Octopus-550 INSTALLATION

ALTERNATIVE INSTALLATION METHODS
TO USE WHEN INSTALLING THE OCTOPUS-550
CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO "HANG"

Applies to Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP; QNX;
other operating systems that employ a change detection
interrupt in their installation routines.

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Problem:

Occasionally a combination of operating system and hardware will
cause a computer to appear to "lock up" when an Octopus-550 board
is being installed. This problem is caused by interaction between
the operating system's installation routine and specific componentry
on some builds of the Octopus-550. Basically, during installation
a system interrupt is created that is not subsequently cleared,
and the computer's CPU receives no real time to service application
programs, as it is dedicated to perpetually servicing the interrupt
request.

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Solution:

A number of solutions exist.

1)	Retry the installation by rebooting the computer. This
action may be sufficient to resolve the issue, which generally
will not then recur.

2)	If the solution in 1) does not lead to a successful
installation, retry the installation with the Octopus-550's
cable attached to the board. This should resolve the problem in
the large majority of cases where solution 1) does not work.

3)	Alternatively, the interrupt can be cleared while the
computer is locked up by momentarily shorting pins 1 and 4 on
the port connector while the computer is locked up. A paper clip
will do nicely for this job. The port typically responsible is
port 7. This action will to resolve the issue, which generally will
not then recur when the board is operating after installation is
completed.

Connecting pins other than 1 and 4 while shorting these two pins
will not result in harm to the system.

The numbering of the pins can be determined by looking closely
into the DB-9 connector, where small numbers are molded into
the plastic beside the pins themselves.

4) Finally, the interrupt can be cleared by attaching a
serial device to the line in question, and then rebooting the
system.

System builders and others installing large numbers of Octopus-550
boards should contact Lava Technical Support for more details.

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Lava Technical Support
E-mail: tech@lavalink.com