M598lmr / SiS530 I/O Range Conflicts. Arrrg!

[x_soldat]

I have somehow managed to get not one, but two PC-Chips motherboards, one is a Socket A / SiS630 and the other is a PC-Chips Socket 7, M598lmr / SiS 530/ Ami BIOS, AMD K6-2/550 MHz. They both have the same problem, but let's just discuss the Socket 7 board for now. Clean install on a newly-formatted and partitioned 30GB HD. Virgin install of Win98. Vender provided me the incorrect setup CD for the motherboard, so I have downloaded both the up-to-date SiS530 and M598lmr drivers.

PROBLEM: After first installing Win98 an error message appears stating that the SiS 530 Display adaptor conflicts with other resources (motherboard resources trying to occupy the same I/O range as PnP Bios; programmable interrupt controller using same range as System Speaker).

Going into Control Panel-> Settings--> Hardware--> Resources calls up the screen showing the conflict, but unselecting 'Use Automatic settings' does not work. When attempting to select new, unconflicting ranges another box comes up, indicating that these settings cannot be changed.

This translates into the machine working fine under just 16 colors, but attempting to set display to 256 or High 16 results in a blank screen and a lonely cursor waiting forever in the upper lefthand corner. Norton Utilities tried and failed to remedy this.

This is the same in both the Socket A and the Socket 7 boards. What's needed? How do I fix this? Flash BIOS??? How to do that, if it's needed? THANKS!

[Whyzman]

Hello x_soldat,

Welcome tohttp://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

Would you post back what devices are "on board" the motherboard...sound, video?

[x_soldat]

Yes, it's true. Both Mobo's are all-in-one boards: sound, video, lan adapter, even a built-in (optional) modem. Just two PCI slots, and I believe a legacy ISA (??? it's very long) slot for expansion. There is provision for an aftermarket riser board for additional slots.

Setup of the board was 'easy' in the sense that it was Plug-n-Pray, compared to the forest of jumpers its predecessor VA-503+ (still an excellent board!). The Socket 7 has an ATX type rear ports arrangement. Believe me, I would have preferred to simply use an AWE64 sound and an S3 Virge video card (which was yet a third configuration, bigger than the PCI, and smaller than the long-ass legacy slot).

Thanks for any insight you might have on the issue.

X_Soldat

[Budfred]

The video card that you refer to is probably AGP which does fit a specific type of slot.

It sounds like you display drivers are not working and may need to be updated. I would check in Device Manager to figure out what type of video you have and then check for updated drivers. Or go to the website of the motherboards and check there for updated video drivers. You will probably need to Remove the old drivers before installing the new.

Budfred

[Whyzman]

Seems like it could be a combination of things...

My first thought would be to petition the vendor for the correct setup disk!

One would certainly trust that the drivers and board are compatible and would not result in configuration conflicts as you are reporting.

It's possible that the new set of drivers does require a BIOS update.

I agree with Budfred with the uninstall and reinstall of the video drivers...Also, I think he's on with the large "legacy" looking slot actually being an AGP...so, you could upgrade with a video card of the AGP genre.

[Budfred]

This seems to be the video driver for your Sis630 board:

http://www.video-drivers.com/drivers/41/41976.htm

and here are some details about your other board:

http://www.epinions.com/S0481543-Alton/display_~full_specs

It does appear to have an AGP slot.

Here is the video driver for the M598LMR:

http://www.video-drivers.com/drivers/54/54807.htm

Budfred

[x_soldat]

Thanks Gents,

Two additional pieces of troubleshooting info I should have included:

A) Both systems boot directly to the Microsoft Windows 98 Setup screen (the one with 'safe mode' is selection #3), without my keying CTRL or any other key.

B) Both machines have been tested using three different SVGA monitors which have themselves been tested on other machines as being, at the very least, 256 color / High 16 800x600 capable.

The info you two provided is greatly appreciated. One small detail: I take it that the uninstall of any video driver would be accomplished by one of several ways. Please let me know if I am mistaken.

1) Settings--> Add/Remove Programs

if not present in software, goto:

2) Settings--> System--> Device Manager-->

else, goto:

3) Settings--> Ctrl Panel--> Display--> Settings--> Advanced-->
Adapter--> Change-->

Like any good techno-geek, I've a password to the driver boards and take my chances with the downloads on a regular basis. One of the download packages came with a very brief readme file, suggesting that I rename the old BIOS and load the new BIOS. I have no idea how to flash the BIOS of a system and I have heard that a badly-flashed board can leave you worse off than when you started. If an updated BIOS is needed, a basic outline would be real nice.

