Do I have an IRQ conflict? Please Help!

daddySEAL · 04-23-2002, 06:38 AM

My system(Win98SE, 850Mz PIII, 512Mb RAM, 64Mb video card)has a problem of falling WAY behind on the clock time(just replaced CMOS battery), the mouse getting very jerky and browser speed severe degradation during heavy downloading or multi task browsing.
I am wondering if there are IRQ coflicts. Below is my IRQ assignments.

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 (free)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 YAMAHA DS-XG Legacy Sound System
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 U.S. Robotics 56K Voice Win
9 YAMAHA DS-XG PCI Audio CODEC
9 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
9 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
10 (free)
11 (free)
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller

Can someone tell me? And WHERE is my nvidia video card?
Things get SO bad after an hour or 2(even after stopping downloading), that I have to reboot to get things back fast again and the clock right and my mouse working freely.

Please tell me what you think. I'm an intermediate(skill lever)user and would like to know exactly how to change assignments, if you could explain the steps, Please
(Assuming you thing there are any conflicts)

Thank you, dS in Austin,TX(I HOPE someone knowledgable can help me)

wizofid · 04-24-2002, 02:41 PM

I see that you've have many lookers but no one sayin anything -

your video card will not be listed

the Clock losing time may be significant of other possible problems

you just replaced your cmos battery - did you get it rest back to defaults or optimals. did you write them down before changing the battery?

the only big thing I see is the cramming on #9
the freezing you see could be the opsys trying to sort out priorties over those and locking the system up trying to accomplish it.

I would move your assignment for modem first.

then the Yamaha codec.

The other two should be fine.

open your device manager - from control panel -- uncheck automatic config - use the manual selections available

wiz

daddySEAL · 04-24-2002, 03:43 PM

Thanks for answering, Wizofid

But when I do that in the Device Manager for the modem, I get a popup message saying the settings can Not be changed.

What now?

wizofid · 04-25-2002, 05:17 AM

Do you know anything about bios settings?

If so - boot yourself into there - and find out what your default settings are - write them down! - I do!

Once you have them written - make the changes there -

Windows should see the changes and pick them up - if not go back into windows and uncheck and set them windows settign over top of the bios settings.

see what happens -

The last thign that might be going on is that the hardware will not allow its settigns to be monkeyed with - but a hammer and a new part usually fixes that :)

write back how yo u made out! - wiz

ps - let me know how simple to make the instructions - My customers range from handing me the box and not knwoing where the power button is!

daddySEAL · 04-25-2002, 06:47 AM

Yes, your instruction are fine.

And yes, I have been in my BIOS before and will go there(in about 8 hrs, when can get in front of that computer....4:30PM CDST here in Texas)

A couple questions first though. I don't think having 4 things assigned to IRQ#9 is the default....do you? Can I choose to "set default settings" only on IRQs and Not ALL the settings on my computer? I'd like to see what the default IRQ assignments are.

And does YOUR computer show an IRQ assignment for your graphics or video card? Some people are now telling me a video card does NOT get on the list of IRQs!!?? Please tell me what your system shows, Ok Please?

Also, of all the things listed on IRQ#9, which one would your recommend needs reasigning, and VERY important(since I'm getting conflict information on websites and other people's advise)....Which IRQ would you move it(them?0 to???

Thanks, dS in Texas. I'll look for your answers all day here at work.

daddySEAL · 04-25-2002, 10:04 AM

Wizofid,

I just called DELL. I figured they would be familiar with my particular setup. I(luckily)got one that really was experienced(and not somebody from India with a 2 week training period).

This guy looked at everything to do with my setup in their records and told me my particular system would definitely Not show an IRQ assignment for the graphics card.

And when he pulled up the IRQ assignments standard for DELL systems identical to mine, we went over each IRQ one at a time. He said they were OK for my particular setup.

So I'm left with his suggestions on how to isolate a software conflict for my system resources.

