Win XP freeing IRQ 15

[Goetz Martin]

Hello @all,
I´m proud owner of win xp prof. since last week .
Now I´ve the folling problem (mainboard Gigabyte 6va7+; VIA Apollo Pro 133)

In Bios (Version F8) I can´t switch off the secondary IDE - but all the
secondary drives are disabled.

the problem: In Windows98 it ist possible to disable the secondary IDE
Port. I got the IRQ 15 free in that way. I remember this was only possible
with different hardware profiles, because of the automatic recognition of
the secondary port. Without freeing this interrupt 7 POCI devices have to
share 2 IRQs. I dont like this and guess this could be responsible for some
failures.

Any solution to free IRQ 15?
By the way neighter the standard drivers nor the Via 4-in-1 drivers give the
option to disable "the secondary" Port to free the IRQ. If you remove the
Port the system recognises it at the next start.

Thank you!

 

[Mike Hall]

You are wasting your time.. XP does not have a problem with PCI devices
sharing IRQs.. you will have to look elsewhere..

Maybe if you were to outline your problems in a reply to this, we may be
able to help you..

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Goetz.

You are asking your question in the wrong newsgroup. The problems you are
reporting are related to your hardware, not to Windows. Please try this
Usenet newsgroup where the Gigabyte mobo gurus hang out:
alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte

Also, as Mike Hall said, sharing IRQs is no longer a problem with WinXP and
modern mobos.

RC

 

[Alex Nichol]

the problem: In Windows98 it ist possible to disable the secondary IDE
Port. I got the IRQ 15 free in that way. I remember this was only possible
with different hardware profiles, because of the automatic recognition of
the secondary port. Without freeing this interrupt 7 POCI devices have to
share 2 IRQs. I dont like this and guess this could be responsible for some
failures.

XP is designed to use IRQs properly as queues (at last) and on a modern
motherboard also to use the extended range provided by ACIP controllers.
Any request is taken off the queue for servicing, then if there is
another item on then it gets serviced as soon as if it had been a
different IRQ.. Leave the IDE IRQs alone