Instable overclock, now dead system - help!

D

dbaldus

Gawd
Joined
Jul 12, 2005
Messages
563
I just overclocked my 3500+ Newcastle to 225 HTT x 11.0 mlt at 1.475 volts. The temp never got above 60C, but it would not make it all the way through 3dMark05 without rebooting automatically. Not liking the temps I was getting, I put the voltage back down to 1.35 volts and stopped the overclock. Now my system will boot into Windows and either freeze while all the splash screens are showing up (then I have to restart it manually) or just restart automatically.

Right before I overclocked, I had to take out 2 of the 4 sticks of my RAM because they would not run well together (ran at DDR200 speeds). When I took two of them out, they ran at the full DDR400, DDR450 with the overclock (checked memtest). What I'm saying is that it is possible that I may have knocked something around while I was removing my RAM because the case is pretty tight, but I don't know what it would be. I did try moving the DIMMS to the other 2 open slots and that did nothing.

What does this sound like? Even if I set all the BIOS settings for memory and CPU to default the system will do the same thing when it gets to Windows. Any ideas on what I should try?
 
do a cmos clear , consult your mobo manual for the location of the jumper

should get you back up and running in no time..
 
aldy402 said:
do a cmos clear , consult your mobo manual for the location of the jumper

should get you back up and running in no time..
Click to expand...

You mean just taking out the battery or actually setting the jumpers?

Also, why did you suggest this? What do you think happened? Did I overclock too high?
 
Since the system makes through POST and doesn't screw up until getting into windows, it sounds more like you corrupted some files. You can try a cmos clear, but I doubt it will help anything. See if you can do a repair of XP, or you may need a fresh install. You can also try booting into safe mode, that may work, depending on what is messed up.
 
boshuter said:
Since the system makes through POST and doesn't screw up until getting into windows, it sounds more like you corrupted some files. You can try a cmos clear, but I doubt it will help anything. See if you can do a repair of XP, or you may need a fresh install. You can also try booting into safe mode, that may work, depending on what is messed up.
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What would I have corrupted? All I did was set the HTT to 225, the vcore to 1.475, booted into Windows and then ran 3dMark05. Does overclocking potentially corrupt files? I didn't realize that it could...

Also, if I can boot into safe mode (I'll have to try it when I get home tonight), what should I do from there to fix whatever is wrong? Wasn't sure where you were going with that one...
 
Last nite at about 3 AM I decided to try me first overclock with my new chip. I setthe RAM on a divider so I got 230 on my RAM, and I threw my HTT on 230, needless to say it didn't like it. I moved my HD cadge so I could get the jumper switched and it booted. powered down, switch jumper. Went into BIOS, loaded my default optimized config and I was off to the races again.

Just find the jumper and you'll be on the gravy train headed to OC heaven.
 
i would do a repair on windows boot from windows cd, goto recovery console and do a chkdsk /r
 
dbaldus said:
What would I have corrupted? All I did was set the HTT to 225, the vcore to 1.475, booted into Windows and then ran 3dMark05. Does overclocking potentially corrupt files? I didn't realize that it could...

Also, if I can boot into safe mode (I'll have to try it when I get home tonight), what should I do from there to fix whatever is wrong? Wasn't sure where you were going with that one...
Click to expand...

It's very common to corrupt file if you overclock, it's also common to fubar the bios. But normaly if the problem is bios corruption the pc won't post, if it gets to loading windows then the bios is out of the picture already, this is why you can remove the bios chip after the pc in running in windows and hot flash another chip ( I had to do this 4 times the other day to recover my bios when trying for a WR with a 950es Presler :rolleyes: ) If you are getting to the point of loading windows, then I don't see how clearing the bios will help... but... it won't hurt, so you might as well try it, just make sure to go through the bios and make sure all settings are what you had before trying the oc.

I only mentioned trying safe mode in case it was a driver issue or something like that, you never know what files can be corrupted. Most people who oc seriously keep a back up hdd, or at least a complete Nlite windows load on cd to recover from corrupted files.
 
clear cmos first. most often all oc probs can be cured by clearing cmos. if it doesnt help ur os files are corrupted during automatic reboots.
 
rysher said:
clear cmos first. most often all oc probs can be cured by clearing cmos. if it doesnt help ur os files are corrupted during automatic reboots.
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Sound advice. If it is corrupted files then repair my not do the deed. In that case reformat and, reinstall the OS. Im guessing you dont have anything of importance on your drive yet. Also did you allow the system to burn in first before overclocking. I like to let the system burn in for a week or, two before tweaking it myself. Some people say you dont need to but, it has always worked better for me.
 
