Windows

General discussion

Gravatar
0 Votes
Locked

Dual Floppy disk controllers in XP

By swansondl ·
I own a small PC repair shop in a small town in Indiana.
I have came across a customer who`s PC I upgraded to Windows XP Pro. When the PC is turned on it finds two floppy disk controllers then disabeles them do to IRQ conflict. If I open device manager and uninstall one of them, the other works until the next reboot. I have upgraded the Bios, changed floppy drives & Ribbon cables. Tried to find Mother Board (MicroStar/AMD (Lucas) MBDSAC K6-2 450MHz drivers on Gateway website. The serial # for the specified PC is 0013768684. Can you please point me in the right direction? Do you know of an issue with this model 450 select being upgraded to Windows XP Pro from 98SE?

This conversation is currently closed to new comments.

Thread display: Collapse - | Expand +

All Comments

gravatar
Collapse -

by swansondl In reply to

The manufacturer is gatewayway been there done that no help!!! There is only one floppy in it. Did I mention I am a business owner (PC Repair). This is the first issue of this nature I have had. I am A+, & iNet+ certified I would like to think I have tried the obvious, but thanks anyways.

gravatar
Collapse -

by CG IT In reply to Dual Floppy disk controll ...

First off there are certain hardware requirements for using Windows XP. here is a link to the Technet article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314865

If the link doesnt work visit http://support.Microsoft.com then type in in the search box 314865 to bring up the article on system requirments for Windows XP Home & Pro.

But if your using a 450mhz processor and 64MB of memory and a 1.5 GB HDD with the other normal junk [keyboard mouse, video etc] you shouldn't have a problem. Drivers on the other hand might be a problem. Since you upgraded the BIOS I assume you found the board mfg web site. They should have chipset drivers as well as BIOS updates available.

Next is Are there really 2 floppys in it?? if so, take out the other bloody floppy drive. convince the owner to go with a CD RW or something.

gravatar
Collapse -

by swansondl In reply to

The manufacturer is gatewayway been there done that no help!!! There is only one floppy in it. Did I mention I am a business owner (PC Repair). This is the first issue of this nature I have had. I am A+, & iNet+ certified I would like to think I have tried the obvious, but thanks anyways.

gravatar
Collapse -

by CG IT In reply to Dual Floppy disk controll ...

well I'm glad your A+ certified and everything else so ....why ask for help .... but yes I've seen this issue with floppys & CD RWs on older computers trying to use Windows XP. Firware updates, installing Service Pack 1a and all hotfixes and or BIOS updates tend to solve the problem. sometimes it takes new floppys to solve the problem and sometimes it takes a new mainboard. not all old chipsets and old basic mainboard drivers are compatible with Windows XP Pro and people with old machines may be forced to upgrade theirs to something a little newer.

gravatar
Collapse -

by CG IT In reply to

some old mainboards have an 8 bit PCI slot along with the 16bit PCI slots. XP has a problem identifing that 8 bit slot somethings and assigns it whatever it think it is.

gravatar
Collapse -

by CG IT In reply to

When XP first came out, there were tons of problems with compatibility with older machines drivers, and older hardware firmware. Even today, some older DVDs,CD-RW's require a firmware update to run with XP and some componets require XP specific drivers to work with XP. So you might be trying to make something work that may not work simply because of the age of the equipment.

gravatar
Collapse -

by swansondl In reply to

I must apolize, I did not mean to offend you I Thank You very much for your help on this matter.

I belive you when you say I may be trying upgrade something that simply cannot be upgraded. I have been installing and upgrading XP pro since it came out and I have always been able to get drivers for equipment (hardware).
By either going to the Manufacturer or Microsoft Windows Update, this one has me stumped.
This is a first.

Again
Thank You.

gravatar
Collapse -

by pgm554 In reply to Dual Floppy disk controll ...

Let me get this right ,you did an inplace upgrade from W98 to XP /Pro?
If this is correct,you probably have an issue with the upgrade itself.

Do a fresh install,in place upgrades cause nothing but misery.(I have been to the "official" M$ classes and they say don't do it).

If I remember correctly that chipset is a ALI chip set and the drivers from win98 interfere with XP(IRQ steering).

If the bios allows,try setting the IRQ's manually so they don't conflict.

gravatar
Collapse -

by swansondl In reply to

This was a fresh install With service pack 1a and all windows updates. Bios will not allow manual IRQ settings,
nor does it allow to specify win 95 or other. You know so I can let the OS or bios handle IRQ settings, which has always worked in the past, oh well, I may be S.O.L.

Thanks,

Back to Windows Forum

Start or search

Related Discussions

Related Forums