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Gigabyte GA-7VTXH and Windows XP = Bad Combination! ***UPDATE - Gigabyte Releases New BIOS***

F

Fastball

Banned
I purchased the Gigabyte GA-7VTXH and was impressed with most aspects of the board. It is definitely a quality board. Well laid out, integrated LAN, onboard Creative audio, etc. However, this board does NOT work well with Windows XP.

The two main problems are that USB will not function and Windows will not shut down properly. Also, sometimes PS/2 doesn't function properly. I tried many different driver combinations and ran the Windows updates, etc., but nothing worked. I reformatted and reinstalled the OS three times and each time the same exact problems occured.

I have installed XP on several other machines and have never really had any problems. Maybe Gigabyte will come up with a fix soon, but for now I would avoid this board if you are planning on running Windows XP. I think it would be fine with most other OS's. It really is a great board.

I'm getting the feeling that VIA and XP might be a bad combination. I have heard about similar problems with Epox's KT266A board. I think I'm going to try the MSI K7T266 Pro2 next and if that doesn't work, then I'm switching to the IWILL XP333 and getting away from VIA.

***UPDATE***

Gigabyte has a new BIOS for this board (BIOS "F4b") that eliminates the problems that I discussed above. The board now runs flawlessy with WinXP. Great stability and good performance.
 


<< I'm getting the feeling that VIA and XP might be a bad combination. I have heard about similar problems with Epox's KT266A board. I think I'm going to try the MSI K7T266 Pro2 next and if that doesn't work, then I'm switching to the IWILL XP333 and getting away from VIA. >>



I have installed xp twice on an Epox 8KHA+. No problems at all. Also installed xp on a Chaintech 7sid sis 735 mobo with no trouble at all.
 


<< Board is best for an experienced enthusiast who has lots of time to tinker. The plug and play did not work well at all and glommed all devices on IRQ 10 & 11. It took 2 days work and desperate measures, including coaxing enough absolutely open IRQs to get the manual settings to allow each of my device cards to go on an open IRQ. Then it set the ACPI Bios steering flags, and the configuation was stable from there. I've had severe problems with USB and with my Adaptec Ultra SCSI adapter(19160). I use an OnStream SC30 tape backup, and I have been unable to restore any files, or even being able to consistently mount a tape since my original Windows setup. Epox's tech service acknowledged a problem with Adaptec SCSI adapters and encouraged a sustained work effort. Upgrading the adapter Bios had no effect. Video performance with their AGP drivers and a GeForce 3 card is spectacular, to the good, even with anti-virus running. Overall, it is a solid board, but the compatability problems make it a poor choice for a family oriented "do it all" PC system. >>



Here is a review on the Epox 8KHA+ that is similar to other experiences that I've heard about with this board. Chris, you didn't have any of these problems?

I have also installed XP on an ECS K7S5A without any problems. Another reason I'm considering moving away from VIA.
 
So a whole company is now being boycotted by you because you have one bad experience with a board that uses their chipset. It might not be related to the chipset or the board, but a combination of certain pieces of hardware. I have seen a lot of reviews done with XP and a KT266A based board with no problems. Don't make topics with names like that, they are just stupid. You have no proof to back it up, except one experience. A top entitled "Having Trouble With My Gigabyte GA-7VTXH on XP," or something along those lines. Think before you bash an entire company.
 
this has been well "documented" over on the amdmb.com forums. go to the gigabyte section and search/look for a thread that has usb in the title. in there, you can find a link to a beta bios that according to them, works just fine.
 


<< So a whole company is now being boycotted by you because you have one bad experience with a board that uses their chipset. It might not be related to the chipset or the board, but a combination of certain pieces of hardware. I have seen a lot of reviews done with XP and a KT266A based board with no problems. Don't make topics with names like that, they are just stupid. You have no proof to back it up, except one experience. A top entitled "Having Trouble With My Gigabyte GA-7VTXH on XP," or something along those lines. Think before you bash an entire company. >>



First of all, I am not boycotting anyone -- not Gigabyte or VIA. It has not been just one bad experience, but many bad experiences from many different sources. Read the reviews as I have and you'll see a definite pattern. Sure, some of the KT266A boards are fine, but a lot of them have problems with XP -- as well as other VIA chipsets. I even cited a review that had similar problems.

Second, I never said anything negative about either company. Gigabyte makes great motherboards. There's no doubt about it. I do, however, think that VIA has more than their fair share of problems. Although, when you can get their products to work, they usually perform well.

Also, I think that the title is very appropriate. The Gigabyte GA-7VTXH and Windows XP is a bad combination. There's no doubt about it. (at least until their is a fix) I used a different chipset with the same exact hardware configuration and XP runs flawlessly. Couple that with the fact that others have encountered the same problems and I would say that there's something to it. I don't need anymore proof than that.
 


<< I'm getting the feeling that VIA and XP might be a bad combination. I have heard about similar problems with Epox's KT266A board. I think I'm going to >>



My Epox 8KHA+ & XP OS work fine together infact so do all my USB hardware 🙂.
 
Fastball, I honestly have not had any troubles at all. Overclocking is also no trouble. I have many USB devices also,GF3 Ti200,Ibm 30 gig, Xp 1600+@10.5x147fsb,kenwood 72x,TDK 24x10x40,all fan headers used,I am using onboard sound, Enermax 431 watt power. Sorry to hear about your troubles, I like the board a lot.
 


<< Fastball, I honestly have not had any troubles at all. Overclocking is also no trouble. I have many USB devices also,GF3 Ti200,Ibm 30 gig, Xp 1600+@10.5x147fsb,kenwood 72x,TDK 24x10x40,all fan headers used,I am using onboard sound, Enermax 431 watt power. Sorry to hear about your troubles, I like the board a lot. >>



which os are you using? from what i have seen, it is only a problem in winxp.

for a quick (and temp.) fix, uninstall the usb controllers, and allow xp to reboot and redetect. when that is done, usb will work just fine until you reboot again.
 
I am using win xp pro corporate. Also I am using all the latest drivers for my hardware. Latest Bios from Epox also. Good luck.

I forgot to say what usb devices I use that are always connected with absolutely no booting troubles:

1. Microtek scanmaker 3600 USB

2. HP Deskjet 648c USB

3. Iomega 250 mb external USB

4. Sandisk compact flash reader USB

5. Daimond Supra Express 56K external USB

6. Logitech cordless optical mouse USB which is part of the Cordless freedom set.

7. Generic USB hub to carry the extra devices.
 
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