motherboard massacre

[Pyramix]

Hi there.

I just got a brand new MSI K7TPro2-A mobo. But my IBM 75GXP hard-drive died on me. So, I decided that while I wait for a new hard-drive to arrive, I will use the one from my old comp. I removed the old 500 MB Western Digital hard-drive from my old Gateway 2000 computer (Intel Pentium 75 Mhz.), and plugged it into the new one. Of course, that hard-drive still had windows 95 installed with all the drivers of the old comp. When I started the comp, it started finding new hardware (new processor, video card, etc.) and installing a whole bunch of stuff, and then asked me if I wanted to restart the comp in order to complete the hardware installation. Foolishly enough, I said yes. Next thing I know, the computer won't start. I suspect that it made some changes to my motherboard. For those of you familiar with the K7TPro2-A motherboard, you might be aware that it has a Smart D-LED system. It runs a whole bunch of tests when you power it up (before it actually boots the system), and lets you know if there is anything wrong through 4 leds on the mobo. Well, now it is failing one of the tests -- initializing hard-drive controller or initializing keyboard controller. It sets off an alarm because of that, and won't go any further -- won't even attempt to boot.

Well, that's the history. Anyways, my question is how do I bring back my motherboard to its original state? Would clearing the CMOS help? And if so, after clearing the CMOS, do I need to do anything to restore the original CMOS?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Pyramix

 

[1greatguy]

Of course clear the CMOS. Does the computer boot after the CMOS is cleared?

Does it still give you an error when the hard drive is not connected?

 

[Pyramix]

I thought clearing the CMOS would be the key. I'll try that.

BTW, what kind of info is in the CMOS? And what am I doing when clearing it?

I am not sure exactly how to clear the CMOS. Here's what I am gonna be doing:
1) Change jumper settings on the mobo to clear cmos
2) Power up
3) Turn computer off
4) Reset jumper settings on the mobo to keep cmos
5) Power up again, and done!
Am I on the right track?

Pyramix

 

[Cougar]

Pyramix...

The CMOS contains any specific settings you had set in the bios. Even if you clear the cmos the computer will still load up with the deafult Bios values. If you had changed memory timings, or the bootup sequence (as in A:, C:, CD-ROM, etc...) or AGP aperature settings, etc... those settings would all be set back to the default values that were burned in at the factory. So go ahead and clear the CMOS....you won't be hurting anything.

 

[Pyramix]

Well, if all I am doing when clearing CMOS is resetting the BIOS to the default, I don't think that will help. Primarily because my motherboard is brand-new and I never changed anything in the BIOS. But, like you said, since it doesn't hurt, I am going to give it a shot anyways.

Is there anything else that I should do? The motherboard should have "drivers" (or some other software) that determines how the mobo works, right? Where are they stored? I am afraid that is what might have gotten corrupted. But, as far as I know, CMOS is the only part that carries any software and that can be changed.

Pyramix

 

[grygrx]

Clearing your CMOS: Read the manual... don't do it like you said.

Drivers: Yes you need drivers to get the motherboard working, there is no way Windows 95 has ANY idea what the hell its supposed to be looking at when it seems all that new-fangled hardware you are throwing at it. It shouldn't effect your ability to turn the thing on thou. The base drivers you need are.... SHOCKING...on the driver disk that come with your motherboard. RTFM.


Adam

 

[Bleep]

Paramix:
DO NOT reset the BIOS the way that you said you were going to do. First shut the machine down--open the case--unplug the power supply from the motherboard--take the shorting bar off the normal CMOS pins and put it on the clear CMOS pins. This will clear the chip of any settings except the default settings. Put the shorting bar back on its origonal pins--replug the power cables onto the MB, boot machine. If you don't power the machine down and unplug the power cable you could really fubar the mb bios.
Bleep

 

[Viperoni]

Do exactly what Bleep said, unless you don't like your mobo

 

[Pyramix]

Thanks for the advice, bleep. Good thing that I decided to wait for a response before trying to clear out the CMOS the way I thought was the right way

Pyramix

 

[Pyramix]

grygrx:

I am aware of the motherboard drivers on the cd. But considering that I can't even boot, there is no way I would be able to install the drivers from the cd. Is there another way of installing those drivers? I am not sure, but I think the reason the mobo is not booting is because the drivers (wherever they are stored on the mobo) got changed. Where are they stored? In the CMOS?

