How can I find out the BIOS settings?

On Dec 25, 5:25*pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
How can I find out the bios setting for a computer that someone
basically home built? I can t even install windows 98SE without
getting blue error screens during installation. I think the problem
might be that the CPU speed is set wrong. Is there any way in DOS to
read the type of Pentium III that it is and how to set speed caches
and multiplier factors? Are there any setting that should work being
can a fast CPU run OK set slower than it can handle? There is a heat
sink and fan over the CPU chip. If I went to the trouble of
disconnecting an removing some stuff in order to get to the top of
the CPU chip would I find information that would tell me or let me
track down its speed and in conjunction with the BE6 motherboard
find what ALL the BIOS setting should be?

ABIT Motherboard Archives .
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_archives.php
(see '-Slot 1-' near bottom of page)

BE6 page
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?pMO....
(use links in righthand column headed 'Product Information')

Manual (suggest selecting ASIA to download from)
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...detail.php?pMO....
1&pPRODINFO=Manual

ABIT's site is very slow to move in, so I have put the BE6 manual
(*.PDF) on my Webspace here;
http://preview.tinyurl.com/35723el

Or same-said in a ZIP file here; http://preview.tinyurl.com/32gmrc5

Yes I can get into the Bios setup but the person I am trying to help
set and saved the bios to defaults one day! Why I have no idea that is
when the problems started. Also the time was not holding correctly
after it was unplugged and moved to my place for me to try and get
working. So I changed the battery with one that still had some juice
left that I cannibalized from a printer that broke.

When other person reset the BIOS to 'Default' it probably didn't 'take'
properly (dud-battery).
Thus the BIOS was probably left in an inconsistent-state (all over the
place).
Therefore *the BIOS needs to be reset with the RESET-BIOS pins on the MoBo

Then go into the BIOS and in the 'CPU Soft Menu II' screen press F7 to 'Load
Setup Defaults'.
Press F10 to save settings and reboot.

As mentioned, the BIOS is probably in an inconsistant-state, so you have
nothing to lose!

And, by-the-way, are you sure the 'new battery' is good-enough!

Right now I can’t
even get the windows 98SE CD installer disk to install without getting
a blue error screen telling me to “hit any key” to get back
installing. The hitting any key sometimes works and other times I need
to hit control alt delete. But sometimes that does nothing so I need
to hit the restart button on the computer. It happens even before it
gets to the date setting during installation. And then when it is gets
to the configuring the systems it happens more than once during the
installation process. Anyway after on average three or more error blue
screens I do get to a desktop. But when I try to start to install the
drivers for the PCI cards in the unit or even tried to copy the Win98
to folders I made as in C:\windows\options\cabs I get a blue “hit any
key” screen AGAIN! and only a few things from the installer CD win98
folder gets copied so the computer is working well like a pig on ****!
I figure the basic things are not correctly configured as in its BIOS

well the batt shows some power with a meter before I put it in and the
date and time are holding even when the unit has been unplugged
overnight. Not sure where the reset pins are or what they are are or
how to resetthem are they have to have a jumper placed on them? I
thought resetting happenned also when the batt was out of it anyway?
0What is the differnce when one flashs the BIOS what is that about

On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:20:01 -0800 (PST), DJW
wrote:

On Dec 25, 5:25*pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
How can I find out the bios setting for a computer that someone
basically home built? I can t even install windows 98SE without
getting blue error screens during installation. I think the problem
might be that the CPU speed is set wrong. Is there any way in DOS to
read the type of Pentium III that it is and how to set speed caches
and multiplier factors? Are there any setting that should work being
can a fast CPU run OK set slower than it can handle? There is a heat
sink and fan over the CPU chip. If I went to the trouble of
disconnecting an removing some stuff in order to get to the top of
the CPU chip would I find information that would tell me or let me
track down its speed and in conjunction with the BE6 motherboard
find what ALL the BIOS setting should be?

