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#1
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
Hi
While I was off on vacation the office pc gave my associate the Award Bootblock Bios v1.0 Bios rom checksum error keyboard error or no keyboard present (its usb) After attempting to restart it and failing the first half dozen attempts she finally got it to boot up and it has been on ever since, about 2 months now, till I tried again last night. It took another 6 attempts or so before it started successfully. Nothing happened the other 5 attempts it was like the monitor was disconnected. From other posts I've read it would appear that I need to flash the bios again to repair pc. However my floppy drive appears dead not seeing any disks entered. I have found a copy of the BIOS on the driver cd rom that came with the system located at E:\Utility\Awdflash\awd826f (it would appear this is an .exe file but I forgot to check its ext.) However it says to run this from real DOS which I presume means I cant just shell out using Startruncmd. so I now presume I'm going to have to try and restart pc catch it on the f8 key and get the command prompt from there. Now is the above file all I need to flash the bios? and can someone please give me the DOS commands required...Its been 10 years since I last had to type any dos Many thanks Bertie |
#2
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
"Bertie" wrote in message oups.com... Hi While I was off on vacation the office pc gave my associate the Award Bootblock Bios v1.0 Bios rom checksum error keyboard error or no keyboard present (its usb) After attempting to restart it and failing the first half dozen attempts she finally got it to boot up and it has been on ever since, about 2 months now, till I tried again last night. It took another 6 attempts or so before it started successfully. Nothing happened the other 5 attempts it was like the monitor was disconnected. From other posts I've read it would appear that I need to flash the bios again to repair pc. However my floppy drive appears dead not seeing any disks entered. I have found a copy of the BIOS on the driver cd rom that came with the system located at E:\Utility\Awdflash\awd826f (it would appear this is an .exe file but I forgot to check its ext.) However it says to run this from real DOS which I presume means I cant just shell out using Startruncmd. so I now presume I'm going to have to try and restart pc catch it on the f8 key and get the command prompt from there. Now is the above file all I need to flash the bios? and can someone please give me the DOS commands required...Its been 10 years since I last had to type any dos Many thanks Bertie Most modern "bootblocks" are in two parts, one part is not normally writeable during a BIOS firmware update. This part will include what is needed to access a floppy drive, and should include what's needed to access whatever you can set as a boot drive in your BIOS. If you are familiar and comfortable with flashing your BIOS, just clear your CMOS and flash the BIOS. If you haven't ever done it, read everything that explains the process, for your motherboard or computer model, at the maker's web site. You will need the version of AwardFlash that is made to work with the EPROMs used on your motherboard. Then you will need the binary file of the new BIOS for the exact model of your motherboard. ( Most problems start from someone mistakenly flashing the wrong binary file.) Luck; Ken |
#3
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
On 12 Sep 2006 18:04:38 -0700, "Bertie"
wrote: Hi While I was off on vacation the office pc gave my associate the Award Bootblock Bios v1.0 Bios rom checksum error keyboard error or no keyboard present (its usb) You did not describe the system, this "could" be very important. On an unrelated note, it could just be that it needs a new battery, or that the PSU is failing, or the motherboard is failing. After attempting to restart it and failing the first half dozen attempts she finally got it to boot up and it has been on ever since, about 2 months now, till I tried again last night. It took another 6 attempts or so before it started successfully. After starting, does it retain the correct clock (time) settings? Do you have a lot of USB stuff plugged in? If so, see if it's jumpered to 5V or 5VSB, and if 5VSB, change to 5V. Also try unplugging some of that USB stuff, and if that isn't enough (nothing else helps) try unplugging all other things nonessential towards getting it to POST, then add back the HDD and see if it'll boot (Windows?). Nothing happened the other 5 attempts it was like the monitor was disconnected. From other posts I've read it would appear that I need to flash the bios again to repair pc. Very unlikely, but "some" boards, if you enter the bios and try to change and save settings while the system is