**HELP** Computer Doesn't Start Up After Bios Flash!!

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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Motherboard = Asus A7V133 w/Ata100
Bios That I Wanted To Flash To = 1007
Bios Before Problems = 1005A

My Situation. I was on the Asus Website, and looked if there was any new bios updates for my Asus A7V133. I find out there is a newer version then the one on my motherboard.

so i download the bios file and the bios flashing utuility.

I boot up with a DOS Diskette, and do what i usually do when i flash my bios.

I first save the current bios that is currently on the motherboard.

After it saves it, Then i proceed to flash it with the newer bios file.

After I turn off my computer, and take out the battery and changer the jumper settings so that it clears the CMOS of the motherboard.

So i wait about 2 minutes or so.

Put the jumper the way it was, and pop in back the battery.

This is the scary part.

The computer doesn't boot anymore. I get no video signal, no beeps or anything like that.

So i like, DAMMIT. I start to diganose the problem. I take out all the cards, and leave only the ram, video card, and cpu. No Hard drives or cdrom drives are connected. Still no beeps or video signal to the monitor. So i take out the ram, to see if it would be and say there is no ram on the motherboard. I do that, but again, no beeps.

i was reading a past thread about a similar situation, but said there coudln't do anything to get it to work except, to call up Asus, and get a new bios from them.

Would it be possible just to RMA the whole mother board to Asus? I really don't wanna mess around with taking out the old bios, and putting in the new one when i get it. I won't wanna mess it up, like bend pins or anything like that.

Anyone had similar problems like this before? how long does it usually take for the bios to come in once you place your order.

Please help me out, i can't live without my cable modem internet access!!

Thanks in advance...

 

MisterNi

Senior member
Aug 2, 2001
621
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Ouch, I misflashed a mobo once. Just RMA'd the board back and got a new one. Now I never flash a bios unless a newer bios fixes a stability issue or significantly increases performance.
 

Bovinicus

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
3,145
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Have you made sure that your video card is properly seated? I ran into this problem once a long time ago, and I couldn't figure out what it was. My friend came over and said he had the same problem, and someone told him about this. So, I removed my video card, reseated it, boom shakalaka, everything went smooth.
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
0
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<< Have you made sure that your video card is properly seated? I ran into this problem once a long time ago, and I couldn't figure out what it was. My friend came over and said he had the same problem, and someone told him about this. So, I removed my video card, reseated it, boom shakalaka, everything went smooth. >>




I did this, redid it, and did it again to make shure its not the video card that is the culprit.

It looks like i might have to RMA the motherboard.

Anything i should say to ASUS when i call them up?

Just say the motherboard stop working?

Your thoughts and ideas are welcome.

 

Snoop

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,424
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76
From Asus FAQ:
The BIOS chip is dead! What to do?


To obtain a new BIOS, simply send us a letter with your name, address, and telephone number. List which BIOS you would like (and for reference, what board you have, it's revision number, and your current BIOS revision). Enclose a check made out to ASUS Computer International for $25USD. This will cover the cost of the BIOS chip, the flashing, and shipping via USPS Priority Mail. Credit cards are not accepted. Rush orders will reflect the difference in shipping costs. Orders from users outside of US are no longer accepted. The address is 6737 Mowry Ave.,Mowry Business Center Bldg 2, Newark, CA 94560, USA.
 

68GTX

Member
Sep 1, 2001
187
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0
Try repeatedly pulling the plug in and out the power supply while pressing the power switch on and off and it will probably reset your bios. I have 4 of these mainboards and have had this problem before.
 

bacillus

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
14,517
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just read the "how to" on the asus site which says," Assuming that you have successfully flashed the bios, escape back to a DOS prompt. Then reboot the system. After the system reboots, hit [DEL] to enter the CMOS setup. At this point, go to "LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS". Then save and exit setup".
I guess you shouldn't have turned off your pc! :(
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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<< From Asus FAQ:
The BIOS chip is dead! What to do?


To obtain a new BIOS, simply send us a letter with your name, address, and telephone number. List which BIOS you would like (and for reference, what board you have, it's revision number, and your current BIOS revision). Enclose a check made out to ASUS Computer International for $25USD. This will cover the cost of the BIOS chip, the flashing, and shipping via USPS Priority Mail. Credit cards are not accepted. Rush orders will reflect the difference in shipping costs. Orders from users outside of US are no longer accepted. The address is 6737 Mowry Ave.,Mowry Business Center Bldg 2, Newark, CA 94560, USA.
>>



Yes i read that on the Asus website, but why should i pay 25 dollars for something that went wrong with asus parts. I mean its was asus aflash that i used, and it was a Bios downloaded from the asus website. Thats why i see no justification in paying the 25 dollars. If i can RMA it back, that i would do, but pay 25, now i dunno..
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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<< did you get a flash successful message at the end of the flash?? >>



yes i did get a flash sucessful message at the end of the flash. Nothing went wrong either.no weird messages or anything like that. everything went as plan like all past bios flashes.
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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<< Try repeatedly pulling the plug in and out the power supply while pressing the power switch on and off and it will probably reset your bios. I have 4 of these mainboards and have had this problem before. >>



well i took out the bios battery for about 5 minutes, and also disconnected the PC from the wall. Still no working computer.

Thanks for the tip though.
 

