Com Ports not working in WinXP on EPIA-M

Defiler · 12-08-2002, 10:46 PM

This is what I have done so far...

After installing WinXP I checked the hardware Manager and noticed the two COM ports had those Exclamation points (!) on them and they BOTH were labeled "COM 4".

So, I checked the properties of both and changed the COM port numbers to 1 and 2. After that I checked the address ranges of both as well as the IRQs and set them to the correct numbers. Upon rebooting I checked the BIOS to make sure the address ranges and IRQs matched and they did. But after entering WinXP again the COM ports still had the same (!) and did not work.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!

Any info would at this point would help out.

BTW I have also tried a fresh install again with the same results.

Defiler · 12-09-2002, 01:27 AM

One thing I just noticed...

When booting up, on the screen where it lists the hardware, ie. Primary Master, Primary slave, RAM, etc., under serial ports it states NONE!!?!!??!! And it states the same for the LPT port even though I have it enabled in the BIOS as well!?!?!?!?!

Aaron Cake · 12-09-2002, 10:27 AM

Are you sure it's not set to "Auto" in the BIOS? That causes all mannor of problems. Also, disabled COM ports will cause the same symptom. Perhaps there is a hidden "enable" option?

Defiler · 12-09-2002, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Cake
Are you sure it's not set to "Auto" in the BIOS? That causes all mannor of problems. Also, disabled COM ports will cause the same symptom. Perhaps there is a hidden "enable" option?

I did try the Auto option as well as the standard settings and disable... Still no go.

I have an e-mail into VIAVPSD to see if they have any ideas on the matter.

Defiler · 12-09-2002, 09:08 PM

Just an update to kill this thread...

Spoke with VIA Tech support and they told me the Motherboard was bad.

So a quick call to idot.com got me a express RMA and a new board should be here on Thurs.

m3rdpwr · 12-10-2002, 08:54 AM

Guess I should open mine and test it soon just in case since mine is probably from the same idot batch yours was...

-Mario

Typhoon747 · 12-10-2002, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the update, I guess I better get testing as well.

m3rdpwr · 12-11-2002, 07:46 PM

Setting up mine now and doesn't seem to be a problem.

XP took about an hour to install.
SP1 took another 1/2 hour.

I'll tell ya' that the south bridge gets burning hot and all I'm doing is installing the SP. My finger still hurts...

I think I may consider a heat sink for the southbridge.
If you have any good suggestions for a nice small adhesive one, let me know.

The LAN seems to be slower than most from what I see.

I bought a used low-profile micro-atx case with what looked to be a 1U size 150 watt power supply. My first thought was my PC Power and cooling would be a direct fit. Unfortunately, it was a little tall. It utilizes a standard 5¼ and 3½ size bays.

I think I'll have to build a custom case as this is a little big.

I'll post some pics as soon as I can.

Thanks...

-Mario

Defiler · 12-12-2002, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by m3rdpwr
I think I may consider a heat sink for the southbridge.
If you have any good suggestions for a nice small adhesive one, let me know.

I bought an Iceberq Copper Chipset Cooler set for $10. It includes a nice copper cooler, that fits on the processor, and two chipset coolers one for the northbridge (medium size) and one for the southbridge (small size, just big enough to cover the footprint of the chip itself). The two smaller heatsinks are really copper plated, maybe copper colored because of the wieght??? The processor cooler is much quieter than the stock one, I think 26db, and I had no issues with heat. All of the heatsinks were warm to the touch after running tests and such. Also, the set comes with the sticky thermal pads and yes they can hold the heatsink for the CPU with no problem. I had to pull it off and put the old one back on to return it and it was a pain in the *** to pry off!!!

ONE NOTE: the cooler for the processor has tabs for the holes in the motherboard but they WON'T fit because of the CAPS right next to the processor.

good luck...

m3rdpwr · 12-12-2002, 01:10 PM

Hey Defiler, can you see how hot your southbridge gets?

Also, what I belive to be the 5.1 codec in the back gets even hotter.

All the voltages seem okay.

Thanks for the info on the sinks!