instable, might corrupt the bios, then you'd try clearing CMOS. Actually, clearing CMOS is the first thing you should try now regardless of what you try next... do so while AC power is disconnected. However my floppy drive appears dead not seeing any disks entered. How would you know what it sees if it's not even posting? Putting in a floppy to emergency flash the bios is one procedure to try, but we're not necessarily to the point where it is clear this is a bios problem that would be recoverable from booting such a bios floppy... and from your attempt, it appears that isn't the case, and/or wouldn't work even if it were. "sometimes" when the bios is bad you can pull out the video card (unless integrated, then "hope" the bios defeault is for PCI video initialization first) and put in a PCI video card and get output on the monitor... but again I dont' think your problem is the bios and that doing so wouldn't apply now. I have found a copy of the BIOS on the driver cd rom that came with the system located at E:\Utility\Awdflash\awd826f (it would appear this is an .exe file but I forgot to check its ext.) Ok, but it's quite possible the system shipped with a newer bios than was on the CD- the CDs get made in a run to ship with later board revisions, but generally they may flash the newest bios available at the time (of doing it). Your board EEPROM "might" have a sticker on it suggesting which bios version it shipped with, and you might try that version, but frankly I'd be just as likely to get the newest (non-beta) bios from the board manufacturer, particularly if the current bios was prone to corruption... but again, I don't think that is your problem, I doubt it's a bios problem at all. However it says to run this from real DOS which I presume means I cant just shell out using Startruncmd. Correct. Boot something else to DOS, like CDROM or floppy or USB (whatever it'll boot from, some will boot FAT16 formatted thumbdrives for example). so I now presume I'm going to have to try and restart pc catch it on the f8 key and get the command prompt from there. .... if it has DOS? IMO, easier to just burn a CDR that boots dos on another system, IF you cant' get a USB drive to work. Now is the above file all I need to flash the bios? You need a DOS bootdisk (of whatever sort you choose), the awardflash v826 flasher (or if it isnt' the right version, which does happen from time to time, then a different version of the award flasher), and the bios file itself- these files unzipped already if they were zipped or in another similar compressed format which is obvious by the extension, but don't try to unzip if it has the bios file extension already (like *.rom or *.bin) as it will unzip but that's only because a bios is in compressed format natively, stored in EEPROM that way... but it wasn't supposed to be unzipped beyond that point. Normally this isn't an issue, as a normal zip/unzip program won't default to doing it but there are ways to accidentally do it. and can someone please give me the DOS commands required...Its been 10 years since I last had to type any dos If you type the flasher file's name at the prompt and /?, it'll show commands. For example, C:\awd826f.exe /? Generally you just type the filename as above then the bios filename, c:awd826 bios.bin BUT, I still don't think the bios is the problem, particularly if the system has remained static, was working fine and you didn't change anything then one day it stopped booting properly. Examine the motherboard for failed capacitors, if there aren't any then the "odds" are it's the PSU, but sometimes the odds aren't in your favor so it might not hurt to have a full description of all major parts of the system, including board make/model, PSU make/model, video, CPU and memory... at least as much of this detail as possible. |
#4
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
Hi and thanks for your detailed reply. Sorry I couldn't reply sooner
but had automobile problems today kony wrote: You did not describe the system, this "could" be very important. I will not be at the office again till tomorrow, thursday, so wont have this info till tomorrow night. All I can tell you at the moment is the processor is Athlon perhaps 2100? pc is about 3 years old there is no manual unless its on driver cd rom (I'll check tomorrow) On an unrelated note, it could just be that it needs a new battery, or that the PSU is failing, or the motherboard is failing. Thought I would get bios beep code if battery failing? Do you have a lot of USB stuff plugged in? If so, see if it's jumpered to 5V or 5VSB, and if 5VSB, change to 5V. Also try unplugging some of that USB stuff, and if that isn't enough (nothing else helps) try unplugging all other things nonessential towards getting it to POST, then add back the HDD and see if it'll boot (Windows?). It was after unplugging all