Chaintech VNF3-250 and boot problems

jeffkrol · nFHQ Member

Long story short: Can not boot XP-SP2 in any mode but VGA mode. Just replaced a MSI board w/ this one, new XP32 2800+ (newcastle core)CPU and Xclio PS. Did a repair install of XP w/ a slipstreamed boot disc. RAM is 2X 512 Corsair (VS512NB400).
Windows won't even write a minidump file. Video is nVidia
NVIDIA Quadro4 550 XGL
Adapter String Quadro4 550 XGL
BIOS String Version 4.17.00.44.16
Chip Type Quadro4 550 XGL
DAC Type Integrated RAMDAC
Installed Drivers nv4_disp (6.14.10.8167 - nVIDIA ForceWare 81.67)
Memory Size 64 MB
BIOS:Award BIOS Message VNF3-250 09/16/2005
Anyone have any clue as to the problem? Tried pulling sticks, moving sticks, replacing vid card (only had an old S3 PCI card and a nVidia QuadroII) Ran memtest ect.
Pulled Harddrives, ect. Nothing works. I'd reformat but I'm not sure that will work either.

uddarts · nForce Aware

if i understand you correctly, your saying the nvdia card drivers aren't loading and leaving you with 16 color. i would think it's just a windows thing going on.

i see nothing in your hardware that shouldn't work with the board. i'd reformat the drive and do a fresh install. that should get you up and running.

http://www.bootdisk.com/

ud

jeffkrol · nFHQ Member

That's what I was thinking as well only I'm not QUITE sure and don't really want to do a full format YET. The thing that worrys me is the board won't boot (no BIOS boot)w/ 1 stick in slot 1 SOMETIMES. Will have to check this out more. Thats troublesome to me and I wonder if there is some hardware conflict that will not be solved w/ a format/re-install. As soon as I realize this is the last resort I will do it. Funny thing is after booting in VGA mode, then adjusting monitor resolution everything works fine except for the occasional dodgy (not crashing though) program due to the repair install. Seems par for the course in this type of situation.
I need to find out exactly what "boot to VGA mode is in Win XP. Seems to be different on different OS's. According to MS this mode on XP loads the nVidia drivers on VGA.
Unlike safe mode which loads the vga.sys driver. Wonder what else is not loaded in VGA mode.

uddarts · nForce Aware

try bumping the vdimm up .1-.2v. remember the way the board is setup, your to use slot 1&2 or 1&3.

did you use the newer version of memory86?

http://www.memtest.org/

ud

jeffkrol · nFHQ Member

Wil try boosting voltage. RAM is in 1-2 now. Stared this mess in 1-3. Opps check of Everest and there back in 1-3
DIMM1: Corsair VS512MB400
DIMM3: Corsair VS512MB400

Memtest 3.2 iso version.
Thanks for the help. Not too many people have any solutions/suggestions. This is one of 3 help forums I've posted in. wrote to Chaintech and MS as well.
One queston: Don't remember ever seeing a video BIOS screen on reboots. I know things boot faster now but I'll have to check again. Still think it has to do w/ the Quadro4 card but that would seem odd I'll admit. Though I have tried other graphics cards.
Any hints here:
North Bridge Properties
North Bridge nVIDIA nForce3 250 (CK8)
Revision A1
Package Type 752 Pin BGA
Process Technology 0.15 um

AGP Controller
AGP Version 2.00
AGP Status Enabled
AGP Device nVIDIA Quadro4 550XGL
AGP Aperture Size 32 MB
Supported AGP Speeds 1x, 4x, 8x
Current AGP Speed 1x
Fast-Write Supported, Enabled
Side Band Addressing Supported, Disabled
Last reboot I dropped the AGP speed to see if it helped, that's why it's at 1
.1 volt increase didn't help. Sideband addressing is "auto" in BIOS.
Maybe new BIOS only works w/ 8x cards??????
BIOS Info:

BIOS Type Award
Award BIOS Type Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Award BIOS Message VNF3-250 09/16/2005
System BIOS Date 09/16/05
Video BIOS Date 03/20/02

uddarts · nForce Aware

i think your about to get to level of questions that i'm not going to have a good answer for.

you might want to try this site for the answers your looking for. i still think the fresh install will be coming though.

http://forums.pcper.com/forumdisplay.php?f=46

ud

jeffkrol · nFHQ Member

Let it run overnight 20 X and no errors. Will try re-doing video again..... Still waiting for Chaintech and MS to respond. Full format and reinstall is looming larger. May just buy a new 8x card and give that a go. Don't do gaming so any cheap card should do. Maybe pick one from Chaintech. Then I can whine to 1 company mostly. Will also dig through nVidia site (started that last night) for possible answers. Pretty sad when all seems normal (except for boot to video of course) Sad

Tried reinstalling nVidia drivers again... Same thing....booooooo

jeffkrol · nFHQ Member

jeffkrol · nFHQ Member

quote....................
I apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. I understand that Service Pack 2 is installed on a computer with an AMD 64 bit CPU. As far as I know, this version of Service Pack 2 is only designed for a 32 bit Operating System with a 32 bit CPU. There are untested areas and potential issues if this Service Pack 2 is installed on a 64 bit CPU. Currently, our development team is dedicated to designing a new Service Pack 2 version for a 64 bit CPU. While we cannot guarantee within what time frame this version will come out, we would like to ensure you that we will make every effort to see that it is finished as quickly as possible.
In order to ensure the best performance for your computer, I believe it is best to temporarily remove Service Pack 2. If there is any update on this issue, I will let you know.
..................... unquote
Don't get that one at all. We have 3 AMD64's at work w/ various MB's and "stuff",

Radiohead57 · **--?--** nForced

I've read over this thread and at no point do I see emntion of installation of the Nforce chipset drivers. Could that be the culprit. You may have already done so but I can't see mention of it. I notice you moved from MSI but which MSI board with which chipset?
I have found over the years that with the Nvidia chipset boards it is very important to load drivers in a very speccific order to endure proper function. I do know that initially Nvidia didn't have specific NF3 drivers but they do know, the Nforce drivers used to be more generic in nature but now they have different sets for different chipsets.
I've always been a huge fan of complete reformats and reinstalls simply because I hated running into problems after a migration a couple of weeks down the road after I've installed a bunch of software only to find that there were indeed "little issues" within the OS because I hadn't reformatted and reinstalled. Sometimes you get away with it sometimes you don't.

Good luck and keep us posted.