ABIT Motherboard Archives .
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_archives.php
(see '-Slot 1-' near bottom of page)

BE6 page
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?pMO...
(use links in righthand column headed 'Product Information')

Manual (suggest selecting ASIA to download from)
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...detail.php?pMO...
1&pPRODINFO=Manual

ABIT's site is very slow to move in, so I have put the BE6 manual
(*.PDF) on my Webspace here;
http://preview.tinyurl.com/35723el

Or same-said in a ZIP file here; http://preview.tinyurl.com/32gmrc5

Yes I can get into the Bios setup but the person I am trying to help
set and saved the bios to defaults one day! Why I have no idea that is
when the problems started. Also the time was not holding correctly
after it was unplugged and moved to my place for me to try and get
working. So I changed the battery with one that still had some juice
left that I cannibalized from a printer that broke.

When other person reset the BIOS to 'Default' it probably didn't 'take'
properly (dud-battery).
Thus the BIOS was probably left in an inconsistent-state (all over the
place).
Therefore *the BIOS needs to be reset with the RESET-BIOS pins on the MoBo

Then go into the BIOS and in the 'CPU Soft Menu II' screen press F7 to 'Load
Setup Defaults'.
Press F10 to save settings and reboot.

As mentioned, the BIOS is probably in an inconsistant-state, so you have
nothing to lose!

And, by-the-way, are you sure the 'new battery' is good-enough!

Right now I can’t
even get the windows 98SE CD installer disk to install without getting
a blue error screen telling me to “hit any key” to get back
installing. The hitting any key sometimes works and other times I need
to hit control alt delete. But sometimes that does nothing so I need
to hit the restart button on the computer. It happens even before it
gets to the date setting during installation. And then when it is gets
to the configuring the systems it happens more than once during the
installation process. Anyway after on average three or more error blue
screens I do get to a desktop. But when I try to start to install the
drivers for the PCI cards in the unit or even tried to copy the Win98
to folders I made as in C:\windows\options\cabs I get a blue “hit any
key” screen AGAIN! and only a few things from the installer CD win98
folder gets copied so the computer is working well like a pig on ****!
I figure the basic things are not correctly configured as in its BIOS

well the batt shows some power with a meter before I put it in and the
date and time are holding even when the unit has been unplugged
overnight. Not sure where the reset pins are or what they are are or
how to resetthem are they have to have a jumper placed on them? I
thought resetting happenned also when the batt was out of it anyway?

He said earlier that he thinks your Bios is in limbo, somewhere
between reset and prior bad settings. That would make your BIOS an
excpeton to general rules I had never heard of this before, but I am
no BIOS expert.

0What is the differnce when one flashs the BIOS what is that about

The BIOS includes software. You know that because it's not just a
table of letters and numbers that sit there and don't do anything.
The values you put in and other values it determines itself control
functions of hte computer. Flashing the BIOS means replacing the
software, almost always with a later version. A) Is there even a
later version of your BIOS? B) Do you know what version you have now?
With some companies it displays at the top of the BIOS screen. With
some companies it displays while you are booting, if nothing else
covers up the various messages at that time. C) I don't know much
but i) I think you can't flash your bios until you have your current
one working. ii) it doesn't sound to me like your problems would be
lessened by flashing. Usually later versions are meant to solve new
hardware problems with hardware that didn't exist or wasnt' fully
tested when the original bios was written. Like a new higher standard
for USB ports. But for basic things like reading and writing from
standard hard drives, I've never heard of a case where the original
BIOS isn't good enough to do that. Not only that, if it weren't good
enough, I think you'd get a different error.

I find your description of hte problem incomplete and hard to follow.
Maybe that's because i have little experience fixing this part of the
computer and don't recognize common well-known problems when I see
them. But I think you should do two things. 1) Go back and read all
the replies and make sure you've tried everything that was recommended
or hae a good reason why not to. 2) Start from the biegining, when you
turn th ecomputer on and tell us very clearly where there is a
problem. I've read your four posts and I don't know what problem you
have now, what problems you used to have, what you did that solved old
problems (if you know what you did) where you got stuck the next time.

But I'd settle for knowing exactly what is happening now.

For example, I see you are trying to install win98SE. Is there an OS
in there now? What is it? Does it work? What about it doesn't work,
specifically. I'm including DOS. Win98 includes its version of DOS.
Can you boot to DOS? Do you know what that means? When you get to a
DOS prompt, do other DOS commands work, like DIR, CD, Edit. VER ? Do
you know these commands already? You can live without knowing them
but they are very helpful and since you're having problems, now is the
time to acquaint yourself with them.

