Bios corrupted by bad bios install

[landale]

I have a Gateway 820GM pc and was having issues with IRQ conflicts. I was told that this is something that was fixed in the latest bios so I downloaded and ran them windows program that would automate the install of these bios.

Long story short the computer rebooted to install the bios and then hung on a black screen. After 30 minutes it was clear that something was wrong. I have verified that these are the correct bios for my motherboard and everything.

I was able to get the computer to boot to windows by holding down the insert key when the system is turning on however when I try to access the bios screen its all corrupt in there with a blue screen and unreadable text.

While i Know the easy answer is to trash the motherboard before I go spend $100 on a replacement I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as the computer does now boot to windows but I am concerned that there are still some problems that should be addressed with the Bios. Thanks.

 

[Harvey]

If the machine still boots to DOS, get a clean copy of the BIOS and the DOS flash utility, and flash it again. It may help to clear the BIOS with the jumper before you do.

Good luck.

 

[landale]

Thanks. I tried resetting the jumpers and that didn't seem to be of much help. Holding down insert was able to do the trick though at least to get me to windows.

Is it at all a good sign that at least that is working?

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: Harvey
If the machine still boots to DOS, get a clean copy of the BIOS and the DOS flash utility, and flash it again. It may help to clear the BIOS with the jumper before you do.

Good luck.

It's not so bad. Normally a bad flash results in a no POST....very, very bad. Do what Harvey says! Get the DOS version of the BIOS/flash utility and reflash the BIOS from a DOS prompt.....NOT IN WINDOWS. You're issue is exactly why I loath Windows BIOS flashes!

 

[BadThad]

Thanks. I tried resetting the jumpers and that didn't seem to be of much help.

There should only be ONE jumper for Clear CMOS with 3 pins. Move the jumper to the other pins (usually pins 2-3) for 30 seconds with the PC unplugged (important)....then move it back to the run position (usually pins 1-2).