What do you guys think?

dS

wizofid · 04-29-2002, 11:58 AM

dell -

you've got a program called zztop - it snaps the box back to factory default without you doing anything!
look for the help file!

wiz

**JAMMAN** · 04-29-2002, 04:29 PM

I'm convinced it's not an IRQ conflict. Win98SE USUALLY does a fine job of juggling IRQ's I think it's a problem with the motherboard- or how it's connected to the case. If you have the luxary of experimentation, assemble your system outside the case and run it for a day. If it's still screwed up, try flashing the bios. I have never seen anything mess with the system clock but a bad or shorted mobo. My first computer was a Commadore Vic 20.....................................

daddySEAL · 04-30-2002, 05:25 AM

No, unfortunetly I don't have any "ZZtop" program on this '99 vintage DELL. They must have added that after I bought my system.

Motherboard? Is there a free utility that will do a Stress test on it to tell me without doing what you mentioned. I'm not that experienced at messing with my motherboard(Outside of the case, or in)

Please let me know if you know one. I have SysSandra, but it doesn't stress the board, just give you stats, etc.
(I have updated my BIOS recently)

Please let me know of a free motherboard stress test diag, if you know of a good one, OK?

**JAMMAN** · 04-30-2002, 05:33 PM

Ok, curiosity brings me to this. Notice the time on your computer when you turn it off as compared to real time. Wake up the next day and as you boot, press F8 for the boot options. Select "command prompt only" At the prompt, type "time", hit enter, and look at what it says. See if it lost time in the bios. If not type "win" or reset to boot to windows and check the windows time and see if it matches the bios time.

Hey guys, is there possibly some kind of a virus that messes with time?

daddySEAL · 05-01-2002, 05:40 AM

Yes, there are viruses that do that, JAMMAN.

But I don't have any viruses. I've done scans by my resident Norton2002, Trend's HouseCall AND the exellent on-line scan called PANDA(which CNet rated as catching stuff that both Norton and McAfee both miss.

JAMMAN, I changed my CMOS battery with one I pretested before installing. My CMOS time is right on the money. I Always get the correct time when I reboot(even if the Windows clock has fallen behind)...and that means the motherboard battery is good.

Any other thoughts?

Some people have suggested my motherboard(besides the battery)is getting flaky and going out. What do I know?

Does anybody know of a good(free) stresstesting utility I change check it with before replacing it? I DON'T want to mess with it if I don't have to. I've already thrown money and new hardware at my system trying to solve this(like a double fast CPU than I had before...twice the RAM(512Mb now) an upgrade from my 8Mb video card to 64Mb...and other things)

Do you or anybody know of one?

dS

wizofid · 05-01-2002, 11:18 AM

ZZTOP - is a dos utility - you see it by sending the box lookin for it by search files or folders.

anyway - Sisoft Sandra 2002 will give you a checkup - it also has a stress tester -

I do know of one problem - that is related - wireless linking - I know of someone who setup a wireless link using the 80211b stuff - tied to the box with USB - After watching it for awhile [ weeks] he noticed that his time was going backwards!
kinda bothersome - bu tthe problem he found was because of all the network translation problems tying up the box cpu - the clock went back in time.

??

wiz

**JAMMAN** · 05-01-2002, 06:23 PM

If your bios clock is right, I don't think it is the motherboard anymore. I'm sorry I don't have an instant answer, I'm on ICQ right now with the biggest guru I have ever met. I'll have some expert suggestions soon-

**JAMMAN** · 05-01-2002, 07:10 PM

Well, it looks like you were on the right track in the first place-

Guru says: ( cut and pastes from our conversation)

Wow. Sounds like a case of a ghost in the machine ;) Actually, I've seen that happen before too. Never happened to me, but others. A few of the times, I narrowed it down to a resource conflict...especially if the setup is an AGP video card and a NIC in the first PCI slot...they usually share the same IRQ.

Look at IRQ 9!!! Ouch.

Just for sh**s and giggles, tell him to try moving the card in the first PCI slot (next to the AGP slot) somewhere else.

