CMOS trouble

[Malvasius]

I had the machine up and running with no problems so I decieded to play around with some of the bios settings (after reading other posts here). But for some reason when I try to boot the machine it comes up with a " CMOS checksum error ". I've tried the steps outlined in other posts :

 

Remove power from the system by switching the PSU off or removing the power cord.

Remove the battery.

Set the CMOS jumper to the CLEAR position for at least 5 minutes.

Move the PC Speaker jumper to the On position.

Set the CMOS jumper to the Normal position.

Replace the battery.

Us a PS2 keyboard.

Press and hold the Insert Key.

Apply power to the system by plugging in the power or turning the PSU on.

Press the start button on the system.

When you hear the beep, release the Insert Key and press the Delete Key.

 

But when I turn the machine back on I'm greated with the same message. I can either F1 to continue (which does nothing) or DEL to enter setup ...which also does nothing. I can CTRL-ALT-DELETE at this point so it's not locked up but just hung trying to get into the bios.

 

Is there anyway to recover from this error or am I going to have to try to get another bios chip? Is there a way to flash the bios without being at a dos prompt or in windows? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Frallan]

Did U try this?

 

Turn Computer of

Turn PSU off

Remove Power cord

Turn PSU On

Press power button (will hum and brum a bit when capacitors and PSU give of their residual charge)

set CMOS clear jumper and let it be for 5-10 seconds

reset CMOS clear jmp

Reset Power cable

Turn Computer on

Press DEL to get into BIOS

Load BIOS Optimized default

Remove all unneccesary Hardware in BIOS

Save and Exit

 

If not try again and if that doesnt work... Sry then Id say new BIOS chip...

[Malvasius]

Hmm......that seems to have gotten me into the bios now. Everything is set to the factory defaults. The strange thing now is when I try to let it load into windows (after the sata detection) it just hangs up at a black screen with a blinking cursor. I removed one stick of ram and left the other one in bank 2 and ended up with the same results. When I swapped it out for the other one I got something a little different. Right before the sata screen dissapears the screen starts flashing colors then goes back to normal then a message stating that Windows NT needs more than 7MB of memory to function (the actual message is a few sentances long ... it's not a blue screen). I put both sticks of memory in the machine I am now typing on and they both seem ok...no errors and windows runs fine. I'm at a loss here. Could something have happened to the dimm banks on the dfi board?

[Atomic]

would you please post which bios you are using in your signature. If you don't have 310 or higher, there could be issues associated with your venice core. and if you do have 310 or higher, i suggest running memtest from teh bios (go into genie bios and enable "run memtest on startup" to see if you are having memory errors that are causing instablility. (when you are done with memtest, hit esc to reboot, go into to bios, and change run memtest to disable. both times, enable and disable, you need to make sure to save the bios settings when you exit.)

[Frallan]

Ok now we come to the part where we need more info than what Uve allready provided...

 

What BIOS are U using?

Did U use optimized Defaults b4 or did U follow the steps in a guide and disable/set some things in the BIOS when U installed?

Are U on NT?

 

And no I dont think there is a HW issue here...

 

Also please List your:

CPU sartup Voltage

LDT Voltage

CPU VID Voltage

special VID percentage

Memory Voltage.

[Malvasius]

I'm on the 1/25 bios right now. My current settings are :

 

cou core 1.4

ldt bus 1.2

chip set 1.50

dram 2.60

 

When I got it originally I had no problems at those settings. I slowly bumped up the speed to 270 on the fsb. I had to set the LDT/FSB to 3.0 and the memory divider to 5/06. I was running greally good at the 2.7 (cpu was at 1.6v and mem at 3.1v). It was like that for a couple days (prime and pi stable) and very nice in games. I figured it was time to try to tighten up the memory times and I believe I selected 'disable' on the Command per clock. And when it rebooted the DFI logo was back. It was then that I couldn't get in. Right now if I have both sticks of ram in banks 2/4 or 1/3 it will not enter the bios. I just get a colored screen (like a all green or purple screen). If use one stick (say stick A) it will get into the bios but with just stick B I will have the same problem.

 

With the single piece of ram that allows me into the bios I will get (after a flashing post screen):

 

"Windows NT has not found enough extended memory. 7MB of extended memory is required to run Windows NT. You may need to upgrade your computer or run a configuration program provided by the manufacturer.

 

Memory Map : "

 

I have windows XP sp2 on the machine.

 

I Just had both pieces of ram running in another machine without any problems. I noticed also when I can get into the bios it will sometimes freeze on me and I'll have to hit the reset.

[oliveryochest]

upgrade to at least the 310 bios. i would also up the mem to 2.7

[Malvasius]

I wish I could. I cannot get to a prompt or inside windows. All I get is that low memory issue. I've tried booting with a boot floppy and right after it finishes the post screen the computer reboots.

[Malvasius]

It's got to be the memory. I "borrowed" a stick from my wife's machine and with that installed I could boot from the floppy. I successfully flashed the bios but the machine would still either lock up or reboot with the original ram in it. With the borrowed ram I can get into windows fine. Thanks for the tips on the bios date. When I get these sticks replaced hopefully I'll be able to get a better/more stable oc over it. Thanks guys!

[Frallan]

Well U need to have the floppy installed and lett it go right to the floppy from one of my Clear CMOS routines... Whats happening to U is that the 1/25 doesn't support the Venice. Therefor Ull never be able to get it running properly as is. Now after a clear CMOS routine^^U might be able to go to Floppy and flash.

 

If not try to borrow a NC or a Winnie from a store or a friend so that U can Flash your BIOS.

 

Also the 3.10 base BIOS is a good choice to start with.

 

So 1 memory stick - Clear CMOS routine- Boot direct (without going into BIOS) to flash floppy - flash - pray - keep on flashing - shut your eyes - shout (joy or anger depending on result). The reboot (go into BIOS load optimized defaults)

 

Up to 110% Special VID 2.7V RAM 1.6V chip

Remove in BIOS USB 2 support at least one LAN and set your memory timings 3-3-8-3, enable memtest

Save exit

Install second stick.

Run memtest #8 a number of passes (8 to 10 at least).

 

If everythings ok => Windows

if not try one stick at a time in memtest.

 

GL!

/F

[Malvasius]

Currently running ok ... no overclock... with my wife's ram. I know that the TCCD chips are not being manufactured anymore. If for some reason I cannot get this G.Skill again can either of you recommend comparable ram? Thanks.

 

Oh and Frallan thanks for the valuable information!

[Frallan]

np happy to help :dog: