Help! P4 upgrade problem

[Bobby]

I've had hardware problems on-and-off for some time now. So I took the
plunge today and replaced my Athlon 2000 system with a new Pentium (Prescot)
system.

I bought a new motherboard (Abit), processor (Prescot P4 at 3GHz) and memory
(512Mb of DDR3200).

I managed to install the new mobo, CPU and memory without problems (I've
done a few). But I have problems...

My PC reaches the POST OK and everything checks OK (I can also access the
BIOS) but then nothing.

Windows XP (SP2) tries to boot but the system resets when I reach the
Windows logo.

I tried to boot from CD (to re-install Windows) but the PC hangs when I get
the message: "Boot from CD:".

One strange thing. The first message I get is: "Verifying DMI pool data..."
and some times I get "success" and other times I get nothing before it tries
to boot from CD (and fails). Is this normal?

Help! I've tried everything including resetting the BIOS. I've checked all
of the cables too. Everything seems to be fine - but the damn thing will not
boot.

BTW I have two lights on the mobo - a green one when a power cable is
connected and a red one (according to the manual this simply means that my
system is switched on). Should this LED be red or green?

Thanks in anticipation.

Bobby

 

[ElJerid]

I've had hardware problems on-and-off for some time now. So I took the
plunge today and replaced my Athlon 2000 system with a new Pentium (Prescot)
system.

I bought a new motherboard (Abit), processor (Prescot P4 at 3GHz) and memory
(512Mb of DDR3200).

I managed to install the new mobo, CPU and memory without problems (I've
done a few). But I have problems...

My PC reaches the POST OK and everything checks OK (I can also access the
BIOS) but then nothing.

Windows XP (SP2) tries to boot but the system resets when I reach the
Windows logo.

I tried to boot from CD (to re-install Windows) but the PC hangs when I get
the message: "Boot from CD:".

One strange thing. The first message I get is: "Verifying DMI pool data..."
and some times I get "success" and other times I get nothing before it tries
to boot from CD (and fails). Is this normal?

Help! I've tried everything including resetting the BIOS. I've checked all
of the cables too. Everything seems to be fine - but the damn thing will not
boot.

BTW I have two lights on the mobo - a green one when a power cable is
connected and a red one (according to the manual this simply means that my
system is switched on). Should this LED be red or green?

Thanks in anticipation.

Bobby

First things I would check is the PSU and the CPU cooling.
Is the PSU powerful enough? It should be at least 350 W. Better is 450 W
from known brand. Dis you apply thermal paste on the cooler? Is it well
fixed? Is the fan spinning?

 

[Wislu Plethora]

I've had hardware problems on-and-off for some time now. So I took the
plunge today and replaced my Athlon 2000 system with a new Pentium (Prescot)
system.

I bought a new motherboard (Abit), processor (Prescot P4 at 3GHz) and memory
(512Mb of DDR3200).

I managed to install the new mobo, CPU and memory without problems (I've
done a few). But I have problems...

My PC reaches the POST OK and everything checks OK (I can also access the
BIOS) but then nothing.

Windows XP (SP2) tries to boot but the system resets when I reach the
Windows logo.

I tried to boot from CD (to re-install Windows) but the PC hangs when I get
the message: "Boot from CD:".

One strange thing. The first message I get is: "Verifying DMI pool data..."
and some times I get "success" and other times I get nothing before it tries
to boot from CD (and fails). Is this normal?

Help! I've tried everything including resetting the BIOS. I've checked all
of the cables too. Everything seems to be fine - but the damn thing will not
boot.

BTW I have two lights on the mobo - a green one when a power cable is
connected and a red one (according to the manual this simply means that my
system is switched on). Should this LED be red or green?

Thanks in anticipation.

Bobby

You need to do a repair install of XP. It doesn't recognize the new
hardware.

 

[Apollo]

I've had hardware problems on-and-off for some time now. So I took the
plunge today and replaced my Athlon 2000 system with a new Pentium
(Prescot) system.

I bought a new motherboard (Abit), processor (Prescot P4 at 3GHz) and
memory (512Mb of DDR3200).

I managed to install the new mobo, CPU and memory without problems
(I've done a few). But I have problems...

My PC reaches the POST OK and everything checks OK (I can also access
the BIOS) but then nothing.

Windows XP (SP2) tries to boot but the system resets when I reach the
Windows logo.

