2 out of 4 PCI slots not working...Ideas??

[cbates]

I dont think it is a software problem because it beeps error codes at me if my PCI display adapter isnt in one of the top two slots. The bottom two are just dead.

Should I a) reset my CMOS, b) flash my BIOS, or c) contact the manufacturer before I do something that might jeopardize my warranty?

Oh yeah....its an ECS K7AMA with the Ali chipset.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

[tenoc]

Vid cards like to be high on the food chain.

What other types of cards have you tried in the lower slots? NIC, modem, sound, what?

 

[cbates]

Well, I have my 3 PCI cards...

Voodoo3 3000 PCI vid card
56k modem (installed in the 2nd slot)
5.1 sound card (trying to install it in the 3rd slot)

I tried removing the modem and installing the sound card, and that worked fine. So then I tried putting the modem into the 3rd and 4th slots, and it wasn't recognizing it. Basically, all of the cards work in the top two slots, and none of them have worked in the bottom two.

Thanks for the reply....any suggestions?

 

[tenoc]

Ensure that anything mentioned in the bios relative to the on-board
sound is disabled. (Gameport, MIDI, AC97, etc.) Same for any modem
or lan funcions you're not using.

Doh! Is your OS and the sound and modem cards Plug-and Pray?

 

[cbates]

Yeah, I'm using XP Pro, and I have PnP enabled in the BIOS. When I installed the sound card I turned off my onboard AC97, and I have disabled the onboard modem functions.

It's just really strange that I can get all of the cards to install correctly in the two uppers slots, but not in the bottom two.

Anyway, thanks again for the reply....I'll keep working on it.

-C

 

[tenoc]

support@ecsusa is the e-mail address for them, although don't expect too
much, if anything, out of them.

Also check with the retailer about ideas and/or returns.