Problem with new system, thinking it may be sound card

drewhosick · Oct 8, 2004, 02:40 PM

Hi all,

I've just got an awesome system here about 2 or 3 weeks ago. But I've been having problems with it since I got it. First a little background on what I purchased.

I already had a P4HT system with 1GB of ram, ATI9600 card, Audigy 2 ZS. 2HD, 1DVD Rom

Anyways, bought a new K8V motherboard with AMD64 3400+, used the same ram, BFG6800GT Video Card.

I got everything but the video card at first and had it running for 2 days no problem. Then I got the video card, put it all in a new tower and now I randomly Get BSOD's comming up. At first I was getting it in the last 5 minutes of install of XP everytime. I tried playing with the video card, cause that was the only thing I added, I put in my old video card, same thing happened. So I put the new card in again and then decided to play with the ram. Pulled out 1 stick of 512mb and left the other. It installed fine. Then I decided to check the other stick, switched it up and it installed fine again. Then I put both sticks back in(both in the opposite slots they were in originally(Same slots but switched) and it was fine again. I thought something may be wrong with the memory so I ran Memtest86(I think that's it) ran it for 9 hours straight, although it didn't say it was done, no errors were comming up. Did it again a second time for another 3 or 4 hours and nothing. So I was really lost. Then all of a sudden, I reformated again... and the errors were less common. I have reformated a couple times since then and I only get a BSOD every week or so. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA and one or 2 others have come up. All STOP errors btw.

I'm working with the tech where I bought the parts and we tried something last week. I pulled out the sound card and used the onboard and nothing as of yet. Didn't get a BSOD for just about a week. Now that could be just a fluke as well.

Also when I was installing everything, I bought a network card(wireless) tried installing it and it had problems. It was a linksys and my computer couldn't see it. Brought it back to find that it was working fine in their computers. so I got a different brand, this time the computer saw it but it wouldn't configure it properly and use it. Then I switched ports with the sound card and either it or the sound card wouldn't work properly. I came to find out that if there is a PCI card in one of the 2 bottom slots on the motherboard, that card, or the one that isn't in those slots doesn't work properly or isn't even noticed by the system. Put em both on 2 higher slots and they installed fine.

I just put the sound card back in, and as I was doing this something came to mind. Could the sound card drivers do this? Are they fully compatible with an AMD64, or the K8V? Or could it be the motherboard? I can't see it being the ram or the video card, although I may be wrong. The thing with the ram though makes me want to look at that motherboard, along with the slot problems. I'm using the latest KxDrivers for my sound card so that was my other thought. Also maybe something got damaged during transfer from one box to the other, but I don't see where and how.

Any help would be appreciated, and if you need something clarified, let me know cause there's a lot of info to process in this message :-)

Thx a lot,

Drew Hosick
drewhosick@yahoo.com

**dj_stick** · Oct 8, 2004, 02:47 PM

did you reformat your HDD after the upgrade?

drewhosick · Oct 8, 2004, 07:50 PM

Of course, I think I even mentioned that in the original message. I've reformated at least 6 to 8 times

ROBSCIX · Oct 10, 2004, 05:42 PM

What slot did you put the A2ZS in? sounds like hardware conflict....doesn't mean anything is WRONG with the hardware..maybe it just need a bit of finesse to get everything to play in the sandbox....those errors are related to IRQ'S and memory ranges..SO if different things are in the same address range(conflict) or same IRQ(conflict)--commonly called sharing these days..lol.....sound cards are spoiled devices and they do not like to sahre anything. I believe why stick as you is because this is a known problem with XP when changing MOBO's...if you don't reformat or changed your IDE driver you will get a BSOD EVERYTIME.

drewhosick · Oct 12, 2004, 05:19 AM

I've tried the Audigy in different slots and yes I reformat everytime.

