Weirdest problem EVER guaranteed...please help!

[behzadns]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this site and I don't often seek help on computer problems, cos I eventually manage to sort them out, but now I've hit such a weird problem that has just completely boggled my mind. It would be MUCH appretiated if you could put some time into reading this and helping me out.
I recently upgraded my computer with a a brand new Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 motherboard, Athlon 64 3000+ and Radeon X800 XL. Previously I had Athlon XP 2400, Radeon 9600, and not sure about the motherboard, though I can look it up if anyone asks for it.
I have 768MB DDR266 RAM and Windows XP Professional installed. I did a clean install of Windows after the upgrade. If anyone needs any other info please don't hesitate to ask me.

Ok, my problem is as follows:

No service packs installed: My modem (Fujitsu FDX310) begins to synchronise. At the exact moment when it does synchronise, I get a BSOD with the following messeges: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, and also something about usbohci.sys (0x000000D1).
This happens every single time without fail, and im positive it is the modem synchronisation, because when I stop the modem from synchronising from it's control panel the BSOD never appears. The modem works fine on another computer that I have (Pentium 3 550MHz).
I have formatted and done a clean install of Win XP 5 times, trying to install motherboard drivers first, modem drivers first, various combinations, but it's the same every time.

Service pack 2 installed: Now here's where it gets interesting. If along the line I install service pack 2 weird things start to happen. Initially it seems the problem has been sorted out. The modem synchronises, no BSOD, and I can connect to the internet no problem.
Buuuut. After about 10-15 mins, the internet connection simply dies. I get NO disconnection messeges, the internet connection icon in the taskbar remains and WONT GO AWAY if I try to 'disconnect' it, and the modem synchronisation doesn't seem affected. In fact, If I wasn't connected to the internet I wouldn't have noticed anything, except that in that case the modem would de-synchronise and not ever attempt re-synchronising again.
The weirdest bit is still to come. When this happens, some other things stop functioning as well, for example, pressing Alt-Ctrl-Del fails to load task manager and gives an error window, saying 'Application failed to initialize properly 0xc0000017'. I've also noticed windows messenger and Winamp won't work. Also it won't restart properly from the start menu: instead of getting a whole new screen saying that windows is shutting off, I get a small window saying the same thing, and eventually the screen just goes black and nothing happens. I have a feeling a lot of other weird things happen that I haven't noticed.
The only solution is to restart, when things go back to normal again. Now, again if I prevent the modem from synchronising in the first place using it's control panel, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAPPEN. Alt-Ctrl-Del would work properly indefinitely. When I allow it to synchronise, same stuff happens after 10-15 mins. It seems after the modem synchronises a countdown starts to set off these events!

By the way, when I say 10-15 mins, it's because I haven't bothered to measure exactly how long it takes. I'm not sure if it's a set time at all, it may not be, but it seems to be about the same length.

Sooo, what do you guys make of it? I personally reckon it's something to do with my new hardware configuration (duh) and perhaps irq conflict of some sort? Please please help! I have a nice vanilla cookie for you!

[egg]

What anti virus software are you using. I know this may seem like a silly question but i had a similar problem (DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) when using a usb device on my computer, worked fine when device was disconnected. Turned out it was the anti virus software i was using, Kaspersky at the time. I've seem similar problems with some other anti virus software.

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

Change to a different PCI slot?

Possibile incompatibility with your board?

Any BIOS updates available?

Reassign IRQ resources? (unlikely though)

Any new drivers available for it?

[behzadns]

The first thing i do after a clean windows install is to install the modem, so no it cant be antivirus or anything else. Ive already explained the difference if SP2 is installed.

Saber : Change what to a different PCI slot? If u mean the modem, its a USB external. I don't see why it should be incompatible with the board tbh. I'll check for bios updates, though it's a recent MB (2004). Not sure, which IRQs i should change/fiddle with and whether that would be such a good idea anyway. What do u suggest? And the modem already has latest drivers.

Thanks guys for posting, anymore suggestions VERY appretiated!

[MD]

I have this exact same problem, random reboots since I installed SP2 on this new machine (P4 3.4 2GB PC3200, 6800GT AGP) and I cannot for the life of me figure out why it is giveing me the IRQ message, BSOD'd on me just now.

Just as a matter of chance is the mouse you are using PS2 or USB?

m@

[Olly1234]

It's an ADSL modem isn't it? If you don't plug it in your PC boots right?

[nichomach]

The first thing i do after a clean windows install is to install the modem, so no it cant be antivirus or anything else. Ive already explained the difference if SP2 is installed. Saber : Change what to a different PCI slot? If u mean the modem, its a USB external. I don't see why it should be incompatible with the board tbh. I'll check for bios updates, though it's a recent MB (2004). Not sure, which IRQs i should change/fiddle with and whether that would be such a good idea anyway. What do u suggest? And the modem already has latest drivers. Thanks guys for posting, anymore suggestions VERY appretiated!

Actually, I've seen this with host-powered USB devices like ISDN terminal adapters; basically, some motherboards' USB ports don't provide sufficient power for the device, and as soon as you use them the machine BSODs. So your 550 PIII (I'll bet it's running in a nice sensible 440BX motherboard) will be fine with it if its USB ports supply the full power that the modem requires. Do you have a powered USB hub that you could try using the modem via?

[DavidM]

The BE6 was prone to this if I remember

[egg]

I had this just happen on a friends system using a speedtouch modem, tried different usb ports same fault. Added a usb pci card, plugged modem into card and problem solved. So as nichomach stated motherboard usb did not provide enough power. A powered hub should give the same results.

