Got keyobard error, and new ASUS board shows same errors. Help!

[Dano]

Hi all,

This is a PC riddle. A few weeks ago I started getting an error message
on my PC. First it wouldn't detect my ps2 keyboard, and then I got a
CMOS checksum error. I tried resetting the board etc. and eventually
concluded that I needed toreplace the motherboard. So I buy a new Asus
board, install all the componets, power it up, and I get EXACTLY the
same error messages. I'm confused as to how one MB can get the same
error messages as an old one. Could it be memory, or my CPU? I'm really
confused about this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Dan

 

[Dano]

Sorry, I realised that wasn't much info.
It's a 754 mb, a 3000+ athlon 64 processor, running XP pro, with a SATA
seagate drive. My memory is two sticks of DDR 400 ram. Not sure if that
helps, but it was the principle of one MB showing the same errors as
another that really puzzled me.

Again, thanks for any help,

Dan

 

[Paul]

Hi all,

This is a PC riddle. A few weeks ago I started getting an error message
on my PC. First it wouldn't detect my ps2 keyboard, and then I got a
CMOS checksum error. I tried resetting the board etc. and eventually
concluded that I needed toreplace the motherboard. So I buy a new Asus
board, install all the componets, power it up, and I get EXACTLY the
same error messages. I'm confused as to how one MB can get the same
error messages as an old one. Could it be memory, or my CPU? I'm really
confused about this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Dan

Do you have another keyboard available to test with ?

I don't know enough about PC architecture and history to comment,
but there is an 8042 processor inside the Super I/O chip on the
motherboard, and it functions as a keyboard controller. I have
no idea what the code does that runs that 8042. The only association
in a general computing sense, between the keyboard controller and
the rest of the computer, is via GATEA20. Historically, the keyboard
controller had a spare general purpose I/O signal, and it was
used to change addressing modes (it modifies how the A20 address
bit works on the processor).

Try search terms "keyboard A20" for some of the history.

Could a defective keyboard influence how that other feature
works ? I don't think it can, but under your circumstances,
I'd want to try another keyboard anyway. You've swapped the
motherboard, and what else is left ?

Paul

 

[Dano]

Yup, I tried another keyboard already. I also tried booting with one
stick of ram at a time, to see if that may be the problem. I've kind of
run out of possible 'trial and error' fixes.

Dan