c2q q9400

I just bought a Intel C2Q Q9400 to install on my MSI G33M Motherboard (which I know supports this CPU since it says on the box "45nm support, supports core 2 quad and duo" and it supports up to 1333FSB. I made a thread 3 days ago while considering buying it (http://razetheworld.com/forum/topic.php?id=4915). So I buy it since it's on sale and I found it to be a bottleneck with my computer (that and the GPU while playing games). I bring it home and install it, the thing is I only installed a CPU a long time ago (it was a AMD one too) so I wasn't that familiar with it and read the manual. I'm pretty sure it's in there all right but the heatsink seemed to be very flimsy and it was hard to pop in. However it seems to now be sturdily mounted. Anyways the first time I booted it up I heard a loud noise coming from inside the case and I immediately knew it must be a cable that's too close to a fan (I can't count how many times that's happened). So I turn it off and then adjust it, but the same thing happens so I adjust it again. Then I turn it on for a third time, there's no noise and the start-up splash screen appears and I hear the same beeps I always heard with my old system. But windows never loads, and I can't get into BIOS. Instead the computer immediately reboots, then the splash screen, then reboots, then the splash screen, then reboots, ect. for about 5 times. Then the splash screen just stays on for a while and I assume it isn't working and shut it off.


I am concerned that it may be overheating or something, since I didn't put any thermal paste on it... But it seems there was some sort of thermal compound on the heatsink when I installed it. I have no idea if this is my motherboard or CPU, my Mobo is a mATX and pretty old which I baught from my local computer store. (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/microatx-boards-job,1657-7.html)


I notice someone else has had this problem but it is not resolved:

http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/motherboards-bios-cpu/323514-stuck-bios-splash-screen-after-q9400-install.html


so please, HELP ME! HAAAAALP. SOS. SOS. SOS.

-Nick P. on my brothers machine which I installed linux for him :P

Also I just realised while I was there I could have gotten a HIS 4870 with GRID and Stranglehold included for under $200. That's half price. Arg, If only I'd checked their site!

try installing your old cpu and see if it works. dont re apply with thermal paste since it is just a temporary thing. if it boots up fine, then you know its the bios that do know work. Even though the motherboard is supporting 45nm, there are problems with it. So if it does work by using your old cpu, update your bios.


if that doesnt work,


try using 1 stick of ram?

OK, I have a Q9400, my old mobo said it supported 45nm, Quads, and 1333 FSB as well, but I still had to update my BIOS, so you should do the same.

Mmm ok I put my old C2D E4400 back on, it's running fine. So I downloaded the newest BIOS, the instructions make no sense whatsoever, they seem very old and non-specific talking about Win 98, ect.... so I'm assuming I just burn the stuff to a DVD as a image file then it installs? I've never updated BIOS before.

Also here's the files that came with it:


.txt file about what the bios update is for.


A7357IMS.130 (I have no idea what this is for)


AFUD4234.exe


.txt instructions (I've attached it to this post - as you can see it's not very helpful)

Do you have a flash stick?


Can your mobo flash BIOS with one?


If so I would definitely do that, most convenient.


Other than that you can burn it to a CD, DVD, or use a floppy.

I tried the flash stick and DVD, neither works. In BIOS it's set to boot from DVD drive first, and to boot from other device (flash drive). It doesn't load.... yet I tried other DVD's like a linux disk and it worked.


The problem is that it's not a image file it's exe and I am frustrated because it's always an iso or some sort of image file! I am calling MSI tomorrow to find out how this works.


Also here's the instructions if someone can figure it out.


Special Note:

The BIOS and DEVICE DRIVERS contained here are exclusively for Micro-Star products only. Micro-Star assumes no responsibility for any damages resulting from improper use or lack of technical expertise.


WARNING!!!!!

DON'T FLASH FROM A FLOPPY DISK!!!!

DON'T FLASH WHEN YOUR SYSTEM IS RUNNING FINE!!!!

DON'T FLASH IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!


Award BIOS Flash Procedure

1. Know your model number

a. Open your case and look for the MS-XXXX number on the motherboard between the PCI slots, also check the version number that is written there as well. (Some motherboards are named like K8N Diamond; make sure you have the right version number)

b. Boot up your system & take a look at the top left screen during POST, you should see something like “W7100NMS V1.1 021705” This means the board is MS-7100 with BIOS version 1.1

Hint: Many systems are clearing this message very fast, the bios version is then unreadable, and you can either press “PAUSE” or disable the “Quick Boot” in the BIOS setup.


2. Download the BIOS that matches your motherboard AND version number (some motherboards are named like K8N Diamond; make sure you have the right version number). BIOS can be found according to the CPU type of your board like if your CPU is AMD 939 type then look here

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_list.php?kind=1&CHIP=68&NAME=Socket%20939%20(AMD%20K8)

if you cannot find the BIOS that matches your board, try here http://www.msi.com.tw/support/bios/more.php


3. Extract the BIOS-archive that you have downloaded by double clicking to c:\test


4. Boot your system from a Win98 or WinME boot-floppy.

How to make boot floppy in case your don’t have it ready:

For Win9X, You can type [C:\ format a:/s] from the DOS prompt.

