Boot hangs in Win98: could it be my g400Max?

[Kurt]

I need both IDE and SCSI for my RAID array and my CDR. No SCSI no burner, no IDE, no RAID. Try running a striped array with two or four 7200 Maxtor drives, you won't want to go back to even one 10.000rpm SCSI drive (you can get the whole array with 4 drives+adapter for the price of 1*10.000rpm SCSI drive...)

It is vey possible that my problem is PSU related, in fact the new one is on its way already, BUT it's going to take a while because nobody's got it in stock where I am.
It's not IRQ related as everything runs fine when the G400 drivers are uninstalled. I could use the computer normally, only it was in 640*480*16colors.

It could also be the AGP miniport driver. I have the AMD mpd 4.45 installed, I'll try going back to an older one just to see.

Thanks anyway for the help, and sorry for the "Jorgen".

Kurt

[Jorden]

That's okay, Kurt.

It's not IRQ related as everything runs fine when the G400 drivers are uninstalled. I could use the computer normally, only it was in 640*480*16colors.

That could still be IRQ related. Wouldn't hurt if you'd post your IRQ list.

Especially your "It's not IRQ related as everything runs fine when the G400 drivers are uninstalled." gives that away.

Sure, any videocard runs fine in VGA (being 640x480x16colors), when it's not using drivers.

Did you try the more stable PD5.30 drivers??

There's so much we could do, but we'd need a look at your IRQ table first (even though we can't change anything in the mobo's BIOS )

Jord.

[Kurt]

Finally, after much demand ;-), is the IRQ list:

00 SYSTEM TIMER
01 KEYBOARD
02 PROGR. INTERRUPT CONTROLLER
03 FREE
04 COM1
05 USB CONTROLLER
05 ACPI IRQ HOLDER FOR PCI STEERING
06 FLOPPY
07 CREATIVE SB16 EMUL
08 SYSTEM CMOS/ REAL TIME CLOCK
09 SCI IRQ FOR ACPI BUS
10 DIAMOND FIREPORT 40
10 ACPI IRQ HOLDER FOR PCI STEERING
11 CREATIVE SB LIVE
11 3COM 10/100TX
11 ACPI IRQ HOLDER FOR PCI STEERING
12 PS2 MOUSE
13 NUMERIC DATA PROCESSOR
14 PROMISE FASTRAKK66
14 ATI RAGE128 MAGNUM (G400MAX WHEN IT'S IN)
14 ACPI IRQ HOLDER FOR PCI STEERING
15 FREE

this is the config that I use now. I know Matrox cards like to be the master of their own bus, but I have no idea how to force the IRQ setting of the other peripherals so there is no sharing. I already tried forcing IRQ's manually through windows, but that only got me either a black screen or a nice freeze at the boot logo...

[MXR4LIFE]

Your kidding, right?

If not, then disable the ACPI in BIOS. It's a joke anyway IMHO. What are you using the RAID for? I'm nosey

[This message has been edited by MXR4LIFE (edited 11 February 2000).]

[Kurt]

This is the funny bit: you CAN'T disable ACPI...neither in BIOS nor in windoze, unless someone knows a registry hack?
I don't need ACPI, I got all the IRQ I want/need. My problem is that windoze, which knows better, does not let me put my own settings or overrides them (hence black screens and freezes).

BTW: RAID=Win98 desktop in less than 30sec. from boot...it's FAST! In fact, since I can't get that system installed and re-installed every 20 minutes I made an image of the array on my external SCSI HD: it feels painfully slow even though it's a pretty regular HD, not slower than the norm.
If you have enough IRQ and kudos, get yourself a Promise Fastrakk66 IDE RAID and a couple of 7200rpm IDE drives (the fastest right now is the Maxtor Diamond Max Plus 40 series and they are *quite* cheap). You will never want to part with them or even think about a 10K SCSI drive (unless in...RAID, but you'll have to fork quite a bit of money for that...)

Bye,

Kurt

[Jorden]

MXR4LIFE: You cannot change IRQs or anything else that is important on an Athlon mobo in it's BIOS !!...

But knowing which cards are in what slots, plus the IRQ listing could help !!