Visit your mobo manufacturers website and grab the latest bios for the
new board, (google for Prescott SP2), it's a well documented problem.

You may get away with a repair install, but as you've changed some major
components I'd perform a clean install for stability (after backing up
your stuff).

It is possible to re-use an XP installation, I've done it myself a few
times, but you must clean out ALL drivers from device manager that are
in any way related to your mobo - before you change the hardware (guess
it's too late to do this ;-)

Bios should sort out your main problem.

 

[Bobby]

Is the PSU powerful enough? It should be at least 350 W. Better is 450 W

from known brand.

No-name 450W power supply. Was working fine before this upgrade (previosuly
an Athlon 2000 with same memory (512Mb)).

Dis you apply thermal paste on the cooler?

A Pentium 4 (Prescott) comes with the paste already applied to the cooler.

Is it well fixed?

I fixed it as-per the instructions. It also feels solid to me.

Is the fan spinning?

Yes. All fans (CPU, mobo, graphics, and two extra case fans) all spinning.

What makes you think that it's heat or an incorrectly installed CPU/cooler?
The POST passes and I can access the BIOS OK. Doesn't that infer that
everything is installed OK?

 

[Bobby]

You need to do a repair install of XP. It doesn't recognize the new

hardware.

I can't get my system to boot from HD or CD (DVD). It just hangs (see
original post).

 

[Bobby]

Visit your mobo manufacturers website and grab the latest bios for the new

board, (google for Prescott SP2), it's a well documented problem.

I'm not sure what problem you are referring to. Do you mean that many Abit
boards have the same problem as the one I described?

You may get away with a repair install, but as you've changed some major
components I'd perform a clean install for stability (after backing up
your stuff).

Please re-read my original post. I can't boot from HD or CD so how can I do
a repair install?

Bios should sort out your main problem.

I don't see how. It's a brand-new mobo with a very recent BIOS so I don't
see how an BIOS update will help.

 

[Jef Norton]

|> Visit your mobo manufacturers website and grab the latest bios for the
new
| > board, (google for Prescott SP2), it's a well documented problem.
|
| I'm not sure what problem you are referring to. Do you mean that many Abit
| boards have the same problem as the one I described?
|
| > You may get away with a repair install, but as you've changed some major
| > components I'd perform a clean install for stability (after backing up
| > your stuff).
|
| Please re-read my original post. I can't boot from HD or CD so how can I
do
| a repair install?
|
| > Bios should sort out your main problem.
|
| I don't see how. It's a brand-new mobo with a very recent BIOS so I don't
| see how an BIOS update will help.
|
|

Hi Bobby -

Might help if you post your motherboard model (yes, I see you say it's built
by Abit... but Abit does make many boards). Might also help if you also
post your exact CPU model, PSU, memory, etc. Post the same information on
your thread over at Abit's forum (http://forum.abit-usa.com) as well.

That said... there was an issue with Prescott CPU's and Windows XP SP2,
requiring many motherboard manufacturers to issue BIOS updates due to out of
date microcode. Case in point, Abit's IS7:

http://www.abit-usa.com/downloads/bios/bios_revision.php?categories=1&model=79

.... had BIOS version 22 released September 22nd to address this issue.

Jef

 

[philimor]

Hi,
I had the same problem with a mobo MSI (with a Prescott). To solve it : go
to the Bios and disable the HyperThreading option.

Phil

 

[Bobby]

Might help if you post your motherboard model (yes, I see you say it's

built
by Abit... but Abit does make many boards). Might also help if you also
post your exact CPU model, PSU, memory, etc.

Abit IC7-G with Intel Pentium Prestcott 4 running at 3GHz with 512 Mb DDR
3200 RAM (branded).

That said... there was an issue with Prescott CPU's and Windows XP SP2,
requiring many motherboard manufacturers to issue BIOS updates due to out
of
date microcode. Case in point, Abit's IS7:

http://www.abit-usa.com/downloads/bios/bios_revision.php?categories=1&model=79

... had BIOS version 22 released September 22nd to address this issue.

How do I upgrade my BIOS if I can't boot my PC from HD or CD?

 

[Gorden Bennett]

Abit IC7-G with Intel Pentium Prestcott 4 running at 3GHz with 512 Mb DDR
3200 RAM (branded).


