Posted to:  "microsoft.public.win98.setup", "...win98.comm.modem" 10/31/03
Subject:  "PCI - IRQ Placeholder"

I can't get rid of "IRQ Placeholder for PCI" at IRQ 11.
   I run "System Information" (Microsoft 4.10) - under "Hardware Resouces / IRQs", IRQ 11 is ALWAYS used by "IRQ Holder for PCI Steering".  I can't get rid of this, and since it shares IRQ 11 with "U.S. Robotics 56K Voice PCI" Modem (I can't change it's IRQ Setting), I'm concerned that this IRQ Sharing is slowing down my Modem.
   Yesterday I did "Control Panel / System / Device Manager";  Under "System devices" I found a "PCI Placeholder" entry and Removed it - it's not there now.   Running "Regedit", "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / Enum / PCI / IRQHOLDER", there's a "IRQ0B" Folder (IRQ 11?) that I Deleted, later Renamed to "IRQ15", but after Restart, System Info. shows IRQ Placeholder is Still at 11.
   How do I GET RID OF PCI's IRQ PLACEHOLDER?


From:  "Jeff Richards" <JRichards@msn.com.au> Sent:  10/31/2003 3:30:17 PM

   IRQ sharing with the PCI placeholder is not going to slow down the modem. If you really do want to remove it (which is not recommended) untick the Use IRQ Steering entry in the IRQ Steering tab of the PCI bus device properties in Device Manager. You should set everything else you have changed back to how it was.

Jeff Richards MS MVP W95/W98--


 From:  "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> Sent:  10/31/2003 3:26:28 PM 
Richard G. Harper (rgharper@email.com) MVP Win9x

   You DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT.
This entry simply means that the IRQ in question is available to be shared by another device if necessary.


<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message:
   Yes, THANK YOU, I understand I probably shouldn't "GET RID OF IT".  But this PCI Placeholder SHARES IRQ 11 with my
Modem!  That can't be a good IRQ to Share, Especially with all of Hotmail's Mandatory Scripting & Banner Ads!


 From:  "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> Sent:  10/31/2003 7:26:01 PM 

   Let me see if I can rephrase this so you will understand:

   The "IRQ Holder for PCI Steering" is simply a flag that is set by Device Manager to indicate that a particular IRQ can be shared if it needs to be shared.  It  is not an actual device or driver, and it does have any effect on performance.  It only indicates that, IF IT IS EVER NEEDED, IT COULD BE SHARED.  That's all.

   It's like a freeway exit sign.  Just because the sign says, "Detroit, this exit" doesn't mean that you have to take that exit.  If you aren't going to Detroit, you keep on driving.  And if no device needs to share an IRQ, then the flag is ignored.