CMOS Checksum bad after flash on ECS 945P-A 1.1

[Peter]

You have a CMOS checksum error, not a BIOS checksum error. Further flash attempts won't help against /that/. Btw, CMOS checksum errors after a (major) BIOS update are perfectly normal, for the reasons others have already explained.

Press F1 like you're told, load optimal defaults, save and exit.

If you're being ignored, keystroke-wise, first clear CMOS contents via the provided jumper, and if that fails too, power off, hold down the END key and power back on. Hold the key down until the video display comes back. (This forces loading a default set.)

 

[MaximusH825]

Originally posted by: Peter
You have a CMOS checksum error, not a BIOS checksum error. Further flash attempts won't help against /that/. Btw, CMOS checksum errors after a (major) BIOS update are perfectly normal, for the reasons others have already explained.

Press F1 like you're told, load optimal defaults, save and exit.

If you're being ignored, keystroke-wise, first clear CMOS contents via the provided jumper, and if that fails too, power off, hold down the END key and power back on. Hold the key down until the video display comes back. (This forces loading a default set.)

You didn't even read the thread...

This was an issue with a bad BIOS. The problem was it would do the normal CMOS error, but then not save the updated CMOS correctly. So you would get stuck with CMOS error everytime you boot.

 

[MaximusH825]

Just so people know, there was another BIOS released for this board on Jan 27th. I haven't tried it out yet, but I will tonight. Here is what it adds:

-Fixed overclock issue.
-Support ATI CrossFire technology

Crossfire support is pretty cool, but the main thing I'm looking at is the "Fixed overclock issue." I'm REALLY hoping this means either PCI Bus Lock or PCI Dividers for FSB speeds over 241MHz. That would be AWESOME!

 

[MaximusH825]

I just tested out the latest 01/27/2006 BIOS and it has the same problems as the previous one. Just continuous Bad Checksum errors. I am going to try remailing ECS and see what they have to say about it.

 

[DJMiX]

You did backup the orginal bios correct?
might be possible that the bios you tried for was a different revision on that board.

 

[toan67]

Originally posted by: Compuzen

Originally posted by: stang95
Okay so here is how I fixed it. I unplugged my usb keyboard and mouse and plugged in a ps2 keyboard. Still got the cmos checksum error and couldn't do anything but go into setup. I unplugged the ps2 keyboard and now it gave the cmos checksum error but it moved past it and booted into Windows. So, I rebooted and once it got past the cmos checksum error I quickly plugged in the ps2 keyboard so I could boot off of the cd drive (since I don't have a floppy attached). I then re-loaded the new bios in dos, rebooted and everything was fine!

I had the same problem with my Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe, but it didn't happen after a flash. I changed a memory setting in BIOS and saved then it wouldn't even post. Went straight to the bad checksum error and kept searching for a floppy or cdrom with the bios on it. I put in the cd with bios and it would "Start Erase" then "Start Programing" but would freeze there. Only after removing the USB keyboard/mouse and the ps2 keyboard (I tried to use after disconnecting the USB) would it complete the flash. Scared the hell out of me, I really didn't feel like RMA'ing my mobo with highspeed on its way this monday.

I have same motherboard and same message "cmos checksum bad" but after bios flashing. How i can solve it ? I wish to format my raptor to install OS and all drivers but cannot modify bios boot priority. ANy ideas ?
Thank you.
Andrea

 

[manchild31]

I too had the same Bad Checksum Error. Thanks to this thread I used the keyboard trick to get is past the Bios Screen. Never could get my keyboard to work in anything other than dos, so I created a boot floppy to auto install newest Bios from ECS (060127, Release Date 2006/01/27), and now it works like a champ.

I bought the 920 and ecs 945 at frys, which seemed to be pretty common in the thread. Did they get a bad batch?

 

[manchild31]

I thought I would call Frys and let someone know that they might be selling some boards that have a bad BIOS. Their response was "We know." He said "it was a dual core problem and that to get it to work, you had to install a single core, boot the computer up, flash the bios, then install the dual core."

What a bunch of crap.

 

[dumb4ever]

For you guys owning this ECS 945-P motherboard and still having checksum error, please use this step i use: ( this is if you already have Win XP installed -and unplug your USB keyboard if you cannot get into the OS )

All the step below is done after win XP is loaded.

