Windows shuts off 2nd CPU after reboot! Help Please!

[ohif]

Running Windows 2003 Server, Dell Poweredge 2400, dual 1Ghz PIII Processors with Powerleap Socket to Slot1 Converter.
When I turn on the pc BIOS shows 2 processors and everything is correct. It acts like it is going to load windows but just sits at a black screen for about 25 seconds then a blue screen flashes(unreadable) and the pc restarts. After it restarts after the blue screen only 1 CPU shows up in BIOS and windows loads just fine. In windows it is set to multiprocessor. What is going on here??? Thanks alot for any help.

 

[ohif]

Can anyone help?

 

[bcastner]

Control Panel, Administrative Tasks, Event Viewer. What does the System log file say about the restart?

In the System properties sheet, you should disable the Startup and Recovery option to restart the coputer on an error. This will allow you to view the Blue Screen error information.

 

[ohif]

I checked the event viewer and found nothing relevent. The error message reads "The BIOS in this system is not fully ACPI Compliant." I booted into windows(1 cpu) and disabled ACPI in device manager. (changed the driver from ACPI Multiprocessor to Standard PC). On reboot bios showed 2 cpu's and windows 2003 server load screen began to load but soon after locked up. Now when I try to repair windows, setup locks up also. Any other ideas? Thanks Alot

Matt

 

[bcastner]

The only safe change in Device Manager is between Standard to Multiprocessor or Uniprocessor. Anything else requires a reinstallation and if necessary a force of the HAL layer to be used. If the machine had not rebooted it might have been possible to use Device Manager to load a different HAL, but I have never personally found it to work.

You may be able to do repair this from the Recovery Console. (I know this discusses Win2k, ignore that):

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;237556

See also:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;299340

 

[bcastner]

You should also know that for Windows 2003 Server, Dell recommends a BIOS update:

File Date: 5/22/2003
PowerEdge 2400, BIOS, A09

 

[ohif]

Repairing windows isn't a big concern, it was a fresh install anyways. These lockups have been happening after I upgraded from 1, 1GHZ cpu to 2, 1GHZ PIII using the socket to slot 1 converter from

http://www.powerleap.com

which is supposed to work just fine with poweredge. When I try to install a new copy it locks up in different places and gives a "Parity memory check error". I don't think it is the memory because it worked fine before the cpu upgrade. But why would the Bios have no trouble with them but windows does? This sucks!!! Any other ideas? Thanks

 

[ohif]

I did upgrade the BIOS and the backplane. I was running A09 then I decided to try W2k Server so I downgraded to A08 again with the same issues.

 

[ohif]

I don't know what else to do? Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

[ohif]

OK I have narrowed it down to the Socket to slot-1 converters for the cpu's. When I use a cheap pair of converters the BIOS only sees 1 cpu but there are no lockups and everything works dandy. When I use the powerleaps converters the bios sees both cpu's but I get all the lockups. Does anyone have any experience with this kinda thing? Thanks

 

[Catadmin]

Have you verified this second CPU is on MS's hardware compatibility list? MS is pretty stupid about their 2k* stuff working or not working with certain hardware. Secondly, if 2k3 is like 2k server, then you should be able to hit F8 the next time you reboot, go into the Recovery Console and specifically choose to log your bootup. Then reboot the system and the bootup log should show up in the same folder as all the other logs. Read it and it should tell you EVERYTHING the server is going through as it boots, including lock ups and error messages.

For more info, might want to check MS's website:

http://technet.microsoft.com.

I hope this helps you out.



Catadmin - MCSA

 

[bcastner]

It is neither on the Windows WHQL list, nor is it on the leap technologies list. There are other PowerMax boxes, but not this one on the manufacturer's list of approved boxes for the addition.

Going backwards on the BIOS version seems like a mistake to me as well. A09 only.