Windows won't start after CPU upgrade

[pkrish666@yahoo]

I'm trying to upgrade the CPU on my build, but I'm having trouble starting windows 7. My original CPU is an Intel e6600 on an ASUS P5W DH deluxe motherboard (socket LGA 775). I replaced the CPU with an Intel q9650, which is listed as compatible on the ASUS website. I also updated the BIOS. When I start the computer, the BIOS will post, and recognizes the new CPU, but Windows wont start (black screen). Upon restart, it asks me to run "WIndows launch repair." But this doesn't solve anything, and I end up getting a BSOD. I've tried this at least 50 times, and have received at least 5 different types of error messages on the BSOD.

Here are the things I tried:

1) I put the original CPU back inside, and Windows started normally. However every time I put the new CPU inside, the same problem occurs. And each time I put the original CPU back inside, Windows will load properly.

2) I thought there might be driver-compatibility issues, so I then tried re-installing Windows using the original CPU, which installed without problems. As soon as I put the new CPU inside, I received the same error again.

3) I then tried a clean install of Windows using the new CPU, using the boot prompt to select the DVD drive as the initial load. For some reason it does not let me perform this task - it takes me to "Windows launch repair" instead. The same thing happens with a Windows recovery disk

4) I have tried loading in safe mode and "last good configuration" without any luck

Any suggestions on other things I could try?

My specs:
ASUS P5W DH deluxe motherboard
4 sticks of 2gb RAM, Corsair XMS2, DDR2, PC6400
Old CPU - Intel e6600
New CPU - Intel q9650
Nvidia GTX 970
WIndows 7 x64

 

[Charlie98]

Check your AHCI/IDE setting... I just went through that, too....

 

[VirtualLarry]

Here are the things I tried:

1) I put the original CPU back inside, and Windows started normally. However every time I put the new CPU inside, the same problem occurs. And each time I put the original CPU back inside, Windows will load properly.

That sounds like the new CPU is defective, OR the mobo doesn't support CPUs with that FSB, OR the mobo VRMs don't support a CPU of that wattage, OR you need to clear the CMOS after installing the new CPU, and letting the mobo auto-configure settings for the CPU (go into BIOS and load default settings too, after POSTing the first time with the new CPU).

3) I then tried a clean install of Windows using the new CPU, using the boot prompt to select the DVD drive as the initial load. For some reason it does not let me perform this task - it takes me to "Windows launch repair" instead. The same thing happens with a Windows recovery disk

That sounds like your BIOS isn't set to boot off of the DVD first, before the HDD, and it's skipping booting the HDD.

 

[Termie]

Assuming you've reset the BIOS to prepare the board for a different processor, you're probably out of luck. That's an old processor, you likely bought it used, and it was probably abused for years.

The motherboard is not the problem.

 

[dbcooper1]

What power supply are you using?

 

[Burpo]

That sounds like your BIOS isn't set to boot off of the DVD first, before the HDD, and it's skipping booting the HDD.

This ^^^^^

Use default bios settings but make sure the ROM drive is first boot device..

 

[ArisVer]

Would it POST with a defective CPU?

 

[Termie]

Would it POST with a defective CPU?

Sure it could. An abused CPU would throw errors when put under load, as when loading Windows. Getting it to POST wouldn't be the challenge.

 

[PG]

Some 775 boards with a 4 pin power connector in the cpu area, instead of an 8 pin, had problems with quads. I can't find a link now, but some boards had the 4 pin connector actually melt when running quads.
A quick search shows that your board has the 4 pin connector, so you should make sure you have a strong enough power supply and also a good connection there.
Also make sure you have the latest bios. Sometimes bios updates help with compatibility.

 

[Blue_Max]

According to ASUS: http://www.asus.com/ca-en/Motherboards/P5W_DH_Deluxe/HelpDesk_CPU/
it does support the new processor but only after BIOS update #2103

Put in your old processor and update the BIOS to the latest version, 2103 or higher - then try the Q9650 again. Nice CPU! Hope you can get it running... I loved it!

