Added a second processor, and now Win2K won't boot...???

Neil Boyer · Mar 20, 2004

I have a Dell Precision 220 Workstation, which is dual-processor
compatible. Now that I am using the Adobe suite for work, I finally
decided to get the second processor. The CPU that came with the
machine is a Pentium 3, 800mhz, 256 cache, 133 front-side bus, 1.7
volt. I bought the one with the same stat line, the only exception
being that it's a 1.65 volt -- which should be okay, based on the
Intel stepping chart.

When I (try to) boot after adding the 2nd processor, the machine does
basically nothing. The monitor screen stays black and the hard drive
lights only stay lit for a second or two.

I tried to put the new processor in the primary slot (and not using
the one that came with the machine, at all) to test the new processor
and see if I could get it to boot that way, but that only partially
works: it starts to boot, but that progress bar on the Dell screen
gets only about half-way and then it hangs... so the new processor
isn't completely dead or *totally* incompatible with the motherboard,
right? I mean, it at least gets to the Dell screen... although I
don't know if that even means much. <shrug>

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Neil

*Vanguard* · Mar 21, 2004

"Neil Boyer" said in

I have a Dell Precision 220 Workstation, which is dual-processor
compatible. Now that I am using the Adobe suite for work, I finally
decided to get the second processor. The CPU that came with the
machine is a Pentium 3, 800mhz, 256 cache, 133 front-side bus, 1.7
volt. I bought the one with the same stat line, the only exception
being that it's a 1.65 volt -- which should be okay, based on the
Intel stepping chart.

When I (try to) boot after adding the 2nd processor, the machine does
basically nothing. The monitor screen stays black and the hard drive
lights only stay lit for a second or two.

I tried to put the new processor in the primary slot (and not using
the one that came with the machine, at all) to test the new processor
and see if I could get it to boot that way, but that only partially
works: it starts to boot, but that progress bar on the Dell screen
gets only about half-way and then it hangs... so the new processor
isn't completely dead or *totally* incompatible with the motherboard,
right? I mean, it at least gets to the Dell screen... although I
don't know if that even means much. <shrug>

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Neil

Reboot using the Windows 2000 installation CD. Select Repair. Perform
an inplace upgrade. You had one processor so the prior installation
installed the 1-process HAL (hardware abstraction layer). Then you put
in a second processor but now you need the support of the
multi-processor HAL.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292175

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not
Change
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306952

HOW TO: Add Support for Multiple Processors in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=234558
But since you can't boot Windows then you'll have to use the Windows
2000 CD.

Neil Boyer · Mar 21, 2004

*Vanguard* said:
Reboot using the Windows 2000 installation CD. Select Repair. Perform
an inplace upgrade. You had one processor so the prior installation
installed the 1-process HAL (hardware abstraction layer). Then you put
in a second processor but now you need the support of the
multi-processor HAL.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292175

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not
Change
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306952

HOW TO: Add Support for Multiple Processors in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=234558
But since you can't boot Windows then you'll have to use the Windows
2000 CD.

Thanks for replying...

I know about the HAL change, but everything that I've been able to
find to this point makes it seem that all the HAL changes can be made
after adding the 2nd processor, rebooting (as normal), and then making
the applicable changes. I couldn't find anything about what to do if
the machine doesn't boot after the second processor gets installed --
so thanks for that.

The trade-off seems to be that if I do this, all my registry tweaks
will be lost... and there's no guarantee that this will actually even
fix my 2nd processor problem, so I might be throwing those tweaks away
for nothing. Hmm... I suppose maybe I could backup my registry and
then import it (or whatever) afterward, right? Any thoughts on that?
Have you ever done this yourself?

Regardless, thanks again for the help.

Appreciatively,
Neil

Rob Stow · Mar 21, 2004

If you add the second processor and W2K won't
boot, that indicates a hardware problem.

Both NT and W2K do require that you install the
multiprocessor kernel in order to take advantage of
the second processor, but until you do so they will
run fine using just one processor.

Ensure that the new processor is OK by pulling both
processors and putting the new cpu in the socket that
the original processor was in. If that works OK,
then put the original processor in the secondary
cpu socket - and if you can't boot then that is a
good hint that either the two cpu's being incompatible
with each other or the second cpu socket is bad.

Since your processors are Pentium III's, processor
incompatibility is the most likely culprit. Even the
most trivial differences between a pair of P3's will
very often stop them from playing nice together - and the
original message in this thread did indicate that some
differences do in fact exist in this case.

Jetro · Mar 21, 2004

Forget about Windows for awhile, your machine cannot pass POST yet.
Did you install a VRM properly?

Neil Boyer · Mar 22, 2004

Rob Stow said:
If you add the second processor and W2K won't
boot, that indicates a hardware problem.

Both NT and W2K do require that you install the
multiprocessor kernel in order to take advantage of
the second processor, but until you do so they will
run fine using just one processor.

Ensure that the new processor is OK by pulling both
processors and putting the new cpu in the socket that
the original processor was in. If that works OK,
then put the original processor in the secondary
cpu socket - and if you can't boot then that is a
good hint that either the two cpu's being incompatible
with each other or the second cpu socket is bad.