the usb stuff that it started last time but I thought that just a coincidence? Nothing happened the other 5 attempts it was like the monitor was disconnected. From other posts I've read it would appear that I need to flash the bios again to repair pc. Very unlikely, but "some" boards, if you enter the bios and try to change and save settings while the system is instable, might corrupt the bios, then you'd try clearing CMOS. Actually, clearing CMOS is the first thing you should try now regardless of what you try next... do so while AC power is disconnected. Unfortunately there is a mountain of spreadsheet work to complete this week but I will try this as soon I can find out how and spare the pc down time (we are currently leaving it running 24/7) However my floppy drive appears dead not seeing any disks entered. How would you know what it sees if it's not even posting? The pc posted and started windows at the 6th attempt. Then I attempted to try the floppy drive as it had not appeared in 'My Computer' since pc first started after receiving initial Bios rom checksum error. Even though the floppy was now appearing among the other drives it would not recognise any diskette. Ok, but it's quite possible the system shipped with a newer bios than was on the CD- the CDs get made in a run to ship with later board revisions, but generally they may flash the newest bios available at the time (of doing it). Your board EEPROM "might" have a sticker on it suggesting which bios version it shipped with, and you might try that version, but frankly I'd be just as likely to get the newest (non-beta) bios from the board manufacturer, particularly if the current bios was prone to corruption... but again, I don't think that is your problem, I doubt it's a bios problem at all. Okay so you reckon its my CPU or MoBo at fault I'll get the info tomorrow if I can find it However it says to run this from real DOS which I presume means I cant just shell out using Startruncmd. Correct. Boot something else to DOS, like CDROM or floppy or USB (whatever it'll boot from, some will boot FAT16 formatted thumbdrives for example). so I now presume I'm going to have to try and restart pc catch it on the f8 key and get the command prompt from there. ... if it has DOS? IMO, easier to just burn a CDR that boots dos on another system, IF you cant' get a USB drive to work. Well I was under the impression that usb wouldn't work from a dos enviroment only from within Windows? Can you tell me how to do this from dos. Is it del key on post to enter cmos setup and change boot options? Problem is my pc only posts occasionally when attempt restart is there anyway to get into these options while windows running? BUT, I still don't think the bios is the problem, particularly if the system has remained static, was working fine and you didn't change anything then one day it stopped booting properly. Examine the motherboard for failed capacitors, if there aren't any then the "odds" are it's the PSU, but sometimes the odds aren't in your favor so it might not hurt to have a full description of all major parts of the system, including board make/model, PSU make/model, video, CPU and memory... at least as much of this detail as possible. Thanks again for your time and patience. I will get as much of this info as possible tomorrow Regards Bert |
#5
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
On 13 Sep 2006 17:53:59 -0700, "Bertie"
wrote: Thought I would get bios beep code if battery failing? Not necessarily. Do you have a lot of USB stuff plugged in? If so, see if it's jumpered to 5V or 5VSB, and if 5VSB, change to 5V. Also try unplugging some of that USB stuff, and if that isn't enough (nothing else helps) try unplugging all other things nonessential towards getting it to POST, then add back the HDD and see if it'll boot (Windows?). It was after unplugging all the usb stuff that it started last time but I thought that just a coincidence? Maybe, or maybe not... which is why I mentioned it. How would you know what it sees if it's not even posting? The pc posted and started windows at the 6th attempt. Then I attempted to try the floppy drive as it had not appeared in 'My Computer' since pc first started after receiving initial Bios rom checksum error. Even though the floppy was now appearing among the other drives it would not recognise any diskette. The floppy drive should be considered an unknown variable and removed from the system (unplugged from PSU and data cable). You might try the drive on another system, or another drive on that system, but for the time being you might as well make further attempts on the system without a floppy drive connected, unless you want to pursue flashing the bios, but be cautious about doing that because if the system is instable while it's being flashed, you could then end up with bios corruption even if you didn't