 

[pkrish666@yahoo]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

1) I have been using the most updated BIOS, version, 3002. Interestingly, it is listed as a "Beta" version on the ASUS website (for 4 years lol) ... I'm actually going to try flashing with the previous BIOS to see if it works better

2) I have already changed the boot order to list my DVD drive first, and I also hit F8 to select the DVD drive as the startup. But for some reason it wont work. The screen flashes 7-8 times, and then it keeps taking me to "Windows launch repair."

3) My power supply is an OCZ, supplying 600W. It ran Mordor: Middle Earth at max settings on an NVIDIA GTX 970, so I would hope it is sufficient for a quad core. But I will check the 4-pin vs 8-pin connection, thanks for the idea

4) I'm concerned about the quality of the CPU. I bought it on the starmicro website, which has been fairly well-reviewed. I have requested a CPU exchange.

Thanks again for your assistance and support!

 

[sm625]

Go into your bios and set your cpu multiplier to 8.0
Let us know if that works, because if it does work then we can work on a better fix.

 

[pkrish666@yahoo]

So I tried 2 more things:

1) I tried an alternate BIOS version, without any luck

2) I tried setting the CPU multiplier to 8 through the BIOS. Upon restart, I got a black screen (the BIOS did not post). I had to take out the CMOS to reset.

I'm getting the sense that the CPU may be defective? I'll probably RMA it and see if the replacement will work

 

[the_stigma]

One thing that comes to mind - when you get loads of seemingly random BSODs with no consistency to them then memory is very often a cause of the problem.

The new CPU you got has a higher FSB (1333Mhz) than your old one (1066Mhz). Make sure that your memory is set up accordingly. Normally if you reset the BIOS then this stuff SHOULD be sorted out automatically, but the mobo is old and may not recognize your RAM fully for example - and if that means that it is trying to run 1066Mhz-stock RAM at 1333Mhz for example then that would very easily cause random errors gallore.

It's fairly easy to check in the BIOS though (you seem to have some knowledge). I think that generation uses dividers multiplied with the FSB to arrive at the total memory speed, so quickly check what your RAM is specced to run at and then make sure the divider used results in a total speed less or equal to your RAMs spec.

Also wouldn't hurt to check the timings and voltage too... a very typical issue is when the mobo doesn't detect the ticks correctly and they are enthusiast-level that are specced to run at more than the default voltage - but because mobo doesn't recognize them they get default votlage and either won't boot or are unstable.

I hope that helps. If not it's one more thing off the checklist of things that could be wrong =P

I assume you know reasonably well that the memory itself is good since you used it before? can always run memtest, but if everything runs fine on the old CPU that's probably not worth checking unless you want to be extra thorough. If you got new memory along with the CPU then that's a different matter...

In my experience - defective CPUs are very rare. They tend to either die completely under extreme abuse (usually physical mishandling of it or bad electrical shortages), or keep on chugging for decades otherwise. Never seen a half-working CPU myself in the 15+ years I've been building system. That doesn't mean they don't exist - just that a half-defective CPU is something you shouldn't conclude until you have exhausted nearly every other possibility.

-Stigma

 

[pkrish666@yahoo]

That's a great idea Stigma ... I am using the same RAM, but it was silly of me to assume that the RAM was working properly just because it functioned well with the previous CPU. I didn't consider the fact that the speed may need adjustment.

Another fact supports your idea. I have restarted the computer about 50 times with the new CPU, and failed 49 times, but on one random occasion, Windows loaded and detected the new CPU. It downloaded drivers and asked for a restart, which of course didn't work. This suggests that the CPU works, but the settings are incorrect.

Thanks again, I'll try playing around with the RAM tonight!

 

[the_stigma]

That's a great idea Stigma ... I am using the same RAM, but it was silly of me to assume that the RAM was working properly just because it functioned well with the previous CPU. I didn't consider the fact that the speed may need adjustment.

Another fact supports your idea. I have restarted the computer about 50 times with the new CPU, and failed 49 times, but on one random occasion, Windows loaded and detected the new CPU. It downloaded drivers and asked for a restart, which of course didn't work. This suggests that the CPU works, but the settings are incorrect.

