BIOS Disaster

[st0nedpenguin]

First of all, hello!

Now.

Well, last night I decided to give ABIT FlashMenu a try, to update my NF7-S Rev 2.0, and needless to say first impressions are not good.

Halfway through the flash (performed with all settings at stock), my machine was rebooted, and then started up with this beautiful message.

----------------------------------

BIOS ROM Checksum Error

Detecting Floppy Drice A Media
INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

----------------------------------

So, I inserted a disk I have used to flash the BIOS in the past, thinking, OK, it'll just re-flash and be sorted, my mistake, next message was.

----------------------------------

Automatic Load AWDFLASH.EXE

Source File Not Found!

----------------------------------

I have tried disks containing every BIOS available for this motherboard, none of which has worked, any ideas?

I get the impression that I need to rename the BIOS file in order for it to work, but I haven't got a clue what I need to rename it to.

 

[LiLithTecH]

It is normal to get the CHECKSUM error after you FLASH the BIOS.

Just reset the settings and it will be fine.

 

[st0nedpenguin]

The problem is, it's not a CMOS checksum error, it's a BIOS ROM checksum error, it won't even let me get into the BIOS.

I have tried using a bootable BIOS disk with every BIOS version and AWDFLASH version available, and an autoexec.bat like mentioned on Wims BIOS guide, still no luck.

I have also tried clearing the CMOS, discharging the battery and caps, everything.

I still reckon I just need the correct file name for the *.bin file, but I'm getting no response from ABIT.

 

[LiLithTecH]

The correct name of the LATEST BIOS file is NF7D_18.bin
You need to use AWDFLASH 8.23D or later to update.

P.S. You did remember to remove the POWER when clearing the CMOS?

 

[st0nedpenguin]

Thanks for the assist, Yeah, I disconnected all power and left it overnight to discharge, after hitting the power button a few times to discharge the caps, no luck.

I did get an e-mail from ABIT tech support though, containing this choice paragraph:

"Sometimes when BIOS is corrupted it is possible to recover the machine. It all depends on whether there is enough of the BIOS left to seek the floppy drive.
If when you turn on the machine, after a few seconds, the floppy LED comes on and the message "This "award bootblock bios rom checksum error, detecting floppy drive" on the screen. Then the following recovery procedure may work.
1) Format a diskette as a system disk.
2) Copy onto the diskette AWDFLASH.EXE, ABITFAE.BAT and the relevant BIOS .bin file.
3) Write an AUTOEXEC.BAT file to the diskette, which will run the BIOS upgrade. (E.g. to flash the MX BIOS onto a BX6 the AUTOEXEC.BAT file should simply contain the line: ABITFAE BX6_MX.BIN)
4) Put this diskette into the floppy drive of your machine, switch on (cross your fingers) and walk away for a minute or two.
5) If this process has worked then when you come back the computer will have attempted to boot and stopped, telling you that your CPU is "unworkable".
6) Simply set the CMOS up and off you go."

I'm going to give it a try tonight, and order myself a BIOS savior today, I'm not taking this risk again.