Old PC Stopped Booting, Please Help

[lexluthermiester]

This thing from 2005 buddy this ain't really modern.

LOL! Back in the day, CPUs were installed without heatsinks. Starting with the higher end 486 CPU models, heatsinks became required and have been since, including the one you've got.

And the case is just metal, but the model of the PC is "HP pavilion a1600n" from 2005

Well, ok...

it won't run anything newer than the original release of Windows 8, even if you spice this with 4 GB of DDR2, a budget SSD, and basically rebuild the whole thing.

Not true. It'll run Windows 10 just fine with a reasonable GPU and 2GB+ RAM.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Not true. It'll run Windows 10 just fine with a reasonable GPU and 2GB+ RAM.

It won't run the 64-bit version of Windows 10, which is what I presume one wants to run on a 64-bit processor. The 32-bit version works, but the 64-bit version won't.

The oldest thing you can run it on AMD-side is the Phenom, because it needs to support both CMPXCHG16B and PrefetchW. That excludes 939 and AM2, Windsor (Athlon 64 X2 6000+) supports CMPXCHG16B, but not PrefetchW (edit: it does support that, I think it's LAHF/SAHF that's missing), so those won't run anything newer than Windows 8.

 

[delshay]

It won't run the 64-bit version of Windows 10, which is what I presume one wants to run on a 64-bit processor. The 32-bit version works, but the 64-bit version won't.

The oldest thing you can run it on AMD-side is the Phenom, because it needs to support both CMPXCHG16B and PrefetchW. That excludes 939 and AM2, Windsor (Athlon 64 X2 6000+) supports CMPXCHG16B, but not PrefetchW, so those won't run anything newer than Windows 8.

Even thou the information you are posting is partly correct, the OP is on DDR2. ..If you look at the dual core DDR2 platform "AM2" they have "CMPXCHG16B". I've not check all CPU's on the DDR2 platform or the OP CPU, but here's an example & should run anything up-to windows 10.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3400+ - ADD3400IAA5CU (cpu-world.com)

 

[Dr. Dro]

Even thou the information you are posting is partly correct, the OP is on DDR2. ..If you look at the dual core DDR2 platform "AM2" they have "CMPXCHG16B". I've not check all CPU's on the DDR2 platform or the OP CPU, but here's an example & should run anything up-to windows 10.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3400+ - ADD3400IAA5CU (cpu-world.com)

They don't have PrefetchW though. (looks like i'm wrong here) This is also required. LAHF/SAHF support is also required, if any of the three is absent, it's Windows 7 or 8.0 64-bit only. It's explicitly listed in the Windows 8.1 system requirements, which carried over to Windows 10. 8.1 and 10 32-bit will run, and there is no 32-bit release of Windows 11.

Windows 8.1 support ended on January 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

Support for Windows 8.1 ended on January 10, 2023. Learn what it means for you and how to move to a supported version of Windows.

support.microsoft.com

The following are essential for a modern Windows kernel to work:

- Physical address extension support
- Hardware data execution prevention support

Additionally for 64-bit version:

- Compare and Exchange 128 (CMPXCHG16B) support
- PrefetchW support
- LAHF/SAHF support

AMD K10 is the earliest with all checkboxes, on Intel side I believe it's Prescott.

 

[delshay]

They don't have PrefetchW though. This is also required. LAHF/SAHF support is also required, if any of the three is absent, it's Windows 7 or 8.0 64-bit only. It's explicitly listed in the Windows 8.1 system requirements, which carried over to Windows 10. 8.1 and 10 32-bit will run, and there is no 32-bit release of Windows 11.

Windows 8.1 support ended on January 10, 2023 - Microsoft Support

Support for Windows 8.1 ended on January 10, 2023. Learn what it means for you and how to move to a supported version of Windows.

support.microsoft.com

The following are essential for a modern Windows kernel to work:

- Physical address extension support
- Hardware data execution prevention support

Additionally for 64-bit version:

- Compare and Exchange 128 (CMPXCHG16B) support
- PrefetchW support
- LAHF/SAHF support

AMD K10 is the earliest with all checkboxes, on Intel side I believe it's Prescott.

Incorrect. ...This is a "K8" Processor & it runs windows 10 AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ - ADV6000IAA5DO (ADV6000DOBOX) (cpu-world.com)

YOUTUBE: Skip to about 8 mins in... Old Gaming Pc Refurb - Athlon 64 x2 6000+ in 2021 - YouTube

 

[Night]

They don't have PrefetchW though.