Joves said:
Sound advice. If it is corrupted files then repair my not do the deed. In that case reformat and, reinstall the OS. Im guessing you dont have anything of importance on your drive yet. Also did you allow the system to burn in first before overclocking. I like to let the system burn in for a week or, two before tweaking it myself. Some people say you dont need to but, it has always worked better for me.
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Well, I actually have had my system running as is for about a year or so now... so I guess I have a FEW important things on there :)

What exactly do you mean by "burning-in"? Just letting it run for a few weeks?

And are you just telling me to clear the CMOS to reset the BIOS settings? They should be reset anyway, but I'll try it.

As for the XP System restore... don't you have to boot into Windows to do that? If so... I might have a problem...
 
Alright, first off, most likely your system isn't suffering from any corrupted files. Just clear your CMOS by either removing the battery or switching the jumper (check your motherboard manual for the specific method on your board). Restart, and head into the BIOS. Manually set all default clocks/voltages. If for some reason your windows installation was corrupted, run a repair install of windows which will maintain your files, or just reformat if you don't need to save anything.

Second, when done incorrectly, overclocking can corrupt files. This is because the system wasn't stable, but you can run tests to ensure stability. Once you've got your system up and running again, read this guide. It'll walk you through finding the max speeds of each of your components and then finding the optimal combination of speeds for your system. It will also tell you how (by using Prime95/SP2004) to make sure that your system is stable.
 
I was under the impression it was a new build. Yes reset your CMOS jumper then for a minute and, return it to the running position. Then your Bios resets to baseline and, it should work. When you do get into windows, back up all of your important irreplacable stuff. Then try tweaking it again in smaller increments. But I would back up first. You need to be back at your baseline either way.
 
Umm... am I supposed to be resetting the jumpers while the system is on or something? I always thought that that was only supposed to be done while the computer was off (same as removing the CMOS battery), but you guys are making it sound like you're supposed to do these things when its actually on! Dumb question, I know... but very pertinent and it has to be asked :)
 
dbaldus said:
Umm... am I supposed to be resetting the jumpers while the system is on or something? I always thought that that was only supposed to be done while the computer was off (same as removing the CMOS battery), but you guys are making it sound like you're supposed to do these things when its actually on! Dumb question, I know... but very pertinent and it has to be asked :)
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Sorry to be unclear. It's gotta be off.
 
OFF.
principle of electronics, electric, electricity. ALWAYS TURN IT OFF before tinkering anything that conducts, runs current!!!
 
Joves said:
I was under the impression it was a new build. Yes reset your CMOS jumper then for a minute and, return it to the running position. Then your Bios resets to baseline and, it should work. When you do get into windows, back up all of your important irreplacable stuff. Then try tweaking it again in smaller increments. But I would back up first. You need to be back at your baseline either way.
Click to expand...

So am I just supposed to reset the CMOS jumper and then leave the machine off for a minute, or reset the jumper and then boot up the computer and let it run for a minute? Are there capacitors discharging or something?

Just need to make sure what I need to do so I can just go home tonight and do it (I'm only going to be home for 2 days so I need to work fast)!
 
dbaldus said:
So am I just supposed to reset the CMOS jumper and then leave the machine off for a minute, or reset the jumper and then boot up the computer and let it run for a minute? Are there capacitors discharging or something?

Just need to make sure what I need to do so I can just go home tonight and do it (I'm only going to be home for 2 days so I need to work fast)!
Click to expand...

You'll need to check your motherboard manual for what to do (either pop out the battery or just move a jumper). When you're doing it leave the computer off. then replace the jumper/replace the batter and boot the computer up. Then go straight into your bios to set up the correct default clocks for your system.

Then if you'd like to continue overclocking, follow the guide i linked to up above.
 
quadnad said:
You'll need to check your motherboard manual for what to do (either pop out the battery or just move a jumper). When you're doing it leave the computer off. then replace the jumper/replace the batter and boot the computer up. Then go straight into your bios to set up the correct default clocks for your system.