Do you try to install windows by starting DOS , inserting the windows
CD and saying Setup, or something like that, at the DOS prompt?

Or do you put the Windows installation CD in your CD drive and then
restart the computer, so that it boots from the CD?

Which of these you should do depends in part on the answers to earlier
questions, like, Do you have DOS, do you have windows, what version of
dos or windows do you have?


BTW, I don' think your BIOS is set wrong unless A) you went out of
your way to set it wrong, Even then, it's likely to complain about
most specific things that are wrong.

b) Usually people don't check the bios scattergun. They have a
problem that relates to some part of the bios settings and they go to
the bios and see what it says there. If the setting doesn't make
sense, they change it.
c) You put a used battery in in place of a worn out battery. How old
is the used battery? YOu don't know, right? Buy a new battery. IIRC
they are about 2 dollars, cheaper if you buy more and they are used in
other appliances too, like remote themometers and whatever you took
the battery out of. If you have to junk this mobo, motherboard, you
can then remove the battery and save it for another occasion. I don't
believe these go dead when they are not in use, unless they are
wrapped in aluminum foil that shorts the two sides together.

d) the other possiblity according to the other poster is that it's
messed up, in limbo, and you need to do what he said about a hardware
reset of the BIOS. If you don't know where the pins are that you are
supposed to short, do you have a map of the motherboard? Do you have
a manual for the motherboard? Paul and Patrick provided addresses.
Did you go to those places and get what it had about your mobo? If
you dont' have another computer to access the net while you work on
this one, did you print out what it had there, at the least the map of
the mobo and the explanations for various parts? Did you read
everything there?

Nil and John told you how to get into the BIOS settings, most likely.
Did you succeed?

I see that you did get into the bios but you then replaced the battery
with a used one.

You get a blue screen when trying to install windows. What are the
answers to the previous quesiotns and where exactly do you get the
blue screen. What all does it say on the screen? Does it give a
message? Did you write it down, word for word, letter for letter?
Have you googled the message to see what it means? If pressing
keyboard keys has varying results have you tried another keyboard? ON
older computers you can't use USB keyboards for windows installation I
believe becaues there is no USB running until Windows or something
parallel starts. But that raises the question from before, are you
trying to upgrade windows from within windows or are you doing a fresh
install?

YOu talk about getting to a desktop, and say you do that sometimes.
The desktop of the old OS or of the windows you are trying to install?
IF you ever get to the new desktop, you have substanially installed
Windows. What doesn't work about it? Ah, you can't install the
drivers and you had at least 3 blue screens while trying to install
windows. What were the exact messages on the blue screeens. Have you
googled them, especially any of the etext thatt doesn't oappear in
eveyr message, liek and error number or address. Any hexadecimal
string.

When you say only a few things get copied, give us some sample items
that do get copied and some that you believe should but are not. I
find it hard to believe it gets to the file copy stage and doesn't
copy all the files it's supposed to. Does it give error messages when
it doesn't copy something? Did you write down the complete text of
those messages, word for word, letter for letter? Did you goolgle
those messages. If the messages are all the same but the file names
changte, did you write down all the file names that didn't get copied,
and the reason it gave.

If you want me to answer more, please don't use vulgar words. We all
get frustrated, but I don't want to feel like I'm in the army in
combat where vulgar wors are understandable under enormous stress.
This is just a computer, and it's not even yours I gather.

I think you're hung up on thinking the Bios is configured wrong, even
though you have given no special reason to think that.

Perhaps your windows install CD is damaged, scratched or something
else. Since the same spot is damaged, problems would arise at the
same part of the install. By now youy should be able to find someone
who will lend you a win98SE cd. It's not like you or your friend
didn't buy one in the first place.

But you give not much to go on with so many possible questions
unanswered.

Good luck.

DJW wrote:
On Dec 25, 5:25 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
well the batt shows some power with a meter before I put it in and the
date and time are holding even when the unit has been unplugged
overnight. Not sure where the reset pins are or what they are are or
how to resetthem are they have to have a jumper placed on them? I
thought resetting happenned also when the batt was out of it anyway?

