So why would XP do this? (CPU u/g causes problems)

[Fat Tone]

I was asked to upgrade the CPU on an PC with a PC Chips M810LR, 1100 Duron, 256MB PC2100. Gfx

were an AGP Geforce2 MX400 (onboard AGP not used).

The new CPU is a XP2400+ and the BIOS was dated 2001 so I flashed the latest BIOS (08/08/03) and

then booted into Windows XP (corporate version). Unfortunately at the point the desktop should

load all I got was a blank screen. I tried all combinations of settings in the BIOS (ACPI etc etc

etc) but to no avail.

(Incidentally, the AMI flashing prog doesn't give you the option to save the old BIOS - unless

you use command-line switches as I found out later, so I can't go back to the old BIOS - yeah, I

know, BIOS flashing 101 )

I went into safe mode and saw quite severe graphics corruption. I deleted the card in Device

manager and went back into full mode. I got to the desktop and things looked fine until (I

presume) it re-loaded the driver for the card and then we were back to a blank screen.

Back into safe mode, delete the card, shut down, replace the card with a Riva TNT2 that was

lying around. Into Windows, card detected, drivers installed, no more problems!

Things stalled a bit on subsequent reboots, but a defrag seemd to take care of that.

I haven't yet had a chance to try the old gfx card elsewhere to see if it really is fubared.

SO the PC went back. Next day I hear it booted perfectly the first time it was used. 2nd time

its back to the blank screen instead of the desktop.

I get it back tomorrow. Any ideas please? My current plan is to do a fresh install of XP and

then a million reboots before it goes back.

TIA

T.

[az]

Try installing XP over itself - this procedure has helped me often, since Win95. XP keeps most of the settings when you do this, and you don't have to reinstall apps.

AZ

[Kurt]

@Fat Tone: since your problems seem to have started right after you flashed the BIOS, have you tried either going back to the Duron or flashing another BIOS?

[Admiral]

Are you sure you flashed the bios with the right PCB version ?
I would reinstall the OS as az suggested.

[Fat Tone]

@Az - it's not much more hassle to do a complete install - its mainly an Office machine.

@Kurt - I didn't put the new CPU in until later - i.e. same symptoms with both.

@Admiral/Kurt - yes, I'm sure it was the correct mobo version, according to the lettering on the mobo. In any case, they now have one BIOS cover a range of mobo versions.

They seem to have completely removed all older BIOSs from the site. Going back was my first thought.

So, hopefully a complete reinstall will solve it. What puzzles me is why it happened? Why would it happen, and then be ok overnight and fail with the same symptoms the next day?

Cheers

T.

[WyWyWyWy]

Hi,

Try setting to AGP 1x?
And re-install chipset driver too....

[az]

I've had this happen with 95 when I flashed my BIOS... don't know why, though.

AZ

[Duty]

After flashing the bios did you load the default settings? I have in the past had problems with a new flash that are fixed by loading the default settings, then after rebooting go back and setup the bois to your needs.


Jeff

[DGhost]

try putting the old Duron 1100 back into the system. the board might have compatability issues with newer processors.

[Fat Tone]

Would you f***ing believe it?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry: I emailed asking him to bring the mobo CD with the PC and this is the reply I got:

Hi Tony

Thanks for getting in touch. In fact when I came home, I found someone had switched off the screen! I switched it back on again and have so far had no more problems. I think I will run it for a few days and just see if the problem recurs-I am crossing my fingers that it wont (and keeping other peoples fingers away from the screen off switch!)


Ah well....thanks for all the suggestions anyway

/me sobs.

T.

[DentyCracker]

ROFL, I was about to post a reply then I saw your last post

[Fat Tone]

hehe I've been wondering all night just exactly how to reply to him - sarcasm being the preferred choice. Unfortunately he's the boss.

T.

[GNEP]

Argggghhhhhh! How frustrating...

[Technoid]

Congratulations

You have been in a "computer stupidity" Story

[DGhost]

niiiiice...