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| Thread ID: 14858 | 2002-01-21 06:22:00 | Computer not starting #3 - The plot thickens | Guest (0) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 32148 | 2002-01-21 06:22:00 | Okay the plot has now thickened. After my thinking it was the HDD, then the motherboard, then the HDD again, I now think its the BIOS and/or motherboard again. I booted a couple of times today and got this message: 'BIOS checksum error...' (can't remember the middle bit) '...SYSTEM NOT FOUND - Insert system disk' I'd seen that once before, but I had attributed that to some fiddling in the BIOS I had done previously. Just talked to my father and he told me he'd got that message a few times (wish he'd told me earlier!). So now I think its a BIOS problem. Anyone agree? I'm gonna take the board back to the shop under warranty on Thursday (after my holiday) and get them to replace it... should I take just the board or should I take everything? (only the board is under warranty from there - other bits and pieces were got from other places and most not under warranty anymore...) Anyway, I downloaded from Maxtor a Maxtor/Quantum program called Powerdisk or something that did heaps of tests (in DOS) on the HDD including a burn-in test that took about an hour, and a write-in test (zero-fill) that took about 2 hours and both the basic and advanced tests that it offered, and it passed with flying colours. So I'm guessing there's nothing wrong with the HDD. (although it did mention that it pre-dated SMART). |
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| 32149 | 2002-01-21 07:18:00 | I have not been following your story but have you tried a BIOS update at all? Before you apply a BIOS update however have you tried clearing the CMOS to see if that helps (usually achieved with a jumper on the motherboard)? Some sites imply the error may be due to a corrupted CMOS. Some of the tech sites I use recommend a BIOS update when this message is recieved and others suggest that it may not be fixable and would require a new BIOS chip to be installed. Its more likely that a local supplier would just replace the whole board though. |
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| 32150 | 2002-01-21 07:21:00 | Hello Mike, that checksum error and system not found message is bad news. It suggests the bios has become corrupted, it may be possible to re-flash the bios if the bios has a 'boot block', but since it's under warranty it could be better to take the board back. At least matters seem to have come to a head, the bios must have been gradually dying. Good luck. |
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| 32151 | 2002-01-21 07:58:00 | I would suggest that you take the whole box in. That way you can demonstrate the problem. Otherwise I would think that the shoppe would need to rebuid the system with your motherboard to find the problem. Bryan. |
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| 32152 | 2002-01-21 08:02:00 | >should I take just the board or should I take everything? Take the computer box in (with a screwdriver in your pocket if you wish). Also write down what and how you've tested - it'll help them with the diagnosis. Thought up a name for the baby yet? Heather |
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| 32153 | 2002-01-21 08:12:00 | It might also be a dud battery. | Guest (0) | ||
| 32154 | 2002-01-21 10:05:00 | Thanks John and Terry. I had considered a BIOS flash, but considering the board is still under warranty I figured it'd be a safer bet to take it back, because I wouldn't want to void the warranty with a BIOS flash. | Guest (0) | ||
| 32155 | 2002-01-21 10:12:00 | Thanks for your comments, Bryan and Mike... I'm not really one to take in the whole box to demonstrate problems, because usually (murphy's law I guess) then the problem doesn't work, you feel like a total jackass, and they don't replace the board under warranty :) LOL and its not the batttery, I know that :) |
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