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10-24-2002, 10:15 PM
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#1 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Help! BIOS Flash Meltdown
So here I am, an honest Joe just trying to unlock my Athlon XP's clock multiplier. I think I've finally got it right, I go into my BIOS, and notice that its too old to run the multiplier higher than 12.5, making my efforts useless. So I decide to do a little flashing to get a more recent multiplier option. I flash, the computer boots straight out of the flash process and seems to be doing fine -- it boots to windows XP no problem, reads data from my HDDs. Like a good boy, I follow the manufacturer's instructions and shut down, then clear my CMOS. Upon reboot, well, nothing. Fans whine, power surges through the board, my HDD LED lights up as if it is reading, but nothing.
Couple of observations. I have a RAID array that I am running XP off of, but I assume that the floppy is my boot drive after clearing CMOS, so even if I'm having RAID problems, it should at least boot from my floppy. I also have a second HDD that has Windows Me on it, so if all else fails you'd think it'd boot -off that. Nope. What do I do? By the way, less work is better in my book -- and I'm not going to do any soldering or pulling off chips or transistors. I'd rather go to the damn manufacturer first. Any and all help is welcome, as long as you're not COMPLETELY talking out of your ass. Thanks! Info on my system, so you know what I'm looking at. -ABIT KR7A-133R RAID motherboard -Athlon XP 2000+ -RAID array has always been reliable. -Currently attempting to boot with only Vid card and drives (including RAID, backup HDD, floppy, CDR and DVD). -Been using a grounded anti-static bracelet thing, so static damage shouldn't be an issue. |
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10-24-2002, 11:22 PM
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#2 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Bueller. . . ?
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10-24-2002, 11:43 PM
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#3 |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pottstown, PA
Posts: 153
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Did you pull the battery out of the mobo? And if so are you sure that its snapped in all the way? Did you put the clear CMOS jumper back to normal position?
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10-24-2002, 11:45 PM
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#4 |
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Member (13 bit)
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,954
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Does the system beep?
If you get a beep.you can reflash the bios,check in tips and tricks. Have you attempted to clear cmos via the jumper? Is the jumper on the correct pins? |
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10-24-2002, 11:48 PM
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#5 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Didn't pull out the battery, but I don't think I should have to. I disconnected the PSU and switched the jumper, so the battery wouldn't have been providing juice to the CMOS anyway right? I did return the CMOS jumper to its normal position prior to rebooting. I've tried clearing it several more times. Tried rebooting with just my backup HDD, just my floppy, pulled out and replaced my vidcard, no luck! Hope I'm not screwed.
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10-24-2002, 11:49 PM
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#6 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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No beep -- and the speaker is attached. I assume that means I'm not posting at all?
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10-24-2002, 11:51 PM
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#7 |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pottstown, PA
Posts: 153
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Maybe try pulling out the battery for a few minutes, short the CMOS jumper, return to normal position, replace battery. see if that helps.
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10-24-2002, 11:57 PM
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#8 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Tried and failed, Tahoe. Any other advice aside from running crying to Abit?
By the way, thanks for the suggestions guys. Even if they aren't my miracle cures, I'm glad to get some input! |
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10-25-2002, 12:00 AM
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#9 |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pottstown, PA
Posts: 153
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Just read your manual. Did you turn the power supply off also when you cleared the CMOS. If not, the manual says that the system may run abnormally if you clear the CMOS with the standby power on.
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10-25-2002, 12:06 AM
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#10 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Unfortunately I read the manual. That's what put me in this bind. PSU was off AND disconnected -- not even attached to the board -- when I cleared the CMOS. I think if I hadn't cleared the CMOS I would have been fine -- after all, the system was running until I turned it off and cleared the CMOS. I'll just hit the Abit helpline in the morning. Thanks for the help.
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10-25-2002, 11:37 AM
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#11 |
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Member (13 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4,700
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Yea,
I would try reflashing as Alfie suggested. As well as trying the new BIOS again, I would also try your old one. Sometimes a new BIOS version just doesn't work and you've got to revert to an older one. HTH Last edited by mike breck; 10-25-2002 at 11:40 AM. |
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10-25-2002, 12:11 PM
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#12 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Problem is, how to reflash when the system isn't even posting? I mean, its not even trying to read my floppy, and the HDDs clearly aren't being read.
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10-25-2002, 06:28 PM
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#13 |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Pottstown, PA
Posts: 153
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Sounds like it might be time to cry to Abit, Lol.
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10-25-2002, 11:27 PM
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#14 |
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Member (13 bit)
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,954
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Abit will sell you a new bios chip,usually costs $ 20.00 or so.
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10-26-2002, 09:39 AM
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#15 |
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Member (13 bit)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Mt Washington, KY
Posts: 4,927
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Check out www.badflash.com
Chas
__________________
I may not be much, but I'm all I think about. |
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10-26-2002, 07:46 PM
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#16 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Hey Confused, thanks for the link -- I just ordered a new BIOS chip. Here's hoping it works out!
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10-27-2002, 08:12 AM
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#17 |
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Member (13 bit)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Mt Washington, KY
Posts: 4,927
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Hope it does also. Be sure to check orientation of current chip and put the new one in same way. Many chips will have a notch on one end.
Chas |
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10-27-2002, 03:27 PM
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#18 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Mobile, AL
Posts: 315
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it sounds like it's trying to do something.....you can't get into whatever BIOS is in there, i.e. del key? just curious myself!
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10-27-2002, 10:42 PM
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#19 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 44
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Nope, oosik. There's no activity on any of the drives except for the CD and DVD, and I think they are just going through an automatic quick read when they power up -- something probably not controlled by the board. Its not beeping, so its not posting, so I got no BIOS. Sucks, but true. Its just a wierd situation -- I've never had a problem flashing in the past AND I've never heard of anyone being able to boot up their standard OS off their HDD, but run into trouble when they clear their CMOS. Screwy. I'm guessing the new BIOS will fix my problems. Either that, or I cry myself to sleep and start thinking of ways to use my motherboard. Maybe a cutting board?
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