Copyright 2008 by Pearson Educationptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/imprint_downloads/informit/... · Then, if that doesn’t work, you have to try dis-abling the integrated sound and perhaps

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education

1434 Chapter 22 PC Diagnostics, Testing, and Maintenance

The article explains each issue and solution in detail. All things considered, the MSKB is a valuableresource when dealing with any problems related to or reported by any version of Windows or anyother Microsoft software.

I see Fatal Exception errors in Windows 95/98/Me.This is the equivalent of the STOP error in Windows NT/2000/XP or Vista. As indicated in the previousanswer, this can be caused by both hardware and software problems, and the best place to check forspecific solutions is in the Microsoft Knowledgebase (MSKB) at http://support.microsoft.com/.

The system won’t shut down in Windows.This is another example where the MSKB comes to the rescue. For example, by searching for shut-down problems Windows XP (substitute the version of Windows you are using), you will quicklyfind several articles that can help you troubleshoot this type of problem. This problem has beencaused by bugs in motherboard ROM (try upgrading your motherboard ROM to the latest version),bugs in the various Windows versions (visit www.windowsupdate.com and install the latest fixes,patches, and service packs), or in some cases configuration or hardware problems. I’ll defer to theMSKB articles for more complete explanations of the Windows issues.

The power button won’t turn off the system.Desktop PCs built since 1996 mostly use the ATX or BTX form factors, which incorporate a specialpower supply design such that the power switch is connected to the motherboard and not the powersupply directly. This enables the motherboard and operating system to control system shutdown, pre-venting an unexpected loss of power that can cause data loss or file system corruption. However, ifthe system experiences a problem and becomes frozen or locked up in some way, the motherboardmight not respond to the power button, meaning it will not send a shutdown signal to the powersupply. It might seem that you will have to pull the plug to power off the system, but fortunately aforced shutdown override is provided. Merely press and hold down the system power button (usuallyon the front of the chassis) for a minimum of 4 seconds, and the system should power off. The onlydrawback is that, because this type of shutdown is forced and under the control of the motherboardor operating system, unsaved data can be lost and some file system corruption can result. You shouldtherefore run ScanDisk (found in the Windows Accessories, System Tools folder) in Windows95/98/Me/NT/2000 or Chkdsk in Windows XP and Vista to check and correct any file-system issuesafter a forced shutdown.

The modem doesn’t work.First verify that the phone line is good and that you have a dial tone. Then check and, if necessary,replace the phone cable from the modem to the wall outlet. If the modem is integrated into themotherboard, check the BIOS Setup to ensure that the modem is enabled. Try clearing the EnhancedSystem Configuration Data (ESCD) option in the BIOS Setup. This forces the plug-and-play routines toreconfigure the system, which can resolve any conflicts. If the modem is internal and you aren’t usingthe COM1/COM2 serial ports integrated into the motherboard (as for an external modem), try dis-abling the serial ports to free up additional system resources. Also, try removing and reinstalling themodem drivers, ensuring that you are using the most recent drivers from the modem manufacturer. Ifthat doesn’t help, try physically removing and reinstalling the modem. If the modem is internal,install it in a different slot. Or, if the modem is external, make sure it has power and is properly con-nected to the serial or USB port on the PC. Try replacing the external modem power brick and the ser-ial/USB cable. Finally, if you get this far and it still doesn’t work, try replacing the modem and finallythe motherboard.


www.windowsupdate.com

http://support.microsoft.com/

Troubleshooting Tips and Techniques 1435

Note that modems are very susceptible to damage from nearby lightning strikes. Consider addinglighting arrestors or surge suppressors on the phone line running to the modem, and unplug themodem during storms. If the modem has failed after a storm, you can be almost certain that it hasbeen damaged by lightning. The strike might have damaged the serial port or motherboard, in addi-tion to the modem. Any items damaged by lightning will most likely need to be replaced.

