No IRQs left to Setup my Scanner ?? 2

[DRAMO4298]

Hello:

I want to setup a "UMAX ASTRA 1200S SCANNER" on my system.

I must first insert a "SCSI INTERFACE CARD" into a 16-bit ISA SLOT on my motherboard.

I have 3-ISA SLOTS, with a "56K Modem Card" on the bottom-most slot (allowing more space between my PCI SLOTS for air-cooling).

PROBLEM:
I do not have any IRQs that are unused !!


IRQ USAGE:
00 - System Timer
01 - Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
02 - Programmable Interrupt Controller
03 - 56000 BPS PnP Internal Modem
04 - Communications Port (COM1)
05 - IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
05 - ENSONIQ AudioPCI
06 - Standard Floppy Disk Controller
07 - ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
08 - System CMOS/Real Time Clock

09 - ENSONIQ AudioPCI LEGACY Device

10 - Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
10 - IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
11 - IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
*11 - IRQ Holder for PCI Steering ( *11 shows only in IRQ printout )
11 - RAGE PRO TURBO AGP 2X
12 - Standard PS/2 Port Mouse
13 - Numeric Data Processor
14 - Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
14 - Primary IDE Controller (dual fifo)
15 - Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 - Secondary IDE Controller (dual fifo)


QUESTION:
Since I don't use DOS to play games, I am wondering if there is someway to DISABLE/REMOVE "Ensoniq AudioPCI Legacy Device" and use IRQ 9 for my SCANNER ?????

Will this affect my SOUND when using Win98SE for games, etc. ???

THANK YOU for any help, info or guidance.


MY MACHINE:
Computer was custom-built on May 12, 1998:

Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition 4.10.2222 A
Intel Pentium II, MMX, 300 MHz Processor (w/Cooling Fan)
ENPC (Enlightcorp) EP-KL21 v1.3 (4-PCI 3-ISA 1-AGP) 12/1997 Mainboard
Award BIOS v4.51PG 02/20/98-i440LX-SMC67X-2A69JECBC-00
Front Bus Speed (FBS)=66MHz
Deep Electronic Co. ATX-725b (250 Watt) 3.3V Power Supply
Quantum Bigfoot TX 12GB HD; UDMA/33; DMA=on; MASTER; C: D:
Samsung 3.5" (1.44 MB/2.88 MB) Internal Floppy Drive; A:
Yamaha CRW3200EZ (40X); Internal CD-RW; DMA=on; MASTER; E:
Hitachi CDR-8330 (24X); Internal CD-ROM; DMA=on; SLAVE; F:

Pragmatic H56RSP-F0 Internal Modem (Rockwell ACF 56K-Flex BPS PnP Data/Fax/Voice)
ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP 2X Video Card; 4MB(28MB AGP) SGRAM; AGP slot; TURBO 4.13.01.2655
Display Resolution (Present Settings): 800x600xHighColor (16-bit)
DCS S727 PCI (Ensoniq clone) Sound Card; Ensoniq AudioPCI 4.02.00.1033
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
USB Root Hub

Smile CB6738SL (PnP Monitor) 17" Digital Color; 0.26dp
Hewlett-Packard SK-2501K Keyboard (w/13 Hotkeys)
Standard PS/2 Port Mouse (Microsoft PS/2 IntelliMouse Trackball) vmouse.vxd 4.10.2222
Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro Joystick (v3.0 Software)
Canon BJC-2110 Color Inkjet Printer

SYSTEM RAM:
288 MB SDRAM DIMM 168-Pin; 32MB-66Mhz; 128MB-66/100Mhz; 128MB-100Mhz
225 MB Free RAM (all running programs CLOSED - except "Explorer and Systray&quot

SYSTEM.INI:
[VCACHE]
MinFileCache=8192
MaxFileCache=32768

Internet Explorer 6.0.2800.1106 (SP1); 128-bit Strength
AOL 8.0 PLUS 16.4129.910 US (a); 32-bit; AOL Email; Dial-Up
Ahead NERO Software

DIRECTX 8.1 (4.08.01.0881)
DirectDraw Acceleration (Enabled); Test Successful
Direct3D Acceleration (Enabled); Test Successful
AGP Texture Acceleration (Enabled); NO-TEST BUTTON
DirectMusic (Enabled); Test Successful
DirectInput (No Problems)

 

[etarhan]

It's worth a try. You can also try to disable the COM1 port if you're not using it. Also, some main boards allow the video card to operate without using an IRQ, so you can try that too.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Hello Etarhan:

I like your idea of disabling COM1 . . . but I am not sure if I should.

Communications Port (COM1)
I/O: 03F8h-03FFh
Device Drivers:
C:\Windows\System\SERIAL.VXD
C:\Windows\System\SERIALUI.DLL

56000 BPS PnP Internal Modem
IRQ3
I/O: 02F8h-02FFh
Device Drivers:
C:\Windows\System\SERIAL.VXD
C:\Windows\System\VCOMM.VXD

QUESTION:
If I disable (COM1) from within the BIOS, am I disabling the driver "SERIAL.VXD" that my MODEM is using? Or is it just the PORT that is being disabled and NOT the driver "SERIAL.VXD" ?????

FACT:
I used to run my VIDEO CARD "without" an IRQ, and ATI Technologies, Inc. even said that (it's) Video Card did NOT need an IRQ . . . but the SISOFT SANDRA Diagnostics Utility advised me to give my Video Card it's own IRQ, which I eventually did.

So, which one do YOU think would be better to DISABLE, so I can setup my Scanner ???

Thanks again. :>)

 

[bcastner]

1. You can disable COM1 without affecting drivers for other COM ports. You should proceed by disabling the device in Device Manager, then in the BIOS.

2. Leave your sound card alone.

3. If you have problems after Windows has detected the device and installed it, you might consider going through Device Manager and manually configuring the IRQ. If the device is PnP, this should not be necessary. Otherwise you might need to reserve the IRQ you freed for non-PnP devices first to allow the manual assignment.

 

[etarhan]

Just like bcastner says.

Good luck.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Hello etarhan and bcastner:

I followed your advice and successfully disabled COM1, however, I do not notice my Scanner detected in either Device Manager or Control Panel, or anywhere.

I am able to use my scanner correctly, but I thought I was going to have to give the Interface Card an IRQ.

Since everything is working correctly (so far), I guess I'll just LEAVE that COM1 "disabled" and keep IRQ4 free.

I always thought that EVERY card needed an IRQ assigned to it - is it normal NOT seeing my SCANNER in Device Manager ??

Thanks for the help and best regards.

 

[DRAMO4298]

Hello:

After days of research, here's what I found . . .

My "Domex DMX3181LE SCSI Interace Card" was jumpered as PLUG-and-RUN . . . so I changed the jumper to PLUG-and-PLAY.

This card was now detected as "DTC436E" and needed it's own driver.

No matter what driver I downloaded for this card - my scanner would not work.

Finally, I found out that the "VistaScan" software that came with the Scanner . . . allows me to use the scanner WITHOUT installing the ISA-SCSI card DRIVER.

This card works WITHOUT using a driver after I install this VistaScan software package.

Of course I had to re-jumper this card back to "PLUG-and-RUN."

So even though the SCANNER and SCSI CONTROLLER do not show up in Device Manager . . . everything seems to be working correctly.

So, a few days wasted, new knowledge gained, a free IRQ4, and the END of this issue. :>)