Checksum bad

[Panic]

For 3 previous days my initial cold boot stopped early and the notice
"checksum bad" appeared. Then it opened to my BIOS/CMOS setup. If I exited
it with no changes the boot continued normally. This repeated each morning
on bootup. Yesterday I ran a full scan for viruses. It's McAfee as part
of Cox ISP setup. I copied all the entries in my BIOS/CMOS in case my
system battery is going bad.

I have a Gateway 500S desktop computer, purchased in 2003 using WinXP Home
Edition, SP3.

This morning I cold booted and didn't receive the checksum bad warning but
my applying power from my power strip didn't start up my computer as normal.
I had to push the start button on my computer and it then booted normally.

Any suggestions? I guess this is not really an XP problem but I'm unsure
of what group would be more appropriate.
Thanks.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

For 3 previous days my initial cold boot stopped early and the notice
"checksum bad" appeared. Then it opened to my BIOS/CMOS setup. If I
exited it with no changes the boot continued normally. This repeated each
morning on bootup. Yesterday I ran a full scan for viruses. It's McAfee
as part of Cox ISP setup. I copied all the entries in my BIOS/CMOS in
case my system battery is going bad.

I have a Gateway 500S desktop computer, purchased in 2003 using WinXP Home
Edition, SP3.

This morning I cold booted and didn't receive the checksum bad warning but
my applying power from my power strip didn't start up my computer as
normal. I had to push the start button on my computer and it then booted
normally.

Any suggestions? I guess this is not really an XP problem but I'm unsure
of what group would be more appropriate.
Thanks.

This is probably a CMOS issue. Remove the battery on the motherboard, wait
ten minutes, then put it back in again. This will most likely fix the
problem.

 

[M]

This is probably a CMOS issue. Remove the battery on the motherboard, wait
ten minutes, then put it back in again. This will most likely fix the
problem.

Course that will reset the BIOS to default which the OP may not want,
especially if there is on board audio and video being replaced by
dedicated audio and video cards.

M

 

[Randem]

Well, that could very well be your problem. Most people use the button on
their computer to power up the computer. If you can power up your computer
just by applying power, something is set incorrectly. Try looking in your
BIOS for features such as Power On LAN and other such settings. It seems
that you have some setting to power on your computer when something occurs
and it does not work properly...

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938

 

[FredW]

Well, that could very well be your problem.
No

Most people use the button on their computer to power up the computer.
No

If you can power up your computer just by applying power, something is set incorrectly.

No, it was done on purpose.

BIOS for features such as Power On LAN and other such settings.

Yes, that's how it is done.

It seems
that you have some setting to power on your computer when something occurs
and it does not work properly...

It seems you do not understand how this works.
Have the PC and all accessories (speakers, modem, printer, etc.)
connected to one power strip.
After closing down the computer, switch off the power strip and all
appliances are switched off.
When you want to start the computer, switch on the power strip and the
PC starts and everything is available again.

I use this method now for 8+ years.
Why don't you know about this very basic method?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Course that will reset the BIOS to default which the OP may not want,
especially if there is on board audio and video being replaced by
dedicated audio and video cards.

M

Two answers:
a) The OP specifically said that he made a note of all BIOS settings.
b) Restoring a CMOS takes less than two minutes. Windows will even start
with the default factory settings.

I recommend you try it for yourself. There is nothing to it.

 

[M]

Two answers:
a) The OP specifically said that he made a note of all BIOS settings.
b) Restoring a CMOS takes less than two minutes. Windows will even start
with the default factory settings.

I recommend you try it for yourself. There is nothing to it.

Sorry, I read it too quickly. You're right, of course.

M

 

[Randem]

I do know about this method, but it is causing YOU problems not me... and
OBVIOUSLY something is awry or you would not be posting... Still something
is wrong with one of the settings which is causing you issues if you can
press the button and everything is fine. I would suggest you go thru the
settings to find out which ones if turned off do not cause the problems you
have incurred.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938

 

[FredW]

I do know about this method, but it is causing YOU problems not me...

I have no problems whatsoever.

and
OBVIOUSLY something is awry or you would not be posting...

No, I am posting because of your silly answer to OP.

press the button and everything is fine. I would suggest you go thru the
settings to find out which ones if turned off do not cause the problems you
have incurred.

Why should I go through (BIOS) setting, when I have no problems?

And why do you assume that the BIOS settings of OP are the cause of
her/his problems?
Please reread the Original Posting.