How do I upgrade my BIOS if I can't boot my PC from HD or CD?

Will it boot from floppy ? Bios can be upgraded then.

 

[Jef Norton]

|> Might help if you post your motherboard model (yes, I see you say it's
| > built
| > by Abit... but Abit does make many boards). Might also help if you also
| > post your exact CPU model, PSU, memory, etc.
|
| Abit IC7-G with Intel Pentium Prestcott 4 running at 3GHz with 512 Mb DDR
| 3200 RAM (branded).
|
| > That said... there was an issue with Prescott CPU's and Windows XP SP2,
| > requiring many motherboard manufacturers to issue BIOS updates due to
out
| > of
| > date microcode. Case in point, Abit's IS7:
| >
| >
http://www.abit-usa.com/downloads/bios/bios_revision.php?categories=1&model=79
| >
| > ... had BIOS version 22 released September 22nd to address this issue.
|
| How do I upgrade my BIOS if I can't boot my PC from HD or CD?
|
|

Hi Bobby -

Phil and Gordon hit the nail on the head.

Disable Hyper-Threading in your BIOS and boot to a floppy.

The BIOS download for your board contains Awdflash.exe, a DOS program to
flash the Award 6.0 BIOS on your board as well as the BIOS .bin file and a
couple of .bat files to make running the process fairly painless.

Create a DOS boot disk with no Autoexec.bat or Config.sys (to ensure a clean
DOS boot environment). Copy Awdflash.exe, the BIOS .bin file and
Abitfae.bat and Runme.bat from the self-extracting executable you download
from Abit's web site (visit
http://www.abit-usa.com/downloads/bios/bios_revision.php?categories=1&model=4
and download IC726.EXE, which is the latest BIOS for your board).

Once you've created your diskette, boot up your mobo and press DEL to get
into the BIOS setup screens. Disable Hyper-Threading as Phil recommended
and set your first boot device to Floppy. Put your DOS boot disk into your
floppy drive (hopefully you have one) and save your changes to the BIOS.
The computer will then boot to your DOS diskette.

Once you're at the A:\> prompt, type RUNME to flash your BIOS. There should
be no additional prompts you need to respond to. When the program says the
flash is complete allow your computer to reboot. At the POST screen, go
into the BIOS setup screens and, (this is optional, though advisable) shut
your system down with the power switch.

Manually clear your CMOS:
Remove the main power cable and open the system up. Move the CCMOS1 jumper
to pins 2 and 3 and wait a few moments. Move CCMOS1 back to pins 1 and 2.
Close up the case and replace your power cord.

Start your system back up and, at the POST screen, press DEL to go back into
the setup screens and set the optimized defaults and make any additional
customizations you need, such as enabling the on-board peripherals you
intend to use and set your boot order.

Jef

 

[Bobby]

Thanks v much Jeff for this advice. I'll give it a try tomorrow morning and
let you know how I get on.

I'm not confident that this will fix things. Why should my current bios
(which is v22 - quite recent) stop my CD/DVD from booting?

Thanks again.

Bobby

 

[Jef Norton]

| Thanks v much Jeff for this advice. I'll give it a try tomorrow morning
and
| let you know how I get on.
|
| I'm not confident that this will fix things. Why should my current bios
| (which is v22 - quite recent) stop my CD/DVD from booting?
|
| Thanks again.
|
| Bobby
|

Hi Bobby -

Not sure why your CD/DVD isn't booting. Could be that you're never getting
past the "Verifying DMI Pool Data" stage of the POST. Are you ever getting
a message such as "press any key to boot from CD"?

Could be tied to the need to update the CPU microcode for your Prescott
processor.

In any event, test several times that you are able to successfully boot to a
DOS boot disk prior to attempting the BIOS flash... just so you're certain
that you are stable.

Good luck!

Jef

 

[David]

another idea to your problem is also when installing a new mobo you have to
reinstall windows xp. othere wise that is teh problem you have how it starts
up and restarts again. i kno i have had this problem many times with
computers at work.

David

 

[Bobby]

Could be that you're never getting

past the "Verifying DMI Pool Data" stage of the POST. Are you ever
getting
a message such as "press any key to boot from CD"?

No. Simply "Boot from CD:"

Could be tied to the need to update the CPU microcode for your Prescott
processor.

