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Cant get into the BIOS

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 12:36 am
by RubberDuckie
I have what I would call a situation...
I moved my computer is the only thing I can think of that has changed.
Nothing hardware has changed.
But now when I hit DEL to get into the BIOS....I just get a blinking cursor.
I have tried to update the BIOS...and it flashed successfully.
but now everything is back to default in the BIOS.
I have an Abit KT7E with a 1.33Ghz (266fsb) chip.
But since I cant get into my BIOS it is set to the default 1,000Mhz.

Anyone have any suggestions...?
I have flashed and cleared the BIOS but I cant get into it to change things :(

H..E..L..P

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 12:53 am
by PreDatoR
Try holding down the Insert Key. On older Abit boards that would clear cmos and let you back into the bios. ITs at least worth a shot. It only works off of a cold boot though so turn the computer off all the way boot up and just keep hittin' the insert key.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 1:04 am
by RubberDuckie
Worth a try....and it didnt help
I just get the check sum error F1 to continue DEL for setup

if I choose DEL then I just get a blinking cursor

If I choose F1 then it continues with the BIOS at factory default (not what I want but it works)


This is Fooked....could I have a BIOS that went south on me ?
This is really odd.
I can provide more information if needed but Im not sure what to let you know.

Specs:
Abit KT7E
1.33Axia
(3) 128 Sticks
GeForce 3
SB Live Platinum
905B
Adaptec SCSI Card
SCSI DVD
SCSI Burner
WD 20.5Gig
WD 20.5Gig
IBM 75GXP 75Gig
Swiftech HS/Fan

and now the updated BIOS which I cant get into to configure...but the old BIOS I couldnt get into eather

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 1:31 am
by PreDatoR
Sounds like maybe your bios chip is fubar. ITs odd that its still working though at default. Wish i knew and could help ya but i haven't got a clue...

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 5:48 am
by wvjohn
i'm sure you tried unplugging the power cord, the atx power connector, taking the cmos battery out and chanting and burning incense - and letting the whole thing sit for 10 minutes. that's what i always do when i start feeling like target practice

also, though i'm not a bios flashing type guy (one more way for me to pooch a good system) - can you go back to the original bios you were using from a backup?

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 6:46 am
by NascarFool
Try a different keyboard. Is your current keyboard USB or PS/2 ?

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 8:01 am
by Scooter
NascarFool , it's an PS2 keyboard.

Wood, did you use the onboard reset jumper to clear the CMOS? It's the jumper just to the left of the USB connector, and a little to the left and below the CMOS battery. The normal position is on the right (2) pins. To clear the BIOS, just power off and cover the left (2) pins for just a sec, then return the jumper to the right pins and power back up. If that doesn't fix it, try reseating all of your cards, PCI, AGP, memory,....everything. (Worth a try). If it's still acting up, check to make sure nothing is shorting on the back of the motherboard. Remember that old ASUS P3V4X board I had trouble with? It did something similiar. Again, it's worth a try. And lastly if that doesn't work try here I had someone recommend them to me when I was having trouble with the ASUS I mentioned.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 8:23 am
by RubberDuckie
Yes it is a PS2 Keyboard
I have cleard the CMOS via the jumpers and I have removed the power for an extended amout of time.
The only reason I flashed the BIOS was to try and fix this problem, so I dont think it has anything to do with a FLASH gone bad. Although the BIOS may be bad, but it wasnt due to the flash.

I will pull the mobo out and check it outside the case to see if it is a short, has anyone heard of a short alowing your computer to work but not get into the bios?
The reason Im getting the check sum error now is because I flashed the bios and the CPU is set back to default instead of 1.33 like my cpu. So that part is pretty normal.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 8:35 am
by wvjohn
i had a bp6 that was shorted to the case when i first installed it- it would run but erractically - i put insulator under all the mobo/chassis connections and it got happy - worth a try - try just powering it up outside the case

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 8:58 am
by Scooter
Rule the battery question out by pulling a switcharoo with the wife's computer.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 9:15 am
by hammer01
Remove 2 sticks of ram (making sure the third is seated correctly) and see if that helps, move them around in different slots. It sounds as if something got jarred loose possibly. Hope this helps. :)

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 9:45 am
by hammer01
OK I found some info.
Look at the connectors PN1 and PN2. Number one pin arrangement should be where your power switch and reset lines along with HDD Led ECT. should go. Look at the little black connectors for a little triangle (SP), this should be orientated toward the number one pin on both Pn1 and PN2. also make sure your power for your CPU fan is hooked up to the fan#1 power lead and not any other. Good luck.


This is from a guy at motherboards.com that had the same problem I am not sure if this resolved it however.