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    MCP Installation Troubleshooting: Lockups and Hangs

    Contents:

    • MICROSOFT EXCEL #NUM! OR #!* AND GARBAGE IN CELLS
    • MICROSOFT EXCEL GENERAL PROTECTION #!FPU 000:0000
    • 386 XENIX/UNIX AND THE INTEL387 DX
    • CAD PROGRAM LOCKUPS
    • J.K. LASSER'S YOUR 1990 INCOME TAX
    • RELATIONAL SOFTWARE: SPSS/PC
    • SOFTWARE CAROUSEL PATCH FOR RARE INTEL387 DX ERROR
    • 386 XENIX/UNIX AND THE INTEL387 DX MATH COPROCESSOR
    • IBM PS/2 MODEL 80 & INTEL387 DX MCP & INTERMITTENT LOCKUPS
    • INTEL287 XL NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY 386-BASED COMPUTERS
    
    

    MICROSOFT EXCEL #NUM! OR #!* AND GARBAGE IN CELLS

    
       Document # 3066.01
    
    
    
       Symptom
    
        When you install an Intel387 DX Math Coprocessor, the system passes
    
       Intel Diagnostics, but while the system is running Excel, #NUM! or #!*
    
       and garbage appears in cells and system locks up.
    
    
    
       Solution
    
       Download WIN87DLL.EXE available through Intel's online services and
    
       install it.
    
    
    
    

    MICROSOFT EXCEL GENERAL PROTECTION #!FPU 000:0000

    
       Document # 3066.02
    
    
    
       Symptom
    
        When you install Intel387 DX Math Coprocessor, the system passes Intel
    
       Diagnostics, but while the system is running Excel, GENERAL PROTECTION
    
       #!FPU 000:0000 error message appears and system locks up.
    
    
    
       Solution
    
       Download WIN87DLL.EXE available through Intel's online services and
    
       install it.
    
    
    
    

    386 XENIX/UNIX AND THE INTEL387 DX

    
       When 386 versions of Xenix or other Unix implementations run on a
    
       computer containing the Intel387 DX Math Coprocessor, the computer locks
    
       up under certain conditions.  The problem won't occur in the DOS
    
       environment. For the lock up to occur, all of the following must happen
    
       simultaneously.
    
    
    
         *  Demand page virtual memory must be active.
    
    
    
         *  An Intel387 DX must be installed and in use.
    
    
    
         *  DMA (Direct Memory Access) must occur.
    
    
    
         *  The Intel386 DX must be in a wait state.
    
    
    
       When all these conditions are true at the same instant, the Intel386 DX
    
       ends up waiting for the Intel387 DX and vice versa.  Both processors
    
       continue waiting for each other indefinitely.  The problem lies within
    
       certain versions the Intel386 DX, not with the Intel387 DX.
    
    
    
       Intel published suggested work arounds for this lock up situation
    
       immediately after the problem was discovered to inform its OEM
    
       customers.  At that point, it became the responsibility of each
    
       manufacturer to implement a fix in their hardware or software product. 
    
       Some manufacturers, like Compaq and IBM, responded accordingly by
    
       modifying their system boards to prevent these lock ups from occurring.
    
    
    
       The lock up problem is present only in the B Stepping version of the
    
    
    
       Intel386 DX and not the later D Stepping version.  You can identify the
    
       D Stepping version of the Intel386 DX by the letters DX in the part
    
       number,  for example Intel386 DX-20. A hardware solution is available
    
       from Bell Technologies Inc. of Fremont, CA.  The Math Adaptor is a small
    
       board that  plugs into the 80386 socket on the system board.
    
    
    
       If you need more information, contact your computer or software
    
       manufacturer to see how they have chosen to deal with this problem.
    
    
    
       Because of this problem, SCO Xenix 386 rel2.2.2 does not support the
    
       Intel387 DX. 
    
    
    
    

    CAD PROGRAM LOCKUPS

    
       An incorrect computer configuration can cause certain programs to lockup
    
       while others work fine.  You must make sure that the computer's SETUP
    
       and/or switch settings correctly indicate the presence of a Math
    
       Coprocessor.
    
    
    
       (Field report)  A report indicated that in a computer with the Intel
    
       Inboard 386/AT and Intel387 DX Math Coprocessor, if Math Coprocessor
    
       switch was set wrong, Autocad ran correctly,  but Digicad was
    
       unsuccessful.
    
    
    
    

    J.K. LASSER'S YOUR 1990 INCOME TAX

    
       Simon & Schuster Software reports the program J.K. Lasser's Your 1990
    
       Income Tax can cause a computer to lock up when a math coprocessor is
    
       present.  Removing the math coprocessor may prevent the lockup.
    
    
    
    

    RELATIONAL SOFTWARE: SPSS/PC

    
       This program uses a math coprocessor, but may hang when checking for
    
       coprocessor.  A fix is available from SPSS tech support.
    
    
    
       Corel Draw does not utilize a math coprocessor, it will not interfere,
    
       but it provides no benefit either.
    
    
    
    

    SOFTWARE CAROUSEL PATCH FOR RARE INTEL387 DX ERROR

    
       A rare error may occur after you install an Intel387 DX and you use
    
       Carousel by SoftLogic Solutions. The system locks after the program
    
       initializes. To correct the problem, use the following fix submitted by
    
       SoftLogic Solutions Tech Support.  To implement this fix, enter the
    
       following text at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
         DEBUG CAROUSEL.PGM
    
            -E 0E85 CD 77 86 09 47 CE 08 0E 8F TURN>
    
            -E 6280 5F 04 47 TURN>
    
            -E 6285 4C 7B 09 TURN>
    
            -E 62A3 73 DD A1 42 F9 TURN>
    
            -E 6219 ED TURN>
    
            -W RETURN>
    
            -Q RETURN>
    
    
    
         This routine creates a .COM file that you then need to execute prior
    
    
    
            to running Carousel.
    
    
    
    

    386 XENIX/UNIX AND THE INTEL387 DX MATH COPROCESSOR

    
       When 386 versions of Xenix or Unix run on a computer containing an
    
       Intel387 DX Math Coprocessor, the computer can lockup intermittently.
    
    
    
    

    IBM PS/2 MODEL 80 & INTEL387 DX MCP & INTERMITTENT LOCKUPS

    
       The IBM PS/2 Model 8580 may hang when you install an Intel387 DX. All
    
       8580 models can be affected. The computer only hangs when an application
    
       is using the functions of the math coprocessor, such as the
    
       transcendental functions.  It usually occurs with Computer Aided Design
    
       software and engineering software packages. If the system is having this
    
       problem and does not have a system board part number 33F8416 or 33F8415,
    
       contact your local IBM dealer for a motherboard replacement.
    
    
    
    

    INTEL287 XL NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ANY 386-BASED COMPUTERS

    
       Intel 287XL Math Coprocessor is not compatible with any 386-based
    
       systems. Because the Intel287 XL utilizes Intel387 technology, some
    
       systems recognize it as an Intel387 Math Coprocessor. Intel287 math
    
       coprocessors process only 16 bit data, while Intel387 math coprocessors
    
       process 16 and 32 bit data. If the operating software is 32 bit, the
    
       system tries to send the Intel287 XL 32 bit data, and the system locks.
    
       Replacing the Intel287 XL with a 287-10 (which should not be mistaken by
    
       the system as an Intel387 math coprocessor) allows the system to operate
    
       normally.
    
    

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