Confused Computer

[Pattons]

Okay folks here's what I know:

It's a used PC
AMD Athlon 900MHz
133MHz bus
128 MB SDRAM
Nvidia Riva TNT2 AGP graphics card
SIS NIC (disabled)
Generic Conexant chipset PCI FAX Data MODEM
HP 4300 Scanjet scanner

Now, the computer mentioned is my brothers. I live in NY and he in CA, so I can only help so much over the phone.Both of us are running Windows XP, so I attempted to help him with the remote assistance option. Here are the problems, first he was complaining of random reboots, which happened almost anytime he began seriously multi-tasking. Music, Internet, printing, etc etc etc. Knowing that he only had a limited amount of RAM, I told him that some apps use more RAM and perhaps his computer was overheating on him. Then his Scanner. He installed the scanner and Windows automatically installed the drivers, perfect setup right? HAH!!!
Here's where myself and the remote assistance come in. Not to mention where it seems to be beyond my helping. I know that IRQ 11 is a high priority interrupt with latencies as high as 128 clocks, and is typically reserved for the Video card. After having him uninstall the drivers and restart, I came into his system and attempted to manually install the HP drivers off the disk, which of course was no help. So, I began to dig a little deeper and found that his graphics are on IRQ 5, and that IRQ 11 is populated by a whole host of other processes, both aplications and system devices. The on-board sound, the USB root hubs and the PCI bridge are on there too. A few other devices are also on that same IRQ.
Okay, I'm not a major technician but it seems to me that the whole problem is more than likely caused by an IRQ dispute, which is causing the Processor or the system bus to bog down and restart. After all this, I hope it was not too much info by the way, my brother is not very electro-saavy, is there a way I can go in through the remote assistance and adjust the IRQs through the OS, or is he bound for the shop? I know he just got the thing, and he seems to like it, I would hate for his first experience with a PC to be a miserable one, and I'd like to help, that is, if any of you fine folks can help me to.
Any info that can be provided would be greatly appreciated, even if it's only to tell me how incredibly wrong I am, and that you think I am a swaggering buffoon.

Thanx
[PC3]

 

[lgebhart]

Are there any IRQ's open?

I have an 850MHZ Athlon 100MHZ system running Windows 98SE and have 5 devices showing on IRQ 11. My 64MB Video is IRQ 10, on IRQ 11 I have sound/modem/ethernet/ACPI/SCI on ACPI bus. USB on 9 along with ACPI IRQ holder. PS/2 Mouse on IRQ 12. 512MB of SDRAM. I also have a scanner and printer on USB ports. I can run the modem and the ethernet at the same time with no conflict. Sound gives me some problems, but I don't use it very often. It usually caused freezing sometimes, not rebooting.

I did have some really strange things happening until I got a better surge protector. I used to have to reboot 4 times before I could get the system back up and running and it would start all by itself even when I used the power button to turn it off. Kinda like the twilight zone!

Maybe the last device he put on has put too much of a drain on the surge protector, therefore causing the power supply to go crazy. By the way, how much wattage on the power supply? I'm only running a 250Watt.

Good Luck! I too hope this does not become a miserable time for him as a new user. Computers are frustrating at times. ggebhart@clover.net
I hope I never get too old or arrogant to learn something new!