Locked BIOS and CMOS?

[CindyMc]

Hi - I'm new at this and hope someone can help. I have an almost 3 year old US Tech Pentium 120 computer. I have never had a single problem with it until a few weeks ago, when the modem just quit working. I bought a new modem, installed it (following directions explicitly). When I rebooted, it never made it through Set-up. I took it in to a Computer Service tech, who said it had a bad partition (sp?), and he had to clear everything and start from the original disks that came with the computer. So I lost everything that I didn't have backed up to disks.

When he went to re-install the modem, he discovered my BIOS and CMOS (sp?) was locked and would not let him change any of the settings. This was not a password situation - he can get into it, but it won't allow any parameter changes.

He says I need a new "Bios patch", and that with time, he can find one. However at $65 an hour, I can't pay him to look for it. This has already cost too much.

I need help. The phone numbers that US Tech provided for support are no longer working. I can't find a Website for US Tech that has anything to do with computers. I realize that, at almost 3 years old, my computer is a dinosaur, but it worked perfectly for my home needs.

The computer is a US Tech model 993450 with a Pentium 120 MHz CPU. it came pre-loaded with Windows 95. I have all the disks, CD's and manuals that came with the computer and none of them helped the computer tech. I would be most grateful for any assistance.

Thank you,
Cindy Mc

[Gene C.]

When he went to re-install the modem, he discovered my BIOS and CMOS (sp?) was locked and would not let him change any of the settings.

He says I need a new "Bios patch", and that with time, he can find one. However at $65 an hour, I can't pay him to look for it. This has already cost too much.


write down all cmos settings
either pull the battery or short out the cmos settings on the motherboard jumpers. this will erease all bios settings. restart machine and reset bios setings.
you just made 65.00/60=1.08*15 min=16.25

This material is presented only as a description of how I go about working on a system. It is not meant to encourage unqualified personnel to attempt computer repair. In any event, you assume all responsibility and liability for injury or damage.
Gene C.

[Axel]

It might be a bad EPROM chip, however, in which case you'd do better saving your money and buying a new board and chip to go into that case.

No better time to upgrade than the present.

I've seen some resale stores in the Dallas area selling 120mHz systems complete that would match or beat yours for about $250, and you could re-use your monitor and most of the other internal parts.

Again, not a great option, but a lot faster than looking for an unsupported EPROM BIOS chip if that one is burned out.