One last detail: the Socket 7 vendor was from a computer show, not due back here in the area for some time. Something I am kicking myself for: have misplaced the guy's contact information. Yes, it was the first thing that crossed my mind. But even the Socket A machine, which DOES have the proper setup CD, behaves the same way. Go figure.

Thanks once again Gents. I'll keep you posted on the progress of these machines as I download and install the necessary drivers.

Best,

X_Soldat

[Budfred]

You will most likely have to remove the video drivers in Device Manager and it is usually best to do it from Safe Mode. If you have anything for the video in Add/Remove Programs, I would uninstall that too, but it is less likely with onboard video.

For flashing the BIOS:
The main warning is not to stop once you start or you may not be able to access the motherboard again. Usually the procedure is fairly simply. You download the version you want and use it to create a boot floppy. It should have instructions where you download it or you can ask for more detail here. You boot with it and follow the instructions to install that you read, usually typing the flash executible at the A: prompt.

Budfred

[Whyzman]

In Device Manager you could use the Update Driver function...

I would look first, as suggested, to remove things first in Add/Remove.

Sometimes there is a Remove feature contained in the install package. If I remember, my ATI driver CD actually contained the remove feature within the installation procedure.

I'm not sure how you'd go about finding if your downloaded video driver package contains the same scenario...

[no-mbr]

Don't know anything about the sis630, but I have built and sold several sis 530 boards. m598 series...

In my "research" "(ie. playing with") the boards I achieved an identical error message by changing the power managment setting in the BIOS. (those BIOS suck anyway)

Anyway, after I created the screw up by changing the power setting, I discovered that there were multiple entries for each device (manager)in the system. After I deleted them, and sevaral reboots later I did get the video driver "to stick" and work correctly....

[x_soldat]

Addendum:

Have downloaded the "All" drivers file but have not implemented it as yet (still not sure about the process required). In the course of researching this problem I did find two useful sites that others may benefit from, should they be on the lookout for updated BIOS/CMOS.

eSupport.com - drivers galore - wee hoo!
http://www.esupport.com/biosupgrades/

Microid Research - BIOS Downloads
http://www.helpdrivers.com/ingles/listado/panel.asp?marca=Microid%20Research&perif=discos

[BigBlue66]

If you're having resource conflicts, you can uninstall and reinstall drivers all day and it won't do a bit of good.

Best thing to do is enter Setup when the computer first boots up and disable anything in BIOS that you're not using. Not using the modem? Then disable it. Not using the LAN? Disable it. You get the idea. The system has two serial ports but you're not using them or only using one? Disable them or the one you're not using.

This process will free up resources that the others can use and hopefully they won't all trip over themselves trying to use the same one.

Give that a go and see if it helps.

[x_soldat]

Actually, the unloading of devices, I have found, will not work. As soon as I reboot, or simply switch my machine back on in the a.m., Win98 will interrupt the bootup process, sending the message: 'Windows has found new hardware and is installing the drivers for it,' as well as such gems as 'your video device has conflicts with another device' (or something to that effect.

Nor should you have to go through such 'remove' gymnastics to use the machine. I need my modem, sound, video and other such drivers running smoothly and in concert.

Thus far, trying to uninstall device drivers in the Settings--> Control Panel has not been working. As soon as the offending device is removed, Windows asks if I want to reboot the machine. Even if I say no, removing the device driver for the video causes a blanking of the screen.

I am beginning to think a reformatting of C:\, reinstall of Win98 may be in order, but wonder if the entire routine will be repeated.

Linux is looking better all the time.

[x_soldat]

After setting that machine aside until my blood pressure returned to below life threatening, I did in fact reformat the drive and reload Win98. The one positive thing has been that the device conflicts seem to be gone, but this motherboard, which is supposedly rated as having onboard 64 bit AGB 3D capability, still refuses to perform above 16 bit color.

I am wondering if my assumption that the monitor, a ProView 860, is fully SVGA / High-16 / 800 x 600 capable. I have searched for performance specs online to see if this might be the root of the problem -- rather than a motherboard issue. Have not located tech specs for this monitor.

And yes, I have downloaded the proview driver for the monitor.

