GAGP halt on safe mode, SSSSLOW boot, root cause

companycmd · #1 (**permalink**) 18-12-06, 01:53 PM

It is the Promise SATA device/card/driver circa 2005.

The Story
------------
After problem experienced while editing video, determined full Wipe and Reinstall needed.

Everythings fine.

Then install all updates to SP 2, problem re-emerged and computer hung on GAGP in safe mode.

I thought the whole recovery was wasted time.

After thinking for a moment and listening, I suspected the hard drive slave/SATA promise thing, because after all this work the master drive HAD to be good.

WinXP
A8VE-Deluxe ASUS motherboard
VIA is present in who knows how many locations; I don't care anymore.
2gig ram
2 gig Athlon machine

Error manifestation:
-----------------------
Black blank screen in middle of editing video shot in/about trip to Turkei.
Suddenly stop, no SOD at all, just a halt and exit to auto restart of machine.
ENORMOUSLY HUGE RESTART TIME and DESKTOP PRESENCE BUT ENORMOUS WAIT TIME FOR CURSOR TO MOVE ON SCREEN. COULD NOT FOR LIFE OF ME GET TO UNINSTALL SOFTWARE IN CONTROL PANEL TO UNINSTALL ANYTHING.

I have no AGP engaged, hooked up whatever.

Have read recently on net that Maxtor/Promise SATA 150 controller and mega huge gig drive is or is going to go BAD due to driver/board conflicts.

I am copying ASUS and Promise on this.

TC

Engine · #2 (**permalink**) 18-12-06, 02:29 PM

Look to Maxtor for firmware updates. Also there have been a number of people who have cured thier issues by replacing Maxtor with Seagate and or Hitachi drives.

SaphireX · #3 (**permalink**) 18-12-06, 09:29 PM

Hi companycmd

Need some more info about your system such as what model PCIe card is installed and what drivers?
Also your Promise card what model and what PCI slot is it in?
Did you install the latest Hyperion Pro 5.09 or 5.10 right after you installed XP?
Did you install the ASUS Probe ? ie the infamous virtual device driver--

Post back with more details.......

Saphire

tcsenter · #4 (**permalink**) 19-12-06, 02:44 AM

Quote:

GAGP halt on safe mode, SSSSLOW boot, root cause

Do you mean that GAGP30KX is the last driver listed (verbose mode) before the system slows nearly to a halt?

The last driver or system file listed has nothing to do with which driver is causing your problem. In some configurations the last file listed while booting in Safe Mode is MUP.SYS. In others, it is VIAAGP1.SYS or GAGP30KX.SYS. This is not a reliable method of concluding which driver or system file is causing your problem.

companycmd · #5 (**permalink**) 20-12-06, 01:31 PM

Yes I realize the last shown driver may not be the one that has anything to do with anything; it's just that i saw a thread that originally thought this was the case and glommed onto it because the other nuances were close to mine as well.

This whole issue is the following, as a schematic, each one not indicative of being more important that the other.

Promise ---- ASUS ------- Maxtor ------- Raid ------- SATA 150 ------ VIA --------

This is has NOTHING to do with booting re: the Raid; the drive was only for video storage and use while doing video editing.

companycmd · #6 (**permalink**) 20-12-06, 01:38 PM

This is not a PCIe card

It is slot x; what difference does that make and by the way, which slot can you tell by looking at it.. the slots aren't numbered. Also, why on earth does it MAKE a difference which slot?

Hyperion yes but will check again.

here is the update I sent to Maxtor; they said nothing about firmware by the way:
===============

This is a Promise controller, in response to your email to me the day after this report was issued (good response time). Microsoft has asked I send a bug report in writing which I will not do; they should provide an online tool for God's sake; there's no excuse for not having an online bug report or bug-related issue tool.

Anyway, check the ViaArena for more information on this SATA situation and halt in safe mode on GAGP__.sys, and update your website FAQ accordingly.

There is apparently a GREAT DEGREE OF DISCOMFORT with SATA drives and RAID in the market place.

I have run the Powermax thing which is how I found out that the drive is partitioned and being seen on the windows desktop; it's just that the drive is showing no contents.

Do you have a suggestion for why the bios is seeing the drive, Windows is mounting the drive, but in Properties is showing "RAW" and all the video footage from our vacations in Egypt two years ago and Turkey last year are now apparently lost?