04-23-2002, 06:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
daddySEAL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6 OS:	Do I have an IRQ conflict? Please Help! My system(Win98SE, 850Mz PIII, 512Mb RAM, 64Mb video card)has a problem of falling WAY behind on the clock time(just replaced CMOS battery), the mouse getting very jerky and browser speed severe degradation during heavy downloading or multi task browsing. I am wondering if there are IRQ coflicts. Below is my IRQ assignments. 0 System timer 1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard 2 Programmable interrupt controller 3 (free) 4 Communications Port (COM1) 5 YAMAHA DS-XG Legacy Sound System 6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller 7 Printer Port (LPT1) 8 System CMOS/real time clock 9 U.S. Robotics 56K Voice Win 9 YAMAHA DS-XG PCI Audio CODEC 9 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller 9 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering 10 (free) 11 (free) 12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port 13 Numeric data processor 14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo) 14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller 15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo) 15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller Can someone tell me? And WHERE is my nvidia video card? Things get SO bad after an hour or 2(even after stopping downloading), that I have to reboot to get things back fast again and the clock right and my mouse working freely. Please tell me what you think. I'm an intermediate(skill lever)user and would like to know exactly how to change assignments, if you could explain the steps, Please (Assuming you thing there are any conflicts) Thank you, dS in Austin,TX(I HOPE someone knowledgable can help me) Last edited by daddySEAL; 04-23-2002 at 11:04 AM.

04-25-2002, 05:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
wizofid Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada , Posts: 13 OS:	Do you know anything about bios settings? If so - boot yourself into there - and find out what your default settings are - write them down! - I do! Once you have them written - make the changes there - Windows should see the changes and pick them up - if not go back into windows and uncheck and set them windows settign over top of the bios settings. see what happens - The last thign that might be going on is that the hardware will not allow its settigns to be monkeyed with - but a hammer and a new part usually fixes that :) write back how yo u made out! - wiz ps - let me know how simple to make the instructions - My customers range from handing me the box and not knwoing where the power button is! Last edited by wizofid; 04-25-2002 at 05:20 AM.

05-01-2002, 06:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
JAMMAN TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle Ohio Posts: 841 OS: all	Sorry, man If your bios clock is right, I don't think it is the motherboard anymore. I'm sorry I don't have an instant answer, I'm on ICQ right now with the biggest guru I have ever met. I'll have some expert suggestions soon-

04-24-2002, 02:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
wizofid Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada , Posts: 13 OS:	I see that you've have many lookers but no one sayin anything - your video card will not be listed the Clock losing time may be significant of other possible problems you just replaced your cmos battery - did you get it rest back to defaults or optimals. did you write them down before changing the battery? the only big thing I see is the cramming on #9 the freezing you see could be the opsys trying to sort out priorties over those and locking the system up trying to accomplish it. I would move your assignment for modem first. then the Yamaha codec. The other two should be fine. open your device manager - from control panel -- uncheck automatic config - use the manual selections available wiz

04-24-2002, 03:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
daddySEAL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6 OS:	Thanks for answering, Wizofid But when I do that in the Device Manager for the modem, I get a popup message saying the settings can Not be changed. What now?

04-25-2002, 06:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
daddySEAL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6 OS:	Yes, your instruction are fine. And yes, I have been in my BIOS before and will go there(in about 8 hrs, when can get in front of that computer....4:30PM CDST here in Texas) A couple questions first though. I don't think having 4 things assigned to IRQ#9 is the default....do you? Can I choose to "set default settings" only on IRQs and Not ALL the settings on my computer? I'd like to see what the default IRQ assignments are. And does YOUR computer show an IRQ assignment for your graphics or video card? Some people are now telling me a video card does NOT get on the list of IRQs!!?? Please tell me what your system shows, Ok Please? Also, of all the things listed on IRQ#9, which one would your recommend needs reasigning, and VERY important(since I'm getting conflict information on websites and other people's advise)....Which IRQ would you move it(them?0 to??? Thanks, dS in Texas. I'll look for your answers all day here at work.

