ETEQ chipset on SY-5EMA..description?

[AuraEdge]

Whats up with this chipset? I have a problem with my friends computer (K6-333) that has this board.

The problem is that It wont boot w/ a bootdisk, or if i ask for it in dos, the light will light up but ill get a Abort/Retry/Fail.
This computer was previously infected with CIH, but I have since formatted the harddrive (before the floppy problem occured). I was just wondering if there was any difference in the ETEQ chipset, and any help if any may offer. Thanks http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.

[Susan]

ETEQ is really the VIA chipset, but labeled for Soyo.

If I read your post correctly, you're just having a problem accessing the floppy? Try another disk and check your cables first.

Are you able to get into BIOS? Check that floppy is enabled too.

[AuraEdge]

Its enabled, and cables are in right. (I thought it was anyways..ill double n triplecheck)

Could the virus cause this?
Ive tried 3 floppy drives,

It is set for a,c,scsi boot order
But it doesnt even check a for a boot disk when booting, but when i type a: at the dos prompt, itll check and come out empty handed. If it check in Win98, it'll freeze over.

[richamies]

Obvious one here but make sure the cable is in the right way http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
Also take a look in the BIOS make sure that it aint hiding the floppy from win95, ive seen a setting for that in mine.

[Susan]

Unfortunately, the CIH Virus can get to the BIOS chip. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif and that could be your problem. When totally destroyed by the CIH, the BIOS chip needs to be replaced.

Once positive point is that as long as the BIOS runs correctly otherwise, you may be able to flash the BIOS to get it going right. Check the CD that came with the board for that.

The only other thing I might check at the point you are at is the power going to the floppy drive. If there is another connector off the power supply that you can use for the floppy, try that.



[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 01-01-2000).]

[AuraEdge]

Powers fine cuz the green light comes on for checking the floppy drive when i ask for it, just not at boot
Im almost positive its a BIOS problem now. Im just pondering how to boot it to flash when it cant read the floppy.

[richamies]

Copy the flash program and a bios image to a bootable hard drive?(from another computer I mean)

[AuraEdge]

..bootable hard drive?
Funky idea.....bet it'll work tho!

Great idea Rich...Ill give ya the update after I try it out! Thanks!

[richamies]

No probs Aura - Funky?

*Visions of the Funky Chicken song spring to mind*

[Susan]

Let us know how you make out with the flash on HD, AuraEdge.

[AuraEdge]

Finally got around to it
And i drew a total _DUH_
okay..uhm How to you make a HDD bootable? Im used to just format and reinstall windows after booting from a floppy.
I did it before...about a year ago, but minds drawing a complete blank right now

[Susan]

sys c:

[AuraEdge]

Okay..BIOS flash done...newest BIOS in there now
Cept it still cant read the FLoppy...Dont know why
I cant load windows cuz the Harddrive boot wont allow me to use CD's
Guess I have to load MSCDEX onto it by moving the harddrive to the other comp once again.

[Susan]

Sorry it didn't go well with the BIOS http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

You can get a controller card for the floppy or just get a new MB.

[AuraEdge]

I think he'd rather just live without the floppy then shelling out for a new board http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
floppy controller? how much do they cost?
Never thought a floppy problem could cripple me so bad.

[Susan]

Check Pricewatch. There's one there for an ISA slot that's $15(US). In a local shop you may end up paying as much as $40.

[AuraEdge]

Whoa
cost more than the drive
okay..guess I gotta figure how to load up everything w/o a floppy
Thanks all

[richamies]

Since you have tried a few floppy drives on this, and also flashed the bios, most things have already been ruled out. It might be worth trying the FDD cable from the working computer, see if that helps. Also whilst you are removing the cable from the duff board, have a good close inspection that no pins on the board are bent/missing, might save yourself $40......if it works I'll send you my address for $40 less p&p..... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[AuraEdge]

Nope =P
Okay so all i need to do is find ATAPI CDRom drivers and copy em onto the HDD and run em after I boot up? Where do I get these drivers?

[Susan]

How about just downloading a copy of bootdisk?
www.bootdisk.com (http://www.bootdisk.com)

[AuraEdge]

No pins on the board are bent...So i guess Ill be keeping that 40 bucks http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif. How would I access the CD-rom without a bootdisk?

[richamies]

Take out the hard drive, copy the cdrom drivers onto it and plug it back into the other comp? Or copy the files accross using interlnk and intersvr? Intersvr/rcopy will copy the files onto the other pc to make a connection if you cant get the files over any other way.....(I presume you have a null modem cable there)

[This message has been edited by richamies (edited 01-03-2000).]

[magpie]

You can format the hard disk using another PC and copy FDISK to it. You can then try to change the boot sequence in your BIOS to start with the CD ROM. A genuine Win 9X CD is bootable and will give you the option to start the PC with or without CD ROM support.
Change dir to your hard disk and run FDISK to set the partition active. Reboot and run the Win setup from the CD ROM. It might work but I suspect a dodgy floppy controller.

Best of luck anyway!

[AuraEdge]

How do i make the CD the boot drive from FDISK?
I went to windrivers, but they only have windows ATAPI drivers (as i suspected)

[magpie]

Attach the HD to another PC and format it using that system. Copy FDISK.EXE from C:\Windows\Command to that HD. Refit it to the suspect PC and change the BIOS boot sequence settings to start with the CD ROM. Reboot with your win98 CD in the CD ROM and select 'boot from CD ROM' when prompted. Select 'start PC without CD ROM support' and the PC should boot to the A: prompt. Change directory to C:\ and run FDISK. Set the partition active and you can the reboot and select 'run windows setup, when prompted.

Sorry I wasn't clearer in my previous post.