BadAxe2 and Vista RTM

[seanriddle]

It's interesting that task manager, CPUZ and device manager show *2* cores when core multiplexing is disabled.

I've got mine set up at 300x10=3GHz. Windows Experience Index is 5.8 - everything is 5.9 except gaming graphics (I'm waiting for the new driver from ATI). Cinebench 1 CPU is about 44s/508, 4 CPUs is 13s/1640.

I decided to test with core multiplexing disabled: WEI is exactly the same (probably only uses 1 core anyway). Cinebench 2 CPUs is 23s/946. So with core multiplexing disabled, there really are 2 cores running.

I tried all the Windows F8 options to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Nothing helped. Safe mode blue screens after loading the crcdisk.sys driver, but that's where a normal PC pauses anyway, so I think that driver is fine and it's crashing when it starts something up after that. Boot logging doesn't write the ntbtlog.txt file- I guess it crashes too soon.

Then I disabled everything in BIOS that could be. Unfortunately, I didn't leave any bootable devices, and I turned off USB (and my keyboard is USB wireless). So I had to switch the jumper to maintenance, which I've had to do several other times playing around with overclocking. So I wired a switch to the pins to make it easier. An SPDT center off would be best, but I didn't have one. You only need center off if you have to recover the BIOS, which I haven't needed to do yet. Switching to maintenance has always gotten me to POST, then I can reload my saved config.

I eventually disabled everything except the DVD drive and still got the BSOD booting the V64 disc. Then I disabled the DVD drive and turned SATA back on and it still crashed. I also tried unplugging the DVD drive.

I let Microsoft know the KB hotfix didn't work, and gave them some details.

Sean

[seanriddle]

I got this reply from Intel:

Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

We have not had similar cases reported. Although driver support for Windows Vista* is expected to fully provided on and after January, 30, we confirm we do not have a current, known issue with BIOS versions 2395 and 2431 versus Windows Vista. The system should be able to boot up into the Operating System with no problem. In view of this, we would recommend the following:

1. Remove the RTC (Real Time Clock) battery and leave it out for 20 minutes. After this period of time, insert the battery back in, turn the system back on, and go into BIOS Setup Utility by pressing <F2> during the boot process. Once in the BIOS setup utility, press <F9> to restore BIOS default settings. Reset any customized BIOS settings. Clear all DMI event logs, which are located in the Advanced/Event Log Configuration section of the BIOS Setup utility. Press <F10> to save the new settings and reboot the system.

2. Ensure the brand and part number of the memory module(s) you are using are listed as compatible with the Intel(R) Desktop Board D975XBX2 (see both "3rd Party Tested Memory" and "Vendor Self Tested Memory" at http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/bx2/bx2_mem.htm#1).

So if you have this problem, please let them know.

I'm going to do step 1, then send them an email with the results and additional info. I'm concerned that they are only looking at Vista 32, since the email never mentions Vista 64.

Sean

[interpol]

QX6800

Interpol-

Typo? X6800 or QX6700?

Please send Intel an email. I think the more of us that do, the quicker it will get resolved.

Thanks-

Sean

Sorry, QX6700... Yeah, I'll ping Intel too.. this is frustrating.

A side question for the group... I have XP installed on a SATA drive (set to Native/AHCI in BIOS). I imaged that drive to a second removable IDE hard drive... however, when I try to boot from that IDE drive, I just get a bunch of garbled characters on the screen... is there something unique about the SATA drive install that prevents an IDE drive from booting? I'd assume all the drivers should be there for IDE. Or is the issue more to do with MBR etc.

[matsuya]

There's a new BIOS (2507) available.

[seanriddle]

The release notes for the BIOS don't mention the Vista 64 problem, but I tried it anyway. It doesn't fix that problem. But Intel did send me an email a few hours before this BIOS was released telling me they reproduced my problem and were going to create a BIOS to fix it. I'm currently running 2507 with Core Multiplexing disabled. It seems to be better on my MB OCing than 2395 or 2431 were.

Sean

[matsuya]

The release notes for the BIOS don't mention the Vista 64 problem, but I tried it anyway. It doesn't fix that problem. But Intel did send me an email a few hours before this BIOS was released telling me they reproduced my problem and were going to create a BIOS to fix it. I'm currently running 2507 with Core Multiplexing disabled. It seems to be better on my MB OCing than 2395 or 2431 were.

