Won't install XP on a P4 2.8G 478 socket

[Guest]

Hi all,

My friend has a P4 2.8 Ghz, 478 socket on a Asus P4P800 SE.
He has tried a different PSU, Video card and Hard Drive.
It still won't install XP PRO, it gives errors during setup.
I can not say what exact errors, as he has it.
He has not done a Memtest yet. I told him he must.
Some History:
His CPU heat sink was not tight due to one broke corner clip.
But he replaced the MB CPU bracket and this failure happened a
month after its replacement.
He is now using a Zalman 7000B CPU cooler.
If the CPU is NFG,
(1) What is the right way to test for a CPU failure?
He does not have another 478 system to try it in.
(2) Will Memtest still work if his CPU has failed?
(3) How can I test the MB or the CPU only?

Thanks in advance,

ZAN
----

 

[Paul]

Hi all,

My friend has a P4 2.8 Ghz, 478 socket on a Asus P4P800 SE.
He has tried a different PSU, Video card and Hard Drive.
It still won't install XP PRO, it gives errors during setup.
I can not say what exact errors, as he has it.
He has not done a Memtest yet. I told him he must.
Some History:
His CPU heat sink was not tight due to one broke corner clip.
But he replaced the MB CPU bracket and this failure happened a
month after its replacement.
He is now using a Zalman 7000B CPU cooler.
If the CPU is NFG,
(1) What is the right way to test for a CPU failure?
He does not have another 478 system to try it in.
(2) Will Memtest still work if his CPU has failed?
(3) How can I test the MB or the CPU only?

Thanks in advance,

ZAN
----

"Giving errors during setup" means it is not completely dead.
It means your friend is able to see video output on the screen,
even if it is not happy output.

Assuming that in fact the Windows installer CD is booting,
and an install is attempted, that means you could try
to run memtest86+. Microsoft also has a similar kind of memory
test program. Either one should do the job.

If the CPU was completely failed, you wouldn't even get a
POST beep. If the BIOS appears on the screen, then you know
the CPU had to execute some BIOS code to be able to do that.

Sometimes, the installer CD or the CD drive, cause read errors
during the install attempt. And that sends the Windows installer
into the weeds.

If your friend is on broadband Internet, get him/her to download
a Knoppix (knopper.net) or a Ubuntu CD. The download in either
case is 700MB and is in the form of an ISO. You'd use another
computer to burn the ISO to a CD. I keep a copy of each handy.
The purpose of these CDs, is to try to boot the computer. The
CDs in question, are "live linux", meaning they don't install
any software on the hard drive, and just run from the CD. Such
a test verifies that the CD drive works, that you have graphics
on the screen etc. In the case of Knoppix, you can see the
progress messages as the CD boots, and if there is some bad
hardware, you may see error messages as the hardware drivers
are loaded. I use the Knoppix CD, when overclocking, if I
need a test of stability.

Testing a CPU thoroughly is something that can only be done
at the factory. Doing stuff like memtest86+ is some consolation,
but doesn't guarantee the correct execution of every kind of
instruction the CPU could run. And when memtest86+ shows
errors, it could be the memory that is bad, a problem with
the Northbridge, or with the processor.

Component swapping (new CPU plus old motherboard, new motherboard
plus old CPU) is one way to test what is faulty. But you need
a pile of spare parts, to use that approach.

Paul

 

[Guest]

"Giving errors during setup" means it is not completely dead.
It means your friend is able to see video output on the screen,
even if it is not happy output.

Assuming that in fact the Windows installer CD is booting,
and an install is attempted, that means you could try
to run memtest86+. Microsoft also has a similar kind of memory
test program. Either one should do the job.

If the CPU was completely failed, you wouldn't even get a
POST beep. If the BIOS appears on the screen, then you know
the CPU had to execute some BIOS code to be able to do that.

Sometimes, the installer CD or the CD drive, cause read errors
during the install attempt. And that sends the Windows installer
into the weeds.

If your friend is on broadband Internet, get him/her to download
a Knoppix (knopper.net) or a Ubuntu CD. The download in either
case is 700MB and is in the form of an ISO. You'd use another
computer to burn the ISO to a CD. I keep a copy of each handy.
The purpose of these CDs, is to try to boot the computer. The
CDs in question, are "live linux", meaning they don't install
any software on the hard drive, and just run from the CD. Such
a test verifies that the CD drive works, that you have graphics
on the screen etc. In the case of Knoppix, you can see the
progress messages as the CD boots, and if there is some bad
hardware, you may see error messages as the hardware drivers
are loaded. I use the Knoppix CD, when overclocking, if I
need a test of stability.

Testing a CPU thoroughly is something that can only be done
at the factory. Doing stuff like memtest86+ is some consolation,
but doesn't guarantee the correct execution of every kind of
instruction the CPU could run. And when memtest86+ shows
errors, it could be the memory that is bad, a problem with
the Northbridge, or with the processor.

Component swapping (new CPU plus old motherboard, new motherboard
plus old CPU) is one way to test what is faulty. But you need
a pile of spare parts, to use that approach.

Paul

Thanks for the reply, Paul.
My friend finally did a Memtest86 and two out of the four
Ram strips gave errors. He tested each one separately
and he reinstalled the two strips that passed.
He is installing XP Pro now without any more problems.
Thank you for the info, Paul. I'll give him a copy of
your reply.

ZAN
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