HELP: Lock-up at "Verifying DMI Pool Data"

[Ferris1]

I've had this computer for about 2 years. It is a C-433 on an Abit BX-6 (not overclocked). It was working fine and out of the clear blue on one day it started acting a little flaky with some freeze-ups. I went through the usual re-boot procedure and things were fine. Then, it locked up one more time and I cannot get it to boot up. When I turn it on, it goes through the video card check, processor speed check, memory check, PCI device listing. When it gets to the "Verifying DMI Pool Data", it goes no further. I opened up the computer and the processor heat sink was clogged up with dust. Heat may have been a problem...

Any ideas what the problem is and how I can fix it?

Thanks

 

[L0w]

Had that prob once. Some one told me it was a bad boot sector on c:, so i fdisked, rebuild the partition, reformated, and all was well.

It was a while back so if i'm wrong someone correct me so we can avoid an unecessary reformat

 

[jblondi]

There is a setting in the bios called "Force Update ESCD". Enable this and reboot. This has fixed the same problem for me on a couple of occasions.

 

[Ferris1]

LOw,

[shudder] That sounds nasty. I think I will leave that as a last resort. In that case, how to I go about doing that?

 

[Ferris1]

I tried adjusting "Force update" and it didn't work. Is there anything else I can try. If not, how exactly do I do the formatting thing?

 

[Diablo6178]

Off hand I would think that it is having a problem with the user programable area of the flash rom. One way to clear it up would be to Unplug the machine. Push the power button to clear the residual charge the PSU keep then open the case and clear the CMOS by moving the jumper over, it should be labeled and near the battery or flash rom...Important you need to check any settings you don't know off hand before doing this. After clearing the CMOS take the battery out and let the system sit for 30 minutes then reinstall battery, make sure the cmos jumper is in the origional position or the system won't boot, and plug the power cord back in. Then power on the machine and reconfigure the CMOS settings. If this doesn't work then I would got with LOw and say try a different hard drive...I'd do that before reformating the one with all your data on it as you can copy it to the other drive. Later

 

[Spindler]

that happened to me on my amdk62-300. it just froze up on the "verifying dmi pool data" section. the quirky thing was, i had placed a nonsytem floppy disk in the floppy and that just froze things up. there were no message on that system stating "You have entered a nonsystem disk ...please press any key to continue, etc" I took out the floppy disk, and voila.. worked like a charm. not sure if yer solution is this easy or not, but thought I'd just throw it out there.

 

[blurredvisionx]

I had this problem too, but it was due to a low voltage power supply. Couldn't afford to get a 300-watt till the next week, so I figured I would try it anyways with my T-Bird 800 and KT7. It seemed to lock up at this point. At also slowed down at this point when trying to access my floppy drive, which I don't even have one (what's the point, right??). Would get like a 20 second standstill. I went into BIOS and took the floppy out of the boot process, and now everything runs quickly. May be a problem with floppy drive.

 

[Ferris1]

Well, here's the situation now:

It isn't the hard drive, I have tried another drive and get the same problem. I have removed all add-on cards except the video card. I have also removed all peripherals except the HD and the 3.5" floppy. Nothing. I have used the default BIOS setup. I have cleared the CMOS memory, removed the battery and let it sit overnight and re-did the setup. Nothing. I've tried a different processor. No go.

I will remove the floppy from the loop too, but I doubt it will matter...

That basically isolates the problem to the motherboard.

I've done some additonal reading, and I would just like to throw this out there: Is it possible that the BIOS Flash ROM is corrupted somehow? If that is the case, should I see about replacing the chip (ie on an Abit BX6 is it removeable and replaceable)? Or do I need a new motherboard?

 

[randypj]

I believe that, if you can get your hands on an old ISA video card, you may be able to attempt to reflash the BIOS. I believe I saw this mentioned on FIC's taiwan site. Also, there are places that for ~$20 will sell you a new BIOS chip (if yours is replaceable). The vendor I saw once required that you send them the BIOS file you wanted flashed, and they flashed the ROM and sent it to you. If you know someone with the same motherboard and a working BIOS, you can also try to "hot swap" the BIOS ROM. I believe this involves booting up with the good BIOS, swapping ROM's while the board is powered on, then, flashing the bad ROM. I haven't had a need to do this, and, of course you risk damaging the good BIOS ROM. It's been awhile since I saw this mentioned.
--Randy

 

[poolshark]

I had this problem on 2 boards once and it was the bios rom . I used
troubleshooter to detect the problem . Sure you have troubleshooter?
If you dont then drop me a line and I will send it to you ,, it fits on a
1.44 flopper

 

[Ferris1]

I checked the Floppy. No effect

The BIOS ROM "IS" removeable. I'll have to see if I can get a replacement. If you have any other comments pls let me know.

Don't have troubleshooter and it won't work anyway because I can't get booted in to do ANYTHING.

Thanks

 

[randypj]

You might check the Asus newsgroup and ask for a source for a BIOS ROM. Or, Asus might have one. Heck, someone on the newsgroup might have one. A vendor "might" have been Mr. BIOS. I really can't remember.
--Randy