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Need help configuring multi I/O card for a 386 computer...

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First post, by kanecvr

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Hi guys. Can anyone help me configure an I/O card and get it running on my 386?

I have an EVERGREEN SYSTEMS, INC. IDE-I/O with IDE, FDD, 2xSerial, LPT and a Game port - this thing: http://museum.ttrk.ee/th99/c/E-H/20395.htm

I've tried all possible jumper settings (from the manual in the link above), but the computer either refuses to post making a low pitch noise from the speaker, or issues the following errors:

- It posts, counts memory and displays "CMOS size wrong"
- It will not post, and display in big letters "CMOS Corrupted"
- Will not post, will not display anything, makes a low-pitch buzz sound.

It works fine without the I/O card...

I just need to get one COM port working. Any advice?

Reply 1 of 3, by kixs

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Try different ISA slot. Clean the contacts on the card. Try other I/O card.

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Reply 2 of 3, by kanecvr

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Both my I/O cards act the same. Tried on a 286, 386 and two 486 PCs. All behave similarly.

Witch ISA slot do you think I should try? The contacts (and boards) have been thoroughly cleaned using isopropyl alcohol.

Neither of the cards has any jumpers for IRQ and DMA, so I can't set those. I've never used cards like these before, or seen a system with dedicated I/O cards (apart from ADAPTEC SCSI controllers).

Reply 3 of 3, by kanecvr

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Ok so I weeks of searching and 3 I/O cards with the same ACER chipset (the only ones I could find) I've solved the problem - these are UTTER CR4P! Stay afay from I/O cards with Acer chips. One of the cards is unidentified, one is a EVERGREEN I/O and the other is made by ACER themselves. I have manuals with jumper settings for the latter. None of the 3 I have work in any of my computers - and I have tested on every one of them - from my lowly 12MHz AMD 286 to my 1.4GHz Thunderbird - NADA.

Either the cards are only compatible with a specific motherboard (possibly bundled with one) or they just suck. Most of my machines won't post with one installed, or will display weird errors (see above). The one witch do POST won't enable the card - any part of it. Even just enabling the COM ports (what I need) doesn't work.

Stay away from these things and save your money, time and sanity!

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