Re: Prescott/CeleronD/ExtremeEdition and SP2 Fix

From: root (postmaster_at_buchanangc.com)
Date: 08/25/04 

Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 19:50:07 -0700

"Cari (MS MVP)" <Newsgroups1@coribright.com> wrote in message
news:eAqpSwjiEHA.2664@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> The problem of SP2 not installing on Prescott/ Celerons) and Extreme
Edition
> CPUs has been identified.
>
> It appears to be due to the machine's BIOS not installing a production
level
> microcode update.

"..BIOS not installing a production level microcode update."

> To check whether the BlOS is at the correct level download the Intel
> Processor Frequency ID utility from:
>
> http://support.intel.com/support/processors/tools/frequencyid/

There are two versions there: bootable and Windows. So which version
should be used? Are the descriptions that follow for when running under
Windows XP the Windows version?

> The microcode version is identified by this utility as "CPU Revision"
>
> So for this CPU:
>
> · CPU Family = 15
>
> · CPU Model = 3
>
> · CPU Stepping = 4
>
> The microcode revision should be at least 8 (if it is zero, then no
> microcode update was installed at all):
>
> · CPU Revision = 8
>
> If the revisions is not 8,

So the microcode revision of at least 8 was installed by the BIOS? In other
words if the boot version of the Intel Frequency ID Utility would one still
see at least 8 or what?

>then boot into Safe Mode. Rename the file
> %windir%\system32\drivers\update.sys so that it does not load.

The above seems to be XP loading some OTHER microcode to the CPU than that
which was loaded at BIOS time, right???

> Reboot into 'normal' mode. Apply the SP2 upgrade file and the failure to
> boot should not recur. Check your motherboard manufacturers' website often
> for updates to your BIOS as this is a temporary workaround and can cause
> instability.

What kinds of instabilities might one see with the above temp fix in place?

I've never fully studied the microcode correction process in detail. Could
some please describe the entire process in detail or provide a URL? What
does %windir%\system32\drivers\update.sys do exactly?

There appears to be two different times here when microcode is being
updated:
BOOT/BIOS time and XP time. It appears that the XP time microcode update
causes this issue WHEN some precondition set by an improper microcode state
from BIOS microcode load time exist, right???

Is it true that a complete fix to this issue is an updated mobo BIOS? OR is
there now coming also a post SP2 hotfix for that which
%windir%\system32\drivers\update.sys does/loads??

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Wrong CPU being shown by the BIOS
    ... Now I am not sure if installing the RAM did this or messing about in ... the BIOS screen with a message sayinh. ... "Unknown CPU detected, install latest BIOS to unleash Power" ... Intel Processor Identification Utility. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Possible Prescott Cpu temporary workaround
    ... The problem of SP2 not installing on Prescott and Extreme ... The microcode version is identified by this utility as "CPU Revision". ... Frequently check the website of your motherboard manufacturer for BIOS ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Wrong CPU being shown by the BIOS
    ... Now I am not sure if installing the RAM did this or messing about in ... the BIOS screen with a message sayinh. ... "Unknown CPU detected, install latest BIOS to unleash Power" ... Intel Processor Identification Utility. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: xp sp2 download, computer wont boot up now
    ... > It hard-hangs if Prescott is insufficiently rev'd (by BIOS). ... Both might do microcode updates. ... Now can anyone report that update.sys ever changes the 'CPU revision ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: System Error ?
    ... RAID in the BIOS setup. ... This seemed to point to drivers, ... that I tried installing PC Wizard ver. ... would do, a couple of days ago, and it apparently uninstalled the CPU ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)