Re: "Resources" problem with ports

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: joust in jest (jest_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 12/20/04 

Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 15:53:49 -0800

Ralph wrote "Any other suggestions?"

These are the kind of problems that will just drive you nuts.

Is your BIOS set to let the OS assign resources? The x86 architecture is
limited to 15 IRQ assignments, with System Timer, Keyboard, COM 2, COM 1, HD
controller, Floppy controller, LPT 1, Real Time Clock, PS/2 Mouse, and
Numerical Processing Unit accounting for ten of those 15 IRQs. And, of
course, IRQ 2 is tied to IRQ 9. So, if you are allowing your BIOS to assign
resources, you can see that there aren't many IRQs left to assign to PCI
cards.

Theoretically, MS Windows XP gets around that architecture limit and
supports an unlimited number of hardware (PCI) devices. [But you have your
BIOS set to allow the OS to assign resources.] In practice, there are
motherboards and PCI cards that don't always adhere to the theory. Some
"Bus Mastering" PCI cards, for instance (perhaps because they want to be the
Master of their Bus), will not share an IRQ with another card. Even some
non-bus master cards will not share an IRQ. I had a Sound Blaster sound card
(to be fair to SB, it was designed for Win / 2000) that absolutely would NOT
share an IRQ with another device, and prevented the shared device from
working either.

To make a short story longer, I built one system that, with a given MoBo and
PCI cards, took three months for me to figure out how to put the right
cards, in the right order (e.g. install a card, boot and detect device,
assure it works, shut down, add another card...) in the right slots so that
everybody was happy with their locations. Well, almost everybody -- I ended
up tossing the aforementioned Sound Blaster card -- depending where I put
it, either disliked my Linksys NIC, or it disliked my Adaptec SCSI card, or
it disliked both at the same time. 

-- 
steve
nhit_whit_thenut_@yahoo.com
remove   _thenut_   to reach me
"Ralph Hutchinson" <a78be3@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:AKExd.2424$Jb7.2@okepread01...
> Thanks Steve I really do appreciate your help.  You guys and gals are a
gold
> mine of information.  Thanks again.
>
> I did what you recommended, but with no success.  The "Port Settings" were
> defaulted to "Never Use an Interrupt" so I also tried setting it to "Use
any
> available" but that didn't help either.  Rick "Nutcase" Rogers over on
> another board suggested that it might be because the card was adjacent to
> the AGP slot.  He also referred me over here for better help.  I moved it
> down one slot, uninstalled and restarted and that didn't work.  Now I have
> moved it down to the second slot below the AGP and that didn't work.
> Actually, in the Properties it shows that the driver is installed.  But it
> says it cannot find enough free resources.........  I have also tried just
> disabling all the other ports but not uninstalling them...... no luck.
>
> Any other suggestions?
>
>
> "joust in jest" <joust in jest@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:OFplTjl5EHA.3336@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > Sounds like your PCI card is having a motherboard resource problem.
> >
> > In Device Manger, remove the PCI card.
> > Shut down and turn off your computer.
> > Move the PCI card to another slot.
> > Power up, load the driver (if any) for the card, and see if your problem
> > goes away.
> >
> > -- 
> > steve
> >
> > nhit_whit_thenut_@yahoo.com
> > remove   _thenut_   to reach me
> >
> >
> > "Ralph Hutchinson" <a78be3@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > news:%m1xd.1073$Jb7.940@okepread01...
> >>
> >> I am running WindowsXP Pro on an up to date computer.  For purposes of
> > using
> >> both my Laser printer and Ink Jet printer at the same time I installed
a
> >> second printer port in a PCI slot.  When I started the computer it
seemed
> > to
> >> install but wouldn't print.  Went to My Computer, Properties, Hardware,
> >> Device Manager.  It shows two communications ports, Com1 & Com2.  Also
> > shows
> >> LPT1 & LPT3.  Also shows two serial ports, COM11 and COM9.  Only LPT1
is
> >> operating.  All of the others show "This device cannot find enough free
> >> resources that it can use.(Code 12)"  I have tried uninstalling all of
> >> the
> >> ports and then starting over again but I
> >> always end up with the same problem, except the two serial ports will
> > switch
> >> COM#s.  I have also tried just disabling all the ports, and trying to
> >> install LPT3, to no avail.
> >>
> >> 1. Can anyone tell me what I may be doing wrong, or a procedure to free
> > the
> >> resources to run the LPT ports and all the others?
> >>
> >> 2. How can I clear all the resources to start over, and would that
help?
> >>
> >> Many thanks for any assistance.
> >> Ralph
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

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