Can't Change IRQs in Windows 2000

Alicia White · Guest

This is a "clean" install of Windows 2000 on an older system that seemed to
proceed without a hitch: but it won't play DVDs! The thing locks up like a
stone whenever I try it. I have this problem despite the fact that all the
devices in the system are "working properly" with apparently no resource
conflicts.

Oh, but my Win2K device manager lies like a dog! After viewing "Devices by
Connection," I discover the awful truth: I have about a gazillion devices
assigned to IRQ 9 and I can't change them to another IRQ despite having
several free! Have a look:

The PCI/AGP devices I have installed (no free slots):
AGP video card
DVD HW decoder
sound card
miroVIDEO video capture board
modem
USB 2.0 adapter

IRQ assignments:
0: system timer
1: natural keyboard
2: free
3: free
5: free
4: COM1
6: floppy controller
7: free
8: real time clock
9:
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
Aureal Vortex audio
Belkin USB 2.0 controller (high speed ethernet adapter is the only
device connected to this)
Cinemaster C 3.0 WDM main driver (DVD HW decoder)
HCF 56K modem
HW CineMaster C 3.0: DVD decoder
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller x 2
NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT2 Pro
Vortex Multifunction PCI Parent
10: free
11: free
12: PS/2 mouse
13: Numeric data processor
14: Primary IDE
15: Secondary IDE

Now, needless to say, whenever I try to play a DVD the system locks up like
a stone (audio, video, DVD HW decoding all using same IRQ!!!). Other than
that, the system seems to work fine. I do get occassional lockups when
surfing the internet, but they are few and far between. And, the system has
no problem reading audio and data CDs or data DVDs. It is only when I try
playing a DVD movie that it locks up hard..

How can I change the IRQ assignments? The BIOS doesn't allow me to reserve
any IRQs except those already not assigned (3, 5, 7, 10, 11). And, when I
go to the device properties in the Device manageer, the option to manually
assign resources is grayed out: VERY frustrating!

Having a burning desire to watch "Stargate SG-1" DVDs on my PC, I was
determined to find some way to resolve this resource problem. So, today, I
finally found a Microsoft web page with a solution. Basically, the page
says that Windows 2000 will not allow me to change IRQs (d'uh! figured that
one out already!!). This is because the default HAL for my ACPI compliant
system board will NOT allow me to change IRQs (... well, now at least I
know WHY). Therefore, I need to reinstall Win2K and use the STANDARD PC HAL
in order to restore my ability to make manual changes to IRQ assignments.

See the MS page here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=252420

Has anyone else encountered this sort of problem? Does this solution work?

I guess my big question is: do I need to make any corresponding changes to
my BIOS settings?

Currently, I believe that "PlugNPlay" OS is ENABLED. But, the MS tech
article recommends disabling that. Are there other changes I should make to
CMOS settings? If anyone can offer any advice or words of wisdom on this
matter, I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks! :-)

Alicia White

RussS · Guest

I don't think the IRQ sharing will be the problem. With W2K and XP IRQ
sharing is the norm.

Windows 2000 & XP take advantage of a relatively recent technology called
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface). This interface allows
ACPI devices including your motherboard to share resources, listing some or
all of these devices under the same IRQ, in your case IRQ9.

Changing the settings to be controlled manually can be extremely complex and
without knowing more about your set up and system, I wouldn't dream of
giving you more specific advice.

You say this is an older system - what are the specifications?

Alicia White · Guest

The system is a Dell XPS T500 (built Dec. 1999):
768 MB RAM (originally had only 128MB, loaded it with Crucial RAM 2 years)
PIII-500MHz CPU
latest BIOS version is installed
factory loaded with Win98se, now it has a fresh installation of Win2K Pro
Devices:
56K modem, AGP video, DVD decoder, DVD drive, CD-RW, USB 2.0 card,
mirovideo DC20 video capture board, D-link router connected to d-link USB
2.0 ethernet 10/100tx adapter, USB printer, USB ZIP drive, USB mouse and
keyboard

I don't think that IRQ sharing in itself is a problem: my system works fine
most of the time. My system only locks up when I try playing a DVD movie.
I can use DVD-ROM software without a problem.

I have 5 separate devices related to DVD video playback which all use the
same IRQ, so, I really think that is the source of the problem:
Aureal Vortex audio
Cinemaster C 3.0 WDM main driver
HW CineMaster C 3.0: DVD decoder
NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT2 Pro
Vortex Multifunction PCI Parent
Plus 3 non-DVD-related devices (3 devices related to USB 2.0 card)

As I understand it, IRQ sharing will work without problems if you use
complementary devices on the same IRQ that would not require the CPU's
attention simultaneously (such as 2 NICs or 2 SCSI controllers). But, in my
case, I have 5 devices that will probably try to use that IRQ simultaneously
in order to play DVD video. So, that is why I believe that changing the IRQ
assignments will enable me to watch my SG-1 dvds on my PC (or, so I hope).

