[huli]

Hi.

My computer has worked fine for 2 years now, but when I should start it up one day a week ago the pc-speaker beeped like a siren and the screen said "BIOS checksum error". When I reset the same text appeares but with an extra "INSERT SYSTEM DISC IN DRIVE A:" or something similar. I reset again and the usual BIOS screen comes up and the memory counts up, but then everything locks up. I reset again and the memory counts up and the IDE-units are identified but then everything locks up again. I reset again and this time I come a bit further in the boot sequence but it locks somewhere while booting windows. After numerous resets the computer works like a charm though, but I have to go through this process every time I start it up.

I have cleaned all fans, thinking it could be an overheat problem, it didn't help and the temperature is the same as it has always been. I have upgraded the BIOS to the latest version but it didn't help. I have also bought a new CMOS battery which didn't change anything.

I did no hardware nor software change prior to the faults appearance.

Could it be the power supply? Or possibly the processor fan needing a start-up time?

I'm grateful for any suggestions because I am rather clueless. Thanks in advance.

/Daniel

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Humm that is a bit odd. Can you think of anything you might have played with before hand? In the case maybe? Have you installed any new hardware? Gotten upset like me and felt the need to kick the crap out of it? What type of CPU is it (be as exact as possible)?


If I was going to guess. I might thing it was a large capacitor that was taking a LONG time to charge ("prime"). Trouble is there a ton of them on the mother board and even more on every one of your acc cards (grafs card, NIC, Sound ect). But the only ones big enough that could logically take that long to charge if they were damaged or damaged somewhere before the "Cap". But thous are before the 12volt step down and should always be "Hot" if the power supply is plugged in... So... that’s not really much of an answer, more of a thought...

The first thing I would try based on what you wrote is to pull the power supply out of the case but keep it plug in (just don’t let the power supply metal touch case metal). Then try firing it up or just swap the power supply if you have a spare. If it’s still a no go and you feel comfortable and have done it before. Pull the motherboard out of the case and fire it up. DO NOT SET IT ON CARPET!!! I usually just do it right on the desk or a table. (wood is good) If it’s still a no go pull any cards you don't need (sound, game ports ect). If it fires up put the cards in one by one and if see if one starts the problem again. Keep in mind that during the many reboots if might fire up as before...

To sum it up if no one else has any ideas I would start by replacing the power supply then next the mother board.


-Ryan

[ryanmills]

Humm that is a bit odd. Can you think of anything you might have played with before hand? In the case maybe? Have you installed any new hardware? Gotten upset like me and felt the need to kick the crap out of it? What type of CPU is it (be as exact as possible)?


If I was going to guess. I might thing it was a large capacitor that was taking a LONG time to charge ("prime"). Trouble is there a ton of them on the mother board and even more on every one of your acc cards (grafs card, NIC, Sound ect). But the only ones big enough that could logically take that long to charge if they were damaged or damaged somewhere before the "Cap". But thous are before the 12volt step down and should always be "Hot" if the power supply is plugged in... So... that’s not really much of an answer, more of a thought...

The first thing I would try based on what you wrote is to pull the power supply out of the case but keep it plug in (just don’t let the power supply metal touch case metal). Then try firing it up or just swap the power supply if you have a spare. If it’s still a no go and you feel comfortable and have done it before. Pull the motherboard out of the case and fire it up. DO NOT SET IT ON CARPET!!! I usually just do it right on the desk or a table. (wood is good) If it’s still a no go pull any cards you don't need (sound, game ports ect). If it fires up put the cards in one by one and if see if one starts the problem again. Keep in mind that during the many reboots if might fire up as before...

To sum it up if no one else has any ideas I would start by replacing the power supply then next the mother board.


-Ryan

[Deadringers]

yep that sounds good to me, except

Pull the motherboard out of the case and fire it up

do not do anything like that unless you know what your doing! or else you coulud damage it even more

[ryanmills]

yep that sounds good to me, except  do not do anything like that unless you know what your doing! or else you coulud damage it even more 

Yea I made sure to add the "only if you know what you doing". The reason I also add the "carpet" part was becuse I had a friend do that when he was having issues with a board short... pulling it out and did it right on his nice shag carpet... needless to say the board short was no longer his biggest issue...