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SS7 Zida TX98-3D + K6-2-533(downclocked) Win2k/XP first boot crash loop+PATA/SATA/SCSI Controller newbie tries

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First post, by ruthan

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Hi,
i bough again one of really my first mainboards, Zida TX98-3D, i know that it is not best one..

I have version of board, on which is printed TX98-3D, but some chip is not really there, i saw photos of same board online some are with sound chip, some not, but both version are the same name printed on MB.. They probably saved few cents by it.
Bios which was on board original had it its name -3D and i flashed was TX98-3D bios fine.. There is in bios on board sound option, its disabled.
Here is example of photo without SOund chip: http://hw-museum.cz/mb/103/zida-tomato-tx98-3d
Here is with sound chip: https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/zida-tx98-3d

Im using it with K6-2 550MHz , jumpered to 6x (multiplier 2x=6x trick) 66 - 400 MHz, board was unstable, i though that i was by 83 FPS, which was setup for original Cyrix II.. i enable jumper less options, but later tried to set it up manually for sure. I have tried underclocking, no change.

Board behaved strange from the start. I tried to exchange memory multiple times - had 32 MB, 192 MB, 256 MB, 292 MB etc.., Memtest is fine.

I managed to install WIndows 98, but i have tried multiple versions of Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP3, installation always finish in Dos part, but first boot is always the same, after some WIndows logo loading and got crash and reboot, crash loop.

HDD was tested fine (true not right now. like year agon, im slowly getting there..), but i find out that im out of small disks, board was unable with last unofficial bios detect 127+ GB disk, i have used 160 GB Seagate, jumpered to 32 GB, i have done it before. I made 3 fat32 or ntfs partitions, tried both, i can format them fine, copy data on them etc. It always crash at the same moment.

I have these cards:
PCI Matrox G200, i have tried S3 VIrge 4MB - no change
PCI Realtek 8139 clone card.
ISA ESS Audrio drive
ATX power supply

So question is did you experienced some similar behavior with other board? Or with its this jumper limitation of hdd, really safe? I never tried it before, but i saw it in some Phils video, it was recommended so.
I have tried Tiny 98 boot installation cd, it allays crash when data should be copied, but my guess is that it has its own bugs.

BTW i expected that Linux would not be problem, i found out that i even lots of legacy and retro supposed to be friendly distros, not working because of required cmov instructions which are Pentium II+, i found Debian 8 live and Antix-486 working, even some i586/i486 named distros not worked because of cmov..
If cpu is supported Linux boots fine, its slide slow. I tried multiple optical drivers, disconnected Zip drive (its often freeze starts of Windows installations from my experience).

I know to try to exchange disk.. but i have tried 4GB compact flash for Tiny98 intstall, i wasnt problem.. and try to other disk maybe some 80 GB with SATA to IDE, but problem could be elsewhere.. I run WinXP, no SP3 (maybe it needs some VIA magic), but without SP on this board fine, not currect item, but another one..

Last edited by ruthan on 2025-02-06, 15:05. Edited 6 times in total.

Im old goal oriented goatman, i care about facts and freedom, not about egos+prejudices. Hoarding=sickness. If you want respect, gain it by your behavior. I hate stupid SW limits, SW=virtual world, everything should be possible if you have enough raw HW.

Reply 1 of 2, by ruthan

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Update:
I have tried all IDE /Sata controller which i have, but none work with this board.. Or i dont know how to setup them, i have tried to select in which PCI slot controller is, and set all INTA, INTB, INTC,INTD, hardwired but board refuse to boot from them, i have tried to disable on board pata.. I often got message that on board CD-ROM will not work is not compatible with PCI PATA controllers.

I also tried to remove and replace all PCI / ISA cards, i have tried to use IDE to Sata converter, but my does not work with this board. I have tried also cheap IDE to Compact flash convertor, windows installed, but i got bluescreen files not found.
I replaced also PATA cable, tried different ports.