The keyboard doesn’t work.The two primary ways to connect a keyboard to a PC are via the standard keyboard port (usuallycalled a PS/2 port) and via USB. One problem is that some older systems that have USB ports cannotuse a USB keyboard because USB support is provided by the operating system—for instance, if themotherboard has a USB port but does not include what is called USB Legacy Support in the BIOS. Thissupport is specifically for USB keyboards (and mice) and was not common in systems until 1998 orlater. Many systems that had such support in the BIOS still had problems with the implementation; inother words, they had bugs in the code that prevented the USB keyboard from working properly. Ifyou are having problems with a USB keyboard, check to ensure that USB Legacy Support is enabled inthe BIOS. If you are still having problems, make sure you have installed the latest BIOS for yourmotherboard and any Windows updates from Microsoft. Some older systems never could properly usea USB keyboard, in which case you should change to a PS/2 keyboard instead. Some keyboards featureboth USB and PS/2 interfaces, which offer the flexibility to connect to almost any system.

If the keyboard is having problems, the quickest way to verify whether it is the keyboard or the moth-erboard is to simply replace the keyboard with a known-good spare. In other words, borrow a workingkeyboard from another system and try it. If it still doesn’t work, the interface on the motherboard ismost likely defective, which unfortunately means that the entire board must be replaced. If the sparekeyboard works, then obviously the original keyboard was the problem. My favorite replacement key-boards come from the PC Keyboard Co. (www.pckeyboard.com), which makes the legendary bucklingspring design originally developed by IBM. The company even offers versions with the TrackPointpointing device built in, and you can select from PS/2 or USB port versions on many models.

I can’t hear any sound from the speakers.This can often be as simple as the speakers being unplugged, plugged into the wrong jacks, or pow-ered off, so don’t overlook the obvious and check to be sure! Also check the volume controls inWindows or your application to see that they are turned up and not muted. When you are sure thevolume is turned up,the speakers have power and are plugged in, and the speaker configuration is cor-rectly identified in Windows (some audio hardware uses a proprietary mixer control for this job) youneed to verify whether the problem is with the speakers or the sound card. To do this most efficiently,you merely connect different known-good speakers and see whether they work. If they don’t, clearlythe issue is in the sound card—possibly the configuration of the card is incorrect or the card itself isdefective. The first thing to try is clearing the ESCD in the BIOS Setup. This essentially forces the plug-and-play routines to reconfigure the system, which can resolve any conflicts. If this doesn’t help, tryremoving and reinstalling the sound card drivers. Finally, if that doesn’t help, physically remove andreplace the card from the system. You might try replacing it first in the same slot and then in a differ-ent slot because timing issues can sometimes exist from one slot to the next. If that doesn’t work, youmust try replacing the card. If the sound “card” really isn’t a card but is integrated into the mother-board, first try the ESCD reset and driver reinstallation. Then, if that doesn’t work, you have to try dis-abling the integrated sound and perhaps installing a replacement card or replacement motherboard.

If your problem is only with playing audio CDs, check for a cable between the sound card and thedrive. If there is no cable, check the properties for the drive in the Device Manager in Windows to seewhether the Digital CD Audio option is checked (enabled). If it’s not, enable it. If your system will notallow digital CD audio to be enabled, it is not supported and you must install an analog cable con-nected between the sound card and the drive.

Chapter 22


www.pckeyboard.com


The monitor appears completely garbled or unreadable.A completely garbled screen is most often due to improper, incorrect, or unsupported settings for therefresh rate, resolution, or color depth. Using incorrect drivers can also cause this. To check the con-figuration of the card, the first step is to power on the system and verify whether you can see thePOST or the system splash screen and enter the BIOS Setup. If the screen looks fine during the POSTbut goes crazy after Windows starts to load, the problem is almost certainly due to an incorrect settingor configuration of the card. To resolve this, open the special boot menu and select Windows Safemode (hold down the F8 function key as Windows starts to load to display this menu).

This bypasses the current video driver and settings and places the system in the default VGA modesupported by the BIOS on the video card. When the Windows desktop appears, you can right-clickthe desktop, select Properties, and then either reconfigure the video settings or change drivers asnecessary.

