Help with CPU

[DrkAgnt]

Well I just recently recieved my parts for my CPU earlier today. Which consisted of a HDD/Controller and a HDD cooler. I got the HDD installed fine, the OS is installed fine. Now when i go to boot up my CPU it locks up @ the login. I took out the RAM cards that were in it and put in a shitty 256MB card and the CPU made it to the desktop but froze shortly after i accessed a webpage or 2. I then proceeded to put the HDD in another CPU as a test and it ran fine. So i'm thinking I have bad memory but I used the same memory that's in this CPU in my other one and still the same exact f*cking problem. Can someone please help me with this issue, if you have any test runs i should try or any possible answer to what the problem may be. I'm currently lost right now in my CPU trying to find my way out. It's really hard to even diagnose the problem when i can't even boot the thing.

[SpAzErMaN]

Board type, CPU type, memory type.
just for starters.

[DrkAgnt]

Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz Processor H/T Technology with 800MHz Frontside Bus
512MB PC3200 DDR Memory
160GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
4x DVD+RW Burner and 48x CD-ROM Optical Drives
Integrated AC'97 Audio w/o Speakers
NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 Graphics Card with 128MB Memory
v.92 56Kbps Modem and Intel 10/100 Ethernet Port
Six USB 2.0 Ports, Two FireWire Ports and a 7-in-1 Media Card Reader
Windows XP Home Operating System and Microsoft Works 7.0 Suite
Motherboard: P4SD-LA
-----------------------------
RAM
Manufacturer: HP
Family: Pavilion
Model: A450n
Speed: PC-3200
Fixed RAM: 0MB
Standard RAM: 512MB
Banks: 2
Maximum RAM: 2GB
Sockets: 2
Chipset: N/A
-----------------------------

Well for some reason, i keep getting an error when i try to install sp26381.exe. Which is the BIOS update for this HP processor.....dated all the way back to 2004 . I also got everything updated..etc. When i try to boot up, with my 2 512's...lock-up right before welcome screen. Take out both 512's and use the 512 it came with, it restarted itself right before the welcome screen the locked up shortly afterwards. Put in another 512 i had, it got passed the welcome screen but shorty froze up after accessing some stuff at the desktop. 2 of the 512's i tested ARE PC3200, so they are compatible. They also work completely fine in the computer i'm currently typing in. So now i'm dreading the fact that it might be the processor or the mobo itself going bad x.x.....Next test would to be buying 2 512's 3200...since they are brand new maybe i'll get something working. But i don't like paying for crap if it's not gonna work. Wahhh, i need more resources.

------------------------------

The CPU is running fine at 42-45(c). Overheating starts at 70 and above. As for SAFE MODE, it runs in safe mode fine, i can get all the way in it and do what i want :/. As for the compatibility, like i said i tried the RAM that came with it, which is the EXACT one that is compatible with it, down the the last detail. Which is the one that is letting me get to the desktop. But freezing shortly after. So i'm guess i should try getting 2x1GB that are compatible with this processor? But seeing as it IS working in Safe Mode, does that bring up any more possibilities of what the problem is and isn't? What can i rule out and what can i still keep in my head that the problem is.

P.S: As for the RAM overheating, the cards ARE kinda hot even after having the CPU running for less then 5 minutes before it freezes. After i froze, i took out the RAM cards and they were a little warm, already. But they weren't scolding hot. So like i said above, what can i rule out/in? lol

[fl00d3d]

General rule of thumb: "if its not broke, don't fix it"

So if you don't have a very specific and urgent need to patch your BiOS then I'd just bypass that installation altogether. Most of the time those sorts of things require you to configure a bootable floppy anyway, rather than a simple file execution (could have a bad installer, too).

Other than that, I'd say that you're having a heating issue. I've had an issue with my PCs in the last 6 months where they freeze up at random places (usually during an OS reload or times of heavy hard drive useage). My guess is overheating. But since you have a coolant system it *could* be a simple HAL issue. So make sure all of your new hardware is compatible with the operating system. Sometimes you need to install special drivers before you install the new hardware.

PCs are very touchy these days, as you've no doubt discovered. If you isolate the problem by ruling out one thing at a time you can usually google the suspect and find some good ideas.

[DrkAgnt]

Well Drkpwn3r has helped me rule it down to ONE SIMPLE THING. Common sense should told me that the damn power supply is going bad. Guess what power supply is in it? A 250w, guess how much power my CPU puts out once it's at an average of 60% load....308w, guess how much power it was putting out on a 2 year old PSU, at 90-100% load? 480w......HP based a Power Supply around the minumum usage of a MULTIMEDIA bases CPU. How stupid can people be, honestly?

Why common sense shoulda told me this? Everytime i put LESS RAM into my motherboard, the CPU got farther. When i had less plugged into the back, the CPU got farther. When i took out a more powerful GFX card and put in a less powerful one, the CPU got farther. So the more power i had connected to the CPU that farther it DIDN'T get. Sad, sometimes i just need to think outside the box instead of the more logical reasons.

I'm gonna order this part:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182002


Once i get it i'll update you guys on how things went. If that still doesn't work, i'm afraid my mobo is gone D:.

Thank You to all that tried to help, your time is greatly appreciated.

[fl00d3d]

Good power supplies are a good investment.

[DrkAgnt]

Yeah have you taken a look at the one i'm gonna buy, I love the shielded wires, fan control, duel fans, not to mention an instant $20 rebate ...

[DrkAgnt]

Well it looks like i'm gonna be investing in some more crap, new poer supply and it still does the same thing. I'm just gonna rebuild the whole thing unless someone has anymore ideas on what the problem may be.(Except for the mobo)

[farnagain]

Good power supplies are a good investment.

amen my new computer is going to be holding an 850W (along with 4GB of super sexy ram)

[danpaul88]

My suggestion: strip it down to basics (no card readers or other fancy gadgets) and try and boot it then. Windows often freezes on bootup if its struggling to install drivers for something (mine crashed on startup 8 times in a row trying to install a DVD drive, on the 9th try it simply worked fine and managed to install it....).


Take it down to;
- Motherboard
- Processor
- Single card of RAM
- HDD with operating system
- Single CD Drive
- Graphics Card
- PSU



If it still has problems try swapping the RAM stick for another RAM stick. If it STILL has problems then your RAM is fine, try taking the gfx card out and replacing it with onboard video (assuming the motherboard has that). If it STILL has problems try taking the CD drive out, and if possible replacing the HDD with another one. If after all this you still have problems then your problem likely lies with either the motherboard or processor.

If you dont have problems after stripping it down add devices in one by one until you do have the problem again, and then you know the last thing you added is the thing causing the problem.



This stripping down to basics method is a VERY good way of finding the exact cause of a problem, so you don't have to replace the entire machine.