Verifying DMI Pool Data Error

[GTGUY]

Computer will not continue past "Verifying DMI pool data" statement. We have created a new boot disk with a different computer, but that did not work. Any suggests appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[commodsquad]

Sounds like something in the BIOS configuration isnt set right...Try setting everything to the defaults and then reboot and see if it makes it past the post..if it does you can then try changing the settings to the way you like them ONE at a time and running it like that for a while to see if you encounter any probs(if a prob happens change that one back )and if no probs try another setting and so on....( by the way it would be a good idea to write down every setting in the BIOS before you change anything and make a note of what you change and what you set it to so you will know what to change it back to and also what not to change again..it is too easy to forget what you did).........
well this next one is an extreme solution if all of that doesnt work, which involves reflashing the BIOS (make sure you have the correct version for your model of mobo) but really try to exhaust other alternatives if you can before deciding to flash since it isnt a process to be taken lightly since one mistake can render the board useless or add up to more problems...
dont mean to scare ya, I just wanted to point out that it is a serious operation...hope this helps and if I am wrong or out of line here someone please correct me...

[This message has been edited by commodsquad (edited 12-25-1999).]

[BBA]

Depends what you have...is it a new build? New hard drive/floppy drive?

I've seen everything from IDE cables being bad to actually bad motherboards and CPU's cause this.

Change the IDE cable and or swap hard drives first!

[commodsquad]

Thanks BBA, I totally forgot about loose or bad cables and the other stuff you mentioned...must be the christmas dinner haunting me http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif....

[GTGUY]

The computer is a build. The cables and drives are from another machine and we have swaped them out. Have not tried to redo bios. How can you do that if it never boots up?

[commodsquad]

if it has gotten to the part where it says verifying dmi pool data it has gone thru the memory count and other boot up system tests....
It's during the memory count that you will have to press delete or F1 or escape key or whatever the mobo's manual says to enter the bios since every method is different among manufacturers..

[GTGUY]

Yes I can get to the settings by pushing the escape key, and I have done that. But that does not help. How do I reflash the bios?

Thanks in advance.

[Target]

Hold on there cowboy before you flash that board..... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

I personally doubt that your issue with DMI verification is an issue that requires a flash bios. We really should exhaust all other possible options before going there. In some cases, if you perform a flash incorrectly, you can damage your mobo! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

If you have already set the bios settings to their defaults, try setting the option for Plug and Play OS to "NO" and the force ESCD to "Enabled" and then boot again. What this basically does is tells the operating system that it is going to get all of its IRQ assignment and so on from the bios for the first time. Once the system boots and reads this info from the bios, the bios resets the force ESCD back to disabled for normal operation.

This may get you past this issue. If not, then we can continue to troubleshoot the issue but will need some more information to do so. For instance, what the mobo model is, devices you are installing along with it, the stage in DMI verification where it fails and anything on the screen it says is already verified before it stalls, etc.

~my 2cents.

[Target]

Well, I guess we are to the point where you should remove/disconnect all devices connected to the mobo except the RAM and the video card.

Then try to boot. Keep adding devices back into the system one at a time until you find the offending hardware (ie: get the error message again). That might help us narrow down what is causing your grief.

[GTGUY]

I just finished unplugged everything except the RAM and the Video card. Still I get stuck at the same screen. I don't even have the floppy drive in the computer. I have tried to change all of the settings and still nothing happens. I can't even get it to boot from a floppy. I was wondering if there was anything we could do to the bios that didn't involve getting to a dos prompt?

Thanks

[Susan]

Before you flash the BIOS, you could try clearing the BIOS on the motherboard itself with the jumpers on the board.

From there (if you are able to) go into the BIOS and reset it to defaults and reboot...

[GTGUY]

Thanks for the advice but I have already cleared the bios. Any other suggestions? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Mattyb]

I am not sure about the award bios, But with the AMI you can load the recent version of the bios for your mother board (Or the Correct if it is an older model) on a 3.5 disk that is not a bootable disk(except rename the file amiboot.rom). Place the disk in your floppy. Power up your system while holding down the ctrl key and the home key at the same time and your computer will boot from the floppy and copy the file onto your bios thus correcting the screwed up bios (if it is screwed up). It is possible you need alltogether a new mobo.

[GTGUY]

I tried what you said to replace the bios but I don't think the keys are the same because it still gets to the same spot and freezes.

Thanks for the assistance

[BBA]

Just maybe your floppy drive itself is bad? They do that spontaneously and will cause this problem, and a bad floppy drive will make a good boot disk unbootable!

Try a new floppy with a boot disk you can verify on a different PC. Also hooking the floppy up backwards will kill a floppy that is in the drive when PC power is turned on...So make sure the floppy light comes on and goes back out before you put your disk in the drive!

[GTGUY]

I have already swaped the floppy drive out for one that I know works. I have switched cables. I have tried to get past that with out the floppy drive attached. The floppy disk is good I have tried it in another computer and just to make sure I redid the floppy and tried it again. The floppy cable is attached correctly. I even tried other ways to connect it just to make sure. Then I get one of two things floppy drive errors on the screen or the light won't go off so I know it is in wrong.

Thanks for you help

[BBA]

Does the board by any chance have a "safe bios boot" feature? Might be handy to try it out if so.

Are you thinking you might have a bad board?

[GTGUY]

Yes I am starting to think that I have a bad bored. I looked for the safe bios feature and it doesn't have it.

Thanks

[GTGUY]

I guess I am really tired. I meant to say board not bored.

[GTGUY]

I have done everything that you have said. I reset the ESCD to enabled and restarted. I have changed each setting one at a time and still nothing we still get to the same point and then freeze. I have set the bios to non plug and play which is there default.

I have something else that you might consider as well, when I start the computer and either hold down a key or I have even tried to press one key very fast. But I don't get the ussual keyboard error. We have Award Bios if that means anything. But my understanding is that we should get a keyboard error. This computer is a friends of mine that he gave to us. He said all of a sudden he could not get past this message.

Again Thank you for you time.

[Nathan]

Have you tried a different video card and/or ram?

What kind of video card is it?

[GTGUY]

I have tried another video card and other RAM but I still get the same result.

Thanks

[Nathan]

What kind of card is it? Meaning brand & model & whether it's AGP or PCI.

Is the PCI slot next to it open?

Did you also disconnect the hard drive from it too?

[This message has been edited by Nathan (edited 12-27-1999).]

[Mattyb]

What is the brand of Mobo, and Mem, and Cpu.
The bios is most certainly the incorrect bios for the board and cpu setup. Midco online sells new 2 new bios chips and a puller for $35 bucks. Except you need to verify the correct bios for your setup. Write me some specs I could help out just post it after my reply.

[GTGUY]

Mattyb

That sounds like a good plan. But I don't know how to tell you who makes the motherboard. If you could give me furthor instruction I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

[Mattyb]

When your system boots, the bios will post the maker of board or a model number and its design. Look at the top of the screen just below the award bios symbol and before the memory counter. Since you have removed the mobo from case before, you may have to again to find some distinguishable model number or brand name. If this system is a build, by chance did your friend build it? Things to look for are: somewhere on mobo FCC standards symbol or complies with Fcc standards (most likely the name of the maker is next to it or near it), maybe on the back of the mobo is a white sticker of model number but not necessarily the make. If you find something that possibly could be the maker or model number, experiment on the web by searching for either. Hopefully a maker of mobo's will have a model number identical to the number. Your friend most likely could give you some intel on whether this board was in a previous system. Are you familiar with mobo designs? ATX or AT? The design of the mobo will be helpful in determining the correct bios from the maker. It is an ATX if a ps2 mouse and keyboard connector is attached to board. Other features such as com ports,printer ports, USB ports, and possibly sound connections will also be attached to board. It is an AT design if only a keyboard connector is attached and you have cables leading from board to a ps2 mouse connector on the back of case or even a card inserted into a pci or isa slot. Again other connectors such as com ports or printer ports will have cables from mobo to the connector. Let me know what you find.

[GTGUY]

I do know that the motherboard is AT. But the other stuff I am going to have to look up.

Thanks

[BBA]

mykel... I have seen a drive low level formatted with LBA mode by mistake and it does error on one way or another...but...how can it be the hard drive when it wont even boot from the floppy with no hard drive even attached?

[Underclocked]

Might be time to use that mobo for a frisbee. I wouldn't advise much expense trying to restore it when you could pick up a mobo\cpu combo on the bulletin boards for cheap.

[GTGUY]

I am not fimiliar with the bulleton boards. Is that at one specific site or do people post things on them?

Thanks

[mykel]

Try reformatting your hard drive.. maybe it's on the settings whether it was on an LBA mode, LARGE, etc.. It looks to me that it's on your HD ( if you said that you checked the bios )...If you're using an OLD HD from another system, check the BIOS whether it was on a LARGE mode support or LBA... Now after doing that and still getting problems, make sure you backup your data from the old HD ( if it's an old HD ) and FDISK the drive and now make sure your BIOS is set. Meaning the LBA or LARGE support.. If it's a new HD, it only needs a format, to do so insert a system disk or HD utility disk and format it... And I believe you know what to do next.. Hope that helps..


mykel

[This message has been edited by mykel (edited 12-29-1999).]

[Tom Denny]

Once had this problem using win 95 loaded win 98 it was fixed. The win 98 booted first time

[Mattyb]

Gtguy:
You have already narrowed down the problem after disconnecting everything from the mobo except video, memory, and floppy. The problem still existed. So don't get mislead. Its one of three things. Bad memory, bad bios or mobo, or bad floppy. I beleive you stated the memory worked fine in another computer, along with the floppy, correct? That leaves either the bios is bad, or the mobo. A new mobo is roughly twice the price of a new bios chip. So the question is, which do you want buy? If its the bios you save yourself some added expense by buying a new chip, at the same time if its the mobo and you buy a chip you add again some price to fixing the problem along with an extra bios chip lying around? All in all the problem is either of the two not a bad Hard drive or the wrong Window Os installed!

[GTGUY]

I just wanted to thank everyone that has helped with this problem. I could not get the motherboard to work. I found a cheap motherboard that a friend has and I am going to buy it off of him.

Again Thanks for the help