Help with boot problem

[mykah89]

I just assembled my computer today, and it POST intitially and i hit F1 to continue, i install windows XP from a CD and then it goes to reboot and the monitor light turns yellow as if there is no acitivity and nothing happens, the only way i can get the computer to POSt again is to reset the cmos, then i can hit F1 and it goes into windows, if i try to change the bios i will go to save and exit, but it resets the computer and i am left again to reset the cmos or never POST again. I have an athlon 3000+ with 512mb kingmax 4000 Ram, ati Xtasy 9200 se video card, and a maxtor 60 GB hard drive. Everything works fine until i go to reboot my computer, and it just wont, unless the cmos is reset, any help would be appreciated.

 

[mykah89]

Bump. My computer runs perfectly fine as long as i do not have to restart it.. What could the problem be? Please i really need some suggestions on this one.

 

[Insidious]

Maybe consider loading "failsafe values" (usually a BIOS option) and see if that makes any difference.

(I suspect BIOS mis-configuration)

-Sid

edit: possible your Power Supply isn't up to the task

 

[mykah89]

Antec 380Watt power supply, if i try to load the failsafe defaults i have to save and exit thus leaving me to reset the CMOS again

 

[Insidious]

when you hit F1 to continue.... I don't understand that part. Did your post screen tell you there was a checksum error or your BIOS was invalid? Hitting F1 isn't part of a normal boot that I am aware of.

If this was my system, I would first try to re-flash the BIOS with the latest available. If that didn't solve the problem, I wouldn't beat myself to death trying to resurect a faulty motherboard... time for an RMA

-Sid

Is there any possibility that you are reversing the clear and normal positions for the cmos jumper?

 

[mykah89]

yes it posts the checksum error and it gives me F1 to continue or delete to enter setup, i have hit f1 numerous times and managed to install windows , resetting the cmos each time the computer needs to restart, definatly not on the reversing cmos comment.... but what i dont understand is why would the motherboard be dead if i can get into windows and run it perfectly fine, but when i need to restart it wont let me without resetting cmos.

 

[cluy44]

i have exaxt same problem

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: mykah89
yes it posts the checksum error and it gives me F1 to continue or delete to enter setup, i have hit f1 numerous times and managed to install windows , resetting the cmos each time the computer needs to restart, definatly not on the reversing cmos comment.... but what i dont understand is why would the motherboard be dead if i can get into windows and run it perfectly fine, but when i need to restart it wont let me without resetting cmos.

It seems like the only time your computer has trouble is when it is executing a boot. (Motherboard firwmware only runs during the boot) That made me feel like the mobo was the issue. You could simply have a bad EPROM, but I was considering that part of the motherboard.

-Sid

 

[Buz2b]

Time to reflash the BIOS again, as was mentioned. You might also want to change the CMOS battery; they are cheap and could be causing this also. In fact, I'd start with that. You will see the numbers on the top of the coin type battery. It is easily available in most any store.

 

[Peter]

DON'T flash the BIOS on a computer that doesn't run stably. And of course if the BIOS prompts you to enter setup and set it up properly, you should do so, not press F1 and ignore the problem.

If the BIOS settings won't stick, you need to check the board's battery, and also check whether the "CMOS clear" jumper is in "Clear" position. It needs to be on "Normal".

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: Peter
DON'T flash the BIOS on a computer that doesn't run stably. And of course if the BIOS prompts you to enter setup and set it up properly, you should do so, not press F1 and ignore the problem.

If the BIOS settings won't stick, you need to check the board's battery, and also check whether the "CMOS clear" jumper is in "Clear" position. It needs to be on "Normal".

Flashing the BIOS on a "comuter that doesn't run stably" cannot do any additional harm and can help solve the problem. I've done it before with success. I do understand you caution though. We've already gone through the "CMOS Clear" jumper issue (the user seems confident it is in the correct positon) and I believe that the user already went through the set up with the BIOS repeatedly. I'll read back to confirm though. Last but not least, you'll notice that I suggested he change the battery. I truely think that this would be the best answer; either before or after reflashing the BIOS. Yes, it is possible that just replacing the CMOS battery will solve the problem. But flashing to the latest BIOS (ASSuming that he is confident of his ability to do so) will not cause any harm and can indeed provide some assistance. And yes Peter, I know the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" saying but at this point it may indeed be broke!

