Can't update BIOS ..... any suggestions please?

Hi Everyone,

I have a diagnostic from my HP Pavilion a708.uk. Sometimes it used to boot up after a long period of inactivity. This prompted me to check the CMOS, and check the settings in the BIOS. I got it to boot up windows but after 3 or 4 minutes it hung up! It would not boot up after that. I tested ALL componenets in this system apart from PSU and they are all OK.

The system would sometimes go into POST screen. The CD Drive lights blink at me as if waiting to read from the drive? When I put any bootable CD and repower the system nothing happens.

Then I power down, unplug, take out CMOS battery, reset CMOS with jumpers, reconnect everything back and reboot. It then goes into POST and at the end outputs this message: "default bios settings have been loaded due to bios update or checksum issue ". When I reboot, again nothing happens and the cd lights blink...

I fear the CMOS was probably corrupted somehow and I have an unbootable BIOS. Can anyone help please?

Is it possible to get a replacement BIOS chip? Interestingly, on the screen the BIOS reports a revision 3.08, while that on the actual BIOS chip on the mobo is stamped Rev. 3.07?! Has the previous owner had a faulty BIOS upgrade attemp? Can I reflash the BIOS to the old stable version, assuming I can find out the right link to the manufacture'rs website?

Incidently I have tracked the motherboard ID as being ECS, but the BIOS update does not seem to be compatible with HP's motherboard BIOS?! I tried to reflash off the backup version but this has totally corrupted
the BIOS and it would not even POST except for a long tone and two short beeps!

Any coments and help would be greately appreciated.

Cheers!

CPU Intel Cel D 2.66GHz
256 MB DDR 333 (PC2700)
80 GB WD HDD
HP DVD RW
Motherboard SF2/661FX v2.2a (Snapper) HP Pavilion a708uk
BIOS rev 3.08 (on the BIOS chip it says rev 3.07)
(Sis Real256E chipset) 32-64 shared RAM for onbaord video
PSU BESTEC 250W max output

 

Hewlett-Packard can ask ECS to make a specialised motherboard for them. It might be an ECS motherboard, but it might only work with a HP BIOS.

Flashing a CMOS apart from the system manufacturer's (HP) offering is your gamble.

HP keep their systems "proprietary" as far as I can see. I wouldn't fight with a HP system (I don't try).

It seems to be you versus HP (I'm taking bets ).

Matt

 

Many thanks for your input Matt,

That sounds about right! Me vs HP? You're kidding me? I'll have them for breakfast hehehe

I think possibly a visit to the junk yard may be a safer bet

Cheers!

 

Hi, have you been into HP and followed the info on "Error- Checksum bad" ? If you have, the bottom line is a new Motherboard. I assume you are operating XP as HP only seem to give info out on that OS. If you get it going, it might pay to increase your RAM as 256MB is low for XP. The system will handle 1GB RAM. Neil.