From: lafourc@storm.CS.ORST.EDU (Chris LaFournaise)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: OS/2 installation woes
Summary: Even IBM is stumped.
Date: 23 Jul 92 04:45:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: CS.1992Jul23.044539.5971
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Oregon State University
Originator: lafourc@storm.CS.ORST.EDU

Well, as with the rest of the world, I am having difficulty installing the
latest OS/2 on my machine.  I am in contact with IBM tech support, who are
stumped, but are doing the best they can.  I have decided to turn to a
better source, namely comp.os.os2.misc... ;)  If you can help, it would be
best to email me (lafourc@cs.orst.edu) but posts are ok too if you think it
would be beneficial for all those involved.  If we figure out something, I
will repost and summarize.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

THE PROBLEM:
While installing OS/2 2.0, shortly after inserting "Diskette #1" which is the
second disk in the procedure (I love IBM), the phrase "Operating System/2"
appears on the screen (in graphics mode I believe) and the system hangs.

Specifically: After the Installation disk has presented a title screen, I am
asked to insert "Diskette #1."  I do, and press enter.  The disk spins, the
screen clears,  and a moment later I get one line of what I understand is a
colored graphics screen (which should have the OS/2 label printed in different
colors).  I get none of that, mearly the phrase "Operating System/2".  The
floppy drive stops and the system hangs.  CTRL-ALT-DEL will reboot.

I HAVE:
An ETEQ-486/33, 4mb ram, 64K cache.  (Yes, I will buy more memory if I can get
this working!)  AMI Bios dated 5/5/91. I have three floppy drives; 1.2mb (A:),
360K (B:), and 1.44mb(D:), as well as a colorado Jumbo 120 tape drive connected
to the floppy controller.  I have a 155mb SCSI hard drive (brand unknown) with
a Future Domain TMC-885 controller which is combined with the floppy
controller.  (the TMC-885 has both a HD and 4-FD controller on one board). The
Bios revision for the controller is 5.xx.

In addition, I have a Paradise VGA+/16 video board with 256K, a multi-io board
with 1 parralel and 1 serial and a game port, which is disabled through a
jumper setting.  I have a soundblaster pro (default IRQ/interrupt settings) as
well as a "Hook Up" 2400 baud modem.

I HAVE:
Been in contact with IBM tech support.  Following their suggestions I have
tried the following:
1) Remove ALL expansion boards except for Video and HD/FD controller.  Disable
16bit processing on the video (back to 8-bit).  Unplug tape drive. NO EFFECT.
2) Unplug hard drive (just to see...) NO EFFECT.
3) Disable shadow ram and 64K ram cache.  NO EFFECT.
4) I tried the "AT BUS WORKAROUND" that IBM faxed me where you comment out a
line in the config.sys on "Diskette #1".  NO EFFECT.
5) Reduced/Increased the read and write wait states for my machine. NO EFFECT.

I CAN:
Run Windows 3.1 without a hitch.  As well as some other "big" apps like
AutoCad 11, Borland C++, and the most tempremental: games.  FS4.0, f117, you
name it.

I HAVE:
A huge headache.  :)

Again, any suggestions you can offer would be appreciated.  Step #1 above
about covers interrupt conflicts etc etc, so I'm not sure where to go.  IBM
tech support is stumped, but they will "be getting back to me."  Perhaps they
will read this newsgroup?? ;)

For now, I tend to blame the HD/FD controller, as that is the "weirdest" part
of my machine and the only thing I can't disable, nor do I have another to
test with.  I understand that the os/2 readme mentions compatibility with the
Future Domain tmc-885, or at least more compatibility than I'm getting... so
there I am.  Any ideas?

-Chris
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris LaFournaise                                           lafourc@cs.orst.edu
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc