Differential encoder hard crashes the PC MESA7i77

ok, I used the setpci command, seems to have worked, I no longer get a disabled on the lspci command:
 

however, the very next thing I do is try to run mesaflash, and again it cannot find the card: 


I have adjusted all the PCI setting I could find in BIOS, no luck there either. The motherboard does not have PCIe jumpers, checked that as well. Everything was set to GEN1 just the same

I wonder if somehow the motherboard was damaged in some way at the first fault.
Because this is quite odd behaviour.

I wonder if you would get the same hard crash fault if the new 6I25 had the correct firmware?

To be clear, i am not hard crashing anymore after installing a new 6i25 that i got last week. I am not sure what firmware is on either board.

I could try another motherboard...just a ton of work. what does the w3 jumper do on the 6i25?
i may try going back to breakout power enabled on the 6i25. It didnt like the differential encoders when I did that, but at least i was getting things through the 7i77.

The whole encoder thing suggests a  5V power issue.
(short or mis-connection)

The hard crash may only happen when LinuxCNC fully starts meaning the correct firmware is installed

W3 sets the I/O pin 5V tolerance option, it should be left on the defauly "UP" position

moved to a different PCI slot, no change in behavior
moved to enable breakout power (W1, W2 up) no change in behavior
tried lspci -vv, didnt find the board. Sucessfully enabled board with setpci, then lspci confirmed board was not disabled.
...tried mesaflash, and mesaflash still returns no 5i25 board found.
did not mess with W3 on the 6i25

EDIT: i have completely removed the encoders from the 7i77 and later removed the 7i77 from the 6i25 in an effort to at least see if the 6i25 could be found.
I would also like to point out that if I connect the 7i77 i am in fact getting 5v from the 6i25 (if enabled breakout power) ...i probed with a multimeter (on the 7i77) the encoder TB and also probed on TB1. So I would say the 5v power seems to be there...


I am beginning to think i have a problem. I do have an ethernet port. should i consider a 7i97? Or i might be money ahead trying a whole new PC at this point.

Was this a fully working system before you added the MPG?