Sean

Thanks for taking the time to do that. Looking forward to the next BIOS release. I'm sticking with XP for now.

[matsuya]

I hope they come out with that BIOS soon. I want to be able to install Vista 64-bit and have my HDD led working.

[droseberry]

Hi All,

I have been frantically reading forum posts all over the internet trying to figure out if I should keep this mobo or try the ASUS Striker Extreme.

I am having the same issue that was described, the BSOD on installing Windows XP 64-bit or Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit. 32-bit XP and Vista installs just fine. I am using bios revision 2507.

My component descriptions are in my signature, just wanted to add my name to the list of those who are having problems. I have already sent this issue to Intel via a phone call last night (when they tried to tell me that they do not support 64-bit operating systems for this board) and via e-mail. I also spent 4 1/2 hours on the phone last night with Microsoft Vista technical support trying to troubleshoot this instal to no avail. I have never in my life been so desperate that I needed to sit on a phone call with tech support!! I hope Intel releases their bios update to resolve this issue SOON!

[interpol]

My component descriptions are in my signature, just wanted to add my name to the list of those who are having problems. I have already sent this issue to Intel via a phone call last night (when they tried to tell me that they do not support 64-bit operating systems for this board) and via e-mail. I also spent 4 1/2 hours on the phone last night with Microsoft Vista technical support trying to troubleshoot this instal to no avail. I have never in my life been so desperate that I needed to sit on a phone call with tech support!! I hope Intel releases their bios update to resolve this issue SOON!

I got the same reply from Intel. Talked with them on Monday (29th) and they said that x64 Vista will not be supported until it ships... I reminded them that the ship date was tomorrow (i.e. 30th), but they still insisted that they're not supporting it yet... cracked me up.

[seanriddle]

I'm getting "we won't support Vista until it ships" from everybody. ATI only put up their release Vista drivers (the first with with openGL support) on 1/29. Logitech just put up Vista drivers for their MX5000 yesterday. CutePDF won't work on Vista 64-bit 6.0.6000 (and I can't find any other free PDF creators that do), but their tech support said that it's because that's not the release version of Vista. Lego Mindstorms NXT won't load and they won't even say they will support Vista. Seems odd that a small company like mine can have an MSDN subscription and get Vista early, but these big companies don't?

In the same vein, does anyone know of any temperature software that works under Vista 64-bit? I don't want to start any serious overclocking until I can monitor the CPU temp.

Thanks-

Sean

[rocktrout]

How goes the battles with installing Vista 64 bit? Is this problem primarily related to the QX6700 or does it also apply to the x6800?

I'm just getting my prep work out of the way for my new computer. I would like to install both Vista 32 and Vista 64 using a dual boot setup. I have no plans to use raid on my raptor drives.

[seanriddle]

I'm pretty certain it is limited to the quad cores (QX6700 and Q6600). I believe the x6800 is fine. Intel has said their next BIOS update will fix the problem, but I don't know when it will be released. They've averaged 2 updates a month on the D975XBX2, so it could be this week.

Sean

[seanriddle]

In the same vein, does anyone know of any temperature software that works under Vista 64-bit? I don't want to start any serious overclocking until I can monitor the CPU temp.

The latest SpeedFan Beta works under Vista 64-bit. I can't control the fan speeds, but I can see the temp of each core, voltages, and the fan RPMs.

Sean

[Apoptosis]

I'm pretty certain it is limited to the quad cores (QX6700 and Q6600). I believe the x6800 is fine. Intel has said their next BIOS update will fix the problem, but I don't know when it will be released. They've averaged 2 updates a month on the D975XBX2, so it could be this week.

Sean

The fix has been identified and the BIOS will be released next week

[seanriddle]

Apo-

Thanks for the info!

Sean

[seanriddle]

The latest SpeedFan Beta works under Vista 64-bit. I can't control the fan speeds, but I can see the temp of each core, voltages, and the fan RPMs.
Sean

CPU-Z updated to 1.39 today, adding support for Vista 64-bit: http://www.cpuid.com/
Sean

[Dandruff]

The fix has been identified and the BIOS will be released next week

2618 is released!

[seanriddle]

The fix has been identified and the BIOS will be released next week

2618 is released!

Are you able to download it? If I try to get it in any format, or the release notes, I get HTTP 404 errors.

Sean

[Dandruff]

yeah, seems it's not yet on the servers. doesn't work here either.