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General discussion

Is my BIOS gone?

Dec 26, 2004 2:54AM PST

I think I'm going to be ill. Just built new comp around the Asus K8V and Athlon 64 3000+. Using Seagate 120 Gig HD. Was having trouble getting WinXP to load and hit upon the idea that perhaps the BIOS needed to be updated. Following the Asus manual's instructions, I downloaded the latest BIOS for my board and put it onto a bootable floppy. Still following the manual ("Using Asus EZ Flash to update the BIOS"), I rebooted and pressed <alt+F2> during POST. This brought up the predicted screens, I inserted the floppy and the system began the expected routine ("Reading file K8VB.ROM. Completed") But then, instead of "Start flashing" I see "Start erasing". Followed by "Flashing Failed"! That's when the sickness begins. In my zeal, I had forgotten to make a copy of the original BIOS first. Now when rebooting, I get nothing. Ditto, with XP CD in the machine. Have I, indeed, wiped out the BIOS? Tried to go to the Asus website for advice, but their animated Xmas card covers all the links and won't be removed! Forgive me for the long posting. Please, can someone help and/or offer words of sympathy?

Discussion is locked

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Try clearing the CMOS.
Dec 26, 2004 4:13AM PST

Maybe it will revert to the original. Worth a shot. Either do it with the jumper or remove the battery for a
while(overnight would be good). All of this with the power off, of course. Be sure to touch the metal frame first. chuck

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Cleared CMOS
Dec 27, 2004 3:33AM PST

Left the jumper on the appropriate pins for about half an hour. Replaced them to normal position and powered up. Same thing -- no video, no "Beep", and the monitor light indicates it's getting no signal. Not exactly the Xmas gift I was looking for!

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Lookee here at Asus support
Dec 26, 2004 6:15AM PST
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Been there, done that
Dec 27, 2004 3:42AM PST

Yes, I have the Asus CD. However, I see no BIOS file on it. I also have the latest BIOS (which, as it turns out, Asus says I don't need with my Athlon 64 3000 CPU) on a floppy. It was when I tried using that floppy that all this "nothingness" began. I have since re-downloaded it and loaded it onto a newly-formatted floppy. Don't know what to try next.

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follow up
Dec 29, 2004 10:10AM PST

Thanks for all your input guys. I contacted Asus tech support and, based on my description, they told me the BIOS was corrupted and the main boot block of BIOS is damaged. So it'll be going back for replacement. Also measured the voltages on the HDD. 12, 5 and 3 volts are getting into it fine. Unfortunately, there's no voltage at the motor. Gee, maybe that's why it wasn't spinning!
Wonder if TigerDirect's sloppy packaging could have something to do with that? I've been very underwhelmed by their shipping dept.

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well at least you will get replacements
Dec 29, 2004 12:08PM PST

and usually out of date bios wont prevent booting
good luck

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Thanks, Mark
Dec 30, 2004 12:27AM PST

I've learned a tremendous amount from the experience (like, do NOTHING until you've read everything ever written on the component manufacturer's website!) and from this forum. My thanks to all of you.

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Ok, try this...
Dec 30, 2004 12:28AM PST

Since you said the BIOS is completely corrupted, I just wanted you to understand what I was trying to do. Newer BIOS are suppose to have a small booting section that's not suppose to get corrupted as any bios flashing doesn't touch it. It allows the floppy to come-up and then reload the bios flash, new or old file. The trick is knowing the proper sequence to attempt that, as several mtrbd. companies call it different, but Asus is suppose to be crash recovery, I believe.

Here's a link to the instructions:

http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/crashfreebios2.htm

I believe you find pgm. it finds any available bios on CD(orginal one). Again, only if your mtrbd. using the AMI type bios ect. If you can't get it going or warranty isn't valid, try this website for a repacment bios: http://www.badflash.com
follow the instructions for replacement process, used it in times past. -----Willy

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Thanks for the tip
Dec 30, 2004 10:25PM PST

I'll be getting warranty service on the mobo and HD, but I appreciate the pointer to "badflash". I'd never come across them before. Awesome site.

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bios prob.
Dec 30, 2004 11:17PM PST

it will be a shame if they send you the exact same mother board, TIGER DIRECT is famous for selling used and corrupted mobos as new, just cause they know how to reflash, and you as a consumer dont, please make a note of the serail number before you ship it, it wiould be a shjame to get the same one back, i stay away from tiger direct no matter how cheap they want to go, their service and support sucks big time, next time try www.newegg.com if your not a retail buyer, they are a bit more reliable. (just my opinion) good luck and happy new year

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TigerDirect.com
Jan 1, 2005 9:36PM PST

Thanks, I'd been meaning to post a query concerning other's views of Tiger. I've always been satisfied with my direct contacts there -- friendly people willing to help, etc. And I liked their selection of components. What I don't like is their packing and shipping methods, which leave almost everything to be desired! I received one box that hadn't even been completely taped shut. The top was partly open and it was only because of the good folks at UPS that I didn't lose part of the shipment. I'm thinking it may be because of the sloppy packing, that I'm having to return my HD. It was shipped in a much too large box with NO packing material. Great for G-Shock protection, huh!? Received a bunch of other stuff all thrown in a large box, loose, with no packing material, too. I think my 6-year-old grandson could do a better packing job. Sent them an email about it, but never received a reply. Anyway, I think I'll use newegg from now on. Thanks.

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Re: TigerDirect.com
Jan 2, 2005 9:11AM PST
Received a bunch of other stuff all thrown in a large box, loose, with no packing material, too. I think my 6-year-old grandson could do a better packing job. Sent them an email about it, but never received a reply. Anyway, I think I'll use newegg from now on. Thanks.

And that is a wise decision on your part, Sarge.

I don't have enough space here to document the horror stories about Tiger Direct's shipping snafus that various of my friends and I have had over the last couple years. Just suffice it to say that Tiger has received its last dollar from us!