Hmm. I don't have a spare floppy (I have one in the problem machine) so I'll
have to wait before I can try to apply the firmware upgrade. My mobo is
brand new with a farily recent BIOS (v22 dated 02/24/04) so I'm not
confident that this will work. But I'll try.

In any event, test several times that you are able to successfully boot to
a
DOS boot disk prior to attempting the BIOS flash... just so you're certain
that you are stable.

Thanks Jef, I'll try this. What if I can't boot from floppy? What would that
tell you?

 

[Bobby]

Yes, that would explain why XP starts and then re-starts half way through
the boot process. But how come I can't access my CD/DVD drive? Without this
access I can't re-install Windows.

I have two CD drives and neither work (I've checked cables etc.).

Bobby

 

[Bobby]

I might be getting somewhere...

I think that my PC resets during the Windows boot (from HD) because I've
changed the mobo and CPU. Is that possible? I gather XP does not like major
hardware changes.

So the problem comes down to why the CD will not boot. My POST screen passes
so quickly that it's very hard to read but I think it reports a problem with
"an 80 pin cable" on the second IDE channel (IDE1 is fine). All my IDE
devices are reported correctly (one HD, two CD/DVD drives and an LS120).

I've disconnected the IDE2 cable and substituted that cable. No difference.
So it's not the cable.

But could it be the IDE connections on the mobo? If there's something wrong
with either (?) of these, would that prevent my PC booting from CD?

I'm at the stage when I intend to return the mobo, CPU and memory and get an
Athlon 64 rig in its place.

Thanks to everyone who has tried to help.

Bobby

 

[Alex Nichol]

My PC reaches the POST OK and everything checks OK (I can also access the
BIOS) but then nothing.

Windows XP (SP2) tries to boot but the system resets when I reach the
Windows logo.

I tried to boot from CD (to re-install Windows) but the PC hangs when I get
the message: "Boot from CD:".

There is a problem with Prescott Processors if the BIOS on the
motherboard was not brought up to date to the final Prescott release.
Ideally you need to update the BIOS, but see
http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm
for an extended discussion and a way to get around the problem

 

[kony]

I might be getting somewhere...

I think that my PC resets during the Windows boot (from HD) because I've
changed the mobo and CPU. Is that possible? I gather XP does not like major
hardware changes.

yes, that is the likely cause

So the problem comes down to why the CD will not boot. My POST screen passes
so quickly that it's very hard to read

you can press the PAUSE key on keyboard to (pause it),
usually.

but I think it reports a problem with
"an 80 pin cable" on the second IDE channel (IDE1 is fine).

Swapping in an 80 pin cable should make that message go away
but "in general", it is merely an alert, that your devices
on that cable can then only run in ATA33 mode or lower. A
properly working motherboard, optical drive, and media
shouls still boot fine from a 40 conductor cable.

All my IDE
devices are reported correctly (one HD, two CD/DVD drives and an LS120).

I've disconnected the IDE2 cable and substituted that cable. No difference.
So it's not the cable.

Have you checked/rechecked the jumper settings on the
drives?

Check voltage levels at the ATX connector and for the
drive(s) or at the very least in the BIOS as a start.

But could it be the IDE connections on the mobo? If there's something wrong
with either (?) of these, would that prevent my PC booting from CD?

That could cause a problem but it's quite rare for that kind
of defect. Since your HDD was booting to windows, you could
try switching the cables, plugging the one for the optical
drive into the motherboard channel currently occupied by the
booting hard drive, since that channel has demonstrated to
work already. Also you can try booting the HDD from the
channel the optical drive is currently connected to, it
should still have a problem due to windows, BUT the key is
seeing if it starts booting windows at all, as that is the
first thing the system will do, look for and try bootable
devices after displaying the "verifying DMI pool" message.

I'm at the stage when I intend to return the mobo, CPU and memory and get an
Athlon 64 rig in its place.

Not a bad idea. You might boot to floppy and upgrade the
bios first, then clear CMOS, set bios to defaults & save in
setup menu. Also recheck the optical drive (and all other
bootable drive) settings. Set them to Auto and if there's a
"try other devices", try enabling it if not enabled already,
and you might try disabling other non-used boot entries and
move the CDROM drive up to the top of the boot order list.

ALso try unplugging the other device on same IDE channel,
setting optical to single/master jumper setting.

I suppose you're certain the drive was working (including
booting from same CD) prior to the motherboard swap?