 

[Randem]

Really, please explain where he is getting the checksum error and why
powering on with the button changes thing?

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938

 

[sgopus]

As previously stated, this is a BIOS issue, not a windows problem.
most likely your motherboard battery is going dead, this results in the
clock losing time and or date, and some CMOS will not boot unless you set the
date properly.
so plan on not only removing the CMOS battery but replacing it as well.
you shouldn't be powering on your pc by a powerstrip, this could produce
some power surges that could damage things, I always recommend a UPS for
protection.

 

[FredW]

Really, please explain where he is getting the checksum error and why
powering on with the button changes thing?

Please read the message of OP and the answer of Pegasus [MVP].

You are mixing up the sequence of events.
First there was a checksum error message and the BIOS settings showed
up, after which OP could continue.

Then the checksum error message (and the BIOS settings) did NOT appear
anymore and the "Power on LAN" setting was gone, so OP had to use the
power on/off button of the PC.

Powering on with the button did NOT change things as you say,
but because a BIOS setting was lost, the power on button had to be used.

Often a (failing) battery is the cause of BIOS settings getting lost.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

As previously stated, this is a BIOS issue, not a windows problem.
most likely your motherboard battery is going dead, this results in the
clock losing time and or date, and some CMOS will not boot unless you set
the
date properly.
so plan on not only removing the CMOS battery but replacing it as well.
you shouldn't be powering on your pc by a powerstrip, this could produce
some power surges that could damage things, I always recommend a UPS for
protection.

After having maintained a few thousand PCs for several years I have to say
that I haven't lost a single PC due to a power surge. IMHO, spike
suppressors are a waste of money unless you live in an area with a poor
quality power supply. While a UPS will protect against surges, its main use
is to bridge short supply outages. Remember also that UPS batteries must be
replaced about once every three years.

 

[Panic]

The problem remains. I'm waiting for an opportunity to replace the system
battery. As a new side issue I have changed a couple items in the
BIOS/CMOS, one at a time. When I next do a cold boot it still says checksum
bad and when I go to my BIOS the items I changed are back where they were
before I changed them. And, yes, I did choose Save Changes and Exit when
done. Doesn't seem like a weak battery would cause that?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

The problem remains. I'm waiting for an opportunity to replace the system
battery. As a new side issue I have changed a couple items in the
BIOS/CMOS, one at a time. When I next do a cold boot it still says
checksum bad and when I go to my BIOS the items I changed are back where
they were before I changed them. And, yes, I did choose Save Changes and
Exit when done. Doesn't seem like a weak battery would cause that?

Yes, a weak battery could cause this, or else you did not take it out long
enough.

 

[Panic]

Thanks. I guess that supports the idea that a weak battery is my problem.
I haven't changed it yet. Had some other details to handle.

 

[Panic]

OK. I changed the battery yesterday and it fixed everything. Thanks for
your help.
The good news was that I only lost the time/date info from my BIOS/CMOS.
All the other settings remained OK.

 

[Randall Flagg]

OK. I changed the battery yesterday and it fixed everything. Thanks for
your help.
The good news was that I only lost the time/date info from my BIOS/CMOS.
All the other settings remained OK.

Most BIOS will auto reset to the default settings after a battery
change. If you've never played around in there, then you'll see no
changes.

 

[Unknown]

How is that done?? Is there a BIOS for the BIOS?

Most BIOS will auto reset to the default settings after a battery
change. If you've never played around in there, then you'll see no
changes.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

How is that done?? Is there a BIOS for the BIOS?

There are two chips involved here:
- The BIOS (Basic Input Output System). This is a ROM (Read-Only Memory)
that has the ability to perform basic functions such as process keyboard
input or generate screen output. It retains its information permanently,
even without a battery.
- The CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxyde Semiconductor). It is a RAM (Random
Access Memory) that requires a battery to retain its information. It keeps
track of date & time and it holds a number of settings such as boot-up
preferences or the boot-up password.

When you go into the BIOS setup routine then you run a program that resides
in the BIOS. This programs allows you to modify a number of settings that
are stored in the CMOS. When you remove the battery then these settings are
lost. On the next boot the BIOS will sense the loss and will establish a
number of default settings - except for date & time.

You might say that the BIOS setup program is really a CMOS setup program,
because it modifies settings in the CMOS chip. You cannot alter the BIOS
chip in any way (unless you run a BIOS upgrade program, but this is an
entirely different subject).