INBOARD 386/PC
Troubleshooting Notes
Contents:
Priam 60M-Byte Hard Disk And Controller
ATI VIP
ATI Wonder Card
Paradise Autoswitch EGA
ILIM386 4.04 And Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3.0
Microsoft Quickbasic Version 4.50
Microtech Research Compiler
Paradox 386
Smartdrv - Incompatible With Icache
Unsupported DOS Machine Error
Unsupported Dos Version Error
Beeps At Power Up (IBM Specs)
S.O.S. Beeps
Can't Format Floppy
Continuous Post Symptom
Hard Disk Access Problems
INBOARD 386/Pc And Heat
Coldblue
PC Power & Cooling Heavy Duty Power Supply
Radio Shack Fan
Lockups With Cad Programs
Missing Or Wrong Disk And Manuals
Printer Prints Unwanted Characters
Slow Hard Disk Access Or Read Errors
Inboard 386/Pc Driver Errors On Software Warmboots
Out Of Environment Space
1701 Error
A055 201 Memory Error
Ilim Privileged Operation Exception Error
Ioctl Error Message
Parity Check 2 Error
ROM Check Sum Error
Priam 60M-Byte Hard Disk And Controller
Customer reports "DMA page fault errors" when using DOS 3.3, ILIM386, and PRIAM software. DOS 3.2 works
fine.
ATI VIP
This board is compatible with the InBoard 386/PC. However, you must turn OFF the autoswitch feature (SW8), or
the computer will report a PARITY CHECK 2 error on power-up. ATI provides software that reenables autoswitch
mode once the machine has powered up.
ATI Wonder Card
Intel has tested this product with the InBoard 386/PC, and they are compatible. However, a "Coprocessor Switch
Enabled...." message is displayed on warm boot if the board's Autoswitch feature (SW8 on the ATI board) is
turned on. Disabling the Autoswitch feature solves this problem.
One customer reported Parity check 2 errors occurred on warm boots. Turning off Autoswitch also solved this
problem.
Paradise Autoswitch EGA
Intel has tested this product with the InBoard 386/PC, and they are compatible.
However, ILIM386 won't work with this board in Autoswitch mode. Either disable the autoswitch feature when
using ILIM386 or remove ILIM386 and use another expanded memory manager (such as Above Board with EMM)
for expanded memory.
One user reported that this board caused a parity check 2 error when IRMA emulation was invoked. Another video
board worked fine.
ILIM386 4.04 And Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3.0
Lotus release 3.0 and ILIM386.SYS version 4.04 are incompatible; you must use ILIM386 version 4.07. Although
ILIM386.SYS version 4.04 was designed to conform with software using the Virtual Control Program Interface
(VCPI) specification, a problem with the ILIM VCPI implementation causes Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3 to hang with the
message: "DOS 123 ERROR:Protected mode requires VCPI within virtual 8086".
InBoard 386/PC needs the Piggyback Memory option for the 384K bytes of extended memory 1-2-3 Release 3.0
requires.
Microsoft Quickbasic Version 4.50
Customer reports of compatibility with the InBoard 386/PC.
Technical Note:
This version of QuickBasic in an IBM PC-2 (or a PC-1 with BIOS upgrade) with InBoard 386/PC can cause
erroneous "Overflow" errors when you enter large integers or numbers containing a decimal point. This happens
when the system board switches are incorrectly set to indicate that a math coprocessor is present. If there is no
math coprocessor in the computer, Switch 2 on Switch block 1 should be OFF.
Microtech Research Compiler
Customer reports indicate this program is compatible with the InBoard 386/PC, but ILIM386 causes the error,
"Problem enabling A20." Remove ILIM386 to use this program.
Paradox 386
The InBoard 386/PC is compatible with Paradox 386 in some computers. It is incompatible in these computers:
IBM PC2s and older COMPAQ Portables.
Apparently, Paradox 386 reads the computer's "signature" and then uses the appropriate commands. Paradox
can't cope with an 80386 chip in the older COMPAQ 8088-based computers. If you try to load Paradox in this
type of computer, an interrupt error (interrupt 00, 06, or 0D) occurs, the contents of certain registers are displayed
on the screen, and the computer locks up. If the computer is on a network, a network error may be displayed.
Occasionally the computer may lock up without displaying error messages.
ILIM386 and Paradox 386 are incompatible in any computer.