Kurt: The ACPI IRQ holder is the same as the normal IRQ holder for PCI steering No sweat there... I just wonder what the USB IRQ is doing at IRQ5 ... but without much knowledge of your BIOS or mobo, I don't know

"07 CREATIVE SB16 EMUL" if this should work okay the SB 16 Emulator should be at IRQ 5, printer/LPT:1 port on IRQ 7.

Your DIAMOND FIREPORT, what does that mean?? Your hdd?? at IRQ 10???

Answer these first, please...

Jord.

[Kurt]

Starting from top to bottom:
AGP: ATI RAge 128 (would be G400)
PCI 1: FREE
PCI 2: FIREPORT 40 UW-SCSI
PCI 3: FASTRAKK66 RAID IDE
PCI 4: SB LIVE
PCI 5: 3COM 10/100TX
ISA 1: FREE
ISA 2: FREE

The USB is doing pretty much what it wants at IRQ 5. Itried forcing the SB 16 EMUL at IRQ 5 manually, but windows overrides it. Besides, I'm not using any legacy games or other, so it does not bother me there. LPT has been disabled as well, since I run my HP895 from the USB (which is a bitch to disable/get rid of in the config. panel).
I need to have the Fastrakk66 lower than the Fireport because of the way the BIOS detects the cards. If I swap them, the computer then tries to boot from my external SCSI HDD and not the internal RAID array. Both need PCI busmaster. One question: how many busmaster PCI slots? 4 or 5?

I used to know a program that could set the BIOS flags from windows for most of the Intel chipsets (I forgot the name though). I was wondering, whether it existed for the Irongate chipset?

Kurt

[MXR4LIFE]

Sorry Kurt, I don't know what the MSI has in it's BIOS. My ASUS K7M does have a lot of options incuding; Disable ACPI, wich helped. I know a Dealer that disables it on every system he builds with the K7M. Sometimes Windows does a better job if you let it control everything from the start. In otherwords if you don't want to do a clean install, make sure the BIOS is set to: PNP OS? YES and boot into safe mode > remove the conflicting devices or everything in Device Manager (or just the PCI BUS for a short cut) save and reboot. It has worked for me and many others. Good Luck

BTW That U66 RAID x 2 40+ sounds fast! Do you have benchmarks or know of any? I have two identicle DM+'s(not 40+'s) also and wondered how much speed you gain?

[This message has been edited by MXR4LIFE (edited 13 February 2000).]

[Kurt]

I don't have benchmarks but you can find them on arstechnica.com (if you dig in the archives a little).
Good that you already have the drives, you just need to buy that Promise Fastrakk66 RAID adapter. It should come around $100-150.
For best performance, make sure your drives are identical, i.e. same size/model/..., and set them up in a striped array. I use 64K blocks for the array, but you might want to play around and figure out which size is faster for you (depending also on what progs you use).

Best of luck.

Kurt

[Kurt]

IT'S ALIIIVVE!

I finally got this rig to work!
After swapping a while, I managed to have the SB Live share the IRQ with the MGA and that did it! (don't ask how I got it there, I just know that after a reboot it was done...).
Quake is doing just fine, CDR is go, scanner, backup,...

I could not get anything running with the 10/100TX adapter next to the G400. USB is still wandering at IRQ 5, SB 16 EMUL at IRQ 7, go figure...

I installed drivers 5.41 with TurboGL, on win98 second edition. Other adapters run with latest drivers. In addition, I added the latest Aureal A2D drivers for non A3D cards (A2D drivers v. 3.10).

here is the list/arrangement:

00 system timer
01 keyboard
02 programmable interrupt controller
03 FREE
04 COM1 (USR Message modem 56K External)
05 acpi irq holder for pci steering
05 amd 756 pci to usb open host controller
06 floppy
07 sb 16 emulation
08 system cmos/ real time clock
09 sci irq used by acpi bus
10 fireport 40 uw-scsi adapter
10 acpi irq holder for pci steering
11 fastrakk66 ide raid adapter
11 3Com 10/100TX 3C905b-tx adapter
11 acpi irq holder for pci steering
12 ps2 mouse
13 numeric data processor
14 MATROX MILLENIUM G400 DUALHEAD MAX (YESSS)
14 sb live


from top to bottom:
AGP Matrox G400MAX
PCI1 FREE
PCI2 fireport 40 uw-scsi adapter
PCI3 sb live
PCI4 fastrakk66 ide raid adapter
PCI5 3com 10/100TX
ISA1 FREE
ISA2 FREE