As you say, removeing the battery may have the same effect as useing the
'CMOS Discharge Jumper'!
However, the location of the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper' (marked 'CCMOS1' on
MoBo, near the battery) are shown on page 20/102 of the 'PDF', MoBo manual

Resetting the BIOS by either of above methods will not necessarily put the
BIOS into an acceptable 'Default State'.
Said 'Default State. needs to be done by going into the BIOS and
specifically selecting the 'Default State' on the 'CPU SOFT II' page of the
BIOS, and then saving the new (Default) settings by pressing F10.

To get into the BIOS, turn-on or reboot the machine and start tapping the
'DEL' key (bottom-key in second-extreme-right column of keyboard), see page
29/102 (Chapter 3. Introduction to BIOS) of the 'PDF', MoBo manual.



0What is the differnce when one flashs the BIOS what is that about

As to flashing the BIOS, this is explained here;
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...E6&fMTYPE=Slot
1&pPRODINFO=BIOS

Note;
After haveing done above said, it is suggested that;
Rather than go through the rigmoral of installing the OS (W98) only to find
it unstable, you check the system is stable useing a DOS floppy to check if
the HDD 'FORMAT's properly .

Patrick wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 25, 5:25 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
well the batt shows some power with a meter before I put it in and
the date and time are holding even when the unit has been unplugged
overnight. Not sure where the reset pins are or what they are are or
how to resetthem are they have to have a jumper placed on them? I
thought resetting happenned also when the batt was out of it anyway?

As you say, removeing the battery may have the same effect as useing
the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper'!
However, the location of the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper' (marked 'CCMOS1'
on MoBo, near the battery) are shown on page 20/102 of the 'PDF',
MoBo manual
Resetting the BIOS by either of above methods will not necessarily
put the BIOS into an acceptable 'Default State'.
Said 'Default State. needs to be done by going into the BIOS and
specifically selecting the 'Default State' on the 'CPU SOFT II' page
of the BIOS, and then saving the new (Default) settings by pressing
F10.
To get into the BIOS, turn-on or reboot the machine and start tapping
the 'DEL' key (bottom-key in second-extreme-right column of
keyboard), see page 29/102 (Chapter 3. Introduction to BIOS) of the
'PDF', MoBo manual.


0What is the differnce when one flashs the BIOS what is that about

As to flashing the BIOS, this is explained here;
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...E6&fMTYPE=Slot
1&pPRODINFO=BIOS

Sorry, above link is 'broken', there should be a space between 'Slot' and
'1'
Heres an indirect link;
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2wbj4vk
If above link dosn't work, click BIOS in right-hand column of main BE6 page!


Note;
After haveing done above said, it is suggested that;
Rather than go through the rigmoral of installing the OS (W98) only
to find it unstable, you check the system is stable useing a DOS
floppy to check if the HDD 'FORMAT's properly .

On Dec 28, 7:35*am, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
Patrick wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 25, 5:25 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
well the batt shows some power with a meter before I put it in and
the date and time are holding even when the unit has been unplugged
overnight. Not sure where the reset pins are or what they are are or
how to resetthem are they have to have a jumper placed on them? I
thought resetting happenned also when the batt was out of it anyway?

As you say, removeing the battery may have the same effect as useing
the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper'!
However, the location of the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper' (marked 'CCMOS1'
on MoBo, near the battery) are shown on page 20/102 of the 'PDF',
MoBo manual
Resetting the BIOS by either of above methods will not necessarily
put the BIOS into an acceptable 'Default State'.
Said 'Default State. needs to be done by going into the BIOS and
specifically selecting the 'Default State' on the 'CPU SOFT II' page
of the BIOS, and then saving the new (Default) settings by pressing
F10.
To get into the BIOS, turn-on or reboot the machine and start tapping
the 'DEL' key (bottom-key in second-extreme-right column of
keyboard), see page 29/102 (Chapter 3. Introduction to BIOS) of the
'PDF', MoBo manual.

0What is the differnce when one flashs the BIOS what is that about

As to flashing the BIOS, this is explained here;
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...detail.php?pMO....
1&pPRODINFO=BIOS

Sorry, above link is 'broken', there should be a space between 'Slot' and
'1'
Heres an indirect link;http://preview.tinyurl.com/2wbj4vk
If above link dosn't work, click BIOS in right-hand column of main BE6 page!



