A7V problem! Solved! Thanks to Anandtech Forum guys!!!

[Darcworx]

My System:
A7V (1.02 with 1.004bios), T-bird 900, 128MB PC133 TwinMOS, IBM 30Gb, ASUS 6800 DDR, Sony CD-Rom.

My Problem:
After the scandisk whilst running Windows Installation for 98SE, the system will attempt to copy setup files in the dos screen, and then displays: Standard Mode: Fault in MSDOS Extender

I can get windows to install if I underclock the processor from 900 to 855. But then there would be no point in buying the 900 would there?

Hope someone can suggest a solution.

 

[fast0]

I have the EXACT same problem
I had to lower my DRAM frequency from 100Mhz (PC100 RAM) to 95MHz.. overcourse this cost me a speed penalty.

It took me over a day to figure out what was wrong, I thought it was crappy RAM?

Specs
-----
Thunderbird 850
ASUS A7V
128MB Generic PC100 RAM
Diamond TNT2U
SB128
LinkSys 10/100 Ethernet
Western Digital AC313000

 

[Darcworx]

Overheating maybe? I was checking with the shop I got the parts from, the very helpful owner stipulated that my CPU was overheating. on checking, with 1004 bios and board revision 1.02 I am at 45deg Celsius on the MB, and a whopping 81deg Celsius. He says that's too hot, hence the need to underclock... You checked the bad RAM possibility? I don't happen to have any sticks of RAM lying around so I didn't check that...

 

[sleepdragon]

what kind of hsf are you using??? 81 degree c really is too hot...

 

[fast0]

The really strange thing is the first time I migrated my system to my new Mobo/Processor, windows detected all the new hardware all fine and dandy, except when I decided to reinstall windows it completely choked, so I'm thinking its a heat issue.

I installed an extra case fan right above the processor, but I haven't had a chance to try bringing my system back up to spec yet. my 805 doesn't make much difference in speed though, since I'm using a TNT2 Ultra, I get identical frame rates in quake III

Temperature in Windows: 60C Mobo is 34'ish

 

[Engineer]

The first thing I would suggest is to flash back to 1.002 BIOS as the 1.004a bios sucks...

I think this is a cooling issue. Maybe not only the CPU, but the motherboard as well. Try adding a few case fans (inlet and exhaust) or upgrading your case fans to larger sizes. My 1GHz Tbird runs stably at full load (24/7 running RC5 and other stuff) at a temp of 48C with MB temp of 33-35C depending on room temp. Using PAL6034 with Sunon 24CFM fan. 2 - 80mm case fans (one in, one out), 80mm PS fan (out), and 2 - 92mm blowhole fans (one in toward motherboard/CPU, one out at the top).

Good Luck!

 

[Darcworx]

Thanks guys! Problem solved! It was a really dumb oversight on my part. The thermaltake heatsink and fan I was using has TWO plastic pieces on top of the thermal compund. I only removed one and didn't notice the other.

Now the temps are M/B 42, CPU 55.

Running at 900/133, installed windows without a glitch. Gonna try out some 3d games etc and see how it goes. More cooling perhaps.

Once again, thanks for the help.

Fasto=> How's your system doing? tried clocking back to 100MHZ internal yet? Keep us posted- You should clock it to 850 cos that's what you paid for!

 

[fast0]

I just got home.. and I decided to try out my system with the extra case fan I mounted *RIGHT* behind the processor. (Its blowing out, I wish I had a fan that was sucking somewhere else)..

Brought my DRAM Frequency up to 100MHz, and I'm typing to y'all at 850MHz Watching the temperature very closely. The CPU is at 65C.

I'm using a Thermaltake Gorb.. (kudos, once again, to johnnyguru for the excellent document I spent hours reading closely (I cracked my first one)).

A night of RC5 should be the telltale sign of stability!

 

[fast0]

Unfortuantely, 2 minutes after I typed my message yesterday, "Explorer has caused an invalid page fault in module GDI.EXE" .. NOOO! Followed promptly by a bluescreen of death.

Today, I thought of the oscillating fan we have lying around.
*sets up computer with oscillating fan beside it*

*watches temperature drop 15C*
*watches computer be completely stable at 850MHz*
*will try and order a Alpha 6035 with 38CFM fan when someone actually has them in stock*