Then if you'd like to continue overclocking, follow the guide i linked to up above.
Click to expand...

Should I set all the settings to defaults manually or just select "Load Default Settings" in my BIOS? And am I supposed to actually leave either the battery out or the jumper reset for a full minute or not?
 
Well, here's an interesting thing - my system will boot up just fine in safe mode, but even after resetting the jumpers to clear the CMOS and loading setup defaults, regular mode will not boot - same as before.

Since Windows is booting into safe mood, what should I try next?
 
System restore. Sometimes an usuccessful overclock can corrupt your hard drive. Try to restore settings the way they were before your OC and see if that helps.
 
belmicah said:
System restore. Sometimes an usuccessful overclock can corrupt your hard drive. Try to restore settings the way they were before your OC and see if that helps.
Click to expand...

Resetting the settings doesn't help.

Do you mean boot with my Windows CD in and reinstall Windows, or what exactly do you mean by "System Restore"?
 
Last time I had a similar problem with memory it corrupted my windows and I woudl freez up. Had to re-install windows. Youc an Try Booting into safemod, or playing around witht hat as well sometimes it will clear up whatever is stuck.

if your running 4 sticks make sure you set command rate to 2T.
 
dbaldus said:
Resetting the settings doesn't help.

Do you mean boot with my Windows CD in and reinstall Windows, or what exactly do you mean by "System Restore"?
Click to expand...

did you manually set all the timings and voltages like i said?
 
quadnad said:
did you manually set all the timings and voltages like i said?
Click to expand...

Yes, I manually set the timings but let the ASUS AI Overclock set to "Auto" (the default setting), which sets the vcore and memory voltage.

I'm currently doing a scandisk on my drive through safe mode, which boots up and will run just fine.

Is putting in the Windows cd and doing a reinstallation (is that a System Restore, by the way? Still haven't heard back from that yet) the next step?
 
Justintoxicated said:
Last time I had a similar problem with memory it corrupted my windows and I woudl freez up. Had to re-install windows. Youc an Try Booting into safemod, or playing around witht hat as well sometimes it will clear up whatever is stuck.

if your running 4 sticks make sure you set command rate to 2T.
Click to expand...

I'm just running with 2 sticks now.
 
Great, so I put in the Windows CD and now I have 2 versions of Windows installed on my system, well really, only one and a half.

After I had the recovery CD in for awhile, I realized that Windows was just installing itself again and not actually updating, so when I got a chance, I chose to "cancel the installation". Now when I'm booting into safe mode, it gives me two options for OS's to boot to - Windows 1 and Windows 2. Windows 2 won't boot because it says Windows cannot boot into setup during safe mode, but Windows 1 will still boot just fine.

I started a System Restore from my most recent time that it worked (about a month ago) and it is going. My question now is, are both Windows installs (really my one and a half installs) going to be on my hard drive, bogging everything down? Or what should I do about it (other than having to reformat if possible)?
 
Okay, to answer my own question, the Windows System Restore did not get rid of my other Windows installation.

How do I get rid of all this extra crap? Now every time I turn on my computer, I have to hold F8 and choose which installation I want to start - its annoying and there's extra crap all over my system. How do I know where it is all hidden? Is there a way to "Uninstall a windows installation" or something like that?

But the good news is - I'm back up and running!
 
dbaldus said:
Okay, to answer my own question, the Windows System Restore did not get rid of my other Windows installation.

How do I get rid of all this extra crap? Now every time I turn on my computer, I have to hold F8 and choose which installation I want to start - its annoying and there's extra crap all over my system. How do I know where it is all hidden? Is there a way to "Uninstall a windows installation" or something like that?

But the good news is - I'm back up and running!
Click to expand...

Okay first you have to go to control panel, then you have to go to system, then you have to go to advanced

Under Startup and recovery click on settings, then after that click edit then erase the unworking windows version line you don't want, after that just go erase the windows folders you arn't using.
 
And that will get rid of everything?

Also, how do I know which one is the one that I'm using and which one is the one that I just installed (part way) and am not using?
 
dbaldus said:
And that will get rid of everything?

Also, how do I know which one is the one that I'm using and which one is the one that I just installed (part way) and am not using?
Click to expand...

Might not get rid of everything, but it gets rid of the windows installation, just a guess but I think your other partition will say something like windows(1) or something, also the part install should be the smaller of the windows files.
 
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