Dissolving G400- Doesn"t Anyone Know?????

[caprig]

Originally posted by Buback
I've had this problem too, lots of screen corupion and stuff. hapened to me mostly in 3d games.

I was overclocking, and so putting it back to normal helped, but did not stop it.

next i tried irq stuff, worked pretty good for a while.

i tried turning on apci but don't even bother, it only makes more problems.

my current soulution is to unplug one of my extra exhaust fans. i havn't had any problems for 6-8 months. if you have any extra fans you added then try unpluging it. i think it might dirty the power and **** everything up. you might have problems with heat, but you can underclock i guess, or leave your case open, at least to try it.

ps. i also have a single head g400. maybe this is the cause of our problems?

kevin

Hey, Kevin!
What I find really strange about my problem is that it only seems to happen when I am online. It does not happen when I am playing any 3D games (which ones did you have trouble with, maybe I can see if they act up with my system too?), running heavy graphics programs, or DVD's.

If it happened all of the time, I would think it might be the fan or the warm thing.

I am not overclocked. The three fans I have are parts of units. I did not add them extra.

First fan is the power supply fan (we all have those)
Second fan is on the processor
Third fan is on the case front.

I just do not think that it is the fans, but I am not totally ruling that out. I will try what you said, it can't hurt.

I think it is the single head G400 that is the problem. I am not sure WHAT the thing happening is that forces all of the IRQ's to head for 11, but there has to be a logical explanation.

What I do not understand is with all of the people that have been plagued with this problem, you would think that a fix would have been developed. There has been plenty of time, and the G400 is a popular card.

Thanks for the insights. I can use all of the input I can get!

Capri

[caprig]

Re: re: ACPI

Originally posted by Dilitante1



btw...this USED to happen on my G200, after I bumped the PSU up to 300watts it hasnt happened [/B]

Did it happen all of the time, or just while online?

Capri

[Jorden]

Weird option

Caprig, a weird option, if you have it, anyway.

Could you try to change your modem? Or test your modem in another PC and see if it does these strange things in that PC as well?

How is the serial port set up for the modem? Maximum speed or standard speed?

Ofcourse, if you have another AGP videocard, you could try to put that in, and see if it gives the same problems, just to rule out if it is the G400

Jord.

[motub]

Re: Dissolving G400- Doesn"t Anyone Know?????

People, people.... I think we're missing something here....

Originally posted by caprig
Suddenly, the screen garbles, the pointer becomes a multicolored square, and I have to reboot with the switch. The keyboard is frozen as well.

Are these not the classic symptoms of AGP speed lockup? They certainly were for me, but I got this problem on bootup, not when I went online.

What about trying the Matrox tweak utility to force AGP 1x? It usually sets to "default" which is probably 2x or more, and for many mobos this does not work.

I admit that the "only when I go online" issue is odd, but I do wonder if something about the Juno setup might be causing it....

Did you try reinstalling Juno, btw?

And is that ESS modem an actual part, or a chip on the mobo? I have found that integrated modem or sound chips can often play hob with a system -- you don't by chance have an HP system, do you?

I'd say try forcing AGP 1x and see if that helps. Then if you want, we can go further with general system cleanup.

[caprig]

Re: Weird option

Originally posted by Jorden
Caprig, a weird option, if you have it, anyway.

Could you try to change your modem? Or test your modem in another PC and see if it does these strange things in that PC as well?

How is the serial port set up for the modem? Maximum speed or standard speed?

Ofcourse, if you have another AGP videocard, you could try to put that in, and see if it gives the same problems, just to rule out if it is the G400

Jord.

---------
Before I go there, I want to try to disable the ACPI function.

I have looked and looked at the mobo BIOS but nothing is labeled as ACPI.

The only thing I can find is Power Management option
Disable
User Define
Min Saving
Max Saving

I am assuming that this is it.

Now, if I disable this, is there a counterpart in Win98SE that I need to disable as well?

Capri

[caprig]

Re: Re: Dissolving G400- Doesn"t Anyone Know?????

Originally posted by motub
People, people.... I think we're missing something here....



Are these not the classic symptoms of AGP speed lockup? They certainly were for me, but I got this problem on bootup, not when I went online.

