Just an update...

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/...hreadId=994080

found that on a goog search ... its from 2006 ... at first I was thinking you're Ken (LOL) but then saw the year and said wait, Jan 21st is the future and 2006 is the past..

Seriously though..
Goog search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...rlz=1I7SUNA_en

notice the first result (not the ad) is for a Tech Reference.. though for the French business unit (its in english) it confirms that the dips mentioned are "reserved" with 5 thru 10 for bios clear and emergency (crisis) recovery and bios flash protection.

without knowing the details on the CPU ... spec code printed on the chip itself, it becomes the only thing that would be of question. The system was designed to give a 400MHz FSB and the only processor I could find by the hunt & peck method looks like it would work all else being "ok".

Also on the support page for the system at HP, its hard to say if you have a newer bios or there is one.. HP lists the version they have as JA.01.04 -- 7 May 2002 while the CPUZ gives your bios as JA.01.07US and 7/19/2001 ...

IF you're going to try the other bios .. see if the utility allows you to take a backup of your current bios ... so that you can revert to it if needed.

Part of the confusion is in not knowing which VL420 you have.. the one that comes up immediately is the MidTower ... though the same board was listed for all three, that's not always the case... and reading here...
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...5&mode=4&idx=0

suggests that each change of bios included additional options for support of higher processors or corrections to the support

ie:
.04
  • Includes microcode update for Intel Pentium 4 "Willamette E0" processors


.02
  • Includes final microcode update for Intel Pentium 4 "Northwood B0" processors (most processors from 2GHz and higher).


Suffice it to say.. there's a good deal of info out there.. YMMV ... just don't forget to post back to let us know what you get.


(Your Milage May Vary)