SMARTDRV - Incompatible With Icache
ICACHE, the disk cache provided with InBoard products, should not be run with SMARTDRV, or with any other
disk cache. Double caching can cause data loss on the hard disk. ICACHE is also not compatible with the large
partitions (over 32 megabytes) supported by DOS 5.0. In general, if the DOS 5.0 user wants to use a disk cache,
they are better off using SMARTDRV, which is compatible with InBoards.
SMARTDRV.SYS is the disk caching utility supplied with DOS 5.0 and is compatible with the InBoard 386/PC as
long as it is not loaded into the UMB area by a Memory Managment utility.
ICACHE will not load when the DOS=HIGH parameter is in the CONFIG.SYS. ICACHE will give the error "NOT
ENOUGH MEMORY TO LOAD". Removing the DOS=HIGH parameter fixes this problem, but then DOS loads
into Conventional memory (taking up about 47K).
Unsupported DOS Machine Error
Windows displays this message for many reasons, including not having enough memory on the InBoard 386/PC
(in this case, you need a Piggyback Memory option). In a COMPAQ Portable, ROM BIOS version C and earlier
can cause this error. Upgrade to version H or J.
UNSUPPORTED DOS VERSION ERROR
This error can appear after executing the ISPEEDPC 1 command with the first version of INBRDPC.SYS. Contact
Intel Customer Support for more recent InBoard 386/PC software.
This can also occur with certain versions of DOS 3.2. DOS 3.3 fixes the problem. This error occurred in Leading
Edge and Zenith DOS versions and is not a result of InBoard 386/PC.
BEEPS AT POWER UP (IBM SPECS)
Type of beep
Type of Problem
Continuous Beep
A power supply problem
Repeating Short Beeps
A power supply problem
1 Long and 1 Short Beep
A system board problem
1 Long and 2 short Beeps
A display problem
1 Long and 3 Short Beeps
An EGA problem
Short Beeps and Blankor Incorrect Display
A video board problem
S.O.S. Beeps
This error occurs if the InBoard 386/PC detects the computer supplying over 256k of memory. The InBoard
386/PC can only replace the system board memory if 256k (or less) is being provided by the system board.
If you receive the SOS beep when the computer appears to be configured properly, toggle the system board
switches several times and then restart the computer.
In some "compatible" computers the switches on the motherboard that would correspond to the IBM memory
configuration switches aren't even hooked up. It may be necessary to check with the system board manufacturer
as to how to properly disable memory to 256k (or lower).
Can't Format Floppy
If you have this problem, add the NOCACHE parameter to the INBRDPC.SYS command. You can also try the
FDWAIT parameter.
Continuous Post Symptom
At power up, if Switch 1 on a PC XT system board is ON, the computer will count to 640K bytes and then count
again, continuously. Turn Switch 1 OFF.
Hard Disk Access Problems
The ILIM386.SYS DMA=xx parameter can help with drive access problems with some hard disk controllers. The
default DMA transfer area size is 64K bytes. Try other values, starting with DMA=32.
INBOARD 386/PC And Heat
The InBoard 386/PC can draw up to 20 Watts of power. This much power draw inside a PC system can cause
heat-related, intermittent failures from both the InBoard 386/PC and other components. To insure the best
operating environment, make sure the InBoard 386/PC has as much open space around it as possible. If it is not
possible to move the other cards in the system away from the InBoard 386/PC, it may be necessary to add an
additional cooling fan.
Coldblue
If you have heat-related problems with InBoard 386/PC installed, the COLDBLUE add-on cooling system for IBM
PCs and XTs may help. COLDBLUE snaps to the front of the system unit behind the cover's front ventilation slots.
COLDBLUE consists of side-by-side cooling fans that force air across the expansion cards at a claimed rate of
25cfm.
Intel hasn't tested this product, but you can contact COLDBLUE Corp. at (512) 341-6155.
PC Power & Cooling Heavy Duty Power Supply
PC Power & Cooling makes high capacity power supplies with large fans for IBM XT and AT and COMPAQ
PORTABLE systems. Here's their address: PC Power and Cooling, PO BOX 518, Bonsall, CA 92003-0518 (619)
723-9513 FAX: (619) 723-0075
Radio Shack Fan
One customer reported using a Radio Shack 3" x 3" external cooling fan with InBoard 386/PC. The user reported
the fan worked great and fits closely against the back of the computer. Intel has not tested this product.