NoteSome motherboards (such as some ASUS models) use the F8 key to display a boot menu. On these and similar system,wait until the boot menu option is gone before pressing F8 to bring up the boot menu.

If the problem occurs from the moment you turn on the system—and even if you boot to a DOSfloppy (such as a Windows 98 startup floppy)—a hardware problem definitely exists with the videocard, cable, or monitor. First, replace the monitor with another one; if the cable is detachable, replacethat, too. If replacing the monitor and cable does not solve the problem, the video card is probablydefective. Either replace the card or, if it is a PCI-based card, move it to a different slot. If the video isintegrated into the motherboard, you must add a separate card instead or replace the motherboard.

The image on the display is distorted (bent), shaking, or wavering.This can often be caused by problems with the power line, such as an electric motor, an air condi-tioner, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, and so on, causing interference. Try replacing the power cord,plugging the monitor and/or the system into a different outlet, or moving it to a different locationentirely. I’ve also seen this problem caused by local radio transmitters such as a nearby radio or televi-sion station or two-way radios being operated in the vicinity of the system. If the monitor is a CRTand the image is bent and discolored, it could be due to the shadow mask being magnetized. Todemagnetize the mask you can turn the monitor on and off repeatedly; this causes the built-indegaussing coil around the perimeter of the tube to activate in an attempt to demagnetize the shadowmask. Some CRTs include a degauss feature in their onscreen menus, which if available would be pre-ferred over turning the unit on and off. If degaussing seems to work partially but not completely, youmight need to obtain a professional degaussing coil from an electronics or TV service shop to demag-netize the mask. Finally, if the problems persist, replace the monitor cable, try a different (known-good) monitor, and finally replace the video card.

I purchased a video card, and it won’t fit in the slot.Most video cards are designed to conform to the AGP 4X, AGP 8X, or PCI Express x16 specification. Itis all but impossible to install a PCI Express x16 card into a non–PCI Express x16 slot, but problemscan arise with AGP cards when they’re used with older AGP systems.

Both AGP 4X and AGP8X are designed to run on only 1.5V.

Most older motherboards with AGP 2X slots are designed to accept only 3.3V cards. If you were toplug a 1.5V card into a 3.3V slot, both the card and motherboard could be damaged. Special keyshave therefore been incorporated into the AGP specification to prevent such disasters. Typically, the



slots and cards are keyed such that 1.5V cards fit only in 1.5V sockets and 3.3V cards fit only in 3.3Vsockets. Additionally, universal sockets are available that accept either 1.5V or 3.3V cards. The keyingfor the AGP cards and connectors is dictated by the AGP standard as shown in Figure 22.12.

Chapter 22

AGP 4X/8X (1.5V) Card

AGP 3.3V Key (not present)

AGP 1.5V Key

AGP 2X connector 3.3V

AGP universal connector 1.5V or 3.3V

AGP 4X/8X connector 1.5V

Figure 22.12 AGP 4X/8X (1.5V) card and how it relates to 3.3V, universal, and 1.5V AGP slots.

As you can see from Figure 22.12, AGP 4X or 8X (1.5V) cards fit only in 1.5V or universal (3.3V or1.5V) slots. Due to the design of the connector and card keys, a 1.5V card cannot be inserted into a3.3V slot. So, if your new AGP card won’t fit in the AGP slot in your existing motherboard, considerthat a good thing because, if you were able to plug it in, you would have fried both the card and theboard! In a case such as this, you have to either return the 4X/8X card or get a new motherboard thatsupports 4X/8X (1.5V) cards.

I installed an upgraded processor, but it won’t work.First, make sure the motherboard supports the processor that is installed. Also make sure you areusing the latest BIOS for your motherboard; check with the motherboard manufacturer to see whetherany updates are available for download, and install them if any are available. Check the jumpersettings (older boards) or BIOS Setup screens to verify that the processor is properly identified and setproperly with respect to the FSB (or CPU bus) speed, clock multiplier, and voltage settings. On somesystems, you may need to press Ctrl-F1 or some other special key combination in the system BIOS todisplay the setup screens used to configure processor and memory timings.

