Hi, I recently got a new CPU and its a INTEL PENTIUM 4 3.0 E GHZ PROCESSOR S478 800FSB P4 1MB CACHE from NCIX.com. I thought it was identical to the P4 3.0 GHz CPU that came with my Dell Dimension 8300, but everytime I to boot Windows it says "Invalid Configuration Information, Please Run SETUP Again" and then "diskette Drive 0 Seek Failure". I unplugged all but my primary master drive and keyboard. When I try to press F2 to get into the BIOS, the PC won't give me the chance. It makes a few beeping sounds and gives that same error message. Please don't tell me my new CPU is incompatible with my Mobo...
Any ideas?

Edit - Oh, and is it normal for the heatsink to be so hot that you can't touch it?

well if your heatsink is extreamily hot then i will asume you havce a prescot core p4 in witch case your motherboard may not support it as it sounds like thats whats happening
also you may want to look for a new heatsink because apperently your current one is not good enough for the prescots increased heat output may i recomend a xp-90 or xp-90c heatsink these are very good ones i have the copper version and when i touch it it dosent even feel warm!
you may want to try a bios update to and see if theres a fix fothatsr your board otherwise you may need a new one

It's a Prescott..they tend to get really hot..especially if you are using stock cooler.

As for the compability issue, only thing I could think of is that you have a CPU with 1mbL2 Cache...from what I understand DELL are shipping the 8300 with a CPU with 512kbL2 Cache...DELL has allways some weird stuff implemented in their hardware...

spazmire11, yeah I think it's a Prescott. The CPU came with this better heatsink with a fan that's heavier but it won't fit on the socket with the support bracket that's currently in place.

Clint, I managed to get rid of the Invalid Config Info by switching IDE cables. I also managed to get rid of the diskette drive 0 seek failure" message by putting my floppy drive back in. However, I removed Floppy support with nLite and used to have floppy out. I guess with the new CPU maybe BIOS changes were made? However, Windows still won't boot. The BIOS load or whatever hangs at the very end and I still get 2 beeping sounds instead of 4, F2, F12 (Setup - BIOS, and Boot Options) don't work.
Any other ideas?

hmm, actually no..other than a faulty CPU...I had very similar issues wit my 3.4 a while ago.

INTEL in UK did send me 2 CPU's so I can't say I'm too upset about it..

u need to reinstall windows, windows saves ur hardware configuration and if u change something then u may have to reinstall windows

dell sucks!

they have an 'dell' chip implanted on their mobo's where the fsb and so on is described!

i don't know exactly what is in the chip, only that the chip is the reason that you can't overclock any dell, so i guess that the originally cpu is described in the chip and more!

advice: buy an new mobo AND PSU, the separate parts of the dell can you use for a new to build computer.
also the psu, its, again, a dell psu wich you can not use in another computer!

actually its not a dell psu, as far as i know the only part of the computer that dell makes it the case, they just take parts from other companies and put it together

i warn you, YOU CAN'T CHANGE AN DELL PSU AGAINST ANOTHER BRAND!!

furtheron, dell order the mobo's, intel, confirm DELL'S SPECIFICATIONS!!

but if you will know it better...................., let me the know the results, in the meantime i will warn the fire-brigade for you!!!!!!!!

Jeremy 2 beeps is hardware problems not software.

janjansen can u please use complete words, i have no clue waht ur trying to say

so you have a prebuilt computer that you put the new proc in right?
if so the manufacturer may have used a proprietery cooling method, this would be bad the reason the hsf is so hot is because it is not to take all of that heat you havent fried your prescot tho since i belive there is thermal throughtaling on the chip however you NEED a better hsf since your current bracket dose not fit a new hsf i recomend you get a new hsf maybe a xp-90 its like 40 bucks and is a very nice hsf
however you may have other problems look for a bios update too this may help with any compatiblaty issues

Well, the Antec case came with a new PSU. I won't ever get a Northwood again since Intel discontinued them, and I don't think the new heatsink will fit in the support bracket. I could try, but I think I'm looking at a new mobo... so I'll be getting a part-time job soon and saving up for a DFI mobo.
But really sucks my situation...
Uhm, BIOS doesn't load all the way and I put my hardware back to how I had it before the PC messed up and said "diskette drive 0 seek failure" so I put in the floppy and now no errors BUT it won't let me into Setup or anything. I press F2 on the keyboard but it beeps more. Is it because the CPU gets too hot?
If anyone knows any BIOS tricks let me know.

hope this helps




THE POST TEST

Each time the computer boots up the computer must past the POST. The following is the procedure of the POST:

1. The first step of POST is the testing of the Power Supply to ensure that it is turned on and that it releases its reset signal.
2. CPU must exit the reset status mode and thereafter be able to execute instructions.
3. BIOS must be have readable.
4. BIOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable.
5. CMOS be accessible for reading.
6. CMOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable.
7. CPU must be able to read all forms of memory such as the memory controller, memory bus, and memory module.
8. The first 64KB of memory must be operational and have the capability to be read and written to and from, and capable of containing the POST code.
9. I/O bus / controller must be accessible.
10. I/O bus must be able to write / read from the video subsystem and be able to read all video RAM..

If the computer does not pass any of the above tests your computer will receive an irregular POST. An irregular POST is a beep code which is different from the standard which can be either no beeps at all or a combination of different beeps indicating what is causing the computer not to past the POST.

