i had a badflash, please help, i am desperate here

[heng1028]

i just had a badflash on my Pro2-A

what should i do?? goto badflash.com or just call to MSI and ask for a bios chip??

how long will it take to get the chip to get into canada??

and how can i remove the chip from the mobo??

please help me

 

[esung]

Have you tried to boot with ISA video card and floppy?

 

[Mode4]

Man, I feel for you. That sucks.

Do you know anyone with a Pro2-A that will let you hotswap the bios chip? If so, you could try that - just make sure you guys are aware of making a bad situation worse if that goes wrong.

Not sure what MSI charges for a BIOS but expect about $25 if they are like any of the other mobo makers. NO idea on how long it takes to get one.

A chip puller or a screwdriver works well for removing the chip.

FYI - There is a product out called a BIOS savior. I know some guys that swear up and down about it. It basically allows you to ALWAYS recover from a bad flash or whatnot. Really slick device. Runs about $20US.

 

[todays]

Is the board totally dead, or does it boot with no video and such. Sometimes you can run the flash utility in the auto mode with the codes after the dos prompt command to flash. I have brought back a board this way. Check out the MSI website for the codes and plink in the floppy to boot up and flash automatically at boot. It's worth a try.

 

[heng1028]

i accidentally click on the autoexec.bat file when i was going to just edit the file

and the bios chip went bad after i clicked the file.

when i hit reset, follow by a long beep and nothing coming up

and can you tell me how to hot swap the chip??

i tried to call MSI tech support but seems no one is answering the phone

it will cost 25bucks for a damn chip?? :Q

 

[maddmax]

Try this it's dead anyways. Make a bootable dos system disk. Create an autoexec.bat file on it that will execute a program file titled clrcmos.com Download the clrcmos file here Power on with floppy in. If it a spins the drive at all wait till it stops. Remove floppy and cycle power. Worth a try.

 

[heng1028]

the problem is it would not boot at all

 

[heng1028]

after i used the clearscmos program??

should i reflash the old bios??

 

[bluesky]

Hey, Heng.
Sorry to hear you.
I'm watching a bios chip from badflash.com, which arrived today.
You basically have no choice, but order a chip or reprogram from computer repair stores.
If you decide to order one, use badflash.com, it might be little more expensive, but much faster.

You need to get a PLCC extractor. Do you have RadioShack around, they sell the stuff.

 

[Mem]

heng1028,more of accidental flash then a badflash there`s not much you can do if clearing the CMOS does`nt work apart from a new bios chip,I know someone that flashed their board & it went blank but clearing the CMOS worked for him,he was brave enough to try it again with the same bootdisk & it worked fine second time.

 

[heng1028]

bluesky: can you send me a url for the PLCC extractor??

i don't think radioshack in canada doesn't have such thing
but i will give it a try

 

[White Widow]

I had a friend who killed his BIOS with a bad flash. He just took the chip to a computer show and paid a dealer like $5 to use his EEPROM programmer to copy a BIOS from another board. Any shows near you? Also, just use a screwdriver to get it out. It's not hard, just be careful and don't use the "chisel" approach.

-Aaron

 

[bluesky]

Well, It's very hard to extract this PLCC type.
I saw they recommend flat head screw driver for DIP 1-2mbit type chips but not for PLCC.

Heng.
Actually, I counldn't find this extractor on their web site.
If you trying to order it from badflash.com, you might ask Jack to ship a extractor as well.

 

[bluesky]

I don't think they carry this online.
part#276-2101.

 

[esung]

duh.. forgot that Pro2-A doesn't have ISA.. oops.

 

[heng1028]

ttt