Adding PCI Device on Dell Dimension Causes Computer to Hang

ID: Q134296

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

After you add a PCI device to your Dell Dimension computer, the computer may stop responding (hang) when you start Windows 95.


CAUSE

The BIOS in the Dell computer has configured the new PCI device to use IRQ 10, but another legacy device installed in the system is already configured to use IRQ 10. Although Windows 95 is designed to recognize resource conflicts such as this, this particular conflict causes the computer to hang before the Windows 95 Configuration Manager recognizes that the conflict exists.

Although the PCI bus is normally a Plug and Play bus, the BIOS in Dell Dimension computers statically allocates IRQ 10 to a new PCI device. There is no way to change this behavior.


RESOLUTION

Configure the existing legacy device to use an IRQ other than IRQ 10. For information about how to do so, consult the device's documentation. 


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Last Reviewed: June 16, 1999