Since your processors are Pentium III's, processor
incompatibility is the most likely culprit. Even the
most trivial differences between a pair of P3's will
very often stop them from playing nice together - and the
original message in this thread did indicate that some
differences do in fact exist in this case.

My (albeit) limited instincts told me that it was probably a hardware
issue -- with most of my chips being bet on some kinda imcompatibility
between the 2 processors. Everything that I'd read (for days) seemed
to say that it should at least boot... The 3rd paragraph of my
original post describes my attempt at throwing the new processor in
the slot that I know works, but it only gave me the most partial or
partial boots... [See above.]

I'll call the place from which I purchased this new one. Hopefully
they'll just let me return this, as they don't have one that matches
perfectly on the voltage.

If I had it to do over, I certainly would have dug a little deeper
into my credit line when I bought this machine 4 years ago. The major
reason I bought this Precision 220 was for the dual processing option
that I thought I'd want eventually... <sigh>

Alas,
Neil

Neil Boyer · Mar 22, 2004

Jetro said:
Forget about Windows for awhile, your machine cannot pass POST yet.
Did you install a VRM properly?

Thank you for the reply, but I actually don't know what this means...
If you wouldn't mind, can you scale it back a bit?

Thanks regardless,
Neil

*Vanguard* · Mar 22, 2004

"Neil Boyer" said in

Thank you for the reply, but I actually don't know what this means...
If you wouldn't mind, can you scale it back a bit?

Thanks regardless,
Neil

VRM = voltage regulator module (see
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/VRM.html).

This is added to provide regulation of voltage to the other CPU socket.
I know, it sounds cheapskate to not have it already included on the
motherboard but apparently component-wise it must be pricey so the mobo
makers don't include it because it represent a cost in building the mobo
that might not get utilized very often (i.e., that model mostly gets
used for a single processor).

Go to http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws220/en/sm/remdt.htm. Click
on "System Board Components". Notice item #6 is the slot for the VRM.
Go to http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws220/en/ug/process.htm for
instructions on how to add a second processor. It mentions installing
the VRM. You didn't get one with the new second processor? I don't
know if they come with the processor or if they are mobo specific which
means you would have to get it from Dell.

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Jetro · Mar 22, 2004

It sounds like the VRM wasn't installed.
Currently there is no Dell VRMs on Ebay. You need Dell Part number 7649D or
11GEF (they're exactly the same). The manufacturers names and part numbers:
Delta Products - 05s2020a-4; VXI - 073-20770-01 rev.7. Dell US spare parts
can be reached by phone at 1-800-357-3355.
Dell would press you to buy the whole kit CPU+VRM and the delivery could be
6 months forward.

Neil Boyer · Mar 25, 2004

*Vanguard* said:
"Neil Boyer" said in

VRM = voltage regulator module (see
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/VRM.html).

This is added to provide regulation of voltage to the other CPU socket.
I know, it sounds cheapskate to not have it already included on the
motherboard but apparently component-wise it must be pricey so the mobo
makers don't include it because it represent a cost in building the mobo
that might not get utilized very often (i.e., that model mostly gets
used for a single processor).

Go to http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws220/en/sm/remdt.htm. Click
on "System Board Components". Notice item #6 is the slot for the VRM.
Go to http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws220/en/ug/process.htm for
instructions on how to add a second processor. It mentions installing
the VRM. You didn't get one with the new second processor? I don't
know if they come with the processor or if they are mobo specific which
means you would have to get it from Dell.

Thanks a ton for this info... I read a ton of stuff prior to doing
this, but obviously not the right stuff. I didn't think that Dell
would do it differently... Anyway, I did call them and I got the kit,
which will include everything. I'll get hit with a "restocking" fee
and postage, but the other P3 800 is on its way back...

Gratefully,
Neil

Neil Boyer · Mar 25, 2004

Jetro said:
It sounds like the VRM wasn't installed.
Currently there is no Dell VRMs on Ebay. You need Dell Part number 7649D or
11GEF (they're exactly the same). The manufacturers names and part numbers:
Delta Products - 05s2020a-4; VXI - 073-20770-01 rev.7. Dell US spare parts
can be reached by phone at 1-800-357-3355.
Dell would press you to buy the whole kit CPU+VRM and the delivery could be
6 months forward.

Please see the note above; I really appreciate your help with this...

~Neil

*Vanguard* · Mar 25, 2004

"Neil Boyer" said in

Thanks a ton for this info... I read a ton of stuff prior to doing
this, but obviously not the right stuff. I didn't think that Dell
would do it differently...

Dell isn't the only one that does this. I've seen several dual-processor mobos do this. Since the majority of these boards never see a second processor, why waste the money to install voltage regulators that don't get used and have to charge more to your customers who don't use a second processor. And selling a VRM to those that do get a second processor represent a revenue source because they'll definitely charge more than it would've cost to embed it on the mobo.

Anyway, I did call them and I got the kit,
which will include everything. I'll get hit with a "restocking" fee
and postage, but the other P3 800 is on its way back...

How much did the kit cost?

Jetro · Mar 25, 2004

You're welcome.