Pyramix

 

[Pyramix]

grygrx:

As for the manual, after the number of times I have read it, I have it by heart. It does say how to change the jumper settings to "clear cmos," or "keep cmos." But it didn't say that just changing the setting would actually clear the cmos. I thought that I would have to power the system up with the settings indicating "clear cmos." Good thing that bleep told me not to do so. Anyways, thanks for the advice.

Pyramix

 

[frover2000]

do you really think this is worht all the trouble? what the heck are you gonna put on a 500meg HD anyway? duke nukem and a word processor maybe..
can't see much more

 

[Pyramix]

The 500 mg. hard drive is so that I can keep going for the next 2 weeks (while waiting for the new hd to arrive) -- check my email, do my assignments, listen to some online music, etc. Something is better than nothing for the next 2 wks. But, let's say I don't want to use that 500 meg. hard-drive, my problem still remains -- my mobo still won't boot. It won't complete POST test. So, I gotta find a way to restore the original settings. Any ideas on how do I do that?

Pyramix

 

[Pyramix]

BAD NEWS! Clearing the CMOS didn't help. The motherboard still cannot pass the POST test

It's failing the memory detection test. I have 2 sticks of 128 MB. PC133 CAS2 SDRAM from Crucial. I hope it didn't get trashed. I will plug my ram into a friend's computer tomorrow, and see if it works. I don't want to plug his ram in my computer, because I am afraid my comp will render it useless as well. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Pyramix

 

[WetSprocket]

Take it down to just a video card and a floppy. And work your way up from there.

 

[Pyramix]

Okay, I'll try that too. Thanks for the help.

Pyramix

 

[Nih]

ooooh, win95a (if it is "a&quot on that board, that's gonna be a tough detect.

 

[rbV5]

Take a look here Linkster could that be your problem?

UPDATE: check here linked

 

[Pyramix]

Hey, thanks a lot rbv5. Those links were a great help.

Well, so now I have 2 options: (1) contact msi and return board, or
(2) hot flash the bios.

Can anybody tell me how do I hot-flash my bios? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Pyramix

 

[LXi]

Boot only with CPU, RAM, video card, and floppy.

 

[SXMP]

ok before you go hot flashing your mobo when your not sure how, (if you mess up u have to send it back or find someone else with your mobo) you said it won't post because on the checks it runs, it finds something wrong with your hard drive. 90% when my hd isn't workin in a comp I build, it is because the jumper settings are not correct. Depending on where you plugged in you hd, (master or slave) your hd has to have the jumpers the same for it. This could pose a problem as im sure you do not have the jumper settings just laying around for a 500mg hd. Also Im sure they are not listed on the hd. My advice is: if its on the master now, put it to slave, and vice versa. As for the ram, try going down to just one stick. My 2 cents.

 

[rbV5]

SXMP, there is a problem with win95 1st edition and the chipset,the damage has already been done (check my links) the new bios will prevent it from happening next time!

Pyramix, Take a look at this thread :

thread

Good luck! Msi will send you a new bios chip, you shouldn't have to RMA the whole board, and since this was a "known" (to them) problem, it should be on their dime!

 

[Pyramix]

Thanks a lot, rbv5. You have been a big help. I might try hot-flashing the bios. And I will contact MSI to get a new bios chip if that does not work.

BTW, let's say that the two BIOS chips are the same size, but different types (say AMI and AWARD), can I still hot flash them? I am thinking of hot flashing my bios on my friend's Pentium II system (at this moment, I am unaware of the size or type of bios that he has).

Pyramix

 

[Pyramix]

Well, I tried to contact MSI, but they haven't responded yet. So, I think I am going to take my chances and try and hot-flash the bios. How do I remove the bios chip? I tried to, but it won't come off easily. And I don't want to try and force it out without knowing what I am doing. There is a light brown thing around the bios, but that does not come off, right? How do I remove the actual bios chip?

Pyramix

 

[tjdavis1138]

I am curious as to how Win95 is corrupting the bios? I didn't think anything would touch the bios chip unless you tried to flash it.

Tom