Motherboard thinks all slots are in use
 

Hello,

I'm attempting to replace one of my older pentium IV desktop computers.
I've bought this to replace it:
http://www.microcenter.com/product/4...sktop_Computer

I still need serial an parallel ports. So I bought a PCIe 2serial + 1 parallel port card.
I've just spent all day trying to get the card to work. But none of the 4 different Linux's; Ubuntu 12.10, Slackware 13.1, Slackware 14.0 64-bit, and CentOS 6.4; I tried would recognize the card and it's ports.

Unfortunately I don't think (but unable to confirm) the card is at fault. Rather it may be the motherboard.
Because with all OS's the command "dmidecode -t 9" shows all slots as "In Use" even when they are empty.
I've checked the BIOS and also tried resetting the BISO by removing the CMOS battery for several minutes.
But "dmidecode -t 9" still shows all slots as "In Use".

I've requested return authorization for both the computer and add-in card. (Bought from different retailers.)
Before I actually return the card and computer.
Can anyone think of something else I can try to get the motherboard/computer to not think all slots are in use ?

Thanks;
--ET

Is the card fully supported in linux?

I'd suspect some issue with the bios before the backplane but who knows. Unless it was tested at factory we may never know.

Try it in windows and see what it says.


Look at bios for any reset or such or even default or failsafe.

Might remove any extra cards or swap positions in pci.

Thanks for the reply.
BUT even without ANY card installed (ie all slots empty). dmidecode still reports all slots as "In Use".

I've checked the BIOS for some settings. But there are no settings in the BIOS even related to the slots.
In fact; I've never seen such a simple BIOS. My 386 from the 1990's had more settings than this one.

--ET

I think this is BIOS controlled behaviour and reports to the operating system which slots are used or not. There could be some issues in BIOS/Linux Kernel communication for some reason.
That could very well be due to your Kernel configuration. Which Kernel are you using, and did you configure it yourself to fit your hardware? Perhaps it is not configured properly for your board?

Do you run this machine with the Ubuntu that was shipped with it? In that case you should not have any issues like this and everything should be preconfigured correctly.

Also, it would be worth trying to update the BIOS if compliation of a new Kernel does not yield any results.

I would recommend going with Slackware and compile your own Kernel.

It could be some UEFI issue..but I'd be more likely to guess that dmidecode is wrong, and the problem is the card is not supported with linux.

Thanks everyone for the replies !

Update:
The card is NOT compatible with Linux 2.6.11 and above as stated on the card's packaging.
Plus; the kernels that it is compatible with. Are only 32bit kernels.

SO I can get the card's driver and utilities to compile with 32 bit Slackware 13.1 and it's kernel 2.6.33.4-smp.
The card's module loads and reports the card. BUT neither the card's utilities nor Linux can find the ports on the card.
Possibly due to the motherboard/bios issue below.

I've discovered that with and without the card installed or module loaded. "lspci" lists the card.
I've also discovered that with and without the card installed. Dmesg is reporting serial and parallel ports.
EVEN THOUGH there are none in the computer !

I've also learned that my printer; Epson Stylus 88+ (?); will work when both it's parallel and usb connectors are in use.
And for the first time in my life. One of those usb-to-serial adapters actually works ! :)

I've also tried installing a different add-on card. A PCIe USB 3 card.
I tried it in every slot. And it worked flawlessly.

So I can still use this new computer and all the other computers in my house with my printer.
And with the usb-to-serial adapter I will be able to use my old APC ups.
(yea I know I should upgrade all my computer crap. But I can only afford one piece of equipment at a time.)

So it looks like I had two things at play here.
1) A serial/parallel card that is not compatible.
2) A motherboard; ECS H61H2-WM; with a funky bios.

Thanks again for the replies !

--ET