Note;
After haveing done above said, it is suggested that;
Rather than go through the rigmoral of installing the OS (W98) only
to find it unstable, you check the system is stable useing a DOS
floppy to check if the HDD 'FORMAT's properly .

I wiped the hard drive clean so no OS! With the win98 startup floppy
and fdisk , restart and a formate then. When I try to install win98SE
I get blue screens telling me to press any key wich does nothing I hit
restart button on the front and it starts up and continues with the
install it blue screens at least three or more times the first one is
early on the later ones are when it says it is configuring the system.
Finally I get a desktop but when I try to install drivers or any
software it blue screens with the hit any key. So yes I get an
bootable windows 98SE and a desktop and yes I can go back into the
BIOS with delet at startup. But the system is useless it will not even
let me copy the win98 folder from the CD to C drive either with Dos or
in windows dragging it. So basically I have troubles getting what
turns out to be a sick copy of windows to be installed on C

DJW wrote:
On Dec 28, 7:35 am, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
Patrick wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 25, 5:25 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:

As to flashing the BIOS, this is explained here;
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...detail.php?pMO...
1&pPRODINFO=BIOS

Sorry, above link is 'broken', there should be a space between
'Slot' and '1'
Heres an indirect link;http://preview.tinyurl.com/2wbj4vk
If above link dosn't work, click BIOS in right-hand column of main
BE6 page!




I wiped the hard drive clean so no OS! With the win98 startup floppy
and fdisk , restart and a formate then. When I try to install win98SE
I get blue screens telling me to press any key wich does nothing I hit
restart button on the front and it starts up and continues with the
install it blue screens at least three or more times the first one is
early on the later ones are when it says it is configuring the system.
Finally I get a desktop but when I try to install drivers or any
software it blue screens with the hit any key. So yes I get an
bootable windows 98SE and a desktop and yes I can go back into the
BIOS with delet at startup. But the system is useless it will not even
let me copy the win98 folder from the CD to C drive either with Dos or
in windows dragging it. So basically I have troubles getting what
turns out to be a sick copy of windows to be installed on C

Perhaps your W98 install disc is corrupt/defective!
If, (on the machine your useing now) you have a CD-Burner then why not try
PuppyLinux as suggested by 'Mike'

Goto; http://www.livecdlist.com/puppy-linux
Click 'Download' to your 'Desktop' (on the machine your useing now).

Goto to here; http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
see the red writing for the correct OS you are useing (on the machine you
are useing now).
Click to download

Install the program.

RightClick the PuppyLinux file, now click where it say *Copy Image to CD*
You might even (if able) use a Rewrite-CD

When done above;
Insert the CD in the problem-machine with the BIOS set to boot from CD (may
not matter with no other OS on HDD or Floppy).
If this works without BlueScreening or like, then your problem is likely the
W98 InstallDisc, elsewise you have a Hardware/BIOS problem.

DJW wrote:
On Dec 28, 7:35 am, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
Patrick wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 25, 5:25 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
On Dec 24, 5:19 pm, "Patrick" a.b@invalid wrote:
DJW wrote:
well the batt shows some power with a meter before I put it in and
the date and time are holding even when the unit has been unplugged
overnight. Not sure where the reset pins are or what they are are or
how to resetthem are they have to have a jumper placed on them? I
thought resetting happenned also when the batt was out of it anyway?
As you say, removeing the battery may have the same effect as useing
the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper'!
However, the location of the 'CMOS Discharge Jumper' (marked 'CCMOS1'
on MoBo, near the battery) are shown on page 20/102 of the 'PDF',
MoBo manual
Resetting the BIOS by either of above methods will not necessarily
put the BIOS into an acceptable 'Default State'.
Said 'Default State. needs to be done by going into the BIOS and
specifically selecting the 'Default State' on the 'CPU SOFT II' page
of the BIOS, and then saving the new (Default) settings by pressing
F10.
To get into the BIOS, turn-on or reboot the machine and start tapping
the 'DEL' key (bottom-key in second-extreme-right column of
keyboard), see page 29/102 (Chapter 3. Introduction to BIOS) of the
'PDF', MoBo manual.
0What is the differnce when one flashs the BIOS what is that about
As to flashing the BIOS, this is explained here;
http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/mothe...detail.php?pMO...
1&pPRODINFO=BIOS
Sorry, above link is 'broken', there should be a space between 'Slot' and
'1'
Heres an indirect link;http://preview.tinyurl.com/2wbj4vk
If above link dosn't work, click BIOS in right-hand column of main BE6 page!



