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Substituting a HT processor for a non-HT processor might affect installed software

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Christer, 2006/03/04.

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  1. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello all!

    A friend substituted a 3.0 GHz Intel P4 HT processor for a 2.2 GHz Intel Celeron processor. At first start after the switch he didn't notice anything that didn't work properly.

    The day after, he connected to the internet (broadband), opened Internet Explorer and went to a site which worked well. However, neither Outlook Express nor MailWasher connects to the server but times out.

    He did a repair installation of XP SP2 and reinstalled all updates but no change.

    I have no idea what to tell him ... :confused: ... but am hoping that someone out there has!

    Thanks for your time,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #1
  2. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    I find it hard to believe that a new processor would have anything to do with it. I could be wrong but I tend to think that part of this is coincidence.

    Ordinarily I'd tell him to check his account settings in OE but the fact that both OE and Mailwasher have a problem connecting makes me think things are probably ok there. When I used to use Mailwasher you had to enter the mail server info into it manually before using it. I find it hard to believe that both OE and Mailwasher would suddenly have the wrong account info.

    I think that he should probably start by calling his ISP and making certain there isn't some type of problem with his account. Unless he's already done that, it seems to me that possibility should be eliminated first.
     
    Zander,
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  4. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi Zander!

    That was my initial thought too but he is worried to get the usual "run around ". They tend to put the customer to work instead of themselves.

    I have googled a bit and there are several error messages when OE times out but MW doesn't provide any hint (I think). I will give my friend a call and tell him to let OE time out and call back with the error code.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  5. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Sound like a plan to me. ;)
     
    Zander,
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  6. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    One more thought. Is there possibly a firewall or antivirus program that's monitoring email and could be causing this problem?
     
    Zander,
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  7. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    NIS 2005 but it worked prior to the change of processor.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  8. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Well, you never know with these types of things. Certainly wouldn't hurt to try disabling it temporarily. :)
     
    Zander,
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  9. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    I'm just off the phone talking to him. The error code is 0x800CCC19 and I will go google on it now.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  10. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Well, that error code means that OE has ... :rolleyes: ... timed out!

    I had him open a command window and ping both servers, pop.bredband.net and smtp.bredband.net. The command window just froze. The strange thing is that IE works fine.

    He now also told me that Adobe Photoshop freezes when opened.

    He has restored a Ghost Image but no difference (did that prior to attempting a repair installation). The Ghost Image was created when the computer was running on the Celeron.

    This has the scent of a reinstallation from square one.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  11. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Did you do the same search I did. Lots of references to this and symantec. There's other possibilities also. 0x800CCC19

    Also, I don't know if this could be relevant or not but have you given any thought to DEP? It occurred to me that if the old processor didn't support hardware DEP and the new one does this would be one thing that has changed since the processor change and his problems in windows began. Can't imagine it causing this type of problem but who knows? He could try turning it off, reboot and see if the problems with OE or any of the other programs are still there.

    A detailed description of the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature in Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, and Windows Server 2003
     
    Zander,
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  12. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Yes, it seems like there's a few possibilities and I will have DEP in mind. Trouble shooting from a distance is not easy. I guess I will have to pay him a visit as soon as time permits.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  13. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    OK, let us know what you find. I'm kind of curious about the DEP thing myself. Don't know what made me think about it but as I said, it's one thing that sort of fits into the mix.

    I have a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 processor and I know it doesn't support DEP so I doubt the 2.2 Celery does. My guess is though, that the newer one does support it. So........
     
    Zander,
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  14. 2006/03/04
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    The 3.0 GHz Intel P4 HT is a socket 478 Prescott and I don't know anything about DEP. I never had to worry about that with my old steam driven 1 GHz Athlon Thunderbird ... ;) ... !

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  15. 2006/03/04
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Well, my guess is that you're using it whether you realize it or not. If not the hardware variety, then the software. Have a look at your boot.ini and see if the AlwaysOn switch is there. It was an addition with SP2.
     
    Zander,
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  16. 2006/03/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    It's not my computer but I will probably visit my friend this afternoon. I understand that DEP might have an impact on programs but since he can't even ping the mail servers?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  17. 2006/03/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hi Christer

    I rather doubt that DEP has anything to do with the problem - DEP runs by default and there is no option in the dialogue to turn it off - and no need :). I am away from home at present, but the AMD 64 in my desktop supports DEP and it is on for everything - with no ill effects.

    You can check it out on your friend's computer .....

    My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings > DEP.

    I guess the problem lies in the setup of his email account(s) - I would check that they are set up as per the ISP instructions. I can't imagine that the CPU would have a role to play in this, but who knows?

    BTW - Has your friend updated the chipset drivers from the mobo CD?
     
    PeteC,
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  18. 2006/03/05
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    I agree that DEP probably doesn't have anything to do with it but it was just a thought that crossed my mind. If the cpu had anything to do with the problem (doubtful) it would be the one thing that has probably changed other than the speed of it.
    You can turn it off by using the alwaysoff switch in the boot.ini. Although, I suppose it's possible that switch has no effect on hardware based DEP?
     
    Zander,
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  19. 2006/03/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi guys!

    I'm back from my friends place now and his computer was pretty messed up. The thing about "everything working but MW and OE" was not true. He had seen some familiar icons and drew that conclusion. The first indication that he was a bit premature on that statement was when Adopbe Photoshop did not open. There were a few more programs that didn't work or didn't even load properly. In some cases I had to hit the reset switch.

    I checked DEP but as Pete says, no way to turn it off. Either "Windows programs" or "All programs ". I never checked boot.ini for the entries.

    I tried to ping the mail server and the command window froze. I disabled NAV 2005 but no change. I disabled NIS 2005 (FireWall) too and then I was able to ping the mail server, MW and OE worked and retrieved his mail. I turned the FW inside-out and upside-down, shook it but nothing fell out.

    I sat there ... :confused: ... scratching my head and I thought "with nothing better to do, why not a detour into BIOS ". I rebooted, hit DEL and started looking for clues. I soon found an option to disable Hyper Threading and did that. I rebooted and guess what ... :eek: ... everything worked OK!

    My conclusions are;

    if you substitute a processor of the same basic architechture as the previous one, it will work OK but not if there are fundamental differences;

    going from non-HT to HT does not work and I speculate that the reverse applies too.

    Based on the non-HT/HT above I speculate that going from single core to dual core (or the reverse) does not work either.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #18
  20. 2006/03/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff Thread Starter

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    By the way, maybe this thread, considering the outcome, is better off in the hardware forum with an edited Title?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  21. 2006/03/05
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    Well, glad to hear you figured it out. I should have thought of that one myself although if the motherboard supports it, it should work. It might be that new chipset drivers are necessary. I know if you have a hyper-threading cpu it'll show up in device manager as two processors. Did you ever look in device manager to see if there was any problem devices?

    Oh well, I guess it doesn't really matter now as long as things are up and running. :) Although, it still might not be a bad idea for him to see about updating the chipset drivers if he hasn't already done so.
     
    Zander,
    #20
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