Make sure the processor is set to run at its rated speed and is not overclocked. If any of the CPU set-tings in the BIOS Setup are on manual override, set them to automatic instead. Then reseat theprocessor in the socket. Next, make sure the heatsink is properly installed and you are using thermalinterface material (that is, thermal grease) at the mating junction between the CPU and heatsink.

Just because a processor fits in the socket (or slot) on your motherboard does not mean it will work.For a processor to work in a system, the following things are required:

■ The CPU must fit in the socket. Refer to Chapter 3, “Microprocessor Types andSpecifications,” for a complete guide to the various CPU socket types and which processors arecompatible with them.



■ The motherboard must support the voltage required by the CPU. Modern mother-boards set voltages by reading voltage ID (VID) pins on the processor and then setting theonboard voltage regulator module (VRM) to the appropriate settings. Older boards might notsupport the generally lower voltage requirements of newer processors.

■ The motherboard ROM BIOS must support the CPU. Modern boards also read the CPUto determine the proper FSB (or CPU bus) speed settings as well as the clock multiplier settingsfor the CPU. Many CPUs have different requirements for cache settings and initialization, aswell as for bug fixes and workarounds.

■ The motherboard chipset must support the CPU. In some cases, specific chipset modelsor revisions might be required to support certain processors.

Before purchasing an upgraded processor for your system, you should first check with the mother-board manufacturer to see whether your board supports the processor. If so, it will meet all therequirements listed previously. Often, BIOS updates are available that enable newer processors to besupported in older boards, beyond what was originally listed in the manual when you purchased theboard. The only way to know for sure is to check with the motherboard manufacturer for updatedinformation regarding supported processors for a particular board.

As a specific example, there are versions of the Pentium 4 that are single core, others that supporthyper threading (HT) technology (one processor acts as if it were two processors), and some that actu-ally have dual-cores, all of which physically fit into the same socket. If you have a system that usesthe original single-core Pentium 4, it would be great to be able to simply purchase a replacement chipwith either HT or true dual-cores. Unfortunately, many existing motherboards do not accept the HTor dual-core versions, even though they would physically plug in.

In another example, I had purchased a new motherboard and processor for a new system build, andupon initial power-on, the system didn’t work at all. Upon investigation, I found that the newmotherboard I had purchased did indeed support the processor I had installed, but only if the BIOSwas upgraded to the latest version. Unfortunately the board I had must have been sitting on the shelfawhile because it came with an older BIOS version. All I had to do to solve the problem was toupgrade the BIOS, but how was I to do that since the board wouldn’t even run with the processoruntil after the BIOS had been upgraded. I was in a classic chicken-before-the-egg situation. In the endI found a friend who had an older processor, one that would work with the older BIOS in my mother-board. I borrowed the chip and installed it just long enough to perform the BIOS upgrade, then Iremoved the borrowed chip, reinstalled the new one I had originally purchased, and the system nowworked perfectly.

The important thing to learn from these examples is that before purchasing a processor for an exist-ing board, make sure that the board will accept and work with the new chip and perform BIOSupgrades before beginning the processor upgrade process.

Some older motherboards might be capable of supporting a newer CPU with only a BIOS upgrade, butmany boards do not meet the chipset, voltage, and front side bus speed requirements. In that case,you need a new processor, a new motherboard, and in all likelihood new memory to perform such anupgrade. In such cases, be sure to compare the cost of new components with the cost of a new sys-tem. It might make more sense to buy a new system.

The system runs fine for a few minutes but then freezes or locks up.This is the classic symptom of a system that is overheating. Most likely the CPU is overheating, butother components such as the video card or motherboard chipset can also be overheating. If the sys-tem is new or custom built, the design might be insufficient for proper cooling, and bigger heatsinks,more fans, or other solutions might be required. If the system was working fine but now is exhibiting



this problem, check to see whether the problem started after any recent changes were made. If so,then whatever change was made could be the cause of the problem. If no changes were made, mostlikely something such as a cooling fan is either failed or starting to fail.