Note;
After haveing done above said, it is suggested that;
Rather than go through the rigmoral of installing the OS (W98) only
to find it unstable, you check the system is stable useing a DOS
floppy to check if the HDD 'FORMAT's properly .

I wiped the hard drive clean so no OS! With the win98 startup floppy
and fdisk , restart and a formate then. When I try to install win98SE
I get blue screens telling me to press any key wich does nothing I hit
restart button on the front and it starts up and continues with the
install it blue screens at least three or more times the first one is
early on the later ones are when it says it is configuring the system.
Finally I get a desktop but when I try to install drivers or any
software it blue screens with the hit any key. So yes I get an
bootable windows 98SE and a desktop and yes I can go back into the
BIOS with delet at startup. But the system is useless it will not even
let me copy the win98 folder from the CD to C drive either with Dos or
in windows dragging it. So basically I have troubles getting what
turns out to be a sick copy of windows to be installed on C

How much RAM is in the machine ? The BE6 has room for 3x256MB (low
density type 256MB 16 chip memory modules, not the 8 chip ones). If
you had 768MB total, Win98 can have issues with that. Drop
back to two memory sticks (2x256MB) or less and retest. You
should be able to run Win98 with 256MB for a test. (I'm running
Win98 in a Virtual Machine right now, with a 256MB setting, and
it seems fine.)

I had problems with my 440BX motherboard, when more than 512MB
was present. In my case, it's an actual hardware design issue.
It doesn't appear to be the so-called "Photoshop bug", where there
isn't sufficient bypass capacitance on the memory terminator voltage.
It crashes, sitting idle in the desktop. With mine, the machine crashes
frequently, when 3x256 or 4x256 DIMMs are installed. It's as solid
as the "Rock of Gibraltar" when any two sticks are present. So the
sticks of memory themselves are OK. They pass extended Prime95 tests.
It's when too many are present, that there is trouble. And the
degree of trouble, is not consistent with a bus loading explanation.

I'd try again, with less RAM installed, as a test.

Paul

On Dec 24 2010, 12:48*pm, Mike Easter wrote:
DJW wrote:
Mike Easter
DJW wrote:
How can I find out the bios setting for a computer that someone
basically home built? I can’t even install windows 98SE without
getting blue error screens during installation.
Boot a linux live CD.

Puppy 5.0.1 is based on Ubuntu slimmed and needs very little resources..

It is a small download, boots fast, operates in ram.

When it comes up, the menu (bottom left) has System/ system status &
config/ Hardinfo - hardware information which will have lots and lots of
info for you.

In the processor section it will have the name of the processor, model,
stepping, cache, frequency, etc.

Apparently the current release is 5.1.1. I don't have that one; I
presume it is the same as my 5.0.1 described.http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%...%20Started.htm
will that show the correct specs even if my bios is set wrong?

The first place to get information about your bios is from the bios POST
you (can) see when you power up the computer and from your ability to
access the bios setup.

I'm assuming that -1- the/your bios will post -2- you want more
information than you are getting from the bios POST and setup and that
-3- the puppy CD will boot

And is it a floppy I will be makeing of the above puppylinux?

No. Puppy is (generally) a CD you get from downloading the 130 meg .iso
and burning it to disk and booting from that CD requires that the
computer can be configured to boot from the optical drive.

If your drive has a floppy it can boot from but it can't boot from the
optical, then that can be rigged too.

--
Mike Easter

I finally wrote down the blue error screen I get the most which is “a
fatal exception OE has occurred at 0028:c004eb04” which so far I have
been reading on the web it is a RAM or maybe something else but a
hardware problem. In the chip set BIOS II have played with ECC and non-
ECC (default) already with no resolution of the problem the computers
RAM (three slots worth) was seemingly working fine before the BIOS was
accidentally set to default.
It originally had one 64` MB Dimm that I added for my sister a 128 MB
DIMM we got then I had a 64 PC100 (maybe PC133) 64 MB DIMM from
possible a MAC and it worked fine for at least a year. It showed the
full amount of RAM. So as suggested I removed that last DIMM put in
and started a new again fdisk, format and windows 98SE install. And so
far so good, made it through it all without the above blue error
screen!!!!!!
Thank you all for your help!!!!!
But wondering why it worked with the removed DIMM for so long this
whole problem was brought on when she reset the BIOS to default. Not
when that DIMM was installed.

