BIOS Updates forum

Hi,

I have read everything I could find and tried removing all hardware components one at a time to see if there is a hardware problem and it makes no difference to a PIII 866MHz Socket 370 at bootup.

Can not find any markings on the board to tell what it is. Have found that the Bios Chip is an SST 49LF002A33.

Also reset the Bios to read Floppy first so that I could check the Bios and Back it up. Will not boot to floppy (Failed) (40) ??? No mater what I have tried I keep ending up at the same place.

Building DMI Pool. It can sit at this point for hours.

Is my Bios Chip Cooked?

Please advise.

Regards,

Roberto

Is your floppy connected correctly?

Hi KatchiWatchi,

Yes I checked the cable indeed had it on the wrong block, I do not get the floopy boot failed message anymore however I still end up at the same place Building DMI Pool".

There is power to the floppy and when I had all the drives plugged in the bios listed them in the boot.

Followed your link. It's beyond me. Should I presume my MOBO is cooked?

Thanks

Roberto (Newbee)

Disconnect everything but the video.

Try to make the board come up to the point where is says "No OS present", etc...

Reset the BIOS to the most conservative settings, and go from there.

Thanks.

Tried that earlier and did so again with only the video and keyboard on.

Bios is set at what I beleive is the most basic settings with pretty much everything disabled.

End up at the same point "Building DMI Pool"

Can not get to "No OS Present"

I'd send you a screen shot if I could figure out how to insert in the message.

Thanks,

Roberto

The BIOS should have its own "basic" settings built in...did you try those?

It looks like some data in your Flashrom, the DMI data is located in a special area on your flashrom, is damaged somehow and your Bios is not able to fix it by rewriting.

You should try to have your Flashrom reprogrammed by either Hot-swap, reprogramming service or by getting a new one.

Denniss -

Can't he clear the DMI pool with an Award Flash command (I forget what they are at present)?

Think that might help?

awdflash /cd command

But he need to boot to use the flashprog ...

Thanks to all you guys for your input.

I have tried all of your suggestions and it has been a real learning expierience.

I have tracked the MOBO down "Jetway" 618AF Intel i815 chipset" and have the manual now. This was helpful for finding the jumpers to clear the CMOS. Reviews posted claimed this was a good board with only some BIOS issues related to the AGP slot (Not used).

After all of this I am no further ahead and believe my options are to either invest in a new BIOS chip and take a chance on the board or just replace the board with something comparable for a little bit more doe.

Thanks again. I'll keep checking in but XMAS is my target to resolve this.

Regards,

Roberto