Got new cpu but forgot to flash bios, will mobo even post?

[kef7]

I'm pretty sure the board won't post so I'll be unable to flash the BIOS but thought I'd check here first.

My only other cpu is a celeron 2140 which requires an even newer BIOS.

 

[JustaGeek]

I would just try it... Perhaps with the Celeron first.

You might be surprised.

 

[kef7]

Update:

Well, the board would post despite having a BIOS that didn't support the Q6600. :thumbsup:

The problem then became the inability to flash the BIOS and then random lock-ups. :thumbsdown:

I feared the board may have been damaged somehow but this morning I had better luck and eventually used a BIOS recovery method to get it flashed after several re-boots.

While the successful flash was occuring I had an epiphany and realized the random lock-
ups were due to the ram not getting enough voltage. (default BIOS settings had gotten loaded at some point thus the ram was only getting 1.8V)

Later also found out that the initial bootable floppy I had unzipped the BIOS to was junk.

Oh well, another lesson learned.

 

[JustaGeek]

Great!

Yeah, from what I've learned, you must do all the settings manually in BIOS, with RAM voltage, frequency and timings being the most important.

Glad it worked!

 

[Ozoneman]

"While the successful flash was occuring I had an epiphany and realized the random lock-
ups were due to the ram not getting enough voltage. (default BIOS settings had gotten loaded at some point thus the ram was only getting 1.8V) "

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that if you flash a new BIOS it will set all the settings to default. After you flash you need to select "Optimized defaults" and then go in and set your memory settings and anything else that you need.

 

[JustaGeek]

I would just add:

Flash.
Shut down.
Reset CMOS.
Start - Load BIOS defaults - Exit and save.
(after reboot) Enter BIOS, do all the manual settings, Exit and Save.

(Hopefully - on reboot) ENJOY!