1. go to PF5 Extreme Page


2. Download the latest BIOS< which is Version 060126
Release Date 2006/01/26 ( download the BIOS update, NOT the Flash Utility Download )

3. Download latest BIOS for ECS945-P from Here

4. Extract The file from Step 2, and you will see the BIOS update for PF5 ( DO NOT USE THIS BIOS ) and a folder called ecs_flash. Inside it has newer flash utilities (AFUWIN.EXE ver. 4.11 )

5. Open the flash utilities ver 4.11 -- CLick Ok and press Open - Look for the file from Step 3 ( E060127S.ROM <-- latest BIOS, maybe you have to extract it also ).

6. If you want to see the progress click the tab Progress, and then click "Flash" button.

After flashing is completed, Restart your computer ( sometime it will have the checksum ERROR ). IF it does, do this:

1. when you restarting, press "Delete" Button on your keyboard to go to setup.
2. Load Optimal Defaults, then save and Exit
3 Restart your computer again.
4 Your done.


just my .2

PS: Email me if you guys having trouble -- and NO I do not work for ECS

Regards,

SLumpaCK

 

[jesmith81]

Thank God that worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ryancampbell]

So has anyone tried out the E060127S.ROM BIOS? Does it fix the issue with not being able to lock the pci-e bus to 100MHz when you set the FSB over 223? Does it really disable smartfan? If so, can you still set the fan speed or does it run full blast always?

I'm not sure I want to risk my system unless it will fix the pci-e bus lock issue. I'm running OK now, but I don't like the fact that my pci-e bus is at 125MHz. I have to set the FSB after booting into Windows since it won't detect the SATA drives at 250 FSB, that also makes me nervous.

 

[zitsky]

Yep, that worked for me too. I was getting ready to toss this MB. The keyboard workaround and this BIOS update worked. Thanks dumb4ever, you're a life saver!

It's important to use the BIOS flash from PF5. I used the DOS version. Even though both versions from PF5 and 945P-A show as 4.04, they are definitely not the same. The file size is different and if you show the help screen with /? the output is not the same.

I flashed my MB with BIOS flash included with the 060127 ROM and it did not fix the CMOS corruption problem, no matter what I did or what I tried. If you are having problems with CMOS corruption, follow dump4ever's advice exactly and it will fix your problem.

:thumbsup:

 

[totala]

I bought the ECS 945P-A (v1.1) and had the same problem, consistent CMOS Checksum Bad error.

Resetting the CMOS didn't work
Flashing the BIOS didn't work (no version worked)
At least the trick of removing the keyboard (and quickly attaching while booting) let me get through the BIOS.

Finally, I noticed the Readme.txt of E060127S.ROM package:

AFUDOS XXXXXX.ROM /p /b /n /c /reboot

The extra flags cleared the CMOS and made the Checksum match... Finally life continues!

More about the experience: http://pointyhair.com/tiki-index.php?page=Linux+desktop

 

[amd4life]

man I just spent 4 hours trying to fix this till I found this thread lol

I found out that for the 940, you have to update to the newest bios versions, and if ou dont have windows installed already

you can do the keyboard trick, ie unplug ALL usb connectors, AND mouse(even if its Ps/2).

use another computer to make a cdrom bootdisk with the bios on it (bootdisk.com, or pm me and Ill send you the iso)

and let the unit boot through the bios( it will boot this way, even if you have had checksum errors--like I did), then as soon as the cdrom boots into dos, plug in th PS/2 (ONLY PS/2) keyboard, and either run the bat file, or type as described above--voila

thanks for the help guys

what an ordeal lol

 

[MLopez]

Hey guys, what a life saver thread this is. Last week I got a combo at Fry's with an ECS P4M800PRO-M V1.0A mobo and a Pentium 511. Today I installed the latest BIOS for it (060307) and ended up with the CMOS checksum syndrome. The keyboard trick saved me. This is obviously not a model-specific issue for ECS.

I wonder if anybody at ECS ever reads these posts, or does anything about the emails they get.

Thanks again for doing what a company in the business has not done for its customers!

 

[BIOS Guru]

The oroiginal error is usually repaired by clearing the CMOS. best method for that is to remove the power supply (or unplug it), remove the battery and wait for 30 seconds. The clear CMOS jumper in some boards is not effective.

If all else fails you can check out biosupdatebios.com or biosman.com for info on BIOS's and also if you were unable to flash your BIOS you can buy a programmed BIOS Chip there.