"New" build - Processor Issue?

Hi, I'm back after a while away....

I finally got all the parts to replace my old Dell XPS that had a motherboard failure on Dec 27. Now that everything is put together, I can't load any operating system.

Currently, Windows XP SP2 is installed on the hard drive in the tower, but without prior knowledge, I'm now come to find out that the Processor I bought (Pentium 4 630 [3.0 GHz 2MB L3 cache] Prescott core) has issues with Windows XP SP2. Namely, some versions of the processor don't have the right microcode to handle SP2. My motherboard (an ECS 848P-A7 v1.0) supposedly has the latest BIOS update - 1.0d - to resolve issues like this, but SP2 will not load giving a 0x7F stop code.

My issue continues to grow - the system won't even boot off of a Windows 2000 Pro, Windows XP Pro SP1, Windows XP Home SP1a, Windows XP Pro SP2, Knoppix 4.02, or Fedora 7 CDs. The Windows CDs have failed either just before or just after the Setup is inspecting your hardware configuration message, except for a Windows XP SP2 CD which fails just before the first screen of text - when it says Setup is starting Windows, the Fedora CD fails after the boot options menu, and the Knoppix CD fails just after entering options at the boot: prompt. The system then reboots or just sits there, without moving on. Most DOS based boot disks load and work fine (CD or floppy).

Memtest86+ completed 3 full passes with no errors; I stopped it at that point.

System Specs:
Pentium 4 630 Prescott 3.0 GHz w/ 2MB L3 cache
ECS 848P-A7 v1.0 motherboard - BIOS version 1.0d
200 GB Maxtor hard drive - reused
80 GB WD hard drive - reused
DVD-DL burner - reused
1 GB Corsair Value Select PC3200 memory - reused
Mitsumi floppy drive - temporary

*Anything with reused next to it came from the Dell XPS that had motherboard failure

Thanks for your help

 

After deleting the Windows XP partition, now the Windows 2000 CD will finish loading the setup files to begin the install process, but then it reboots or gives a blue screen - both blue screens are 0x7F errors, with one having a 1st parameter of 0x08 and 0x0F - before the text appears to give you the option to install.

The Fedora 7 CD now attempts to load, but then has a Kernel Panic occur and can't even get to the graphical portion of setup.

It still occasionally reboots at will. It does this even with Hyper Threading disabled.

 

Hello Noahawk long time no speak,

What happens if you toggle the current state of the execute disabled bit in BIOS?

enter bios>advanced options>CPU features>executedisabledbit

 

Hi, yeah, I haven't been on MG's for a while, as my main PC blew up, then I went around the Western Hemisphere for a month...

After flipping the execute disabled bit to Enabled, the Win XP Pro SP1 disk gets to the point of starting Windows setup, then it reboots - this is an improvement, but still doesn't let me install anything. Windows 2000 blue screened with the same 0x7F error.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

DEP support was not introduced to Windows until SP2.

 

Also in BIOS features

limitcpuID max val = disabled for XP
limitcpuID max val = enabled for other OS

L3 Cache should be enabled

 

I don't have an option for L3 Cache, I see where it is located via a picture in the manual, but it is not an option I can access (or even have displayed to me).

Changing the cpuID max val for 2000 doesn't change the error.

 

This is a potential MS fix, but it only helps me if I can install Windows XP SP1 first :/

I attempted to make the boot floppy with the Intel program on it, but the disk just wouldn't boot for some reason. However, it wouldn't surprise me if I've got one of the lucky processors at this point.

If necessary, I'll consider getting another motherboard - this GA-8I848P775-G by Gigabyte looks good - but I'd like to get this one working first, if possible. The Gigabyte one supports everything currently in this computer that doesn't work, and would let me use more of the memory I've got here. Only problem is that I can't seem to find the mobo at most online stores Gigabyte is sold through, and eBay doesn't seem to have it either.

 

This is obviously a tough one (you like those don't you?)

You could try copying everything to hard drive and installing from there or making the famous Microsoft set of XP installation floppies.

I'm not sure a new motherboard will help isn't it the processor causing the difficulty?

I can't see any more obvious settings in the bIOS but there are several scattered about, it may pay to review them, especially if you have a paper copy to flick back and fore through.

Let us know how you get on.

 

If it's not a tough problem, I can usually figure it out myself. I try everything I can think of, and then if it doesn't fix it, I call for help...

I've only had to copy install files to the hard drive once before, and it did work fine after that. I don't know though, that using the boot floppies would make much difference, because they would still attempt to load everything the CD does on boot, correct? If the CD fails before allowing any keyboard input, the floppy would do the same (but with 5 less insert and remove actions)?

