Abit KT7A problem (probably USB)

[Simulat]

Full specs are linked below. Ive got an Abit KT7A - Raid board and Im experience what seems to be a USB problem. Ive got @Home cable service and am using a Linksys USB Network Adapter. After playing UT, I regularly lose my connection after some short period of time (sometimes less than five minutes). I exit UT and see Ive completely lost my connection, cant open up a webpage or anything (though all the Led's on the modem are normal, not blinking like there is a problem). When I try to restart, I get the following blue screen error: An exception has occurred at 0028:coo30aec in VxD. Have to hit the restart switch. Everything works fine for a bit until it happens again. Ive only noticed it during UT but my roomate has said it happens when just surfing the web.

Had previously been using a USB mouse. Was also locking up during UT, mouse would stop working and then about five seconds later the system would freeze entirely. Using the PS2 port now and not having that problem anymore.

Have tried installing the USB Filter driver, using the 4.28 4 in 1 drivers.

 

[Spiker]

I have read that most USB problems with the Abit KT7 go away if you get a USB controller card instead of using the standard USB ports. I think they are pretty cheap might want to check that out.

 

[JustStarting]

I had problems installing the Lynksis nic in my KT7-Raid. Seems it was not extracting the drivers completely off the CD. I got some vxd errors at startup. I reinstalled the drivers from the cd and it again did not extract all files properly. I was told by local shop to point the installation to c:/windows and c:/windows/system. Upon doing this all was fine. No issues since that. Dont know if this helped, but you seem to be in a similiar situation

 

[Simulat]

Seems silly that I have to buy a USB controller card to get my highly expensive motherboard to perform basic tasks. There has to be some way to fix the problem without resorting to that.

Will try that JustStarting, thanks. Though I think its a more general problem than just the Linksys' adapter since the mouse was messing up too while in a USB port. What do VxD errors signify anyway?

 

[Simulat]

One other question: could this be an issue related to overclocking? I recently sold my KT7 board when I bought the KT7A-Raid. Cpu (1ghz Tbird) was clocked normally on the KT7 but is now clocked at 1120 (8 x 140). Didnt have this problem on the KT7.

Roomate who was using the computer mentioned something like this happening while just surfing the web but I havent noticed it at all, definitely happens mainly when playing UT so could overheating be a problem? My CPU temps are not too high (used arctic silver with a Fop 32-1) but could part of the mobo (northbridge maybe?) be getting too hot?

 

[SaturnX]

Well from what I've read, the KT7A has USB issues, and the only solution is to pick up a seperate controller card. This is what I've heard, not 100% sure of it.

--Mark

 

[DigitalWolf]

Greets,

I'm running an Abit KT7A NON Raid. I have 3 USB Devices that I use with absolutely NO issues. However, people that I have seen with issues usually involve a modem. As you do list.

I was wondering since you list a mouse as having had problems what kind of mouse it was... (as it may be related if you have bad port(s)). I haven't heard anything in general about the KT7A having USB problems and needing a seperate controller card. I visit many VIA motherboard forums as I own a KT7A and like to keep current on issues/bios updates and things of that nature. It could be possible that you have a bad USB port(s) and that you could fix it with an add on card. In fact your USB controller could be faulty... My KT7A came with an adapter to use the second set of ports that are on the mobo. Have you tried swapping your modem around to the different USB ports?? I assume the Raid board comes with the same cables. You should have a total of 4 ports to choose from.

I myself use a MS Optical Mouse, MS Game Controller and a MicroTek Scanner. I've not had any issues at all. I used all these same devices on my previous setup which was an Abit KA7.

I asked about the mouse earlier because... If it happened to be the same kind of mouse I have.. MS Intellimouse Optical(USB) then it should work.

Also as far as Overclocking, that could affect it but its probably not. My system is a TBird 900MHz that I run at 7.5x133/33 (1000MHz). I've also run it at 140x7.5 (1050MHz) and I have not had any issues at either speed.