ROBSCIX · Oct 12, 2004, 03:07 PM

First step in troubleshooting is isolating the issue....if you remove the card completley and use the computer with no sound..do you still get BSOD? I am in a hurry so I can't read through everything again...try removing the sound card..install XP...get latest CHIPSET drivers...leave it for a bit...confirm it's stable. Then install sound card...see if XP will detect it with a generic driver..if it doesn't thats ok. Try stock creative drivers first. see if it will stay stable.....if it does remove creative drivers and install KX drivers. This must be pretty frustrating...have patience it'll work itself out. After glancing over the post..it is possible that the MOBO is just defective....check your resources see what else is riding the IRQ's for those two bottom slots. Sometimes when new MOBOS come out they rush them to market so fast...they don't work out the ranging properly and you'll end up with 3-4 devices on one IRQ....You may also want to check your BIOS..make sure you have recent updates..IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FLASH A BIOS THEN DON'T..get somebody to do it that knows. Disable EVERYTHING in the BIOS your not using...(ports..usb..especially onbaord Audio) this will free up some IRQ'S hopefully the system will remap them and the problem will dissapear I first purchased this board..or well it's little brother...I had the same thing..BSOD all the time..ran memtest..had mem errors all the way through it..replaced RAM..same things..just had a bad South bridge...needed to be replaced. Hope that helps. Did you have the audigy tested as well with your tech?

Lex Nahumury · Oct 12, 2004, 04:48 PM

In addition to all that has been suggested already;

Do you have a good PSU (power supply unit)?
A weak/bad psu can easily cause all those strange things you've mentioned.

/LeMury

drewhosick · Oct 12, 2004, 04:55 PM

Yes I have a good PSU in there, I have had 2 different ones in there to make sure. I've tried Isolating the issue as well.

Funny thing is, I put my Sound Card back in and it's been running Flight Simulator for 3 days non stop on unlimited fuel while I went back to my home town for Canadian Thanksgiving. I came back and no problems yet, although it's only been back in for 5 days now or so, a problem could still arise. I didn't get any errors for 7 days without the card either so I don't know yet

ROBSCIX · Oct 12, 2004, 06:15 PM

THose are the tricky one....issues that you can't recreate faithfully is especially hard to isolate..good luck.

Oct 8, 2004, 02:40 PM	#1
drewhosick DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Problem with new system, thinking it may be sound card Hi all, I've just got an awesome system here about 2 or 3 weeks ago. But I've been having problems with it since I got it. First a little background on what I purchased. I already had a P4HT system with 1GB of ram, ATI9600 card, Audigy 2 ZS. 2HD, 1DVD Rom Anyways, bought a new K8V motherboard with AMD64 3400+, used the same ram, BFG6800GT Video Card. I got everything but the video card at first and had it running for 2 days no problem. Then I got the video card, put it all in a new tower and now I randomly Get BSOD's comming up. At first I was getting it in the last 5 minutes of install of XP everytime. I tried playing with the video card, cause that was the only thing I added, I put in my old video card, same thing happened. So I put the new card in again and then decided to play with the ram. Pulled out 1 stick of 512mb and left the other. It installed fine. Then I decided to check the other stick, switched it up and it installed fine again. Then I put both sticks back in(both in the opposite slots they were in originally(Same slots but switched) and it was fine again. I thought something may be wrong with the memory so I ran Memtest86(I think that's it) ran it for 9 hours straight, although it didn't say it was done, no errors were comming up. Did it again a second time for another 3 or 4 hours and nothing. So I was really lost. Then all of a sudden, I reformated again... and the errors were less common. I have reformated a couple times since then and I only get a BSOD every week or so. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA and one or 2 others have come up. All STOP errors btw. I'm working with the tech where I bought the parts and we tried something last week. I pulled out the sound card and used the onboard and nothing as of yet. Didn't get a BSOD for just about a week. Now that could be just a fluke as well. Also when I was installing everything, I bought a network card(wireless) tried installing it and it had problems. It was a linksys and my computer couldn't see it. Brought it back to find that it was working fine in their computers. so I got a different brand, this time the computer saw it but it wouldn't configure it properly and use it. Then I switched ports with the sound card and either it or the sound card wouldn't work properly. I came to find out that if there is a PCI card in one of the 2 bottom slots on the motherboard, that card, or the one that isn't in those slots doesn't work properly or isn't even noticed by the system. Put em both on 2 higher slots and they installed fine. I just put the sound card back in, and as I was doing this something came to mind. Could the sound card drivers do this? Are they fully compatible with an AMD64, or the K8V? Or could it be the motherboard? I can't see it being the ram or the video card, although I may be wrong. The thing with the ram though makes me want to look at that motherboard, along with the slot problems. I'm using the latest KxDrivers for my sound card so that was my other thought. Also maybe something got damaged during transfer from one box to the other, but I don't see where and how. Any help would be appreciated, and if you need something clarified, let me know cause there's a lot of info to process in this message :-) Thx a lot, Drew Hosick drewhosick@yahoo.com