For WinME, You can make a boot floppy from control panel--> add/remove program-->make boot floppy. Remove autoexec.bat & config.sys file if there's any.

For Win2000, there's no way to make boot floppy, so you have to either use Win9X or WinME boot floppy.

For WinXP, you can make a DOS boot disk. Go to Your Computer, right click drive A:, select Format, select copy system files.


5. When you get the A:\ prompt, type the following sequence:

C:

cd\test

C:\test> awdfl865 BIOS file

(To save or not to save old BIOS is the user’s decision)


6. Reboot your system when prompted


AMI BIOS Flash Procedure

1. Know your model number

a. Open your case and look for the MS-XXXX number on the motherboard between the PCI slots, also check the version number that is written there as well. (some motherboards are named like 945G Neo2, make sure you have the right version number)

b. Boot up your system & take a look at the top left screen during POST, you should see something like “MSI 945P/G Neo 2 A7176IMS V3.3 Date: 04/26/06” This means the board is MS-7176 with BIOS version 3.3

Hint: Many systems are clearing this message very fast, the bios version is then unreadable, you can either press “PAUSE” or disable the “Quick Boot” in the BIOS setup.


2. Download the BIOS that matches your motherboard AND version number (some motherboards are named like 945G Neo2, make sure you have the right version number). BIOS can be found according to the CPU type of your board like if your CPU is Intel 775 type then look here

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_list.php?kind=1&CHIP=67&NAME=Socket%20775%20(Intel%20P4)

if you cannot find the BIOS that matches your board, try here http://www.msi.com.tw/support/bios/more.php


3. Extract the BIOS-archive that you have downloaded by double clicking to c:\test


4. Boot your system from a Win98 or WinME boot-floppy.

How to make boot floppy in case your don’t have it ready:

For Win9X, You can type [C:\ format a:/s] from the DOS prompt.

For WinME, You can make a boot floppy from control panel--> add/remove program-->make boot floppy. Remove autoexec.bat & config.sys file if there's any.

For Win2000, there's no way to make boot floppy, so you have to either use Win9X or WinME boot floppy.

For WinXP, you can make a DOS boot disk. Go to Your Computer, right click drive A:, select Format, select copy system files.


5. When you get the A:\ prompt, type the following sequence:

C:

cd\test

C:\test> adsfi719 BIOS file

(to save or not to save old BIOS is the user’s decision)


6. Reboot your system when prompted


Flashing the BIOS for Non-FAT file system

1. Know your model number

a. Open your case and look for the MS-XXXX number on the motherboard between the PCI slots, also check the version number that is written there as well. (some motherboards are named like K8N Diamond, make sure you have the right version number)

b. Boot up your system & take a look at the top left screen during POST, you should see something like “W7100NMS V1.1 021705” This means the board is MS-7100 with BIOS version 1.1

Hint: Many systems are clearing this message very fast, the bios version is then unreadable, and you can either press “PAUSE” or disable the “Quick Boot” in the BIOS setup.


3. Download the BIOS that matches your motherboard AND version number (some motherboards are named like K8N Diamond; make sure you have the right version number). BIOS can be found according to the CPU type of your board like if your CPU is AMD 939 type then look here

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_list.php?kind=1&CHIP=68&NAME=Socket%20939%20(AMD%20K8)

if you cannot find the BIOS that matches your board, try here


4. Extract the file you have downloaded to a floppy (not the win ME/98 startup floppy) by double clocking the file in windows mode and supplying the path a:\


5. Boot the computer using windows ME or windows 98 startup disk. It must be one of these! A plain boot disk will not be good enough.

If you do not have Windows ME or 98 to create the floppy you can make one on a friend's computer.


6. When boot is done there will be a message on the screen showing:"Diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive" followed by a single letter.

This letter is the letter assigned to the RAMDRIVE. This RAMDRIVE is a virtual drive in the system memory and can be accessed and controlled like any other drive with DOS commands such as:

MD - Make Directory

Copy - copy a file

Delete - Delete a file


There is one important difference which is that being in the system memory this drive is wiped once the computer is restarted or shut down.


7. Replace the startup floppy with the one containing the flash utility and bios ROM files previously extracted in windows.


8. Copy the 2 files to the RAMDRIVE by using the DOS command copy.

Here is an example, in this example the flash utility is AWFL865.EXE ,the ROM file is W7100NMS.110 and the RAMDRIVE letter assignment is D


copy awfl865.exe d:\

copy w7100nms.110 d:\


9. Change the current working directory to the RAMDRIVE root directory, with the example case of the RAMDRIVE being drive D this is done by simply done with the command d:


10. Execute the flash utility with the ROM file as a command line argument, with this example:

awfl865 w7100nms.110


If you wish to save the current bios you must specify the full path a:\filename. Specifying only a file name will save the bios to the RAMDRIVE which will be wiped after restarting the computer and the file will not be saved.


a:\bios.old is an example of the correct way to save the bios.


11. Reboot your system when prompted


12. If your system doesn't boot after you flashed, please refer to the BIOS recovery method as described