On Jan 8, 11:06*am, DJW wrote:
On Dec 24 2010, 12:48*pm, Mike Easter wrote:



DJW wrote:
Mike Easter
DJW wrote:
How can I find out the bios setting for a computer that someone
basically home built? I can’t even install windows 98SE without
getting blue error screens during installation.
Boot a linux live CD.

Puppy 5.0.1 is based on Ubuntu slimmed and needs very little resources.

It is a small download, boots fast, operates in ram.

When it comes up, the menu (bottom left) has System/ system status &
config/ Hardinfo - hardware information which will have lots and lots of
info for you.

In the processor section it will have the name of the processor, model,
stepping, cache, frequency, etc.

Apparently the current release is 5.1.1. I don't have that one; I
presume it is the same as my 5.0.1 described.http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%...%20Started.htm
will that show the correct specs even if my bios is set wrong?

The first place to get information about your bios is from the bios POST
you (can) see when you power up the computer and from your ability to
access the bios setup.

I'm assuming that -1- the/your bios will post -2- you want more
information than you are getting from the bios POST and setup and that
-3- the puppy CD will boot

And is it a floppy I will be makeing of the above puppylinux?

No. Puppy is (generally) a CD you get from downloading the 130 meg .iso
and burning it to disk and booting from that CD requires that the
computer can be configured to boot from the optical drive.

If your drive has a floppy it can boot from but it can't boot from the
optical, then that can be rigged too.

--
Mike Easter

I finally wrote down the blue error screen I get the most which is “a
fatal exception OE has occurred at 0028:c004eb04” which so far I have
been reading on the web it is a RAM or maybe something else but a
hardware problem. In the chip set BIOS II have played with ECC and non-
ECC (default) already with no resolution of the problem the computers
RAM (three slots worth) was seemingly working fine before the BIOS was
accidentally set to default.
It originally had one 64` MB Dimm that I added for my sister a 128 MB
DIMM we got then I had a 64 PC100 (maybe PC133) 64 MB DIMM from
possible a MAC and it worked fine for at least a year. It showed the
full amount of RAM. So as suggested I removed that last DIMM put in
and started a new again fdisk, format and windows 98SE install. And so
far so good, made it through it all without the above blue error
screen!!!!!!
Thank you all for your help!!!!!
But wondering why it worked with the removed DIMM for so long this
whole problem was brought on when she reset the BIOS to default. Not
when that DIMM was installed.

Ok I downloaded PUPPY and made a CD and changed my boot order to CDROM
first. It starts to boot I get a puppy startup screen and then it goes
to the line of text “unlzaming Linux. done.
Booting the kernel” then the curser line just flashes and nothing more
happens. I tried a couple command lines they show if you hold down
that Fkey but was stabbing in the dark as to which one to choose. If I
ever get things right here I am wondering can I run Linux from one HD
and windows from another switching in the BIOS boot order? And would I
have to make the HD bootable at the time of fdisk/format? Is active HD
just the one that is first in BIOS boot order and gets to boot the
computer? So sick of windows would like to explore Linux. Is puppy a
complete OS? I never gave Linux much notice was confused by the hat
colored versions and such. Can any windows applications run on the
Linux OS?

