strangest problem ever

brc64 · Feb 13, 2004, 05:06 PM

I bought a new case the other day, and when I went to move everything from the old case to the new one, I started having this weird problem. I could go into details of what I did to troubleshoot, but to make a really long story short, it comes down to this:

Any device plugged into IDE1 results in the PS/2 ports on the motherboard not working.
No devices plugged into IDE1 results in the PS/2 ports on the motherboard working just fine.

This applies to harddrives as well as CD-ROMs. I tried differen't combinations of master/slave/cable select, as well as different IDE cables. It all comes down to what I described above.

The motherboard is an EpoX 8RDA+. Currently, I'm using a PS/2->USB adapter for my keyboard and everything is working just fine. Any ideas what could have caused such a bizarre problem? I've never seen anything like this before.

- Me

TwistedMetal · Feb 13, 2004, 05:11 PM

My only suggestion is to unplug everything and plug it all back in and make sure everything is connected correctly and firmly.

Sounds like a wrong connection somewhere or just by faith, the motherboard messed up while moving it.

brc64 · Feb 13, 2004, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TwistedMetal
My only suggestion is to unplug everything and plug it all back in and make sure everything is connected correctly and firmly.

Sounds like a wrong connection somewhere or just by faith, the motherboard messed up while moving it.

Trust me, I've tried everything short of trying a new power supply. I don't know what could cause this strange behavior, but it doesn't bother me too much as long as I have a workaround. (in this case, the USB adapter for my keyboard)

- Me

Judas · Feb 13, 2004, 07:19 PM

...i've seen somethig rather similare.. it just doesn't make sence... and i also tried everything..... nothing worked... was working fine then when i made an upgrade .... it just didn't work... downgraded again didn't change anything... i think some kind of static discharge took something out... cause one thing to work....another to fail...and vice versa..... very odd.... thing is ... it was happening to my floppy drive and my mouse... connecting a mouse (PS/2) would kill the floppy..... disconnecting it would revive it.... and on other occasions.. it would be the floppy killing the mouse.... it was similare to that of IRQ conflicts or DMA addressing issues.....very odd..... and even forcing different IRQ's onto the those devices changed nothing....

blown503 · Feb 14, 2004, 02:39 AM

Make sure that none of the risers that the motherboard screws to are touching the moterboard that do not have a place to put a screw in. Some times the touch the soldered spikes from various things on the motherboard and cause problems. They can also rub through the coating exposing the small paths that data and electricity run thriugh causing shorts. Ive seen this sort of problem several times. ive ground down the unused risers in some cases to avoid this problem. I guess a low buck way to go is with a small piece of plastic (like a credit card) and some duct tape would solve the problem too.

Judas · Feb 14, 2004, 03:34 AM

one case i have had the most awkward placed riser..... i took a set of damn good plyers and pryed them off....(i sure showed it)

brc64 · Feb 16, 2004, 06:10 PM

Well, I figured out the problem. My initial hypothesis regarding IDE1 was actually incorrect (though my testing at the time certainly pointed at that). Specifically, it was that if any of my harddrives were plugged in, the keyboard wouldn't work.

After poking around the official Epox forums at amdmb.com, I found the solution. Unplug the HD and Power LEDs from the motherboard. Apparently, when the motherboard is unable to provide sufficient current or voltage to the front panel LEDs, it draws additional power from the PS/2 ports. This is what was happening to me.

This would also seem to suggest that my power supply is being pushed to its limit, which is somewhat disturbing. Anyways, I have the LEDs unplugged, and once again everything is functioning normally.

- Me

Judas · Feb 16, 2004, 10:43 PM

now that's interesting....

Electroe · Feb 21, 2004, 10:46 AM

Passing by, learning a new lesson.
Saving.....
Got a EP-8RDA+ right in the box now.
Thanks for the info, will save it for future reference.