Mediator 1200 - Not working consistently

[Megatron-UK]

My Mediator 1200 has never worked consistently - I had a S3 Virge working at one point, but it was never reliable enough to even to basic workbench tasks like copying files or moving windows around (random screen corruption - missing text etc).

In addition scanpci and pciinfo don't seem to bring back correct information - scanpci shows some information right at the start, but then scrolls off the shell window thousands and thousands of lines of pci address numbers. pciinfo lists 4 or 5 pci devices attached, (I only have a Voodoo 3 at the moment), but no device information (just hex numbers in the manufacturer / device type / device id fields).

I've tried wiggling it, spacing the board away from the 1200, keeping the adaptor pressed tightly by pulling the accelerator towards the 1200 while it is running, changing the slot which the voodoo cards (I've tried both a 2000 and a 3000). Sometimes pci.library finds it, sometimes it doesn't - those times it does, I get the behaviour listed above.

Does anyone have any (useful!) suggestions before I take it out and resign myself to the fact that I can't get it working?

 

[johnim]

hi are you using the latest drivers. Have you checked the mach chips havent moved or are nt seated remove and reseat. And have you checked and cleaned your slot contacts on cards and mobo. Also jumpers set right. Is this orgional mediator or lt z4 sx or tx. Also just noticed your overclocked blizzard is it ok at stock settings

 

[abraXXious]

This is not what you want to hear but..... live with it. I have learnt the hard way that Mediators are terrible. The hardware itself is not bad, but the software is VERY buggy and unstable.

I cannot even get a Sound card to work with mine - no one seems to know why.

 

[Megatron-UK]

It's the original 4-slot 1200 - with the AT power connector.

Jumpers are set to 8mb / config open / wait states open.

I've been through every combination of software and drivers I can find - to be honest, it's probably a mess right now - the only thing I haven't tried is the pci.library from December (I gave up trying to get this to work before the end of last year). What concerns me the most is that the information shown by pciinfo and scanpci is just not correct - it shows a random selection of pci devices, none of which have vendor or device names, just hex.

I've tried my Virge, Voodoo 2000 and Voodoo 3000 in each of the 4 slots; it doesn't appear to make any difference.

I'll try a clean install of WB3.1 from scratch, and then incrementally add the drivers - but I'm honestly coming to the conclusion it's either faulty in some way, or just plain shoddy. I've never had so much trouble getting a piece of hardware to work before.

 

[jvdbossc]

This is not what you want to hear but..... live with it. I have learnt the hard way that Mediators are terrible. The hardware itself is not bad, but the software is VERY buggy and unstable.

I cannot even get a Sound card to work with mine - no one seems to know why.

You need to have the latest mach chip I was told, sold by them.

---------- Post added at 07:57 ---------- Previous post was at 07:55 ----------

I would first go for Johnim suggestions, and then look at the software part, clean install, if 060 using different libraries then now..

 

[Megatron-UK]

Yep, all of the pci cards, the accelerator and the Mediator 'bridge' adaptor are all clean - the clock on the Blizzard is socketed so I've previously tested and there's no difference to operation at 60MHz.

If I could find one cheap, I might be tempted to try a later 1200SX or TX - but I'm coming round to the opinion that it's more trouble than it's worth.

I'll give it one more try with a clean install - no additional crud - with just the mediator files and the latest pci library. If that doesn't work, it's getting removed.

 

[johnim]

if after your clean install still no joy i would be willing 2 try it for you send the mediator and cards to me and will check in mine and on your mediator and return with findings as i have the same version and working fine see my sig. John

 

[abraXXious]

I have the latest mach chip! Well, I must have. The Mediator is only 12 months old - puechased from Elbox. It is marked Mediator Mk II 2010.... so surely it must have the latest Mach chip?

BTW - my system IS an 060.... does this mean I have to use some different libs? Different to what is on the MM CD?

 

[strim]

In addition scanpci and pciinfo don't seem to bring back correct information - scanpci shows some information right at the start, but then scrolls off the shell window thousands and thousands of lines of pci address numbers. pciinfo lists 4 or 5 pci devices attached, (I only have a Voodoo 3 at the moment), but no device information (just hex numbers in the manufacturer / device type / device id fields).

Ah, I've been there. Probably one of the Machs is not contacting with PLCC socket. Or socket is broken. Or there's a cold solder somewhere. Or A1200-Mediator-Turbo passthrough is damaged.

My Mediator had the exact same problem you are describing. I've sent it back to Elbox, because I couldn't get it to work. Their support said that there was no problem at all with the hardware, but they've exchanged the Machs for a different set. Then... after some three months I've received it. Guess what, now it works . Btw. they never answer my emails, I had to phone them.

 

[wurzel]

In addition scanpci and pciinfo don't seem to bring back correct information - scanpci shows some information right at the start, but then scrolls off the shell window thousands and thousands of lines of pci address numbers. pciinfo lists 4 or 5 pci devices attached, (I only have a Voodoo 3 at the moment), but no device information (just hex numbers in the manufacturer / device type / device id fields).

Ah, I've been there. Probably one of the Machs is not contacting with PLCC socket. Or socket is broken. Or there's a cold solder somewhere. Or A1200-Mediator-Turbo passthrough is damaged.

QUOTE]

Yes, from what you are decribing, it sounds very much like a not very good connection.

I found that unless the graphics card is pushed very tightly home, it only gives a partial connection and gives the results you are seeing.

Firstly, use ALL the latest drivers, not only some. They work together, I belive.

Then, make sure ALL the graphic-sound-internet-cards/memory/accelerators and most impotrantly, the mediator card are all pushed fully home.

It is fiddly but, when it works, it works well Trust me, I`ve been using mine a few years now

 

[jvdbossc]

I have the latest mach chip! Well, I must have. The Mediator is only 12 months old - puechased from Elbox. It is marked Mediator Mk II 2010.... so surely it must have the latest Mach chip?

BTW - my system IS an 060.... does this mean I have to use some different libs? Different to what is on the MM CD?

I bought about a year ago a mediator and for my a4000d old mach chips and very old software where delivered. I am sorry I do not know anything about the A12000 mediators to be honest.

I meant that the 060 libs might render an unstable mediator, so it's good to swap a few versions. (especialy for the other user)

 

[abraXXious]

Hey there Wurzel,

dont want to hijack the thread... but are you running a sound card in your Mediator? The reason I ask is I cannot for the life of me get a sound card to work in my Mediator system.

 

[wurzel]

Hey there Wurzel,

dont want to hijack the thread... but are you running a sound card in your Mediator? The reason I ask is I cannot for the life of me get a sound card to work in my Mediator system.

Actually, I haven`t been able to get a sound card working either, that`s my only problem