-Mario

m3rdpwr · 12-12-2002, 03:43 PM

BIOS Question.

The original EPIA had a setting to not let the POST Beep occur over the sound card.

I don't see that option on this BIOS.

Am I blind or???

-Mario

Defiler · 12-12-2002, 05:25 PM

Just letting everyone know...I got the replacement MB back from idot.com and all works now.

I must say that dealing with idot.com has been nothing short of a great experience. They are very helpful and more than willing to work with you and your problems. I would recomend them in a heart beat.

Quote:

Originally posted by m3rdpwr
Hey Defiler, can you see how hot your southbridge gets?

Mine DOES get hot but not with the heatsink on it...I don't have any temp measuring equipment BUT I have read more than once it is known to get hot enough that you can't keep your finger on it without getting burned.

m3rdpwr · 12-12-2002, 05:33 PM

Thanks Defiler.

NewEgg wanted $12, $6 to ship and a week to deliver the copper vantec inceberg set.

The place a few miles from home (Always overly priced.) were just unpacking them from UPS! Picked it up for $15.75 which included tax. SWEET!

I used the SouthBridge Coper isnk for the SouthBridge. (Obviously)

The un-fanned northbridge size one I will cut up and put on the other hot chips.

The one with the fan looks too big to fit without trimming the tabs. I'm not too woried since the cpu isn't even warm to the touch. Sound right to you?

My XP load times including WinAmp startup were ~45 seconds.
Did you get to time yours before sending the board back? Can't get it to load any faster no matter what tweaks I do. Could be the Seagate III 7200RPM 20GB. Couple years old, but I'd hate to throw my WD SE 120GB, 8MB Cache in it...

Later...

-Mario

Defiler · 12-12-2002, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by m3rdpwr
Thanks Defiler.

Picked it up for $15.75 which included tax. SWEET!

Good deal...That's about what I paid after shipping myself.

Quote:

Originally posted by m3rdpwr
The one with the fan looks too big to fit without trimming the tabs. I'm not too woried since the cpu isn't even warm to the touch. Sound right to you?

No. You don't have to trim them, BUT it would look cleaner, I guess. Mine was a little off center, you really had to look at it to notice, but NEVER got hot always stayed warm to the touch.

Quote:

Originally posted by m3rdpwr
My XP load times including WinAmp startup were ~45 seconds.
Did you get to time yours before sending the board back? Can't get it to load any faster no matter what tweaks I do. Could be the Seagate III 7200RPM 20GB. Couple years old, but I'd hate to throw my WD SE 120GB, 8MB Cache in it...

I got my new board and my times are about that as well. I'm using a brand new 4700 RPM 40Gig. IBM Travelstar and 256 Meg PC2100 of RAM. I'm looking into how I can tweak things a little.

Now comes the hard part of this post...

OK. My first MB, I thought, had bad COM ports...Lets start from before I got my MB with when I borrowed, because I didn't have a spare, ATX power supply. I didn't construct the one I am using in the car yet and borrowed one from a friend that was "sitting under his desk and couldn't remember why..."

I used this PSU to install the OS, etc. I think the COM ports are bad, get an RMA, send the old one back, get the new one and the same F'in thing happens...no COM ports upon booting. This was getting too wierd and I needed to figure it out!!! I ran to the local CompUSA picked up the cheapest, I'm gonna retun it anyway, PSU and came home. What do ya know the FRIGGIN' COM ports WORK NOW!!!

PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME FOR THIS...

I have never seen a PSU partially work before in my life...Anyway, I called my friend and reminded him why the PSU was sitting under his desk.

And then threw it in the trash.

Live and learn, I guess.

Sorry for all the people I PMed asking if they had the same problem.

Mr. Pute · 12-12-2002, 11:31 PM

Can you guys with the EPIA-Ms do myself and all the other prospective EPIA-M buyers a favor and test your composite out? I saw on mini-itx.com that another website did a review of the production board and concluded that the video source reverts back to the monitor out when connected to only a composite source. This is a potential problem for me since my LCD in my car is composite. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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