# Anyone good with computers? PCI problem.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785 "2003-07-16T02:02:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/1 "2003-07-16T02:02:23Z")
Hi, Ok, major computer problems…so I basically unplugged EVERYTHING in order to start over. All I have hooked up at the moment is the harddrive, the video card, the cd rom, and the floppy drive. I have a “Lucky Star” motherboard (I think)… number 5MvP3 Ver. 4.0. Basically, it has 3 pci slots, and 3 isa. When I plug in more than one PCI card, it chokes, and doesn’t boot. If I just have 1 plugged in (my video card), it boots just fine. Grrr… I’ve tried to mess with the bios, but it hasn’t helped. I thought maybe there would be an on/off switch so to speak in the bios for the slots, but I don’t think so. I’ve updated the bios, but I already had the current version, so that didn’t help. ANY ideas would be great! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/2 "2003-07-16T02:08:52Z")
What happens when you try to boot with more than one PCI card installed? Do you get POST beeps, do the fans spin up, is there drive activity? Or is it just dead? If the latter, it could be a power supply problem. Try it with JUST the floppy drive plugged in. Boot from a boot diskette and see if it will come up with multiple PCI cards installed. If it still fails, try it with the video card removed and any other one istalled, and see if you get POST beeps and drive activity. If you don’t, it may be that the two non-video cards are simply bad. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/3 "2003-07-16T03:42:15Z")
Most older motherboards with combo PCI/ISA slot architectures will have an option under the MB BIOS setup parameters to assign fixed IRQs or memory addresses to the ISA and possibly PCI slots. Make sure there are no fixed IRQs or memory addresses assigned to any slot. I would also try another PCI video card (if available) to test with. The problem may be due to an uncooperative video card instead of uncooperative MB PCI slots. Out of curiosity does this MB have onboard video that is defeated when you installed the video card? ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/4 "2003-07-16T04:46:16Z")
Try leaving an empty slot between the two PCI cards you install. ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/5 "2003-07-16T12:59:27Z")
Wow, thanks for all of the help everyone. These are some great suggestions. If you have any more (even if they seem obvious), please let me know. I’ll try to answer all of your questions below: Q.E.D: What happens when I have more than one PCI installed is that everything still powers up, and the very beginning of the startup screens appear. It shows the type of motherboard, beeps once, shows the PC speed, performs the RAM test, and then recognizes the cd-rom. (It also gives the option of going into setup by pressing DEL). But, since I have more than one PCI installed, it will then go to a black screen with a blinking cursor in the top left of the screen. It won’t respond to anything after that. I didn’t try to boot from a floppy with more than one PCI installed…I’ll try that. astro: I believe my BIOS has a menu like you’re mentioning. I wasn’t really sure what it does, so I messed with it a little, but then reset everything when it still didn’t work. I also reset the bios to default settings just to start over, but that didn’t work either. I did try another PCI video card, but received the same error. The MB does not have onboard video. Alereon: I tried every possible combination:-) I tried it with the video card in slot 1, 2, and 3, with another PCI card in one of the other slots. I tried it with an ISA card installed and not installed…same results. The kicker is that this USED to work, so I’m not sure where I went wrong. I thought that maybe by putting in the other cards, I was somehow pushing the MB into the case, causing it to touch metal…but that doesn’t seem like it. I tried different Harddrive settings in the Bios, but that still didn’t do it. Hmmm… Here’s that menu from the bios…bear with me as I’m typing it from the manual (I’m not in front of my pc at the moment). I’m pretty sure these are the setting that I currently have since I reset the bios defaults: * * * ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A5LEL1B) PNP/PCI CONFIGURATION AWARD SOFTWARE, INC. PNP OS INSTALLED : No Resources Controlled by : Manual Reset Configuration Data : Disabled IRQ-3 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-4 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-5 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-7 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-9 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-10 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-11 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-12 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-14 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP IRQ-15 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP DMA-0 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP DMA-1 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP DMA-3 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP DMA-5 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP DMA-6 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP DMA-7 assigned to : PCI/ISA PnP CPU to PCI Write Buffer : Enabled PCI Delay Transaction : Enabled AGP Master 1 WS Write : Enabled AGP Master 1 WS Read : Disabled PCI IRQ Actived by : Level Slot 1 Use IRQ No. : Auto Slot 2 Use IRQ No. : Auto Slot 3 Use IRQ No. : Auto Assign IRQ for USB : Enabled Assign IRQ for VGA : Enabled * * * ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/6 "2003-07-16T13:11:36Z")
Wow, I can’t believe I just found this on the web. Here’s a picture and some specs on my motherboard. Just below that picture is the manual for the motherboard, including the Bios menu that I just typed up (it’s on page 45 of the manual). [http://fiehog.de.s18.evanzo-server.de/PCDOC/mainboard/lucky\_star\_5mvp3.htm](http://fiehog.de.s18.evanzo-server.de/PCDOC/mainboard/lucky_star_5mvp3.htm) ANY ideas would be great…I’m really at a loss here…THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/7 "2003-07-16T13:13:40Z")
agh…for some reason I can’t edit my post…I was trying to let you know that it’s the manual that says “Manual 4.0” on that page. THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/8 "2003-07-16T15:23:20Z")
You can get decent inexpensive AGP cards on Ebay for as little as $ 10-$15. Have you tried using an AGP video card instead of a PCI video card and seeing if the system still hangs. ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/9 "2003-07-16T15:30:07Z")