INDEX



Category:
BIOS

Companies:
None

Related Pages:
AMI BIOS
Phoenix BIOS





RESOLVED



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AMI BIOS BEEP CODES

The following are AMI BIOS Beep Codes that can occur. However because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code Descriptions
1 short DRAM refresh failure
2 short Parity circuit failure
3 short Base 64K RAM failure
4 short System timer failure
5 short Process failure
6 short Keyboard controller Gate A20 error
7 short Virtual mode exception error
8 short Display memory Read/Write test failure
9 short ROM BIOS checksum failure
10 short CMOS shutdown Read/Write error
11 short Cache Memory error
1 long, 3 short Conventional/Extended memory failure
1 long, 8 short Display/Retrace test failed

AWARD BIOS BEEP CODES

The following are Award BIOS Beep Codes that can occur. However because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code Description
1 long, 2 short Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information
Any other beep(s) RAM problem.

If any other correctable hardware issues the BIOS will display a message.



IBM BIOS

The following are IBM BIOS Beep Codes that can occur. However because of the wide variety of models shipping with this BIOS the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code Description
No Beeps No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
1 Short Beep Normal POST, computer is ok.
2 Short Beep POST error, review screen for error code.
Continuous Beep No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
Repeating Short Beep No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
One Long and one Short Beep Motherboard issue.
One Long and Two short Beeps Video (Mono/CGA Display Circuitry) issue.
One Long and Three Short Beeps. Video (EGA) Display Circuitry.
Three Long Beeps Keyboard / Keyboard card error.
One Beep, Blank or Incorrect Display Video Display Circucuit

2 Beeps: Parity circuit failure

Explanation: The parity circuit is responsible for generating and checking the parity bit on the system memory when parity checking is used. This circuitry is not working properly.

Diagnosis: This code usually means a problem with either the system memory or the motherboard.

This guy is right, you will need to Re-install - the fact that the PC boots proves that the chip is working, but XP saves Hardware config, so just run a re-install

But make sure you use a normal XP disk NOT dell's installation CD.

and just to prove our story, type hardware change on windows XP on google

No, I'ts more to it than that I'm afraid....we are dealing with DELL here...

yeah!

Uhm, BIOS doesn't load all the way and I put my hardware back to how I had it before the PC messed up and said "diskette drive 0 seek failure" so I put in the floppy and now no errors BUT it won't let me into Setup or anything. I press F2 on the keyboard but it beeps more. Is it because the CPU gets too hot?
If anyone knows any BIOS tricks let me know.

Jeremy the easiest thing to do at this point is to reflash the memory if possible. You said your old system was a Dell and you used the mobo out of the Dell. The mobo is propietery meaning if your new case came with a power supply it will not be entirely compatable with mobo. Try using power supply from your Dell just to see if this fixes your problem. If it does all is good if not you may have to search further.
The only "brand name" computers that are not as properiety are Gatway and sometimes they may act a little funny when using non Gateway parts.
But anyway try your Dell power supply

"diskette Drive 0 Seek Failure"

drive 0 means that it is ur hdd, i dont know why it says diskette unless dell likes to mess around with stuff, ur hdd might have gone then

and are u able to use ur xp cd? and like i said before u will need to reinstall

I can't get anywhere when I turn this thing on, though. BIOS load doesn't go all the way and I can't do anything with the keyboard. Use the Dell PSU? Didn't think of that... will let you know, thanks.

Edit - Tried other PSU, same issue. The only difference in hardware is the CPU. My old was Northwood, this one is Prescott, what else can I do?

my last posting about this issue:

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING/MODIFYING ANY DELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

only the separate parts including de cpu, memory and so on, WITHOUT THE PSU can you use to build a new computer.

I am a little man on this specific issue but the best of.............. has broken their heads on it so don't think that you can do what nobody else could do!

hope that's clear but..................................................................................... my hope will be false?

So if the original CPU is Northwood and the new one is Prescott, that's not going to work? I mean, the PC starts and BIOS loads... almost. Maybe it gets too hot? Like I think I said before, I have a new heatsink but I don't know if it will fit. I tried and I couldn't get it to go down all the way.

Sorry Jeremy I am at a complete loss. I repair computers and have come across many issues both sofware and hardware.
Can you clear cmos and reflash it? Clean memory sticks with a pencil erasor on the brass ends?
I wish you the best and when you resolve could you post how you did it so if I come across this I can repair it.
Thanks

i did say to clear the cmos before but i didnt think that he did it

i do think that u will need to get a new mobo tho, most oem comps only allow u to upgrade the ram and if ur lucky the vid card

Yeah, I can live with waiting longer if it means I'll end up with a sweet DFI mobo.
And I won't be using that old Dell PSU since it uh.... exploded.
Guess I'll be using my girlfriend's PC for another month or so.

u fried the psu? lol, well what dfi board are u getting, i dont think that they have any s478 boards?

I don't know which one I'll get but regardless, it won't be for a while (month or so or more). Yes, DFI does have some S478 mobos.

Did you hard reset your cmos by clearing your battery then goung into bios?

i still dont think hes done that, 4th time its been said, 2x by me

Sorry guys, how do I do that?

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/7733
look in ur manual, it should say

It's either a jumper that you move over a couple of pins or removing a watch sized battery for about 30 seconds. That will set everything in BIOS back to default values.

This is not really related to the problem you have but you MAY face it once you get past this whole bios stage. (And yes, Flashing your CMOS will most likely fix the problem i believe).

If you have your old CPU, this should fix the problem

http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Article...=read&arc_id=36

Let us know how it goes.

I have my old CPU, but it's broken. It's now like a 475.5 pin, lol. One pin is missing and 2 others are bent. My friend told me my mobo might not even support Prescott CPUs...

and he is very right some s478 mobos dont support prescots
if you had a lot of time on your hands you could get that 475.5 pin proc working but thats alot of effort
just get a new motherboard
like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131464
this is one of the better motherboards from what i have heard

I get my stuff from NCIX.com and I'll be getting a DFI board when I can afford it.

I'm getting this DFI mobo soon.

very nice