BIOS ROM checksum error

runbird05 · 07-13-2005, 02:01 AM

Alright, so I just powered up my first build for the first time; everything seems to be running fine, all of my LEDs and fans work, et cetera, but the monitor shows a screen saying:

Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0

BIOS ROM checksum error

Detecting floppy drive A media...
INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

It just stays at this screen, and I never get a chance to enter BIOS or the boot menu. I'm a newb, so I have no idea what's going on here.

If it's neccessary to know, I'm running the non-SLI MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum with a 3500+ Venice, 6800gt, Hitachi SATA II HDD, 2x512mb PQI PC3200 RAM, Antec smartpower 2.0 400w. Thanks a ton for any help.

TheChef · 07-13-2005, 02:16 AM

http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER03-c.html

It seems as if its a faulty motherboard. As it says, troubleshoot it.

Greg J. · 07-13-2005, 02:21 AM

You might want to just check the CMOS battery on the motherboard. Take it out for 10 seconds and put it back in. That should reset the BIOS to default and clear up the error. If its loose, push it in tight.

If what we've suggested so far doesn't work, then the battery may be faulty and you may need to buy a new one for about $1.

runbird05 · 07-13-2005, 03:12 AM

Well, I'm pretty certain I've pinpointed the problem. The first thing I started fiddling with was the RAM as it's the easiest to pop in and out, and I was lucky in that choice. I've come to the conclusion that one stick of my PQI dual channel kit is faulty, while the other one is just fine. When the good stick is by itself in the system, it POSTs and lets me into the BIOS, where all of my hardware is properly detected. When the bad stick is by itself, I get nothing at all, just a blank screen. So, I'm kind of relieved but also a bit dissappointed, I'm glad it isn't more serious (dead mobo or cpu), but it also sucks that I'm going to have to wait another week or two to play some BF2 maxed on my new rig. Although, nothing's stopping me from sliding my sexy new 6800gt into my dell in place of its current x600pro...

07-13-2005, 02:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
runbird05 Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Central Ohio Posts: 27	BIOS ROM checksum error - help! Alright, so I just powered up my first build for the first time; everything seems to be running fine, all of my LEDs and fans work, et cetera, but the monitor shows a screen saying: Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0 BIOS ROM checksum error Detecting floppy drive A media... INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER It just stays at this screen, and I never get a chance to enter BIOS or the boot menu. I'm a newb, so I have no idea what's going on here. If it's neccessary to know, I'm running the non-SLI MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum with a 3500+ Venice, 6800gt, Hitachi SATA II HDD, 2x512mb PQI PC3200 RAM, Antec smartpower 2.0 400w. Thanks a ton for any help.

07-13-2005, 02:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheChef Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New York Age: 17 Posts: 1,383	http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER03-c.html It seems as if its a faulty motherboard. As it says, troubleshoot it. __________________ Athlon 64 3000+ Venice -- MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Asus nVidia GeForce 6600 -- Corsair ValueSelect 1024mb Seagate 120GB Barracuda -- Xoxide X-Clear Case FOR SALE http://www.computerforum.com/showthread.php?t=47630 http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=mzvideos

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07-13-2005, 02:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Greg J. VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 562	You might want to just check the CMOS battery on the motherboard. Take it out for 10 seconds and put it back in. That should reset the BIOS to default and clear up the error. If its loose, push it in tight. If what we've suggested so far doesn't work, then the battery may be faulty and you may need to buy a new one for about $1.

07-13-2005, 03:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
runbird05 Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Central Ohio Posts: 27	Well, I'm pretty certain I've pinpointed the problem. The first thing I started fiddling with was the RAM as it's the easiest to pop in and out, and I was lucky in that choice. I've come to the conclusion that one stick of my PQI dual channel kit is faulty, while the other one is just fine. When the good stick is by itself in the system, it POSTs and lets me into the BIOS, where all of my hardware is properly detected. When the bad stick is by itself, I get nothing at all, just a blank screen. So, I'm kind of relieved but also a bit dissappointed, I'm glad it isn't more serious (dead mobo or cpu), but it also sucks that I'm going to have to wait another week or two to play some BF2 maxed on my new rig. Although, nothing's stopping me from sliding my sexy new 6800gt into my dell in place of its current x600pro...