Yeah, remember that whole BIOS thing? I never did like it....

[DanL]

Yeah, so you techno-junkies know of that whole BIOS thing? I did always think it was overrated. Long story short, I tried flashing the bios on a possibly-broken-but-apparently-not mobo, I failed, and so I need a new bios chip. Specifically, a PhoenixBIOS chip for an Abit KT7A-Raid. As I recall, there was a website that, if you paid, they mailed you any bios chip, but I can't recall the name of it. Anyone know the name of this site or perhaps how one goes about fixing a mobo that doesn't even give beep codes after unsuccessfully flashing the bios?

[evulish]

Heh. Can't help ya there. But one thing about the PhoenixBIOS: eww.

After a quick google search...I came up with badflash.com
I've never heard of it...and I didn't read through the pages, but it looks like something that may be of use to you.

[Ian W.]

dan, was that explosion last night you fooling around with your sister's computer again...?

one other thing dan, if you plan to sodder the new chip on, be more careful than on the video card... i'm doubing the mb will react so happy to sodder and other metallic stuff where it isn't supposed to be .

[DanL]

you don't solder bios chips, ian... I see someone's never taken a look at his computer

[Ian W.]

i know, because i'm not stupid enough to break BIOS chips . i only break things that don't matter (like old computers that kramer tells us to gut ).

[Wetzel]

BIOS is fun...

I use mine to overclock my Athlon.


Wetzel
~~~~~~~~~~
weeeeeeee

[evulish]

The BIOS in my laptop is in German. Hehe:

Stromverbrauchssteuerung:

Akkustatus Nicht installiert

Akkubetriebsmodus [Hochleistung]
Zeitlimit f. Autom. Aussetzen [10 Minuten]

I'm slightly confused

Oh yeah...me and some friends of mine are finding old computer and stuff to shoot Right now, I'm planning on donating a broken monitor, a fried 486SX w/ mobo, case, and a few cards that are broken to the cause

[Ian W.]

Originally posted by evulish
Oh yeah...me and some friends of mine are finding old computer and stuff to shoot Right now, I'm planning on donating a broken monitor, a fried 486SX w/ mobo, case, and a few cards that are broken to the cause

donating to the cause, eh? you wanna come out to Smithtown and donate to the cause some more?

/me goes off to find some potatoes, and an old computer

i think i can have some fun on my own, if you can't come.

[DanL]

Anyways, going back on topic, so noone else knows of any of those crazy we'll-program-your-bios sites?

[Wetzel]

Try taking the battey out for a few minutes, then put it back and try booting. If you can get BIOS brand/version, google it and look for a current version to flash it to.


Wetel
~~~~~~~~~~~~
DDR for health

[DanL]

Well, you see, thats the whole problem. I flashed the bios already, but the last sector showed up as "Failed." I thought this might have been some strange little bug or something, so I figured I'd restart and flash it again. Problem is now the computer just turns on and thats about all. It doesn't even get to the part where it gives me beep codes. This is after I cleared the CMOS (the battery thing you suggested). So now, the only thing I can think of is to put a new bios chip in, just I need to find a place that flashes 'em for you if you have a bad flash.

[Matt VP]

yeah, your BIOS is screwed and I doubt you'll be able to fix it, sorry man

NEVER EVER EVER REBOOT IF THE BIOS FLASH GOT MESSED UP

[DanL]

Originally posted by Matt VP
yeah, your BIOS is screwed and I doubt you'll be able to fix it, sorry man

No, you're wrong here. If you've ever looked at a mobo, the BIOS chip is in a socket type of thing (I forget what those are called). BIOS chips are easily removable and just as easily replaced. All you need is a chip that works or some place that has special equipment which can flash the chip regardless of its bad or not. I'm trying to find such a place.

[Marc P.]

Taking the CMOS battery out for a few minutes does relatively little, it must be left out for 24 hours or more to have any effect. (I'm a full time computer tech at a service shop, and depending on the make/model of the board, sometimes leaving the battery out will help a fudged BIOS). By leaving the battery out for 24-36 hours, I've revived an Asus A7V333 from a failed flash bios update with that, so maybe it will work for you.

[Wetzel]

When you take the CMOS battery out, be sure to unplug the case from the wall power, or it does you no good.

I took the battery out, waited a few minutes, and the BIOS was set back to defaults. (Forgot the password )


Wetzel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't drink drive, or your car may catch on fire.