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you will need to enter the BIOS configuration screen when your computer
first starts up. This is usually done by pressing the Delete key or F1 key
right after the memory test during the boot-up routine. Once you’re in the
BIOS control panel, check to see if you are given the option of manually
configuring your interrupts. Some BIOS’s, such as those from Award, allow
you to choose between “Plug-and-Play” and “legacy ISA” for each interrupt.
If you select “legacy ISA” for the interrupt that is being used by your legacy
card, the BIOS will know not to assign that interrupt to a Plug-and-Play
card.
Unfortunately, some BIOS’s don’t support this capability. If your BIOS is
one of those, don’t worry: You still have another option.
Reserving an IRQ within Windows 95/98 – Legacy ISA
Windows 95/98 also allows you to reserve interrupts for legacy use. In most
cases this works just as well as reserving the IRQ in the BIOS. However,
you may still have problems if you boot up an older version of DOS from a
floppy where Windows 95/98 can’t do its Plug-and-Play magic. To reserve
an IRQ within Windows 95/98 do the following:
1. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel under the Settings
option.
2. Double click on the icon labeled System.
3. Select the tab labeled Device Manager and click the Properties button.
4. Select the tab labeled Reserve Resources and make sure that Interrupt
Request is selected.
5. Click on the Add button and enter the IRQ that is being used by your
legacy card.
6. Windows may prompt you that the IRQ is currently in use by another
device. Click on Details to see which device Windows currently thinks is
using this IRQ. It should be Mona or whatever device is currently
conflicting with your legacy card. If that is the case, go ahead and
reserve the IRQ.
7. When Windows asks, reboot your machine. When Windows restarts your
Plug-and-Play cards will not be assigned to the reserved IRQ.