Constant crashes on an Athlon system whenever I use the modem

[JackHawksmoor]

I?m running WindowsME on an Athlon system with an Asus A7V motherboard (the one with the VIA chipset). Basically my system seems to be 100% stable. I can run games for hours with no problems (although sometimes it won't shut down, and I have to force it off). But whenever I use my modem (an external USR 56K hardware modem connected through a Belkin 25 -> 9 pin serial cable), my system crashes within a few seconds to maybe 30 or 40 minutes at most.

I?ve tried using the modem and cable on another computer, and it works perfectly. I?ve tried slowing the port?s transmission speed, switching to software error control, and even reinstalling windows.

I can?t really think of anything else to do, and I?m just about to the point where I?m going to trash my motherboard and processor and replace them with an Intel 815 and P3. But I figured maybe someone on here would have another idea.

I?d appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!

BTW, I can't believe no one took this name

Whoops, I forgot to mention that I always have at least one web browser open when I get the crash (because I always have a web browser open), but it dosen't matter what browser, or what other programs are running. I tried testing it again right after I reinstalled Windows and before I stuck a ton of programs on, and it still crashes exactly the same way.

 

[Mem]

I would buy a PCI 56K modem since they are real cheap thatway you can move it to different slots on your motherboard if you get problems,btw I`m using a Diamond SupraExpress PCI modem on a Via(MSI K7T PRO) board with no problems ,also buying a new modem is alot cheaper then changing your motherboard.Don`t forget to check your IRQ`s you may have a conflict hardware wise.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Thanks, but there's no way I'm buying another modem when this one works perfectly. I don't have any IRQ conflicts. If no one has any other ideas, I'm buying an Intel setup which I know will actually work right. The bad thing is I spent weeks researching these parts before I felt comfortable buying a VIA motherboard an AMD processor. Turns out I should have stuck with Intel

 

[Supergax]

What model hardware modem is it? Have you checked to see if USR has a flash rom update for it?

EDIT: Acutally, after looking at their site it appears most flahses are a few years old, but it's worth a try to see.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Thanks, but I think it's the motherboard's serial port that's the problem, not the modem (which works fine in two other systems with Intel chipsets). I checked, but there's no update for it.

I'm going to call tommorow for tech support, but I don't expect them to be any help. So I guess it's back to Intel for me :/

 

[FluxCapacitor]

Hey Jack,

I've got a USR 56k external modem on my system (ASUS K7V... slotA version of your board) and it works great. In fact, it's working right now Maybe it's something else screwing things up. What all do you have in your system hardware-wise? Hate to see you ditch the Athlon without putting up a fight...

 

[Mem]

Try a BIOS update you might as FluxCapacitor said have something causing it problems try disabling software running in the background I had a mouse once that refused to work eventually I found the cause to be a software program running in the background that did not get along with it,btw this was on a Intel based system,AMD & Intel are the same when it comes to stability meaning you can get problems or no problems on either.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Okay, here's what I've got:

*Asus A7V with 1004c bios (the newest one listed on their site)
*Prophet Blah Blah 64MB Geforce 2
*256MB 133 RAM (not sure what brand, but it should be good-stability dosen't seem to change at 133 or 100mhz, and I just use the motherboard defaults)
*300 Watt power supply (don't remember brand, but it should be good too)
*IBM Desktop 7200 RPM 45GB
*Pioneer 16x IDE DVD-ROM
*HP 9300 CD-RW
*PS2 keyboard
*USB Microsoft optical mouse
*Serial hotsync cradle for Palm Pilot (I've tried plugging the modem and cradle into opposite ports, but it dosen't help)
*Teac (I think) floppy
*USR 56k External modem connected with a Belkin 25 -> 9 pin cable

I've messed with the bios settings a lot. I can have "optimal" selected with no apperent problems, but not fast writes (actually it's working now until I try to do a high resolution in a game, so I've just disabled it). My Via 4 in 1 drivers are set to "turbo". I've got the video bios copied to RAM, but all other shadowing off. I think I have most of the performance enhancing settings turned on now (they defaulted to off), but it dosen't seem to make a difference one way or the other for stability.

