Help! P4 upgrade problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bobby
  • Start date Start date
|> 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?
|
|

Hi Bobby -

If you cannot stably boot from a floppy there's no sense in trying to flash
your BIOS -- you'll be risking corruption during the flash process and would
end up needing a new BIOS chip or having your existing chip reflashed.
Personally I'd borrow or beg a non-Prescott CPU to attempt the flash if I
couldn't stably boot with the Prescott CPU.

I cannot stress highly enough: do not attempt to flash your BIOS if your
computer is not stable booted to DOS.

Your BIOS is more than eight months old. In terms of computer motherboards,
that's a lifetime! There have been four revisions to your motherboard's
BIOS during that six month period -- that's a whole lot of error correction
and improvement to support new technologies. Prescott CPU's were still in
development when your BIOS was born. Your statement that your motherboard
is "brand new" is a non sequitur... it's been sitting on the shelf for
months, waiting for you to buy it.

Another question: who makes your power supply unit (PSU) and what are the
ratings on it's label. For instance, my Antec TruePower 430 PSU has the
following information:

Total Max Output 430 watts
+5V, +12V & +3.3V Max Output 410 watts

+5V 36 amps
+12V 20 amps
+3.3V 28 amps
-5V .5 amps
-12V 1.0 amps
+5VSB 2.0 amps

Abit boards are becoming more and more fussy about the quality of power
driving them. When I built my latest system, based on an Abit NF7, I
sourced the PSU at 400 watts minimum. You further should consider that
cheap or generic PSU's (like those that come installed in most computer
cases) don't put out the clean power needed to run many newer boards. The
+5V, +12V and +3.3V rails are the most important to consider. Your board
may simply be crashing prior to being able to boot, even though you're
making it through the POST (power-on self test).

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

Thanks. I'll give that a try.
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.
Click to expand...

I have an old DVD drive on IDE2 so that would explain why that channel is
running at ATA33 (which it is according to the POST screen). Would that
explain the "80 pin" warning?
Have you checked/rechecked the jumper settings on the
drives?
Click to expand...

These weren't changed (IDE0 - HD master, DVD slave; IDE1 - LS120 master; DVD
slave).
Check voltage levels at the ATX connector and for the
drive(s) or at the very least in the BIOS as a start.
Click to expand...

Don't know what you mean.
That could cause a problem but it's quite rare for that kind
of defect.
Click to expand...

Yes, I don't think so either. I'm grasping at straws.
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.
Click to expand...

My DVD is attached to the same channel as my HD (IDE0).
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.
Click to expand...

What does this message mean? Sometimes it completes with Verifying DMI
pool... success" and sometimes it's just "Verifying DMI pool...".
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.
Click to expand...

An Anthlon 64 3000+ (with mobo) saves me £50 over my current config. But I'm
worried that I have exactly the same problem with this new config.
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.
Click to expand...

Done all that.
ALso try unplugging the other device on same IDE channel,
setting optical to single/master jumper setting.
Click to expand...

Good idea. I will give that a try (I will make the DVD the only device on
IDE0 and make it master and remove the HD from this channel).
I suppose you're certain the drive was working (including
booting from same CD) prior to the motherboard swap?
Click to expand...

That's the odd thing. Everything was working fine before making this change.
I haven't changed any settings or jumpers so I really don't think that it's
a jumper setting on any of my boot devices.

Oh well. I'll give it a try and see. But if it's not working by tomorrow
morning I will replace the whole thing with an Athlon 64.

I took my whole box back to the supplier but they refused to test it saying
that I must identify the faulty device (I purchased CPU, mobo and RAM from
them) before they will replace it. They offered to test my system for £35.
It was bought on Friday (yesterday).

Thanks for your help.

Bobby
 
I cannot stress highly enough: do not attempt to flash your BIOS if your
computer is not stable booted to DOS.
Click to expand...