PrefetchW was introduced with the 3DNow! instruction set in 1998 by AMD.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Incorrect. ...This is a "K8" Processor & it runs windows 10 AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ - ADV6000IAA5DO (ADV6000DOBOX) (cpu-world.com)

YOUTUBE: Skip to about 8 mins in... Old Gaming Pc Refurb - Athlon 64 x2 6000+ in 2021 - YouTube

There's only a remark that "10 Pro works", but they do not say whether it's the 32 or 64 bit version? I found a video of someone running it on the 6000+, which is the only CPU I believe is compatible

The earlier Clawhammer 64's (s754) only boot 32 bit for sure

I'm interested mostly since I always wanted an A64FX machine for some reason, I never managed to build one but Windows 10 is kind of non-negotiable, I use that with the C2D E8600 build I have.

PrefetchW was introduced with the 3DNow! instruction set in 1998 by AMD.

Going as far back as 3DNow!, is it really the same thing? I'm willing to admit I'm wrong, and looks like I am, I just wonder if it serves the same purpose. Seems every CPU supports this nowadays. The point that the CPUs do not support every instruction required for 64-bit support on OS later than 8.0 stands, though.

 

[Night]

Going as far back as 3DNow!, is it really the same thing? I'm willing to admit I'm wrong, and looks like I am, I just wonder if it serves the same purpose. Seems every CPU supports this nowadays. The point that the CPUs do not support every instruction required for 64-bit support on OS later than 8.0 stands, though.

I suppose it's one of the specific instructions that's necessary for Windows to properly function. They even made an Upgrade Assistant to check CPUs (or the list of them) for required instructions.

 

[delshay]

There's only a remark that "10 Pro works", but they do not say whether it's the 32 or 64 bit version? I found a video of someone running it on the 6000+, which is the only CPU I believe is compatible

The earlier Clawhammer 64's (s754) only boot 32 bit for sure

I'm interested mostly since I always wanted an A64FX machine for some reason, I never managed to build one but Windows 10 is kind of non-negotiable, I use that with the C2D E8600 build I have.



Going as far back as 3DNow!, is it really the same thing? I'm willing to admit I'm wrong, and looks like I am, I just wonder if it serves the same purpose. Seems every CPU supports this nowadays. The point that the CPUs do not support every instruction required for 64-bit support on OS later than 8.0 stands, though.

The second video looks suspicious to me & am wondering if it's running some-kind of hack/bypass. Then again I have no familiarity with win 10 pro..

 

[Dr. Dro]

The second video looks suspicious to me & am wondering if it's running some-kind of hack/bypass. Then again I have no familiarity with win 10 pro..

I actually know the person who uploaded it, haven't spoken much to him lately but he's legit. He's made the news around the time Windows 11 came out and all the fervor about hardware security was at its peak because he got it running on a Cedar Mill 65nm P4 rather decently

Edition doesn't matter as far as getting the OS itself running, been doing some reading seems like there's motherboard compatibility involved as well and a bunch of things... in other words, it's sketchy

I suppose it's one of the specific instructions that's necessary for Windows to properly function. They even made an Upgrade Assistant to check CPUs (or the list of them) for required instructions.

Yeah, it's also on MS's system requirements page

 

[SPDIF]

What beeps you get and did you see the manual for it, to check it out?

For experiments you can hack windows to boot, but don't use it for every day work, you have been warned...

 

[Pasi123]

It won't run the 64-bit version of Windows 10, which is what I presume one wants to run on a 64-bit processor. The 32-bit version works, but the 64-bit version won't.

The oldest thing you can run it on AMD-side is the Phenom, because it needs to support both CMPXCHG16B and PrefetchW. That excludes 939 and AM2, Windsor (Athlon 64 X2 6000+) supports CMPXCHG16B, but not PrefetchW, so those won't run anything newer than Windows 8.

AM2 K8 definitely can run Win10 64bit. Some years ago I tried Win10 on an Athlon 64 X2 4000+ (65nm Brisbane) and it ran just fine.
I don't seem to have any screenshots of it easily accessible but here's a dual socket F with 90nm Opteron 2218's which are like Windsor on AM2

 

[SPDIF]

It will all work for sure, but don't use such a system for every day work at home or office. The use of a hacked windows, and then go up the internet, good luck with that...
For experiments, no problem.

