dv6693el - Resources conflict on ExpressCard lane after BIOS upgrade (from F.09 to F.59) [ Edited ]

[LC74]

# ISSUE DESCRIPTION

After BIOS updating from F.09 to any version between F.22 and F.59, the system is no more able to boot with my Wintec FILEMATE SolidGO ULTRA 48GB EspressCard SSD slotted in.

The POST screen shows the following:

PCI System Error on Bus/Device/Function 0008h
PCI System Error on Bus/Device/Function 0100h
PCI System Error on Bus/Device/Function 0800h
ERROR
Resource Conflict - PCI Mass Storage Controller on Motherboard
Bus:04, Device:00, Function:00
ERROR
Resource Conflict - Allocation error static node #01
ERROR
[cut]

Strike F1 to Continue, F10 to Enter Setup.

Letting boot process to continue, the O.S. correctly loads the drivers for all devices but GeForce 8400M GS (the GPU that comes with dv6693el) and the Jmicron B36x (the eSATA controller embedded in that EspressCard SSD). Checking Windows Device Manager, the two corresponding nodes are shown with the yellow exclamation marks ("The device is disabled because there aren't enough free resources...").


# TROUBLESHOOTING NOTES

- Downgrading the BIOS back to versions F.08 or F.09 the problem disappears, upgrading to any version after F.22 the problem arises. Note that version F.22 and above introduced changes in ExpressCard lane management (see F.22 changelog). A recent BIOS version has to be used because the implementation of relevant changes in fan management, due the thermal issues that affect this notebook model (from F.51 changelog: "Updates the fan-control algorithm for the system to reduce the likelihood of future system issues).

- Edited all possible BIOS settings such as changing the boot sequence, disabling the unneeded boot devices, disabling all advanced features (Intel VT, C4 Sleep State, etc.), resetting BIOS defaults and so on, without any luck.

- By pulling the card out until the boot process has finished and reinserting it only after that, the system loads successfully the JMicron B36x driver assigning only sharable resources, thus no conflict occurs at all. Nevertheless, this pop-out - pop-in method isn't a viable workaround cause the contacts and slot mechanism wearing.


# HARDWARE SPECS #

-- Notebook Specs --

Model Name: HP Pavilion dv6693el
Product Number: KD935EA#ABZ
System Board ID: 30D2
BIOS Version: F.59A

-- ExpressCard SSD Specs --

Model Name: Wintec FILEMATE SolidGO EspressCard ULTRA 48GB
Model Number: 3FMS4D48M-WR

Message Edited by LC74 on 08-22-2009 10:37 AM

Message Edited by LC74 on 08-22-2009 10:41 AM