68GTX

Member
Sep 1, 2001
187
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<< well i took out the bios battery for about 5 minutes, and also disconnected the PC from the wall. Still no working computer >>

This won't help on this board. Put the battery back in and try what I said. It just might work and you have nothing to lose. If you still can't get it up and running I would RMA the board. Paying more than 25% of the cost of a mainboard for a bios chip is crazy.
 

Bovinicus

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2001
3,145
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I just realized, whatever jumper you moved to clear the CMOS was not the clear CMOS jumper. There is something you have to short out on the motherboard to reset the BIOS. There are these two metal solder points which you must connect somehow (I had this board, I just used metal scissors). This will reset the BIOS. Just leave the battery in, it does nothing. You will know this process work if your computer turns on for about two seconds and then turns off again.
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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<<

<< well i took out the bios battery for about 5 minutes, and also disconnected the PC from the wall. Still no working computer >>

This won't help on this board. Put the battery back in and try what I said. It just might work and you have nothing to lose. If you still can't get it up and running I would RMA the board. Paying more than 25% of the cost of a mainboard for a bios chip is crazy.
>>



Yes i agree, paying $25.00 when the board is like $60-$80 on anandtech for sale/trade area. Thats why i think my last option would be to RMA the motherboard.
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
0
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<< I just realized, whatever jumper you moved to clear the CMOS was not the clear CMOS jumper. There is something you have to short out on the motherboard to reset the BIOS. There are these two metal solder points which you must connect somehow (I had this board, I just used metal scissors). This will reset the BIOS. Just leave the battery in, it does nothing. You will know this process work if your computer turns on for about two seconds and then turns off again. >>




Yea i just notice that too while looking at the PDF file from Asus for my motherboard.

Would you happen to know which two metal soder points i would need to connect to reset the bios?

Please i really need ur help.

Thanks.l
 

extro

Senior member
Jan 6, 2001
365
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0
Look at page 59 of the manual. There are two solder points to the right of the battery, labeled CLRTC.

1) Unplug computer
2) Short solder points (you can use a paper clip I guess)
3) Turn on computer
4) Hold down DEL key

5) Pray that it lives

Good Luck
 

bluesky

Golden Member
Nov 13, 2000
1,325
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76
Was it required to taking out the battery after flash? I mean I didn't have to do it, and worked fine.

I don't think Asus will replace the bios chip for free. No manufacturer will take care of fried chip from bios flash. Usually they warn to flash with your own risk.

The bios chip on A7V133 is very easy to remove with very little care.
If you have to pay for it, get the chip from badflash.com. About same price(yeah, you can use CC), but it'll much faster to get.

If somebody around you have same board, you can get Bios Savior and flash it from another board. Then use it on your board and also you can program your
original bios chip again. it'll cost about same, but you would get a backup.

I've used Bios Savior on this board, and the bios chip is really easy to remove and put back.

Good luck anyway.
 

holden j caufield

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 1999
6,324
10
81
didn't read through all the posts but if not mentioned yet try to stick in an ISA video card and then reflash to the new bios or back to the working one. works wonders for me many times
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
0
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<< Look at page 59 of the manual. There are two solder points to the right of the battery, labeled CLRTC.

1) Unplug computer
2) Short solder points (you can use a paper clip I guess)
3) Turn on computer
4) Hold down DEL key

5) Pray that it lives

Good Luck
>>




Tried that, but no working computer.

Thanks for that tip, but it didn't work.

=(
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
0
0


<< Was it required to taking out the battery after flash? I mean I didn't have to do it, and worked fine.

I don't think Asus will replace the bios chip for free. No manufacturer will take care of fried chip from bios flash. Usually they warn to flash with your own risk.

The bios chip on A7V133 is very easy to remove with very little care.
If you have to pay for it, get the chip from badflash.com. About same price(yeah, you can use CC), but it'll much faster to get.

If somebody around you have same board, you can get Bios Savior and flash it from another board. Then use it on your board and also you can program your
original bios chip again. it'll cost about same, but you would get a backup.

I've used Bios Savior on this board, and the bios chip is really easy to remove and put back.

Good luck anyway.
>>




Yea i know Asus won't replace a Bios chip for free, but with a little social engineering, things can go as you want.

as for the badflash.com. I think i'll just RMA the board to Asus since its the more feasible way on doing it.

If the RMAing to Asus doesn't work, then i'll just get a Bios chip from them.

As for the Bios savior, i don't know anyone in my area that has that thingy.

Oh well. Damn non working motherboard!!

Also it didnt say to remove the battery, but, thats the only way i know how to clear my CMOS.
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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<< didn't read through all the posts but if not mentioned yet try to stick in an ISA video card and then reflash to the new bios or back to the working one. works wonders for me many times >>



Sorry this motherboard doesn't have a ISA slot. =(

so i guess i am fresh out of luck with this motherboard.
 

Qtip

Member
Dec 18, 2001
27
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If I were a betting man, I would say static discharge while replacing the battery was most likely the cause for the failure, not the BIOS upgrade itself.
 

SiLEighTy

Banned
Aug 22, 2001
1,116
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<< If I were a betting man, I would say static discharge while replacing the battery was most likely the cause for the failure, not the BIOS upgrade itself. >>



that might be a way the the motherboard died, but when i work on my computer, i always use the antistatic wristband. I know its lame to use, but its a precautionary thing that i use so something like static discharge damage shouldn't happen.