Windows 2000 IRQ hell

[SlingBlade]

Hi, I recently found what I think might be the problem with Win2k/SBlive/Via hardware. For some reason My Vid Card, Network Card, Sound Card, USB Hubs (USB mouse), and "Microsoft ACPI-Compliant system" are all sharing IRQ 9. I've gone to my motherbaord and checked the settings. I tried enabling "Plug-and-Play OS" as well as manually setting the PCI slots on the motherboard through the bios (asus K7V) to a certain IRQ number. This didn't work either. Windows 2000 will not let me change it in the device manager either. It is all grayed out and when I look at help it says that if it is grayed out it is because the devices are not plug and play... which they most certainly are. Does anyone know how I can take control of the IRQ settings in windows 2000? I've even tried moving the cards around to different PCI slots, and they STILL retain the IRQ 9. Any suggestions?

 

[bevancoleman]

This is standard behaviour in W2k, its all part of the ACPI standard.

It is possable to make W2k stop using this standard and let you have some control, however it id generally best to reinstall your OS because it involves changing a fair number of the main system drivers.

 

[mindiris]

It's a Feature, not a Bug (TM).

Unless you notice performance problems, it's fine. Most new hardware/drivers should be able to handle it. All my expansion boards are on IRQ 11. I once disabled it, and found no difference in performance.

 

[SlingBlade]

Hmmm. Would you perhaps know of some place that would tell me how to disable this? And what about reinstalling? That would just reload the drivers I already have...

 

[SlingBlade]

Mindris, that is the only reason I am trying to change it. I am having trouble with my sound blaster card, and I think it could be related to it sharing the same IRQ with all that other stuff.

 

[sohcrates]

i just disabled it on my win2k box....wasn't too difficult.

check out this thread for how to do it

 

[AthlonMan]

VIA AMD Chipsets have an known issue with Sound Blaster Cards. First thing i would try is to goto via's homesite and download the lastest service pack for your motherboard chipset.

My friend has the exact same problem and doing this fixed it, it was on a ABIT KA7 which is the same chipset as your board.

 

[serialb]

FYI, people here has compiled a FAQ. Don't waste their effort and that's why they stick it to the top.

serialb

 

[Sundog]

Install W2K and when it asks you hit F6 for additional controller card drivers, hit F5. This will laod up W2K as a 'standard PC'.

 

[Phiberoptix]

ahhhh...welcome to the club.
I did the same thing and I was having some really really weird problems with usb. I applied a so called "george´s patch" found in viahardware.com and now the problems seems to be solved.

 

[tristramshandy]

Have people noticed subtantial differences whel the HAL setup is used? I've had chronic problems with AGP and have wondered if putting the vid card on another IRQ might sort them.

 

[office boy]

Why exactally would you think this was a problem?

 

[tristramshandy]

Fair enough! Would the agp card sharing an IRQ with all other peripherals affect video performance? I did note that somebody on an AMD board recommended disabling ACPI to stabilize the video.

 

[SlingBlade]

Ya, OK I just tried disabling it. It took forever and my system kept crashing during setup, I finally had to reinstall win2k and all my programs. Now I have it all working again and the problem is still not solved. It most likely is a VIA problem I guess, but I can't find a patch for the 686A southbridge.

 

[bevancoleman]

Have you used a memmory tester? I had a problem with stability and it turned out to be a bad memmory stick.