haha... just kidding.

And I'm starting to ramble, so I'll just shut up... I'm coming back after i remove the drivers from the Add/Remove Programs, reboot, and reinstall the new drivers... See ya guys!


(Ps... I don't have a digital camera!! And I don't have a scanner either... but I know a friend that does have one... Hehehehe)

[Alfie]

This is getting weird!
System doesn't hang if left on=system is at full operating temp.
Bad connection,that makes full contact after system has reached full temp?
System hangs again when rebooted=1st scenario is probably wrong.
Possible conflict with ide and\or other drivers at reboot?
Faulty power supply?
Are we missing something here?
Jorden,you wonder why I thank you,bail me out!