I think I need help...

[Eli]

My brother brought his computer over last night for some software reinstalls. It's an IBM P150+ (yeah, I know), O/C'ed to 166+ (yeah, 133 actually). All my installs went fine, it worked great, until this morning. It simply doesn't want to boot anymore. Sometimes a blank screen before POST, sometimes it makes it to the W98 splash screen and hangs, sometimes it hangs during POST. I set it back to 120MHz (150+), with no change. The only thing I can think of is the fact that the EDO and FP ram (it has both) is set at 3.3v, and it's supposed to be set at 5v (I think). It's been fine for like 2 years at 3.3v though. Any ideas? I'd really appreciate any advise. Thanks for any info.

[Eli]

I left it sitting for about 20 minutes to cool off, and tried again. This time it made it into W98, but it froze when I attempted to start scandisk (all these reboots can't be good for the drive...). Any suggestions? Thanks in advance again.

[Eli]

I could really use a hand with this one guys... I even tried underclocking it to 100MHz, and different ram, with the same results. Is it possible the processor bit the dust?

[BBA]

Well, yes, I guess it can happen... Not very likely.

Probably something else, like a bios setting got changed that isn't really supposed to effect something.

Try setting bios defaults and see what happens.

BBA

[Eli]

BBA, I tried the defaults a few hours ago with no change. I even tried clearing the CMOS and starting over, with no effect. I've tried using only the 2 FPM chips, only the 2 EDO chips, and only 2 parity chips stolen from a different computer, with the same results for each. I really need to figure this one out... I'll try my sdram from this computer tomorrow. Please, any advise would be appreciated.

[Mitch]

"My brother brought his computer over last night for some software reinstalls" OK just a guess, but the computer has been in transit...Right? Maybe there are some bad connections... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gifJust a thought...Mitch

[CMonster]

Good call Mitch, I think I would be checking those connections too.

[KillerBug]

Good one Mitch, any big bumps on the way over, you are talking about that it might be a hard drisk problem, they only handle 3G, and that is only if it plays by the rules.

[Eli]

Well, underclocking it to 100 from 120, and lowering the voltage to 2.9, I got it to run fairly well. Kinda slow, but it's going. I kinda figured it was heat related. (It was set at 3.5 volts, stock is 3.2) If I can find the 3.2 volts setting (it's not listed on the MB, but there is an extra set of pins...) I'll try the rated speed. Is there a software program that tells me the voltage being supplied to the processor? Thanks again.

By the way, the cables were all fine. It was running fine after he brought it over, the night before. I actually pulled most out (IDE and floppy cables) trying to find the problem anyway. Thanks yet again.

[kec95]

I think the CPU is dying slowly.

Kenny C

[Eli]

Okay, here's another problem with the godforsaken thing. I can't get it to detect it's modem. It was fine when I reinstalled W98 last friday, before all the above problems, but it was using the standard driver. I removed the standard driver, and now it can't find it to install the proper one. Can this be blamed on the processor too? I didn't change any settings, and the modem's not set up for plug n play (even worse). Thanks in advance.

[Eli]

The tale continues... Keeping it the processor at 2.9 volts, I actually got it back to 133, and even to 150 fairly stable. Too bad the modem's still being a pain in the ****... Oh well, always something to do, right? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/redface.gif)

[philipg]

The only thing thsat comes to mind is the fact you installed windows when it was overclocked.

From reading past post about that procedure it's come to my understanding, that's a no-no.
Since this causes data corruption. Try getting it at the normal clocked speed and reinstalling from there.