Yet another question about why my processor won't boot.?

Question

(Forgive me, Yahoo answers. This is like my 5th hardware question in the past week :P )

Ok, so. Before I get started, I'm just going to give the specs of my computer so it's easier.

Old Motherboard:ECS 945GCT-M (http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pro...nuID=1&LanID=0)

Old Processor: Pentium 4 3.20GHz (Couldn't grab a link)

New Motherboard: GIGABYTE EP45-UD3P (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358)

New Processor: Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115057)

K, here's what happened.

I bought a new motherboard with plans to get a processor soon after, I put the motherboard in just fine though I did notice a little significant performance loss, but just chucked it up to not reinstalling the OS when I did(custom built computer, don't have the disc.).

I got the processor, I installed it just fine. However, when I turned it on it wouldn't boot past "Verifying DMI pool", it just kept locking up there. It also locked up in the BIOS. I put the old Pentium 4 back in and got a BIOS update to the most recent one. Put the new processor back in, this time it locked up at the Windows loading screen.

Figured hey, it's Windows. Maybe Windows is being stupid and I need to reinstall my OS, let's try to boot off of a Linux CD. Downloaded Knoppix and burned it to a disc, tried to boot up. Same thing, locks up in the OS loading screen.

Ok, process of elimination. Next up let's take a look at my Hard Drive. Downloaded a Hard Drive Diagnostic, ran a Long Generic and Long Drive Self Test everything checked out to be OK.

Next target, RAM test. This is where it gets weird. I was going to run a 2 hour memtest on each stick of RAM individually like I was told to by some tech support site. Whenever I take a stick out my DVD/CD drive stops being detected or something. Like, in Windows Media Player it'll say to connect a burner and restart the player to start burning and the computer will not read any discs put in either when this happens.

It does this 100% of the time when I take a stick of RAM out, and randomly when both are in even and I have to restart the computer to get it read discs etc.

Not too sure about the DVD/CD drive thing, that's just odd and kinda disturbing. (I don't want to buy another motherboard >.< )
As for the performance loss I mentioned earlier, I just found out today that I'm running my system in 32bit mode or whatever, and before with my old motherboard I was running in 64 I think.

Would that explain the performance loss and why the processor isn't booting? If so, how do I fix it?

Thanks.

Oh yeah, I cleared the CMOS too.

Answer 1

I assume you are using the Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield cpu with the new gigabyte board. If you are trying to run the old OS installed on the hard drive. I would not be surprised that you have trouble booting with the new mobo and cpu; too many things have changed for a easy boot. If the windows install is 64 bit you should set you system to run in 64 bit mode. It is also a concern that knoppix live cd would not run. I would try knoppix in 32 bit mode.

You did not mention what ram you are using. Is it compatible with the new mobo? The gigabyte says; Support for DDR2 1366+*/1066/800/667 MHz memory modules. How much ram on each ram module? Is it enough to run the system? Since you cannot run memtest with 1 stick of ram I would run it with both sticks and see if there are any errors. Even 1 error is too many.

No it does not seem like an OS problem.

I assume when you boot the computer you do not get any error code beeps.

Is your power supply strong enough to handle the new hardware and are both power connectors plugged in? 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector and 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector.

Try setting your bios setting to the default or optimal if you have that option.

Good luck

Answer 2

It could be a number of things. That is normal for a processor to clock slower at some point but it is very rare that it is the proccessor. You may need more RAM which is a cheap fix or you may want to check for spyware/adware. Other things you can check are the hardrive free space or if it needs a defrag. 6 years IT/Computer Networking Support 5 years PC repair

Answer 3

You need to buy an operating system, Windows 7 or Windows XP.



Operating Systems

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=368&name=Operating-Systems



If you spend extra for a Full Retail Version instead of OEM Version, you can reuse the software if you install a different motherboard in the future.