The hardware conflict that XP can't see!

I have a strange problem that XP won’t see or let me fix. (98 used to) I’ve
been having an ongoing problem booting my machine. When I boot up, XP
loads, all my start ups load, all my devices. Then, 30 seconds later, my
computer either freezes, goes black, or I get the blue screen of death,
(rarely blue) I have no choice but to hard reboot. When I reboot, I have to
shut the power down, wait 10 or more seconds, then power up again. On the
second power up, everything is fine for as long as I stay on, no matter what
I do or what I use. If I turn it off, it starts all over again.

On one of the rare blue screens, it gave the usual generic options 'it may
be a device, it may be a program, it may be an IRQ conflict', etcetera and so
on. The usual solutions, too. 'Disable hardware, unload programs, search
for conflicts'. You know, as if that wasn’t the first thing I did! Device
manager shows no conflicts. Event Viewer shows no failures. This problem
started when I went to Satellite Internet Access, and networked our three
computers to a router for Internet access (the machines, however, are not
networked together...my kids wouldn't allow it.). So I backtracked and said
“What could I have done?�

I had removed all the 56 K modems from the three computers, but then
realized that I had to keep mine to fax with, since faxes have to go over the
phone lines. I realized that my problem actually began when I reinstalled
the modem. When I was digging to find out what could possibly have happened,
I made a startling discovery. XP has installed nearly every device I have on
IRQ 5. My modem, my network card, my sound card, my video card, all my USB
Ports, which adds my printer, scanner and optical mouse as well.

In 98, you were able to go to the device properties and choose from
different resource settings until you could get combinations that didn’t
conflict. You could have a choice of at least 2 different IRQs sometimes as
many as 5 depending on the device. I went to separate some of these things,
but found out that XP doesn’t give you that option any more. It’s still
there, but it’s grayed out, and so far as I know, it can’t be turned on.
None of my driver software gives the option to set up the IRQ setting any
more, so what the hell do I do? I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling
everything, but XP continues to pile everything onto IRQ 5. This is damned
annoying having to boot up twice (and I have no idea why everything works on
the second boot!) Obviously, I need my devices. I’d be willing to remove
the modem, but I need to be able to fax readings to my doctor. That’s all,
but it’s pretty important. Is there any way to change those resource
settings? Is there any way to activate that box?

I’d appreciate any suggestions or workarounds. TIA.

--
I solved all my complaints about Microsoft when I finally realized that I
never ran into an error I didn't cause. All I had to do is figure out what I
did!
Steve

Try removing the modem from Device Manager and rebooting. Also, try a
different PCI slot for the modem. These two things may assign it a
different IRQ. XP is a ton better at managing IRQ's than 98 ever was,
it just doesn't have the same interface as 98.

----
Nathan McNulty


Steve wrote:
I have a strange problem that XP won’t see or let me fix. (98 used to) I’ve
been having an ongoing problem booting my machine. When I boot up, XP
loads, all my start ups load, all my devices. Then, 30 seconds later, my
computer either freezes, goes black, or I get the blue screen of death,
(rarely blue) I have no choice but to hard reboot. When I reboot, I have to
shut the power down, wait 10 or more seconds, then power up again. On the
second power up, everything is fine for as long as I stay on, no matter what
I do or what I use. If I turn it off, it starts all over again.

On one of the rare blue screens, it gave the usual generic options 'it may
be a device, it may be a program, it may be an IRQ conflict', etcetera and so
on. The usual solutions, too. 'Disable hardware, unload programs, search
for conflicts'. You know, as if that wasn’t the first thing I did! Device
manager shows no conflicts. Event Viewer shows no failures. This problem
started when I went to Satellite Internet Access, and networked our three
computers to a router for Internet access (the machines, however, are not
networked together...my kids wouldn't allow it.). So I backtracked and said
“What could I have done?�

I had removed all the 56 K modems from the three computers, but then
realized that I had to keep mine to fax with, since faxes have to go over the
phone lines. I realized that my problem actually began when I reinstalled
the modem. When I was digging to find out what could possibly have happened,
I made a startling discovery. XP has installed nearly every device I have on
IRQ 5. My modem, my network card, my sound card, my video card, all my USB
Ports, which adds my printer, scanner and optical mouse as well.

