Cannot access BIOS on DFI CFX3200-DR/G

[Creig]

The computer has been working just fine since I built it. That is, until one day a month or two again when I went to enter the BIOS. Instead of being greeted with the familiar BIOS options screen, I found myself staring at a black screen with a blue bar running along the bottom and the cursor blinking at the top left. I shut down the computer, unplugged the power supply and then tried again. Same result.

I've tried unplugging all the IDE devices, tried a different video card and tried swapping out the memory. All with no success. I pulled the CMOS battery, unplugged the power supply and left the BIOS clear jumper on overnight and put a new battery back in the next morning. No go. I ran memtest 86+ v2.01 and it found no errors in my memory. I downloaded the latest BIOS and created the bootup floppy. The BIOS flash went perfectly. And yet after I rebooted when the flash was complete, I am still unable to enter the BIOS. It simply hangs at a screen with a blue bar along the bottom of the screen and the cursor blinking at the top left. The POST code usually either reads 75 or 7F.

In desperation, I ordered a replacement BIOS chip from DFI which came pre-flashed with the latest BIOS for my board. I swapped out the chip and STILL cannot enter the BIOS.

The weird thing is that during the POST, the board screen will display "Backup CMOS.....OK!" and the flash process seems to go through, so the only two things I can think of that it could possibly be now are either the processor (939 X2 3800+) or the board itself. Yet the computer still functions properly, as does Windows and all my programs. There is no instability to speak of. I simply cannot enter the BIOS to change any settings.

Has anybody else run into this particular situation?



System specs
MB - Lanparty UT CFX3200-DR/G
CPU - AMD 939 3800+ X2
BIOS - 07/28/2006 (believed to be as I cannot access BIOS menu)
Mem - 2 x 1GB Crucial PC3200
PS - Antec TruePower 550w
Vid - XFX 512MB 8800GT Alpha Edition
HD - PATA - Western Digital 160GB
DVD - PATA - NEC ND-4551A DVDRW
DVD - PATA - BenQ 16x DVDROM
Sound - Onboard Karajan
NIC - Onboard
USB devices - Logitech MX700 wireless mouse
OS - Windows Vista Business 32-bit

 

[Big Lar]

Maybe try with a Non USB mouse, and for that matter without anything USB connected. Worth a shot.

Larry

 

[Creig]

The keyboard/mouse is connected to a KVM switch that goes to both this computer and a Win98 box that is used for those older games that don't like Vista. The KVM uses standard PS/2 connectors. The only USB items connected to the PC are a set of Logitech headphones and the hub built into my HP A7217A 24" CRT. I have unplugged both USB devices in my various attempts to enter the BIOS but with no success. To rule out the KVM, I plugged in an older standard PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse. Again, I was still unable to enter the BIOS. All attempts to enter the BIOS elicits the exact same blue bar along the bottom of the screen with a cursor blinking at the top left.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

hmm... I suppose it would be a bad idea to flash it if you don't know exactly what's going on, but you could keep that in mind.

Edit: meh, reading comprehension... You already ordered a chip from DFI?

 

[keeleysam]

I think the problem may be your video card, I've had BIOS issues with them before.

 

[Creig]

BlueAcolyte - The replacement BIOS chip already arrived and was tried in the board with no change at all. I neglected to mention in my initial post that the original BIOS chip seemed to be fine even before I replaced it. I had downloaded the latest stable BIOS and created a bootup floppy. The flash utility indicated a successful flash, yet I was still unable to enter the BIOS upon rebooting. The POST screen reported "Backup CMOS.....OK!" indicating that it detected BIOS setting changes (due to the flash, I'm assuming) and it backed up the BIOS settings into the CMOS Reloaded function.

keeleysam - I tried an X1800XT in place of the 8800GT with no change at all.


The thing that is so bizarre is that the computer functions properly after it boots into windows. Before I started having these troubles, I would have assumed that a computer would be completely inoperable if you couldn't enter the BIOS.

 

[Big Lar]

Ok, can you try a different Monitor then? Its the last thing I can think of. I do remember back a bit that some monitors and some vids didn't play nice at initial boot. Does not make sense, but at this point....

Larry

 

[Creig]

Hmmm.... I've never heard of that before. It's an HP7217A 24" CRT and I have the 8800GT connected to it via a VGA to BNC cable. I suppose I could try connecting it via the standard VGA cable and see what happens. But at boot, the DFI splash screen shows up just fine, as does the RAID screen and POST screen.