Help with new XP install

[SupaDupaCheez]

I have installed windows XP pro on my machine and I'm having a problem with a few areas.

THE SETUP:
Epox 8KTA3 (not the raid version)
384mb PC133
Duron 700
Guillemot Fortissimo sound card (PCI slot 3)
Kingston PCI ethernet adapter (PCI slot 5)
Maxtor (promise) ata/100 pci adapter/controller (PCI slot 2)
western digital WD600AB 60GB HDD (F,G,H,I,J,K drives...storage only) (connected to controller as Slave)
Maxtor 5T020H2 20GB HDD (C,D,E: Drives) (connected to Controller as Master)
Adaptec AHA-2930C SCSI controller (PCI slot 1)
Plextor 32Tsi 32x SCSI CDRom (Connected to SCSI Controller)
HP 842C printer (USB or parallel.....preferably USB)
Canon Canoscan 650U scanner (USB)
Banshee 16mb Vid card (AGP slot)
TEAC 512EB 12x burner (connected to Primary IDE channel on MB)
TEAC 512EB 12x burner (connected to Secondary IDE channel on MB)
Floppy drive
USB ZIP 100
Antec SX1030 case with AMD approved 300w powersupply
OPTI-UPS PowerES
Motherboard has onboard USB (2 slots)
2 slot USB Header (from Epox)
Fresh install of WINXP Pro

WHAT I WANT:
1. To be able to connect the Printer, Scanner, and Zip via USB
2. To have a stable system (Duh)

WHAT I DID (Install):
1. Formatted/Partitioned brand new drive
2. Installed Win XP Pro
3. Installed all updated drivers including via 4-in-1 v437a
4. installed all other programs

THE PROBLEM(s):
1. I can get the USB ZIP to work but the scanner and printer will not work (but are 'seen' by windows) when connected via USB but does work when connected via parrallel)

2. In Device Manager: The primary and secondary IDE channels are listed under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers AND under SCSI Controllers as SCSI/RAID Host Controller. I have determined this by process of elimination. They are conflicting because the share the same IRQ and I/O Ranges. I tried uninstalling the Prim/Sec IDE channels and rebooting (to see if they take different resources) to no avail. I tried the same thing with the SCSI/RAID Host Controllers (they appear as the same name with different resources....almost a dual entry) but the system would not uninstall them. Instead I keep getting a 'System has finished installing your new hardware....reboot to finish' message which I did and still no change. In Win98SE I was able to change some of the resources when IRQ/Resource conflicts occurred but that option is not available in WINXP.

3. When the system is booted, the first time I try to get into either control panel or explorer, It takes almost a full minute to come up (meanwhile the system is 'frozen' until it does come up). I am assuming this is due to the IDE problem but we all know what 'Ass-U-Me' means.


Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thanks

SupaDupaCheez

PS: Please.....no flaming

 

[ojai00]

These are just blank thoughts...

1. Have you tried flashing your motherboard's BIOS to a newer version? The problem seems to be the USB port, so flashing it might fix that. Also, try re-arranging which devices are connected where...like change the Zip drive to another port and see if that helps.

2. Have you made sure all the jumpers on your devices are set correctly (master, slave, etc.)?

3. The XP load time varies from user to user. It takes me about 30 seconds to 1 minute to load because of all the programs in the background. I think it's the LAN connection that causes it to take so long.

Take these for what you will. I've never had an Epox motherboard, so I don't have any experience on them. Hope this helps!

BTW: Nice system...your case must be packed!

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

ojai00:



<< 1. Have you tried flashing your motherboard's BIOS to a newer version? The problem seems to be the USB port, so flashing it might fix that >>



That was actually the first thing I thought of but I'm a little 'scared' of doing this. I've heard of horror stories about dead MB's and I need mine! I went to Epox's site and they said that I have to make a 'boot disc without ANY drivers....only the OS'. How do I go about doing that?




<< 2. Have you made sure all the jumpers on your devices are set correctly (master, slave, etc.)? >>



Yep....in my frustration I probably checked all of the jumpers 50 times




<< 3. The XP load time varies from user to user. It takes me about 30 seconds to 1 minute to load because of all the programs in the background. I think it's the LAN connection that causes it to take so long. >>



I'm not sure if we are talking about different things here or not. I meant that AFTER windows has finished loading completely (I even waited 5 minutes after the desktop came up), it takes a full minute (at least) for the control panel to come up when chosen from the start menu. In all of my past computers (Win95 and Win98SE) it came up almost instantly!




<< BTW: Nice system...your case must be packed! >>



Thanks! I don't play games at all....mostly burning and internet. You'd be surprised how much room is left in that case! It's a SOHO/Server case!


SDC

 

[ojai00]

Flashing BIOS tutorial

Might this guide be more helpful?

 

[NogginBoink]

I have heard stories (okay, rumors) of some vendors printer drivers that, once you connect them to the parallel port, are virtually impossible to get working under USB afterward. Checking with the printer vendor is a good start.

Thank you for posting all the details! This makes things a lot easier.

Do you get any particular error messaged when trying to print or scan? Have you checked the system event log?

As for the drives showing up under SCSI, I wouldn't worry about it as long as it's all working.

See if uninstalling any antivirus software cures the performance issues.

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry I haven't replied but my cable connection provider (Adelphia) is in the middle of a HUGE brain-fart and can't seem to keep me on the right LAN. I keep losing service. They tell me it's on their end because they are 'enhancing their networks'. Yeah right .

The only error I get while trying to print is in the HP print program. It only says 'Error-Printing' next to the task (pretty helpful huh?).

I finally hooked up the printer via Parallel and it works fine.

The system works OK but having those conflicts just bugs me. It would probably work much better if I could resolve it.

Thanks for Tutorial ojai00! I'm in the middle of studying for CCNA Semester 3 final (on Saturday) so I don't want to try anything that might disable my computer until after the test. I'll let you know how it goes.


SDC

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

Well....I found the solution. I had no idea you could 'restore' to a previous config with XP so I tried it one 'step' at a time until I found where the problem was. It seems that the Iomega software and drivers I installed for my USB zip drive screwed everything up. I don't even know why I installed them because I never use the stupid thing!!! Anyway....no more problems with Primary/Secondary IDE channels and no 'extra' entries under SCSI/RAID host adapter.

The only problem I still have is I can't get the HP 842C to run via USB. From what I hear, it's an inherant problem with XP that will most likely have to be addressed by a microsoft update.

For those of you who care.....I passed the CISCO Semester 3 final with a 90% and did very well with my presentation (threaded case study). I ended up with a 94% for the semester. Not too bad for an 'old guy'

SDC