Bad BIOS checksum error for Asus A8V Deluxe (Rev 2)

[pan4577]

I have been struggling since past 2-3 days to get this MB working.
Earlier i was having problem installing my SATA drive and Windows XP such hangs while loading.
I bought a new IDE drive after reading SATA related installation problems and it's drivers but this IDE drive is also hangs up at the same point while installing XP.

I tried changing DVD Drive, Memory but still it hangs at the same point.
I tried to format my IDE drive using partition magic 8.0 and in the process of formatting i got this error

"Bad BIOS checksum. Starting BIOS Recovery..
Checking for floppy..
Checking for CD-ROM....
File A8V.ROM not found on CD-ROM..."

I tried putting the asus CD and installed A8V.ROM file and asked me to restart computer. After restarting several times, i am again and again getting the same problem of Bad BIOS checksum.........

Please help.

 

[Boonesmi]

first thing to do is update to the newest bios
you can download it from asus.com


if it still gives problems then i would download memtest and run it to make sure your system isnt producing memory errors (90% of the time when i have winxp fail to install it turns out to be memory errors)... you can download it from memtest.org and create a bootable floppy disk that will check your system

 

[Boonesmi]

by the way you dont want to use the a8v.rom file from the cd, it was probably even older then the bios that came on the board

 

[mechBgon]

Also, post your complete spec list, including the brands and models of:

hard drives
power supply
memory modules
PCI cards
video card

 

[pan4577]

How to install the latest BIOS ? i have downloaded it A8V1008.ami (latest version). Now how to install it ? Do i need to rename it to A8V.rom ?

Hard Drive - 160 GB Western Digital SATA
Power Supply - 350 W
Memory - Corsair 512 (PC3200)
Video Card - Chaintech 5900XT

 

[mechBgon]

350W, what brand? If it's not a reputable high-quality brand, then it's probably best to replace it with a known, reputable one. More wattage couldn't hurt, especially if you forsee a 6800 or its successors in your PSU's future. Some of the good brands are PC Power & Cooling (Mercedes) and Antec, Fortron and Enermax (sort of Honda/Toyota stuff). PowMax, Coolmax, Raidmax, Deer, L&C... Yugo. :evil:

Also, on the Corsair, it would help to know what model of PC3200. If it's being fed AUTO voltage, raise that to 2.7 volts.

If you're still stuck in the BIOS quagmire there, then unplug the computer, take out the CMOS battery, and clear the CMOS. Let it sit a few minutes, and unplug all non-essential items from the power supply while you're letting it ponder its crimes. Move the Clear CMOS jumper back. Put the battery back in, plug in the system and see if it decides "hey, I'm going to work after all." My K8N-E Deluxe had a brief episode where it was doing what you describe, but this got it back on track. Don't ask me why it worked, I don't know

If it decides to work again, go into the BIOS and raise the memory voltage, then let it go all the way through the next POST until it comes to a halt. Now it knows the settings you changed are ok to keep. Turn it off, plug in your floppy drive, and update the BIOS next.

Bonus: as the manual says, use the blue DIMM slots first. If you resort to using just one module, it goes in DIMM_B1.

 

[Boonesmi]

Originally posted by: pan4577
How to install the latest BIOS ? i have downloaded it A8V1008.ami (latest version). Now how to install it ? Do i need to rename it to A8V.rom ?

Hard Drive - 160 GB Western Digital SATA
Power Supply - 350 W
Memory - Corsair 512 (PC3200)
Video Card - Chaintech 5900XT

the asus site should have full directions on how to upgrade the bios

 

[pan4577]

BIOS problem resolved. Now i have 1008 version. The hard drive problem still remains. Power supply is from Turbolink 350 W. (Aspire case). I will try raising memory voltage now.

 

[pan4577]

where do i increase the memory voltage in BIOS ? Advanced -> CPU Config -> Memory Config... now where

 

[mechBgon]

Turbolink... mmm, 3-cylinder Geo Metro maybe. Your rig deserves better IMHO.

Raise the memory voltage in Advanced > JumperFree Configuration > DDR Voltage.

 

[pan4577]

The only menus under Advanced are
CPU Config
Chipset
Onbard Devices Config
PCIPnP
System Frequency
Speech Config
Instant Music Config

There is nothing like JumperFree Config and none of the sub menus also contains this option.

 

[Boonesmi]

i dont know how it will be labeled in your bios, but ddr voltage is often times listed as "vdimm"

 

[Slik]

Advanced > System Frequency/Voltage Configuration >
Set AI Overclocking to Manual, "DDR Voltage"
CPU FBS Frquency is set at 200MHz though, wonder what I should set it at

 

[Slik]

Man the LED lights on the corsair are cool, running memory tests and i'm here staring at them mesmerized.. lol

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Slik
Advanced > System Frequency/Voltage Configuration >
Set AI Overclocking to Manual, "DDR Voltage"
CPU FBS Frquency is set at 200MHz though, wonder what I should set it at

Aha, thank you for this I have the A8V Deluxe manual but they must've revised it.

 

[Slik]

You can also go to Advanced > Memory Configuration > Memory Configuration > set Memclock Mode to Limit then set Memclock to CPU Ratio > 2:1 (DDR400) If you have DDR400

 

[pan4577]

tried this but does not works. Problem with MB ?

 

[Slik]

If all else fails, contact ASUS and see what they tell you, maybe you have a bad board =/

 

[jkresh]

did memtest fail or reinstalling xp fail? If memtest failed, what voltage was memory set to when it failed and what memory are you using? Also in which slots?