Oct 8, 2004, 07:50 PM	Thread Starter #3
drewhosick DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Of course, I think I even mentioned that in the original message. I've reformated at least 6 to 8 times

Oct 10, 2004, 05:42 PM	#4
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	What slot did you put the A2ZS in? sounds like hardware conflict....doesn't mean anything is WRONG with the hardware..maybe it just need a bit of finesse to get everything to play in the sandbox....those errors are related to IRQ'S and memory ranges..SO if different things are in the same address range(conflict) or same IRQ(conflict)--commonly called sharing these days..lol.....sound cards are spoiled devices and they do not like to sahre anything. I believe why stick as you is because this is a known problem with XP when changing MOBO's...if you don't reformat or changed your IDE driver you will get a BSOD EVERYTIME.

Oct 12, 2004, 05:19 AM	Thread Starter #5
drewhosick DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	I've tried the Audigy in different slots and yes I reformat everytime.

Oct 12, 2004, 03:07 PM	#6
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	First step in troubleshooting is isolating the issue....if you remove the card completley and use the computer with no sound..do you still get BSOD? I am in a hurry so I can't read through everything again...try removing the sound card..install XP...get latest CHIPSET drivers...leave it for a bit...confirm it's stable. Then install sound card...see if XP will detect it with a generic driver..if it doesn't thats ok. Try stock creative drivers first. see if it will stay stable.....if it does remove creative drivers and install KX drivers. This must be pretty frustrating...have patience it'll work itself out. After glancing over the post..it is possible that the MOBO is just defective....check your resources see what else is riding the IRQ's for those two bottom slots. Sometimes when new MOBOS come out they rush them to market so fast...they don't work out the ranging properly and you'll end up with 3-4 devices on one IRQ....You may also want to check your BIOS..make sure you have recent updates..IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FLASH A BIOS THEN DON'T..get somebody to do it that knows. Disable EVERYTHING in the BIOS your not using...(ports..usb..especially onbaord Audio) this will free up some IRQ'S hopefully the system will remap them and the problem will dissapear I first purchased this board..or well it's little brother...I had the same thing..BSOD all the time..ran memtest..had mem errors all the way through it..replaced RAM..same things..just had a bad South bridge...needed to be replaced. Hope that helps. Did you have the audigy tested as well with your tech?

Oct 12, 2004, 04:48 PM	#7
Lex Nahumury DH Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,930 Rep Power: 62	In addition to all that has been suggested already; Do you have a good PSU (power supply unit)? A weak/bad psu can easily cause all those strange things you've mentioned. /LeMury

Oct 12, 2004, 04:55 PM	Thread Starter #8
drewhosick DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Yes I have a good PSU in there, I have had 2 different ones in there to make sure. I've tried Isolating the issue as well. Funny thing is, I put my Sound Card back in and it's been running Flight Simulator for 3 days non stop on unlimited fuel while I went back to my home town for Canadian Thanksgiving. I came back and no problems yet, although it's only been back in for 5 days now or so, a problem could still arise. I didn't get any errors for 7 days without the card either so I don't know yet

Oct 12, 2004, 06:15 PM	#9
ROBSCIX DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,732 Rep Power: 0	THose are the tricky one....issues that you can't recreate faithfully is especially hard to isolate..good luck.