FYI Two sites which supposedly have the drivers I need -- don't:

http://www.amptron.com/asp/driverslist.asp?name=PM-598LMR

http://www.pcchips.com/driver.html

Lastly, my requests for assistance / setup CD-ROM from the PC Chips websites (Taiwan, Netherlands, USA - CA, FL) have all gone unanswered.

[kenja]

My Hungarian ain't so good, but these (http://www.tesztelo.hu/Olvasoi/Proview_860/) look like SVGA specs to me.

[no-mbr]

I obviously don't understand, you know what a chipset is? Driver?

It is true that the device manager will often reconfigure items automatically, however don't assume this is true for all cases....

JUst glad I've gotten through the three 598's I bought and sold, I think they were fun... and easy to work with....

Just talked to one the users I still support, they think their machined is just "peachy".... :-)

[x_soldat]

well I'm certainly glad that every once in a while the M598lmr will work for somebody. I don't buy the proposition that just somehow I just don't understand this board. Take a look at the Driver-Guide discussion list for the m598-lmr and you will find that the PC-Chips /Amptron m598lmr has more than its share of problems.

UPDATE:

Now recall that after freshly formatting and partitioning a brand-new MaxTor 30GB HD, installing it onto the m598lmr / Sis530 wedded to a brand new AMD K6-2/533 MHz CPU, virgin install of Win98, I finally got the machine to run close to normally (to include sound) EXCEPT for getting the video to run above 16 bit color. Note that I did not use the on-board modem attachment, but used an external Hayes Accura v.90 modem, which worked like a top.

After appealling to PC-Chips in California, Florida and other locations for a setup CD, I did get in touch with a vendor from AMPTRON, which supposedly makes the drivers for the m598lmr available online. Foolishly, I thought that my sole remaining video problem could be resolved by simply downloading an updated video driver for the alleged 64 bit onboard video. I noted that even though the FTP site indicated that the driver was some 9 MB's (!?) in size, it consistently downloaded at a little over 5 MB. Upon attempting to install said driver, the installation routine would start and presently state that this driver was solely for Intel chips and none were recognized on this system, it was aborting installation thank-you-very-much.

Here is the exchange I had with AMPTRON. If you don't want to read to the end, the result is their updated video driver completely crashed the system and the tech says, oh by the way, the m598lmr won't recognize Harddrives over 20MB in capacity (I guess everything I had been doing before was just fooling the motherboard into reading all that stuff on my 30GB Maxtor, huh?)

[See the next post]

[x_soldat]

Correspondence with AMPTRON, source of video and other drivers for the m598lmr / SiS530

------------------------------------------
Hi X_soldat,

I am apologize that you go through these difficult stages.

http://www.amptron.com/Drivers/M598vgaWin98.zip


Hi X_soldat,

The PM-598LMR only support up to 20GB hard drive, that is why your BIOS can't recognized your 30GB hard drive. If your motherboard still can recognized your old HDD and please reinstall the VGA driver which I attached below.

http://www.amptron.com/Drivers/M598vgaWin98.zip

Regards,

Jonah

-----Original Message-----
From: X Soldat February 13, 2003 8:35 PM
To: JONAH LIN
Subject: Re: RE: RE: Video Driver file for M598lmr - incorrect file?

This happened immediately after I installed your driver.

It must have done something to the IDE because now the machine will not recognize the harddrive. Recall that immediately before installing your new driver, the machine did work, to include on-board sound. It's only infirmity was that it would not function above 16 bit color.

I have tried resetting the CMOS jumper, booting from a recovery disk and running the OEM format and partitioning software. When that didn't work, I tried booting from a floppy and running FDISK, which failed because no harddrive was recognized.

Recall that this is a brand new 30 GB Maxtor 7200 rpm model, which had been freshly formatted and partitioned, Win98 had been installed on a virgin install, capped off with the Amptron SiS530 drivers downloaded from your
respective FTP sites.

The machine was operating with an external modem, from which I downloaded your 9 MB driver directly into a temporary drive on the machine itself. I clicked on the file to expand / install and during the install process an
error message came up saying that 'setup.exe' could not be
created.'

Oh????

Upon the software being installed, I rebooted for it to take effect. Now I have a rather large doorstop. Any ideas on how to recover this machine? Whatever is wrong is most likely in the firmware and whatever is still on
the harddrive is currently unreachable.

Analysis Spock?