I have also tried to add SCSI controller, but im never used SCSI i managed to work only old 520 MB disk and its not big enough to install Windows XP, probably also Windows 2000. I have 73 GB SCSI disk, i managed to get it recognized with controller, but i cant verify it, for old SCSI command error (its maybe too big for old SCSI 20 MB/s controller - they have special parameters for 1GB disk.. so 73 GB is probably not supported) - i have using cheap SCSI port convertor and it could be problem and i dont have direct SCSI cable (disk has - SCA-2 port i found that is name Fiber channel connector too - its probably called also 80 pin SCSI, Controllers have - 50 pin cable INC conntroler or Hight density DB-68 pin )- im not sure if it exist, im also unsure how to jumper convertor and disk, if should select Synchronous and Asynchronous - LVD vs Single Edge, some boot delay etc. Im also under if such disk can work on

Here is disk manual:

The attachment 73GB disk- It-Is-ST373405.pdf is no longer available

Ilts variant with 80 pin - LC.
Connector:

The attachment ST373405LCV_1000-3-DiskConnector.jpg is no longer available

Plus convertor and piece of paper which arrived with it:

The attachment SCSI-80Convertor-2.JPG is no longer available

Secord size, manaul has second site too:

The attachment SCSI-80Convertor-1.JPG is no longer available

Have these SCSI controllers:
Adaptec SCSI 2940 - 50 pin
Adaptec-39160-SCSI - its PCI-X, but if detected in PCI slot.. - 68 pin + 50 pin
Qlogic ISP1040B - 68 pin + 50 pin
initio INI-9100U - 50 pin

Pata/SATA controllers which i have tested:
Sil0680
Promise300-TX4
VIA VT6421A
HightPoint HPT370 Hotrod
SIlicon Image 3512

The attachment 2025-01-29 03.03.00.JPG is no longer available

I wonder if problem unofficial bios is not problem. Also if try TX98 no sound card bios would not be better, but im affraid that i will brick it.. and im not sure if these old AMIBIOS boards have some recovery way.. through put bios on floppy and let it to recover it automatically. I dont have programmer for these chips, but you hinted me which one i need for it, i will order some.

Well its about time to use <127 GB pata disk and old bio to mitigate that problem is not that 160-> 32 GB jumper, i have tried almost everything else well what is was capable to do i have learned a bit more about SCSI and IDE controllers on old boards at least..

Update: It seem that SCSI 68->80 cable does not exists, only these conventors, which have minimum info.. and controller with 80 pin port where rare and only super extra big enterprise..

Im old goal oriented goatman, i care about facts and freedom, not about egos+prejudices. Hoarding=sickness. If you want respect, gain it by your behavior. I hate stupid SW limits, SW=virtual world, everything should be possible if you have enough raw HW.

Reply 2 of 2, by ruthan

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Ok i have tried virtually everything, but i was still getting that ugly reboots excatly it the same places (to its not unstability or bad cooling) when i have tried to boot any new OS.

I finally tried to exchange cpu with Intel MMX 233 and now its runnign.

I also tried that TX98 non TX98-3D bios its running fine, original and unofficial both from retroweb.. I sort of hoped that i will brick it and put myself out of misery, but it worked. Downgrade to official bios also wasnt the problem.

Question is why where is problem could be my K6-2/550AGR 2.3V downclocked to 400 MHz does not running.
I sort of doubt that cpu is somehow half dead that some cpu pin is dirty or something with cpu socket, it really seems like some sort of incompatibility.
I now that board supportes max 450 MHz cpu, but i through that using faster one could not be problem when its booting.

There has to be some cpu check or some unsupported instruction, address range or something like that.. Which 98 / Debian 8 or WinXP / Windows 2000 setup does not use, but first boot does.. Maybe some part of MMX or 3D Now arent really working. Newer Linux does not support cmov, so its not working with these cpus, but Windows XP or Windows 2000 should be fine with it, i have tried even oldest vanilla version without services packs..

It could be also so double condition problem, its always something some data loading.. I suspected half dead PATA controller, but it was not case. I will try SCSI again when i will get some other disc, or second K6- 2 or K6-2+ cpu..

Im old goal oriented goatman, i care about facts and freedom, not about egos+prejudices. Hoarding=sickness. If you want respect, gain it by your behavior. I hate stupid SW limits, SW=virtual world, everything should be possible if you have enough raw HW.

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