boot up screen

[MBurke]

Hello, I have Window XP home and Intel P4 , I replaced my power supply and now when I boot up it stops on the black screen and tells me

CPU is unworkable or has been changed Please check cpu soft menu

Then It has the F1 to continue or (what ever ) to enter setup

I just hit F1 and it continues to boot up and everything seems to be working fine.
What doe's the CPU message mean ?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Bozo Galora]

It means your PSU doesnt have enough amps for the boot spike, or fast enough rise time, to do a cold boot - thats why a warm boot works
Um, since you noticed this behavior after switching PSU's, dont you think it would be logical to mention when asking for help which 2 PSU are involved here, and why you changed?

 

[VinDSL]

Um... View Posts is your friend!

He had a Sparkle FSP550, and replaced it with a Corsair 400CX from Newegg.

The power was going wonky - computer was shutting down - lamps on the front of his case wouldn't light up.

He was going to buy a Corsair 550VX, but someone on Anandtech convinced him it was overkill - and it was! The 400CX should be plenty.

At least, that's what I'm reading - doing a little forensics!

Personally, I *think* his mobo has leaky caps (remember those days?) but it's hard to tell without seeing some pics...

MBurke, when you sniff around inside your case, does it have a sweet, vinegary smell?

Can you see any white crust or brown oozing around your electrolytic capacitors? Are the tops bulging?

EDIT: Here's a link for you: http://www.badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5 (Bad Caps dot Net)

Look at the "System Faults"... Sound familiar?

 

[Bozo Galora]

um, you're kidding right?
I'm supposed to go look at his post history to get more info?
Um, I dont think so.
Since you are so intimate with his daily life, why dont you just help him by PM?

geez louise!!!!

 

[Dahak]

If you have changed power supplies double check to make sure you have re-connected the 2x2 plug that most boards need. I have does it myself sometimes forgetting that connector

 

[MBurke]

You are a very good detective vinDSL :thumbsup:
I see nothing like that in my case or around any of the MB stuff, or none of the system faults are happening to me.

I have done some searching also and see alot of talk about the Cmos Battery.

I forgot to mention that I did replace mine (cmos) battery. I thought it was bad when I was haveing trouble before I figerd it was the PS. I have seen it suggested to take the battery out for 45 min and the bios would reset itself....Is that right ? If this is the case and I do take the battery out for 45 min I'M guessing I need to unplug the power from the wall ?
Thanks
Mike

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
um, you're kidding right?
I'm supposed to go look at his post history to get more info?
Um, I dont think so.

LoL!

You don't have a problem looking up the answer on Google... :laugh:

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: MBurke
You are a very good detective vinDSL :thumbsup:

I have done some searching also and see alot of talk about the Cmos Battery.

I have seen it suggested to take the battery out for 45 min and the bios would reset itself....Is that right ? If this is the case and I do take the battery out for 45 min I'M guessing I need to unplug the power from the wall ?

Heh! I can find out anything about anybody, on the Internet - unless they're purposely trying to hide their identity. Just takes a little practice.

On topic, it all depends on the mobo, but...

In the olden days, the '5-year' CMOS battery was soldered to the mobo. LoL! Sometimes they only lasted 5-weeks...

What I used to do is desolder the battery and replace it with a AAA(x3) battery holder with pigtails. You can get these holders at Radio Shack for (like) a buck, then just use regular Duracells.

EDIT Here you go: http://www.radioshack.com/prod....jsp?productId=2102735 (Buck seventy-nine now)

In those days, the mobo had jumper pins next to the battery holder. To clear CMOS, all you had to do was shunt the pins for 30-seconds, or whatever. Most of the recent mobos I've seen, with replaceable button-cells, still have the 'shorting' pins on them.

Regardless of how you remove the power, a minute or two should be plenty.

 

[MBurke]

I'll try this again.....Please confirm
If I replace my Cmos battery and then get this message during boot up
CPU is unworkable or has been changed Please check cpu soft menu
Do need to reset the bios ?
Will it reset it's self if I take the battery out for 45 min and then replace it ?
Do I need to unplug power from the wall ?
Thanks

ps....got caught between post.....
I have a Abit IC7 Max 3 mb
the battery is not solderd in...its just clips into a simple holder. I bought a replacment one at the camera store.

 

[Blazer]

could it be that since you removed the battery and all bios setting were erased that you need to setup all bios settings again, folow the mobo manual to reset the bios, including the proc freq.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: MBurke
I have a Abit IC7 Max 3 mb

Originally posted by: blazer
could it be that since you removed the battery and all bios setting were erased that you need to setup all bios settings again, folow the mobo manual to reset the bios, including the proc freq.

True!

I knew the OP had a IC7 Max 3, that's why I suggested bad caps might be the problem...

I looked for months, trying to find a good (used) Max 3, but ran across a DFI LanParty PRO875B and went with it instead (see the System Rig in my sig for more info).

Anyway, yes, the BIOS in these old war horses are VERY complicated and easy to misconfigure.

Replacing the battery could easily have messed things up!

It might be something as simple as your RAM voltage being set too low...

Have you stepped through all the settings in BIOS and made sure they're correct?

 

[MBurke]

I have done nothing , I hate to admit it but I know nothing about setting bios. Looks like I might have to call in a professional. I have the users manual but l don't want to misconfigure anything.

 

[VinDSL]

Well...

There should be something in BIOS that you can click - that will return everything to the default values and/or the optimal values (however they phrase it with your mobo).

I would try that first - choose reset to default or optimum values - save and reboot.

That'll get you into the ballpark...

The thing is, if you have high-performance RAM (like my Ballistics) the default voltage on many mobos won't allow it to boot properly, if at all. In that case, you'll need to up the RAM voltage - save and reboot.

For instance, I think the RAM voltage on my LanParty defaults to 1.6v which is fine for shitty everyday RAM, but my Ballistics require 2.2v.

LoL! I'm doing this from (my) memory, no pun intended, so don't quote me on the numbers - I'm in the bedroom on my Mint 7 powered Asus Eee PC right now.

Anyway, that should give you the idea...

 

[VinDSL]

Heh! That reminds me...

I need to add this Netbook to my Sysem Rigs profile!

Thanks, MBurke!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
The thing is, if you have high-performance RAM (like my Ballistics) the default voltage on many mobos won't allow it to boot properly, if at all. In that case, you'll need to up the RAM voltage - save and reboot.

For instance, I think the RAM voltage on my LanParty defaults to 1.6v which is fine for shitty everyday RAM, but my Ballistics require 2.2v.

LoL! I'm doing this from (my) memory, no pun intended, so don't quote me on the numbers - I'm in the bedroom on my Mint 7 powered Asus Eee PC right now.

DDR nominal voltage is 2.5v, DDR2 nominal voltage is 1.8v, DDR3 nominal voltage is 1.5v.