Bios Not Installed messege at startup

[primarypunisher]

Whenever i boot my computer, and its giving all the information ti says "bios are not installed" if they werent installed, i wouldnt be able to use my computer would i? i have an MSI k8t Neo with the VIA chipset, i isntalled the live updater thing, and it asked me if i wanted to "flash my bios" and said that it could be dangerous to flash them. Im not quite sure whats wrong.

 

[mechBgon]

You see that message when a hard-disk controller checks itself and finds that there are no hard drives hooked up to itself. It says "ok fine, if I have no drives, I don't need to install my BIOS on this boot-up" and it puts up that message as a matter of routine and goes back to bed.

You can disable that hard-disk controller in your motherboard's BIOS until such time as you need it, and you won't see that message (plus your boot-up will go that much faster). Hope that helps

 

[chesscat]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
You see that message when a hard-disk controller checks itself and finds that there are no hard drives hooked up to itself. It says "ok fine, if I have no drives, I don't need to install my BIOS on this boot-up" and it puts up that message as a matter of routine and goes back to bed.

You can disable that hard-disk controller in your motherboard's BIOS until such time as you need it, and you won't see that message (plus your boot-up will go that much faster). Hope that helps

Mechbgon, I have new system that I setup with Sata on SATA1 (via) non raid with my WD HD. I have asus A8V deluxe MOBO. I get the same' bios not installed' on boot up and still eventually boots ok. However, I guess you're saying somewhere in my bios maybe I can disable something to speed up this process? Under Boot, there are two places to setup boot sequence. One is boot device and the other is hard disk. Maybe I can disable one or the other and this will speed boot up? I am not home so I can try this but I get it would just be simple trial and error to which to disable.

I had an impression that the boot up was a little slow for WD RAPTOR 10000RPM HD but was satisfied that it was just installed considerint it was a real pain to install XP (which has no Sata drivers). Once it's loaded though it kicks butt.

Also, the SATA controller is on the mobo so I'm not sure if the above solution would work. It souds like the previous poster was using a separate controller from the mobo?

 

[mechBgon]

Your motherboard (and his/hers) both have a soldered-down PCI-based SATA controller in addition to the one built into the VIA southbridge. Each of the two controllers has its own mini-BIOS. I think you both are seeing the PCI-based SATA controller reporting for duty and finding that it has no drives to control.

To disable the unnecessary controller, enter the motherboard's BIOS menu and go to the Advanced menu, then into the Onboard Devices Configuration and then set the Onboard Promise Controller to Disabled. Bye-bye useless SATA controller, we'll re-enable you if we ever need you

It's interesting that your VIA SATA controller actually tolerated a single drive, I've been having people completely thwarted in their attempts to get that to work. Did it just work the easy way with no fussing, or did you have to go into the VIA SATA BIOS and define the drive as an array? Enquiring minds want to know! :Q

 

[chesscat]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Your motherboard (and his/hers) both have a soldered-down PCI-based SATA controller in addition to the one built into the VIA southbridge. Each of the two controllers has its own mini-BIOS. I think you both are seeing the PCI-based SATA controller reporting for duty and finding that it has no drives to control.

To disable the unnecessary controller, enter the motherboard's BIOS menu and go to the Advanced menu, then into the Onboard Devices Configuration and then set the Onboard Promise Controller to Disabled. Bye-bye useless SATA controller, we'll re-enable you if we ever need you

It's interesting that your VIA SATA controller actually tolerated a single drive, I've been having people completely thwarted in their attempts to get that to work. Did it just work the easy way with no fussing, or did you have to go into the VIA SATA BIOS and define the drive as an array? Enquiring minds want to know! :Q

It took lots of persistence and stubborness I realized after I posted, that yes, I think I do have the promise option enabled (i can't check my computer right now, im at work)-which of course I don't need since I'm using VIA option.
To answer your question, I had to get VIA drivers (PIDE AND RAID + text...oem(cant remember exact name) and put them on floppy. WHen I did clean install of XP on single SATA drive, it prompts for third party drivers (Says press f6 during installation). Then, while xp is preparing install it asks for floppy and then it gives you choice of what to install. It's a little confusing because it thinks it's a scsi device so you have to choose that option. In any event, it then proceeds with remaining installation. Let me tell you, this thing really flies now ( i have amd 3500+ which sort of helps, too!)

You have to disable ARRAY and tell it(bios) it's IDE if you're only using single drive. Again, that fact that you're choosing IDE is also counter-intuitive but it's the right choice.

 

[mechBgon]

Thanks for the detailed insights I had a K8V Deluxe (one of the chief offending boards) but never an SATA drive to find out for myself what worked or didn't (I use a couple of 15000rpm Cheetahs myself). Maybe someday I'll get a SATA drive but the time has not yet come for me.

 

[chesscat]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Thanks for the detailed insights I had a K8V Deluxe (one of the chief offending boards) but never an SATA drive to find out for myself what worked or didn't (I use a couple of 15000rpm Cheetahs myself). Maybe someday I'll get a SATA drive but the time has not yet come for me.

Update: I disable Promise in BIOS and I no longer get the 'bios not installed' message. thanks for the tip.

-chesscat