dr.zeissler wrote on 2024-10-04, 16:21:

USB-Soundcard? so you don't use the soundstorm onboard in win9x?

Wish I could mate, I cant get it to work.
If you know how to Im all ears. The audio drivers in the linked drivers above (4.27 I think) dont work.
Am I doing something wrong?

Cant find the Tyan Tachyon G9600 drivers either.

I have the exact same machine, but I am using win2k and amithlon (kernel 2.04 especially for soundstorm) and GF3-Ti200.

Mine has MCP+T chip

And then it was straight back to earth with a bump when I tried to play some games...

So Ive given up on Win98 and WinME... Its just not working. When I install Win98 I have noticed the Scheduled task app isnt running on first boot, which Im sure it should...

It was there when I swapped out the G9600 for a Matrox G450. But then that was the only time for only that first boot.

I tried to install WinXP and it just blue screens on me every time in the text mode portion of setup. It gives different errors, IRQ not less than... Of ntfs.sys.
Its never the same error twice, but so far its not made it through copying the setup files to the HDD (swapped HDDs and cables), and that is with everything turned off, no sound, LAN, Firewire, USB, Serial or Parallel.

Is it possible for a stick of RAM to pass memtest86 and yet still be bad?

Something is definitely not right with that system, my experience with mine was it basically just worked and Win98 has been quite happy. If you haven't already, try updating or re-flashing the BIOS in case it's become partially corrupt perhaps. And different memory for sure, as you say maybe there's still some issue with it.

Ar BIOS update...
Not thought of that. It is probably on MK1 bios as it was fitted with a CPU and ram put back in its box waiting for a video card that it never got and forgotten for 23 years.

I have two 512 sticks of cheap ram, I'm going to get two 256's and try them but in the meantime time I'll check out the bios and see what version it's on.

If there a bios we will flash it 😀

So Ive updated the BIOS with what I think is the correct and latest version, Fn45s00w.bin

Trying to install XP with the stick of RAM i tested in memtest86 (1 pass tested ok) but it still fails in the text portion of XP setup.

I guess I will wait for the new RAM to arrive and see if that changes anything, though at this point I dont hold out much hope.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
etc etc
Is all I get now.

What about the power supply, could that be a problem? You should be able to run the system with a normal ATX supply to help rule that out.

Shadzilla wrote on 2024-10-07, 18:24:

What about the power supply, could that be a problem? You should be able to run the system with a normal ATX supply to help rule that out.

That thought did occur, I'm r unning it on a Rage pro to get xp on there so not power hungry but I did think after all this time the PSU could have had its day especially as the ram checks out ok in memtest.

I'll give it a try with a regular PSU if I can dig one out, otherwise I'll have to buy a like for like replacement.

The PSU that's in there is only 200w model not the 250 I thought it was, so I might have to upgrade to a 250 to gave an x800 XL in there anyway.

Getting nowhere with this thing...

XP fails to install
W2k fails to install
WinME installs but gives errors in games like Rainbow Six Rogue Spear
Win98 is the same as ME

I think its time to strip the whole thing down and have a look at component level under the scope and then rebuild it from the empty case up with a different graphics card, RAM etc.

Can anybody point me towards a PSU that will support an X800XL please. Ebay co uk for preference.

I would have thought any modern ATX PSU will work for that board and that card, although you might need something like a SATA -> 4-pin Molex connector if the PSU doesn't have any 4-pin Molex connectors.

Do you think this would be a good PSU for it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203557068567?mkcid … emis&media=COPY

Have you rerun memtest lately?

No point chasing fixes without at least rechecking what you can.

What is the hex output of the irql error?

Also, my favourite thing to do is wash the board down in the dishwasher without soap.

Sometimes it fixes things.

myne wrote on 2024-10-16, 06:56:

Have you rerun memtest lately? […]
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Have you rerun memtest lately?

No point chasing fixes without at least rechecking what you can.

What is the hex output of the irql error?

Also, my favourite thing to do is wash the board down in the dishwasher without soap.

Sometimes it fixes things.

I bought some new 256mb sticks or ram. Ran memtest and it passed.
I didn't make a note of the error exactly I will retry and post it.
I am going to strip it down and wash everything with IPA and put it back together over the weekend while I'm off work...

I have a be quiet dark power 480 or something like that to use to test it and if that is the problem I'm looking for a replacement as the one that's in it is only 200w and I was an XP3200 and an X800 XL...

Wash it properly in water.
Use the IPA to rinse it to speed drying.

Water is after all, the universal solvent.
It will mildly eat things IPA won't touch.

myne wrote on 2024-10-16, 10:08:

Wash it properly in water. Use the IPA to rinse it to speed drying. […]
Show full quote

Wash it properly in water.
Use the IPA to rinse it to speed drying.

Water is after all, the universal solvent.
It will mildly eat things IPA won't touch.

It was never used, it had a CPU and ram fitted was put back into its box waiting for a GPU and forgotten for 20 years.
So it's clean I just thinking about oxidation.
I don't think it's that but I will cover all bases.

I'll have to look thru my old A7N8X-VM/400's drivers. I definitely had that one running 98SE and with functional sound output.

Meanwhile, did you try this as well?

PcBytes wrote on 2024-10-17, 11:40:

I'll have to look thru my old A7N8X-VM/400's drivers. I definitely had that one running 98SE and with functional sound output.

Meanwhile, did you try this as well?

The last thing in my sig may help

I'd wish, but I no longer have the hard drive from that machine. I do remember keeping the downloaded drivers though.

Can somebody point me to the latest BIOS for this system?

The board is labelled FN41G/FN45 V2.0