Lockups With Cad Programs
Some programs will recognize a math coprocessor even if the math coprocessor switch is set incorrectly. Other
programs won't, so make sure the switch is set correctly.
Missing Or Wrong Disk And Manuals
If you receive the wrong diskettes or manual with your InBoard 386/PC, do the following:
1.Note whether the InBoard 386/PC box was unopened before you bought it.
2.Gather the following information:
a.Serial number of the InBoard 386/PC
b.Date on outer label of InBoard 386/PC
c.Name and address of the dealer who sold the InBoard 386/PC
d.List of missing items
3.Contact Intel Customer Support
Printer Prints Unwanted Characters
If this happens, set the InBoard 386/PC to Speed 1. One user with an InBoard 386/PC in an IBM XT reported that
a NEC 8800 Spinwriter printed unwanted characters unless the InBoard 386/PC was set to Speed 1. This
customer then installed a print spooler program called Softbytes, and the printer printed fine at all speeds.
Slow Hard Disk Access Or Read Errors
Most disk drive manufacturers and dealers set drives for a 3:1 interleave. This could cause very slow hard disk
access or read errors. More appropriate values are 4:1 or 5:1.
INBOARD 386/PC Driver Errors On Software Warmboots
ILIM386 version 4.07 "survives" a software generated warmboot, leaving the processor in virtual 8086 mode.
Because of this, INBRDPC.SYS will display an error when it tries to load. The error states that "80386 control
software has already been loaded". To boot successfully, reset your computer using one of the following
methods:
Press CTRL-ALT-DEL keys at the same time.
Press the reset button on your computer (if available).
Turn the power off, wait 30 seconds then turn it back on.
Out Of Environment Space
The DOS 3.x environment may be up to 32K bytes long. During power on, COMMAND.COM receives a default
environment size of 160 bytes. This can fill up quickly, in which case DOS displays the message "Out of
environment space." If you use DOS 3.1 through 3.3, you can increase the environment size by including the
following command in the CONFIG.SYS file:
shell=[d:][path]command.com /p /e:xxxx
In DOS 3.1, xxxx is the # of paragraphs (16 byte blocks) in the environment. The allowable range is from 10 to
2048. In DOS 3.2 and 3.3, xxxx is the actual # of bytes in the environment. The allowable range is from 160 to
32,768.
1701 Error
IBM PC XTs will report a 1701 Hard disk controller error on power up if the power has been left off for less than 15
seconds and if the cold boot follows a warm boot. This happens even without the InBoard 386/PC installed. The
fixed disk BIOS causes this error when it fails a test when the warm boot flag is still in memory on a cold boot.
Powering up quickly right after a warm boot doesn't give the RAM time to discharge and lose the warm boot flag.
A055 201 Memory Error
If you receive a A055 201 Parity Check 2 message, make sure the power supply is rated for 100 watts or greater.
This error also occurs in IBM PCs on power up when switches 3 and 4 on switch block 1 are set to ON. These
switches must be OFF for a valid memory configuration.
ILIM Privileged Operation Exception Error
ILIM386 generates this error when an instruction is incompatible with the current CPU operation mode. An
interaction between the application software, ILIM386, and the system BIOS can cause this error. Changing the
system BIOS may solve the problem.
IOCTL Error Message
This error occurs when you change from a low speed to speed 4 using ISPEEDPC. If you receive this error you
probably need newer InBoard 386/PC software, this latest software is available on the Intel BBS and on
Compuserve.
PARITY CHECK 2 ERROR
The most common cause for this error is a result of himem.sys loading before the InBoard driver. (This the default
in DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.0 installations.) To correct the problem, boot the system to a plain DOS boot disk
and relocate the himem.sys command line after the INBRDPC.SYS command line.
It is also possible to get a Parity Check 2 if the INBRDPC.SYS driver isn't being loaded into the Config.sys file.
One Customer with a COMPAQ PORTABLE Plus and ATI Wonder Card received a Parity check 2 message on
warm boot. Turning SW8 off on the ATI board solved the problem.
ROM Check Sum Error
If you receive this error on warm boot in an PC XT-compatible computer with a Phoenix BIOS, add the NOCACHE
parameter to the INBRDPC.SYS command.
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