What does this gibberish mean?

[Felecha]

Something has gone badly wrong. When I boot I get the screen that I have seen before

We apologize for the inconvenience . . . and then offers Safe Mode etc

But it comes out

Sa apkhkciza bkr pha ijckjrajiajca . . . etc.

Like a kid playing with secret code, it seems that

W = S
e = a
o = k
n = j

etc.

What could be going on?

 

[Phluxed]

Looks like it could be russian. Did you install a russian version of the OS by any chance?

(forgive my ignorance if im wrong)

 

[harobikes333]

bill gates is hacking your computer! Um.... I donno... u've stumped me which doesn't take much. So you can get your computer to run though right? Like start up Windows, etc.?

 

[Bozo Galora]

http://www.kbalertz.com/Feedback_322752.aspx

 

[alimoalem]

i'm sure you're familiar with the ASCII table. if you look at each of those letters in the sequence of x = y, x is also = x+4. here's a simpler explanation:

e = 64 (i think) in the ASCII table. a = 60. a + 4 = e
o = 74 (if e is = 64). k = 70. k +4 = o
n = 73. j = 69. j +4 = n

get the pattern?
so someone's messed with the code somewhere and wherever error messages are supposed to be printed, the variable being printed has 4 added to it somewhere in the code. hope this helps.

 

[theMan]

were you overclocking your computer? that happened to me once when i got HDD corruption from overclocking. i had to do a complete format/install.

 

[Felecha]

I put in a new motherboard last weekend and it was fine for 2 days. What intrigues me is that when I was installing it (first time I ever tried a motherboard) I put one of the case power connectors on the "Panel Header" backwards and I got that screwy text. When I reversed it everything was fine.

Now???


And yes I know ASCII

No, I have never overclocked

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Felecha

And yes I know ASCII

No, I have never overclocked

ASCII and you shall receive!

Why did you throw the jack of hearts away?

 

[Felecha]

Anyone know what I could call that text on the screen? I thought I would try to google on it - see if anyone else has seen this phenomenon. It's not a boot prompt, it's not ... what is it?

 

[Felecha]

Well, now I really wonder where the problem is. I thought I might as well try reinstalling Windows (XP Pro). When I set it to boot to the CD, it came up with the initial prompt to "Prass any kay" in the same gibberish.

Where is the text coming from? Is it Windows or somewhere in BIOS?

 

[Felecha]

Oh dear, does no one know?

Is there a chance that the reinstall would straighten things out?

 

[Brazen]

BIOS update?

 

[Felecha]

You want me to shut up???

I know there is such a thing as a BIOS update. I've wondered if there is some interpreter in BIOS that takes text code from Windows and turns it into text visible on the monitor. The text I've seen is from Windows - either telling me to choose safe mode or now from the XP CD. It's not only the opening Prass any kay, even when I go into the beginnings of Setup ALL the text on the screen is gibberish. I've done Windows installs before so I could probably figure out what to do but it's a little nervous to go forward with it.

A question about update - one thing I did try a while ago because I read about it in the ASRock manual. By setting a jumper you can clear CMOS. I wondered if that would "restore" the original BIOS, clearing all changes since the day I started. Would that be equivalent to "updating" the BIOS to its original version? After all the original worked for several days

 

[Felecha]

ASRock offers a Windows utility and also a DOS utility. Is either one better or safer?

 

[tyanni]

I'd say dos based, as its the tried and true method. However, I've also used a windows based flashing utility when it was the only one available without any problems. Either way, just make sure you don't turn off your computer during the flash

I'd try a clear first, then do an update to the latest version if this doesn't work.

Tim

 

[Felecha]

Clear? Clear the CMOS?

I'm only nervous because years ago when I tried a flash for a modem it was ruined, and the tech support guy said oh well, that happens at times, and sent me a new chip which didnt work either and I gave up the fight.

Don't want to destroy my motherboard, so much depends on that one piece

 

[Felecha]

A friend of mine at work says the final step of putting text on the screen is the VIDEO BIOS's job. He thinks the screwy text and the video card failing point to a video BIOS mess. He said you can flash a video BIOS like you can a mobo BIOS. Is that right?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Felecha
A friend of mine at work says the final step of putting text on the screen is the VIDEO BIOS's job. He thinks the screwy text and the video card failing point to a video BIOS mess. He said you can flash a video BIOS like you can a mobo BIOS. Is that right?

Depends on the video card, I think. What make/model do you have?

 

[Felecha]

MSI RX300HM-TD128E X300SE

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: Felecha
You want me to shut up???

I know there is such a thing as a BIOS update. I've wondered if there is some interpreter in BIOS that takes text code from Windows and turns it into text visible on the monitor. The text I've seen is from Windows - either telling me to choose safe mode or now from the XP CD. It's not only the opening Prass any kay, even when I go into the beginnings of Setup ALL the text on the screen is gibberish. I've done Windows installs before so I could probably figure out what to do but it's a little nervous to go forward with it.

A question about update - one thing I did try a while ago because I read about it in the ASRock manual. By setting a jumper you can clear CMOS. I wondered if that would "restore" the original BIOS, clearing all changes since the day I started. Would that be equivalent to "updating" the BIOS to its original version? After all the original worked for several days

Yes, clearing the CMOS is an EXCELLENT idea. It will erase all your BIOS settings and any CMOS viruses (I've heard they exist). If you have updated your BIOS though, it will still be at the same version.

I only suggested running an update because most (well, some anyway)BIOS updates clear the CMOS as part of the update... and I would go with the DOS based update utility.

 

[Felecha]

I found that the MSI video card website offers a BIOS/Driver update utility. I tried that but it said I already had the latest video BIOS. I wanted to at least overwrite the current BIOS, but I guess the utility wont do that. I couldnt find just a raw BIOS that I could do "manually" if there is such a thing.

 

[Felecha]

Well, it looks like it must have all been in the MSI card. Newegg agreed to take it back and I got a new one, VGA ASUS V9400-X/TD/64 OEM. Booted up right away, clear and clean.

The only uneasiness I have is when the CD with the drivers came up, there was a menu for installing several things, including a driver for the ALi chipset for AGP. When I clicked on that it said "You have an ALi such and such chipset, do you want to install the driver for it?" and I said yes and it then turned around and said "No ALi chipset found".

!!!