Hercules Prophet 4000XT AGP fighting with PCI??

My Hercules Prophet 4000XT video card doesn't work. The PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge is duplicated. One of the dupes has a yellow asterisk on it in Device Manager. When I uninstalled the copy that didn't have a yellow mark on it, all of a sudden the video card works. Why doesn't Windows 2000 Pro see this card properly when I can see it printed on the POST Screen> What's going on here?

 

Hi P and welcome to the BBS.

Need more info. I think you are running two video cards, the Prophet and a PCI. Is this right?

You need to detail when and how the video doesn't work (no video at all would be a blank screen from startup). Does it drop out when Windows starts? Does it not play intensive video programs?

Matt

 

Thank you very much for replying.

The Display adapter is not seen by Windows in Device Manager. It is seen on the POST screen. I am only running one Video Card and it's in the AGP slot. Whenever I tried to install it I am told to uninstall the current installation of the card. I've looked in the registry using Regedt32.exe but, all that allows me to do is view the settings for SERVICES and HARDWARE. There seems to be a connection between the Card in the AGP slot and the PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge. This is the error that I get when I look at the properties of the device with the Yellow Exlamation point on it

 

I would try removing drivers for both PCI to PCI bridges and let Windows redetect it. Note: I haven't used Win 2000, so check in Help > Removing Drivers.

Another would be to change the cards around in the PCI slots and see if Windows might double up on some of the resources. Put Sound Cards and Modems furthest from the AGP slot. Again, see Resources in Help. I've only had one or two resource problems to deal with, so I hope this helps.

Matt

 

Your floppy controller:
I have heard of someone replacing a missing pin with a piece of stiff copper wire. I have also found pins at the local electronics store (and you might be able to get some super-glue around the base using a fine needle).

I have straighted pins with a pair of "needle-nose" pliers well enough to work.

Here's luck,
Matt

 

As for uninstalling both Bridges, it didn't work. Even though Windoze detected the Prophet it didn't acknowledge it. Oh and when it restarted the **** OS deleted or failed to recognize my "USB Human Interface Device" in other words, I had no Mouse!
I was able to uninstall the USB Human Interface Device, restart Windows and it was redetected. What a scary moment. Conditions with The PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge still remain as they are. One thing. Why is it that I cannot change the configuration settings in the Resources tab for the devices properties?

The controllers pin is gone completely not just bent. I've done the pliers thing too with mixed resultes. A veddy delicate operation Matt.

Thanks,

Paul

 

ASUS *****

I've contacted ASUS and Hercules. Both tech support people suggested a reinstall of windows with a minimum of devices installed. I tried that and got the same problem. There must be something wrong with this mobo, A7N266-C that no one is talking about.

Best regards,


Paul

 

Just something to investigate. Motherboard drivers. I think your board has a VIA chipset. VIA 4 in 1 drivers have an uninstall. Might be worth uninstalling and reinstalling.

If you decide to reformat and try installing Windows again, put the motherboard drivers in as soon as you have finished loading Windows.

May be a very off chance. Run diagnostics on your harddrive.

Matt

Edit: Basics, reseat all the connections....all cards, drives, even RAM.

 

Good guidance Mattman - and repairing a pin isn't as tough as it is intimidating. Only thing to add is if there is any card in PCI #1 - get it out of there - pronto.

 

Thanks for the encouragement Rockster. Always worth a try, I say.



Matt

 

Hercules 4000XT Prophet: The Saga goes on...

Both Hercules and ASUS were helpful but not forthcoming. Isn't so typical of anything to do with Machines: There are at least 20 different reasons why something goes wrong. Sometimes I feel it's an Act of God when things go right. No, I do not have White Plastic Jesus on top of my Monitor!

I did an install of Win2K with only the Video Card in the machine. I got the same results: a duplication of the PCI Standard PCI-to-PCI Bridge. When I installed the Motherboard Chipset drivers and the AMD AGP patch and the AGP Miniport Driver I got a yellow mark next to the AGP to PCI Bridge!! How Nice...

I updated the BIOS from the Hard Drive using ASUS update Utility. That had no adverse or positive effect. My attempts to do a clean slow install have failed. I'm prepared to throw the ficking Video Card out the nearest window and get a PCI card. I found a 128 MB DDR Card by GeForce that's looking mighty sweet right now at around $70.

