where's Waldo?! Can you spot the Culprit in my System rig?

[Fugifighter]

First, I've lost my 9x and 9.5x and 10x multipliers!! they turn into 7x and 7.5x.

Secondly, I'm getting periodic messages from BIOS saying that my CPU multiplier failed and that i have to reset it.
It waits at the first post til i hit continue or Del to go into Bios. Of course I go back in and the only thing that is changed is
my multiplier and FSB. They are back to Default settings of 133 and "auto" for multiplier. my voltage settinsg are all the same.

I am able to overclock my 1800XP to 1.6GHz with no problem but if i shut down for the night and then boot up the next morning i will get
that message saying that my multiplier is gone and i will have to re configure it. My system is fine otherwise. Solid as a rock in games and
just windows.

My system specs are as follows: (the important parts)

1800XP athlon
Epox 8k3a (non-raid)
Corsair XMS PC 3000 stick of 512
40 gig IBM 60GXP
Radeon 32DDR (OLD SCHOOL BABY!) newest Catylist drivers
SB Live!
Windows XP Pro SP1
Antec TruPower 380
Plextor 8/20
Ultraplex 40

case temp 33 C
CPU temp 58 C
5 rail is at a constant 4.95v
12 rail is at a constant 11.86v
CPU volt when overclocking is set at 1.80v
now at default 1.75

Here's what i've done so far:
when i got my athlon, a friend bought one too so he connected the bridges on both chips so we could both change our multipliers.
As soon as i got my chip, i slapped it in and ran it up at 166 FSB and 9.5 multiplier givng me a nice speed of 1577. All was running well
cept about3 months ago I lose my 95x multiplier! I get pissed off cuz i cant run at 166FSB but then i get over it and go back to 133 and
12x multiplier. Well all is fine and dandy cept recently i've been getting those messages while booting up that the CPU mulitplier is failing.
It happens after my Hard Drives are detected. then it just sits there staring at me. It's getting annoying. I'd keep my computer running 24/7
cept i've moved off campus and now i have to pay for electricity and I dont have Central A/C like before.
I've tried Flashing my motherboard bios to the most current version but that has done nothing. I've tried raising volts but nothing.
I've even tested with default CPU multiplier and using 134 as FSB and it still gives me the message after i boot up from shutting down the previous
night. right now i'm running default settings which is 133 FSB and default Multiplier. I'll shut down tonite and try it in the morning to see if i still
get that message.

So AT Geniuses, what do you think is the problem?
Anything else i should try?i'm hessitant to say it could be the motherboard cuz it's brand new and it's been working without any other problems.
could it be the bridges on my athlon wearing out?
Thanks for your Thoughts!

Fugi

 

[Zepper]

What did your friend use to connect the bridges? And did he check it real good with high power magnification to make sure of no cross-connections between bridges? If he used a regular no.2 pencil, well DUH... This is one place where slap-dash marginal techniques won't cut it, at least for long.
.bh.
:Q

 

[Fugifighter]

He used some conductive paint i think. Then he taped it up like in that Tom's Hardware Guide video. I saw him fill in the trench with superglue but i wasnt there for the connecting of bridges. He's a computer Engineer so he had the Ohm meter and everthing going and he said it all checked out. His is still running fine i think but he hasnt over clocked it much. should i take off the HSF and check the bridges? They looked fine when i installed it on my mobo

Fugi

 

[microAmp]

Have your friend re-ohm it while you are there, go to Toms Hardware yourself and see how they did it. So when you are watching it'll be two minds knowing and seeing what is going on, or just in case your friend had it slightly wrong; never know.

If all checks out..... last resort, after trying everyone else's suggestion, retry connecting the bridges.

 

[Fugifighter]

If the bridges are fine, that narrows it down to motherboard and PSU right? but why if i had my bios set to auto for multiplier and 134 for FSB would it tell me my multiplier setting failed? I'll try the ideas though, thanks!!!

Fugi