Bios Rom Checksum Error

espresso

Stompa wrote: »

Though the BIOS doesn't require any power, the battery powers the CMOS memory and I'd have thought you'd get a CMOS checksum error if it failed. You may get lucky, but personally I wouldn't be too optimistic!

The BIOS is stored in firmware as are the various system parameters, which is why a battery is required to retain these parameters when the main power is removed. It's certainly worth trying a replacement battery as they don't last for ever and they are cheap enough.

BritBrat

Tried the batteries out of my two good machines.. No joy..

Is a flash the only other possibility?

Check the motherboad manual, some have a backup option, you change a jumper and it will restore the default.

But you need to read and understand the manual, do not have it powered on if you do it.

I would also make a note of the current BIOS settings before making the default change.

And my 1 pence, it is more like a penny in size

espresso

Greensprout wrote: »

Tried the batteries out of my two good machines.. No joy..

Is a flash the only other possibility?

If you Google there is quite a lot about BIOS Checksum Error i.e. here

I doubt if a flash will cure this myself.

Greensprout

espresso wrote: »

If you Google there is quite a lot about BIOS Checksum Error i.e. here

Greensprout wrote:

I've done a few searches but not sure which advice to take.

I did Google before I posted but there were so many explanations I didn't know which advice to follow and which was useless..

Stompa

espresso wrote: »

The BIOS is stored in firmware as are the various system parameters, which is why a battery is required to retain these parameters when the main power is removed.

But it's only the settings (in CMOS) that require a battery to be retained, the BIOS does not. And the error message indicates a problem with the BIOS.....

espresso

Stompa wrote: »

But it's only the settings (in CMOS) that require a battery to be retained, the BIOS does not. And the error message indicates a problem with the BIOS.....

Not necessarily. The BIOS Checksum error message is not the same as a CMOS Checksum error see here for explanation.

Stompa

espresso wrote: »

Not necessarily. The BIOS Checksum error message is not the same as a CMOS Checksum error see here for explanation.

Yes I know, I thought that's what I said....

espresso

You said "the error message indicates a problem with the BIOS....." which is not necessarily the case as it can be caused by hardware!

Stompa

espresso wrote: »

You said "the error message indicates a problem with the BIOS....." which is not necessarily the case as it can be caused by hardware!

Ah OK, I see what you mean - let's hope it's not another component in this case!