I've got the newest Nvidia drivers, the newest VIA 4 in 1, the newest bios (all from the respective sites, I think there might be newer beta drivers for some of those).

No apperent confilicts of any kind in the system properites. I was assigning IRQs manually (11 for the AGP card), but switched all that to manual in the Bios. Dosen't seem to have any effect.

Oh, and obviously I've got the 1Ghz Thunderbird in there too

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Okay, weirdly enough Asus has two websites, http://download.asus.com.tw/ and their regular one http://www.asus.com. The download one has a newer BIOS listed, 1004d, and dosen't say anything about it being a beta or anything, so I guess I'll try that one tonight.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Okay, I think I've got it fixed [crosses fingers]

It turns out Windows ME has TWO places to set hardware/software error control. Dial up networking AND the system control panel for the serial ports. By default one was set to hardware, and one to software. I set them both to hardware, and slowed my port down to the speed of the modem, and I haven't had any more crashes.

I hope that's all it was, but what a stupid problem!

 

[Mem]

JackHawksmoor ,sometimes it`s those simple things we don`t think of.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Nope, that didn't work. It's crashing again. I've got an email in for tech support. If I figure this out, I'll post on here again. If not, either I've got a unique defect, or I'd recommend sticking with Intel chipsets and processors :/

 

[cavingjan]

Have you tried it without the cradle? I had an x10 module that was conflicting wwth a serial mouse on an old system (TX chipset). Try an elcheapo pci winmodem. That will limit it down to either the modem and associated hardware or software. Wouldn't be the first time Microsoft had a problem with something old in a new OS. [I have a sidewinder 3d pro that worked on my sound card in another system; changed to a different via chipset and still worked; crashed a hard drive and reinstalled the OS on a new drive and now for the life of me I can't get it to work anymore. Same everything except harddrive and a fresh install of 98 first edition(same OS)]

 

[DaveJ]

<< I?m running WindowsME on an Athlon system with an Asus A7V motherboard (the one with the VIA chipset). Basically my system seems to be 100% stable. I can run games for hours with no problems (although sometimes it won't shut down, and I have to force it off). But whenever I use >>



Probably a WinME problem. Win95 and especially Win98 have MAJOR problems with shutdowns, why should ME be any different?



<< my modem (an external USR 56K hardware modem connected through a Belkin 25 -> 9 pin serial cable), my system crashes within a few seconds to maybe 30 or 40 minutes at most. >>



Define &quot;crash&quot;. Total system lockup? Reboot? Blue screen?

More details, please.

Dave

 

[Adul]

Hey jack, you may have tried that modem on another system, but have ytou ever tried not using the PALM pilot cradle? I have seen many instances of the palm software cause all sorts of weird little problems at work. And this are on Dell systems! So what software version you are using, and try getting an updated one.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

I've got the Hotsync software set to only load when I load the whole Palm desktop. Also it was still crashing before I loaded the software on the latest install.

I don't think I've ever had the cradle physically disconected though. I just pulled it out. What the heck, ya never know.

 

[Adul]

If you want to try something, try this. Do a clean install.
After windows 98se is installed. Apply the via 4-1 pacth. Then load all yur drivers for video, sound card and modem. Get the newest drivers from US robotics. Be sure to reboot after every install. Oh, has for the raid controler, I would disable it. We want to isolate has much has possible.

 

[JackHawksmoor]

Yup, tried all that, dosen't work. This gives me an excuse to pick up a dirt cheap iBook I've always wanted though

 

[SemperFi]

I just updated my BIOS over the weekend to 1005a from 1002. now it boots like 30 seconds quicker. Also before the flash I couldn't boot from scsi CD now I can.

I read on another board athlonmb.com problems with the 1004c &amp; D. Hmmm Asus dosen't seem to have it up. Go here. here

 

[Adul]

If youdo, and that ibook has a g4 in it. Consider doing some rc5