I would like some help/support with the build of my Gigabyte motherboard, Model GA-71XE4. It has an AMD K7 Thunderbird 800MHz processor with 128MB memory.

I have been having serious problems installing a stable operating system either NT4 or Windows98. Windows NT often crashes on install with the Blue screen memory dump and sometimes fails to copy system files on install screen like .DLL or .EXE files. Windows 98 often-just crashes on install particularly when it restarts with errors like, Fatal exception has occurred at 0028:FFFEAFE8 and so on. Often I get Windows Protection Error or While initialising device V86MMGR and it tells me to restart PC. You get the picture?

I have used two different Hard disks and two different memory modules but still the same also I have eliminated some probable causes like CD-ROM, Hard disk which I know work on my old system. However the Hard disks are old and could be the cause I don’t know. I have even purchased more memory and tried it but it still pretty much the same problems.

Do you have any ideas as to the cause of the problems I am having? Do I need to change any BIOS settings from the original defaults? I have the CPU speed set to 100 MHz on SW1. Is this correct for the 800 MHz CPU I have installed? I have the hard disk as Master on 1st IDE controller and the CD-ROM on the 2nd IDE.

Please help?

ADM T-Bird K7 800MHz CPU
BIOS revision GA76 date 8/21/00
128 MB Memory
16MB Voodoo 3D Graphics Accelerator Card
Western Digital Caviar 14300 4.3 Gig Hard Disk
Quantum Fireball SE 6.4 Gig Hard Disk
32 Speed CD/RW Drive
300 Watt PSU

I have the hard disk as Master on 1st IDE controller and the CD-ROM on the 2nd IDE. Please help?

Richard@radb.fsnet.co.uk
Richard@retalixuk.com


------------------
rad_scan

Check the motherboard docs to be sure the CPU is supported, and from what I understand AMD's often require installation of 4 in 1 drivers. You might try getting and installing those, might help.

If none of that helps, can you try another CPU in the board and see how it acts? Sounds to me like either a motherboard or CPU problem, and it's not easy to figure out which. I tend to lean toward motherboard, especially the possibility of static electricity (ESD or Electro Static Discharge). This kind of problems are typical of ESD, difficult to pin down and erratic. That's why you get different errors.

If it was memory, for example, you'd get the same error every time. Except, again with ESD it would be erratic and intermittent in many cases. With memory it's even more difficult to pin down, since it will often work fine, but give you weird problems that are almost impossible to trace to a certain source.

CPU would be a possibility, but I think it's less likely. I would check to be sure it's fully seated, and the heatsink properly installed, and is correctly oriented. If you can try the CPU in a different working board that might help prove or eliminate it.

------------------
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

Thanks for replying

I know the processor is compliant as it is a Gigabyte motherboard designed specially for the AMD T-Bird processor. I am wondering if it could be a CPU temperature problem like overheating. The odds on me having two faulty memory chips is rare but not impossible I suppose but I don't think it is this anyway.

I am using a Desktop case instead of the usual Tower systems that are available and of course the seating of the Motherboard and processor is very different to how it would be with a tower case. There is no extractor fan attached to it either.

Any ideas on this?

rad_scan

------------------
rad_scan

Does that mean you have no second fan in the case, or none on the CPU? If you don't have a CPU fan GET ONE QUICK! If you don't have a second case fan, that shouldn't be as big a consideration, but I would get one and make sure you have plenty airflow to cool the beast.

Try the memory chips, and try different memory if possible. Try the current ones one at a time, if it's 168 pin DIMM or SDRAM. 72 pin SIMMs have to be used in pairs, but with that CPU I doubt if you'd have 72 pin. If they have been damaged by ESD that's the only way to find out, exchange them for known good memory. And make sure you stay grounded on the chassis while touching anything inside the case.

------------------
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

Please dont tell me you dont have a HD CPU fan on a AMD T-Bird.....it's dead meat if you dont (it takes 7 sec. to fry a TBIRD with no fan). I have built 15-20 AMD TBird machines lately and all of em required the updated drivers from mobo mfg to work properly. Go to the GIGABYTE web site to see what they have ...then to the AMD site for drivers. It should help a ton.

Try using another Windows 98 installation CD. or
Try use another CPU.