Installing WinXP with manual IRQ assignments?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Berrern
  • Start date Start date
B

Berrern

Due to a serious IRQ conflict between my graphics card and soundcard, I
want to install Windows so that I can choose/manage IRQs manually.

When booting with the Windows-CD, and pressing F5 right at the start of
the setup screen, allows me to select the system I wish to install. The
list of available systems are:

- ACPI Multiprocessor PC
- ACPI Uniprocessor PC
- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
- Compaq SystemPro Multiprocessor or 100% Compatible PC
- MPS Uniprocessor PC
- MPS Multiprocessor PC
- Standard PC
- Standard PC with C-Step i486
- Other

Now, ACPI is the 'normal' Windows option, where XP itself manages the
IRQs. I assumed that I needed an MPS installation in order to change
IRQs myself.
The problem is that when I select MPS Uniprocessor PC, Setup wont
complete. Right after loading all drivers, when the message "Starting
Windows" is displayed in the lower corner, the computer locks up.

I've had a look at the different options in the BIOS, as I read
somewhere that I had to turn off APIC, not ACPI - as APIC was the IRQ
manager.
I found only one option related to APIC; *APIC Mode*, which can be set
to Enable or Disable. When Enabled, you can select the MPS Version
Control for OS, the options here are 1.1 and 1.4. I've tried both
Disabled, 1.1 and 1.4 - all with the same result.
Also, when I disable this setting, my normal XP installation wont
boot.

I also tried fiddling around with the ACPI settings in the BIOS, I
found these options related to ACPI:
- ACPI SRAT (options: enabled/disabled). Default: Enabled.
- ACPI Function (options: enabled/disabled). Default: Enabled.
- ACPI Suspend Type (options: S1&S3 / S1(POS) / S3(STR).
When disabling the ACPI SRAT, the BIOS automatically resets itself on
boot. Disabling the ACPI Function resulted in WinXP setup hanging on
the same place as before. Also, my normal XP wouldn't boot with this
option Disabled.

I also tried hitting F7 at the beginning of the XP setup, which is
supposed to force a non-ACPI installation. Same result here; the
computer hangs when it says "Starting Windows".

Now, does anyone have any advice for me? How can I install WindowsXP
without automatic IRQ assignments?

I hope someone can help.. :)

My system specs:
DFI LanParty nF4 SLI-DR - Bios 06/25/2005
AMD FX-57
2x 1024MB Corsair PC3500 LLPRO (2-3-2-6 1T)
2x WD Raptor 74GB (RAID0)
2x XFX 7800GT (SLI)
Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty
LITE-ON Dual Layer DVD RW
Levicom 450W PSU
- everything running at stock speeds.
 
If your BIOS supports manual assignment of IRQs:
a. select "PnP OS installed = NO" on BIOS setup
b. Add parameter /PCILOCK to boot.ini

(assuming you have latest BIOS update for your mobo and latest device
drivers).

--PA
 
What makes you think there's an IRQ conflict? That's extremely rare today
and almost always an incorrect assumption. IRQ sharing is normal and works
quite well. If you want to experiment with different IRQ's, try changing
the boards to different slots? Trying to manage all IRQ's manually is
highly undesirable. If you describe the problem you're having we can better
advise.
--
 
I know about the IRQ conflict, because you can see the current conflicts
in Windows System Information. At the moment, my X-Fi is colliding with
one of the gfx cards at IRQ19. If I move the X-Fi to the other PCI
slot, it collides with the other gfx card at IRQ18.

Also, as you can see, I've got a rather high-end system, but am
suffering from performance problems - especially in highly demanding 3D
games. A lot of troubleshooting and benchmarking has shown that this is
the only thing "out of order" in my computer.

@pavel; thanks, I'll see if I can find anything in the BIOS.

@andy; same problem with Standard PC, Windows setup locks up when
having loaded the setup files and saying "Starting Windows".
 
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