--------------- Original Message Follows ------------------
From: JONAH.LIN@AMPTRON.COM (JONAH LIN)
Date: 2/13/2003 07:01 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
To: x_soldat@junglemate.com (X Soldat)
Subject: RE: RE: Video Driver file for M598lmr
- incorrect file?

This was happen before you install driver or after you install the driver?

Jonah

-----Original Message-----
From: X Soldat [mailto:x_soldat@junglemate.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 3:33 PM
To: JONAH LIN
Subject: Re: RE: Video Driver file for M598lmr - incorrect file?


Hello Jonah,

Well this is interesting.

Prior to downloading your software the machine was operating, although it could not provide a resolution better than 16 bit color. After downloading the software the machine locks up duting POST with an error "HDD ERROR."

So it's gone from bad to worse. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

X_soldat



--------------- Original Message Follows ------------------
From: JONAH.LIN@AMPTRON.COM (JONAH LIN)
Date: 2/11/2003 01:52 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
To: x_soldat@junglemate.com (X Soldat)
Subject: RE: Video Driver file for M598lmr
- incorrect file?

Hi X_soldat,

Thanks for your report and I will correct the link as soon as possible. Attached the link of VGA Me driver which is same compatible with Win98/SE.

http://www.amptron.com/Drivers/vgasis530Me.exe

Regards,

Jonah Lin / Webmaster

-----Original Message-----
From: X Soldat [mailto:x_soldat@junglemate.com]
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 7:55 PM
To: webmaster@amptron.com
Subject: Video Driver file for M598lmr - incorrect file?

TO:
Amptron International Inc.
1239 Hatcher Ave.
City of Industry CA. 91748
Tel: (626) 912-5789


FROM:

x_soldat

Dear Webmaster,

I am trying to locate updated driver software for the PC-Chips M598lmr / SiS530 Super Socket 7 Motherboard. In the course of this search, I found your website and have attempted to use the file you have listed below as
being the proper file for this board.

Please reexamine this file, as I believe it may be the incorrect one. I say this for two reasons.

1. One the page and file name listed below, your page indicates that the file size for the Win98/98se driver is 9.37 MB.

When clicked, the reported size for that file is in fact 5.533 MB.

2. Once resident on my harddrive, clicking on 'setup.exe' invokes the file and it starts the installer. The installer checks the hardware and states that it is for Intel Chipsets and is incompatible with the chipset on the Board (which is, of course, a PC-Chips M598lmr / SiS530).

Please look into this as I would *really* like to get hold of the proper drivers for this board, which will not operate above 16-bit color performance in its current configuration.

When you do locate the proper video driver for Win98/98se, would you please let me know?

Many thanks,


x_soldat


Reference:

PM-598LMR DRIVERS LIST - Windows 98 / 98 SE
"Video Drivers SiS530 9.37MB" but only 5.533MB downloads
http://www.amptron.com/html/driverASP.html

[Whyzman]

Sorry dude...this has got to be most frustrating! :(

Have you had a look at this in your research? http://www.eurocomla.com/m598lmr.htm

You might want to have a look at the FAQs

From the specs it does appear this board has a Embedded SiS 6326 AGP Video chip...

There's also some excellent information on the FAQs page for how to Flash the BIOS

Also, it looks like it might have an excellent accompaniment of drivers available. It appears there are both an AGP chipset driver and video drivers for the board. Perhaps without the AGP chipset drivers present and just video you can only get the lower res you are experiencing...???

[x_soldat]

[I am reminded of the tattoo scene in "Dude, have you seen my car?"] Thanks for the info. I've run into a very busy point at work, but as soon as we clear the rapids, I'll see what can be done to get this board to work again. Thanks for the tip!

[x_soldat]

Gents,

I am approaching the flashing of my BIOS with extreme caution. Why is beyond me, as I am sorely tempted to offer up the board as a sacrifice to the Steamroller God. It must be the technical challenge and curiousity that keeps me hooked. Apparently, it is wise to approach the first time flashing of a BIOS chip in this manner, since the variations in board versions, BIOS releases are numerous and sundry, PC-Chips (see above) cannot be relied upon to provide either the proper drivers or software and the consequences of incorrect flashing result in a dead BIOS chip / board/ computer.

In the event some other tortured soul is also wrestling with this PC-Chips P.O.S. here's a very good link to visit prior to acting: http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000729.html

[alex666]

I'm curious how old these boards are. They sound 3-4 years old at least. Also, if you are using the k6-2 chip, you might go to the amdzone site and get on the k-6 board. There are folks there who deal almost exlusively with k6 chips, mobos, etc., and perhaps they could be of help.

