Athlon 1.2 GHz NVRAM update failed 1

[giles39]

I've been getting this message on boot up for a couple of weeks now - what should I be doing about it?

Cheers

g

 

[gargouille]

The NVRAM is where the BIOS stores plug and play information (also called non-volatile ram) that retains its memory even when the system is turned off.

The format for storing the data is called the Extended System Configuration Data or ESCD. Windows (or any OS, for that matter) and the BIOS access ESCD each time the system boots and apparently they can't agree on the information, and the message is telling you that the flash memory is failing.

Your BIOS may have a setting to clear NVRAM (also referred to as CMOS memory) or you can do it powered down and unplugged by moving the jumper shown on your motherboard manual to the other 2 posts for a bit and then back.
(Never do this when the system is plugged in.) This will force the info to be rewritten at the next boot.

Look in Device Manager and look for yellow exclamation points...telling you more about the problem.

Is it an old board?

Did you flash the BIOS or add any new hardware recently?

Make sure the battery is good: take it out for a test with a voltmeter if you have one (should be at or very near 3 volts)...and that in itself may flush the NVRAM and rewrite it. Maybe not.

 

[giles39]

Thanks Gargouille for such an in-depth response!
This machine is our mucking about puter so its continually having different stuff hooked up to it. I suspect the battery is on the way out so I'll be checking that next....
Thanks again
g39