I believe the issue is with the microcode that needs to be added to the processor at boot time - other motherboard should have this issue resolved, but apparently this motherboard with a Prescott processor have issues getting that microcode added. I can't update the BIOS because the flash program says the BIOS file from ECS is the wrong size!

I've got a paper copy here, as well as the PDF version on my desktop, so that I can agonize over this more

I'll report back tonight or tomorrow, depending on how busy I get.

 

Attempting to copy the files from CD to hard drive is more difficult than it seems - I have a Plextor DVD drive, and it won't accept the generic Win98 CD drivers, so I need to find a file named aspimanager.sys. Of course, I'm unable to locate that at this time. It's always something, lol...

 

I've gone mad... I haven't got a Plextor DVD drive, my parents do.

I finally got the CD drive to be recognized by DOS. I'm currently copying the files from the XP SP1a CD to the hard drive, will attempt installing from this tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

Ok, now I've started to run the XP SP1 setup from hard disk. But now it has been sitting on "Setup is loading files (Windows Executive)" for at least an hour now. This is one of the first files needed for setup, it got to this shortly after asking for RAID drivers or Automated System Recovery.

I'm going to let it sit there for a while, but I don't know how long this should be taking. If nothing else, it's burning in the processor, lol. I attempted to use smartdrv.exe to make things go faster, but then XP setup complained that it ran ouf of memory and couldn't continue, therefore it took over an hour to copy files from cd to hdd and about 40 min for setup to copy the temp files it needed....

Any ideas? What about trying 98SE or 2000?

 

I managed to get Win98 SE installed, but it would only work for about 10 seconds, before it shut itself down or the screen froze. I know 98 isn't nearly that bad, so I tried XP Pro again. It would reboot during the GUI portion of setup, generally after asking for the computer name or during the Configuring Network portion. Therefore it kept on restarting the setup program and never getting further.

Linux still does not even want to boot, even Live CDs. I'm thinking that it would be a processor issue now. Further reading of the motherboard manual says that EVERY Prescott the motherboard supports should have an option for L3 cache. Mine does not, so I think there is a fault in the processor, which when that fault is reached, the system reboots or freezes.

If the processor is at fault, then that would explain the rebooting, the missing BIOS options, and why if the processor is supported at my BIOS version, I still have issues. I think, anyway.

studiot, do you, or anyone else think that I'm right in that it's the processor? I might still be able to return it, so the sooner I find out, the better.

 

Yes but so could a motherboard/ BIOS fault.

As you note all versions of the BIOS on that board should support the L3 cache, which is on die on Prestcott processors.
The board doesn't have a switch for using the 64T mode of the processor for 64 bit operating systems.
My tables have SL7Z9 as the SL number for the CPU, is it marked thus?

I don't know if MG have any CPU exercisers that could check the CPU, the only one I have (PC Check) boots from DR Dos on floppy or memstick. Can Sandra do it?

Do you have any substitutions available i.e another non L3 processor to test the board and another board to test the processor.

If you bought the processor locally, perhaps they will help test it?

 

If it were a mobo issue, then would that also explain not being able to update the BIOS?

I don't have a Socket T mobo or processor to test with, and I bought them online. It's been 20 - 30 days now, and returns may be questionable.

I was looking for my copy of the Ultimate Boot CD, but I can't seem to locate it now. Never used Sandra, but can look it.

Based on web searches, I should have a SL7Z9 processor, but I imagine that would be on the top of the processor itself? It was definitely a 3.0GHz Prescott Socket T/775, w/ 2MB cache, and 800 MHz FSB.

 

Yeah it's printed on the module somewhere. You often have to angle them to the light to see the writing.

 

The heatsink/fan combo is a pain to put back on, but if I have to RMA the mobo anyway, then it has to be done and I can check then, unless you've got a need for it right now.

I did manage to get a version of Intel's processor ID utility to run. It confirmed that I do have a processor that doesn't like standard XP SP2. Generally revision 7 and less has issues, I have revision 7 of the Prescott.

I can RMA the mobo for almost a year yet, with little to no cost on my part, so I'd like your opinion. At least one person locally I asked about it, seems to think it's a mobo issue.

 

Been thinking. Don't know how you memory is distributed, but you have an 800 FSB processor. You can only use PC3200 memory in dual channel mode to feed this beast, so you must have a matched pair of memory modules. A single module won't cut the mustard.

Needless to say they don't make this clear in the manual. PC3200 is the stared upper limit of this motherboard.

Second thought.