I'll try to upgrade the BIOS tonight. I have v22 and the current version is
26. I will be major pissed-off if this works (which I doubt).
Another question: who makes your power supply unit (PSU) and what are the
ratings on it's label. For instance, my Antec TruePower 430 PSU has the
following information:
Click to expand...

I have a 450W no-name PSU. But it wasn't cheap and has dual fans and feels
good quality. Lots of connectors - including the dual power connectors
required for P4 mobos.
Your board
may simply be crashing prior to being able to boot, even though you're
making it through the POST (power-on self test).
Click to expand...

Is that likely? And how come my HD tries to boot (it resets when -
presumably - Windows finds - radically - new hardware).

Thanks again Jef.

Bobby
 
Thanks Alex. But this would not explain why I cannot re-install Windows by
booting from my CD (which is what I want to do).
 
I have an old DVD drive on IDE2 so that would explain why that channel is
running at ATA33 (which it is according to the POST screen). Would that
explain the "80 pin" warning?
Click to expand...


Reread what I wrote, it is an alert.
These weren't changed (IDE0 - HD master, DVD slave; IDE1 - LS120 master; DVD
slave).
Click to expand...

So you didn't recheck them?

Don't know what you mean.
Click to expand...

Multimeter, take readings at the problem drive and ATX
motherboard connector.


My DVD is attached to the same channel as my HD (IDE0).
Click to expand...

Old DVD drives often have trouble reading CDR, and sometimes
CDs, I'd focus on booting from the CDRW.
What does this message mean? Sometimes it completes with Verifying DMI
pool... success" and sometimes it's just "Verifying DMI pool...".
Click to expand...

It means nothing in this context, the issue is that the next
thing to be done, (finding/booting from "some" device) isn't
working.

An Anthlon 64 3000+ (with mobo) saves me £50 over my current config. But I'm
worried that I have exactly the same problem with this new config.
Click to expand...

yes you might if it's the media, cables, power supply or
drives. Check and eliminate as many of those variables as
possible.


Good idea. I will give that a try (I will make the DVD the only device on
IDE0 and make it master and remove the HD from this channel).
Click to expand...

You might try unplugging ALL drives except the CDRW,
jumpering it as master.

Oh well. I'll give it a try and see. But if it's not working by tomorrow
morning I will replace the whole thing with an Athlon 64.

I took my whole box back to the supplier but they refused to test it saying
that I must identify the faulty device (I purchased CPU, mobo and RAM from
them) before they will replace it. They offered to test my system for £35.
It was bought on Friday (yesterday).
Click to expand...

Tell them your Credit Card company or small claims court and
the BBB, may not see it that way. They sold you the bundle
knowing the parts would be used together (yes?). If so you
are not required to determine which is at fault, only that
they don't work together. Towards that end you need be sure
the other parts you already had aren't the problem, not
their parts.
 
kony said:
Reread what I wrote, it is an alert.




So you didn't recheck them?





Multimeter, take readings at the problem drive and ATX
motherboard connector.






Old DVD drives often have trouble reading CDR, and sometimes
CDs, I'd focus on booting from the CDRW.




It means nothing in this context, the issue is that the next
thing to be done, (finding/booting from "some" device) isn't
working.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure it means nothing.

He should check here for DMI information.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000474.htm
 
kony said:
All issues on the link lead back to same conclusion though,
that it's what i mentioned, boot device related.
Click to expand...

Right. But it confirms it's a device/partition problem separate from the
NT-moved-HDD situation.

It's also just good to know because that DMI message confuses the heck out
of people.
 
I did as one or two of you suggested and made the CD/DVD drive a boot
(master) device on its own channel (IDE1 - I left the HD on IDE0).

It booted from the Windows CD! I then installed XP SR1 and then SP2.
Everything was fine. Until this morning...

It booted OK - but noticed that it was running hot (66-68C once reached
70C - under no stress beyond Internet browsing). Then... a reset and back to
"Boot from CD:" and a hang! I couldn't believe it.

