LanParty 875B on BIOS binge

[Y-man]

I have a DFI LanParty Pro875B mb that decided all of a sudden to go into a BIOS update mode on startup. The system never makes it to POST. It just asks for a BIOS update floppy. I dowloaded one off the DFI site and tried it, and the Award flash untility comes up asking for the BIOS filename, but I can't type anything. Nothing shows up when I type, so the system just hangs indefinitely at this point.

 

This system has been running fine for several months now, and it just started doing this out of the blue. I haven't done any hardware or softaware changes/additions/subtractions whatsoever.

 

I tried clearing the BIOS with both the jumper settings and removing the battery for a minute, but when I restart the system it does the same thing all over again.

 

Is there anything I can do to get this system back up? If not, I'd like to replace this mb, but I have data on a 2-drive RAID0 array running off the mb Highpoint chip that I need to access. Is there a standalone Highpoint RAID PCI card I can put in another system that will allow me to access this data?

 

Thanks.

[karl pell]

I have a DFI LanParty Pro875B mb that decided all of a sudden to go into a BIOS update mode on startup. The system never makes it to POST. It just asks for a BIOS update floppy.

 

I have an 875B, tho not here at the moment, and recall that at startup there's a message at the bottom of the screen like "Press F2 (or whatever) for AWDFLASH" ... any chance you have a faulty keyboard that's sending the F2 (or whatever) uncommanded? If USB kbd, try PS2 ... if PS2, try USB.

[Y-man]

I don't have a USB keyboard, but I'll try unplugging the keyboard altogether when I get home.

[karl pell]

I don't have a USB keyboard, but I'll try unplugging the keyboard altogether when I get home.

Your description "...and the Award flash untility comes up asking for the BIOS filename, but I can't type anything. Nothing shows up when I type ..." suggests keyboard as a place to start.

 

My cryptic directions, deciphered, were simply to try another keyboard, preferably one with a different input (if usb, ps2 ... if ps2, usb) in the hope of bypassing two potential problems (bad keyboard, port problem) to get to a working system you can better sort out.

 

Let us know how it works out ...

[red930]

Normally, BIOS corruption is the main cause of that error. In order to find out more about what you have for a system, could you please post your system specs in your sig? Use mine as an example.

[Y-man]

>>any chance you have a faulty keyboard that's sending the F2 (or whatever) uncommanded?<<

 

Apparently not. I unplugged the keyboard and got a message at bootup the said there was a keyboard error or it was disconnected, then proceeded to ask again for the boot floppy.

 

>>could you please post your system specs in your sig?<<

 

Well, I'll post them here.

 

3.2 P4 Prescott

4x512 megs 400Mhz Geil Golden Dragon ram

80 gig Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 system drive

2x160 gig Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 for RAID 0 running off mb Highpoint chip

nVidia FX5700 256 megs ram

Antec TruePower 480 ps

 

Like I said, the system's been running fine for months, then it just freaked. At this point, I'm ready to dump the mb, but I need to access the data on the RAID. All I realy care about is the data onthe RAID. Is there a standalone Highpoint PCI RAID card I can use in another mb? Can any Highpoint chip be used?

 

Thanks.

[snipper_cr]

Lol ace; put that in your profile "Please post your system specs in your signature so we can help. Use mine as an example." It makese alot of sense, saves alot of typing and i even followed your advice! Great man.

 

Anyways i know high point has various RAID cards and i think even have the 372 in PCI form. Hopefully if you cannot fix this problem an RMA will fix it and you wount have to go that route.

[red930]

Is there a standalone Highpoint PCI RAID card I can use in another mb? Can any Highpoint chip be used?

 

HighPoint does have multiple PCI RAID controllers that you can use. Get the HighPoint chip model # and then do a pricewatch (or your favorite pricing engine) search to find a matching PCI controller.

[Y-man]

It lists it in the manual as a Highpoint 372N controller. So far, I haven't had much luck finding any non-serial ATA controllers from Highpoint. I've been trying to find somewhat older cards that may have this chip, but so far no luck. If anyone is aware of any PCI RAID cards that use either this chip or a compatible Highpoint chip, please let me know. Thanks.