[behzadns]

hmm very interesting guys, thanks for the comments. sounds stupid though...my last MB was a cheap ass £15 piece of crap that i bought as a matter of emergency and it didnt have any problems, now this?? tbh this did cross my mind for a sec but i thought naaah.

soo, i need a powered usb hub. this is kind of my weak area cos iv never had to deal with it...any good products recommended guys? thank you for all your comments!

[nichomach]

soo, i need a powered usb hub. this is kind of my weak area cos iv never had to deal with it...any good products recommended guys? thank you for all your comments!

Or, as noted above, a USB PCI card might well work - it'd be doing its own power regulation separate from the motherboard. For that, Belkin are usually pretty reliable, and they do a powered hub also.

[badass]

Withouttrying to sound like a nob, USB ADSL modems are all total of total cr@p and love to bugg3r up your system.
Buy an ADSL router and then you dont need to install some barely tested drivers for it to work and troubleshooting is a lot easier.
You can find reasnobly proced routers on Ebay but you take a risk
For the hassle you save the extra money is well worth it

[SHARKMEAT]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this site and I don't often seek help on computer problems, cos I eventually manage to sort them out, but now I've hit such a weird problem that has just completely boggled my mind. It would be MUCH appretiated if you could put some time into reading this and helping me out.
I recently upgraded my computer with a a brand new Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 motherboard, Athlon 64 3000+ and Radeon X800 XL. Previously I had Athlon XP 2400, Radeon 9600, and not sure about the motherboard, though I can look it up if anyone asks for it.
I have 768MB DDR266 RAM and Windows XP Professional installed. I did a clean install of Windows after the upgrade. If anyone needs any other info please don't hesitate to ask me.

Ok, my problem is as follows:

No service packs installed: My modem (Fujitsu FDX310) begins to synchronise. At the exact moment when it does synchronise, I get a BSOD with the following messeges: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, and also something about usbohci.sys (0x000000D1).
This happens every single time without fail, and im positive it is the modem synchronisation, because when I stop the modem from synchronising from it's control panel the BSOD never appears. The modem works fine on another computer that I have (Pentium 3 550MHz).
I have formatted and done a clean install of Win XP 5 times, trying to install motherboard drivers first, modem drivers first, various combinations, but it's the same every time.

Service pack 2 installed: Now here's where it gets interesting. If along the line I install service pack 2 weird things start to happen. Initially it seems the problem has been sorted out. The modem synchronises, no BSOD, and I can connect to the internet no problem.
Buuuut. After about 10-15 mins, the internet connection simply dies. I get NO disconnection messeges, the internet connection icon in the taskbar remains and WONT GO AWAY if I try to 'disconnect' it, and the modem synchronisation doesn't seem affected. In fact, If I wasn't connected to the internet I wouldn't have noticed anything, except that in that case the modem would de-synchronise and not ever attempt re-synchronising again.
The weirdest bit is still to come. When this happens, some other things stop functioning as well, for example, pressing Alt-Ctrl-Del fails to load task manager and gives an error window, saying 'Application failed to initialize properly 0xc0000017'. I've also noticed windows messenger and Winamp won't work. Also it won't restart properly from the start menu: instead of getting a whole new screen saying that windows is shutting off, I get a small window saying the same thing, and eventually the screen just goes black and nothing happens. I have a feeling a lot of other weird things happen that I haven't noticed.
The only solution is to restart, when things go back to normal again. Now, again if I prevent the modem from synchronising in the first place using it's control panel, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAPPEN. Alt-Ctrl-Del would work properly indefinitely. When I allow it to synchronise, same stuff happens after 10-15 mins. It seems after the modem synchronises a countdown starts to set off these events!

By the way, when I say 10-15 mins, it's because I haven't bothered to measure exactly how long it takes. I'm not sure if it's a set time at all, it may not be, but it seems to be about the same length.

Sooo, what do you guys make of it? I personally reckon it's something to do with my new hardware configuration (duh) and perhaps irq conflict of some sort? Please please help! I have a nice vanilla cookie for you!

Did you check your Power option Properties in the control panel, it has a 10 min 15 min cut off selection, just throwing a rock at you, to get your attention. Cheers.

[behzadns]

Guys great news!! I figured out what was wrong, and no it's NONE of anything that anyone suggested on any site. Tbh i'm still stunned at how random it seems.Also shows how wrong everyone can be. All the suggestions i got to change various bits of my hardware...!

I was just randomly looking around the Services and noticed that Universal Plug and Play Device Host was set to Manual and wasn't running, so I start it and hey presto! everything is sorted out...

I have messed about in there in past, but the thing is i FORMATTED my pc god knows how many times in the passed few days to try to fix the problem. Even if I had turned off the service in the passed (which i don't think i would have, im not that stupid), why on earth would stay off after a clean install? If not, why wouldn't the service be running in the first place?

Tbh i dont care, thought i'd share this with u guys!

[MD]

<goes to check services list.....
Finds entry on manual....
Starts service and makes it auto launch....
...crosses fingers and hope it don't bloomin reboot again.
....anythings worth a try lol>

m@

[Olly1234]

Are you sure that setting the Universal Plug and Play Device Host Service to auto fixed this? I'm not doubting it's resolved but from my knowledge of UPnP it has no relation to USB device capibilities. It's seperate from the Plug in and Play Service (PnP)

UPnP enables discovery and control of networked devices and services, such as network-attached printers, Internet gateways, and other electronics equipment, it's set to manual by defualt by XP SP2 as this means it runs when required and not at all times is all, it would run if somethig requested it, if the status was disabled then it would have been prevented from running.

Little link to anyone interested http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...te/upnpxp.mspx