Will not get past CMOS

I have an older pentium which was given to me. I removed a graphics adapter and replaced it with another now when I try to boot it will not get past the point where it looks at connected peripherals without dumping me back to CMOS setup. I am not sure the problem has anything to do with the graphics addapter because the machine has set in the closet for a time. In CMOS I did restore all setting and it had no effect. I am not sure what to try next. All suggestions welcome.

 

The computer did boot several months ago. I have several other video cards I can try. I thought since I did get a display that the card is working. One I tried did not. I believe that if the card is compatible the unit would boot even if the battery is dead? I want to fight one problem at a time if I can. As you can tell I have not done much in the CMOS area before so need all the guidance I can get, Thanks.

 

Hi,

I would pretty much agree with Pete's suggestions...except that an "incompatibity" would probably cause no screen/video at all.

Do you get a (POST) beep?
If it occurs after the beep, then Windows is trying to load the wrong drivers.

Can you get to Safe Mode? (press F8 as soon as you hear the beep).

Matt

 

The machine never beeps at all. It does a memory check (completes successfully) and as soon as it completes that test it starts another check. That is when it goes to CMOS setup screen. I tried to pause the screen to see what the new check being done is but it will not pause before dumping me to the CMOS screen.

 

Not necessarily. The standard VGA drivers would atleast load on boot up and he would still be able to see the screen during the boot phase.

Rob, look in your BIOS and make sure that on-board graphics is disabled or turned off.

 

I will try that as soon as possible. I think the problem is in the BIOS because I never get to the point of loading any drivers as far as I can tell. As I said above as soon as it completes its memory check the next thing it tries it goes to CMOS setup.

 

Can you update your bios?

 

Got me thinking (haha). I am pretty sure that the sequence at startup is 1)video 2)memory check 3)detect other hardware. I think the problem wil be with detecting the other hardware (unless there is a resource clash with the video card). Robwhite, could any of the cables have been knocked loose when installing the new card? Suggest you pull out and reseat the cable connections for the drives and maybe reseat the RAM stick(s). If you still get stuck, you could remove added hardware like PCI cards (modem, soundcard, etc) and even disconnect the drives. If you get the beep then add back one piece of hardware at a time to find the one that is causing the problem.

Definitely check Maverick's suggestion about disabling "onboard" video if it has it. If you are not sure about the settings, post back and let us know (there may be quite a few settings related to video). Post back with your motherboard model if you can.

Matt

 

With my fat fumble fingers that is definitly a possibility. I will be at the computer today and check each of the above suggestions. I will also get the board number, Thanks for the recommendations. If you are correct in the test order that dislodging something is definitly a strong possibility.

 

When you go into the BIOS make sure that the harddrive itself is being recognized. Since it sat for a period of time, it may have lost the basic BIOS settings due to a dead battery.

Dale

 

Well tried everything suggested and no improvement. Thought bios might need new battery but I have not been able to find one on this motherb0oard. Have I just not found it or are there some without batteries? It is a FIC VT-502 beyound that I am about to decide that this is a machine to use for parts. Any other recommendations?

 

Have to run out so it will be this afternoon before I get back to you but am familiar with your MoBo, may even have one laying around here. Will check specs later and get back to you. Yes it has a battery.

 

Great look forward to hearing from you. Would like to make this work. I have a friend it would be great for if I can get it to work.

 

Sorry for false alarm - Old board I had was a VT or VC-503, older socket 7 - (looked up my old records). As I recall, this had a standard 3.3V button battery. Was an AT board. As to your FIC VT-502, if you don't see a button battery, look for a barrel battery (could be soldered connections to MoBo) or rectangular plug in that is taped to the case and wired to the MoBo. When you find it, if you can't locate a replacement, post back and I'll send you a couple of links.

You don't need a working battery to access this bios. Should be able to get in with the Del key and then just auto detect the HDD. If you can't auto detect, pull the drive and note the geometry, put the drive back in and manually enter the geometry. Note: Drive settings will only last until you turn power off (until you replace your Bios battery).

Some of these boards also had Password settings which can be cleared via jumper, but without a manual, I'd need to physically see the MoBo to tell you where it is located.

Sorry for the false alarm - that goes back a few years.

 

Motherboard manual VT-502 (ftp site). That motherboard has a revision A0 or A1.
I had a quick look, but I could not see a battery (even with zoom on 500%). Sounds like a "built-in" as rockster suggests.

Matt

 

Thanks to you both. I hope to have another go at this machine today. I will let you know what I find. If nothing else when I strip it down I will pull the MOBO and look at it when it is clear. Thanks for all the advice.

 

Another great find Mattman ........ You're good.

Robwhite: would suggest you go to the setup utility screen and select defaults, then go to the HDD autodetect page and let the machine autodetect your HDD, then f10 to exit and save settings and post back what happens. If memory serves me at all, I still think this has a standard 3.3V button battery but its admittedly, a shot in the dark. Not meant to offend but do you know what a button battery looks like? Slightly smaller than a dime with about 2.5x the thickness - shiny silver, + is the flat side, - is the large dimple (bump) side. These mount flat shiny side up. Barrel Battery will look like a large capacitor mounted sideways and plug-in will look like 3 sugarcubes painted black with red and black shielded wires.

 

Thanks for the advice. Yes I do know what a button battery looks like but will check again for the one that looks like a capacitor. I did reset to defaults on the CMOS but will check again on the autodetect for the hard drive. Thanks again for the advice. I will let you know how I make out. Yes that was a great find on the manual. Even the FIC site does not have it.

 

Well followed all the advice and still no joy. Therefore, the machine becomes a parts repository. I will post back and let everyone know where the pesky battery is hid when we strip the machine.