So I'm back to square one. And the mobos going back to the shop - along with
the CPU. I've read of Prescott's running hot and this rig seems jinxed.

Bobby
 
If it was running hot, most likely your CPU fan has failed,
reinstalling the OS does not fix the fan.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


|I did as one or two of you suggested and made the CD/DVD
drive a boot
| (master) device on its own channel (IDE1 - I left the HD
on IDE0).
|
| It booted from the Windows CD! I then installed XP SR1 and
then SP2.
| Everything was fine. Until this morning...
|
| It booted OK - but noticed that it was running hot (66-68C
once reached
| 70C - under no stress beyond Internet browsing). Then... a
reset and back to
| "Boot from CD:" and a hang! I couldn't believe it.
|
| So I'm back to square one. And the mobos going back to the
shop - along with
| the CPU. I've read of Prescott's running hot and this rig
seems jinxed.
|
| 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
| >
|
|
 
Running hot has a reason and it isn't fixed by reinstalling
the OS. Bad thermal compound, a dirty heat sink, something
physical.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| If the CPU fan failed, my system would run more than hot!
|
| All fans operational.
|
| Bobby
|
in message
| | > If it was running hot, most likely your CPU fan has
failed,
| > reinstalling the OS does not fix the fan.
| >
| >
| > --
| > The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
| > But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
| >
| >
| > | > |I did as one or two of you suggested and made the
CD/DVD
| > drive a boot
| > | (master) device on its own channel (IDE1 - I left the
HD
| > on IDE0).
| > |
| > | It booted from the Windows CD! I then installed XP SR1
and
| > then SP2.
| > | Everything was fine. Until this morning...
| > |
| > | It booted OK - but noticed that it was running hot
(66-68C
| > once reached
| > | 70C - under no stress beyond Internet browsing).
Then... a
| > reset and back to
| > | "Boot from CD:" and a hang! I couldn't believe it.
| > |
| > | So I'm back to square one. And the mobos going back to
the
| > shop - along with
| > | the CPU. I've read of Prescott's running hot and this
rig
| > seems jinxed.
| > |
| > | 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
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
Running hot has a reason and it isn't fixed by reinstalling
the OS. Bad thermal compound, a dirty heat sink, something
physical.
Click to expand...

Intel CPUs rarely run hot for those reasons. As a matter of fact, you
can usually run them in worse environment without ill effect. (Not
the same with AMDs)

They can run hot if they're defective or the motherboard is defective.
The OP has the right idea, IMO. Most likely a bad MB.
 
Yes, I think that it was.

I have now replaced my Abit/P4 combo with an Asus/Athlon 64 rig which is
running at 38-44C -- that 24C cooler than the Prescott.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. My new mobo and CPU appears to be
working fine (and the Athlon 64 seems just as fast was the P4 Prescott 3.0).

Cheers.

Bobby
 
Intel CPUs rarely run hot for those reasons. As a matter of fact, you
can usually run them in worse environment without ill effect. (Not
the same with AMDs)

They can run hot if they're defective or the motherboard is defective.
The OP has the right idea, IMO. Most likely a bad MB.
Click to expand...

It is extremely rare for a motherboard to cause a CPU to run
hot, unless misconfigured by user or at factory. It MIGHT
misreport the temp though, or not have the power management
bugs out so it doesn't HLT-ldle the CPU properly, which
could account for the idle temp being higher, but it would
then not be nearly so much of a temp rise from pseudo-idle
to full load.

The three most common reasons for hot CPU (IMO) are:

1) Heatsink - very rough finish, defective (or low quality,
not flat) or improperly installed

2) Inadequate case airflow

3) Motherboard bios misreporting temp (higher than actual)
or HLT-Idle bug (or windows/other software putting CPU into
busy loop at higher than idle priority).
 
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