rec.autos.simulators

> I'm over my head here, but I try to separate IRQs as reported by the BIOS
> during POST by moving cards around in different slots, before Windows is
> even installed.  (But I have one W9x installation that won't work unless I
> specify it as a non-PnP system.)  In the old days--before things got
> complicated--the low IRQs were up at the top, near the AGP slot, and slots
> next to each other usually shared the same IRQ (which is why you didn't want
> anything like a sound card next to the AGP slot).  Nowadays I have to rely
> on the manual to see which IRQ goes where.

> Thus, I would move the scuzzy card down near the bottom and pause during
> POST to see if it's picking up an IRQ above 10.  If yer not using the
> printer port, you can salvage an IRQ port there (typically 7 or 9).  Ditto
> IRQ 12 if yer not using a PS/2 mouse.  I believe you can also save 3 & 4 if
> yer using USB and not either of the two serial ports.  Aside from the
> "reserved" IRQs (floppy=1, keyboard=6, etc.), you should only need 3 IRQs:
> sound, NIC, and SCSI (typically, 5, 2 or 9, and 11), without having to rely
> on Windows to manage sharing.

> As a last resort, you can edit the BIOS to assign IRQs manually...not
> recommended.

> I also think you shouldn't see multiple instances of the same device under
> device manager, but like I say, I'm outta my depth here.

> --Steve

> > Although this is way off-topic, you guys have a lot of know-how when it
> > come to tweaking PC's, so I hope that someone can help me out with this:

> > After many months of running fine, my Adaptec SCSI 2906 card (to which I
> > have attached my Yamaha CD Burner) is now reported to have IRQ conflicts
> > in the Windows98SE Device Manager.  It is reported as using IRQ 11,
> > along with these other devices:

> > ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering  [This is listed 4 times]
> > VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller  [This is listed 3
> > times]
> > Netgear FA311 Fast Ethernet PCI Adaptor
> > ITE 8875  [I have no idea what this is - although it may be the add-on
> > card that holds my LPT2 port]
> > ITE LPT Port (LPT2)
> > Adaptec AIC-7850 PCI SCSI Controller  [Note that my SCSI card is a 2906,
> > NOT a 7850]
> > ATI TV Wonder BT Cap, WDM Audio Capture
> > ATI TV Wonder BT Cap, WDM Video Capture
> > Creative SBLive! Value
> > Radeon 9700 Series

> > In Device Manager, under "Properties/General" for the SCSI card the
> > message reads:  "This device is using an IRQ resource that is in use by
> > another device and cannot be shared.  You must change the conflicting
> > setting or remove the real-mode driver causing the conflict.  (Code 30)"

> > However under "Properties/Resources" for the SCSI card, No Conflicts are
> > reported in the "Resources/Conflicting Device List'.  I have tried
> > re-installing the driver for the SCSI card, but that didn't change
> > anything.

> > Shouldn't the top 2 items in the above list appear only once?  If so,
> > should I remove the "extra" instances of each?  My system does not
> > appear to have any free IRQ's, with the possible exception of IRQ 5, for
> > which an unknown device is listed.  However the manual for the SCSI card
> > states that it should not use an IRQ below 10 anyway.

> > My system is an Athlon XP2100+, 512 Megs RAM, Motherboard = Epox 8Kha+,
> > Radeon 9700 Pro, running under Win98SE.

> > Any help with getting my SCSI card recognized without causing further
> > system conflicts would be greatly appreciated!

> > TIA!

> > Bert

>     This is the problem.  Enable pnp and the problem will most likely go
> away, tho you may need to delete the conflicting devices from device manager
> and let them get redetected.  Its possible to run without ACPI by disabling
> it and playing musical pci cards, but its mostly not worth the trouble.  The
> one exception is the soundcard IRQ, the DOS IRQ for which I take pains to
> make sure winds up on IRQ5, for use with older games. BTW go get the latest
> VIA motherboard drivers from www.viaarena.com

> rms

> I've thought of trying this, but my concern is that it might cause other
> conflicts.  How reliable is simply letting Win98SE's PnP detect all
devices by
> setting this to ENABLED?  And, if I do go down this road, and it causes
more
> problems than it solves, what's the easiest way to revert things back to
the way
> they are now?

> Thanks!

> Bert

> > >First, I have
> > > always run my PC with the BIOS set at non-PnP OS, using Win98SE.