What about trying the Matrox tweak utility to force AGP 1x? It usually sets to "default" which is probably 2x or more, and for many mobos this does not work.

I admit that the "only when I go online" issue is odd, but I do wonder if something about the Juno setup might be causing it....

Did you try reinstalling Juno, btw?

And is that ESS modem an actual part, or a chip on the mobo? I have found that integrated modem or sound chips can often play hob with a system -- you don't by chance have an HP system, do you?

I'd say try forcing AGP 1x and see if that helps. Then if you want, we can go further with general system cleanup.

Okay, Holly, I have the Asus A7V board. There is an option there for AGP 4X drive strength.

The choices are auto and manual

If choice is manual, there are then 2 things needed to be configured manually:
AGP drive strength P Ctrl [C] - set from 0 to F

AGP drive strength N Ctrl [E] - set from 0 to F

If I set them both to 1, then could that take care of the problem?

I hate to use overlay programs unless I absolutely have to.

BTW, the modem is a separate modem (I hate integrated parts)

From what I have observed, that online thing seems to be the catalyst that forces the IRQ's to head for 11.

They all stay in their proper places until I am online. Something there triggers them to suddenly pile up on IRQ 11. Could it be a Power Mgm thing that something in Juno or IE is triggering?

I know people who do not have Juno, but have the same problems while online. They do not have the same mobo either. Nor the same modem.

I will check out the tweak utility, maybe that will be the way to go. First, before I screw up my system, I want to try the AGP settings first.

And no, my system is one I built. I also do not like anything prefab anymore. Too many weaknesses.

This is the only problem I have with this system. The rest of the time it works fine. Only while online do the IRQ's head for 11.

Thanks,
Capri

[Jorden]

Now, if I disable this, is there a counterpart in Win98SE that I need to disable as well?

No, the way to do it is reinstalling the OS (on top of itself, yes). I don't think there is another way around.

I'll let Holly handle the AGP stuff

Last question: Did you ever try to move the modem card to another PCI slot? And did you check that all cards are firmly pressed into their slots?

Jord.

[motub]

Well, caprig, your idea of reducing the AGP speed in the BIOS is worth a try, in any case-- I've never had a mobo that had that ability, so I don't know much about how it will affect the situation. But my card won't run properly at 2x (which is as high as my mobo goes with AGP), and the display would become corrupted (and the system locked) in exactly the way you describe, and it turned out that I had to (like so many others) force AGP 1x to stop it. In fact, for quite some time, solving that problem (especially on driver update) was the main usefulness of the Matrox Tweak Util.

It seems that using your modem is causing some kind of conflict between drivers, or system/mobo resources. It would appear that there is a "dormant" problem on your system that only becomes critical when the modem is active. That would imply a driver conflict, or a problem with software that is only open when you are online. But that still leaves a lot of ground to cover...

The problem could in fact be something video-related, or it could be two other devices which are conflicting and locking up the system, but the conflict is only showing in the display (since everything ultimately must be displayed on-screen). Naturally, the modem is involved, but it's hard to see how a modem could screw up a video card. The more likely culprit is usually a sound card-- the wave device included with voice modems or integrated soundcard/modem combos often causes conflicts with separate sound cards in my experience, as well as the SB emulation on soundcards conflicting with those modem components, or forcing the modem to a bad location.

And I can't help thinking that the specialized Juno software has something to do with it--- similar to AOL, such software often includes bells and whistles to create "ease-of-use" and/or to conceal a lack of functionality--- such as heavily sound- or video-intensive Flash or Shockwave splash screens and site graphics, and that's before we even touch the Java and Javascript (which is another possible idea to consider-- it could be your browser crashing). If the system is stable, but (unknown to you, o noble user) only barely so, a request for such heavy use might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Similar "just-one-thing-too-many" possibilities:

• Any Media Player (yeah, any of them, though Winamp particularly seems to cause definite problems when online) or their tray Agents trying to connect while Juno is trying to operate;
• ICQ running in the background (don't know about the other IM proggys but I can sure see how ICQ and Juno might not get along, and ICQ by default runs on startup, waiting for you to connect);
• Any of the agents for "Automatic Update" of oh-so-many programs nowadays... AV, most fix-it utilities, download managers... the list goes on. Not to mention the "sponsored" programs, which are trying to update their servers and download advertising, which, again, I can see how Juno might not like....

