mobo or cpu?

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January 27th, 2005, 11:16 PM
coops

mobo or cpu?

Hi there.
i have been having problems with my computer restarting and/or not starting at all. Motherboard is Asus P4PE and processor is P4-2.4ghz. I use pc2100 DDR RAM - 3 sticks. A few weeks ago it started not wanting to boot or would restart while loading security settings. the other day a blue screen stop error(inaccessible boot device) came up. I put that hard drive in another unit to access the files and it works fine.
In the trouble machine I put in another HD and tried to install Win2k server and pro. both would only get to the Inspecting computer hardware configuration screen then reboot. On reboot it usually goes to the BIOS and the page with the CPU configuration. On the right hand in red is this "During the last boot-up, your system hung for an improper CPU Speed setting. Your system is now working in safe mode. To optimize system performance and reliability, make sure the CPU conforms to the specifications of your CPU.
I have tried both manual setup and the 2400 setting that is there.
I am thinking mobo but this red error in the BIOS has me thinking maybe CPU. what are your thoughts? thanks
Brent
January 28th, 2005, 04:33 AM
photolady

coops, I think you might get faster and better help here in the Computer Hardware forum rather than win2k forum, as this seems to be hardware related rather than software related.
January 28th, 2005, 09:34 AM
photolady

Are there any extra letters after the model of that board? I can't find any reference for a P4PE board, but several P4PE-X, P4PE-X/SE etc.
January 28th, 2005, 09:45 AM
DrMDJ

P4PE
January 28th, 2005, 09:55 AM
photolady

Thanks Doc. I did do a search for that board on Asus's site before giving up and still it kept sending me to the X version. :confused:
January 28th, 2005, 10:22 AM
photolady

coops, you need to check your settings in the BIOS. Look under Advanced Menu, then CPU External Frequency, if it says 100mhz, it needs to be either 133 or 200. This is dependant on the FSB of your CPU, 133 for 533FSB and 200 for 800FSB. Default value is set at 100mhz.
January 28th, 2005, 10:30 AM
coops

thanks Photolady for the reply and moving this to the appropriate place.
the FSB is 533 and the external frequency is set for 133 when I pick CPU speed of 2400 and begins at 133 in the manual setting.
I updated the BIOS last night and the same thing happened. :(
January 28th, 2005, 12:54 PM
coops

well me thinks it is/was the power supply. just did a quick swap while on coffee break and it booted just fine, went to install and was going strong when i left. but why would it go into BIOS when it started? one of those computer related mysteries i guess. now when i return home in a couple of hours i can check it's progress.
January 28th, 2005, 02:59 PM
photolady

Quote:

one of those computer related mysteries

That would be my guess too. One never knows always, why computers do what they do. I've never known one to boot the BIOS if it was a power supply problem, especially when it kept tellling you, your cpu speed was off. Someone else may have that answer, so keep in touch so you'll know for sure. I hope it was the power supply, an easier fix. ;)
January 28th, 2005, 04:08 PM
coops

well three hours and complete install of 2000 server. i am thinking it is the power supply (hope so because i just bought a new one) thanks for your help
January 28th, 2005, 07:51 PM
photolady

That's good news coops. I hope it was the power supply also and sure sounds like that's what it was.