Modern systems should have several fans, one inside the power supply, one on the CPU (or posi-tioned to blow on the CPU), and optionally others for the chassis. Verify that any and all fans areproperly installed and spinning. They should not be making grinding or growling noises, which usu-ally indicates bearing failure. Many newer systems have thermostatically controlled fans; in these sys-tems it is normal for the fan speeds to change with the temperature. Make sure that the chassis isseveral inches from walls and that the fan ports are unobstructed. Try removing and reseating theprocessor; then reinstall the CPU heatsink with new thermal interface material. Check the power sup-ply and verify that it is rated sufficiently to power the system (most should be 300 watts or more). Usea digital multimeter to verify the voltage outputs of the power supply, which should be within +/–5%of the rated voltage at each pin. Try replacing the power supply with a high-quality replacement orknown-good spare.

I am experiencing intermittent problems with the hard drive(s).Many systems use ATA (AT-Attachment, commonly called IDE) interface drives, which consist of adrive and integrated controller, a ribbon cable, and a host adapter circuit in the motherboard.Typically, intermittent problems are found with the cable and the drive—it is far more rare that thehost adapter fails or exhibits problems. Many problems occur with the cables. ATA drives use either40-conductor or 80-conductor cables, with one 40-pin connector at either end and optionally one inthe middle. Drives supporting transfer rates higher than ATA-33 (33MBps or Ultra DMA Mode 2) mustuse 80-conductor cables. Check the cable to ensure that it is not cut or damaged; then try unpluggingand replugging it into the drive and motherboard. Check to see that the cable is not more than 18"(46cm) in length because that is the maximum allowed by the ATA specification. This is especiallyimportant when you are using the faster ATA-100 or ATA-133 transfer rates. Try replacing the cablewith a new 80-conductor 18" version.

If replacing the cable does not help, replace the drive with a spare, install an OS, and test it to seewhether the problem remains. If the problem does remain, the problem is with the motherboard,which will most likely need to be replaced. Alternatively, you could try adding a separate ATA 133 PCIcard and attaching the drives to that, but in many cases a newer motherboard will give you morebang for your buck.

If the problem does not remain, the problem is most likely with your original drive. You can simplyreplace it or try testing, formatting, and reinstalling to see whether the drive can be repaired. To dothis, you need the low-level format or test software provided by the drive manufacturer. You can findout more about where to get this for various makes of drives in Chapter 12, “Physical DriveInstallation and Configuration.”

If your system uses Serial ATA (SATA) hard disks, keep in mind that the cable and connector designused by some motherboards and SATA hard disks does not include a locking mechanism. The cablemight have become disconnected from the motherboard or hard disk. SATA cables can also fail if theyare bent or cut. Replace damaged cables and make sure the cable is connected to the drive and moth-erboard or host adapter card.

The system won’t boot up; it says Missing operating system on the screen.When your system boots, it reads the first sector from the hard disk—called the master boot record(MBR)—and runs the code contained in that sector. The MBR code then reads the partition table (alsocontained in the MBR) to determine which partition is bootable and where it starts. Then it loads thefirst sector of the bootable partition—called the volume boot record (VBR)—which contains the oper-ating system–specific boot code. However, before executing the VBR, the MBR checks to ensure that

Chapter 22



the VBR ends with the signature bytes 55AAh. The Missing operating system message is displayed bythe MBR if it finds that the first sector of the bootable partition (the VBR) does not end in 55AAh.

Several things can cause this to occur, including these:

■ The drive parameters entered in the BIOS Setup are incorrect or corrupted. Theseare the parameters defining your drive that you entered in the BIOS Setup, and they’re stored ina CMOS RAM chip powered by a battery on your motherboard. Incorrect parameters cause theMBR program to translate differently and read the wrong VBR sector, thus displaying theMissing operating system message. A dead CMOS battery can also cause this because it losesor corrupts the stored drive translation and transfer mode parameters. In fact, in my experience,a dead battery is one of the more likely causes. To repair, check and replace the CMOS battery,run the BIOS Setup, go to the hard drive parameter screen, and enter the correct drive parame-ters. Note that most drive parameters should be set to auto or autodetect.

