A:\ only ??

Hope this is in the right forum. Right now I am at my son's house on his PC,
basically the same as mine. My problem:::
Power On button works sometime, reset button works all the time.To turn OFF
I must unplug the power cord. When I can get it to power up I get a POST, the CD light blinks once and the message:
"Award Boot Block BIOS v1.0
BIOS ROM checksum error
Detecting floppy drive A media...
Insert System Disk and press enter "
I have a floppy marked as "MS DOS Start up-XP Home "-when I insert it I get:
Drive Media is : 1.44Mb
Starting ...
Microsoft Windows Millennium
A:\>_
A:\>dir shows (3) EGA CPI files, Mode, Command Com, Display Sys,
config Sys, (4)Keyboard files.l
It WILL NOT recognize my D Drive (CD)

All was well until I Installed a USB/Firewire Combo card-checked hardware
devices, no problems. Can't remember exactly what happened after that!!.
I removed the card but the above problem continued to exist.

My Son left me 3 floppys marked: "MS DOS Start Up Disc-Windows XP "
"Boot INI Backup file XP" & "Scan Disk ".I haven't done anything with them yet.

I'm hoping someone will get back to me in the next hour or so before I have to go home. In the meantime, I'll see whats on those floppies.

Joe R.


since I posted I ran the dir for the 3 floppies- #1 has 10 files, mine has 12.

 

Put the floppys aside for the time being. (remove any from the drive bay)

Turn on the computer and press the F8 key as soon as the BIOS message (POST) screen fades. That will give you a menu that you can select "Boot last known good configuration" from. Try that and report back.

It sounds like your BIOS/CMOS setting are corrupt or you have some device plugged in that the BIOS can't cope with. Unplug all peripherals that you don't need leaving only the keyboard and mouse.

 

A:\ only

Thanks Surfer for the quick reply.Will do as soon as I get home.
I think I tried F8, not sure, also, that combo card might be the culprit.
Will wait here for another 30 min. in case another reply. Joe R.

 

BIOS ROM checksum error noted.
You may need a new battery. Is the time (including date) correct?
At least inspect the bios settings.

 

A:\

Sparrow-Thanks for the reply. Can't get that far. PC was new 1yr. ago.
Batt should be good.Got to go home. Will do as Sufer suggested.
Joe R.

 

Never count on age as to battery condition.

Many PC Manufactures and part suppliers go with the lowest bidder components, sometimes this means using lots (lot#) that were listed as seconds but tested good at time of install.

Also check that all the cables are secured. I have seen 2 PC's go up in magic smoke because a power cable contacted a pin on the MBD.

Use a Q-tip and alcohol to clean the battery exterior and contacts.

Once you get the BIOS config under control you may need to reset the boot order.

 

A:\ only ?? Reply to Thread

Batt OK- Just got some gooood info on AOpen site about corrupted BIOS.
I'm on a strange PC. Will let you know if/when problem is fixed
Joe R.

 

A:\ only?

It's been 10 days since I was here and 16 days since IT went down.
It was a corrupted BIOS and with the superior help of AOpen support
I was able to flash the BIOS and get back here. If any one has an AOpen
PC, let me know and I'll give you some sites in case you have a problem.
As soon as I connect all my periferals I'll be back in business.Thanks to all those who offered their help. Joe R.

 

Good news indeed and thanks for posting back.