HELP! e9140f problems - no bios access / add on pcix 1x vid card =bsods/freezes

[frodiggs]

Anyone ever have this issue? I cannot not get into bios or safe mode (or dual boot options for that matter). If i don't touch anything i get into Win7 x64 ok. I can't find orig bios for this rig and HP is not that helpful. Figure the safe mode, dual boot stuff could be a corrupted MBR on my raid so not too worried there but it very odd and the SMART tests are fine on my array

History:

Early on went to win7 x64 ult., raid 0, [2xWD Black] and added crappy nvidia 8400gs in pci 1x slot to create triple monitor setup. ok prime 95 12 hours

added nvidia 8400gs pci 1x video= bsod and freezes: [ dxgkrnl.sys, nvlddmkm.sys and ntoskrnl.exe BSOD's]

mouse pointer would change when going over to installed Radeon 4650 monitors after some time then system freeze. Tried many chipset and nvidia vid drivers [182.50 currently] and stock, also tried different ati driver and using no ATI CC.

no bios access issue:

recently tried 650w power upgrade and new heatsink for nvidia 8400gs [overheating issue] and the same day i notice i could not get into bios, safe mode  (or dual boot options for that matter). oddly prime95 is good for a quick 6 hours test recently

• cleared cmos [did not pull battery]
• pulled tv capture card and 8400gs card

I figure i will not have the bsod and lockups with the nvidia card out but the no access bios issue is a big problem. Also curious on e9140f relted issues.

[frodiggs]

Anyone ever have this issue? I cannot not get into bios or safe mode (or dual boot options for that matter). If i don't touch anything i get into Win7 x64 ok. I can't find orig bios for this rig and HP is not that helpful. Figure the safe mode, dual boot stuff could be a corrupted MBR on my raid so not too worried there but it very odd and the SMART tests are fine on my array

History:

Early on went to win7 x64 ult., raid 0, [2xWD Black] and added crappy nvidia 8400gs in pci 1x slot to create triple monitor setup. ok prime 95 12 hours

added nvidia 8400gs pci 1x video= bsod and freezes: [ dxgkrnl.sys, nvlddmkm.sys and ntoskrnl.exe BSOD's]

mouse pointer would change when going over to installed Radeon 4650 monitors after some time then system freeze. Tried many chipset and nvidia vid drivers [182.50 currently] and stock, also tried different ati driver and using no ATI CC.

no bios access issue:

recently tried 650w power upgrade and new heatsink for nvidia 8400gs [overheating issue] and the same day i notice i could not get into bios, safe mode  (or dual boot options for that matter). oddly prime95 is good for a quick 6 hours test recently

• cleared cmos [did not pull battery]
• pulled tv capture card and 8400gs card

I figure i will not have the bsod and lockups with the nvidia card out but the no access bios issue is a big problem. Also curious on e9140f relted issues.

[Big_Dave]

Have you tried unplugging everything but the monitor, keyboard and mouse?

I have found the NVIDIA 186.81 drivers to the most stable with my 8600 GS and 8600 GT adapters.

If you have a Windows installation disk disk then you could boot it up and try thye repair process twice. You can also try this:

RUN window:  sfc/scannow          --------> this will scan the OS and check on the health of the critical files.

I plan on going with the ATI 5750 in my m9200t along with a ps upgrade in the near future.

[frodiggs]

BIOS issue solved!! :

I added a usb 4 port hub the other day (to add a SATA to USB HDD Dock) and I figured the keyboard might be at issue here so put the keyboard directly into usb rear port. I figured the hub was sending signals that did not fare well in the POST enviroment. all good!

RE video BSODs

yep pulled the optical drives also. right now just core items on mb, drives, vid, ram, wifi, new psu. I figure it's the Nforce chipset drivers or the video drivers or as you say some critical file was modified. 8400gs could be bad also

What happens under win7 repair and why 2x? I do like the idea of trying to get to the MS basic driver for this card so might remove the nvidia drivers with driver cleaner and see what windows does on reinstall. Worse case i'll replace the video card or get  a triple monitor card. I thought of a pcx 1x to x16 riser also, not quite sure..

[Big_Dave]

I use DriverSweep in safe mode to clean out the old NVIDIA stuff. Then reboot and install the new driver.

Why run the repair process twice? Sometimes one pass will not correct boot record problems.

[frodiggs]

got it. You like DriverSweep vs DriverCleaner? I think the latter might not be updated as much or end of life.

Anyway planned on doing the same, boot to safe, clean nvidia drivers. I was planning to see what win7 installs on reboot as far as chipset. I might need to pull ethernet but would it not look at sys32 folders for recently used drivers and reinstall those same driver on normal boot? Can't recall here.

Suggestions on stable nvidia chipset drivers (when using addtl pci 1x video anyone? maybe GART got currepted but maybe not used on this nforce config . trying to rule out chipset drivers, vs video drivers vs bad card here or who know the board might be flask on the two cards regardless.

i'd love to know anyone that's successful with the pci x16 + pci x1 mixed brand video triple monitor config with this rig...

thx Big Dave for the input.