Problem with a DFI CA61 Rev B1 Motherboard

[ReyminD]

I have an old computer that won't POST. It's saying "BIOS ROM Checksum Error, Searching for Drive A media... Insert System Disk..." The motherboard is running AwardBIOS 1.0.

I know what model the motherboard is, but the thing is, I can't find the files to flash the motherboard on DFI's original website. I've searched everywhere, on forums, on different websites, but it seems like these files are nowhere to be found. When you google the motherboard, you'll find DFI Itox's official technical page, but it says "Retired, End of life." I literally don't know what to do, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[LTC8K6]

https://us.driverscollection.com/?file_id=14371

They have several there, that was the newest.

 

[ReyminD]

https://us.driverscollection.com/?file_id=14371

They have several there, that was the newest.

Thank you very much! I've read the readme and it contains the following:

**********************************************
* *
* CA61 BIOS UPDATE INFORMATION *
**********************************************

This BIOS 2A6LGD4F.BIN (5/30/00).
SOLVED ISSUE: 1.WINTV CARD ABNORMAL AT 24/32 BIT HIGH COLOR.
2.CELERON 700 ID CODE CHANGE FROM 00 TO 10.
3.SOME AT KEYBOARD PLUG WITH PS/2 MOUSE WILL
HANGS UP AFTER WIN2000 RESTART.

CHECKSUM:5484

RELEASE VERSION:BB0

@@@ AWDFLASH ******.BIN /LD CAN AUTO LOAD BIOS DEFAULT AFTER FLASH BIOS.

Now, excuse my stupidity, but will the one you provided fix my issue? In the meantime, I'll search for another one just to make sure! Thanks again!

 

[Hi-Fi Man]

Usually "BIOS ROM Checksum Error" means the battery is dying. So try to replace that first.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes definitely replace the CMOS battery first.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

When you google the motherboard, you'll find DFI Itox's official technical page, but it says "Retired, End of life." I literally don't know what to do, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

That's because it's a Socket 370 board from last millennium. EOL (end-of-life) simply means what it says. No more official support from the manufacturer.

What to do with it? Unless you have a very good reason just get rid of it. Its not worth any money put into it, and Socket 370 CPUs are anyway incapable of running halfway modern software.

If you're doing this for fun (and/or running old software/games), it sounds like the 3V button cell (CR2032) on the mainboard has failed, and the BIOS has thus reverted to defaults. You just have to change the battery, change the boot sequence from the floppy drive (A drive to the HDD, configure the BIOS, and you should be good to go. No need to mess around trying to update the BIOS.

 

[ReyminD]

That's because it's a Socket 370 board from last millennium. EOL (end-of-life) simply means what it says. No more official support from the manufacturer.

What to do with it? Unless you have a very good reason just get rid of it. Its not worth any money put into it, and Socket 370 CPUs are anyway incapable of running halfway modern software.

If you're doing this for fun (and/or running old software/games), it sounds like the 3V button cell (CR2032) on the mainboard has failed, and the BIOS has thus reverted to defaults. You just have to change the battery, change the boot sequence from the floppy drive (A drive to the HDD, configure the BIOS, and you should be good to go. No need to mess around trying to update the BIOS.

I never said I'm going to spend money on it. I've already tried replacing the battery, nothing. I also forgot to mention that the motherboard has been giving me a ton of problems (I think it's the motherboard), HDD freezing every 5 seconds, computer turns on but power LED is off etc etc.

 

[LTC8K6]

I would just try to flash the latest BIOS and see what happens.

A power supply going bad can also make a lot of strange things happen.

 

[ReyminD]

I would just try to flash the latest BIOS and see what happens.

A power supply going bad can also make a lot of strange things happen.

Sad thing is, to try to fix the harddrive freezing problem, I've hooked it up to another PSU, not only the computer didn't post, but I started getting all kinds of glitches on the screen. I'll have to connect a floppy to my main computer and copy the files. I'll keep you updated. My guess is, the MoBo is dead. RIP.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Yes. We should adjourn to the nearby pub for a wake . . .

Then move on with our lives at Egg, Directron, SuperBiz . . . Tiger . . . Rakuten . . .

 

[ReyminD]

Yes. We should adjourn to the nearby pub for a wake . . .

Then move on with our lives at Egg, Directron, SuperBiz . . . Tiger . . . Rakuten . . .

What do you mean?

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Yes. We should adjourn to the nearby pub for a wake . . .

Then move on with our lives at Egg, Directron, SuperBiz . . . Tiger . . . Rakuten . . .

Aye, we'll drink to ABIT, AOpen, DFI, etc.

 

[ReyminD]

Aye, we'll drink to ABIT, AOpen, DFI, etc.