 

[mykah89]

Ok reflashed the bios changed the battery, updates graphics card drivers and still Nada, question,,, this may sound stupid but i have kingmax 512mb ram its ddr500 pc4000 ram and has 250mhz transmission speed.... its downward compatible with ddr400 ddr 333 and ddr 266 ... this ram should work? or will a ram compatability issue cause the failure to reboot? i have epox 8kda3j moboard which states supports three 184 pin ddr dimm sockets for 64-bit unbuffered single/double side and ddr-266-333-400 dimms
????

maybe im just a retard and am screwing somthing up in the bios or not changing somthing to what it should be.... when i try and load fail safe it does it and when i try and load optimized it does it.. maybe i can give you guys information on my system setup and you could be able to review te problem better
i have an Athlon 3000+
Epox 8kda3j motherboard with newest bios from epox website
512mb kingmax ram ddr500 pc 4000
ATI radeon 9200 card with newest drivers (got a diff one than the 9200 se as seen above cuz i thought it coulda been my graphics card)
Antec 380Watt psu
Sony CD rom
Floppy Drive
Maxtor 60 gb HD
Windows XP w/SP1



im typing this information on the computer we are talking about, it can get into windows fine if i reset the cmos and hit F1 and ignore the checksum error, it goes online and everything functions perfectly normal except the whole boot thing.

 

[Insidious]

I think the checksum error, over and over again is clear indication, along with the fact that booting is the issue that your EPROM is not being read correctly by the motherboard or your motherboard is incapable of correctly executing the boot process. Your RAM should not really be much of a suspect because you are running your programs without issue. Any problem with RAM so catastrophic as to prevent a boot would give you error codes (BEEPS) on boot and I doubt it would be capable of running software without a crash.

You have indicated you are certain that you are positioning the CMOS jumper correctly, you have replaced the battery, you have attempted to load BIOS default values. Your video card if functioning properly since you can see to type your posts. Have you attempted to re-flash your motherboard? I mean seriously your motherboard doesn't boot... how bad can a flash mess it up? IF you have already tried to flash the BIOS with no success, then.... I believe your headaches will come to a quick end when you RMA that motherboard.

-Sid

 

[mykah89]

Have already tryed to Flash the bios, will give it one more try before i take it out and send the damn thing back from the crypt it came from.!..

Would someone give me the 100% correct way to flash it so i can make sure i do it right?

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: mykah89
Have already tryed to Flash the bios, will give it one more try before i take it out and send the damn thing back from the crypt it came from.!..

Would someone give me the 100% correct way to flash it so i can make sure i do it right?

Ok, it seems apparent that you might need some assistance with the flashing process. Let us/me do a bit more research for you and give you step-by-step instructions that are particular for your MB. Again, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure you REPLACE the battery on the MB. It's not that hard to do and could be problematic in your situation. I know you said you did that and I'm not calling you on it, I just wanted to make sure. I'll get back to you soon on the Epox BIOS flashing process.

 

[Buz2b]

Ok, here we go.....
Ok, I went to the Epox site and put in your MB designation. I then clicked on the download of the manual for your MB. From there (It?s a pdf (acrobat reader) file. You can find it here. Just click on the line that says "Download Users Manual" and you will get the info. I was able to find out lots of info and assistance for you. You need to do the same.
Look at Page 3-20 for the BIOS setup and go through that page by page. You cannot skip any part of that. Then go to the Appendix pages to page B-1. It?s called ?Update your System BIOS?. Again, go through it page by page. Write down and follow all the directions to the letter. That's the best way to do a BIOS upgrade. Again I would stress that you check the settings you have in the BIOS first. As Peter said, don't overlook and bypass these settings. If you have questions, check the manual I pointed to or repost here.

And don't forget to replace that battery if you haven't already done so. Let us know if this doesn't provide some assistance or if you need explanations on some of the BIOS settings.

Good luck!

 

[mykah89]

Again, go through it page by page. Write down and follow all the directions to the letter. That's the best way to do a BIOS upgrade. Again I would stress that you check the settings you have in the BIOS first. As Peter said, don't overlook and bypass these settings. If you have questions, check the manual I pointed to or repost here.


THANKS SOO MUCH GUYS,,, it appeared as if the factory fail safe settings are fubar .. What i did was go through and anything i wasnt sure about.. i disabled.. and for the HT freq which was set at 4x i moved down to 1x and then in the power bios settings i turned on the multiplier to X10 which in essence gave me my CPU processor power of 2GHZ or so,, (Athlon 3000+)

Then it restarted and i held down the insert key and hit delete to enter the bios and changed some things back to the way they were and walla save and exit and it started.. THIS has been the most aggrivating thing in a long time..i was about to send it back today.. thanks everyone for help and if theres one hint i can give to anyone is to make sure you setup the bios the right way,, if not your computer just might not work and if you have a question about a setting .. ask,, or disable it until it works..

 

[Insidious]

Woo Hoo!

I'm glad you got it going!

-Sid

 

[Buz2b]

Great job mykah89! Glad you were able to get things worked out. It would have been a real hassle to have to RMA the thing; especially since it seems it may not have needed it. Just make sure and reboot a few extra times here and there to make sure the battery isn't going bad. There have been some cases of bad batteries being sent on new boards before. Other than that, PARTY TIME!!! :beer: