PC will no loner boot up

[FlameOut]

I'm not sure what I did, but I think I may have screwed up my bios.

When I power up my pc, I get nothing on the monitor, hard drive will only spin for a few seconds, and I can't boot from a floppy either.

It was running fine right before that, and I attempted to try to upgrade my (Award) bios, which leads me to belive that is the problem.

The system has a GCT-MGX Rev 2a motherboard (I guess that info refers to the motherboard) running a Cyrix 200.

I would like to just by a new motherboard with a decent cpu, but I don't even know if this is an AT ATX or whatever different MB's are out there

[SB]

Have you tried clearing your BIOS with the jumpers on the MB?

[drizzle]

You may want to double-check to be sure that you flashed it using the correct file (Which should have been done in the first place). Sounds like you're BIOS is the problem. Usually this can happen when it is flashed with the wrong upgrade. I'm starting to see either a new motherboard or BIOS chip in your future. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Jason Fontenot
drizzle@softhome.net
http://www.techdrivers.com

[FlameOut]

I did try resetting bios with the jumper, but that didn't help.

I think I really screwed it up this time.

Any idea what a bios replacement costs? I think I'd be better off looking for a replacement baby AT board with a little faster CPU

[MR COMPUTER]

It might boot if you add an ISA video card. If you can get it to post this way - Add a controller card to enable a floppy drive. Then reflash the bios.... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[drizzle]

Chances are if your BIOS has been damaged...that's it--end of story. And with extremly cheap systemboards being released out there...you might as well go for an upgrade on your system board. Depending on what processor you have you may want to beef that up as well.

As far as where you can get a replacement BIOS chip for your system board...that more than likely depends on what BIOS you are currently running. For example if it is AMIBIOS you can try contacting them at support@ami.com.

I've never had any luck getting a machine to boot after the BIOS was incorrectly flashed.

[Maxman]

Dammit flasher...you didn't flash it at all.

Get your motherboard book and go to the manufactures website. Then download the proper flash and boot from a floppy and run it.

You will be okay after this.

[FlameOut]

But that is one of the problems, it won't even boot from a floppy. I tried using a Win98 startup disk, but it didn't work

[scourge]

Is your cpu overclocked? Knock the speed down if so and make sure your memory speeds aren't too ambitious. It sounds to me like you screwed your bios, but the above could have the same symptoms that you've described.

[drizzle]

If you get no video at all and you think your BIOS is ok, double-check the setting for your voltages on your CPU. (Both I/O and CORE)

[IRSCowboy]

I suggest what has been suggested before. Get your MB users book and short out your bios. That will set them back to the default settings. If the problem is in your bios like you believe then this should get your machine up and running.

[FlameOut]

I tried moving the jumper to clear the BIOS, but it didn't help

[MaxVal]

Mr. Computer has your best hope. This trick can recover from a bad flash on some M.B.'ds.
Good Luck
MAX