■ The drive is not yet partitioned and formatted on this system. This is a normal errorif you try to boot the system from the hard disk before the OS installation is complete. Boot toan OS startup disk (floppy or CD) and run the SETUP program, which will prompt you throughthe partitioning and formatting process during the OS installation.

■ The MBR and/or partition tables are corrupt. This can be caused by boot sector viruses,among other things. To repair this, cold boot (power off, then on) from a known, noninfected,write-protected floppy or bootable CD containing the FDISK program (preferably Win98 orlater). Enter FDISK/MBR at the command prompt, which recopies the MBR code but doesn’t alterthe partition table. Then reboot. If the message persists, and you need to recover the data onthe drive, you then must either rebuild the partition tables from scratch using a third-party util-ity such as the DISKEDIT program included with the Symantec Norton Utilities or hire a datarecovery specialist who can do this for you. If you don’t need to recover the data on the drive,simply reinstall the OS from scratch, which will prompt you through partitioning and format-ting the drive.

■ The VBR is corrupt. To repair with Windows 95/98/Me, secure a bootable floppy that wascreated by the same OS version as is on the hard disk and that contains the SYS command fromthat OS. Run SYS C:, which recopies a good VBR and system files to the volume. For WindowsNT/2000/XP, you can use the Recovery Console or DiskProbe utilities (found on the bootableoperating system CD). For Vista you can use the Windows RE (Recovery Environment), which isequivalent to the Recovery Console in XP and earlier.

The system is experiencing intermittent memory errors.If the memory was recently added or some other change was made to the system, you should undothat addition/change to see whether it is the cause. If it’s not, remove and reseat all memory modules.If the contacts look corroded, clean them with contact cleaner and then apply contact enhancer forprotection. Check the memory settings in the BIOS Setup; generally, all settings should be on auto-matic. Next, upgrade to the latest BIOS for your motherboard, and remove all memory except onebank. Then run only one bank of memory, but in the second or third bank position. A socket candevelop a problem, and most motherboards do not require that the sockets be filled in numericalorder. Also, replace the remaining module with one of the others that was removed, a new module, ora known-good spare.

If you get this far, the problem is most likely either the motherboard or the power supply—or possiblysome other component in the system. Remove other components from the system to see whetherthey are causing problems. Reseat the CPU, and replace the power supply with a high-quality newunit or a known-good spare. Finally, try replacing the motherboard.



The system locks up frequently and sometimes reboots on its own.This is one of the classic symptoms of a power supply problem. The power supply is designed to senda special Power_Good signal to the motherboard when it has passed its own internal tests and outputsare stable. If this signal is dropped, even for an instant, the system resets. Problems with the powergood circuit cause lockups and spontaneous rebooting. This can also be caused if the power at thewall outlet is not correct. Verify the power supply output with a digital multimeter—all outputsshould be within +/–5% of the rated voltages. Use a tester for the wall outlet to ensure that it is prop-erly wired, and verify that the voltage is near 120V. Replace the power cord or power strip betweenthe power supply and wall outlet.

Unfortunately, the intermittent nature makes this problem hard to solve. If the problem is not withthe wall outlet power, the best recourse is to replace the power supply with a high-quality new unit ora known-good spare of sufficient rating to handle the system (300 watts or higher recommended). Ifthis doesn’t help, reseat the CPU and reinstall the heatsink with new thermal interface material. Thenreseat the memory modules, run only one bank of memory, and finally replace the motherboard.

I installed a 60GB drive in my system, but it is recognizing only 8.4GB.Motherboard ROM BIOSs have been updated throughout the years to support larger and larger drives.BIOSs older than August 1994 are typically limited to drives of up to 528MB, whereas BIOSs olderthan January 1998 are limited to 8.4GB. Most BIOSs dated 1998 or newer support drives up to 137GB,and those dated September 2002 or newer should support drives larger than 137GB. These are onlygeneral guidelines; to accurately determine this for a specific system, you should check with yourmotherboard manufacturer. You can also use the BIOS Wizard utility from http://www.unicore.com/bioswiz/index2.html. It tells you the BIOS date from your system and specifically whether your sys-tem supports the Enhanced Hard Disk Drive specification, which means drives larger than 8.4GB.