Marty
Verona, VA

[BigBlue66]

Flashing a BIOS is not that bad, if you approach it with forethought and the right bin file for the BIOS.

I always use a floppy disk to flash the BIOS, making double damn sure the disk is good before I attempt to flash.

All you need on that floppy is the command.com file plus a couple of hidden files to boot the system, along with the flash utility and the proper bin file.

If for some reason you create a bootable floppy with the BIOS update on it by any means other than dragging and dropping the appropriate files to it, make sure that the floppy does not include an autoexec.bat file. This happened to me once when I was still green. Unbeknownst to me, the routine I used to create a flash floppy placed an autoexec.bat file on the floppy with the command line to flash the BIOS in it. When I booted the machine, it of course read the .bat file first thing and started flashing the BIOS. To make matters worse, I had the wrong bin file for the BIOS, resulting in a circuit board doorstop.

[x_soldat]

I stand now on the precipice - my finger poised over a left mousebutton click which will unleash the Flashing of the BIOS to the PC-Chips / Amptron M598lmr. But I am hesitating due to the nagging question -- is this the proper update for this version board?

I see that there is not just one kind of 598lmr, but several versions. I look at the silkscreening on the board itself to see which version this might be. Nothing in the silkscreening itself, but, partially perforated by a mounting pin, located on the upper lefthand side of the board as you look at it in the machine, is a small, round, green sticker with the characters [????] "VE.0" or could it be "V5.0" or even "V6.0?" Due to the impingeing mounting pin, which has created a crease in the sticker, and also due to the block lettering, it is not immediately which version board this one is.

First, does it matter which _version_ of board it is when I flash the BIOS? Does anyone who has handled one or more of these boards recognize the numbering convention of the manufacturer?

Thanks guys!

[Whyzman]

We could try a BIOS string check...boot and hit the Pause/break button when you see the string in the lower left corner.

Or, shut down, pull the keyboard and boot...you'll get an error and the BIOS string should be in the lower left corner.

You would need to copy exactly...Post it here if you need help determining exactly what you've got! ;)

[x_soldat]

Thanks for quickly responding!

Here goes:

------------------------
American Megatrends

52-0110-00101111-071595-000000-001_01_M598LMR-H

AMI BIOS

Release 01/10/2000S
------------------------

Upon closely examining the boad version sticker I am fairly certain the board version is V6.0.

I visited this link which discussed the pros and cons of the 2k0531s.rom flash, dated 05/31/2000s.

PC Chips Discussion Board, describing BIOS 2k0531s.rom
http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000729.html

But I also have BIOS 2k0601s.rom and 2k1222s.rom! Which one works best, or more to the point, will freeze the BIOS chip, my CPU because of overvoltage or disable essential components?

Indeed, I see that there have been a number of BIOS Flash upgrades, some of which will kick the voltage up from 2.2 Volts to 2.4 volts, which in turn, threatens to fry the CPU.

http://www.elitegroup.de/talentunion/files/bios/m598lmr/
Parent Directory 20-Nov-2001 13:05 -
2k0110s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:27 256k
2k0225.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:27 256k
2k0323s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:27 256k
2k0601s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:28 256k
2k0913s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:28 256k
2k1222s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:28 256k
991028.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:29 256k
991213s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:29 256k
991222s.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:30 256k
dc2k0726.rom 20-Nov-2001 10:30 256k
release.txt 20-Nov-2001 10:30 3k



http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?postid=117890#post117890

The way I understand it, I lucked out at least, by not having an AWARD BIOS, whose ownership underwent some changes.

So at this point I have at least 3 BIOS revisions I could flash this baby with. Oh Oracle, pray tell, which door shall it be??

Thanks!

[Budfred]

One thing that might help in your deliberations: there is a fallback if this doesn't work properly:

http://www.badflash.com/

[x_soldat]

It Is Done


Don't ask me HOW it was done, but it seems to work finally.

