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Processor Upgrade Question
I have a Dell Dimension 2400 that I've been upgrading recently. I want to upgrade the processor to the one that is a Pentium 4 @ 3.06 GHz with 512kb of cache, a 533 MHz FSB and hyperthreading. I've managed to find it (I looked at some other posts and people were having trouble) and I installed it. However, it won't work. I get an orange power light. The BIOS version is A03. From the posts I read, this version is supposed to support this processor. I was wondering if that's a typo, and I need BIOS version A05, or if I need to do something else. I'd rather not update BIOS, as it requires Floppy Disks, but I will if that's the problem.
jackshack
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June 30th, 2011 22:00
Sorry, somehow I thought that the 3.06 GHz processor you had would allow you to post.
I still believe that there is something else going on besides a BIOS problem. An orange light on the power button means that the power circuits will not enable the power supply. This seldom has anything to do with the BIOS, but rather with a fault in some component. Be sure that you have inserted the processor the correct way with the bevel on the socket lining up with the pin 1 indicator on the processor and that the processor has no bent pins. If you have done this already, and given that the machine works with the original processor, I would have to say that the processor has a problem. Most power problems with which I'm familiar give no indication other than the orange power light, but you should also check out the four diagnostic lights in back to see if they have any are lit, and if so, the colors.
EDIT: I've re-read the thread and found I may have made an unwarranted assumption. I have been thinking you are upgrading what was a working machine, but I see you have not explicitly stated that fact. Does the computer work with the original processor, or do you get the same behavior with that processor as well?