I'm new here, plus, I'm not really getting what you're trying to say. If you have nothing to say worth of help, don't come to this thread just to speak nonsense. I don't mean to be rude or anything here, but, although the computer is old and sucks when compared to new computers, it means a lot to me.

 

[krose]

The first post is about some online vendors of computer parts. The second is about now defunct enthusiast motherboard manufacturers, DFi being one of them. The posters were just reminiscing. Don't get upset.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Sometimes, you just gotta let things go. It sounds like the capacitors on the board are failing from old age to me. Unless you actually NEED this particular board (say, for an industrial application), then let it go. Buy a Celeron 847 dual-core board at Newegg for $50-60, and get on with your life.

 

[ReyminD]

The first post is about some online vendors of computer parts. The second is about now defunct enthusiast motherboard manufacturers, DFi being one of them. The posters were just reminiscing. Don't get upset.

Oh ok, I see, sorry.

Sometimes, you just gotta let things go. It sounds like the capacitors on the board are failing from old age to me. Unless you actually NEED this particular board (say, for an industrial application), then let it go. Buy a Celeron 847 dual-core board at Newegg for $50-60, and get on with your life.

I guess I'll let it go, my main computer is a gaming one so I cannot say that I'm without a computer.
Thanks all!

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Aye, we'll drink to ABIT, AOpen, DFI, etc.

Ah, those names brings back a few memories... :biggrin:

Sometimes, you just gotta let things go. It sounds like the capacitors on the board are failing from old age to me. Unless you actually NEED this particular board (say, for an industrial application), then let it go. Buy a Celeron 847 dual-core board at Newegg for $50-60, and get on with your life.

Agree with Larry here. But it could also be the PSU giving up, and that can be difficult to replace as modern PSUs tend to have weak 3.3V and 5V rails. Which is what such an old CPU draws most of its power from.

About the Celeron 847, I'd at least see if I couldn't scrounge up a Celeron 1037U board. As an alternative, if you move up a notch, a G3258 isn't half bad either.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I know what that's like, I have a client that is still attached to their P4 Northwood / DDR / IDE system, with XP. They don't use it any more, because XP is discontinued, and I told them it was unsafe to go on the internet with XP these days. But they keep asking me about putting Win7 on it. I wouldn't mind so much, to put it on, but it seems like a waste, since that machine is so slow, and has so little RAM. They reminisce about how much money they spent on it, so long ago. Little do they realize, how little it's really worth.

 

[ReyminD]

Ah, those names brings back a few memories... :biggrin:



Agree with Larry here. But it could also be the PSU giving up, and that can be difficult to replace as modern PSUs tend to have weak 3.3V and 5V rails. Which is what such an old CPU draws most of its power from.

About the Celeron 847, I'd at least see if I couldn't scrounge up a Celeron 1037U board. As an alternative, if you move up a notch, a G3258 isn't half bad either.

I literally don't know what to do here, I've got another P3 power supply with a non-working fan. Whatever the problem was, it damaged the motherboard real good. Thanks for your replies. Miss them old days. Do you remember 3dfx? I wish I can get one of their GPUs!

 

[Insert_Nickname]

I literally don't know what to do here, I've got another P3 power supply with a non-working fan. Whatever the problem was, it damaged the motherboard real good.

Its not like the ATX socket and plugs have changed or anything. Only things that have been added are 4 pins on the ATX connector for extra 12V, and a separate 4 pin 12V connector (a.k.a "the P4 plug"). Most modern PSUs do have detachable 20+4 ATX plugs, so it'd fit. If you can find a PSU with high ratings on the 3.3V and 5V, it'd theoretically work.

Of course if the failed PSU took out the mainboard there is nothing you can do. Sourcing a Socket 370 board is going to be difficult and not worth the expense.

Thanks for your replies. Miss them old days. Do you remember 3dfx? I wish I can get one of their GPUs!

Yup. And got the Voodoo cards to prove it.

I know what that's like, I have a client that is still attached to their P4 Northwood / DDR / IDE system, with XP. They don't use it any more, because XP is discontinued, and I told them it was unsafe to go on the internet with XP these days. But they keep asking me about putting Win7 on it. I wouldn't mind so much, to put it on, but it seems like a waste, since that machine is so slow, and has so little RAM. They reminisce about how much money they spent on it, so long ago. Little do they realize, how little it's really worth.

I know exactly how you feel.

One way around I've found works reasonably well is re-using the old case, stuffed with new components. This gets the "its the same computer" feel you want, and if you're going to clean install the OS anyway it's not like there isn't going to be anything "new" anyway.

Thankfully non-tech people rarely poke around the inside of the case...

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well the OP doesn't get some of the playful puns being kicked aound about his ancient mb and the now defunct manufacturer. I tossed a DFI just last year and bid it farewell and he should too. Abit and DFI gave us some really killer motherboards back in the day but today Asus and Gigabyte serve the goods.