Toshiba NB200-SP2904R User Guide 1 - Page 136

A plan of action, Resolving hardware conflicts on your own

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136 If Something Goes Wrong Resolving a hardware conflict A plan of action The smooth operation of the system depends on the interaction of all devices, programs, and features. If the system or one of its attached devices is not working, resolving the problem can be timeconsuming and frustrating. The recommended procedure for getting multiple devices to work together is to add and set up one device at a time. After you add each device, test it to make sure it and all previously connected devices work. The device most recently connected to the system is the one most likely to be causing a hardware conflict. Resolving hardware conflicts on your own Computer components need resources to accomplish a task. A device, such as a disk drive, needs a channel to the computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU). It also needs a direct channel to the computer's memory to store information as it works. These channels of communication are commonly referred to as system resources. Interrupt Request Channel The channel to the CPU is called an Interrupt Request (IRQ) because it interrupts what the processor is doing and requests some of the processor's time. If two or more devices use the same IRQ, the processor does not know which device is asking for attention. This causes a hardware conflict. Direct Memory Access The data required by a device is stored in a specific place or address in memory called the Direct Memory Access (DMA). The DMA provides a dedicated channel for adapter cards to bypass the microprocessor and access memory directly. If two or more devices use the same DMA, the data required by one device overwrites the data required by the other, causing a hardware conflict. Plug and Play With Plug and Play and the operating system, avoiding hardware conflicts is easy. Plug and Play is a computer standard that helps the system BIOS (basic input/output system) and the operating system to automatically assign system resources to Plug and Playcompliant devices. In theory, if every device connected to the computer is Plug and Play-compliant, no two devices will compete for the same system resources. Plug in the device and turn on your

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136
If Something Goes Wrong
Resolving a hardware conflict
A plan of action
The smooth operation of the system depends on the interaction of
all devices, programs, and features. If the system or one of its
attached devices is not working, resolving the problem can be time-
consuming and frustrating.
The recommended procedure for getting multiple devices to work
together is to add and set up one device at a time. After you add
each device, test it to make sure it and all previously connected
devices work.
The device most recently connected to the system is the one most
likely to be causing a hardware conflict.
Resolving hardware conflicts on your own
Computer components need resources to accomplish a task. A
device, such as a disk drive, needs a channel to the computer’s
Central Processing Unit (CPU). It also needs a direct channel to the
computer’s memory to store information as it works. These
channels of communication are commonly referred to as system
resources.
Interrupt Request Channel
The channel to the CPU is called an Interrupt Request (IRQ)
because it interrupts what the processor is doing and requests some
of the processor’s time. If two or more devices use the same IRQ,
the processor does not know which device is asking for attention.
This causes a hardware conflict.
Direct Memory Access
The data required by a device is stored in a specific place or address
in memory called the Direct Memory Access (DMA). The DMA
provides a dedicated channel for adapter cards to bypass the
microprocessor and access memory directly. If two or more devices
use the same DMA, the data required by one device overwrites the
data required by the other, causing a hardware conflict.
Plug and Play
With Plug and Play and the operating system, avoiding hardware
conflicts is easy. Plug and Play is a computer standard that helps the
system BIOS (basic input/output system) and the operating system
to automatically assign system resources to Plug and Play-
compliant devices. In theory, if every device connected to the
computer is Plug and Play-compliant, no two devices will compete
for the same system resources. Plug in the device and turn on your