Thanks again, I'll try playing around with the RAM tonight!

Happy to help. I hope it turns out to be that simple

It might help you to google the specs for your RAM. usually you will find a cryptic set of numbers on a sticker on the RAM (usually close to where it says its rated speed in Mhz). Googling that number should find you a document that details the RAMs specs for speed, voltage, timings ect.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes
-Stigma

 

[pkrish666@yahoo]

I tried playing around with more of the BIOS settings, unfortunately still no luck.

I set the FSB to 266, the DRAM to 533, the PCI-E frequency to 100MHz, and left the rest on auto. BIOS posts, but Windows wont load.

I set the FSB to 333 and the DRAM to 667, with the rest as above, and once again no luck.

Any time I change the default CPU-multiplier from 9 to 8, the BIOS wont post and I have to remove the CMOS.

I also tried playing around (just a little) with the CPU and Memory voltages, but still no luck. However, there may be some progress, because Windows launch repair actually runs, instead of restarting the computer. Unfortunately it tells me it cannot repair the problem (some sort of system file error).

If only I could launch from the Windows DVD ... still dont understand why it wont run ...

 

[the_stigma]

as troubleshooting id suggest grabbing ubuntu live or similar which you can run directly from an usb stick or cd at boot wi4hout any actual installation.

the idea here is that by doing this you get to remove all of the potential problems of software (and harddrive issues like Ide-ahci switching). if it still crashes when running ubuntu live from booting up then it must be a directly hardware related problem. if it runs fine then its a windows and/or ahci related problem you can fix with the right settings (though it might require an os reinstall).

give this a shot. you will cut the problem in half and thus make troubleshooting the issue a much smaller job - and if you have even a small usb stick it is fast and easy and free to do

-Stigma

 

[Blue_Max]

Might want to run something like MEMTEST or the one built into Windows now... (how do you get to that? Only on the Windows install DVD?)

Might as well be 100% certain if it's the RAM or not.

 

[Burpo]

If only I could launch from the Windows DVD ... still dont understand why it wont run ...

Faulty ROM failing to load disc?

 

[hunkeelin]

I tried cpu upgrade in r4e before and encounter the same problem. The thing is, the option "cpu grade" did a number of things. You will have to pinpoint which configuration that's casuing your windows to not boot up. I suggest you to manually set your config and OC urself. that's way better.

 

[pkrish666@yahoo]

Wanted to provide a quick update on my situation.

After spending a lot of time and effort with the settings, I couldn't get the CPU to work.

I bought a new motherbaord, and the CPU works fine, on the first try, with the default settings.

It appears that the CPU and original motherboard were not compatible, despite the claims on ASUS' website.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and advice.

Special thanks to "the_stigma" for your recommendation regarding ubuntu. I first tested it on my laptop, which worked well, but it did not work on my computer. I then loaded Windows7 as a bootable flash drive, and it also didnt work. The same drive worked fine with the new motherboard.

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

Intel® Quad-core CPU Ready
LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium 4/Celeron CPU
Support Inte Pentium® Processor Extreme Edition & Intel Pentium® D Processor
Support Intel 65nm, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme
Compatible with Intel 05B/ 05A and 04B/04A processors
Intel EM64T and Hyper-Threading Technology ready
* Please update the latest BIOS to support Intel Quad-core CPU

Pretty sure this is one of the boards, released before the extreme quads that advertised it was compatible but were not.

 

[funboy6942]

nvm

 

[Smoblikat]

Intel® Quad-core CPU Ready
LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium 4/Celeron CPU
Support Inte Pentium® Processor Extreme Edition & Intel Pentium® D Processor
Support Intel 65nm, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme
Compatible with Intel 05B/ 05A and 04B/04A processors
Intel EM64T and Hyper-Threading Technology ready
* Please update the latest BIOS to support Intel Quad-core CPU

Pretty sure this is one of the boards, released before the extreme quads that advertised it was compatible but were not.

Arent Q9X50's all 45nm?