News Flash - BIOS Bites the Dust!

LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, Alaska Icrontian
edited August 2003 in Science & Tech
Number 2 is down for the count, folks - just when I was going to start overclocking. From the start when I built it about a month ago, the BIOS was very queezy about accepting FSB adjustments or BIOS updates. The symptoms were that after each flash or FSB attempt, the computer would not boot past halfway through POST. Well, it would actually, if I cut all power and removed the CMOS battery for about two hours. Last BIOS switch was the last straw - no boot at all and no response at all to battery removal and reinsertion.

I've contacted Abit, to see if they'll just send me a new BIOS chip. Fat chance, I would imagine. This will probably be an RMA. I really don't want to be without the board for four to six weeks. I've ordered a replacement BIOS chip, preprogrammed, from a nifty little business in New York. I should have it Tuesday if shipping is good. I'll keep y'all updated on my progress. I ordered the BIOS chip Saturday; due to be shipped tomorrow morning. If all goes well, I'll heap accolades on the vendor.

Watch this thread. BLAAAHHHH! I've been overclocking since the days of the KT7 (KT100) and have probably flashed BIOS chips over 50 times. This was the first disaster. Oh, did mention - it was on my wife's computer! I'm in the doghouse now!

Comments

  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    OK, before you ask, "Leo, if you knew the BIOS was flaky, why did you keep taunting it?". Fair enough. I had to get to the truth of the matter. I'd rather know the facts early in the game rather than later. Bad news does not get better with age.
  • EQuitoEQuito SoCal, USA
    edited August 2003
    Leo, you're one of the few persons I like and respect around here but I have to tell you, why do ask for advice if you're not going to follow it? :scratch: I warned you twice about bios corruption and I told you to order an extra bios chip or a Bios Savior, didn't I? :rolleyes2

    Warning:
    When you install the new chip, boot while pressing the "Insert" key or you'll screw it up again.

    Good luck!
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    warned you twice about bios corruption and I told you to order an extra bios chip or a Bios Savior, didn't I?

    Indeed you did, my friend.:scratch:

    I will you use the Insert key when I power up for the first time with the new BIOS!
  • EQuitoEQuito SoCal, USA
    edited August 2003
    Oh..., and clear CMOS before booting too, ok?
    I don't want to hear a grown military man cry like a baby again... :tongue:

    Cheers!
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Without argument.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    This gentleman saved the day for me. I simply followed the instructions on his very clear site, gave the credit card number and ordered. After I ordered, I promptly received an automated email reply detailing my order. To my dismay, I discovered I had ordered the wrong chip style. I quickly fired off an email to Jack (BadFlash.com); he and his wife responded personally, assuring me that they would correct my order. That is SERVICE!

    The chip arrived today, Wednesday. That's good processing and shipping time as my order was too late for the shipment to go out until Monday.

    Thanks, Jack! My NF2 system is up and running.

    One snag, which was not BadFlash's fault - three full days for shipping even though I had paid for USPS Express Mail. Jack had warned me that it might not be any faster than USPS Priority. He was right.

    I highly recommend BadFlash should you have to replace a blown BIOS chip. It might save your marriage!:wtf::eek2:;D

    (This is a personal recommendation from me - not an official endorsement from Short-Media or Short-Media Forums.)

    There is still a problem with this motherboard. I did boot with the new BIOS, and the system functions perfectly once the BIOS parameters are saved. It still lags horribly though, when saving BIOS settings, requiring Insert key op and four power-off-power-on sequences to get it to post. I'm thinking an RMA may be in order.
  • FAH_WWFAH_WW Training in Indianapolis, IN
    edited August 2003
    Worn out flash :| LOL remind me not to let ya near my systems ;) just kidding. One thing I've learnt (probably similar to your good self) - always have a system that runs the windows games the Mrs uses (in my case) so when I screw up hers by OCing it a tad to hard for FAH (hehe) I can just slap a different box in instead :D:D
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    I'm almost ready to try overclocking that board again. Still gun shy. I'm wondering if the problem is perhaps a weak CMOS battery.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Yes, Leo... it does seem that an RMA will be necessary.

    My personal advice is: do yourself a favor next time, buy ASUS!!!! ;)
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    You may be right. Time to check my PayPal account. What's the Asus equivalent of the NF7-S 2.0? (Too lazy to research right now.)
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited August 2003
    Has the BIOS been flashed with the latest version? Happen to know if it was flashed with the "Alt-F2" method?
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Leonardo said
    You may be right. Time to check my PayPal account. What's the Asus equivalent of the NF7-S 2.0? (Too lazy to research right now.)

    The Asus equivalent would be the A7N8X-Deluxe v2.0... it's a great board. I've got the 1.04 revision of it and it's never had a problem... except that it can't do 200 FSB unless it's revision 2, because of the Ultra 400 version of the chipset.
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    stay with the abit nf7-s 2.0 for OCing. Asus has the A7N8X but it doesnt OC at all! i have both and my abit nf7-s oc's my 1700+ to 2.2 ghz
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited August 2003
    Gnomewizardd said
    stay with the abit nf7-s 2.0 for OCing. Asus has the A7N8X but it doesnt OC at all! i have both and my abit nf7-s oc's my 1700+ to 2.2 ghz


    While I like my NF7-s, I understand that the latest revision of the Asus board OCs just as well.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2003
    Has the BIOS been flashed with the latest version? Happen to know if it was flashed with the "Alt-F2" method?

    Which BIOS chip - the dead one, or the replacement chip?

    The original chip I flashed several times, using both Abit's FlashMenu (Windows) and the good ole' trusty floppy method via Alt-F2. It didn't make any difference which method I used; the reboot process would often not make it through the first POST screen, only to be fixed with a two hour recess of the CMOS battery removed. The last attempted BIOS flash (hoping to fix the problems - DOH!) was the event at which the computer would no longer accept the BIOS chip - or the BIOS chip died.

    The same symptoms were present when I would attempt to boost the FSB, even by just 5MHz above default.

    BIOS file currently loaded and running on the new chip is 18.
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