Years ago they used to have a program called First Aid 95. It was very helpful in resolving some of these conflicts. Is there something like that for Win2K or does Bill Gates take all that control out of our hands now? ACPI removes control of the settings from the User. That *****.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions.

Be well,

Paul

 

Could you find another AGP video card to try. You will be somewhat limited with PCI graphics. If the motherboard is the source of the problem it may be better to change that. See if you can search on "A7N266C rescources" etc. and find if there are basic problems with the board or card. (I'll try if I get time).

I had a conflict between my M/B and graphics card (GeForce) when I got them. Spent 3 months on my second computer. Ended up with an ATI card, but it was the M/B that was the problem. I regret not asking for another M/B because I may not be able to upgrade to GeForce cards in the future.

Luck
Matt

 

Just did some looking and believe you have an NVidia chipset - you may want to cruise over to their site and grab the latest NForce drivers. I'm also scratching my head over the mini-port driver you referenced and will assume it came on your MB driver disc - I know there was a problem with AMD mini-port drivers that used to come with some ABIT (via chipset) KT7 & KT7a board software and was a definate no-no (ie; notta, notta - never). Same was true with the KG7 boards that had an AMD 751 chipset and a northbridge controller.

Am surprised and baffled re: your problem because Asus doesn't put out much thats anything short of excellent.

 

I've discovered that this is a motherboard problem going all the way back to Windows 95. On various boards I've seen reference to the problem. Windows, after all these years combatitive existance still fails to understand anything not of its own devising. Do the Nvidia drivers have anything to do with the crossed signals regarding AGP and PCI?

Be well,

Paul

 

As per my previous post, Windows has had this problem going all the way back to Win95. However they obviously refuse to acknowledge it. They believe it is "rare" and not worthy of attention. Hence the following quote from their Knowledge Base:

"Microsoft does not recommend that you change the HAL that is installed during the Windows Setup process. When you change from the ACPI HAL to the Standard PC HAL, you must reinstall the operating system. ACPI functionality is then lost. In some rare instances, you may need to have control over a resource assignment. You are only able to manually configure resources in Windows when the Standard PC HAL is used, and even then you may not be able to configure the device. The device must support the ability to manually set the resources. "

This ACPI Hal is blocking me from doing anything about this resource issue. Microsoft has again turned Microshaft and is shortchanging its users by taking control of their computers away from them

 

Running out of ideas now. I don't know 2000 well enough.

Try your driver removing, installation and resource work in Safe Mode.

Matt

 

I'm lost too - but would still be willing to bet this is solely a driver problem having little or nothing to do with what is referenced as "Microshaft ". Not trying to talk down here but go back to a standard VGA, run RegCleaner and pull out any references to your video drivers, load whatever chipset drivers you need (download from Asus site) and then install your video drivers. AGP is setup in Bios and you should isolate an IRQ for your video card (also available in Bios).

Good Luck but you lost me ..........

 

Hi P

You posted another thread, The Devil is in the Documentation

[Quote
"The Devil is in the Documentation
I've tried another video card, a PCI card put out by XFX. When installing it I got two Display adapters listed. One is an Nvidia Geforce Integrated GPU.

Has this been my problem all along. I know the mobo has Nvidia display drivers of its own. The tech support guy at XFX hinted that it could be onboard video causing the problem but, refused to assist me with the BIOS. A bunch of legal eagles these techies are.

I am now using an S3 card, an ancient mariner I dug up from deep down in the depths. But it too isn't recognised in a proper way and there is still that reference to the Nvidia Integrated GPU. I'm willing to bet there's no documentation on that either. This isn't something that will appear on a POPULAR FAQ that's for sure.

You can talk down to me all you want I don't really care. What is RegCleaner? "

End quote.]

Have you seen this:
http://www.asus.com/support/faq/qanda.aspx?KB_ID=83978
NB: It is for the VM model, but may be applicable, since you are having trouble with integrated graphics. (Wow, one sentence, I wish they would explain how and why it works).

Searched on A7N266 general:
http://www.asus.com/support/search.aspx?SearchStr=a7n266


Matt

 

Found this:
http://www-level3.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Q_20767903.html

Not a good outcome, but the guy never found the "Advanced->PCI Configuration" BIOS settings.
Suggests a program called detonator-rip.
Has a uninstall/install proceedure toward the bottom.

Matt