With Slot T motherboards there are some surface mount resistors fitted directly under the processor. These can be damaged during fitting the processor itself (warning in manual). They can also be damaged if an incompatible heatsink/cooler is fitted to the
processor as Slot T is designed to deliver increased clamping force over lever based sockets to improve thermal transfer. But the ehatsink must distribute this force correctly.

Your motherboard must be recognising (sort of) the Prescott otherwise the processor options would not be available. However it is strange that the L3 cache is not shown. This suggests it is only recognising a 1M cache 500 series processor. This makes checking the SL number useful if not important.

I think the problem may be incompatibility between this processor and the motherboard, not a fault with either.

 

Memory isn't an issue, as it is 2 - 512MB sticks of identical PC3200 RAM (a dual channel kit from Corsair). Actually, I have 2 different sets like that, both result in the same issue I've had for a while.

I looked before fitting the heatsink, and it looked like nothing would be hit, but my screwdriver did slide off of the mounting pins, so it's possible.... However, I did specifically order a Socket T heatsink/fan combo, so I would hope that it would work just fine. Here is the heatsink/fan I have. I realize that the fan I ordered is less than what the manual recommends, but that shouldn't make much of a difference, as not only does the system occasionally stay on for hours, but I set the temp controls in the BIOS very conservatively, just incase the fan couldn't handle the heat. The CPU is around 40C at boot time, and hits about 45 - 47C max, even when installing operating systems.

I did also verify that this processor is supported by my motherboard before ordering it, it is on the list here from the manufacturer. This is the processor I ordered. I have a version 1.0 board, and it says the BIOS version is 1.0d, which matches the link. I ordered the Intel Pentium 4 630, which is the 6th one down.

I have some days off this week, so maybe I can take it apart and look for damage and the SL #, but I think that is the number that was on it - I had wondered what that weird number meant, but I also wanted to see if it would work, so that thought left pretty quickly. Also want to correct myself, I have a Revision 0 of this processor, not the revision 7 I stated above.

 

Maybe when I get a chance, I'll pop the CPU out and take a look, and if it matches the SL#, should I then go ahead and RMA the motherboard?

 

Yes I think I would at this stage.

 

Ok, will contact Newegg, see if they have any other ideas, and if not, I'll check the processor SL#, and then RMA it.

Thanks for your help, I'll let you know how things go.

 

Ok, time for an update.

I recently installed a new ASUS P5KPL-VM motherboard with 2x 1GB sticks of Corsair RAM. I still get weird issues, such as random reboots, yet the hardware all checks out fine.

I do believe there was an issue with the ECS motherboard, as now my processor reads as Revision 5, on the ECS board it was revision 0. Never knew I could upgrade the processor by upgrading the motherboard

I recently found a forum thread, not sure where anymore, but it said that random things like that, and getting Linux Machine Check Exception 0000000...04 errors could be an overheating issue. If the processor gets too hot, it has too many overactive electrons and freaks out. So if flashing my BIOS doesn't resolve the issue - and I doubt it will - then I'll order a new heatsink/fan that actually meets the CPU's requirements. Now that it's getting warmer here, heat will be more of an issue.

Hopefully this will resolve the issue...

 

Interesting.

 

I can't even get the BIOS to recognize the updated BIOS ROM is on the floppy disk I'm using, so I'll probably just order the fan here when I get time. Here's a link to what I'm going to order.

 

Ok update time.

I pointed a small fan at the CPU to see if it was a heat issue - no change in things. So I didn't order a new HSF combo. Since about the only hardware that hasn't changed now is the CPU or PSU, I am leaning towards a new PSU. An xclio Stablepower 460W PSU is what I'm considering. Thoughts?

This PC is really taking more time than I want to spend on it...

 

Plugged in the new power supply, still gives the same errors and issues. Well, I guess that points to a processor fault then.

Would bent pins on a mobo potientially damage a processor? I imagine it would be possible and nearly impossible to detect, so I guess that's what I've got

 

Tried the new PSU, same issue. Looks like it is probably going back, but I do like this PSU, so I may just keep it as a spare, as I have no spare, and it is a 20+4, so it will work for any microATX or standard ATX mobo.

I guess it just leaves the CPU at fault. I'll be getting an Allendale Core 2 Duo 2200 to replace this Prescott Pentium 4 630.

 

Well, with the new CPU, I now have a working PC that has not given me any issues yet Took long enough, but I guess the mobo and CPU had issues. The mobo got bent pins at one point, and the CPU didn't like either mobo even though it was supported on both. Now I have a dual core and love it... Video transcoding goes about 20% faster

 

Man finally conquers machine - Well done.

:major

 

Aye, sometimes I think they are smarter than people...

Thanks for the help~

Happy Memorial Day