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Bad Ports, possible Motherboard problem

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by leighr 1 view

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Hello, I am having problems with my Dell Dimension 8100 computer. I have been dealing with Dell since I bought the computer in May. Here is a run down of the problems...

When I connect to the internet I get little to no data exchange. I reinstalled the operating system last week and it was fine for a few days but it is back to the original problem. This is not the only problem I have had, just the most current.

Currently only COM 1 is recognized by my computer and the others are unidentified. My modem resides on COM 3 which is why (I assume) I am not having any data exchange. However, I can sometimes actually connect to the internet, just not do anything once there.

In Systems Tools >> Systems Information under "Problem Devices" this is what it reads:

ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering ACPI\*PNP0C0F\0000000D Error Code 22
ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering ACPI\*PNP0C0F\0000000E Error Code 22
ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering ACPI\*PNP0C0F\0000000F Error Code 22

Is this a problem that swapping out my motherboard will solve or is there another fix for bad ports? Since the problem is usual, but not always I am stumped. I have tried multiple fixes (both with Dell Technical Support and my ISP Earthlink Technical Support) but to no avail.

Thanks!

Leigh

12 replies

by jon_w31

I would first remove all PCI cards and their drivers from the system, then check to see if the problem devices are still showing.
Load the bios defaults.
If no errors reported minus the PCI cards try an alternative modem or try an external.
If you can get hold of an alternative motherboard and set it up on the bench with your drives and cards, and everything works ok then given the tech support you've had I would just replace the damm board and be done with it.
Hope this of some help

by leighr

If it doesn;t work with Dell on this next go around I may have to do this just to get a functional machine. Thanks!

by dmiles

No you may not need to remove the motherboard,It is a conflect between Windows and Bios assigning the IRQ,when IRQ Steering is enabled
See Microsoft Knowledgebase Articles
Q182604 and Q182628

by leighr

Interesting comment...thanks for the articles. In talking with the technician that came out and installed the motherboard, I found out that Dell shipped about 200 machines with the wrong BIOS in it. I think mine was one of them.

by paul d. masley

Leigh:

Before you remove anything, go into you bios and make sure that the 'Plug and Play' o/s is enabled. Also, disable the bios virus protection. 'P&P' o/s is required for PCI IRQ steering to work.

Paul.

by leighr

I already had done this, but didn't put it in my post. But thank you for the post, I guess I was on the right track initially.

by wanabedrsean

If I were you I would do everything in my power to get dell to send a service tech out because the more you mess with the computer while it is under warranty the less dell is going to want to admit it is their problem. I would also try to see about a replcement machine from dell because I believe you have a lemon just remember if you bug them enough you will get what you want. maybe if the computer wasnt so new or if it wasnt under warranty I would tell You to start swapping cards out to see ifthere are any resources that arent getting allocated properly to the com ports or modem but MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF AND HARD ON DELL.

by leighr

Thanks for bringing me back to the notion that I paid for something and it should work! I could start swapping things out (was almost ready to do it), but the machine is only 5 months old.

by paulote

disable from the bios the com2 and reinstall the modem....i think that the problem is the modem and not the ports....
try with another and look if there are conflicts...try to change the acpi irq from the bios too

by leighr

Another thing I didn't put in my initial post was I bought a hardware modem and installed it with the same result. But I thank you for your post. It was hard to not write a book when I made my post since I had been working on this for 5 months.

by leighr

Here is the follow up...
As per DrSean, I decided to try Dell again and this time a tech took time with me. He said it might be the motherboard and he shipped one out overnight. A technician was here today and installed the motherboard. Guess what?? Same problem!!!

At this time, the machine has been reformatted twice and the same blue screen appears. VXD VNETBIOS (01) and VxD VMM (OC)

So, I am thinking it is not any of the hardware in the machine, but an OS problem (WINME) and I plan to make it really hard on Dell at this point. The microsoft articles really helped me understand the ACPI and what it does.

All these answers helped and I thank the folks that took the time to reply.

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