I think my point here is that Juno, not being an "ordinary" ISP, may not be compatible with many online protocols that may be operating invisibly on your system.

So there are a lot of vectors to look into: possible hardware resource conflict at the mobo level (just not enough resources for the devices requesting them), possible driver conflict, possible software conflict from an unknown source.

*sigh*.

Now that I've typed all that, I've had a couple of new ideas to narrow the field:

1. Try logging on to Juno in Safe Mode... if that works, we'll have a better idea of whether the video card is involved.
2. Try logging on to Windows normally, and then use CTRL-Alt-Del to close everything except Explorer and the systray (and PowerDesk, if you like). Then try logging on to Juno, and see if it crashes.

Maybe then we can see if it's a HW or SW problem, at least.

Good luck (and sorry this is so long)!

[caprig]

Holly,
Glad it is so long.

I have a few more questions.

1. Since the crash happens online, I have noticed that I happen to be on a screen, more times than not with a lot of flashing ad banners. That is usually when the camel goes down for the count.

If I open a lot of windows, it will often launch it into duh mode too. Hence, it seems to be using up space and not returning any even after the browser windows are closed.

2. What is it that forces all of the things onto IRQ 11 even when they are evenly distributed. ACPI?

Thanks, I willbe back after experimenting. If I am not back for a long time, then I probably screwed up the whole thing.





Thanks!
Capri

[motub]

According to Jorden, it is ACPI forcing you on to IRQ 11, but he has already waxed poetic about it in a post somewhere in the middle of this thread..

This is sounding now like it is your browser crashing.

So I guess we should ask just what browser you're using-- or maybe it should be "what version of Netscape", since both IE and the current versions of Mozilla survive Java and Javascript Popup Hell sites much better....

[Frozenpenguin]

Capri -

I can't believe someone else has this problem too. I thought it was just me

I know the "garbled screen of death" you are talking about very well. And what else is interesting is that I also get it only when online . Our PC configs are very similar as well:

AMD 750 Athlon
Abit KA7-100
256MB Crucial PC-133
20GB Western Digital HD
Matrox G400 Single Head 32MB
Soundblaster Live
US Robotics Sportster ISA v.90 modem
HP 970 - usb
Microtek Slimscan C6 - usb
MS Sidewinder Pro2 - usb
Windows ME

I had the problem back when I had win98 and it's come with me to WinMe. The problem is not Juno as I have a local service provider. I too only get it when online (I probably get it 1-2 times per week so it doesn't really bother me that much). I'm using IE 5.5sp1 so netscape is not an issue for me.

Some bios info:

I have PNP OS off, ACAPI off, AGP to boot first, AGP running at 4x (I can't see this being the problem as I can play UT or CFS2 all night long at 1024x768 without so much as a hiccup), Parallel ports disabled, IR disabled, not overclocking, PC temp is fine. The only thing I have on IRQ11 is the matrox. SBLive is on IRQ10.

You don't by any chance have a Logitech cordless mouse or are using the Logitech mousware divers are you? This probably has nothing to do with anything but I seem to notice that whenever I get the garbled screen it's right after I use the mousewheel to scroll on a webpage. Like I said - probably nothing, but that's the only thing I can see similar everytime the thing locks up.

Let me know if you come up with any other ideas.

Brian

Oh, one more thing I forgot - I also have the latest drivers and bios updates on everything.

[Rags]

caprig,

to install win98 in standard apm mode, put the cd in the cdrom and then go to start/run/command. Go to d:\win98 (or whatever drive letter your cdrom is, and wherever the setup.exe is on your win98 cd). Then type "setup- p i" without the quotes. This will install in apm.


First try recovering your bios with the Matrox bios recovery utility found on their website. Instructions are included, only they forget to tell you DON'T write protect your floppy after it's made, the pc needs to be able to write to the floppy when you boot with it.

Also try switching down to AGP 1X mode.

Frozenpenguin,

Force AGP 1X mode with the MTSU and post back with your results. I know it sounds weird, but just do it. It's easy and it can work.

Rags