BIOS Updates forum

I was better off when I started... <sigh>

I am trying to build a PC using old bits 'n pieces I was given by a mate, but now not much happens when I give it some juice.

I'll just get some of the hardware details out of the way:
Mobo: TMC PCU54PV 1.10
BIOS: AMI
CMOS: CSI CAT28F101P-15 MSO9345B

Now when I started assembling everything, I plugged in an ISA disk controller and connected the floppy. I used my keyboard and an old ISA VGA card. The BIOS started and video display came on. I got various BIOS errors like: "HDD controller failed", keyboard errors, and parity errors.

While investigating the errors and after consulting the Mobo's manual, I set JP1 to "Clear cmos ram" thinking this would return the BIOS to a default state. In hindsight this was stupid on my part. However I did find a reference on bioscentral.com in their faq stating: "Moving the jumper to the Clear setting will erase the settings stored in CMOS. It does not remove the BIOS itself, only the user defined settings within the CMOS."

Anyway, now when I power up, I get no video and the system doesn't spin the floppy. I guess my first question is have I wipped the entire BIOS?? Do I need to flash the CMOS?

After reading the Wim's Bios FAQ (#9), I was hoping my BIOS would have a boot-block. However, as I have said the floppy doesn't seem to spin. So it looks like not much luck here.

This seems to leave me with only the alternative of hot-swap flashing. This scares me a bit as I don't want to toast my working system. However, does anyone know where I can get my hands on a proper boot image for this board? I've been able to determine from web searches that my AMI BIOS version is 50-0100-001291-00101111-121593-OPTI596P-H, but I have been unable to find it on any support site.

Cheers,
Paul

Have you used the Clear CMOS jumper according to the board manual?

On some boards, it must be moved to the Clear position while the power is OFF, then moved back. If you power on the board with the jumper in the clear position, it can damage the board.

Thanks for the reply Rainbow, but that wasn't quite what I was hoping to hear.

Unfortunately, I did power up the board while the jumper was set. Actually, I got the information about the jumper from http://strieg.mse.uiuc.edu/54pv.html. There aren't any details, hence the mistake... or so I'd like to think.

Is there anyway to be sure? Actually, is it likely I've damaged the board or simply the CMOS? Is it worth trying to replace the chip?

<Sigh> Well on the bright side, I didn't pay anything for the board. But it is a waste of a perfectly good board. Shame!

Thanks again,
Paul

On older boards, the CMOS/RTC was in separate chip, often socketed. If this is your case, you can try to replace it (from another old board). On newer boards, CMOS&RTC are integrated into chipset. Sometimes a trace on board is burnt.

Rainbow: After sorting myself out a bit, you are right in that the CMOS/RTC is part of an integrated chip on the Mobo. I had confused the CMOS and the BIOS chip and was actually asking if I would have burnt the BIOS chip.

So I guess the board is toast... After a closer inspection of the board, I couldn't see any burn marks, but on the back of the board there does seem to be a slight discoloration directly opposite of where the chip is situated.

Anyway, thanks for your time in providing help! Much appreciated!