DS3L won't post...keeps restarting every 2-3 seconds...

[lektrix]

Just bought a new DS3L and after changing my memory settings, it won't boot/POST anymore...my computer turns on for 2-3 seconds and keeps restarting before the POST screen appears...I tried clearing CMOS but it didn't help...I just took out the battery for 10 minutes and it didn't help....I tried putting my RAM in the yellow slots, red slots, and one yellow only and still the same problem....WTF

 

[lektrix]

before this happened I think I saw some

"Award Bot Block Bios v1.0
Bios Rom Checksum Error, checking Hard Drive for BIOS" error twice..

WTF does that mean?

 

[lektrix]

Well here's a breakthrough. I just took out the memory...so the DS3L is completely RAM-less...turned it on and the PC DOES NOT reset after 2-3 seconds...it actually stays on for more than a minute, but I still don't see any POST, just a black screen....and no beeps as well with the mobo RAM-less...does this mean the board is 100% dead? Shouldn't there be beeps without RAM in there?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: lektrix
before this happened I think I saw some

"Award Bot Block Bios v1.0
Bios Rom Checksum Error, checking Hard Drive for BIOS" error twice..

WTF does that mean?

It sounds like your BIOS was corrupted, and it was running the bootblock, looking to auto-reflash the correct bios.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: lektrix
Well here's a breakthrough. I just took out the memory...so the DS3L is completely RAM-less...turned it on and the PC DOES NOT reset after 2-3 seconds...it actually stays on for more than a minute, but I still don't see any POST, just a black screen....and no beeps as well with the mobo RAM-less...does this mean the board is 100% dead? Shouldn't there be beeps without RAM in there?

Yes, there should be beeps for no RAM. Something is amiss.

 

[lektrix]

Sorry I couldn't reply earlier, I had to get off my sister's computer. Anyways, I did further testing out of the box this morning and while there has been some progress, I still cannot POST. So this is what I did. I took the motherboard out of the case and put it on top of the retail box it came with. I reseated and repasted CPU and NB HSF. I cleared the CMOS. I put the motherboard battery back in as I previously took it out for 11+ hours before I went to bed the night before. I only put one RAM into the motherboard in the innermost yellow slot (if I put any combination of two, the PC goes in an endless loop of restarts after every 2-3 seconds). I plugged my video card in. I plugged in my sister's brand new Antec EA380 which I bought for her just this past Tuesday. I plugged in only keyboard, mouse, monitor. Cleared the CMOS again, pressed on the power switch with the PSU off and plug disconnected to discharge. Then I finally plugged the power cord in, switched the PSU on, and everything seems to run normally (no restarts after every 2-3 seconds), except my video card fan doesn't quiet down (it stays at high speed the entire time when it normally starts at high speed then drops to low speed after 5 seconds), and it's just a black screen, no POST, and no beeps. So it shouldn't be my PSU.

 

[lektrix]

I just tested my video card and RAM in my cousin's Asus P5K and it runs perfectly =(. Guess it's my motherboard AGAIN. Third dead DS3L since January..

 

[Modelworks]

Your DS3L is hosed.
Gigabyte made the stupidest decision ever with the DS3L.
They removed the default boot block from the bios that has worked for years using a floppy to recover a corrupt bios.
Instead they put in their craptastic virtual bios.
The idea is that the bios will, after a successful boot place a copy of its bios on a 'hidden' part of the hard drive, so it can use that if the bios fails to start.

Nice thought, but here is the problem with that.
It does not work with NTFS drives, Raid , or any kind of boot manager installed.
You basically destroy the bios image on the drive anytime you do anything but install windows to a single partition.
They also decided to solder the bios to the board and use a newer form of flash called spi, which is a pain to flash even if you have the soldering tools and a spare chip.

Gigabyte told me they would re-flash the board for 45.00 +15.00 shipping.
60.00 to repair the board .
No way, its sitting in the closet gathering dust.

 

[toadeater]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
The idea is that the bios will, after a successful boot place a copy of its bios on a 'hidden' part of the hard drive, so it can use that if the bios fails to start.

Any chance it could be fooled into looking for it on a USB HDD or key if you disconnect all your other drives?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: toadeater

Originally posted by: Modelworks
The idea is that the bios will, after a successful boot place a copy of its bios on a 'hidden' part of the hard drive, so it can use that if the bios fails to start.

Any chance it could be fooled into looking for it on a USB HDD or key if you disconnect all your other drives?

Nope.
I really needed to get the board I had working when it failed so I went so far as to disassemble the bios. I took it apart down to assembly language.
They have totally removed any method of recovering the bios in any way except from the hard drive.

I had hopes at first because they actually left the parts of the bios boot block intact that ask you to insert a floppy. But after fully taking apart I found out they just left it in there because it wasn't in the way , so to speak.
The boot block never tries to jump to that part of the boot block

One could edit the bios to use the older method, but you would have to do that before the on board bios failed. Kind of too late then

 

[lektrix]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Your DS3L is hosed.
Gigabyte made the stupidest decision ever with the DS3L.
They removed the default boot block from the bios that has worked for years using a floppy to recover a corrupt bios.
Instead they put in their craptastic virtual bios.
The idea is that the bios will, after a successful boot place a copy of its bios on a 'hidden' part of the hard drive, so it can use that if the bios fails to start.

Nice thought, but here is the problem with that.
It does not work with NTFS drives, Raid , or any kind of boot manager installed.
You basically destroy the bios image on the drive anytime you do anything but install windows to a single partition.
They also decided to solder the bios to the board and use a newer form of flash called spi, which is a pain to flash even if you have the soldering tools and a spare chip.

Gigabyte told me they would re-flash the board for 45.00 +15.00 shipping.
60.00 to repair the board .
No way, its sitting in the closet gathering dust.

How did they know it was a corrupt bios? I don't want to spend $20 to ship it to them (I'm in Canada) only to find out I have to pay another 45+15 after...

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: lektrix


How did they know it was a corrupt bios? I don't want to spend $20 to ship it to them (I'm in Canada) only to find out I have to pay another 45+15 after...

I knew it was a corrupt bios when I asked them the cost to repair it.
Not sure what they charge for warranty service.

 

[lektrix]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: lektrix


How did they know it was a corrupt bios? I don't want to spend $20 to ship it to them (I'm in Canada) only to find out I have to pay another 45+15 after...

I knew it was a corrupt bios when I asked them the cost to repair it.
Not sure what they charge for warranty service.

Yeah but how did Gigabyte know? You telling me if I send it back for RMA they'll reject it?