unknown unknown device

Hi

Biostar M6TWG motherboard w. Crystal onboard codec

trying to identify an "unknown device" which is causing a yellow ? in device manager

I've removed all plugin cards and put Windows98SE afresh; just before Windows starts to load the screen shows these 6 devices

Display Controller
IDE Controller
Serial Bus Controller
SMBus Controller
Multimedia Device
ACPI Controller

but as far as I can see they are all "accounted for" in Device Manager and report as working OK

all I can tell about this unknown device is that it's "under" ACPI BIOS (viewed by connection), and it's using memory FFB80000 to FFBFFFFF

Googling for this memory range produces hits concerning graphics cards?

have tried downloading the ?appropriate motherboard drivers from Biostar, using them changes things but doesn't improve anything at all

unfortunately they don't install by the method described in the readme, and another text file is missing.

(I'm going to have another go at this but it requires doing a pre-copy to the setup files folder before installing Windows )(there's also meant to be a way of doing the motherboard drivers after setting up Windows which is the way I've tried - but not sure I have it correct as the documentation appears self-contradictory)

But going by what's there, it would appear that Windows98SE already knows this chipset (Intel810) - however if that's the case why do they (Biostar) supply a patch file??

No conflicts are reported but I'm suspicious that the parallel port has a problem (Windows is "seeing" it as LPT but BIOS has it configured as EPP)(Windows saw it correctly at least once before I tried the motherboard driver patch); a good proportion of the Google hits for the memory range also cite parallel port problems, but these hits refer to conflicts and I see none - probably because no graphics card plugged in to conflict with!

I'm rather out of my depth here (understatement!) any help very much appreciated

TIA & best wishes, HJ

 

Suggestion

Hi Hugh..

Can't remember for sure where I learned this or why it works...but it could possibly resolve your problem. Has something to do with the way Windows 98 identifies power management hardware ...(if indeed that is the problem?)

Anyway, go into device manager, remove the troublesome device, close device manager and goto add/remove hardware without rebooting and let it do an automatic identify....

I worked on one of those motherboards in a Pionex PC, but don't recall if that was the issue. Let us know ....

Cheers
Jake

 

Hi Jake

many thanks for the suggestion - without rebooting! - perhaps about the only thing I haven't tried so far ?!?

will try this afternoon and post back with results

best wishes, HJ

 

result of trying the "without rebooting" method (this done from pretty fresh install of W98SE without attempting the motherboard patch; video and modem and NIC are back in now - no conflicts are reported and all seem to function OK)

- Device Manager: device removed OK;
- Add New Hardware: autodetect: no devices found;
- on closing Add New Hardware: Unknown Device Found!

I've let Windows put it back in as an Unknown Device

best wishes, HJ

 

Hi Hugh ...

Thought it worth a shot, obviously Windows only knows it be power management related...quick question or two?

A: Did you get a driver CD with that thing?

B: Do all the power management functions work, such as hibernate, power off by holding the power button for a couple seconds etc?

Cheers
Jake

 

Hugh ...

Just took a look at the manual for that Motherboard ...and you can just about bet the intel chipset update utility is where the problem is ...that thing is bios programed for ...

Wake up on Lan
Wake up on modem
Wake up by PCI bus
Wake up by preset Time/date

The manual lists those functions as needing the CD shipped with the motherboard...(reading between the lines "Intel chipset update)

I would suggest going and getting it from Intel's Website or someplace like Fileforum.com..........here's a link

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1023658094/1

Cheers
Jake

 

Jake

no I didn't get a CD - I did download some files from Biostar, incluing a file inf6.exe which could well be the one mentioned in the manual - which landed me with the puzzle mentioned in my first post of the thread

I had disabled all the functions you mention in the BIOS setup.

Also, finally got the parallel port working like it should by fiddling wih setup options

however - since since starting this thread I've discovered that not all is as it seems. I first identified the motherboard using Everest, which said M6TWC/M6TWG... so I downloaded manuals from Biostar for these

I've just now had to dismantle, PSU fan with naff bearings was giving trouble; removing the PSU I find (underneath) that the board is significantly different to the motherboards in both of the manuals...

...significant, because there's an extra device: an AGP slot - at least that's what I think it is - bit like PCI only brown, a tad longer, and with a plastic ?removable wedge across

...and the Google hits for the address range of the "unknown" tally with things like nVidia cards - so perhaps getting close(r) to an explanation.

(the SiS6326 card is in one of the PCI slots)

I can't use the AGP the way the case is put together - it's completely buried, actually I'm rather ashamed I didn't take the thing to pieces to start with

but I'd already decided to rebuild in a new case, it's hopelessly put together, have to poke through a hole at the floppy to get it to eject. Why did they have to make the front curved?

will try to ascertain the id and precise revision version of the motherboard - then obtain appropriate manual - and drivers (if I can) - and of course post back...

best wishes, HJ

PS: D'oh! that's what I get for going by Everest - have found M6TWL ver1.0 silkscreened on the board. Right next to the AGP slot, buried under the PSU. Will get looking. BW, HJ.

 

Hi hugh

Look at the bright side, you'll be an expert on M6 series Biostar motherboards...

Hope all goes well now......

Cheers
Jake