USB and PCI problem

[mcvpjd3]

I've just bought myself a new USB Modem (Elsa 56K Fun USB). This installed fine and works good, except, it keeps dropping the connection. Having looked on the Elsa website they recognise that this can be a problem and amongst the solutions is this one;

IRQ-Sharing
Under Start -> Settings-> Control panel-> System (->...) -> device manager, Computer, you can check which IRQ uses the USB controller
Check if this IRQ is also used by a PCI board
This can cause a conflict, which can be solved by assigning a free IRQ to the PCI board in the motherboard BIOS, and by deactivating the Plug and play of the operating system there.
Reading the motherboard manual is useful for that


Here's the problem, I'm using Win2K and obviously ACPI takes over everything and doesn't let me change IRQ's and stuff and yes my USB controller shares IRQ 9 with my Soundcard (PCI), network Card (PCI), SCSI card (PCI), MPEG Card (PCI) and Geforce2MX card (AGP). So as you can see it does share with a couple of PCI cards which is what I presume the problem is. Anyone know how to solve this in Win2K?

Thanks

 

[Mshen]

try a USB hub, sometimes 2 usb devices may not work concurrently


if someone knows how to change irq in w2k, please tell..

gl

 

[KeyTech]

how often does it drop the connection, is after a while of data transfere or as soon as you connect....the problem could be with the phone line...if its analouge (which I presume you are using) these lines are not too reliable and can cause connections to drop easily, it could be just coinsidence, or has this just started since you got a NEW modem????
Jay~

"I have to think of a funny footer to
put in here!!!???"

~KeyTech

 

[mcvpjd3]

It's not the line, it works fine with the other modems I have. I've tried everything and it looks like it is the ACPI in Win2K putting everything on IRQ 9.

If anyone is intrested I've found this which I'll try this weekend and see what happens...

http://www.stevemcd.redhotant.com/win2000.htm

Regards

 

[a073235]

I posted this to your question in the Win2K forum as well...

First I would recommend not wasting too much time on this approach, as Win2K shares IRQs very well, and you should be able to have many devices working off the same IRQ. A solution to a hardware conflict would never be to change the ACPI support/HAL. I answered another post about this on 7/5/01 titled "Changin' IRQ's in win2k, conflicts/freez ups/3dfx...HELP!" you might want to review.

HOWEVER, to answer your question, unless you have a non-ACPI BIOS there is no way to prevent Win2K from seeing ACPI compliancy and applying the approprite HAL. You cannot shut off ACPI in a BIOS. Your only option to try, and be warned this can sometimes result in an UNRECOVERABLE SYSTEM, is to use Device Manager to chnage the HAL after install:

1) Choose the "Computer" device, right-click it and choose "Properties". The HAL you should see installed for a PIC-based, ACPI, single-processor machine is called "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC".
2) Choose the "Driver" tab, the "Update Driver..." button, and "Next..."
3) Choose "Display a list of the known drivers..." and "Next..."
4) Choose "Show all hardware..."
5) Highlight "Standard PC" in the right pane, choose "Next...", accept the warning, and follow the prompts to complete. Hope this helps!

Heath Racine
Principal Systems Engineer
Desktop and Mobile Platforms