All I can tell you from *my* experience is that I have 3 USB devices that work 100% with NO problems for me 12 to 14 hours a day 7 days a week.

-DW

 

[chasm22]

I have a Kt7a raid. No usb problems. Printer on usb, networking son's computer on a 2wire homepna usb connection. Logitech wingman usb connection. All working fine. However...

I have read that via's kt133 chipset has some issues with usb's. The first place you might want to check out is here Paul's Unofficial Abit KT7 FAQ's. Great site for alot of reasons. Troubleshooting, tweaking,etc. He's got several suggestions for usb problems. HTH

 

[NFS4]

I have a KT7A-RAID with 8 USB devices...no problems

 

[anza]

I am having the same problem as you are Simulat. Indeed, I noticed it in the same game (UT) that, freezes after a few minutes ( <5m ). I am sure is some conflict of the usb with another card or controller. I tried also Starcraf, with the same result but with a better duration (>15 and <25 minutes) so I discard the possibility that is something related with that game (UT).

I think this problems affects the internet explorer too but, you need more time to notice it.
At first my internet connection freezes after a few seconds and I needed to restart the computer, so I made some changes of the cards in the slots after a clear installation of windows 98 se and after a bios update ( ww to wz). I tought i had solved the problem, cause my internet connections were more stable, at least for much more time, but then when I tried UT I noticed that the problem remains there.
I am using my sound card in slot 3, a tv card in 4, a pci usb controller in 5, and mic card in 6.My modem is a usb creative blaster. So, as you can see I already have a pci usb controller and the problems are the same, maybe the conflicts are different.

Recently I tried to increase the number of my cpu driving strenght to 3 (bios) as described in Paul's unofficial and I think now the problem remains but the duration time at least in UT IMPROVED, now I can play for about 10 minutes.Try yourself and tell me what you think.

PS: Take a look at the topic &quot;Abit Kt7a raid - boot and usb problems - Who knows the answer? Everybody with cold boot? Come on let's get to a solution!!!!!&quot; . BTW now I can use the 9x133 configuration. I disabled both my serial's ports and my lpt1 also, just to free some irqs.

PS2: Sorry about the english

 

[misle]

I have a KT7A-Raid and I have had lots of problems with the USB on the board. Here is where I went to fix the problem:

Paul's Unoffical ABIT KT7 FAQ

USBMan

Hope this helps, It sure helped me!

Matt

 

[loosbrew]

ok,
first off, usb network adapters suck. very buggy and unstable. second, windows9x/ME has problems with vxd's and networking. used to happen to me all the time with my old k6-2400. vxd errors on boot up, or just surfing. theres a fix for it somewhere. also try setting the usb to have its own irq in the bios. that might help. you might want to check out the kt7 faq online on icrontic's site. its pretty much the same board as the kt7. oh, also the vxd's errors usually have something to do with mouse issues also. i guess that theres a vxd thats being used to do multiple functions at the same time, and crashes the pc often. there is a way to get the files out of the vxd and use the seperately. not too sure though. hope this helps.

loosbrew

 

[kintama]

Up your system voltage to 3.5 or 3.6. More volts took care of alot of my probs. Can't think of the true name for the setting though.
Brain fart

 

[Simulat]

Im hoping it was an IRQ conflict. I noticed that the USB controller and sound card (Ive got a Philips Acoustic Edge) were sharing an IRQ number. Switched the card to a different PCI slot so it wasnt sharing an IRQ with the USB controller. Hope that fixed the problem though I havent had a chance to test yet.

Have tried all the recommendations on Pauls, USBman etc.

About USB network adapters, Ive heard people say PCI ones are preferable but Ive never heard a reason why.

Mean the I/O voltage setting, Kintama?

Thanks for the help all.

 

[bonkers325]

i have no probs what so ever with the kt7a+usb have mouse scanner and printer

 

[anza]

I don't have problems with my sidewinder pro in the usb port. I think this usb problem is more usual with external modems and it seems to appear when you stress your system with intense data exchange like in online games. (I'm not sure)