Re: Still RTL8139 Problems (combination with ps2 mouses)

[Dirk von Suchodoletz <dirk@goe.net>]

On Wed, 8 Dec 1999, Ken Yap wrote:

> 
> >In all cases I use a newer AWARD bios (4.51), there is no chance to
> >disable the mouse...
> 
> How about if you disconnect the mouse while booting and connect it only
> after booting? This is not practical for daily use of course, it's just
> to prove a theory.

Hm, I plug in the mouse, short after the tftp process is started, the
kernel detects it, but it seems not to work then, tried multiple times
...
If I plug in the mouse while BIOS bootup and remove it before dhcp starts,
the I have the problem described before (tftp never starts to transfer
anything).
 
> >>This experiment to see if the BIOS is doing something special in the
> >>presence of a mouse. I suspect it's loading some code or data at the
> >>top of 640k, which would upset Etherboot's stack.
> >
> >I'm still a little confused, how the improvement came from out of version
> >4.2.9 to 4.2.10 and why it isn't able to tftp ...
> 
> I think it was random. It could have just as easily become worse if the
> wrong part of the stack was destroyed.
> 
> What about other models of NICs, do they have the same problem? If they
> do then it's a strong possibility that the BIOS is using some memory
> just under 640k.

Hm, I tried a NE2000-PCI clone (rtl8029) with 4.2.9 etherboot, no problem
with ps2 mouse ... tftp starts and systems works fine. Other NICs were not
at hand.

Thank you!

Ciao,
	Dirk

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