New cpu - pc hangs during post

[Adam]

Hi,

I have an old Packard Bell Platinum that I'm trying to get a bit more use out of. I am trying to upgrade the cpu (Pentium II 450mhz SL2U7) to a Pentium III. When I switch it on, I get the POST (the cpu's detected as a Pentium II, but I expected that) but it never finishes. It usually hangs just after the RAM test. I'm not sure if it's an overheating problem (that's what I thought at first because it hangs at an earlier stage of the POST if it was off for only a few moments), a power issue (I doubt it), a motherboard/bios issue (I would update the BIOS if I could find one. The BIOS version is 4S4EB0X1.11A.0005.P04), or whether the cpu is defective (I doubt it). When I stick the old cpu back it, everything's fine again. But recently, I noticed that the cpu selection speed in the BIOS/CMOS configuration only goes up to 450mhz (even though the manual says the motherboard is prepared for 500mhz cpus, and the Pentium III model I have is a 500mhz SL35E). Was I inadvertently pushing the motherboard or BIOS beyond its capabilities? If so, would I have better luck with a 450mhz version? (Though would it be really worth it if only the 450mhz version works?)

Do I absolutely have to update the BIOS for it to work at all? I searched for an updated BIOS but couldn't find one. I did find an Intel BIOS for this chipset (82440BX), but I think my motherboard is OEM, so there's no guarantee it would work and if it doesn't, I'd have killed the motherboard.


Packard Bell MediaBlaster 1 motherboard
192MB RAM
ATI Xpert98 AGP2X 8MB
235w psu (12v: 8A, 5v: 22A, 3.3v: 14A, -5v: 0.3A can't remember what the 5vsb and -12v rails were (but I don't think they (or any of the others) are important in this problem))


I know that it's an old computer that's probably not worth upgrading anyway, but I just wondered if anyone could provide any additional insight.

Thanks

Adam

[Computer_Commando]

Pentium II 450mhz SL2U7
Pentium III 500mhz SL35E
Since both these CPU's are Slot 1 & 100MHz bus speed, with fixed clock multipliers, it must be the motherboard and/or BIOS that doesn't support it.  If it's hanging on the RAM test, it might have set itself to a clock speed of 133Mhz, but that's just a guess.  Most branded computers have no capability for reconfiguring hardware.  If Pentium III is detected as Pentium II, that's a good sign for it not working.

[Adam]

Thanks

I forgot to mention that I tried setting the BIOS to quickboot (therefore bypassing the RAM test), but it still hangs during POST.

The fact that the cpu speed spelection only goes up to 450mhz and it hangs during POST, strongly suggest to me that while the motherboard may be ready for 500mhz, the BIOS isn't. That and the information I found here suggests that the 450mhz version might work. I also know that Deschutes and Katmai are almost the same except for SSE. It can't be completely incompatible or it wouldn't work at all I would probably just get a blank screen.

The BIOS detects it as 'Pentium II 500MHz' even though the cpu speed selection only goes up to 450mhz. I think there's a strong possibility that it's being forced to run faster than the BIOS supports and that's what's causing it to hang.

I might try the 450mhz version. Though I'd still like a second opinion in case there's something I've missed.

Thanks again

Adam

[Spoiler]

What is the make and model of the motherboard?

[Adam]

What is the make and model of the motherboard?

Packard Bell MediaBlaster 1 motherboard

[Computer_Commando]

Packard Bell doesn't make motherboards.  Probably MSI-xxxx printed on the motherboard.
This may help to identify it:  http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

[Adam]

I couldn't find any marking on the motherboard. Everything about the motherboard matches the description of a "Packard Bell MediaBlaster Motherboard (version 1)" from the manual. Cpu-z says I have an Intel Corporation SE440BX motherboard. However, I found out what model of Platinum I have. It's a 2030. I searched and according to this, my motherboard is a MSI 6119 Tacoma.

[Computer_Commando]

I couldn't find any marking on the motherboard....my motherboard is a MSI 6119 Tacoma...

There must be markings on it somewhere, sometimes between the slots.
That's what we need to know, and here's MSI's support page:
http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=1&prod_no=332
It seems the PB BIOS is locked to the PII-450.
If you want to chance burning the MSI BIOS for it, the PIII-500 Katmai is supported.

[Adam]

The BIOSes available there are Award or AMI. My BIOS is Phoenix (PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0). I think my motherboard is OEM as there's no mention in the manual about it being made by MSI. If it is, there's no guarantee that any of them would work. 

I still think the 450mhz version may work though (because Katmai is almost the same as Deschutes).

[patio]

Actually they were quite different...

[Adam]

Actually they were quite different...

  How so?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_3#Katmai

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium-III/TYPE-Pentium%20III%20%28Katmai%29.html

These seem to say they are very similar.

[patio]

The only differences were the addition of execution units and the modification of instruction decode and issue logic to support SSE; as well as an improved L1 cache controller -

This in itself is a big difference...

[Adam]

Well, they can't be that different or the BIOS wouldn't have recognised it at all.

I might still try the 450mhz version. (I would try underclocking this one if it wasn't locked)

[woodrock]

HI



Lots of things can cause a hang. Obviously re-installing Windows from scratch didn't help, and if that's the only reason you re-installed Windows you have wasted your time.

Usually a hang is caused by something hardware related.
REMOVE the power to your case/power supply.
Open up your case.
- a poor connection inside your case. Make sure all connectors and cards and the ram are properly seated. All data cables connected to hard drives capable of UDMA 66 or greater must be 80 wire ones. If in doubt, unplug, plug back in - be careful unplugging data cable connectors - if they are tight, pull on a strap if available rather than the cable itself if it has that, or pull on the center of the data cable - it is easy to rip the data cable and break wires if you pull on either side.
- a poor connection in your ram slots - See response 2 in this - try cleaning the contacts on the modules, etc.

- overheating of your cpu. Make sure the cpu fan and heat sink are reasonably clean.

When you boot with the case open, the cpu fan should spin the speed it is supposed to, and not make any rattling or screeching noises which are most likely to happen when the computer is booted after have being off for a long time. If you're not sure whether the cpu fan is spinning it's properly speed, look at the current rpm reading in the bios Setup hardware monitoring information when the computer is running - the rpm should not vary much. In the same place you can check whether the cpu temperature is reasonable - best done when the computer is thuroughly warmed up.
- if you have ever had to replace a defective cpu fan, the cpu may have been damaged while the cpu fan was defective.

- your power supply is defective. Failing power supplies are common and can cause your symptoms.
Check your PS.


- a hard drive that is starting to fail - check your hard drive.
See the latter part of response 1 in this:

Less likely but quite possible.....

- a CD drive that is starting to fail - e.g. you may get delays if there is a CD in the drive and the drive motor can no longer spin properly, or even without a CD in a drive if the logic board on the drive is defective - disconnect the data cable to the CD drive(s) and try your computer for a while.

- something on your computer was damaged by a power spike or surge and your computer was not protected from that, or is not protected from that now. Everything connected to your computer should be protected - including the AC supply to your printer, router, high speed modem, etc., and the cable that connects you to the internet and/or to a fax modem - coaxial or telephone.


Make sure the bios settings are set to default ...


please make sure  whether  ur getting any beep code.

so wat  u can do here is u can try with all the steps and getback to computer hopes we will help u with that