Intel 82559 PRO/100 NIC Center PCI slot

[dontpanic]

Hello All, (Howdy Y'all in Sooner State lingo)
Sorry this is a long story - but I seems to be a tricky one.
Is this heard of?
My problem box contains A-trend mobo Intel440bx-PIII 700mhz w/4 rev2.1 PCI slots, 1 PCI-ISA share, 1 ISA, 1 AGP ver1.0 1x/2x support. SiS 6326 3d/2d AGP Video, 56K Adaptek PCIPro modem w/Lucent chipset, and Intel PRO/100+Mgmt NIC - supposedly all good stuff.
I got the box built from reputable PC shop. Been problem child from the start. Took it in, had 'em test mobo & components again (at my expense) for any hardware probs...passed 100% hours of their tests, OS install & un, MSoffice install & un. Got it back, turned it on, WIn hardware runs detect & setup for Samsung SyncMaster550s monitor, finishes w/Explorer Illegal Op. error, I close error box, choose shut down, get blue screen of death. Turn off box. Put samsung on diff tried & true box, get Program .dll errors. Put samsung on 3rd work'g box - no errors. Put old wk'g monitor on 1st prob. box, have corrupted files, clean 'em up, okay now box "seems to work". Device Mgr happy, etc. Setup MSOffice '95, setup MSoffice Y2k upgrade, have errors, run upgrade again w/o errors, software operates, setup netwk, install Lotus Notes wkstation, install modem -no probs, attempt network transfer 17MB, 2x fail. (several smaller pgms transfer fine, download netscape off internet, install & run no prob. - go home. Next day, turn on box, get Lotus Notes errors, find netwk connectivity probs in INtel PROset diags. Run Full diags for 1 hr- all tests 100% pass except loopback is 60% failure (155/167). Do DOS level loopback tests, all fine. Swap NIC w/ identical new NIC, same results. Try all 5 PCI slots - all slots succeed @ DOS level loopback tests, 3 slots give 50%-60%-100% PROset testing failure UNTIL I hit center PCI slot - and it runs 100% NO ERRORs-Prob. solved...or is it? There's bigger experts than me but I've done over 100 installs in three years on this exact software w/o this kinda trouble. I can see some explanation in intermittant netwk connectivity, but what up on the monitor wierdness? What's the use of 5 PCI slots when only one is good? This NIC is supposed to be the "friendliest" device compatible avail. 440bx is supposed to Intel's hardiest set...Besides, i took the modem before running hardware tests just to be sure, there's nothing to conflict w/ except agp video ..doesn't make sense non-hostile with PCI device..is the mobo bad? ...is this common w/NIC & PCI slots? ...can I test other PCI slots? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

[Paleo Pete]

I may be totally wrong, but I suspect motherboard weirdness...and a flaky hard drive, or bad windows installation.

Almost hit send and thought of my old buddy...HEAT! Check the fans recently? Hold your finger on the CPU, if you can't keep it there 10 seconds it's too hot.

Power supply may not be providing enough juice too...I doubt it, but a possibility...

I'm leaning toward flaky motherboard.

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[Reid]

Do you have a PCI card installed in the slot closest to the AGP slot? There might be an IRQ conflict there. Also, with the swapping around you have done, it may be a good idea to try Device Manager Cleanup (http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/lastresort.htm).

You may be having more than one problem, and Pete's suspicions are reasonable ones.

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reido@my-deja.com

[dontpanic]

THX for the responses!
Pete..ol' buddy heat, that strikes a memeory of mine also, yrs ago about an old Bigfoot 2G HD that had heat expansion problems, fix was re-install OS after heatup time passed- all ok after that...this has maxtor 30g, w/bay cooler(need to check PS output)..both times I've had immediate OS related errors was on a cold start so I'll monitor this..I'd think the PC shop would've dup'ed this error if that was the case cuz they got it cold too, but maybe..

Reid..the AGP would be the only possible IRQ prob..all PCI slots give errors except the center slot out of 5, one of those PCI slots is an ISA share...looks like the bottom 1st slot directly above the dedicated ISA slot...

(the vague errors make the troubleshoot'g possibilities seem eternal...)
I'll update upon new discoveries and watch for other suggestions/feedback..
peace out http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif