#PVR & IRQs
12 messages in this thread
Can someone tell me how to free up IRQ 0 so the PVR will work? The PVR is set
to SCSI address 7, and the Micropolis drive is set to SCSI address 0. When I
try to start the PVR software, to format the drive, I get "Invalid IRQ=0
Assigned". Microsoft Diagnostics tells me that IRQ 0 is currently used by
"Timer Click", whatever that is. How do I move Timer Click to another IRQ (and
will that actually make a difference)?
Thanks.
Daniel,
SCSI address 0 is generally reserved for the controller, so your best bet is to
change the address of the HD. What you change it to shouldn't matter, as long
as it's NOT 7 (assuming you don't have another HD on that SCSI chain, and it
doesn't sound like you do).
Hope this helps!
SCL
Stephen,
I'm pretty sure I've got the PVR set to SCSI address 7 (the factory
default), and the Micropolis drive set to 0 (also the default). The problem
seems to be not with the SCSI addresses, but with the IRQs. Apparently, the
SCSI controller on the PVR needs to inhabit IRQ 0. Microsoft Diagnostics tells
me that IRQ 0 is currently in use by "click timer". I have no idea how to
redefine the IRQ addresses. I've been told of a program called "Wincheckit"
that will accomplish this, but I'm hoping to avoid spending $40 to do this one
small task. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Daniel,
Just out of curiosity, I checked my machine, and it also has IRQ 0
assigned to "Timer Click," whatever that is…
Admittedly out of my depth here, it seems like you'd need to reset the IRQ of
the PVR, not the rest of the system. Don't the docs say anything about this?
I should be getting my PVR any day now, so let me know what solves it… It
sounds like I'll soon be faced with the same problem!
Thanx, and sorry I couldn't be of more help.
SCL
No, the documentation is pretty short on technical stuff. Kind of surprising.
Reads like a manual for a Sounblaster or something. It seems like someone
buying the PVR would be expected to be comfortable with more in-depth info, and
would need it. I'll get back to you when I get it straight.
Dan
There's NO way you can assign anything IRQ 0 — it's a reserved IRQ (as you've
found).
I discovered, when installing my 3Com Etherlink III PCI network adapter that in
order to keep it from auto-installing itself to IRQ 9 (which was causing
problems), I had to go into the plug & play options in the BIOS config program,
where there are some PCI options to tell PCI-based cards what IRQ's are in use
by ISA-based cards. I set IRQ 9 to "used" until the install routine for the
card was done — then I went back to the BIOS and re-set the IRQ to "free".
Go into your BIOS config and, if you have a plug-and-play BIOS (or in some
machines, the P-n-P part can be enabled/disabled — so _if_ it's enabled),
verify that at there is at least one "free" IRQ listing for each PCI card you
have installed. Normally, the IRQ's listed are 5,9,10 and 11. Make sure that
any IRQ's used by your ISA cards are marked as "used", and, as I said, insure
that you still have enough free to assign one to each PCI board installed
(except if your main disk controller is on a PCI card, as the disk IRQ's are
pre-reserved by the BIOS). Also, check jumper settings on the board and the
settings in/on the initialization software.
Dave
Thanks for the help, Dave. My BIOS has a field for "PCI Configuration", where
the IRQs for the three PCI slots can be set. Once I found that out a couple
nights ago, I got IRQ 12 to work with the PVR. It still crashes my Kurta
digitizer, so I might need to set it to a different one, but at least I can get
something out of the thing.
Dan
Daniel:
IRQ 12 is generally used by In-port mice — and I would guess that the mouse
emulator for your digitizer is using that IRQ. I'd recommend changing the PVR
IRQ to 10 or 11.
Dave
>>>>There's NO way you can assign anything IRQ 0 — it's a reserved IRQ (as
you've found).
I discovered, when installing my 3Com Etherlink III PCI network adapter that in
order to keep it from auto-installing itself to IRQ 9 (which was causing
problems), I had to go into the plug & play options in the BIOS config program,
where there are some PCI options to tell PCI-based cards what IRQ's are in use
by ISA-based cards. I set IRQ 9 to "used" until the install routine for the
card was done — then I went back to the BIOS and re-set the IRQ to "free".<<<<
David,
could you ellaborate because I haven't been able to get my 3COM PCI Etherlink
III to work with my pentium. First the install software does not find the
board, i tried several.
The only way I can get the board to find it is to bypass Autoexec and Config
using F5 key then I can get the software finding the board.
I have tried removing all boards except video from my machine problem stays.
I have no clue anymore, an ISA Ethernet from 3COM installs without a problem,
but I need the PCI in that machine, only slot available.
Installed are know PAR + capture board, extra Parralel port, Turtle Beach
Monterey for ISA cards.
PCI cards Adaptec AHA2940 and Miro Crystal 32 S video board.
So as I said even when only the Miro is used the board does not work.
I tried even Windows Plug and play software, result my system crashes every
time I try to use that software?????
Tried BIOS, I just don' know, only thing is, I think plug and play is far from
what it really is, it might help with some installations, but when problems
arise they seem more complicated then ever before.
Christophe
Okay, Chistophe! Let's see what we can do.
[You don't say, but I'm assuming that you're using a 3C590 (either TPO or
COMBO) and _not_ the 3C595 10/100BASE-T adapter — these same drivers I tell
you to download below will work, but I'm not familiar w/ the 3C595, so…]
Firstly, GO ASKFORUM and download the file 3C59XX.EXE from Library 7. I will
almost guarantee that it is newer than the software that came w/ your NIC.
Put a blank 3-1/2" floppy in A: and type 3C59XX A: at the DOS prompt. Next,
print out and read the README that was expanded into the root of A: —
especially the parts about interrupts (and EMM386/HIMEM if you're using them
instead of a third-party memory manager).
Next, let me ask you this: Have you tried changing the slots your various PCI
cards are in? Try putting the 3Com card in the slot CLOSEST to the power
supply.
What network software are you using? Novell? WfW? NT? Win95? That's going
to make a difference regarding installing the software. Let me know, and we'll
go from here!
Dave
David, thanks, I'm just back from vacation and will try your tips as soon as I
can, but I believe some of those I already tried.
My PVR states that it is set to an IRQ of 16 from the factory. They told me at
DPS that PCI devices somehow configure themselves. I've never heard of
assignment to IRQ 0 except for intrinsic system IRQ's