In 98, you were able to go to the device properties and choose from
different resource settings until you could get combinations that didn’t
conflict. You could have a choice of at least 2 different IRQs sometimes as
many as 5 depending on the device. I went to separate some of these things,
but found out that XP doesn’t give you that option any more. It’s still
there, but it’s grayed out, and so far as I know, it can’t be turned on.
None of my driver software gives the option to set up the IRQ setting any
more, so what the hell do I do? I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling
everything, but XP continues to pile everything onto IRQ 5. This is damned
annoying having to boot up twice (and I have no idea why everything works on
the second boot!) Obviously, I need my devices. I’d be willing to remove
the modem, but I need to be able to fax readings to my doctor. That’s all,
but it’s pretty important. Is there any way to change those resource
settings? Is there any way to activate that box?

I’d appreciate any suggestions or workarounds. TIA.

"Nathan McNulty" wrote:

Try removing the modem from Device Manager and rebooting. Also, try a
different PCI slot for the modem. These two things may assign it a
different IRQ. XP is a ton better at managing IRQ's than 98 ever was,
it just doesn't have the same interface as 98.

----
Nathan McNulty


Hi Nathan;

I saw that 'different PCI slot' suggested for a similat problem somewhere
here. One of those things that you say "Naw, it can't be that simple!" But
I will try it. But why is everything piled on to IRQ 5? I have 2, 7, 9, 10,
11, and 12 unused. Surely XP must know that!

Thanks for the very quick response. My wife is forcing me to go to bed, so
I will attack this tomorrow.

Steve

"Steve" wrote:



"Nathan McNulty" wrote:

Try removing the modem from Device Manager and rebooting. Also, try a
different PCI slot for the modem. These two things may assign it a
different IRQ. XP is a ton better at managing IRQ's than 98 ever was,
it just doesn't have the same interface as 98.

----
Nathan McNulty


Hi Nathan;

I saw that 'different PCI slot' suggested for a similat problem somewhere
here. One of those things that you say "Naw, it can't be that simple!" But
I will try it. But why is everything piled on to IRQ 5? I have 2, 7, 9, 10,
11, and 12 unused. Surely XP must know that!

Thanks for the very quick response. My wife is forcing me to go to bed, so
I will attack this tomorrow.

Steve

Success! I changed slots and it assigned it to IRQ 10. No more boot
problems. Can't believe that it was that simple! Well, we learn bit by bit.

Thanks for the help, Nathan, I appreciate it. You guys in this discussion
group have helped me solve every single problem I've ever had with XP.

Steve

Glad to hear it works. We are always glad to help and there are some
very knowledgeable people in here. Every day you learn something new

----
Nathan McNulty

Steve wrote:

"Steve" wrote:



"Nathan McNulty" wrote:


Try removing the modem from Device Manager and rebooting. Also, try a
different PCI slot for the modem. These two things may assign it a
different IRQ. XP is a ton better at managing IRQ's than 98 ever was,
it just doesn't have the same interface as 98.

----
Nathan McNulty



Hi Nathan;

I saw that 'different PCI slot' suggested for a similat problem somewhere
here. One of those things that you say "Naw, it can't be that simple!" But
I will try it. But why is everything piled on to IRQ 5? I have 2, 7, 9, 10,
11, and 12 unused. Surely XP must know that!

Thanks for the very quick response. My wife is forcing me to go to bed, so
I will attack this tomorrow.

Steve


Success! I changed slots and it assigned it to IRQ 10. No more boot
problems. Can't believe that it was that simple! Well, we learn bit by bit.

Thanks for the help, Nathan, I appreciate it. You guys in this discussion
group have helped me solve every single problem I've ever had with XP.

Steve