Am I wrong thinking the IRQ issue is the problem?

Alicia

See the MS article here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=252420

"RussS" <yeah_right@roflmao.com> wrote in message
news:JG0Za.110451$JA5.2471993@news.xtra.co.nz...

David Hough · Guest

Alicia
Some of those Dells come with a support CD which had a unique IDE
driver and USB/PCI bridge. Dave

RussS · Guest

Hey Alicia

I still don't think that is a problem. What is the DVD software you are
using?

Geoff · Guest

Alicia White wrote:

Geoff · Guest

Alicia White wrote:

Alicia White · Guest

The Dell ResourceCD only has drivers for Win98 and WinNT, it doesn't have
anything for Win2K (I think Win2K was still in beta testing when my system
was built in Dec. of '99).

The Dell website does not appear to have a Win2K driver for this device
available for download.

On the ResourceCD, the User Manual for the decoder card has the following
advice:

Q: DMA Enabled Checkbox Must be Checked

A: If you experience problems with DVD playback, use Device Manager
to
look at your CDROM devices (highlight the drive, then select Properties).
Bring up the Settings tab. If the option "DMA" is present, verify that the
checkbox for DMA is checked (enabled).

I checked my DMA settings in the BIOS. Both the CD and DVD drive are set to
DMA2 & Ultra DMA is disabled (all settings all grayed out so I can't change
this). In Win2K, both the primary and secondary IDE controllers are set to
"DMA if available."

Alicia

"David Hough" <huffy1@metrocast.net> wrote in message
news:3F34CAA7.3030100@metrocast.net...

Alicia White · Guest

Wblane · Guest

Duh. Did you bother to read his post? IRQ sharing IS his problem dipstick!

Alicia White · Guest

I made sure the BIOS was up to date before upgrading to Win2K, so that won't
fix things, either.

I am really beginning to think that I will have to reinstall Win2K. I was
really hoping to avoid that.

:(

Thanks for all the help, guys! :)

Alicia

"Geoff" <fooooooool@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bhbb3s$volsj$1@ID-17404.news.uni-berlin.de...

Razer · Guest

Hi Alicia,
you don't have to reinstall Win2000!!!

Maybe this can help you.....

http://www.matrix-vision.com/faq_englisch/a3a/acpi_deinstall_engl.PDF

It worked perfectly for me.

spike · Guest

Cool! I will try that. I read the document and I am amazed that it could
be that easy... hopefully it ain't too good to be true.

I will report back with my results. Thanks, Razer! :)

Alicia

"Razer" <prova100@libero.it> wrote in message
news:eab47155.0308260441.737aa40b@posting.google.com...

Alicia White · Guest

Alright, I was ready to give up.

I followed the instructions on that web site to change my PC from ACPI to
STANDARD PC. After the somewhat nerve-wracking process of trying to locate
and load the drivers for my legacy devices, I tried playing a DVD: it still
didn't work!

Instead of a hard lockup and reboot, I get an error in my DVD software
window that says: "current display mode not suitable for dvd video." I use
the DVD software made by Ravisent. When I tried the DVD software included
with Win2K the system did a hard lock up and rebooted.

I couldn't find satisfactory information on that error message so I was at a
loss at how to troubleshoot the error.

And, incidentally, going through the process of installing the STANDARD PC
driver didn't resolve my inability to re-assign IRQs. The option is still
grayed out in Device Manager, but the IRQ situation after changing to
STANDARD PC is somewhat better than before:

IRQ assignments:
0: system timer
1: PC/AT Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard (101/102-key)
2: free
3: free
4: free
5: free
6: floppy controller
7: Aureal Vortex 8830 Audio (WDM)
Belkin USB 2.0 High Speed Host Controller
HCF 56k PCI Modem #2
Vortex Multifunction PCI Parent
8: System CMOS/real time clock
9: HW CineMaster C 3.0: DVD decoder
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT2 Pro
Vortex Multifunction PCI Parent
10: Cinemaster C 3.0 WDM main driver (DVD HW decoder)
NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller
11: NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller
NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT2
12: Logitech PS/2 port mouse
13: Numeric data processor
14: Primary IDE Channel
15: Secondary IDE Channel

SIGH. I was ready to give up at this point.

But, after writing the IRQs listed above, I compared them with my old list
of IRQs (which I posted on this newsgroup before). I quickly realized that
the name of the Video adapter was slightly different from before. So, I
updated the driver to "NVIDIA RIVA TNT2/TNT Pro." I rebooted and FINALLY I
can play DVDs! Once again, all is right in my dvd-loving world!

Thanks, Razer! The link you gave me spared me the pain of having to
reinstall Windows!

Alicia
(now I just have to see if my video capture board works again... but it's
late, that can wait until later) <VBG>

"spike" <spike99@mindspring.com> wrote in message
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