PC will not boot after addition of RS232 expansion card.

[OE6FEG]

Hi,

     I recently tried to add a SYBA PCIe1 RS232 (serial) expansion card to my desktop. However, when I tried to boot up the PC it never got beyond the HP logo and I had to remove the card. I had read that it may be caused by the BIOS settings, but when I emailed Syba they just said it was a hardware conflict and nothing more. So, I went out and bought another card that specifically said Windows 10 compatible, in the hope it would work in the relatively new Orchid motherboard. Unfortunately, I got exactly the same problem. I gave the first card away, but I see that the second card is a generation 1 PCIe card, wheras the Orchid motherboard is generation 2. I do use RS232 to USB adapters to connect my legacy hardware (KX3 shortwave transceiver). But I have found that the connection goes dead from time to time and I do not like having to get under the desk to unplug and plug back in the connector. I also expect to run low on USB ports in the near future, so switching to RS232 seemed like a good idea. I have a mini PCIe WLAN adapter installed and that works fine. So, in short, I was wondering if anyone could  help me with the following:

- Any BIOS settings that need to be adjusted when installing a serial expansion card.

- Any jumpers on the motherboard that need adjusting when adding RS232.

- Are generation 1 PCIe cards compatible with generation 2 motherboards?

- Has anyone else managed to install a serial card on the Orchid 2 motherboard that works, and if so, where can I buy one?

I did search the topic first, but only found occasional refences to hardware conflicts, so apologies if the topic is well known.

                 Thanks

                                     Matthew

[Grzwacz · Accepted solution]

Hi

Try disabling Secure Boot and enabling Legacy Boot.

Secure boot is designed to halt the boot process when an unknown motherboard device is installed.

Tom

[OE6FEG]

Hi Tom,

              thanks for the advice. I went into BIOS and made the adjustments. I also found that each PCI lane is also locked, and that must be disabled as well before the PC will boot. My problem now is that the drivers will not install correctly and I only see one port, rather than two PCI Express UART Ports:

I will get the SYBA card back and try that tomorrow to see if it installs any better. 

                    Cheers Matt

[OE6FEG]

Unfortunately, the SYBA card did not install correctly either and I got exactly the same message as above (code 31). On both occasions, the computer did not automatically register the new hardware and I had to go to the device manager and click on 'Install Legacy Hardware'. I wonder if there are still some bios settings that need adjusting for the PC to recognize the card? I notice my status has been upped to Tutor; if only that were true.

                    Cheers Matt

[OE6FEG]

My PC has now begun to restart for no apparant reason. Looks like I will have to remove the card and take it to a professional.

                               Matt

[Grzwacz]

Hi 0E6FEG

Sorry to hear this.

New specifications usually provide backwards compatibility.

Tom