Can Processor work without the Internal Cache?

Here's the details. I had a terrible time installing Win98 and in fact never did finish after 10 gruelling hours, I called MS support. The result was this quote from the synopsis email after the call:

..."Summary of Key Points:

Problem Description:
Install win98

SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to preform a clean install of Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

IT WAS THIS ONE---> "SUWIN caused a general protection fault in module user.exe @
<address>" -or-

"SUWIN caused a general protection fault in module setupx.dll @ <address>"

When you click okay, setup exits.

CAUSE
=====

The internal cache on the processor is going bad. This is most noticeable when Setup has a problem during file copy phase.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, disable the external cache (also known as "L2" , "CPU cache", or "Processor cache") in CMOS. For information about how to do so, refer
to the Documentation included with your computer or contact your hardware manufacturer. *** Note: *** Enabling the processor cache after setup is complete
will cause fatal 0E's and 0D's

Thank you for choosing Microsoft

Sincerly,
Eduardo M Gomez V-2EDG
Windows 9x Tech Support..."

MY QUESTION IS:

How do I ..."disable the external cache..." and will the computer function normally? If so, for how long?

Thanks..
Cyndy

The computer will function, however you will
probably see a noticeable reduction in
performance.

To get into CMOS setup, turn on the computer,
the first screen you see will probably say
to hit a certain key to enter setup. It is
usually the Del or Esc key.
Just look thru the screens, usually the
advanced screen, until you see an L2 Cache
option. The bottom of the screen will tell
you how to change the settings.

Sure, go to the BIOS > Advanced BIOS Features > CPU Level 2 Cache (or external Cache).

BIOS varies from one motherboard to another so the heading and location of the selections may be different from what I wrote above. Just dig around in the BIOS to find them.

Here is an screen shot:
http://www.all-about-pc.de/english/H...vancedbios.jpg

It'll still work disabling the L2 cache but of course it doesn't mean that it works well. May be it's time to upgrade the CPU.

[This message has been edited by falcon2000 (edited 08-24-2001).]

Thank you, I am trying to sell it this weekend. Oh well. I will see how it goes, and maybe do it next week if it doesn't sell. I am pretty motivated to sell it. I don't need 3 computers! What would be a good rock bottom price for it and a 15 inch monitor, 128Ram, keyboard, mouse and speakers, loaded with Win98, all updates and Norton? $200 $250 $300, $350?

Well, that didn't work. I get to setup.exe and it comes up as a bad command or file name. I'm stumped, any ideas?

I just use setup.
setup.exe gives me a error also.
After format /s I reboot
Say yes to cdrom support
A:\>d: [my cdrom letter]
D:\>setup
once in a while when that bounces I need to use E:\ as a ram drive is in there.
Just ideas.

------------------
SMILE
and post back
[ Book mark this post to find it again]