ProLiant 1500, the saga continues...

[jaeddy]

Here is where things stand:

Compaq ProLiant 1500, dual P5-166
Compaq Array Controller w/ 2 4.3GB Barracuda drives in raid 0 array
128MB RAM

I can install 2000 server if I configure the system to use a single CPU. Adding a second CPU and updating the HAL or completely reinstalling leads to a BSOD after the first restart.

NT 4.0 will install, but it hangs at every cold start, then starts after a reboot

All drivers, firmware, etc are up to date.

When i got the machine it had only a single CPU. I purchased a second CPU at a show to upgrade to dual cpu.

My question is: is it reasonable to suspect that my two CPU's, being of different vintages, might be having problems working together?

Since the ONLY difference in the config is adding the second CPU and configuring the system to see it. this is the only straw I ahve to grasp at.

Any thoughts out there?

Thanks.

 

[jaeddy]

Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?

 

[brontosaurus]

does it work as a single CPU using either processor? Or, rather, have you swapped the processor to see if the second one is flaky...?

 

[jaeddy]

Funny, I only thought of that a few minutes ago as I was hashing this out with a co-worker. Next on the to-do list tonight.

 

[epohl]

Also I am wondering even though these Processors are the same speed, are they the same Stepping Level?

 

[jaeddy]

Interesting question. I assumed that being both P5-166, non-MMX that the stepping level would be identical. I assume I can dig this info out of the intel site given the processor date/manufacturing codes?

 

[epohl]

Even though Windows 2000 will support Processors with different stepping, some processors are not compatible. You should be able to tell the stepping from the model number on the processor, you may find this article helpful.

http://www.intel.com/support/processors/dp1.htm

 

[jaeddy]

Model, family and stepping level are identical, thought the package varies slightly (one has the plain grey package, the other has the exposed core package). No readable date codes or model numbers beyond i166, but the Intel ID utility lists both as 052C. I swapped out the original cpu with the second cpu and it seems to be operating just fine.

I ran across a couple of articles (both at MS and CPQ) that imply I must set the OS type in the BIOS. The latest BIOS for this system is August 1998, so there is a 50/50 chance that it will have an entry for WIN2K, otherwise I'll try setting it to NT. Right now I run it through Terminal services so it won't be until this weekend that I can hook up a monitor again and run the config utility to see what it offers.

And I thought this would be simple... good thing I do this stuff for fun.

 

[jaeddy]

I'm beginning to believe this really is a hardware problem- I have 3 cpu's now, all identical in respcts to stepping, etc. Each works just fine as a single CPU. When configured as a dual cpu the system hangs and bluescreens during installation (either of the new HAL or of the OS as a whole).

I tried using the lastest, brandy-newest drivers (at least those that Compaq would hand out in a form that could be installed during the OS install). I am out of ideas. Any more out there?

Did find I could buy a replacement board w/ cpu's for $75...