Nope, I haven’t tried any AGP cards (don’t have any). Maybe I’ll try removing the video card alltogether, and putting in 2 other PCI cards…and see if I can “hear” the pc boot all the way. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/10 "2003-07-16T15:38:02Z")
A guy at the computer store told me once for a computer I got from them (so not all computers) that the first PCI slot has to be full if there are any pci cards that is. Then number two slot for number two card. Also, your bios also remembers what cards you have it in & if you don’t clear that memory, then it thinks the old cards are still there & so it should work if you put them back the way they were. Or use the bios setting for safe boot or whatever yours calls it. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/11 "2003-07-16T16:07:28Z")
What was the initial cause of your woes? The one that caused you to unplug everything and start over. Is your OS currently installed? Don`t feel bad, no-one else can edit their posts either. The feature is turned off, except for the Mods. ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/12 "2003-07-16T16:54:33Z")
The initial cause of my woes is a tough problem 🙂 I was actually trying to figure that out…it was so long ago. 1. A long time ago I upgraded from a 4 to 60 gb harddrive 2. A few weeks ago the 60 gig crashed 3. I hooked it up as a slave in another pc, and put the 4 gig back into my pc to back everything up before I send out the 60 gig to Maxtor 4. I was able to back everything up, and somewhere in there, I believe the pc just crapped out. Then that’s when the fun began. 5. Maxtor sent me a new replacement drive, then I started swapping drives, pulling cards, bla blah blah. now this is where i am…I think that’s how it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/13 "2003-07-16T17:35:26Z")
A little confusing that is. Where was your operating system during all of this swapping of drives? ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/14 "2003-07-16T18:54:59Z")
It is windows 98. I actually brought it into work, and the computer guy messed with it a bit, but we still couldn’t get it. We tried an agp video card, but the same results. I was told to go to Start --\> Programs --\> Accessories --\> System Tools --\> System Information. In that program, to try and go to Components, and then Problem Devices. What does my computer say to that? It says it can’t display that information when I get to that menu! AGH! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/15 "2003-07-16T19:01:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cpgoose \* > \*\*It is windows 98. I actually brought it into work, and the computer guy messed with it a bit, but we still couldn’t get it. We tried an agp video card, but the same results. I was told to go to Start --\> Programs --\> Accessories --\> System Tools --\> System Information. In that program, to try and go to Components, and then Problem Devices. What does my computer say to that? It says it can’t display that information when I get to that menu! AGH! \*\* If that’s the case it sounds like your problem may not be hardware related at all, but is the result of low level damage to the OS binaries. A full format and win re-install (not simply re-installing windows on top of the existing damaged OS- that will likely do nothing) would be recommended. ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/16 "2003-07-16T19:14:12Z")
But it’s doing the same thing for 2 different hard drives. Maybe I’ll try it anyway. Heck…I’m trying everything…standing on my left foot and standing on my right foot. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/17 "2003-07-16T21:00:45Z")
I happen to design PCI cards for a living (among other things). What you describe are the typical effects of a card with a screwed up PCI configuration space, meaning that the firmware on the PCI card is screwed up or not functioning. This gets the PCI bios all confused and the end result is the computer just sits staring at you. I’ve whiffed my PCI configurations a few times during card development and have seen this happen many times, so I’m pretty familiar with the symptoms. If it does this consistantly with different PCI cards then its most likely a hardware problem with the motherboard, probably something munged in the PCI bridge chip that controls that particular bus. A PCI bus can only have about 3 slots. Any more than that and the signals get screwy. If your motherboard has more than 3 slots then it has multiple PCI busses, which are all connected to the cpu through bridge chips. You can usually figure out which slots are on which bus by looking at the signal traces on the motherboard. If you want to bypass the bridge chip that controls that particular bus put all of the cards in slots on a different bus. The motherboard boots, does some basic cpu checks, checks the ram, then goes off and checks all of the PCI devices by polling everything it can find for its ID. Most motherboard will display a list of what cards they’ve found (one of the many things that whizzes by as the motherboard boots). It’s not clear from your post but it sounds like you’re not getting to this part of the boot procedure. Once the bios has figured out what’s where and has assigned resources to every device, then it will attempt to boot from somewhere (it will search bootable devices based on the order that you set in the BIOS). If that table never comes out, you know it’s not an operating system problem because the motherboard is never getting to the operating system. ---
**Author:** ![cpgoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@cpgoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cpgoose)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-computers-pci-problem/188785/18 "2003-07-17T15:18:57Z")
SUCCESS! Holy crap…it fiiiiinally works. Thanks everyone for all of your help. Here’s what I did: I wasn’t able to find a newer update to my bios, so I actually downloaded an older copy. I loaded the older one, but then it didn’t like the 60gig harddrive (which is why I had to update the bios in the first place). So I put the old 4gig one back in, and it worked. This didn’t solve my problem, though, because I still wanted to use the 60 gig. So, I reupdated the bios with the one that I just overwrote, and everything worked! I plugged in all of the cards that I own, and it still worked! Unbelievable. What I’m thinking is when I plugged in the old 4gig harddrive, maybe I messed up the bios, and then I plugged the 60gig back in, and messed things up even more. Maybe by giving it an older bios again, and then putting the new one back on, it resolved it. YAY! Thanks everyone for your help…it was greatly appreciated!!!