have any in the first place. Ok, but it's quite possible the system shipped with a newer bios than was on the CD- the CDs get made in a run to ship with later board revisions, but generally they may flash the newest bios available at the time (of doing it). Your board EEPROM "might" have a sticker on it suggesting which bios version it shipped with, and you might try that version, but frankly I'd be just as likely to get the newest (non-beta) bios from the board manufacturer, particularly if the current bios was prone to corruption... but again, I don't think that is your problem, I doubt it's a bios problem at all. Okay so you reckon its my CPU or MoBo at fault I'll get the info tomorrow if I can find it No, I never suggested it was the CPU at fault. If your fan had failed, or the 'sink clogged with dust and system had been repeatedly tried until CPU was overheating, THEN the CPU might cause such a problem but so long as the heatsink didn't fall off you should not have a problem with the CPU from a cold start- if the CPU were failing you wouldn't be able to run the system on the attempts that did succeed. ... if it has DOS? IMO, easier to just burn a CDR that boots dos on another system, IF you cant' get a USB drive to work. Well I was under the impression that usb wouldn't work from a dos enviroment only from within Windows? Can you tell me how to do this from dos. The board bios may support USB booting. If it does, you try it... and if it doesn't, don't. If you don't know, you might as well try it, after checking the bios for settings to boot USB *devices* and perhaps enabling USB legacy support (might be worded a bit differently). Some systems have a buggy boot-from-USB implementation in the bios such that you might have best chance if unplug the system from AC power, plug in the USB drive, then restore AC power, THEN power on the system... not just plugging in the USB drive while AC power is still connected. You'd have to have the USB drive set up to be bootable of course, and overall it might be easier to just use a bootable CDR if you aren't familiar with booting USB. If you boot the USB drive, there is no DOS support for USB needed, because the bios handles it. Is it del key on post to enter cmos setup and change boot options? How can we know when we don't know what board it is? yes DEL is often the key to press, but if that doesn't work, try the F% (function) keys. Problem is my pc only posts occasionally when attempt restart is there anyway to get into these options while windows running? Frankly, I wouldn't be running windows at all, because the system is in an unknown state at this point and it may start corrupting files, at which point you may have two loosely related problems but with the original problem resolved the 2nd would still persist- making it more difficult to distinguish whether the system was operating properly from a hardware standpoint, or if it had instead just degraded further. |
#6
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
kony wrote: No, I never suggested it was the CPU at fault. sorry my mistake you said PSU. I never got the change to check the type/make of that this evening. But I do have the rest of info. I got my pc's confused last night because this one is an 18month old Amd sempron 2400 with Pc Chips 848/852 mobo, 256mb of DDR 400, 128mb GeForce Fx 5200 video. I know you said that using windows could corrupt the file system but with my current work load unfortunately I have no other option (although backing up work to external hd hourly) Again I have not been able to spare the down time yet to attempt disconnecting everything to see if it would post first time but hopefully I'll get the chance next week. Thanks again for your help Bertie |
#7
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Flash Award bios from cd rom ...floppy drive dead?
Hi Again
Pc still keeps correct time by the way. Tried to clear cmos this evening. Unsure which of the 3 jumpers was correct one (2 black 1 red) chose red one closest to battery then removed battery for 10min to make sure. At same time removed power and ide cables from floppy. at start, pc posted got message something like 'load default cmos' 'choose f1 to continue or del for options' unfortunately I chose 'del' got into the cmos and unsure if the load option in there would be the same I changed my mind quit, restarted and chose f1. At restart got normal post but then 'unknown flash' message although windows started succesfully. So that was 2 attempts and 2 starts. Thought that may have been it sorted so attempted restart but it didn't. I had to switch it off and on again before it started so we are at 3 starts from 4 attempts not bad considering previous to tonight was always 6 attempts b4 starting. PSU is Mercury 400W model KO ATX 4400 Thanks again Bertie |
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