If your BIOS does not support EDD (drives larger than 8.4GB), the three possible solutions are asfollows:

■ Upgrade your motherboard BIOS upgrade to a 1998 or newer version that supports >8.4GB.

■ Install a BIOS upgrade card, such as the UltraATA cards from www.siig.com.

■ Install a software patch to add >8.4GB support.

Of these, the first one is the most desirable because it is usually free. Visit your motherboard manufac-turer’s website to see whether it has any newer BIOSs available for your motherboard that will supportlarge drives. If it doesn’t, the next best thing is to use a card such as the UltraATA cards from SIIG. Ialmost never recommend the software patch solution because it merely installs a special driver in theboot sector area of the hard drive, which can result in numerous problems when booting from differ-ent drives, installing new drives, or recovering data.

The 137GB barrier is a bit more complicated because, in addition to BIOS issues, operating system andchipset-based ATA host adapter driver issues are involved. Drives larger than 137GB are accessed using48-bit logical block address (LBA) numbers, which require BIOS support, chipset driver support, andoperating system support. Generally, you need a BIOS with 48-bit LBA support (normally datedSeptember 2002 or newer), the latest chipset driver such as the Intel Application Accelerator (formotherboards using Intel chipsets, at http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/iaa/), and Windows XPwith Service Pack 1 (or later) installed. If your motherboard BIOS does not provide the necessary sup-port, one of the SIIG UltraATA cards listed earlier adds this support to your system. The original ver-sion of XP, as well as Windows 2000/NT or Windows 95/98/Me, does not currently provide nativesupport for hard drives larger than 137GB.

Chapter 22


http://www.unicore.com/bioswiz/index2.html

http://www.unicore.com/bioswiz/index2.html

www.siig.com

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/iaa/


If you have a system without BIOS support, check with your motherboard manufacturer for an update(or you can use a card with onboard BIOS). If your motherboard uses a non-Intel chipset, check withthe motherboard or chipset manufacturer for driver updates to enable 48-bit LBA support.

My CD-ROM/DVD drive doesn’t work.CD and DVD drives are some of the more failure-prone components in a PC. It is not uncommon forone to suddenly fail after a year or so of use.

If you are having problems with a drive that was newly installed, check the installation and configu-ration of the drive. Check the jumper settings on the drive. If you’re using an 80-conductor cable, thedrive should be jumpered to Cable Select; if you’re using a 40-conductor cable, the drive should be setto either master or slave (depending on whether it is the only drive on the cable). Check the cable toensure that it is not nicked or cut and is a maximum of 18" long (the maximum allowed by the ATAspecification). Replace the cable with a new one or a known-good spare, preferably using an 80-con-ductor cable. Make sure the drive power is connected, and verify that power is available at the con-nector using a digital multimeter. Also make sure the BIOS Setup is set properly for the drive, andverify that the drive is detected during the boot process. Finally, try replacing the drive and, if neces-sary, the motherboard.

If the drive had already been installed and was working before, first read different discs, preferablycommercial-stamped discs rather than writeable or rewriteable ones. Then try the steps listedpreviously.

If you are using an SATA DVD drive in Windows Vista, you might need to configure the SATA hostadapter the drive uses in PATA emulation mode rather than the native AHCI mode or install a hotfix(see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 928253).

My USB port or device doesn’t work.Make sure you have enabled the USB ports in the BIOS Setup.Make sure your operating system sup-ports USB—for example Windows 95 and NT do not have USB support. Technically there were laterversions of Windows 95 (called 95B and 95C) that did include USB support, but that support wasunfortunately very limited and problematic. Windows 98 and later have proper support for USB. Tryremoving any hubs and plug the device having problems directly into the root hub connections onyour system. Try replacing the cable. Many USB devices require additional power, so ensure that yourdevice has an eternal power supply connected if one is required.