DJW wrote:
On Jan 8, 11:06 am, DJW wrote:
On Dec 24 2010, 12:48 pm, Mike Easter wrote:



DJW wrote:
Mike Easter
DJW wrote:
How can I find out the bios setting for a computer that someone
basically home built? I can’t even install windows 98SE without
getting blue error screens during installation.
Boot a linux live CD.
Puppy 5.0.1 is based on Ubuntu slimmed and needs very little resources.
It is a small download, boots fast, operates in ram.
When it comes up, the menu (bottom left) has System/ system status &
config/ Hardinfo - hardware information which will have lots and lots of
info for you.
In the processor section it will have the name of the processor, model,
stepping, cache, frequency, etc.
Apparently the current release is 5.1.1. I don't have that one; I
presume it is the same as my 5.0.1 described.http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%...%20Started.htm
will that show the correct specs even if my bios is set wrong?
The first place to get information about your bios is from the bios POST
you (can) see when you power up the computer and from your ability to
access the bios setup.
I'm assuming that -1- the/your bios will post -2- you want more
information than you are getting from the bios POST and setup and that
-3- the puppy CD will boot
And is it a floppy I will be makeing of the above puppylinux?
No. Puppy is (generally) a CD you get from downloading the 130 meg .iso
and burning it to disk and booting from that CD requires that the
computer can be configured to boot from the optical drive.
If your drive has a floppy it can boot from but it can't boot from the
optical, then that can be rigged too.
--
Mike Easter
I finally wrote down the blue error screen I get the most which is “a
fatal exception OE has occurred at 0028:c004eb04” which so far I have
been reading on the web it is a RAM or maybe something else but a
hardware problem. In the chip set BIOS II have played with ECC and non-
ECC (default) already with no resolution of the problem the computers
RAM (three slots worth) was seemingly working fine before the BIOS was
accidentally set to default.
It originally had one 64` MB Dimm that I added for my sister a 128 MB
DIMM we got then I had a 64 PC100 (maybe PC133) 64 MB DIMM from
possible a MAC and it worked fine for at least a year. It showed the
full amount of RAM. So as suggested I removed that last DIMM put in
and started a new again fdisk, format and windows 98SE install. And so
far so good, made it through it all without the above blue error
screen!!!!!!
Thank you all for your help!!!!!
But wondering why it worked with the removed DIMM for so long this
whole problem was brought on when she reset the BIOS to default. Not
when that DIMM was installed.

Ok I downloaded PUPPY and made a CD and changed my boot order to CDROM
first. It starts to boot I get a puppy startup screen and then it goes
to the line of text “unlzaming Linux. done.
Booting the kernel” then the curser line just flashes and nothing more
happens. I tried a couple command lines they show if you hold down
that Fkey but was stabbing in the dark as to which one to choose. If I
ever get things right here I am wondering can I run Linux from one HD
and windows from another switching in the BIOS boot order? And would I
have to make the HD bootable at the time of fdisk/format? Is active HD
just the one that is first in BIOS boot order and gets to boot the
computer? So sick of windows would like to explore Linux. Is puppy a
complete OS? I never gave Linux much notice was confused by the hat
colored versions and such. Can any windows applications run on the
Linux OS?

I'm kinda curious as to whether your memory is clean yet or not. Your PUPPY
should have booted, if the RAM was OK. (You could try with acpi=off, as
a start, as the older machine may have a broken ACPI.)

Have you run memtest for at least one pass ?

Is it error free ? You shouldn't do any serious work on a
computer, until the memory is clean.

The download for memtest is on this page. Some Linux distros include
memtest as a boot time option, but I don't see that in Puppy (just
browsing through the ISO for 5.2, lupu-520.iso).

http://www.memtest.org (half way down the page, are downloads)

There are memtest versions for CD, floppy, and USB key. The floppy installer
expects an empty floppy, and when the floppy installer is finished, the
floppy cannot be read by an OS (it doesn't have a file system, just
the program loader). The CD installer will cost you a CD (which is
why it's nice if a Linux distro includes a copy of memtest).

If memtest won't even load, and you have two memory sticks in the computer,
then you'd try swapping the slots they sit in (turn off all power
before moving them). That is on the assumption, that the bad RAM is
in low memory - swapping the sticks, moves the bad RAM up high, so
the memtest program can at least load up.

Some distros, have a boot time check for corrupted CD files. I don't see
that on Puppy. My Knoppix boot CDs have a "testcd" option that
verifies checksums. It's a good way to prove the "burn" done, was
a good one. You can do that on both the burner machine that made
the original, as well as on the target computer (the one you're trying
to boot).

There's got to be an explanation why it won't boot. I'd start
by verifying RAM, then I'd go through the boot options, and
start with ACPI=off for my first test.

HTH,
Paul