 

[Pasi123]

It will all work for sure, but don't use such a system for every day work at home or office. The use of a hacked windows, and then go up the internet, good luck with that...
For experiments, no problem.

You don't need any hacks to run Windows 10 64bit on AM2 Athlon 64 X2, it works fine with the regular ISO straight from Microsoft and will install just like on any other system. Windows 11 does kinda need "hacks" but that's the same as on anything else without TPM 2.0 and UEFI etc.

 

[Dr. Dro]

AM2 K8 definitely can run Win10 64bit. Some years ago I tried Win10 on an Athlon 64 X2 4000+ (65nm Brisbane) and it ran just fine.
I don't seem to have any screenshots of it easily accessible but here's a dual socket F with 90nm Opteron 2218's which are like Windsor on AM2
View attachment 328395

Yeah this is probably the absolute earliest it'll go, then. The Microsoft system requirements define those 3 instructions in specific detail as necessary for Windows to work

 

[SPDIF]

To go on further on topic, OP it's good news that you get beep codes, so mobo seems not completely dead yet, you have to find out what they mean in the manual.
But do not use the CPU without cooler, that beep code could also mean that there's no cooler detected...

And an CPU that never gets hotter then 27 degrees is impossible... That must be a special sort of CPU, how did you measure that? Or it means it's just a dead CPU, or mobo does not generates the voltages necessary with also could be from a bad PS.

 

[bigbob]

Video

Video

Video did not send so nvm

What beeps you get and did you see the manual for it, to check it out?

I dont have the manual but the website said it was a ram error but that was before this not booting problem though

For experiments you can hack windows to boot,

How do you do that if the PC doesn't turn on?

 

[SPDIF]

That hack was an answer to other's saying that a new windows can work on an old system.

If you don't have new PS for testing purposes you can't go on further. If we can rule that one out we can go to see your mobo or components from it.

First things first, if your Power Supply does not provide the good voltages needed, you can't accept your mobo will work good.

 

[bigbob]

And an CPU that never gets hotter then 27 degrees is impossible... That must be a special sort of CPU, how did you measure that?

When CPU is not under load I should've mentioned that, when the PC still turned on / booted you can see the temp of the CPU in the bios. And I got the beep codes from a RAM issue before the no boot / not turning on problem. I can also feel that the CPU still heats up when ATX12V1 cable not plugged in so it turns on so it's still alive but without boot. Plus the highest temp I've seen on the CPU is 47 degrees Celsius

That hack was an answer to other's saying that a new windows can work on an old system.

If you don't have new PS for testing purposes you can't go on further. If we can rule that one out we can go to see your mobo or components from it.

Ah I understand now

 

[SPDIF]

That ATX12V1 MUST be attached always, it makes the mobo generates the voltages needed by the CPU! So it's possible your PS is not doing what it should do.
Without that, it will never boot up anyway.

 

[bigbob]

And an CPU that never gets hotter then 27 degrees is impossible

When you let it sit there at the home screen with nothing else open or running that's all it got to. (But it probably cooled down a bit too trying to reboot into bios too so most likely around 30 to 35 degrees Celsius)

That ATX12V1 MUST be attached always, it makes the mobo generates the voltages needed by the CPU! So it's possible your PS is not doing what it should do.

How do I send videos and I can show what it's doing if that makes it easier in any way

 

[SPDIF]

Even with water cooling 27 degrees is nearly impossible. Only when it's just booted up maybe.

You can't post video's here, you could make one on youtube and paste the link here.
But without knowing that your PS is good, it will stay guessing...

A good computer always start with a GOOD power supply. That's the first rule for a stable computer.

 

[bigbob]

Even with water cooling 27 degrees is nearly impossible. Only when it's just booted up maybe

Then it definitely cooled down when I measured it

 

[RJARRRPCGP]

CPU is a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core, PSU is Sparkler power INC., ram is 1GB DDR 2 I think, and the motherboard says A8M2N-LA. It runs windows XP, yes it actually runs windows xp, I wanted to fiddle with the thing and try to download a windows 10 OS, the PC is 2005 HP brand, and I think the cpu speed is 3.8GHZ. I did a psu test and it passed according to the test thing so I dont think it's the PSU

2005 would be DDR1, and most likely bad caps! IIRC, 2005 would be socket 939!

 

[SPDIF]

Bad caps is possible, you don't always see it when they are bad, but to be sure a new or used good working PS is necessary now, then we can look further.