If the device requires USB 2.0 support, make sure your ports are configured to run in USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed USB) mode. Many systems also offer a USB 1.1-only mode. If the device is bus-powered, tryreplacing the system power supply; an overloaded or marginal power supply might not provide reli-able power to USB ports.

I installed an additional memory module, but the system doesn’t recognize it.Verify that the memory is compatible with your motherboard. Many subtle variations exist on mem-ory types that can appear to be identical on the surface. Just because it fits in the slot does not meanthe memory will work properly with your system. Check your motherboard manual for the specifictype of memory your system requires, and possibly for a list of supported modules. You can visitwww.crucial.com and use its Memory Advisor Tool to determine the exact type of memory for a spe-cific system or motherboard. Also note that all motherboards have limits to the amount of memorythey support, and many boards today support only up to 512MB or 1GB. Again, consult the mother-board manual or manufacturer for information on the limits for your board.


www.crucial.com


If you are sure you have the correct type of memory, follow the memory troubleshooting steps listedpreviously for intermittent memory problems.

I installed a new drive, but it doesn’t work and the drive LED remains lit.This is the classic symptom for a cable plugged in backward. Both ATA and floppy drives are designedto use cables with keyed connectors; however, some cables are available that lack this keying, whichmeans they can easily be installed backward. When the cable is installed backward into either themotherboard or the drive, the LED on the drive remains lit and the drive does not function. In somecases, this can also cause the entire system to freeze. Check the cables to ensure that they are pluggedin properly at both ends; the stripe on the cable indicates pin-1 orientation. On the drive, pin-1 typi-cally is oriented toward the power connector. On the motherboard, look for orientation marks silk-screened on the board or observe the orientation of the other cables plugged in (all cables follow thesame orientation).

While I was updating my BIOS, the system froze and now the system is dead!This can occur when a flash ROM upgrade goes awry. Fortunately, most motherboards have a recoveryroutine that can be enabled via a jumper on the board. When enabled, the recovery routine causesthe system to look for a floppy with the BIOS update program on it. If you haven’t done so already,you need to download an updated BIOS from the motherboard manufacturer and follow its directionsfor placing the BIOS update program on a bootable floppy. Then set BIOS recovery mode via thejumper on the motherboard, power on the system, and wait until the procedure completes. It usuallytake up to 5 minutes, and you might hear beeping to indicate the start and end of the procedure.When the recovery is complete, turn off the system and restore the recovery jumper to the original(normal) settings.

If your motherboard does not feature BIOS recovery capability, you might have to send the board tothe manufacturer for repair.

I installed a new motherboard in an older Dell system, and nothing works.Many older Dell Dimension systems built before 2001 (Dimension 4100, 8100, or older systems) donot fully conform to the ATX specification with respect to their power supplies and the power con-nectors on their motherboards. If you replace one of these nonstandard Dell power supplies with astandard ATX type, or replace the nonstandard Dell motherboard with a standard ATX type, you riskfrying both the power supply and the motherboard. The older Dell systems can be upgraded only byreplacing both the motherboard and the power supply at the same time.

Starting in 2001, Dell converted to using industry-standard ATX power supplies and motherboardpower connectors for most (but not all) of its systems. Even though most Dell systems after 2001 usestandard supplies, there are still some (like the XPS Gen 2, for example) built after that time that haveused completely nonstandard power supplies.

I installed a PCI video card in an older system with PCI slots, and it doesn’t work.The PCI bus has gone through several revisions; most older slots are “2.0” type, and most newer cardsneed “2.1” or later PCI slots. The version of PCI your system has is dictated by the motherboardchipset. If you install a newer video or other PCI card that requires 2.1 slots in a system with 2.0 slots,often the system won’t boot up or operate at all.

If you check the chipset reference information in Chapter 4, you might be able to determine whichrevision of PCI slots your motherboard has by knowing which chipset it has. If this is your problem,the only solution is to change either the card or motherboard so that they are both compatible.

Chapter 22


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Copyright 2008 by Pearson Educationptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/imprint_downloads/informit/... · Then, if that doesn’t work, you have to try dis-abling the integrated sound and perhaps