Dead PC after Award BIOS Upgrade

[puchalski]

I installed a new BIOS upgrade to my motherboard from Giga-Byte (GA-686BX). It told me that the BIOS upgrade was successful but when I Ctrl-Atl-Del'd my PC it never came back alive.

I've unplugged all PCI/etc cards, unplugged all CD/DVD&HD drive cables except for my floppy drive.

I then put in a bootable floppy with a autoexec.bat file with "a:\FLASH848.EXE BACKUP.BIN /py /Sb /sn /cc /cp /cd /R" as the only line in the file and nothing.

The PC reset button doesn't work so I unplugged the power plug and plugged it back in and then hit the power button and it never attempts to read from the floppy drive at all.

All fo this because I want to install a 60GB hard drive.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help! :(

[genesound]

Did you clear the cmos?

Clearing the cmos, or resetting the bios, should always be done after a flash. Check your manual for the correct jumper to move to clear it, wait a minute, then put the jumper back. You'll then have to reset all the settings back in the bios setup.

[Rocketmech]

Try the Clear Cmos jumper, you might get lucky. A Boot Block Flash recovery with the autoexec.bat file only works if the floppy drive works. So, your left with 3 choices,
1. Hot swap
2. www.badflash.com
3. new mobo

I would go with the Badflash guys , its not to difficult or expensive($20) .

[puchalski]

Well, I pulled the battery and I think that cleared the CMOS settings since when I plug the AC back in it automatically power up but still with the same results. No workie!

When I look at my MB manual it give two jumper settings but I thnink these are for SW resets (aka. the reset switch at the front of the PC) since this is where the exisitng cabling connects to. I pulled a couple jumpers off my CD's and used those just in case.

What is the "#1 Hot Swap" Option mentioned below?

I'm also checking into badflash.com.

Thanks.

[genesound]

Hot swap involves pulling the good bios out of an exact same mobo while it's on and putting your (un)blown one in and reflashing it, never having shut off the computer. A risky business, but it can work.

edit... you can actually use this method with a mobo that has the same model bios chip as Sterling has so kindly pointed out below!!!

[Sterling_Aug]

Hey genesound, just for your own info.

Hotswapping can be done using any make/model/brand motherboard that uses the EXACT same CMOS chip. It does NOT have to be done using the same make/model/brand motherboard.

I should know, I did it already using different motherboards. Since the good system is already booted, changing out the BIOS chips has no effect. Inserting a different brand and the flashing it using the correct BIOS code/data is irrelevant to the system. It has no way to check if you are using the original BIOS chip in the correct system. It can only check if the BIOS code/data you are flashing is correct for the BIOS chip you are flashing it to.

[genesound]

Sterling_Aug, really?... hmmm..., why yes, that makes perfect sense! Never really thought about it that far through. Hey, thanks man! :)

There is one other option, if you know someone that has a compatable e-prom blower, that does involve an exact match, or a match close enough to at least boot the board, which you simply (well it's simple if you can do it) copy the working bios chip and re-blow the dead one with it's code. Then do the update on your own board with it's bios back in it.

At least this way you're not hot swapping, where a bent pin can lead to disaster, but it does require more favors. ;)

[puchalski]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Unfortunately, I don't have a EEPROM burner or know anyone who does.

I've sent an email off to Jack at BadFlash.com with my specs for advise on a replacement but no news back yet.

I've been looking for someone in the Tulsa area who may have replacements but haven't found one here either.

Thanks for your help.

[Sterling_Aug]

puchalski:

Can you make a scan or digital pic of your BIOS chip?

If it matches one of my systems, I would be glad to try to flash it for you.

[puchalski]

Sterling_Aug:

Happy New Year! and thanks for this very generous offer but since time is of the essence I've ordered a replacement chip from BadFlash.com.

Of course after I ordered the replacement I also received an email from Giga-Byte to call their RMA dept and they said I can send in my bad chip and they will re-flash it for only the postage cost. FYI Giga-Byte's return# is: 626-854-9338 ext 222/225. I'm going to send in my old one so in case my new BadFlash.com chip has issues I'll have the reflashed chip as a backup.

Thanks again for your offer.

-Brian