Was it the BIOS flash upgrade? I have no idea. I read extensively on numerous m598lmr chat boards, users groups and fora (see http://www.justmother-board-links.com), to learn that:

1) Be careful when flashing your BIOS EPROM - it may not take and in the very least you will have to replace the EPROM chip (e.g. time, money, aggravation);

2) Get a bootable floppy, the BIOS upgrade utility, and the file contining the upgrade BIOS code itself;

3) Make sure all are compatible with your board('s version) and check with the users groups and others in the know to ensure the manufacturer has not been giving out bad code. I found this to be true EVERY time I turned to PC Chips and its other corporate incarnations (Amptron, PC Wave, etc.), bad or incorrect setup CD's, bad or incorrectly-labelled FTP driver files, and -- if the chorus of pissed-off owners is correct -- do NOT use 2k1222s.rom to update your main board.

Having obeyed these rules dutifully, I prepared my diskettes, per the instructions at http://www.apmtron.com/html/bioscode.html, also downloaded the proper BIOS upgrade at the PC-Chips Mainboard-BIOS (598v6k0531.zip), making sure all files were unzipped in a functioning machine's subdirectory, then retransferred, expanded, onto a floppy.

That being done, I switched the ailing machine on, booting it from the A: drive.

I invoked the BIOS install utility, tossing salt over my shoulder while similtaneously holding a rabbit's foot. What I got was this:

--------------------------------------------
DOS /4G Protected Mode Runtime Version 2.01a
Copyright (c) Tenberry Software, Inc. 1996
Chipset type SiS530/5595
Flashpart - Winbond 29c020_v2
* Error - File does not exist *
--------------------------------------------

The latter half of that text turned from a while-fonted DOS screen to Alarming Red.

Figuring that the machine was toast if I rebooted anyways, I tried again with another AMI BIOS utility, with the same result. I rebooted after three tries, expecting a dead screen.

Oddly enough, it booted with it's normal errors, but it was still booting. More to the point, it seemed to have the same version BIOS upon POST. The BIOS upgrade never took????!!

Now recall, what started this entire thing was that I had managed to get the machine operational, save for the fact that it would, at best, render a screen in 16-bit color. No higher Res allowed.

I had tried two other SVGA screens, complete with proper drivers, installed in the Control-Panel --> Adaptor --> Update and the same for monitors, checking against device conflicts. No go.

I finally switched out monitors with a Dell SVGA and voila, now I have high-32 Bit True color. Amazing.

One other point: I went into CMOS, Advanced settings, then I believe it was a cache setting [can't recall exactly -- it was towards the bottom of the row of choices] which was then set at 64, and could be toggled to 128 and up to 256. I selected 256. Saved. Rebooted.

Know this: it was not as simple as swapping out monitors. For the balance of last night and early morning, numerous POSTs went through various error messages upon boot up, mostly involving "HDD Failure - Press F1 to Continue."

But now, it's working.

Finally.

Truly this is a P.O.S. board which I warn all away from. If it says "PC Chips," do NOT invest, unless of course you like aggravation, unnecessary expense, lost time, etc.

Farewell, friends and thanks for all the help.

X_Soldat

[no-mbr]

Hey,

I get to go back to a customer to reload a M-598 next week.
But I just realized, it only has onboard sound and modem (pci nic).

I know I used the MB provided CD to load sis chip drivers, never had a problem. I still think you gunked up the BIOS "ACPI" settings....

Oh, yeah the HD thing, well I don't know what your doing there.

What exactly is the problem? Could you repeat it?

[x_soldat]

What? You're still very proud that you found an M598 that runs out of the box? Hallelueya, a-men brother!

Again, it works fine now. We're done. Finito. Basta. End of Line.

To recap:

1) the vendor provided the incorrect setup CD; 2) I downloaded drivers from the websites list above; 3) when the motherboard refused to provide video performance above 16-bit color, I let the manufacturer know that they had the incorrect drivers on their FTP site; 4) they agreed, but remedied by sending me a link to yet another incorrect driver, which crashed the system; 5) rebooting from a floppy, I went into CMOS and increased a [cache?] setting from 64 to 256; 6) swapped out monitors (which would make this the 4th SVGA monitor); 7) attempted to Flash the BIOS, BIOS didn't take, 8) the gash-darned thing now works -- crystalline video; and 9) I'm not messing with it anymore.

I purposely wrote out in long hand all that had been done, so the next unfortunate owner of the m598lmr P.O.S. will have a shot of clearing his problem.

I thank all the longbeards who offered useful suggestions for diagnosing and remedying the problem. But every now and then, there would be some post to the effect of 'well mine works fine.' Such posts add nothing useful to the analysis.

My thanks, once again, to all, and to all fare-thee-well.

http://209.211.253.6/goodstuff/midi/country/happytrails.mid