BIOS update gone wrong

[Ceci Wong Melom]

Hi everyone,

I am in a bit of trouble here, and it started with using Intel's
Express BIOS update. The mobo is D945GNT, and I was updating to
version 4078. Here's the problem:

I ran the express update, and the instructions said it's supposed to
be done in about 10 minutes and it's supposed to boot itself back into
Windows. I waited through a series of restarts with no post on the
monitor for about 20 minutes, and then it wouldn't start. So I took
the risk of manually restarting it with the switch on the psu. No
post. I got worried. Then the machine started cyclically restart
itself, no post, and it shuts down within 5 seconds or so. I called
Intel tech support, and they think the new BIOS just doesn't like the
memory. I did what they'd suggested, stripped the machine down to a
barebones build, pulled the BIOS config jumper, and attempted a BIOS
recovery with an older version of the BIOS. Put the jumper back in
"Normal", still no post, and it still does that funny cyclical restart
thing on its own.

Anyone has any idea? Please help. Thanks.

Ceci Wong

 

[DaveW]

Your motherboard has died due to a BIOS failure. Time for a new
motherboard, I'm afraid.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Hi everyone,

I am in a bit of trouble here, and it started with using Intel's
Express BIOS update. The mobo is D945GNT, and I was updating to
version 4078. Here's the problem:

I ran the express update, and the instructions said it's supposed to
be done in about 10 minutes and it's supposed to boot itself back into
Windows. I waited through a series of restarts with no post on the
monitor for about 20 minutes, and then it wouldn't start. So I took
the risk of manually restarting it with the switch on the psu. No
post. I got worried. Then the machine started cyclically restart
itself, no post, and it shuts down within 5 seconds or so. I called
Intel tech support, and they think the new BIOS just doesn't like the
memory. I did what they'd suggested, stripped the machine down to a
barebones build, pulled the BIOS config jumper, and attempted a BIOS
recovery with an older version of the BIOS. Put the jumper back in
"Normal", still no post, and it still does that funny cyclical restart
thing on its own.

Anyone has any idea? Please help. Thanks.

Ceci Wong

Clear the CMOS RAM ???

- Franc Zabkar

 

[lkboop]

Hi everyone,

I am in a bit of trouble here, and it started with using Intel's
Express BIOS update. The mobo is D945GNT, and I was updating to
version 4078. Here's the problem:

I ran the express update, and the instructions said it's supposed to
be done in about 10 minutes and it's supposed to boot itself back into
Windows. I waited through a series of restarts with no post on the
monitor for about 20 minutes, and then it wouldn't start. So I took
the risk of manually restarting it with the switch on the psu. No
post. I got worried. Then the machine started cyclically restart
itself, no post, and it shuts down within 5 seconds or so. I called
Intel tech support, and they think the new BIOS just doesn't like the
memory. I did what they'd suggested, stripped the machine down to a
barebones build, pulled the BIOS config jumper, and attempted a BIOS
recovery with an older version of the BIOS. Put the jumper back in
"Normal", still no post, and it still does that funny cyclical restart
thing on its own.

Anyone has any idea? Please help. Thanks.

Ceci Wong

How may times do people have to be reminded "If it ain't broke don't fix
it" You sir are screwed. Get a new board and don't fool with the BIOS
It is rarely necessary to attempt to up grade the Bios, especially if
you don't know what you're doing. In fact even if you know exactly what
you doing you have no control over power line surges or dips or outages
all of which will screw you.

 

[Phil_12345]

Ceci Wong Melom wrote:
Hi everyone,

I am in a bit of trouble here, and it started with using Intel's
Express BIOS update. The mobo is D945GNT, and I was updating to
version 4078. Here's the problem:

I ran the express update, and the instructions said it's supposed to
be done in about 10 minutes and it's supposed to boot itself back into
Windows. I waited through a series of restarts with no post on the
monitor for about 20 minutes, and then it wouldn't start. So I took
the risk of manually restarting it with the switch on the psu. No
post. I got worried. Then the machine started cyclically restart
itself, no post, and it shuts down within 5 seconds or so. I called
Intel tech support, and they think the new BIOS just doesn't like the
memory. I did what they'd suggested, stripped the machine down to a
barebones build, pulled the BIOS config jumper, and attempted a BIOS
recovery with an older version of the BIOS. Put the jumper back in
"Normal", still no post, and it still does that funny cyclical restart
thing on its own.

Anyone has any idea? Please help. Thanks.

Ceci Wong

Motherboard BIOS update normally shouldn't take more than 1 minutes
(most around 30 seconds or so). Apparently your MB's BIOS is
corrupted due to bad BIOS update. Here are couple things you can
try, may or may not apply to your MB):

- Modern MB's BIOS has a built in routine which allow you to force
reflash the BIOS from a floppy disk or from a Cd. Most of would
require you to put the flash program along with the BIOS file - the
BIOS file need to be renamed as some thing like <MB Model>.rom on the
media . Then put the floppy or Cd in the drive and hold down a
certain key or keys and turn on the power. The PC would then flash
the BIOS when POST. You need to do some research to see your MB has
this feature or not and also the correct procedure.

- Borrow some one BIOS with the same MB as your and use it to boot
into Windows - take the good BIOS out while the PC is still on and put
in your dead BIOS and reflash it in Windows (I tried this before and
its work). The trick is that don't insert the good BIOS all the way
into the socket - make sure it's has good contact but can easily take
out by hand for a 'live' swap. Some times this procedure also work
with some other BIOS that is not same with your (no harm to try), but
same BIOS vendor and/or the same range of MB model.

Good luck.