> >     This is the problem.  Enable pnp and the problem will most likely go
> > away, tho you may need to delete the conflicting devices from device
manager
> > and let them get redetected.  Its possible to run without ACPI by
disabling
> > it and playing musical pci cards, but its mostly not worth the trouble.
The
> > one exception is the soundcard IRQ, the DOS IRQ for which I take pains
to
> > make sure winds up on IRQ5, for use with older games. BTW go get the
latest
> > VIA motherboard drivers from www.viaarena.com

> > rms

> Letting Windows manage the IRQs is the easy way, because Win arbitrates
> between IRQ conflicts, so two peripherals can share the same IRQ.  There
> *are* exceptions: obviously, yer Adaptec SCSI device wants a dedicated IRQ
> higher than 10.  And what Roger sez may be true with some sound cards
> (particularly older Sound Blasters; I'm not sure the newer CL products are
> so picky) that cause trouble with anything but 5.  (I guess w. Linux or
> Lycoris or something, you might have to specify each & every IRQ...and make
> sure none are shared.)

> If you do go down that road, it might be trouble in the short run - I'm not
> sure you can go back.  As I say, I have one 'puta that I inadvertantly
> installed w. PnP shut off, and now it won't boot w. it on.  You should at
> least be able to backtrack in the BIOS...if the switch hasn't thrown Windows
> for a loop.  (At least back up the Registry.)

> My advice would be to switch the BIOS to PnP enabled (plus reserving a high
> IRQ for whatever yer scuzzy card is in) and do a complete reinstall of
> Windows (something that should be done at least once a year anyway, IMO).

> However, I feel like the blind leading the blind here.  My ignorance in this
> area is VAST.  I wish somebody who actually KNOWS something would step in
> NOW and set us straight!

> --Steve

> > Thanks for the reply, Roger.

> > I've thought of trying this, but my concern is that it might cause other
> > conflicts.  How reliable is simply letting Win98SE's PnP detect all
> devices by
> > setting this to ENABLED?  And, if I do go down this road, and it causes
> more
> > problems than it solves, what's the easiest way to revert things back to
> the way
> > they are now?

> > Thanks!

> > Bert

> > > >First, I have
> > > > always run my PC with the BIOS set at non-PnP OS, using Win98SE.

> > >     This is the problem.  Enable pnp and the problem will most likely go
> > > away, tho you may need to delete the conflicting devices from device
> manager
> > > and let them get redetected.  Its possible to run without ACPI by
> disabling
> > > it and playing musical pci cards, but its mostly not worth the trouble.
> The
> > > one exception is the soundcard IRQ, the DOS IRQ for which I take pains
> to
> > > make sure winds up on IRQ5, for use with older games. BTW go get the
> latest
> > > VIA motherboard drivers from www.viaarena.com

> > > rms

> > Bert,

> > Letting Windows manage the IRQs is the easy way, because Win arbitrates
> > between IRQ conflicts, so two peripherals can share the same IRQ.  There
> > *are* exceptions: obviously, yer Adaptec SCSI device wants a dedicated
IRQ
> > higher than 10.  And what Roger sez may be true with some sound cards
> > (particularly older Sound Blasters; I'm not sure the newer CL products
are
> > so picky) that cause trouble with anything but 5.  (I guess w. Linux or
> > Lycoris or something, you might have to specify each & every IRQ...and
make
> > sure none are shared.)

> > If you do go down that road, it might be trouble in the short run - I'm
not
> > sure you can go back.  As I say, I have one 'puta that I inadvertantly
> > installed w. PnP shut off, and now it won't boot w. it on.  You should
at
> > least be able to backtrack in the BIOS...if the switch hasn't thrown
Windows
> > for a loop.  (At least back up the Registry.)

> > My advice would be to switch the BIOS to PnP enabled (plus reserving a
high
> > IRQ for whatever yer scuzzy card is in) and do a complete reinstall of
> > Windows (something that should be done at least once a year anyway,
IMO).

> > However, I feel like the blind leading the blind here.  My ignorance in
this
> > area is VAST.  I wish somebody who actually KNOWS something would step
in
> > NOW and set us straight!

> > --Steve

> > > Thanks for the reply, Roger.

> > > I've thought of trying this, but my concern is that it might cause
other
> > > conflicts.  How reliable is simply letting Win98SE's PnP detect all
> > devices by
> > > setting this to ENABLED?  And, if I do go down this road, and it
causes
> > more
> > > problems than it solves, what's the easiest way to revert things back
to
> > the way
> > > they are now?

> > > Thanks!

> > > Bert

> > > > >First, I have
> > > > > always run my PC with the BIOS set at non-PnP OS, using Win98SE.

> > > >     This is the problem.  Enable pnp and the problem will most
likely go
> > > > away, tho you may need to delete the conflicting devices from device
> > manager
> > > > and let them get redetected.  Its possible to run without ACPI by
> > disabling
> > > > it and playing musical pci cards, but its mostly not worth the
trouble.
> > The
> > > > one exception is the soundcard IRQ, the DOS IRQ for which I take
pains
> > to
> > > > make sure winds up on IRQ5, for use with older games. BTW go get the
> > latest
> > > > VIA motherboard drivers from www.viaarena.com

> > > > rms