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Attempted Bios Update & System Froze 4
- Thread starter rars222
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #41
There really isn't any mystery...the cats were running in and behind my system. I think they knocked the power source, mouse or something of the likes...one cat IS sufficient, but 2 is better!
At any rate, I have extracted the files and followed the instructions and there isn't any floppy activity except when I initially turn it on. It is momentary at best. Is that what I should expect? I am still waiting for any proverbial "beeps"...
I am leaving the system on for a bit, just in case. Is there anything else I can try before giving in to the mobo gods?
ps...have I told you all how great you and this forum are?
At any rate, I have extracted the files and followed the instructions and there isn't any floppy activity except when I initially turn it on. It is momentary at best. Is that what I should expect? I am still waiting for any proverbial "beeps"...
I am leaving the system on for a bit, just in case. Is there anything else I can try before giving in to the mobo gods?
ps...have I told you all how great you and this forum are?
- Thread starter
- #44
I'm sorry but it does seem a lost cause (hope I'm wrong). Did you read the links about repairing a failed Bios Flash that I posted earlier? Perhaps your repairer can decipher the technical details and save you some cash?
Last useless suggestion is to power down, leave it off overnight and get some sleep. Try it one more time in the morning.
Last useless suggestion is to power down, leave it off overnight and get some sleep. Try it one more time in the morning.
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- #46
Rars
Luckily you have an Intel board even though its retired it still have the BIOS boot block recovery feature. Yes, your BIOS is currently hosed. Following the pervios advice you should have downloaded and run the 'DOS' BIOS update for your 845WN board from the Intel site. Running that EXE will create a bootable floppy that has a two-fold purpose. It is used to flash your BIOS but when a jumper is 'completely removed' it is used to reload only the BIOS core function and boot block via harwired functions on the Intel board. If you also download and read the manual from the Intel site, on about page 45 it tells you how to flash your BIOS automagically (which is the one the cat hosed), how to flash your BIOS from DOS (which currently you can't do because it is hosed) and how to recover from a failed flash (which is what you need to do first). After you have done the recover phase you can the do the DOS flash and you should be in business once again. Just make sure you have the diskette that the 'DOS' flash creates for you. You can download and run that EXE from any PC and it extracts and creates the floppy. Then remove the flash jumper completely and execute the recover step in your manual, then replace the jumper and do a 'manual' flash, this should get you to the point where you will be able to press F1 to adjust your BIOS settings and from there go on to boot up into Windows.
Luckily you have an Intel board even though its retired it still have the BIOS boot block recovery feature. Yes, your BIOS is currently hosed. Following the pervios advice you should have downloaded and run the 'DOS' BIOS update for your 845WN board from the Intel site. Running that EXE will create a bootable floppy that has a two-fold purpose. It is used to flash your BIOS but when a jumper is 'completely removed' it is used to reload only the BIOS core function and boot block via harwired functions on the Intel board. If you also download and read the manual from the Intel site, on about page 45 it tells you how to flash your BIOS automagically (which is the one the cat hosed), how to flash your BIOS from DOS (which currently you can't do because it is hosed) and how to recover from a failed flash (which is what you need to do first). After you have done the recover phase you can the do the DOS flash and you should be in business once again. Just make sure you have the diskette that the 'DOS' flash creates for you. You can download and run that EXE from any PC and it extracts and creates the floppy. Then remove the flash jumper completely and execute the recover step in your manual, then replace the jumper and do a 'manual' flash, this should get you to the point where you will be able to press F1 to adjust your BIOS settings and from there go on to boot up into Windows.
- Thread starter
- #47
I dropped it off to the vendor. I figured I screwed things up enough for one day
The tech didn't seem all that phased and was confident he could get the bios flashed. I tried everything posted here, but I didn't get any response from the floppy.
Again, thank you for all your help. If nothing else, this post will be educational for many (I hope
The tech didn't seem all that phased and was confident he could get the bios flashed. I tried everything posted here, but I didn't get any response from the floppy.
Again, thank you for all your help. If nothing else, this post will be educational for many (I hope
- Thread starter
- #49
lol.
I suppose I heeded the backup power warnings. I mean, what would go wrong at that exact moment? Right?!
I was doing the flash b/c it was supposed to correct some issues that I thought would be helpful. Anyways, I will post with my level of success with having it flashed.
At the very least, this has been a highly educational exercise!
I suppose I heeded the backup power warnings. I mean, what would go wrong at that exact moment? Right?!
I was doing the flash b/c it was supposed to correct some issues that I thought would be helpful. Anyways, I will post with my level of success with having it flashed.
At the very least, this has been a highly educational exercise!
Please keep us updated.
I was always curious as to why some motherboard manufactures included duplicate BIOS chips. I had guessed it had to do with memory interleave issues between odd and even numbered addresses. But you opened my eyes to a second good reason.
Let us know how it sorts.
Bill
I was always curious as to why some motherboard manufactures included duplicate BIOS chips. I had guessed it had to do with memory interleave issues between odd and even numbered addresses. But you opened my eyes to a second good reason.
Let us know how it sorts.
Bill
- Thread starter
- #51
You'll all be happy to know that my bios was recovered. I was told all I needed to do was put the jumper back (I can assure you I tried many many many times). Apparently there was a conflict with some virus software as well...which interestingly enough, never surfaced before. At any rate, I am very pleased with the helpfulness of this forum and will be back for more invaluable information. For instance, do I really need SP2? After reading so much about it...it makes you wonder if it is worth the risks....
Glad you got that fixed and hope it didn't age you too much?
"For instance, do I really need SP2?" 99% of people don't have any problems, the secret from an installation point of view is a XP machine that is free of infection etc.
The other 1% can come to Tek-Tips and have their problems fixed for free.
"For instance, do I really need SP2?" 99% of people don't have any problems, the secret from an installation point of view is a XP machine that is free of infection etc.
The other 1% can come to Tek-Tips and have their problems fixed for free.
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