Well, I've finally done it...

QCHQCH Ancient GuruChicago Area - USA Icrontian
edited August 2004 in Science & Tech
In all my years of IT work... I've done some stupid things and usually I can find a way to solve the problem that I caused...

Not this time... I was working on a customer's PC last night and I was almost done. The few remaining things were basically loose ends... One such loose end was upgrading the BIOS on the MSI 6378 MB... I've flashed over 50 PC's without a hitch.... Why should this be different? I looked at the MB shipping box (MSI 6378 w/ LAN)... I looked at the motherboard (briefly)... I downloaded the new BIOS, installed it and rebooted.... DEAD.... Nothing....

!! CRAP !!

Recheck the floppy to see the BIOS version... BIOS for the MSI 6378 w/ LAN v3.0..... v 3.0???? Hmmm... I don't remember seeing a version on the MB, and I thought the v3.0 was the BIOS version not the MB version.... DOH!!!! The MB is a MSI 6378 v2.0

So... I have to buy a new Micro ATX MB and reinstall the OS, transfer DATA.... Grrrrrrrr...

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    welcome to the "ate crow" club... I've done some doozies like that in my "illustrious" career.. :rolleyes::thumbsup:
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    QCH2002 wrote:
    In all my years of IT work... I've done some stupid things and usually I can find a way to solve the problem that I caused...

    Not this time... I was working on a customer's PC last night and I was almost done. The few remaining things were basically loose ends... One such loose end was upgrading the BIOS on the MSI 6378 MB... I've flashed over 50 PC's without a hitch.... Why should this be different? I looked at the MB shipping box (MSI 6378 w/ LAN)... I looked at the motherboard (briefly)... I downloaded the new BIOS, installed it and rebooted.... DEAD.... Nothing....

    !! CRAP !!

    Recheck the floppy to see the BIOS version... BIOS for the MSI 6378 w/ LAN v3.0..... v 3.0???? Hmmm... I don't remember seeing a version on the MB, and I thought the v3.0 was the BIOS version not the MB version.... DOH!!!! The MB is a MSI 6378 v2.0

    So... I have to buy a new Micro ATX MB and reinstall the OS, transfer DATA.... Grrrrrrrr...

    UM, can you get MSI to ship out a new BIOS chip??? Or put the BIOS in an EEPROM Programmer and load it with older BIOS that way??? See the BIOS archives at http://www.msi.com.tw/ The other way is to buy a refurb board of same model and rev as the once-working board, and to swap BIOS chips. Note, some MSI boards have a bypass keystroke sequence that lets the BIOS be flashable right on the board, but you will need a floppy with the right flash file and flasher for this use. I'd ask MSI tech support if there is a direct flash mode keystroke sequence for that board.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    I was gonna suggest that too - instead of buying a whole new mobo, just go to www.badflash.com and get a replacement bios. Much cheaper.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    Well... the MSI 6378 is a Micro ATX with a soldered PLCC BIOS Chip. Acording to "Badflash.com"... the board is toast. I did find the same motherboard (well version 3.0 instead of 2.0) on Ebay for a penny.... I'm trying to get the guy to pull the auction early so I can get this thing rapped up....

    I am also trying to get help from MSI tech support...
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    Out of the 3-4yrs I've worked with PC's, there's only a few "aw sh!t!" things I've done. That I can remember. Drop a PC from like 6ft (those Dells are built like tanks), drop a customers HDD (I had one I could change it with) and delete my initial "bible music" collection. :banghead: I don't know what I'll do if I fubar a whole PC. I don't have the $$$ or parts to replace it.
  • KwitkoKwitko Sheriff of Banning (Retired) By the thing near the stuff Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    We all have our share of uh-oh stories. Just last month I wiped out an entire fileserver.:doh:
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited August 2004
    Have you ever done a hot flash? Take a working BIOS, take the chip out while its running, flash the chip to the BIOS you want, and then replace the BIOS chip with the orginal.

    My friend did this, with the same motherboard tho. I guess it could work with different ones.

    I would rather get a new BIOS and a new motherboard and all the other crap, plus there is nothing to explain to the customer.
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    mmonnin wrote:
    Have you ever done a hot flash? Take a working BIOS, take the chip out while its running, flash the chip to the BIOS you want, and then replace the BIOS chip with the orginal.

    My friend did this, with the same motherboard tho. I guess it could work with different ones.
    ...
    QCH2002 wrote:
    Well... the MSI 6378 is a Micro ATX with a soldered PLCC BIOS Chip.
  • QCHQCH Ancient Guru Chicago Area - USA Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    The guy on EBay and I worked out an agreement... he canceled the auction and he's sending the board UPS overnight.... Total cost... $40. I over paid, but the overnight-ing is like $18.00 of it....

    The benefit... unplug old, insert new, and it's back up!!!!! I should be able to have it done tomorrow night.
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