04-25-2002, 10:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
daddySEAL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6 OS:	Wizofid, I just called DELL. I figured they would be familiar with my particular setup. I(luckily)got one that really was experienced(and not somebody from India with a 2 week training period). This guy looked at everything to do with my setup in their records and told me my particular system would definitely Not show an IRQ assignment for the graphics card. And when he pulled up the IRQ assignments standard for DELL systems identical to mine, we went over each IRQ one at a time. He said they were OK for my particular setup. So I'm left with his suggestions on how to isolate a software conflict for my system resources. What do you guys think? dS

04-29-2002, 11:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
wizofid Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada , Posts: 13 OS:	dell - you've got a program called zztop - it snaps the box back to factory default without you doing anything! look for the help file! wiz

04-29-2002, 04:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
JAMMAN TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle Ohio Posts: 841 OS: all	I'm convinced it's not an IRQ conflict. Win98SE USUALLY does a fine job of juggling IRQ's I think it's a problem with the motherboard- or how it's connected to the case. If you have the luxary of experimentation, assemble your system outside the case and run it for a day. If it's still screwed up, try flashing the bios. I have never seen anything mess with the system clock but a bad or shorted mobo. My first computer was a Commadore Vic 20.....................................

04-30-2002, 05:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
daddySEAL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6 OS:	No, unfortunetly I don't have any "ZZtop" program on this '99 vintage DELL. They must have added that after I bought my system. Motherboard? Is there a free utility that will do a Stress test on it to tell me without doing what you mentioned. I'm not that experienced at messing with my motherboard(Outside of the case, or in) Please let me know if you know one. I have SysSandra, but it doesn't stress the board, just give you stats, etc. (I have updated my BIOS recently) Please let me know of a free motherboard stress test diag, if you know of a good one, OK?

04-30-2002, 05:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
JAMMAN TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle Ohio Posts: 841 OS: all	Ok, curiosity brings me to this. Notice the time on your computer when you turn it off as compared to real time. Wake up the next day and as you boot, press F8 for the boot options. Select "command prompt only" At the prompt, type "time", hit enter, and look at what it says. See if it lost time in the bios. If not type "win" or reset to boot to windows and check the windows time and see if it matches the bios time. Hey guys, is there possibly some kind of a virus that messes with time?

05-01-2002, 05:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
daddySEAL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 6 OS:	Yes, there are viruses that do that, JAMMAN. But I don't have any viruses. I've done scans by my resident Norton2002, Trend's HouseCall AND the exellent on-line scan called PANDA(which CNet rated as catching stuff that both Norton and McAfee both miss. JAMMAN, I changed my CMOS battery with one I pretested before installing. My CMOS time is right on the money. I Always get the correct time when I reboot(even if the Windows clock has fallen behind)...and that means the motherboard battery is good. Any other thoughts? Some people have suggested my motherboard(besides the battery)is getting flaky and going out. What do I know? Does anybody know of a good(free) stresstesting utility I change check it with before replacing it? I DON'T want to mess with it if I don't have to. I've already thrown money and new hardware at my system trying to solve this(like a double fast CPU than I had before...twice the RAM(512Mb now) an upgrade from my 8Mb video card to 64Mb...and other things) Do you or anybody know of one? dS

05-01-2002, 11:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
wizofid Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada , Posts: 13 OS:	ZZTOP - is a dos utility - you see it by sending the box lookin for it by search files or folders. anyway - Sisoft Sandra 2002 will give you a checkup - it also has a stress tester - I do know of one problem - that is related - wireless linking - I know of someone who setup a wireless link using the 80211b stuff - tied to the box with USB - After watching it for awhile [ weeks] he noticed that his time was going backwards! kinda bothersome - bu tthe problem he found was because of all the network translation problems tying up the box cpu - the clock went back in time. ?? wiz

05-01-2002, 07:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
JAMMAN TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle Ohio Posts: 841 OS: all	Well, it looks like you were on the right track in the first place- Guru says: ( cut and pastes from our conversation) Wow. Sounds like a case of a ghost in the machine ;) Actually, I've seen that happen before too. Never happened to me, but others. A few of the times, I narrowed it down to a resource conflict...especially if the setup is an AGP video card and a NIC in the first PCI slot...they usually share the same IRQ. Look at IRQ 9!!! Ouch. Just for sh**s and giggles, tell him to try moving the card in the first PCI slot (next to the AGP slot) somewhere else.