Hi,
I picked up a GVR Madden that wasn't working. Previous to this, I've successfully upgraded multiple Need For Speed Underground systems. Meaning I replaced the motherboard with Intel DG41TY and GeForce 9600 video card. At this point, I can upgrade NFSU hardware and install the drivers in my sleep. BTW, my NFSU cabs now run silky smooth and reliable.
So, when I came across the non-working Madden, I figured it would be a good next step to increase my GVR repair skillz. Figured it wouldn't be too tough to upgrade it and get it running, since I confirmed the monitor worked, and it's the same pc hardware as NFSU.
So I pulled apart the crappy pc, installed a DG41TY motherboard, and installed the pc back in the Madden cab with all components connected. I then ran the emergency recovery disk and updated the drivers for the DG41TY. Up to this point everything was identical to upgrading NFSU. After reboot, the PC was up and running with the Global VR background. I then ran the Madden install disks. once the Madden install disks were complete, the system rebooted and didn't do jack $h1T. The system boots to a black screen with the windows task bar at the bottom. The task bar disappears after a minute or so, and it just sits there at a black screen.
If I press the windows key on the keyboard, I get the limited start menu, just like on my NFSU system, and can use that to navigate windows. The limited WinXP Embedded OS is running fine and is nice and snappy. I have no windows based errors in any of the logs and hardware looks good. So my guess is that there's something wrong with the Madden install, dongle or something.
What makes this tough, is I'm getting no on screen alerts or errors. NFSU at least shows that the game is starting, checking components, and kicks out some kind of message if something goes wrong, ie. Can't find dongle. On this Madden rig, all I get is blank screen.
So, can anyone tell me:
1) What exactly does a working Madden do at boot?
2) If there's a dongle problem, does it display a message?
3) If I there's a dongle problem, will it not boot and just sit at blank screen?
4) Is there a specific bios setting needed for the paralell port to recognize the dongle (currently I have it set to ECP. Didn't have time to run any other tests, since it was late last night).
5) Is there any dongle version/Madden version link? Meaning does the dongle and software have to be the same version. My dongle is version 1.3 (I think) and Madden is version 1.2 (I think). I'm using the dongle and disks that came with the cab.
6) Has anyone upgraded the motherboard?
7) If someone has upgraded the motherboard, what model did you use?
Thanks in advance. Searching the forums for some info, but can't seem to find any detailed posts about updating Madden.
-John
I picked up a GVR Madden that wasn't working. Previous to this, I've successfully upgraded multiple Need For Speed Underground systems. Meaning I replaced the motherboard with Intel DG41TY and GeForce 9600 video card. At this point, I can upgrade NFSU hardware and install the drivers in my sleep. BTW, my NFSU cabs now run silky smooth and reliable.
So, when I came across the non-working Madden, I figured it would be a good next step to increase my GVR repair skillz. Figured it wouldn't be too tough to upgrade it and get it running, since I confirmed the monitor worked, and it's the same pc hardware as NFSU.
So I pulled apart the crappy pc, installed a DG41TY motherboard, and installed the pc back in the Madden cab with all components connected. I then ran the emergency recovery disk and updated the drivers for the DG41TY. Up to this point everything was identical to upgrading NFSU. After reboot, the PC was up and running with the Global VR background. I then ran the Madden install disks. once the Madden install disks were complete, the system rebooted and didn't do jack $h1T. The system boots to a black screen with the windows task bar at the bottom. The task bar disappears after a minute or so, and it just sits there at a black screen.
If I press the windows key on the keyboard, I get the limited start menu, just like on my NFSU system, and can use that to navigate windows. The limited WinXP Embedded OS is running fine and is nice and snappy. I have no windows based errors in any of the logs and hardware looks good. So my guess is that there's something wrong with the Madden install, dongle or something.
What makes this tough, is I'm getting no on screen alerts or errors. NFSU at least shows that the game is starting, checking components, and kicks out some kind of message if something goes wrong, ie. Can't find dongle. On this Madden rig, all I get is blank screen.
So, can anyone tell me:
1) What exactly does a working Madden do at boot?
2) If there's a dongle problem, does it display a message?
3) If I there's a dongle problem, will it not boot and just sit at blank screen?
4) Is there a specific bios setting needed for the paralell port to recognize the dongle (currently I have it set to ECP. Didn't have time to run any other tests, since it was late last night).
5) Is there any dongle version/Madden version link? Meaning does the dongle and software have to be the same version. My dongle is version 1.3 (I think) and Madden is version 1.2 (I think). I'm using the dongle and disks that came with the cab.
6) Has anyone upgraded the motherboard?
7) If someone has upgraded the motherboard, what model did you use?
Thanks in advance. Searching the forums for some info, but can't seem to find any detailed posts about updating Madden.
-John
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